Chapter Five, part two


"Are you nervous?" Christine whispered.

Erik looked at her carefully, judging his answer before giving. "No," he said slowly. "Not for me, at any rate."

Christine smiled and blushed slightly. "I will be alright, Erik, with you beside me."

"Your vicomte would not be happy to hear that," the Phantom said quietly. "You have not told him yet, have you?"

"I tried, but…"

Erik shook his head. "If you still wish to after this is over, you will. If you do not, you won't. Simple, isn't it?"

She turned to him, running her fingers over his mask and through his hair. "I love you, Erik. Please believe that."

"I… It's time for the show to start, my dear."

The former diva nodded slowly and watched him leave for the stage. It was only moments before she was motioned to follow.

A sense of déjà vu settled over her, but this time the trap was not set for Erik, though she and Erik, like before, were the prey. Her eyes widened as she realized what a large crowd had shown that night. If something were to go wrong… If the shah were to realize what was happening… They could relive the entire chandelier incident once more. She shuddered at the thought.

Her voice seemed to work on its own, the lyrics coming to her. "…no dream within her heart but dreams of love…"

Her eyes glanced back without her command. There he was. Erik was there as he was supposed to be. She heard him sing quietly before his words reached her. "You have come here, in pursuit of your deepest urge. In pursuit of that wish which till now has been silent. Silent. I have brought you that our passions may fuse and merge. In your mind you have already succumb to me, dropped all defenses, completely succumb to me. Now you are here with me. No second thoughts. You have decided. Decided." He was behind her now, his hand resting gracefully on her shoulder. She looked up and back at him, their eyes meeting. His were cool, working through the situation as if it were a trivial matter, but hers, she knew, were wide with fright. He ran his hand from her shoulder, down her arm. Though an involuntary shiver passed through her, it calmed her a bit. "Past the point of no return. No backward glances. The games we played till now are at an end. Past the thought of if or when. Abandon thought and let the dream descend!"

"I see them," Christine whispered as quietly as she could. "They're in box five."

"What raging fire shall flood the soul? What rich desire unlocks its door? What sweet seduction lies before us…?" He tipped her chin up so that her ear was closer to his mouth. "Keep your eyes off them," he muttered, feeling her tense against him.


"They're in box five," Nadir said quietly from behind Raoul.

The vicomte turned, not having known that the Persian stood behind him. His eyes had been trained on his fiancé and the man that held her on stage. Held her far too close for his liking. "Say again?"

"Box five," the Persian repeated. "No no, don't look. You'll give us away and ruin any chance for their survival."

Raoul nodded and let out a long sigh. "I've lost her, haven't I?"

"Was she ever yours to begin with?" Nadir responded with a shrug. "It is not for me to say, nor even you."

"Monsieur de Changy!"

Raoul turned and recognized the petite blond girl that Christine had called Meg Giry. "What is it?"

"It's Mama!" the ballerina answered, white with fear. "I heard her scream from back stage and I feared the worse! I rushed in just in time to see a dark man taking her away…"

"The shah's taken her," Nadir said lowly. "Which way did they go, child? Tell me quickly or your mother may not survive the encounter."

"Back towards the southern end of the opera house. It's been under construction as of late. Monsieur, can you save her?"

"I'll do what I can," Nadir answered. "Stay here, lest they take you as well. Monsieur de Chagny?"

"I'll keep my eyes open. Please help Madame Giry."

Nadir nodded and was suddenly gone, leaving Meg staring fearfully up at the tanned vicomte. "What is going on, Monsieur? Mama was talking with the Opera Ghost, but she wouldn't tell me what was happening. Please, sir, is she in danger?"

Raoul forced a small smile. "I wouldn't worry about her too much, Mademoiselle Giry. Your mother is a very bright lady."


Christine watched Erik's eyes. He was watching something, she knew. His entire body was taught with apprehension of the end of it all. "When will the blood begin to race? When will the sleeping bud burst into bloom?" She wasclose to him. So close that she felt she could reach out and touch him. "When will the flames at last consume us?"

The next half a second happened faster than her mind could bring together. There was a strange sound that she could not place in the split second she had before Erik's eyes widened and he was the one that reached for her, calling out her name. She felt him puller her close, spin her around so that she stood where he had, and then he went rigid, his eyes widening once more before he let out a shaky breath and his knees acted as if they might give way.

"Erik?" she whispered, fear creeping into her voice. "Erik?"

"The lever," he managed, reaching a shaking hand for it. "Christine, hold tight."

The singer wrapped her arms around him as the stage gave way to his trap door.


Nadir made his way silently through the dark hallways. He could hear the hysteria even from there, but he put it out of mind for the time being. He had to find Madame Giry, and find her he would.

The woman was tied to a chair, feet secured as well as hands and a gag stuffed into her mouth. She glared at him fiercely when he entered, her eyes daring him to come closer.

"Madame Giry, I am not hear to harm you," Nadir said in careful French. He reached one hand to pull the gag from her mouth. His next words were rushed when she looked as if she might scream. "I am a friend of Erik's."

"Of Erik's?" she demanded.

"My name is Nadir Khan. I knew him from Persia, long before this opera was built."

"He's spoken of you briefly."

Nadir gave her a small, tight smile. "I trust you have sense enough to ignore most of his exaggerations. May I?"

"Please do," she responded and he began to untie the knots around her wrists. "What's going on out there?"

"I really don't know, Madame. Your daughter came to Monsieur de Chagny and me to tell us of your abduction."

Madame Giry stood quickly. "Well we shan't keep them wondering where we've gone to. Come."

"Nadir! Madame!"

The two turned to see Raoul jogging up to meet them. "What has happened?" the Persian demanded.

"There was a gunshot, aimed for Christine. Erik swung her out of the way and then they disappeared."

Madame Giry stood strait. "Come with me, Monsieurs. I know where they have gone to."