1Disclaimer: I don't own The Phantom of the Opera any more than I did last chapter.

Chapter 2

Christine

Christine hurried back into the opera house. She really was the greatest actress ever, to fool the young Vicomte so well. He was so easily mislead. It wasn't the most pleasant job in the world, the fop was obviously too self-absorbed to care about anyone but himself, but it did have it's perks. Her job was complicated, but going so well. With Raoul's affections, she would be able to afford to go wherever she wanted with her talents, not to mention going in style. With Erik's love, she would be taught everything the gifted ghost had to teach her and could go anywhere, after taking Carlotta's place of course. She walked into her dressing room and hung her cloak on it's hook.

"Christine..."

She smiled. "Yes, Angel of Music?"

The masked face appeared to her in her mirror. "You outdid yourself tonight, my dear. I think you're ready to sing in Carlotta's place tomorrow evening."

She clasped her hands together. "Really? Oh Erik!"

Erik took her by the waist and smiled down at his pupil. "Of course. You've worked hard, and your skills have improved. You still need training, Christine, but you are well on your way."

She sighed happily and looked up into the eyes behind the mask.

"I will leave you now, my dear. You must rest, so that you will be ready for our lesson tomorrow morning. I will meet you here tomorrow morning at nine o'clock."

"Alright."

He kissed her gently, then released her and disappeared in the secretive way that he always did.

That went well...

Erik came to her dressing promptly at nine o'clock the next morning to begin her lessons. He began with a song from his opera Don Juan, called " Noble Knight."

"Once more Christine," Erik said gently, after hearing her sing it through having corrected the mistakes he had brought to her attention.

"The noble knight

comes to my aid

putting up a fight–"

"No!!!" Erik slammed the keys of the grand piano. "Did we not just go over that phrase? That is a C, Christine, a C natural!! Not a C sharp, like you persist on hitting no matter how much we go over this, a C natural! Do you understand? Again, and this time, sing it correctly!"

Christine gulped and meekly started again with the piano, this time, hitting the right note.

"There." Erik sat back and sighed. "Well done, my child. That's all for today, you are dismissed. I will meet you back here at six o'clock to rehearse a few things before your performance tonight. Good day."

"Good day, Angel." She responded quietly before he disappeared. The Ghost did have quite a temper, she reminded herself bitterly as she went to her room to don her cloak.

Raoul was waiting for her in front of the opera house. He smiled at her as she skipped down the steps.

"Christine, my darling."

Raoul, the fop...

Hiding her thoughts, she smacked a dazzling smile on her face, easily fooling the young Vicomte.

"Oh Raoul!" she fell into his arms.

"Are you ready for our grand afternoon together, my dear? Away from this opera house from which you never seem to leave?"

"More than ready Raoul." She forced up some tears.

"Christine, my darling, is everything alright? What has happened?" Raoul's brow creased with concern and he held her arms, looking into her eyes.

Do I look alright? And what was your first indication that something was amiss? The tears which are pouring down my face?

"Oh Raoul!" she sobbed. "My...tutor..."

"Yes?"

"Oh Raoul, I've worked so hard, and he persists in yelling at me when I make mistakes, simple little mistakes!"

"Oh my darling," Raoul held her in his arms, "You poor dear. Where is the blackguard, Christine? I shall make personally sure that nothing of this sort happens again!"

"No, Raoul, don't!" She withdrew a bit and looked into his eyes, placing her hand on his chest pleadingly. "No Raoul, he'll kill you!"

"Nonsense! I'd like to see him try!"

"Raoul, please, for me. I'll be alright, and besides, look what good he's done for me, for my voice. You'll see tonight, at the opera."

"You're sure?" He handed her his handkerchief.

She nodded and accepted his offering, "Quite."

"Alright then." Raoul opened the door to his carriage. "Let us get away from here and forget this nightmare you're living in."