Disclaimer: We don't need to tell you this, but you know, it's just here.  We don't own 'Phantom of the Opera', though we would like to. That belongs to Gaston Leroux and the rest of the wonderful (or not so wonderful… * coughcoughFORSYTHEcoughcough*…) geniuses who have brought this story to life.  Don't bother suing us; we don't make a penny off this.

Summary: A phic exploring the possibility of another person sharing Erik's face.

A Story of Love by Lady Death & L'Ange de Folie

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Raoul de Chagny anxiously paced the floor to one of the spacious rooms in the de Chagny manor. He had received word from Christine earlier that day that Erik had agreed to help her. If he had made all the calculations correctly, they should be arriving any moment now. These moments by himself were torture, however. He knew that Christine and that… monster were by themselves. Who knew what he could be doing to her? Why had he ever allowed her to go on this idiotic quest?

"And why did she have to go to him?" he asked aloud. "The man kidnapped her, murdered my brother, nearly killed me, and she goes to him for help!" With a sigh, he sat down on the couch. "It's not fair."

Raoul sat quietly now, mulling over memories and feelings he thought he had long since buried. I don't understand her much lately… Or HIM, Raoul thought, feeling rather irritated. I've never understood him… That masked madman is dangerous! I thought he would be dead by now…

I don't understand why she feels that way for him.

Raoul stood up and paced the length of the room. Does she still love him? What if she does? No.  She's only going to him for help.  There's no other reason conceivable. And I trust her.  I know Christine loves me.

He stopped pacing for only a second.

And yet, she had loved him, hadn't she? But… how could she love him? He's violent, insane, a murderer, an extortionist, and… and he manipulated her. It's beyond comprehension…but she did love him… As impossible as it is to believe, I think she really did love him then.  But she loves me, and I love her, Raoul reassured himself. I know she loves me.

Raoul nodded, satisfied, and sat back down on the couch.

But still… why did she have to go find him? Is it so important that he know?  It's just a boy – a boy in a cage. Certainly, it is dreadful to see anything treated such - but what could she possibly expect to do? We tried talking to that Aldo fellow and he has refused.  There was nothing more that could be done. It wasn't as if we could steal the boy! Unless, that's why she has gone to Erik… But then, why him…? And why wouldn't she tell me her plan? Did she not trust me?

Raoul's frustration flared again. It's just so confusing – and it's just not fair!

Raoul's ability to sit still suddenly seemed to vanish again and he began to prowl through the room; lost in his thoughts.

At that moment, he heard the sounds of a carriage rolling up outside the manor.


He instinctively rose and straightened out his jacket. With a steadying breath, he stepped out into the hallway and toward the door. He was too eager to see his wife than to wait for a servant to bring her to him.


 He noticed there was really no need as Christine was flying down the hallway and straight towards him.

"Raoul!" she cried, throwing her arms around his neck. She hugged him tight, and Raoul noticed with chagrin that she left the ornate door open in her excitement. However, his smile faded as he saw a dark figure step over the threshold.

"I missed you!" Christine giggled, tilting her head up and kissing her husband.

The door closed.

Christine pulled quickly away from Raoul and turned to look at the solemn man shifting around uncomfortably in the entrance.

"I believe you two are already acquainted," Christine stated quietly.

"Of course," Erik affirmed coldly.

"Monsieur," Raoul muttered, giving a stiff formal bow.

Erik briefly returned the gesture and both Christine and Raoul could tell that it was only out of formality and not respect.


The two men's eyes met and there was an unspoken agreement to attempt to stay out of each other's way.  Both knew that it would be disastrous and internally, they both knew that it would hurt Christine above all and neither wanted to do that.

"I'll go prepare a room for you, Erik," Christine said softly, breaking the silence. "Then we must figure out what we're going to do." She watched the two for a few short moments and the hurried off to complete her task.

Raoul and Erik stood alone in the dimly lit room – and Raoul could not take his eyes off him.

Erik silently walked over toward the large bay windows that overlooked the ocean.

No, he doesn't walk, Raoul noticed with morbid fascination. He drifted, just like a ghostly phantom. Raoul could easily see how he got that infamous name.

He continued to stare with vulgar curiosity, unable to tear his gaze away. Whether it was because he didn't trust the masked man out of his sight or because his fascination was glued to him, he couldn't guess.

I've never really gotten a very good look at him before. My, he's tall… and so thin! …Those hands are positively inhuman… Raoul thought in bewilderment. I've never seen him above ground in broad daylight…it feels so odd…

Raoul slowly became aware that Erik was staring right back at him.

"I would appreciate it if you would please stop staring at me, monsieur…" Erik said, his voice deathly quiet. After a short second, he added bitterly, "I may have to charge you for a private viewing."

Raoul threw his gaze to the nearest bookcase in heated embarrassment at being caught. He tried to fight the blush he could slowly feel consuming his face. After he was convinced he had it under control, he couldn't resist another glance toward Erik's direction.

He did so and was surprised to find Erik had moved across the room and had taken a seat the first available chair, his hands in a steeple before his closed eyes. Raoul hadn't even heard him move!


He sighed and began to pace the room, trying to decide what he would say to the brooding man in black.

But, how did one start a conversation with... the Opera Ghost?

Luckily, he didn't have to think hard or for very long. Christine quietly slipped back into the room and sighed softly


"Erik?" she asked softly, looking in his direction. "It's getting awfully late… If you'd like, we can get started in the morning… "

Erik said nothing, but got up from his seat and stood there, staring out the large windows at the rapidly disappearing sun on the Breton coast. He seemed to be silently pondering some secret thing and Christine thought that perhaps he hadn't heard her. However, she held her tongue until Erik turned around.

"Yes… Yes, that might be best," he said gently.

Without so much as a word or a glance at Raoul, Erik followed Christine out of the room…   And Raoul was left alone once more.

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A/N: Like it, hate it? Leave a review, please? We love all the ones we've been getting so far! Hope you like this interpretation of Raoul – we like him…