Disclaimer: I don't own anything pertaining to The Phantom of the Opera, not even at chapter ten. Such a pity, such a pity...

Chapter 10

Past the Point of No Return

"We have all been blind

and yet the answer is staring us in the face

this could be the chance to ensnare our clever friend."

Raoul had met the managers, Andre and Firmin, to discuss his plans to rid the opera of it's Phantom.

They were, of course, most interested.

"We're listening"

"Go on!"

Raoul grinned.

"We shall play his game.

Perform his work but remember we hold the ace.

For if Miss Daae sings he is certain to attend."

The opera performers had learned Erik's Don Juan, and that night was indeed to be their opening night, which Raoul had known, of course, but merely added to his speech for dramatic effect. The managers had caught on, however, and they finished their patron's thoughts excitedly before he finished telling them of his ingenious plan.

"We make sure the doors are barred!"

"We make certain the men are there!"

"We make certain they're armed!" Raoul piped in, stating the obvious a bit, determined to remain the mastermind of the plot.

The three men finished as one.

"The curtain falls.

His reign will end!"

All this plotting had not, of course, gone unnoticed by Erik, who prepared for battle. He walked secretly through the opera house, making sure that all of his passageways were clear and his contraptions were ready to use. Then he went to Christine, appearing in her room through her mirror as she applied her makeup.

"Christine," he closed the mirror behind him. "It's a trap. I've heard that fop tell those poor excuse for opera managers his plan for trapping me."

"What?" Christine grew pale.

"He'll surround the opera house, inside and out, with armed guards to apprehend me. Therefore, I have devised a plan of my own."

"What is it?"

"I take Piangi's place during the performance, when he goes behind the curtain. Then you and I will go down to my halls through a series of trap doors."

"When?"

"After we sing 'Past the Point of No Return'."

Christine nodded silently.

"So you agree?"

"Yes, Erik. But don't kill Piangi, enough killing. Just knock him out or something."

"Fine."

"And have Madame Giry waiting for us with a priest."

"What for?"

"So we can be married right away! No more waiting, and I don't want my reputation sullied."

"Christine, may I remind you that we are going underground? We're the only ones there!"

"Even so, my request still stands."

"It's not that I don't agree with you, my love, but I really don't think anyone else should be there; Madame Giry and you know where I live, but no outsiders may come in."

Christine thought for a moment. "You could kidnap him."

Erik began to protest, then paused, devising a plan. "Very well." He grinned.

"And Meg must be my maid of honor."

"Now wait a minute–"

"Meg is my best friend, and we need a witness."

"What about Madame Giry?"

"Her daughter is just as trustworthy, believe me. I want her to visit me as well, Erik, so she'll need to learn the way sometime."

"Christine, if a secret gets let out to too many people, it ceases to be a secret. My home will soon become obvious to all!"

"Nonsense! It's just one more person. No one else, Erik, I promise."

Erik sighed. "Fine. You take care of Meg and her mother, I'll take care of the priest." He turned to go.

"Erik!"

He turned back.

"I've been thinking about something."

"Yes?"

"You...I don't think you'll like it."

"Oh for the sake of music, Christine, just spit it out! I haven't got time to dawdle."

Christine gulped, "I...think I should remove your mask after our song."

Erik was silent, staring at her. Christine thought she would burst before he finally spoke in a quiet, low voice, "Why?"

"Because. I could show everyone who I'm marrying, the man I love."

"You don't think that my managers and the Vicomte will take care of that?"

"I think it's important to show that what matters is who you are, not what you look like," she paused, "something you've struggled with all your life. This will get out, Erik, and everyone will know that I disappeared with you, whatever they call you. They'll know that I love you. And they will see the man behind the mask."

"What? Without paying?" he scoffed, remembering his tortured childhood.

Christine put a hand on his shoulder, "Erik, you know that's not what this is about."

"'The living corpse', Christine, that's what they called me. And that is who you're marrying."

"That's not true!" Christine placed her hand on the exposed portion of his face and looked into his eyes, "you are Erik, and someday people will realize that, even if it's after our lifetime. They will realize that you are a man, not a monster, like I have."

Erik sighed shakily, then kissed her. "Yes." he said quietly. Then he stroked her cheek and left.

Christine hastily finished her makeup and went to find Meg and Madame Giry; both of them would be told together to save time and breath, she decided.

Madame Giry was tightening the strings of her daughters corset in her room; a convenient coincidence, saving Christine from running all through the Opera Populaire to track down the two of them.

"Meg, Madame Giry, I must speak with you."

Madame Giry nodded and Christine closed and locked the door.

"I'm marrying Erik." She blurted out. There was no time to beat around the bush.

Madame Giry was silent, her gaze falling to the floor.

"Who is Erik?" Meg asked, looking from her mother to her friend in confusion.

"The Phantom of the opera." Christine said gently.

Meg's eyes widened. "I don'tChristinehow can you–"

"He is my Angel of Music, Meg. He is my tutor."

"The Phantom of the opera is your tutor?"

"Yes."

"All this time?"

Christine nodded.

"And you knew this?" She turned to her mother.

Madame Giry nodded.

"Why wasn't I told?" Meg asked quietly after a moment.

"I didn't tell anyone, Meg. Your mother knew because she knows him, and Raoul knew because he was his rival, but I told no one else. Erik is very secretive, which is why it's a surprise that I was allowed to come here and tell you."

"Christine it sounds as if he has you afraid of him! As if you're his slave! He 'allowed' you to come?"

"I'm not his slave, both of us understand how vital it is that his home remains hidden, as he does. It's his domain, I have no right to take anyone there without his permission. I'm not his slave, just his respectful bride-to-be."

"Do you love him?" Madame Giry spoke.

"Yes, with all of my heart." Christine smiled.

The dance instructor searched the face of the young woman she knew so well in an attempt to ascertain the truth of these words. It was obvious that Christine was telling the truth.

"Very well." Madame Giry sighed. "I have known of his regard for you for a long time, but your regard for him is news to me. I hope you are sure, my dear, that you truly love him and are not merely under his spell."

"I've never been more sure of anything, Madame. We will marry tonight, and we want the two of you to be there, as witnesses, and Meg as my maid of honor."

Madame Giry raised an eyebrow, "And where will he find a priest?"

Christine smiled, "He has his ways."

Erik crept through the streets of Paris, unseen by passers-by, until he came to the nearest cathedral, where he could be sure of finding a priest. He quickly entered through a back door and closed it behind him, glancing around the candle-lit sanctuary for the object of his mission. He quickly found a priest, folding a cloth near the large doors of the cathedral. The Phantom stealthily made his way to the front of the room, right behind the priest.

Erik quickly, without a sound, placed a handkerchief drenched in a strong-smelling liquid onto his nose and held it there, catching the priest as he passed out.

He picked up the man, then took a small bible and snuck out the way he came, making his way even more cautiously through the streets of Paris, pausing only momentarily from time to time to adjust the weight of the man on his shoulders. Once in his halls, he laid the priest out on his bed with the bible next to him. Then he went to prepare for the premiere of Don Juan.

Meg caught Christine's arm as they waited backstage for the opera to begin.

"Christine, please explain to me what is going on."

"I can't, Meg. Not here."

"But–"

"Stay with your mother when you're backstage. Especially," she lowered her voice, "during 'Past the Point of No Return.' She will show you the way; Erik has disabled the traps on the path you will take."

"Erik? The Angel of Music? The Phantom of the Opera? Secret passages and traps?" Meg shook her head in disbelief.

"Christine, you must have been dreaming;

stories like this can't come true.

Christine, you're talking in riddles

and it's not like you."

Christine put her hand on Meg's and looked into her eyes. "Stay with your mother, Meg."

The orchestra ended Piangi's song and he exited, knocked out, she was certain, by Erik in a matter of moments. She stepped out as the next song began,

"No thoughts within her head

but thoughts of joy!

No dreams within her heart

but dreams of love!"

Erik walked on the stage, dressed in Don Juan's costume.

"You have come here..."

He began to sing, casting a spell over his audience as he had over her, never missing a step of the choreography, smiling at her when the audience wouldn't see, reveling with her in their secret.

"Past the point of no return,

no backward glances,

These games we've played till now

are at an end.

Past the thought of "if" or "when,"

no use resisting,

abandon thought and let the dream descend..."

The audience sat silent, enthralled by the voices filling the opera house. Raoul sat in his usual box, wonderingwhat the difference was between this scene and the scene before...something was different...but what? Perhaps his hair had fallen out of place...he pulled out his comb and hastily combed it again; five minutes can make a significant change in one's appearance. Piangi's voice had certainly improved between the scenes, but how?

"And now I am here with you,

no second thoughts,

I've decided...decided..."

The Vicomte noticed that it was not only Piangi's voice that had undergone a rapid change, it was his weight as well. Piangi was fat in the last song he had sung, now he was thin...perhaps an understudy had been brought in? But why?

Erik and Christine sang together now, beautifully:

"Past the point of no return,

the final threshold,

the bridge is crossed

so stand and watch it burn...

we've passed the point of no return..."

Wait...Raoul stood and stared at the man on stage. Then he heard it:

"Say you'll share with me one love,

one lifetime..."

Raoul gasped. That wasn't Piangi! That was the Phantom! The fiend! He rushed out of his box to tell the men it was time. "You will not escape me this time, Erik, Phantom of the opera!"

Meanwhile, Erik continued to sing:

"lead me,

save me from my solitude...

Say you want me with you here,

beside you...

anywhere you go,

let me go too...

Christine,

that's all I ask of–"

Erik braced himself for the moment he had dreaded the entire evening: Christine reached up and took off his mask. He resisted the urge to hide his face as the audience screamed. For the short time his face was seen, horrible memories welled up in him; pain he had worked so hard to quell since his childhood rushed back to him...he just longed for it to end! He fought back tears and gritted his teeth, cutting the rope that would set off a series of events. He grabbed Christine firmly by the waist and held her tightly as the trap door beneath them released and they fell down through several levels. Then the chandelier was released. It flew down to the audience, swinging over heads and singeing feathers and silks as it's heat came too close for comfort, crashing on the stage.

"Oh no, no! Not another one!" Andre ripped his program and tugged his hair.

"We're ruined, Andre! Ruined!" Firmin wailed, looking up at the ceiling in despair.

Meanwhile, Erik was rushing through the cellars with Christine by the hand, resetting traps along his way. Christine stared at him; he was so quiet.

"Erik?"

He glanced at her in reply.

"Are you alright?"

"Perfectly alright."

"I never meant to hurt you."

Erik paused a moment, then kept walking. "I know."

"Please don't be upset with me."

Erik sighed and shook his head, "Christine, I understand your motives. I chose to comply with your wishes because I love you; And I felt I owed it to you, in a way."

Christine's eyebrows shot up in surprise, "You owed it to me?"

Erik nodded, "You have chosen to come with me underground, to be my wife and give up the life you have previously known. It hurt, to hear them scream, to have them see, but it's over now. No one will ever need to see my face again."

Raoul followed the long corridors down to the Phantom's halls, somehow avoiding most of the traps and being clever enough to keep his hand at the level of his eyes the whole time, removing the pun-jab lassos that would have hung him by the neck. He stifled a scream as a rat crawled along the wall and wrinkled his nose. Ugh, it's so filthy here! Dark and damp, rat infested...it will take me weeks to wash all this out of my hair!

Erik waved smelling salts beneath the priest's nose until he came to, looking around in confusion.

"Who-who are you?" his eyes widened as he inched away from the cloaked, masked specter.

"My name is Erik." he placed the smelling salts on a small stand next to him.

"Erik who?"

"I, erm, I don't know." he muttered, embarrassed.

The priest raised an eyebrow.

"I am known by many names, monsieur; I am certain that you are familiar with at least one."

"And they would be?"

"The Phantom of the Opera–"

The priest's eyes widened; he obviously had heard of the name and the stories that went with it.

"The Angel of Music, the Opera Ghost, or, O.G.–"

"Yes," the priest held up his hand, "I have heard of you. And why precisely, monsieur, have you brought me here?"

"Well, precisely, monsieur, I am in need of your assistance."

"So kidnaping was your only option?"

"Well, yes. I'm not very well received in public."

The priest's eyes softened, "I see. What do you need me for?"

"I'm getting married. We need you to perform the ceremony."

"Oh! Who's the lucky girl?" The priest grinned.

"Christine Daae."

"Christine Daae! What a lovely young woman, I have met her on several occasions. How is she? I know she has still been missing her father."

Erik cleared his throat uncomfortably, remembering how he had deceived Christine into thinking he was her father for a time."Well, she's...still getting over her loss. But she's doing considerably better, I believe. She has always been strong."

"Indeed." The priest nodded.

"Pardon me, messieurs," Madame Giry poked her head into the room, reverent of the two men inside it. "Monsieur Phantom, I only wanted to inform you that my daughter and I are ready for the ceremony when you are." She smiled, "and so is your bride-to-be."

Erik smiled. "Thank you. We will be there momentarily."

Madame Giry nodded and stepped back out.

"Well," the priest smiled and picked up the Bible next to him,"I see that you have brought my Bible. What are we waiting for?"

Erik smiled and gestured for the priest to lead the way.

The priest stood behind the organ bench, where Erik sat playing his wedding mass. Meg stood to the right of him, wearing her best dress and smiling broadly. Madame Giry walked Christine down the aisle. Christine had donned the bride's dress and veil that her likeness had worn behind the curtain; she looked radiant, with her sparkling eyes, smile and blushing cheeks behind the white veil showing through. She carried a bouquet of roses, provided by Erik, and tied a black ribbon onto it herself. Erik had set up mirrors on the organ so that they could see one another during the march, as they should have. When he finished, he stood across from Christine, holding her hands tenderly.

"Dearly beloved," The priest smiled and began the ceremony.

Raoul rushed through the final corridor and slammed himself into the gate just in time to hear the priest say: "If any one here has any reason why these two should not be joined together in holy matrimony, speak now, or forever hold your peace."

Erik raised his hand in the air,

"Wait,

I think, my dear,

we have a guest!"

"I OBJECT!"

All heads turned sharply to the source of the voice, Raoul, who stood desperately against the gate, panting.

"Raoul!" Christine exclaimed, shocked.

Erik grinned,

"Sir,

this is, indeed,

an unparalleled delight!

I had rather hoped

that you would come!

And now

my wish comes true!

You have truly made my night!"

Raoul began his pathetic, prepared speech,

"Free her!

Do what you like

only free her!

Have you no pity?"

"Your lover makes

a passionate plea!" Erik said with mock sympathy.

Christine sighed and rubbed her temples, fed up with the Vicomte's persistent attempts at revenge. All she wanted was to marry Erik!

"Please, Raoul, it's useless!"

Raoul hoped for sympathy from the priest,

"I love her!

Does that mean nothing?

I love her!

Show some compassion!"

"The world showed no compassion to me!" Erik snarled.

"Christine...

Christine...

Let me see her!"

"Be my guest, sir..."

Erik stepped to one side and led Christine in front of him, pulling a lever to raise the gate.

"Monsieur, I bid you welcome.

Did you think that I would harm her?

Why should I make her pay

for the sins which are yours!"

He threw a pun-jab lasso around his enemy's neck and tightened it.

"Order your fine horses now!

Lift up your hand to the level of your eyes!

Nothing can save you now,

except, perhaps, Christine..."

All eyes turned to Christine, who shrugged. "Well, my love, what do you feel like doing? I personally believe that the world would benefit much more without him in it."

"So do I–"

"Now just a moment," the priest grabbed the rope from Erik. "Let's try to sort this out rationally first, shall we? Monsieur Le Vicomte, why is it that you object to this marriage?"

"I–" Raoul stopped. What could he say? Revenge? He couldn't tell the truth, but he couldn't lie to the priest! He didn't even like Christine! He was only there to obstruct her marriage to Erik and have his revenge. But he did already say that he loved her...Raoul removed the rope from around his neck, "I, erm..."

"Well, Raoul?" Christine raised her eyebrows impatiently.

"You can't marry him!"

"And why ever not?"

"Because, he's...he's...disfigured!"

"I hardly think that's a valid excuse."

"Neither do I." Erik ground out. "Unless it was an excuse to crush your skull!"

Christine grabbed him by the cloak, stopping him from carrying out his wishes.

"Now, now," the priest grabbed his arm, "I'm not through rationalizing this situation with him yet."

"There is no rationalizing with him!" Erik seethed, "He doesn't understand anything! Especially if you use words larger than two syllables!"

"Hey!"

"Wait, wait!" Erik stopped him, "comb your hair first. You know you can't discuss anything with a relatively clear mind unless your hair is in perfect order."

Raoul glared at him, then pulled his comb from his pocket and combed his hair to perfection.

"Now," the priest cleared his throat, "You mentioned that you loved her, but somehow, monsieur, I do not think that you are telling me the truth, and if you are the young lady does not seem to reciprocate your feelings."

"Be that as it may, Father," Raoul took a different angle, "The man is mad!"

"Mad," the priest raised an eyebrow, but his voice was patient, "How so?"

"Well, he..." Raoul stuttered, "he has a model of her that he made, he has drawings of her and...and he plays with dolls!"

Erik's face turned red. Christine stifled a laugh, Meg's eyes widened, Madame Giry kept a straight face and the priest hid a smile.

"Well, I do not think that that would be a good reason to prevent this marriage."

"Father, look where you are! We are underground! Do you know of anyone in their right mind who lives in an underground lair, with his dolls, stalks an opera house in a mask and cape, claiming to be the owner and a ghost and writing orders under a pen name?"

"Monsieur, your reasons are not convincing me that this marriage would be a bad idea. Miss Daae loves him, and he loves her, which I do not think that you do. And while Monsieur Phantom is a bit...eccentric, I do not believe that he would be harmful to Miss Daae or anyone else, while she is with him."

"Hmph, at least someone is keeping up with the story." Erik muttered.

Raoul opened his mouth, then closed it.

"I find your so called 'reasons' to be invalid and I will continue this wedding as planned."

"No," Raoul squeaked, "Wait, you can't!"

"Father, would you mind if I left for just a moment to erm, escort, the young fop out of my lair?"

"Not at all, go ahead. But please leave it at that: escort."

Erik grinned and took the fop by the arm, dragging him out of the lair, ignoring his screams. He dragged him up the many flights of stairs, through trap doors, and finally out the back door of the Opera Populaire, throwing him down the steps.

He grinned and brushed himself off, "And stay out!"

Raoul wiped blood from his mouth, "If you gave me a scar, Erik, so help me–"

"What?" Erik whirled around, his cloak swishing through the air; an art Raoul had repeatedly tried and failed to master.

"Well, I'll–" He tried to think of something to say.

Erik stepped towards him, "You will stay away, if you know what's good for you. I swear to you now, Vicomte: if you come back, if you ever harass Christine again, I will kill you."

"Hey!"

"I will kill you, fop. Do not test me, for I have shown you mercy long enough."

Then he turned and left, leaving the Vicomte at the bottom of the stairs, with a trembling lip. Two seconds later, Erik poked his head out of the door, "Oh, by the way, monsieur Vicomte, your hair is mussed."

"Gah!"

Erik laughed and shut the door behind him.