Well, here's the next chapter everyone, enjoy it, and if I get enough review maybe ill post the next one. Lol. If u have any comments I'd be more than glad to hear them.

And don't forget to visit my website : winterrose.tk where you'll find the link to my phantom of the opera site : phantomroftheopera.tk or phantomrose.tk Please visit!!

With love,

.Once upon a Winter's Rose.


"Such a little thing, a kiss...most people don't give it a moment's consideration...they kiss on leaving, they kiss on parting, that simple touching of flesh is taken for granted as a basic human right... I've lived half a century without knowing what it is to be kissed...and I'll never know now...."

- Erik


True love is eternal, infinite, and always like itself. It is equal and pure, without violent demonstrations: it is seen with white hairs and is always young in the heart.
Honore de Balzac

Magical Lovely, by Winter Rose

Chapter Four: To BeBeside Her


His steps were long, wanting to reach her as soon as possible. This woman wanted to separate him from his precious Christine! But he would make sure she didn't live long enough to accomplish that task.

His hand flew out and captured her neck. At first she seemed shocked, but then she closed her eyes, seemingly calming herself. As he increased the pressure of his hand her foot came up and struck him in the abdomen.

Pain consumed him and he let her go. Ten, fell to the ground.

"Are you alright?" he heard her say. "I didn't mean to hurt that bad, but you shouldn't have tried to choke me." He started to rise again, his eyes angrier than they had been. "umm…this is for your own good," she said. Then the bangs that covered her forehead rose, and it seemed that an intangible wind was flowing around her. She closed her eyes and he looked upon her mystified. Then her eyes opened, and seemed to glow into his, her lips parted and she said:

'Dust falls to Dust,

and leaves fly away,

let peace find a foothold,

keeping anger at bay'

He felt the all consuming rage float away on a current of the unseen wind surrounding her. In its place was a great peace, he felt as if his soul had been cleansed. As if he need not worry about anything. In that moment he was more at serenity than he had ever been.

"H-how did you do that," he asked, his tone of voice, bewildered. When the winds stopped, he noticed her cheeks had reddened and her breath came in short bouts, as if she had run a long distance. Now standing he caught her as her knees gave way and she fell. "Are you alright?" he asked worried.

"Oh, I'll be fine," she said with a smile. "you were very angry with me though," she said. "so it was harder for me to calm you."

He gave a sigh in resignation and lead her to the love seat on the side of the room. After seating her he asked, "why are you trying to take Christine from me? Don't you see home much I love her," he said in a voice that was barely above a whisper.

As she looked at him her heart broke. He truly loved Christine, sighing she replied. "If you love her you'll let her go and if she returns to you than she truly loves you also, you cannot force a woman to love." she said.

"You do know of the love I hold for her! I would die if she left me!" he yelled to her.

"Would you much rather she die being here with you?" Serenity yelled back at him. "I know Christine better than you do! I grew up with her, I dried her tears and watched her smile. I know that she isn't strong enough to be with you! To live with you in darkness, she needs the light. Darkness would destroy her!" tears stained her cheeks as she yelled at him, willing him to understand..

"Please, please, understand Erik, you cannot force her to love you," she said at last. "If she returns to you of her own free will I will not interfere, however, if you force her to join you I will interfere. If she returns to you of her won free will, I promise to bless you both with happiness." she said with pleading but defiant eyes. "Would you force her to come back to you?" she finally asked.

He moved his eyes away from her, taking a deep breath. He was not as angry as he though he'd be, it seemed that her spell was still working. "If she chooses to go with Raoul," the name came out in a snarl, "then I will not go after her if you take her place, and become the bride she was to be" Serenities eyes widened. His glittered in suppressed anger.

"alright Erik, if Christine does not comncede to be your bride, then I shall take her place."

He did not smile, he simply turned, his cloak flowing after him, and strode back into the mirror.

She knew that if she had not agreed, Raoul's, even Christine's, life would be placed in jeopardy. Through the letters she received from Christine she knew that Christine truly loved Raoul, not Erik, and if the choice should arise, she knew that Christine would choose him over Erik.

Yet, strangely, she was not afraid of becoming his wife…