Author's Note: While I have been trying to update often and keep up the momentum of my story, unfortunately there is an illness in my family and I may have to leave town and be minus a computer for a while (at most, a week). I assure you that I will pick up with my writing and updates as soon as I can. Thanks for all of the encouragement and support for Erik and Angelica!


After having mulled over the situation for a while, I decided that I would forgive Erik for the aphrodisiac incident. It was simply an accident, after all. I supposed we should both be thankful that no real harm had been done. Oh, I would pretend coldness to him at first. He would get down on his knees and hold my hands, pleading for forgiveness. I would run my hands through his hair, get down on my knees beside him and kiss his unmasked cheek sweetly. Then I would lead him back to our carpet before the fire.

While I was certain that the drug had emboldened me to do things that I never would have dared otherwise, I also knew that I still wanted Erik as keenly as ever. My desire for him was my own and not dictated by any love potion. Possibly, the reason for his coldness towards me was because he thought that my affection for him was not authentic. But I intended to rid him of that assumption.

Searching through my belongings, I found my forest green velvet evening gown. It was old and worn, but still the most flattering dress I owned as it set off my eyes and the red in my hair to perfection. In fact, I had to admit that I looked rather striking in it, especially if I left my hair down and flowing about my shoulders. And with the low revealing cut of the neckline, he would be able to see my ivory-complexioned neck, shoulders and bosom to their best advantage. I smiled at my reflection in the mirror. Damn all false modesty! He would not be able to resist me in this dress! I almost hesitated to wear it as I imagined he might rip it off in the heat of passion. But then I shrugged. With my check from the Opera Populaire, I could buy a dozen new green dresses.

Time seemed to go on forever. And still no sign of Erik. Reluctantly, I went back to Twelfth Night.


At the first sound of his arrival, I rushed up to the nearest mirror and checked my reflection. Good, I nodded with satisfaction. Now if only I could stop my heart from pounding and catch my breath.

I entered the music room but he was not there. Then I made my way toward the dining room.

There were several bottles of wine on the table. Oh, he did have a good time in store for us, didn't he? Erik was reclined casually back in his chair, drinking a glass of red wine, his cape and hat thrown about on the floor.

I smiled at the sight of him, my resolve to be cold to him instantly forgotten.

There was silence for a moment. His expression was unreadable before he began to clap. "Bravo!"

Blushing, I curtsied, pleased that he admired me in my green dress.

"My compliments, Mademoiselle DuBois. Not only are you a ravishingly beautiful woman, not only are you a talented authoress, but to my surprise, I have discovered that you are also a consummate actress as well, are you not?"

My smile fell.

"Oh, yes, my dear," he continued. "But the show is over now. The curtain has been rung down, so to speak. I know all about your little detour to the Paris Opera House, about your conversations with Monsieur Andre, Christine and that Deveraux fellow."

I was in shock, not only from his unfortunate discovery of my actions but also from his behavior towards me. He was no longer Erik, my sweet and tender lover. Once again, he had become the sarcastic and cruel Phantom of the Opera.

"Erik, I am sure you are angry with me, but if you listen, I can explain everything. You see..."

"What is there to explain!" he interrupted. "It is pathetically obvious what has happened. Because of your unreasonable jealousy over Christine Daae, you put on quite the little show for me with your fainting spells. Oh, I applaud your acting skills! You had me quite convinced. So convinced that I risked my very life just to get you to the infirmary for your fake illness! Oh, you must think me the worst sort of fool! And indeed, I am! To have ever trusted a damned woman again!"

Enraged, he threw his wine glass across the room, shattering the glass and spilling red wine all over the wall of the dining room.

"Really, there is no need for this..."

"Is there not, Madame! Well, I most strongly disagree. I do not care to share my house with a lying deceitful fool of a woman! Once I spent time with you when you were really ill, I realized that there was something very suspect about your 'nervous condition'. How the timing of your fainting spell seemed to be quite convenient after our argument. How you just happened to be walking from the Paris Opera House when I had come back to retrieve you. So I went to the infirmary and made a few inquiries with a certain nurse who was very informative."

"Erik, you must listen to me!"

"Why should I?"

I soldiered on. "I realize I was wrong to deceive you; and, believe me, I have been plagued with guilt about it ever since it happened. But I had the best of intentions. Can't you see that I was trying to save our opera that we had worked on for so long? I just couldn't bear the idea of Beauty and the Beast becoming another spectacle, more grist for the gossips."

"Did you ever think that I might have been telling you the truth when I said I would not abduct Christine?"

"Well, you don't exactly have a history of telling the truth..." I countered. "Particularly with the odd coincidence of La Carlotta's illness and…"

"That's a bit ironic coming from you, Mademoiselle DuBois. Do you think that just because you have a pretty face that your lies are somehow more conscionable than mine?"

I bowed my head in shame. "You're right, Erik. I lied horribly and I'm sorry."

"It's too late for apologies," he replied coldly with a wave of his hand. "Please pack up your belongings. I shall escort you to a hotel in Paris tonight."

"What!"

"I shall brook no arguments, Mademoiselle. You are leaving here tonight! We shall ride Mephistopholes as I know how you love him so."

"I'm afraid I don't understand. You're angry at me because you risked your life to take me to the infirmary; and now, you are not only going to risk your life again to take me to a hotel but you are also leaving me free to report you to the police?"

"Oh, I have no fears on that score, for if you do, I would kill you without hesitation."

I could not believe I was hearing him threaten me. I could not believe he would take our argument this far.

"Erik, be reasonable. The opera will be put on in only a few more weeks. Now is no time for us to lose sight of our goals over this silly argument. If you would just calm down, you would know that I was only trying to do what was best for our opera, for Christine and for us."

"For us, Mademoiselle DuBois?"

"Yes."

"There is no 'us'."

I felt as if he had struck me.

"I don't see how you can say such a thing, Erik, especially after..."

"I had partaken of too much wine and you were out of your mind on an aphrodisiac. None of it was real."

I was stunned to realize just how little our shared caresses had meant to him. I had considered myself forever changed. And he was acting as though his damned poison meant for Christine made every detail of that night insignificant. Oh, I was an arrogant fool to think that my passion for him could obliterate the past!

But the past was what this was really all about, wasn't it?

Oh, yes, all of a sudden I knew why he was so anxious to get rid of me and how he had acquired all of his information.

"Would it ease your mind to know that I had agreed to let Christine sing in the opera, that I thought that you were right, that she was perfect for Beauty?" I gave him no chance to answer. "But I don't really need to ask you that, do I? Since I suppose Christine told you all about it!"

His eyes narrowed icily. "You are so consumed with jealousy that you are becoming as green as your dress, Mademoiselle DuBois. And it is not flattering in the least!"

"So when are you and your little songbird going to fly away together?" I accused him. "Or are you planning on committing adultery behind the Viscount's back?"

"Oh, don't be more of a fool than you already are!" Erik arose from his chair and paced the room, running his hand through his hair. "Christine has nothing to do with this. Leave her be. The girl has suffered enough."

I could not help but snort with disgust.

"Oh, yes, the poor little thing, dripping with furs and jewels, a fancy carriage, a handsome husband..." I could see his back stiffen at the mention of Raoul de Chagny. "May the Good Lord allow me to suffer so!"

Erik whirled to face me, his face contorted with anger.

"Do not give up hope, my dear. I'm sure the Vicomte would throw a trinket or two your way if you took off your clothes and asked nicely."

His cruel mockery of our night together cut me to the quick.

Before I was even conscious of it, I had rewarded that remark with a resounding slap across his face.

His eyes filled with hurt as his fingers lightly touching his cheek as if I had kissed him. And he only stood staring at me, his mouth open with shock.

I felt sick with remorse at what I had done. I had become one of them, one of the many people who had abused him throughout his life. When I had only wanted to love him. I did not understand how our relationship had deteriorated into such a state. And I was even more at a loss of how to rectify things.

"I shall go pack now," I said, fighting back a sob as I left the dining room.