Chapter Three


"Why did you do that?" Leron demanded of Raoul as the elder man came to him once more.

"What?"

"Take her to the stage! She told you that you'd bring a curse upon everyone."

Raoul scoffed. "Nothing has happened, and nothing will. Not even twenty years ago did a real phantom roam these halls, but a man in the guise of a spirit. Your precious Angèl's voice will bring nothing down." Well, he certainly hoped not, in any case.

Leron's shoulders slumped. "There are worse things than a shattered chandelier," he mumbled with a small smile. "If you'll excuse me, sir, I will go and find her. I doubt her father is pleased with her."

Raoul watched him disappear towards the stage and watched him go no further. He turned to walk into the crowd when a figure caught his attention. A woman. Her face was partially hidden behind a black mask, but even with twenty years gone by she was so familiar to his eyes. He moved closer, calling "Little Lotte?" ever so softly.

Christine turned, her eyes wide in surprise. "Raoul!" she hissed.

"Christine, then it is you, after all this time."

"What on earth are you doing here, Raoul? You must leave. You must go now."

Raoul shook his head. "Then he has his spell about you once again."

"It is no spell," Christine answered as she set her shoulders strait, her back equally the same and pulled herself up to her full height. "It is love. Now leave, Raoul. You are not welcome in his opera house."

"I shan't leave without you, my love."

"And if I don't wish to come with you? I made my choice."

"He's caught you in his spell!"

"Leave, Raoul, please. Don't cause me to think ill of you, my old friend. I don't wish to." Tears filled her eyes as she turned away from him. "Please, I wish only to remember you as my childhood friend."

Raoul reached a hand out, pausing before touching her. "Little Lotte thought: am I fonder of dolls or-"

"No, Raoul, I am fond of Erik. I am fond of my Phantom. My Angel. Now go," she whispered in a rush.

"I will not let you go this time, Christine! I fought too hard to free you!"

She turned and fled as quickly as she could without bringing unwanted attention to herself. She left Raoul standing, stunned, and perfectly alone.


"Angèl?" Leron called quietly, his voice echoing trough the halls of the underground home. "Angèl? I'm terribly sorry…"

"Leron! You shouldn't be here!" the girl's voice answered, though she herself did not appear. "Papa was displeased."

"I came to apologize. Monsieur had no right."

"No, he did not, and for that reason Papa has forbidden me to see you."

"What!" Leron raged, eyes searching frantically about the area. "How can he? What have I done! Angèl, this has gone too far, you are no longer a child. Please, come with me." He reached out his hand toward where her voice had come from. "Please, Angèl, they are still at the party, won't you come with me for just a bit and we can have time together."

Angèl stepped out from her hiding place, her mask still firmly planted on her face. "You know I cannot."

"Someday you will have to make your own decisions."

She turned away from him for a moment and he thought she would run from him, but instead she pulled a cloak from where it hung and wrapped it around her own shoulders, pulling the hood over her curls. "We shan't be long?"

"I promise to have you back before midnight," he said with a smile. "Come now. Quickly."


"Christine?"

"Erik!" the opera singer called out in surprise. "Even now you can approach without my knowing."

"Are you crying, love?" he murmured in her ear.

"Don't let him take me, Erik," she pleaded, wrapping her arms around him. "Oh please, don't let him take me away from you!"

Erik pulled his love closer and held her protectively. "Never. I won't ever let him take you."


A/N: Just a warning that I'll be out of town until Saturday evening and so I may not update till sometime Sunday.

Lynx Ryder: I doubt I'd kill Raoul… I don't like him, but he's soooo much better in the movie than he is in the book. He's a sniveling little brat in the book! Lol.