A/N: A big thank you to all of you who reviewed, they were much appreciated! :)

Well there's not a lot to say except that I hope you enjoy Chapter two…

Christine's face was now drained of blood, bled whiter than snow. The moon cast ghostly shadows around her and silhouetted her slim figure against its own glory. This was it she thought, she had made a stupid decision in the past but that was long behind her. The Opera Populaire was about six miles from Raoul's mansion and although she could have asked the snoozing stable boy to take her there by carriage, she dare not use Raoul's help again. Be it indirect or direct. She had to follow her heart on her own and when her love was with her she knew nothing would ever tear them away from one another's ever lasting embrace again. Nothing. The frost tipped grass crunched beneath her feet. Christine liked the crisp touch. If she hurried she could be at the opera house by noon the following day. She could already make out the dashes of purples, pinks and yellows each streaking the sky with invincible powered beauty.

Clutching her cross, which was now swinging loosely around her neck, Christine promised her heart that with the new sun she would make this promise, it was Erik all the way! Raoul was no longer in the picture, he should never have been painted and now a blank, new canvas was going to be used, a new start, it was Erik or no one.

The first notes of the bird's morning song filled Christine's ears and a faint smile came across her lips. The purple hoped dawn filled the sky; suddenly she heard a silent clip clopping of hooves. Hooves within a distant dark.

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Raoul tossed and turned, he hadn't slept all night, how could he? Whenever he closed his eyes she was there. When he opened them again, she was there; and yet it was all a painful illusion. He had arranged to have lunch with Christine today- but now, how could he even begin to think about dragging himself out of bed to cancel the booking? Suddenly a thought struck him, anxious hope flowing through his veins…She had been looking forward to this lunch for ages, it was after all his and Christine's anniversary. Christine was simply upset and would be at the restaurant waiting for him, ready to apologise for her actions the night before. After all, Raoul thought, it was her fault all I did was love her.

With this new spark of hope Raoul leapt out of bed, had a bath and changed quickly, yelling constantly at the servants as he did this. The stable boy was already waiting with Raoul's Frisian stallion, he hated being shouted out. Doesn't every one!?

The wind was howling relentlessly as the day slowly died. Raoul pushed the horse harder, he wanted to meet Christine; he couldn't keep his beloved waiting! Eventually he arrived at the largest restaurant in town. He had been galloping recklessly fast, at break-neck speed and now his horse was sweating fiercely the whites of its eyes showing wildly.

"Blasted animal", Raoul handed the reins to the young man waiting at the entrance. He ran in searching frantically for Christine, no! She was nowhere in sight!

"Can I help you there sir?"

"Ah, no, no, I'm quit- oh wait yes, ummm...Reserved seating under Victome de Chagney…"

"Ah yes, right this way sir!"

Raoul didn't look at the waiter; Raoul didn't look anywhere in fact, but the empty seat in front of him. Where are you? He said under his breath, heart still racing.

Where are you?

All of a sudden Raoul looked up as the door swung open. Was it Christie? Alas, no, a woman magnificently dressed, perhaps a little over the top for where she was now, but still, Raoul couldn't help but notice how stunning she looked. No! He thought, he would look no longer…he wanted Christine to come back to him…only Christine!

The time ticked by; seconds as minutes, minutes became hours and hours became a vicious eternity, still Raoul's heart began to sink lower and lower still, his mind kept repeating her name over and over again yet. Christine. CHRISTINE!

Though it killed him to finally realise the truth of what had happened and in his heart he had know all along, Raoul finally ordered something. His darling wasn't coming and Raoul figured that he might as well eat something. Anything, but something.

The young woman lavishly dressed in blue satin, her dress detailed in every way and yet so plain, so lovely, began to stare at Raoul. Who was he? She had definitely seen him before! Eventually her curiosity could be quietened no longer. She just had to satisfy it, to feed it on the bread of Knowledge.

The woman walked past Raoul's table, gracefully…but oh so purposely knocking the vase of flowers on his table, spilling dying flowers and death stained water all over the table. Drip dripping onto the floor.

"Oh my! I'm terribly sorry! I won't simply have you sit by yourself, waiting for some ignorant waiters to clear this mess that really was my fault!" she looked across to the waiters wrinkling her nose as she did so.

"Uh…no…"

"No I simply insist! Come, come!" Raoul was in no mood for an argument but then neither was he in the right mood for talking to any one. Alas there was nothing he could do. He sat down at the woman's table nervously.

"You must be Raoul! The one who only recently got married to the beautiful soprano Christine! I don't mean to pry but…ummm…you don't look very…well, if you forgive me saying such a thing, uh, were you waiting for someone?"

"As a matter of fact, yes, I was but ummm…she, I mean he was busy…bu…bu…Oh it's terrible! JUST terrible! That bloody Erik! And his evil magic enchantments! Stealing MY Christine! Not his! And now she's gone in search of him no doubt. She doesn't mean this "love" I know it! I know! She still loves me, she does I tell you, she bloody well does!" Raoul collapsed in a large heap on the table in front of the blue dressed stranger; crying his heart out, all the more. The surrounding people has ceased their chatter as silence leapt into the room and stood there, waiting, watching who would be the one to defeat it?

Suddenly the woman looked around, eyes narrow slits as she asked the silent question; what are you all staring at? They instantly returned to their conversations, now perhaps a decimal or two quieter than before.

"Now, now Raoul, if you don't mind me calling you by your first name, its quite alright…"

"I'm so sorry Mad…ummm…?"

"Lady Annabella

"I'm so sorry Lady Annabella, I truly am, and I had no right to have a such an out burst in front of a lady like that, please forgive me…I..."

"Its quite alright I tell you! One should never let one's feeling go unheard and allow them to fester and develop with in one for so long, it will drain you mentally and then lead on to physical suffering! Its oh so much easier to tell your problems to a complete stranger than some one close. Believe me, I know. You say you are having problems with Christine? Again I don't mean to pry, but…you needn't worry!"

"Why ever not? She's going to find that Phantom idiot and tell the monster that she loves him, he'll finally get what he wants and I will have been beaten by some ugly guy in a bloody mask! How could she do this to me? Me! Of all people! After all…" Raoul was trying fiercely now, to fight back the winning tears.

"Calm down sir! Think about it, if it is truly a spell upon your wife then love will prevail, it always does! And if she truly does love him…well…there are many ways of getting what you want…"

"What?! Are you going to help me…but why? I mean- I…"

"Like I said", there was a fire burning in her eyes now, "there are many ways of getting what you want…"

A/N: What is that seemingly mad woman on about? What is happening with Christine? What's that sound she can hear? Is there still time for her and Erik…or does Raoul have the upper hand?

Find out in Chapter 3 which will be up very soon…and remember, please tell me what you think so far, got any ideas? Then tell me! :) Please Review

Still on her knees begging…review…PLEEEEEEEEASE!