A/N: So sorry this took so long! And thanks to my reviewers!

Chapter Twelve

"Shattered Hopes"

Claire could not say how long she had been locked away in that room but one thing was certain; the music, that insane, burning music never stopped. Though she was brought food every day and she had found a wall panel concealed a bathroom she was not comfortable in the least. It was the music; that enraged music thundering through the walls that held her in a state of panic. Oh, and of course, the fact that Erik had made an attempt on her life. What had happened to him? Why had he so suddenly snapped? And Amelie…was it even possible for them to be half sisters? Where they indeed only half sisters? Claire violently shook that thought from her mind for what must have been the hundredth time. The thought of Amelie being her illegitimate half sister was bad enough but the thought of Erik being her father was unbearable.

Claire froze as she walked about the room. The music had stopped! Now a gapping silence filled every part of her, the room, and the air. She could hear her own breathing as if it was being amplified to ten times its normal pitch. She could feel her blood pulsing in her veins. She had thought silence was what she needed but now that she had it all she wanted was for the music to begin again. And to her relief it did but instead of an organ it was a soft violin, playing a strange and haunting melody. And then an equally haunting voice joined a voice Claire could hardly recognize as Amelie's. Her voice was so changed from the last time Claire had hard it; it was soft and gentle, perfectly on pitch, and nothing short of saintly.

Little Lotte let her mind wonder

Little Lotte thought: am I fonder of dolls

Or of goblins

It was a child's lullaby that Amelie was singing and indeed it made Claire' eyes heavy.

Or of chocolates?

"No – what I love best," Lotte said

"Is when I'm asleep in my bed

And the Angel of Music sings songs in my head

The Angel of Music sings songs in my head"

'Angel of Music.' The words resonated in Claire's mind. She had called him, Erik, that herself. 'When I'm asleep in my bed and the Angel of Music sings songs in my head.' Erik had always, 'til recently, sung her to sleep. The lullaby seemed to be depicting what her relationship to Erik had once been. Once but no more. Claire's fingers drifted to her throat and brushed the bruised skin lightly. No more. Her hand strayed to her lips tracing their outline. No more.

The music had faded once more but this time Claire did not care. She didn't think she could bare to hear Erik's music any longer. The joy it once brought her was completely gone and it had been ever since she had been locked in this infernal room! How could Erik? How could he do this to her? What gave him the right? She had long since given up yelling to be let out but she felt the need to make her protests known again. She beat on the door demanding to be let out. She scratched at the wood of the door with her nails. "Damn you, Erik! Let me out of here!"

"That won't help."

Claire stopped dead then spun round. Amelie was standing in the room! How had she gotten there? And she looked much better then before. Her skin didn't seem quite so tight and pasty and the blackness round her eyes had been reduced to mere shadows around their edges. "Sister, let me out of here" Claire wasn't sure why she had said 'sister' it had just slipped out.

"There is nothing that I would love to do more, sister, but I can't." Said Amelie flatly.

"Why not?" Demanded Claire.

"Father would kill me." And Amelie meant it. There was no doubt in her tone or eyes that Erik would indeed kill her. "Though if he knew himself now he would get as far from you as he could. But given his state of mind…and the date of course."

This was not making any sense to Claire. Maybe it was the endless days of solitude or that the man she had thought she loved had tried to kill her but whatever the reason Claire was beyond reason. "I don't care what day it is! I just want to get out of here and away from him!"

"You should care what day it is." Retorted Amelie. "It's the day of our mother's death. That's why he can't let you go. Believe me, Claire, I want you to leave just as much as you do but there is no way you can get away from him."

Well, at least one thing made sense now: why Erik had suddenly lost control. It had been close to the day of her mother's death. His confusion between Claire and her mother had probably been what triggered his outburst. And somehow this triggered an outburst from Claire. "I am no more my mother then you! Why does he keep haunting me then!"

The look in Amelie's eyes was unreadable. Was it sadness or hate? "He loves you because he sees her in you. He hates me because he sees himself in me."

Claire's anger faded. "Oh, Amelie…"

"I don't want your pity!" Hissed Amelie.

But before Claire could say anything the door behind her opened. She froze. She knew who had to be standing behind her at that very moment. She couldn't turn around, she didn't want to see him. A long thick silence was stretching over the room.

"We're leaving." Came Erik's voice finally.

Claire was horrified to find herself turning around to face Erik. He looked as calm and collected as he had before this whole affair. Claire felt a muscle deep inside her spasm as she looked into Erik's eyes—oh, those pleading eyes!—they threatened to swallow her whole. Erik extended a hand to Claire. She paused but then slapped it away moving past him and out the door. She practically ran down the stone steps and towards the shore of the lake where the boat awaited. She could hear Erik and Amelie walking behind her. She climbed carefully into the boat ignoring Erik's offer to help her. Did he really think she would just fall under his spell again that easily? Amelie sat down behind Claire and Erik began to row them across the black lake. The boat was really not built for three but they managed to get to the shore. Claire kept ignoring Erik as he lead them back up the passageways back to L'Opera Populaire.

They finally reached the one-way mirror, Erik pulled a lever and the mirror slid open. Claire and Amelie went through but Erik did not follow. As soon as the mirror slid shut Claire bolted from the room not caring if Amelie followed her or not. She ran, holding up her skirts, to her dorm. She burst in and quickly pulled out her suitcase from under her bed. She had to get away from L'Opera, away from Erik! She practically threw all her belongings into the suitcase and snapped it shut. She hurried from the room hoping to leave without anyone seeing her. She had made it all the way to the Entry before she heard Madam Giry calling after her. She quickened her steps praying that she could get out in time but alas an old hand on her shoulder stopped her.

"You cannot leave yet." There was no 'hello' no 'where have you been?' just that one statement.

"Yes, I can! I have to get away from him!" Cried Claire breaking free of Madam Giry and making for the giant oak doors.

"No, Claire," Said Madam Giry gently taking her hand and effectively stopping her. "You cannot get away from him by simply leaving L'Opera. He won't let you go. So you may as well stay and save us."

"Save you?" Claire turned to Madam Giry.

"I don't think we can survive another disaster and God knows what he will do if I let you leave here without performing his Opera."

"His Opera?" Asked Claire confusion replacing her earlier panic.

"Yes," Said Madam Giry. "He has written an Opera for you and demands that we perform it. And I fear it may end like his Don Juan Triumphant for you but we have no choice."

"No choice? No choice! You have plenty of choice and so do I." Claire's rage was returning. "I will not perform anything that monster has written!"

"Claire," Pleaded Madam Giry. "For all our sakes, please, do as the Ghost wishes."

"For God's sake he is nothing but a man!" Cried Claire wrenching her hand from Madam Giry's.

Madam Giry's eyes suddenly turned cold. "Then why do you flee him as though he were a demon?"

Claire's breath caught. It was true, she was allowing him beyond human status just as much as everyone else. If she truly believe him only a man then she wouldn't be running from L'Opera Populaire. Strange that just months before all she had wanted was to be at L'Opera Populaire yet now all she wanted was to get away from L'Opera. She smiled sadly at the thought. Erik had given her everything she had ever wanted, everything she had ever dreamed of. He had been her Guardian Angel and Maestro, he had been her Knight in Shining Armor. Or at least that is what she had thought. He had deceived her in the cruelest way and she had believed him. She had believed him with all her heart, she had believed that it was her he loved. But she had been fooled, tricked and twisted by an insane man. Oh, how she hated him for it! How could he? How could he play upon her innocents like that? "You're right, Madam Giry. He is a demon to me, that's why I can't stay here." Claire gave Madam Giry one last sad look before walking out the oak doors. Rain was pelting down from the sky and she had no cloak, her dress was quickly soaked through and she shivered in the cold. Claire hastily went down the front steps. She turned back and took one last look at L'Opera Populaire before hurrying down the street.