A/N: Alright, show of hands. Who was a little annoyed with the ending of the last chapter? This chapter, on the other hand, moves pretty quickly and may seem rather ridiculous. Anyway, you should know who belongs to me and who doesnt'.
Rehearsals for Don Juan Triumphant began immediately. Paris didn't have to audition for the managers since Erik had cast her as the gypsy in his Opera. The managers were not going to go against the Phantom's wishes by not casting her until after she had auditioned. They couldn't bear to waste time that way. So they had sent word to Paris about her part in the Opera and had told her that she did not need to audition.
Paris rarely saw Erik now. He worked with Christine only, despite her fear of him. Paris cried herself to sleep when she learned that Erik had even seduced Christine to go to her late father's grave in Perros just so he could try to convince her to come back to him fully. Paris had breathed a sigh of relief when she over heard Christine talking to the Vicomte, thanking him for breaking Erik's hypnotic spell he had had over her that night in the graveyard. Erik had not succeeded. Paris wished Erik would just give up on trying to win Christine's love again. She already knew who and what Erik was so she was not going to fall in love with him. Christine was too afraid of Erik's face and dangerous temper. Erik had seen that before so why was he suddenly not seeing it now?
The days went by and Paris pushed herself past her limits once again as she tried to drown out her feelings for Erik in her dancing. Of course, it didn't help that she was dancing to Erik's own compositions and that she could in reality hear the music as she danced. Everywhere she went she was reminded of Erik and it was slowly killing her to know that he still would never love her the way he loved Christine; the way Paris loved him.
During the week of dress rehearsals Paris went up to Box 5 one day and just sat in one of the seats and cried silently. Everyone was in an uproar now that it was the final week before Opening night. The dancers were still having problems with the steps and even some of the musicians were messing up the music. Paris winced as she heard the violins and flutes clash as they screwed up the notes again. Everyone's nerves were shot and Paris feared that someone would quit in the days ahead. Christine was a walking bundle of nerves and Raoul was always following her and getting underfoot. Paris nearly bashed him over the head with one of the more heavy props when she had turned around after doing her dance and he had been right there behind her because Christine was supposed to be entering.
Paris raised her eyes and looked at the new chandelier. It was very beautiful and Paris hoped Erik never had a reason to send that one crashing to the floor. Closing her eyes Paris sighed when she heard Madame Giry yell at Raoul again and left Box 5 to return to rehearsal.
The night before Opening night, Paris was walking past the managers' office when she heard them talking. Paris would have kept walking and not have paid any attention to their conversation but something Firmin said caught her attention.
"Look de Chagny I'm not so sure this whole idea is going to work. How can we even be sure the Phantom will even be in Box 5 during the performance? He could be any where during the show and never show himself for the police to have a clear shot at him."
"Gentlemen, Mademoiselle Daaé assures me that he will be in attendance. She is, after all, his star and he wouldn't miss hearing her sing for the world. He will be there and we will kill him. My men will be all over this Opera House; there won't be anywhere the Phantom can hide, I assure you," Raoul's voice spoke up from behind the door.
Paris' eyes widened when she heard him. They were planning on killing Erik and they were using Christine as a lure! What hurt the most was that Christine was obviously a willing participant in this plan. Paris swallowed hard and hurried from the door when she heard footsteps heading towards it from inside indicating that the men were finished with there conversation. Paris prayed that Erik knew what was going on but he was so wrapped up in Christine that she didn't think Erik saw or heard anything past the singer now. Paris wished she knew the way down to Erik's home because right now she needed to warn him.
Paris watched from the shadows while Raoul shook hands with the managers before he turned and walked down the hallway and the managers returned to their office. Paris would not let them kill Erik if she had anything to say about it. With that she turned and hurried out of the Opera House to think of some way to warn Erik before the show.
Opening night was a dark and stormy night. Paris stood back stage in her costume. She was a bundle of nerves and she couldn't get herself to stop shaking. She glanced over at Christine who looked ready to pass out from fear. She kept peeking through the curtains and glancing up at Box 5.
'Serves you right for betraying Erik like this; I hope you choke on your lines,' Paris thought with a sneer. She had lost her faith in Christine after she had learned that Christine was helping with the murder of Erik. Especially after all he had done for the singer.
The auditorium went quite as the overture for the Opera began. Paris always felt a thrill run up her spine whenever she heard the haunting notes of the overture. However, now that chill was one of dread for the very man she loved was going to be killed tonight if something didn't happen to prevent it. She caught movement out of the corner of her eye and she held her breath in hopes that it was Erik but her hopes sank when she saw it was one of the police officers that were wandering around the theater keeping an eye out for the Phantom.
The first act of the Opera went by without any sign of the Phantom but Paris knew he was there. She could sense him. She glanced once more over at Christine who was looking even worse, if that was possible. Paris heard the introduction to her big dance number being played and she prayed to God that Erik did not show himself during it. Across the stage she saw Meg wave her arm signaling to Paris that she was to go on. Paris took a deep breath and danced on stage. Every time she faced that direction she glanced up at Box 5 but every time she saw no sign of Erik and her heart beat a little more in relief each time.
When her dance was over it was time for the big scene between Christine's character of Aminta and Don Juan who was performed by Ubaldo Piangi, the lead tenor. Christine began to sing and shortly afterwards Piangi entered from upstage and began to sing. Paris breathed a sigh of relief when she heard Piangi's voice. She had been afraid that Erik would try something foolish like take Piangi's place as Don Juan and then kidnap Christine right off stage.
"There he is!" 'BANG!' a shot was fired after the shout and everything went chaotic. Paris felt her breath catch in her throat as she rushed on to the stage. Everything seemed to happen in slow motion for Paris when in reality was only a few minutes from start to finish. Audience members, cast, crew and policemen were running and shouting all over the place. Paris looked up to Box 5 and felt her heart twist. The police had Erik! He was twisting and turning trying to escape their grips but every time he got an arm or leg free there was another policeman to take the other's place.
"Hold him steady men, I've got him in my sights!" one of the policemen on the stage shouted up to the men in Box 5. Paris watched in horror as he shot. The bullet hit the bottom of the box just above Box 5. The man cursed and reloaded. Paris knew she had to do something quick or Erik would be dead in a few seconds. Glancing around she tried to think of something but all she saw were people running around in terror. Another shot was fired and one of the men up in the box cried out in pain. The shooter shouted a sorry. Another shot was fired and Paris froze when she heard the cry of pain come from Erik's throat.
"Got him! Okay now…whoa!" the policeman was cut off when Erik growled and began twisting again yanking his arm out of the policeman's grip.
Hearing Erik's voice forced Paris to realize that she had to bring her lie out into the open or she would loose Erik forever. She hurried to the center of the stage and took a deep breath before trying to clear her throat. God, it hurt! She hadn't been practicing her scales since the Masquerade. She tried again and got her vocal cords to produce a croaking sound. Glancing frantically around, she saw another policeman aiming at Erik again. She was running out of time! Closing her vocal cords together she produced a very high pitched sound. 'Yes!' If she could do that then she knew she could sing!
Paris stood up straight, raised her head, took a deep breath, closed her cords, raised her eyes to the struggling form of Erik and sang a high E.
The auditorium went deadly silent as everyone froze at the unearthly sound being produced from a tiny girl who was supposed to be deaf and mute. Paris didn't stop singing even after she had everyone's attention. Instead she sang using all the breath from her lungs and then she began pulling reserves from the rest of her body. She felt the strength leaving her toes, legs, torso, arms and fingers. She didn't know how long she held that one note out but she knew it was quite a while and even when she felt completely drained she kept going until she collapsed to her hands and knees. Her hair fell forward and hid her face from everyone.
"Please," she half sobbed half whispered, "let him go!" She raised her head and looked up at the policemen still holding Erik in their grips. It broke Paris' heart to see that even Erik was under the enchantment of her voice. As always happened, Paris' voiced command produced the wanted result. The policemen let go of Erik and that broke the spell on him. Erik shook his head to clear it, gazed down in shock at Paris before hurrying out of Box 5 through one of his hidden passageways.
Erik raced down to the stage despite the burning pain in his shoulder where that damn policeman had shot him. He had to get to Paris. God, how could he have been so stupid? He had seen the love shining in her eyes when she had pleaded for the policemen to release him. How did he miss that look before? Had she even looked at him that way before? Yes, he recalled, she had and numerous times at that. The most memorable was when he had shown her his face and she had smiled at him. He recalled she had looked at him with a feeling that had made Erik feel cared for. He hadn't been able to name that look but now he could: love. God, Paris loved him and he, the idiot that he was, had not even paid attention to it! If only she had told him maybe none of this would have happened. Tears filled Erik's eyes as he prayed to God that he wasn't too late to reach Paris.
He reached the hidden door that led to the stage but he froze when he saw that the policemen had Paris. He darted back into the passageway and pressed his ear up against the entrance to hear what they were saying to her.
"You are under arrest for helping with the escape of a dangerous murderer and kidnapper."
Erik watched in horror as he saw Paris bow her head and nod as she allowed the policeman to tie her hands behind her back. No, he couldn't allow them to take Paris away! "Speak, damn it, speak Paris! Why don't you say something? I know you can," Erik growled softly as panic began to set in. When Paris still said nothing Erik pulled out his Punjab lasso flung the hidden door open and flung the lasso out around Paris.
"Erik!" she gasped as he began pulling her towards him.
"Hey, stop, quick grab them!" the policeman shouted but it was too late. Erik had Paris in the passageway with him and he slammed it shut. Pulling his knife out from his boot he cut the rope that bound Paris' wrists then put his lasso and knife away.
"Come on, we got to get away from here!" Erik growled as he grabbed Paris' arm and began running with her down the passageway just as shots were fired from the other side of the door. Paris gave a startle cry and gripped Erik's hand tighter as they ran. "I won't let anything happen to you, Paris, I promise."
After running for what seemed like forever Erik reached the underground lake and the boat. He helped Paris into it and then he painfully poled them across to his home. Paris looked at Erik with worry evident on her face. She knew he had been shot and that he had to be in pain. She suddenly heard the faint sounds of shouting and knew that the police had some how found a way into the underground labyrinth that made up Erik's domain.
When they reached the opposite shore Erik climbed out and helped Paris out before leading her towards his house. Neither said a word until they were safely hidden by the hidden door in the stone. Erik had made sure to cover their tracks before entering and then he led Paris into his house. Once in the house Erik collapsed onto the couch with a moan.
"So we finally meet Monsieur le fantôme," a voice growled. Erik's eyes snapped open and he came face to face with Raoul le Vicomte de Chagny who was aiming a gun directly at him.
"Raoul, don't!" Christine cried grabbing the Vicomte's arm.
"Yes, de Chagny, don't. Why are you here any way?" Erik demanded as he painfully tried to sit up straight despite the throbbing pain in his shoulder.
"You are supposed to be dead! When those incompetent men known as the police and the best shots in Paris didn't do their job I knew you would come here! I planned on being here to dispose of you myself. Then I would know that you were dead!" Raoul shouted angrily as he shook Christine off of his arm and once again aimed the gun at Erik.
"Raoul put the gun down, please! Let's just go! Why did you have to come down here? Now he'll never let me go!" Christine sobbed as she clasped her hands together.
"Shut up Christine! We'll go as soon as I dispose of this monster!"
"Listen to her de Chagny. You were foolish in coming down here," Erik growled and before anyone knew what he was doing Erik had his Punjab lasso out and around Raoul's neck. With a sharp jerk the lasso tightened enough to cause the Vicomte to choke but he held tightly onto the gun.
"You…bastard! I…I won't let…you have…her!" Raoul choked out as Erik tightened the rope around his neck. Christine cried out in fear and looked back and forth between the two men trying to decide who she should go to first.
"Please stop, everyone," a soft heavenly voice spoke up. Everyone froze and looked towards the speaker.
Paris stood off to one side of the room, her large grey blue eyes filled with tears. Christine gaped at Paris in shock that the girl could actually speak. Erik stopped tightening his grip on the rope and Raoul just froze in place.
"Paris, you…you can talk!" Christine gasped.
Paris turned her eyes to the singer and nodded. "I have always been able to hear and speak. But that's not the point, please just stop. Erik let Raoul go, please," Paris pleaded with the man she loved.
Erik narrowed his eyes at Paris, "I will not! He threatened me first and I will not allow him to take Christine away from me!"
Paris' eyes widened in shock. Erik had not followed her order! But then she saw the burning anger in his eyes and realized that he was so deep in his anger that he wasn't completely himself. He didn't hear her voice the way everyone else did when he was like this. Tears fell down her cheeks as she realized this.
"It's always about Christine! I love you, Erik but you never even look at me whenever your precious Christine is in the room! God, I wish I'd never met you, any of you!" Paris screamed and turned and stumbled out the door running where ever her feet would take her.
Erik was knocked out of his rage by Paris' scream. He dropped the rope and spun around to where Paris had been standing. "No, wait, come back! Paris, please, I'm sorry I didn't mean it!"
Erik ran out the door but stopped when he heard the shouts of the mob coming closer. Quickly he ran back inside and rushed over to Christine and Raoul.
"You have to go, the police are coming! Go take the boat and just go!"
"You…you're letting me go?" Christine gasped as Raoul got to his feet.
"Damn it Christine, Paris is right, it is always about you isn't it? Even you think only of yourself! Yes, I'm letting you go!" Erik snapped angrily.
"Come on Christine let's get out of here before he changes his mind," Raoul grabbed Christine's hand and the two lovers hurried away.
Erik watched them leave but he didn't have time to go after Paris. The mob was practically right on top of him. He spun around and dashed back into his home and just as the mob crashed through the door he had hidden himself in the secret compartment inside his throne like chair. He only prayed that Paris had managed to get away from them if she had encountered them. If she hadn't he would reveal himself, for if she was to go to jail then so would he.