Authors Note: Thanks to all the people who have reviewed my story. I'm glad you like it. Now in this chapter we reach the pivotal point of the movie, in which Erik brings Christine to his lair. From now on I will focus on the main events that occured, such as the masquerade and on the rooftop, etc.. from Erik's P.O.V. At the end, I have an idea for a sequel, but I don't know yet if I want to write that. Time will tell after this story is finished. O.k. I'll shut up now. :)


Ann: I was agitated when he started sending Christine garments and other such personal effects. I told him to stop, and demanded to know where he was getting such personal details of her. He told me it was his life and I should stop ordering him around.

Truth be told I was getting worried. Erik had now known Christine for nearly five years, and yet neither of them actually knew each other. She didn't even know his name! I knew he was over-obsessed with her, and I was worried as well when both Christine and Megan began to enter puberty. It was a normal act of life, but with Erik, who had never known an actual woman, I was terrified he may lose his control one day.

I kept Megan by my side at all times, which was expected as her mother, but I was unable to keep watch over Christine. That was supposed to be Erik's job, and a fine mess he had made of that. Now, instead of sending shawls and such he began to send a single rose tied with a black ribbon to Christine. She began to collect them in a vase, and soon had a large bouquet of dried and scented roses. I thought it was sweet, and slowly my fears evaporated.

Erik was doing no harm as far as I could see. As for me I was quite content. I had a secure job and a wonderful daughter, enough money to live on, and free room and meals. I knew my life may have been happier with Jason, yet alas, this was the life I had sewn for myself, and if I had never rescued Erik I may never have learned so much.

He had taught me throughout the years to look past appearances into a person's soul, and to always question everything. I could learn from a single raindrop the meaning of life, and I could learn from a single book all the answers I ever needed. He not only was my friend, but my tutor, and I was thankful for that. He was also Christine's tutor, and I was truely glad that she would learn what I had learned from him, but I only wished the two could meet in person.

It would be a wonderful day I knew. Of course I have also learned that I don't know everything.

Erik: I agreed with Ann about my growing obsession with Christine. No man but her father needed to know such intimate details as her measurements or how she liked her Saturday baths; (lukewarm with peach scented soap and shampoos.) Of course I would never admit my faults to anyone, so I did the only thing I could think of.

I yelled at Ann, again. It seemed as if all we were doing lately was arguing. I was so tired of the drama and constant fighting, I just wanted someone to talk to me seriously. I wanted to talk to Christine, not in the manner we were accustomed but in Person, face to face, perhaps even holding hands. I wanted to smile and laugh with her.

All my life this was what I had been waiting for; to love and be loved in return. Honestly however, I don't know when my fatherly love and caring guardianship became the obessive passion I felt later. All I know is, one day I awoke and I knew I loved Christine as a partner, a companion, even; dare I say; I wanted her as a lover.

My days were filled with breathtaking fantasys of whisking Christine away to exotic lands and exciting adventures. I had never felt this way about Ann before, nor any of the other girls, and I knew it was love. I was unable to watch Christine and Megan practice their yoga anymore, and often after our lessons together I would have to go and stand waist high in the cold water of the lake.

The truth is I was desperate. I longed for Christine to take me in her arms, to caress me and kiss me with abandonment. I had never known any woman, and now I only wanted to know this woman. She was near fifteen now, and every waking moment of my life was filled with thoughts of her.

Ann: I felt something was different about Erik a few years after he met Christine. Of course he was more mature, not playing pranks or ruining performances, but I wondered what he did now to pass the time. One day he did not appear before me with any notes, and I was bothered. Every day he always had some note or demand for me, and the sudden absence of that scared me.

I wondered down to the third celler that night and whistled. Whistling was our way of contacting each other without people becoming suscpicous. He appeared a few moments later and asked me what I what I wanted. "I just wanted to see if you are ok." I told him. He replied sarcasticly, "I'm never ok." He came to stand in front of me and I backed away.

He looked sinister in his black evening clothes, black cloak, and wig and white mask. He had grown exceptionally tall, and save for that small portion of his face the rest of him was unconditionally handsome. He looked at me, "Are you frightend?" He asked. "Well, I don't any reason to be do I?" I told him harshly and sarcasticly.

He sighed, "Antoinette, it's been over sixteen years, will you ever move on?" I came towards him and glared. I knew I was the only person in the Opera who dared stand up to him, and I let him know that I was not going to be controlled. He looked at me and made a Tsk Tsk sound under his breath. Then he told me, "Where is Megan, isn't she nailed to your right side?" I shook my head, "I allowed her to go out with friends, I'm not really too concerned now that Christine has your attention."

He smiled at her name and I asked, "How are you two doing together?" I knew from Christine that she was excited and enchanted by her Angel, but I wondered just how Erik felt about her. "She is coming along greatly you know." He replied. He added, "She will astound Paris, and then I'll take her to London and Italy as well." I laughed and said, "You? You've never set foot outside this Opera since I brought you here. I think the sun would poison you if you ever contacted it."

He glared at me and I backed down. "There are many things you don't know Ann. I have seen the outside world, and with Christine by my side I would conquer it." I looked at him. "How do you love her Erik?" I asked. He looked at me quizzically, "How?" he asked. I repeated, "Do you love her as a father, or deeper?" I knew I would not like the answer, but his answer surprised me.

"I love her as the flowers love the sun, they need it's warm rays to help them grow and live. Christine is my sunshine, she frightens away the darkness and helps me live. She inspires me, she moves me in ways no woman has ever moved me, and yes Ann, I love her, deep, intense, and passionate, I love her." I smiled. "You really care for her." He nodded and said, "My whole life has been nothing but heartach and lone despair. Now I have someone to be with, to keep the depressive solitude away."

I told him, "I will do anything for you two to meet. Is that what you want?" He smiled. "Yes, I do believe it is time to see her face to face. You know she calls me an Angel? She is my Angel, and together we are ready to spread our wings." I nodded and he took my hand. He led me up the stairs and told me, "Not yet. I will tell you when I am ready to meet her. In the meantime, care for Megan, and perhaps.."

I hushed him, "NO." He could meet Christine, I had no qualms against that, but my Meg was too innocent, far too sweet and docile for his dark chaos. As I've stated before, I often don't know everything.

Erik: Ann promised me she would allow a meeting between us. I and Christine, alone, together, for the first time since we'd met nearly nine years ago. Of course the moment I arrived back at my lair I began to compose a song, especially for Christine. I called it "The Music of The Night" and it contained all my feelings, all the truth's I had hidden from her.

I composed my music for her to sing, I drew my pictures so her beauty would survive decades, and I watched her, because I loved her. She was my life, my blood and breath, and I needed her by my side to serve me, to sing for me.

Many weeks passed and so did Christine's decadant sixteenth birthday, and I finally went to Ann. I told her I was ready, that she could arrange the meeting, and I could show Christine how much I adored her. The plan seemed simple enough, Ann would explain to Christine that her Angel was ready to meet her after the performance, and I would appear from Box Five and bring Christine down to my lair for supper and a conversation.

Of course, plans are often ruined, and this was no exception. The exception was this: an old friend, an old "bosom companion", no more than The Vicompte Raoul De Chagney Of France Himself! The evening was spoiled. That wretched man stole my Box from me the evening of the Gala, so I was forced to listen underground.

Then he had the gall to intrude upon Christine in her dressing room and ask her to supper! I was the one who was to have supper with her that night, it was all arranged and I was not going to let this man ruin it. I waited, breathlessly, as Ann locked Christine's door and left by my side through the mirror.

She winked as she left but Christine was far too busy reminiscing about her childhood friend to notice any of this, and I prayed that this evening would not end on a bad note.

My prayers are often dismissed by God, and I curse the bastard.