Over the next few days Erik kept in contact with Madame Giry to oversee the arrangements for Gustave's funeral. Erik ordered Madame Giry to make sure that Gustave had a marvelous tomb, a resisting place fit for a nobleman. The costs of the burial were taken by Erik, and from that moment on he would also provide for Christine's needs.

During the funeral Meg tried to comfort Christine by hugging her.

"I am so sorry for your father Christine. You must feel so alone." Meg said to Christine later that day.

"I am not alone. My father left the angel to guard me." Was Christine's answer.

The night her father died Christine was consoled by the voice of the angel one more time. As when she was five, the beautiful voice calmed her restless spirit and protected her sleep. In the morning Christine felt watched over and safe. She knew that wherever she went, the angel was with her. In her mind, the day her father died, he and the angel became one and the same.

When Erik agreed to let Christine see him, he was met with Madame Giry's rejection. The woman told him that such an act would forever scar Christine. Erik had feared the same, and he decided to remain just her angel until a better time. Madame Giry would act as the tutor during daylight. Christine rarely spoke; she seemed pleased with everyone and everything. Only her re-borne fear for the dark betrayed her facade of courage.

Meanwhile, when Erik tried to reclaim his usual seat, box five, so that he could once again enjoy the opera, he was surprised to learn that the Opera Populaire had been sold to a Monsieur LaFevre. Erik decided to sent this new manager a note to inform him of how things were to run in this place. After all, this is my theater; Erik said remembering what Gustave had once told him.

Along with his usual seat and attendant, thinking that he now needed a secure incoming salary to sustain young Christine, Erik also requested to be paid the sum of 20,000 francs a months. In exchange he would retain from appearing here and there in the opera house and therefore would relieve the new manager of the constant complaints about a ghost. Erik also offered to fund the maintenance of the ballet school as long as Christine was allowed to continue her education there.

LaFevre agreed to Erik's demands without questioning his reasons. The new manager wanted nothing to jeopardize the sanity of his employees, and the monetary refund he obtained from the performances. Erik kept his promise and did not roam the halls when people were known to be wandering. He only sang to Christine while everyone slept, and the only person he occasionally saw, to talk about Christine's well being, was Madame Giry. Still, rumors about an opera ghost were born. Those rumors grew with the years, and soon Erik's felt presence in the Opera house became known as the Phantom of the Opera.

To Erik's dismay Monsieur LaFevre lacked a gifted ear for music. Contrary to the previous manager, LaFevre employed an extravagant diva, Carlotta Guidicelli, as his soprano. With 'La Carlotta' came her partner the tenor Ubaldo Piangi. Piangi was no more than a marionette in Carlotta's hands. He did as she said and that was the end of the story. And sadly 'La Carlotta' not only sounded like a tortured cat, she acted like the last queen of the Nile. Demanding the unthinkable, and insulting everyone that crossed her path, especially those who in her eyes did not appreciate her talent. Erik was not very fond of her. This was the result of Carlotta's constant attacks at Christine. Carlotta believed that Christine was always trying to steal her show. This was not completely true, Christine did enjoy making the woman angry, but she lacked the singing ability to steal the moaning feline's spotlight. Erik, who had to keep his word to LaFevre, maintain his distance but managed to give Carlotta a couple scares here and there to control her temper. Not surprisingly, Erik experienced a sense of accomplishment after each naughty act. The constant 'accidents' that she experienced made Carlotta even more infuriated at Christine, for the girl laughed uncontrollably knowing somehow that her angel had something to do with the mishaps. To everyone else the Phantom was to blame.

On what appeared to be an ordinary day, unaware that Erik was listening, Christine made a plea that would forever change her life. She begged to her angel to grant her the miracle of a beautiful voice. She wanted to sing just like him, and be applauded by the audience like that witch Carlotta was. Her words were filled with such yearning, and Erik, being so vulnerable to whatever it was that Christine desired, made the decision to teach her to sing. That night Erik made the mistake of renewing the once ritualistic lessons in the music room. Every Saturday, when the opera house was empty, Christine would walk to the music room and lock the door behind her. From the mysterious dept of the theater, a voice, her angel's voice, instructed her vocal range with precise skill.

Christine was a good student. She worked hard and obeyed every one of Erik's commands with accuracy. The girl was a little impatient to show the manager her new voice, but following her angel's advice, she decided to wait until later. Christine took vocal lessons for over three years, and was devastated when she found out that Monsieur LaFevre was retiring the summer of her 16th birthday. Now she would never have a chance to sing. A new manager meant a new admirer for Carlotta. LaFevre had grown tired of the diva's character and when he was in charge Christine believed that she could persuade him to give her an opportunity. But now it was too late.