Three long months have gone by, and Christine has not heard the voice of the angel. Her nights are no longer filled with his music and her soul feels cold. Her white cheeks lack the pink blush of happiness. Christine knew that she had done wrong to Erik, and still she called to him that night after the opening of 'Il Muto', when he didn't come to her she wept. But he did not fall for her tears and for the first night in years she slept without his song.
Today Christine awakes from her sleep in the same cheerless state in which she went to sleep the night before. There is no more glow in her eyes; the only sparkle in the room comes from the reflection of the candle's light that the ring on her finger makes. Christine looks at her hand and remembers the evening before when she agreed to marry Raoul. She had waited for weeks and weeks for the angel to return, but he showed no sign of forgiveness. After accepting that he would never come back Christine finally approved the proposition that Raoul had made a month before.
That night, during the official inauguration masquerade ball given for the new managers, Raoul was to make their engagement public. Christine had acted happy around Raoul but her feelings were mixed. She thought that she was doing good revealing her secret to Raoul, but she felt miserable without the angel's voice. She cursed and vowed to never again refer to him as 'the angel', but pronouncing his name had an even stronger effect on her, one that she did not want to provoke.
Oblivious to this Erik is fighting his own battle trying to stay away from Christine. In these three months he has not slept well and his appetite has decreased almost to non-existent. Erik has poured all his love, all his anguish into a score for an opera. Frustrated he wrote his feelings and his most coveted desires into paper. Erik wrote wishing that perhaps if she heard it she would understand.
"Fool!" Erik screams to the emptiness of his cave. "You were nothing but a fool! You gave her everything she wished for, everything and more, and still she hurt you. Like everyone else. Just like everyone before her!"
Hopeless and tired Erik sobs. The irony of life is too much to seize in a single tear.
A long time ago a good man believed in Erik like no other person ever had before or after. That man gave Erik wisdom and courage, gave him love, but most of all he gave him love. But Erik betrayed him, he had deceived Gustave and he had become an immoral. No more than an animal, no more than a beast. And yet, Gustave had believed Erik to be so much more than he really was and he had the faith to entrust in him his only possession in life, his daughter.
In a sinister twist of fate the girl that he devoted his life too now tore Erik to pieces by betraying him. Just like Erik had done to her father, she was doing to him. Gustave's forgiveness was far too long overdue for Erik, and that is why the pain of Christine's rejection hurt even more.
Now many years later Erik betrays his friend once again by wanting his protégé as a woman, by lusting for her. Abominable! Erik damned. Even away from her he knew of her whereabouts, he could feel her steps and hear her voice in his head. Erik was lying to himself if he believed that he could live another day without seeing her. Death would be more gratifying than a life without her taste in his lips, without one last feel of her skin.
The ball was progressing successfully and all the guests were enjoying themselves. They all danced around the floor and swirled about the halls of the main entrance to the building. The managers were delighted to have the 'crème de la crème' of French aristocracy present at their inauguration. But they were even more joyous to have had a peaceful three months without a phantom lurking about their theater.
Among the many dancers on the floor were Carlotta and her puppet Piangi. Madame Giry watched the spectacle from across the room. A little late on arrival, Raoul came into the room with Christine by the arm. He saluted the managers and guided Christine to the dance floor, sweeping her dress around her.
A speechless Erik watched from afar. So they were taking pleasure in mocking his state? Masquerade! Paper faces on parade! Hide your face, so the world will never find you! Erik sarcastically sang for himself. Indeed he would give them a reason to sing.
Raoul and Christine stop dancing and he whispers onto her ear that it is time to announce their engagement. A frantic Christine refuses.
"No Raoul! It is best if we wait. It will be our secret engagement!" she says in a playful voice.
"But why is it secret? What have we to hide?" Raoul asks.
"Please, wait until the time is right."
"When will that be? It's an engagement, not a crime!"
"Let's not argue. Please humor me." She says smiling.
Not too happy with her need to conceal their love, Raoul accepts.
The music continues and Christine and Raoul watch the ballet dancers perform an especially choreographed melody while the chorus sings above them
"Masquerade! Paper faces on parade! Masquerade! Hide your face, so the world will never find you!"
"Masquerade!
Every face a different shade! Masquerade! Turn around, there's
another
mask behind you!"
At the height of the performance the lights suddenly dim and a figure unexpectedly appears at the top of the staircase. Dressed all in blood red, with a mask of death covering his whole face, the Phantom decides to delight the guests with his return. With shockingly heavy steps he descends the stairs and takes the centre of the stage His eyes glare and send shivers through all those who meet his gaze.
"Why so silent, good messieurs?" he sings disdainfully. "Did you think that I had left you for good? Have you missed me, good messieurs? I have written you an opera!"
Reaching behind him he takes out a manuscript and drops it at the feet of the managers.
"Here I bring the finished score, Don Juan Triumphant!"
Looking around the room he directs himself to the guests.
"Fondest greetings to you all!" then he turns back to Firmin and Andre. "A few instructions just before the show starts. Carlotta surely cannot act and therefore she will gladly step aside."
The diva is too frightened to reply to his insult. Erik continues to speak.
"Our Don Juan must lose some weight. It's not healthy in a man of Piangi's age. And my managers must learn that their place is in an office, not the arts."
Smiling wickedly he turns his eyes to Christine who is paralyzed by his voice.
"As
for our star, Miss Christine Daae . . . No doubt she'll do her best,
it's true her voice is
good. She knows, though, should she wish
to excel she has much still to learn, if pride will let her return to
me, her teacher, her teacher."
Mesmerized, Christine approaches as the Phantom beckons her. They look into each other's eyes and Erik pleas for her too see thorough him all the love that he can offer. Christine's eyes begin to tear up as she realizes that she has hurt him. He reaches out for her hand and feels the ring on her finger. Erik lifts her hand and stares at the ring for a second, then closes his eyes. Christine sees a tear fall from Erik's eyes.
"You know in your heart that you belong to me." He whispers so that only she can hear.
He releases her hand and walks back to the top of the staircase. All cower in suspense as his figure disappears before them leaving behind a trail of red smoke and iridescent light. Christine hurries to the top of the staircase but she is too late, Erik is gone.
Fearing for her safety Raoul sleeps outside her room that night. Madame Giry pities the boy and his need to protect her from her savior, and she goes to take him a blanket. He politely thanks her gesture, but stops her from retreating to her room.
Making sure that Christine sleeps, he asks Madame Giry what she knows about this phantom.
"Please Monsieur, I know no more than anyone else?" she says obviously lying.
"That is not true." He insists.
"It is. There is nothing I can say that can put your mind at ease."
"But you have been here since longer than Christine. Surely you must know when all this started. Who is that man? You must tell me, I must protect Christine."
"Vicomte, I assure you that if someone needs protecting it certainly isn't Christine."
Raoul is confused by her answer.
"The angel would rather die than harm a hair on her head. Believe me when I say that it is him that needs protection from Christine." Madame Giry tells him and walks away.
