Chapter 13: How Life Became Dangerous

Erik watched for weeks and weeks as Christine became very popular, but then she was loved by another. He had watched this relationship become deep, she would sneak away from his view, but he found her. He watched them tell each other they loved each other and he knew he lost her. He knew she would never love him, the way she loved the Vicomte. Erik did not show himself for sometime, after he had made his point in hanging Joseph Buquet and the endless threats there was no need to show himself. Erik had a plan for something larger…he had to finish his piece. He had to finish Don Juan Triumphant, to make his plans work.

Erik watched for weeks and weeks as Christine became very popular, but then she was loved by another. He had watched this relationship become deep, she would sneak away from his view, but he found her. He watched them tell each other they loved each other and he knew he lost her. He knew she would never love him, the way she loved the Vicomte. Erik did not show himself for sometime, after he had made his point in hanging Joseph Buquet and the endless threats there was no need to show himself. Erik had a plan for something larger…he had to finish his piece. He had to finish to make his plans work.

Antoinette listened to Erik as he rehearsed his new piece and she saw the fire within him.

" Are you scared Madame?" Erik asked

" No, not at all," Antoinette said

Erik smiled and looked in the mirror and traced the white mask. He knew it had been three months and now it was time to appear once again for them. Erik walked to his room and pulled out the red attire. She looked at him and remembered this attire, he had not yet completed it; but now it was. She saw the mask that hung from it and she became truly afraid.

" Erik what do you plan to do?" she asked

" I will appear," he said

" You are mad," she said

" And as I always will be," Erik replied, " I will have Christine Daaé for my own."

Erik did not let her speak again and sent her on her way. Antoinette found that she must now play both sides. She wished the best for Erik, but she knew Christine did not love Erik. Christine needed to be warn of Erik's actions.

As the days past, the masquerade ball neared and Erik planned for his appearance to be then. Erik watched Christine's movements, as seeing she didn't set foot outside the opera house. She attended every session with her angel of music and he watched her finish her dress for the ball.

" Erik," she called

Erik stopped playing and listened to her footsteps become closer. She had promised him that, she would continue to visit every other week, so not to raise suspicion of a secret lover. Erik enjoy what visit she did make and grew very fond of Christine as a person. He saw she wore the ring on her right finger and yet there were some indications that the ring had been removed from that finger. He continued to play the organ as she walked to him.

" Master," she said

He did not answer her as she approached him, her eyes showed lies and betrayal. She sat beside him at the organ and looked at him.

" Sultan," she said

" Silence," Erik said, " she speaks."

Christine looked at him and Erik stopped playing. He looked at the piece he played and Christine shut the book. Erik turned to her, his mask shouted out to her of anger.

" You little Vixen, one does not disturb me while I am playing," Erik said

He rose and Christine looked at him, his body language spoke of anger and disappointment. She lowered her head and then stood and curtsied, then headed the way she came.

" Your fate has been sealed," Erik thought, " I am the one you will marry and the only man you will desire."

As the day came Erik planned his entrance and so it was then that Red Death was born. The Phantom of the Opera was no longer his darker side, his darker side was called Red Death. In fact that was exactly how he introduced himself.

That night screamed with excitement, but when Red Death appeared everything became quite. His red cloak trailing behind him, like a king's cloak, his read outfit blinded everyone with fear. His black gloves engulfed his human hands and his mask spoke of true death, which consumed his face. Antoinette looked at Erik and looked at Meg who hid behind Antoinette.

" Mother, who is that?" she asked

" The Phantom," Antoinette replied

Erik raised his music and tossed it down and gave them the directions on how he wanted his opera ran. Erik looked at them all and approached Christine, the first thing he notice was the ring around her neck, followed by the missing ring on her finger.

" Woe on you little Daaé ," he thought

Her lover had vanished somewhere and Erik and Christine remained in a daze. Meg and Antoinette watched and then Erik snatched the ring, he vanished in a split second. Though he did not expect Christine's lover to follow.

" Foolish Mortal, do you know where you have landed yourself?" Erik's voice echoed

From there Erik vanished and left the young Vicomte to fall to his doom. Antoinette quickly stepped in and saved him and there the Vicomte asked for a reason on why this Phantom did horrible things. Antoinette finally told him and suddenly it was understood.

" He's a genius Monsieur," she said

" Then Christine will be protected by me," he said

She looked at Vicomte and knew he was taking a risk on his own life. Was it worth it though?

Erik ripped the skull mask from his face and tossed it. He could only laugh at his foolish game and yet it was just as he planned. He looked at the ring and smiled.

" So be it, let this be war," Erik said, " Let my opera begin."

It was only weeks that the true war would end, Erik's opera would be performed and from there they would hunt him down. Erik dressed in his costume and slipped the black mask on.

" So, this is it," Erik said, " I will make her mine. I will make her my queen."

Erik walked off and went to the rafters to hide waiting for that one moment, and when he took it there was no one around. Erik enter onstage ever so quietly portraying the great Don Juan just as he pictured. He approached Christine with an ever seductive way, taking her innocence into his arms. She melted in his hold as she did before and Antoinette watched from behind, she was scared.

They climbed up the set piece and when they met in the middle, Erik took Christine in his arms, as they sang together. For that one moment Erik saw it in her eyes, there was love for him, he took his chance to let the audience know that he cared for her. It was then that deception took over in the split second as she ripped off his mask and wig. He stood there with surprise as people screamed and the police advanced. He looked and grabbed her, then cut down the ropes. Into the pits of hell they fell and the chandelier glided downward. Antoinette ran off to find the Vicomte and with her help she led him to the first, two cellars.

Erik pulled Christine from the boat and looked at her. His eyes showed anger in them and Christine's eyes showed fear. He pushed her towards the wedding gown and threw it at her.

" You and I will be eternally bonded," Erik said, " know that there will be a mass of happiness and sorrow."

" What have you become?" she cried

" Your worst nightmare," Erik replied, " Dress!"

Christine ran to the room and Erik looked at the ring. Christine walked out with bitter words. He did not answer them, he looked up at her as he held the ring.

" You brought this upon yourself," he answered

He put the ring in her hand and put the veil on her head.

" This is your fate look at it, touch it," he hissed

Erik grabbed her hand and made her feel it, made her grab his face.

" Every morning you will see this repulsive face," Erik said

Christine cried and pushed away, she threw down the veil and pulled the sheets down. She grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the mirrors, standing next to him she stared at him.

" It lies in you, I find no horror in this face, this distortion," she said

When the Vicomte arrived Erik pulled Christine close to him and welcomed him. Christine called his name in fear and the Vicomte pleaded to see her. He welcomed him and pulled the gate, but Erik tossed a lasso over the Vicomte's neck. Christine cried out to curse Erik. Erik tied the Vicomte to the gate and mocked him, by raising his hand to the level of his eyes.

The torture began as Erik made Christine chose, he encouraged her greatly to see things his way. Christine tried so hard to plead with Erik, but there was no way.

" Make your choice!" Erik spat

Christine walked into the water and walked to Erik. She stood in front of him and he looked at her. She push his hair back and then with all her strength, she kissed him. Short, but enough to show Erik human contact. Erik looked at her and then she kissed him, she kissed him fully, a lovers kiss. Erik kissed her back to return her gesture, but then pulled away. He stumbled from her kissed felt tears fall from his face.

" Go," he said, " Go, leave this place."

He climbed up towards his throne and looked at them.

" Go now and leave me!" Erik shouted, " Forget all you have seen!"

Christine untied the Vicomte and they were off without a sound. Erik stumbled to Christine's room and there looked at the music box.

" I have failed to keep an angel," Erik whispered

" Erik," a soft voice said

Erik looked up and saw Christine standing there and Erik smiled slightly. She took his hand and placed the ring in his hand, then he looked at her.

" Christine I love you," he whispered

" Some day Erik love, will find you," she said

She kissed his cheek and left and Erik was alone, but then the chimes rang. Erik got up and took a candle holder and with all his might broke the mirrors. He came to a final one and smashed it until it shattered. He stepped through and vanished and at the end of the tunnel a candle waited for him, with his dearest friend close beside it. She slipped a cloak over him and covered his face.

" Go, Erik," she said, " go now and never return to Paris."

Erik hugged her and so he stepped out of the opera house walls and watched his palace burn down.

" It's over now, the music of the night," Erik whispered

He walked into the distance and Antoinette watched him. His beat up body dragged him away for good.

" Good bye Erik," she whispered, " until we meet again."