Erik: I had only a few days left before the Bal Masque, and I was in a hurry to finish my costume. However, I had more pressing issues on my mind; Ceaser was dying. It had begun during our journey back home, but now he was laying on his side and breathing in short gasps. Of course I knew animals didn't live forever, but I had never really thought of the impact this would have on me.

On top of all the misery after I'd learned of Christine's and Raoul's fling during my absence, now my beloved pet was dying. I cursed the world and it's cruelty. Slowly I held Ceaser's muzzle in my lap as I stroked his mane. He gave several gasps, and passed on.

I cried hard, the tears flowing into the lake. Ceaser had been like a friend to me, helping me bring items down to my lair, carrying me all these years, and being there when I needed to pet him in my solitude. Now all was lost, I had no Christine, no Ceaser, and no reason to live. I dragged the horse out from his hidden stable in the fourth cellar, and began to pull him along outside.

It was hard work, and I hadn't tried to move anything this heavy since I'd brought my Organ Piano down to my lair. By the time I reached the small courtyard in the back of the Opera I was feeling a little dizzy. I wasn't the young, taunt boy I used to be.

I was nearly thirty and losing bits of strength. I went back to the warehouse to get a shovel, and then went inside to gather Ann. She had a right to know, she had brought me Ceaser so long ago, and I wanted her to be there when he was laid to rest.

I mused on the fact that I hadn't seen her in nearly three months.

Ann: My heart nearly stopped when I saw him. For the past three months the Opera had been celebrating the end of the Ghost's reign, but I had been wary. I knew Erik would come back sometime, but certainly not in the form of a sweating, angry man holding a large shovel.

I wondered if he had learned about Christine's fling with Raoul. Ever since they had been reunited they had also been inseparable. Christine gushed and cooed over Raoul in a way she had never done with her Angel. It angered me.

She had no right to betray Erik's love, and she had no right to abandon him in the manner she did. Not once during Erik's three month absence did Christine ever even ask where her Angel was. It appeared as if she had completely forgotten him in the presence of Raoul, and that too angered me.

I knew Erik would be even angrier, and I feared his wrath when he returned. Now here he was, standing in my door with a menacing shovel in his hand. "Erik." I said softly. I noticed that he had also been crying. "Ceaser passed away tonight." He told me sadly. My heart gave a leap, that was why he was so sad and angry. "Oh." I said in relief. Erik looked at me quizzically. "OH?" He asked.

I looked down at the ground in shame, but Erik said, "I know Antoinette, I know about...them." He looked at the shovel and said quietly, "This may be about the same size of Raoul's head; But it's not for that, it's for burying Ceaser. I came to ask if you'd like to join me in a requiem." I nodded my head quietly and followed him outside. "Where have you been?" I asked. He replied, "My secrets are no one's but my own." I didn't question him further, he was already riled enough. We came to the courtyard and I ran to Ceaser.

The beautiful black horse lay on his side, and I stroked his long main one last time. Erik began to dig a hole, and I petted the horse's cold body. I knew he was depressed, and the knowledge of Raoul and Christine would eat at him like a worm eat's into an apple's core.

If he was sad over losing Ceaser, I could easily get another horse for him, or a cat or dog, but I couldn't just go out and get a new love for him. Christine had been his life, his passion, and now she was gone. There was no way Erik could force her to love him.

She pitied him, but her heart belonged to Raoul. I wondered how Erik felt about Megan. I had found several drawings of her in his lair when I cleaned up, and I had even found inscribed on the Opera Dollhouse he had built the words "To Megan Giry, From Erik." He had built that for her, but never given it, and I wondered why. It took over thirty minutes to dig a hole large enough for the horse, and then I helped him bury Ceaser.

We spent another thirty minutes pushing the dirt back into place, and when we stood back up Erik cleared his throat. "Ceaser was a fine horse, a good animal companion, and I liked him. Hopefully he is in a nice place now, and we can be reunited in time." He then began to sing the Dies Aries, and I clutched my heart.

His sultry voice rang out with such sorrow, such passion. I had often heard him singing before, but never like this. He had such tone, such beauty in his vocal chords, and I felt tears spring to my eyes. His words caressed my mind and tinged my senses with abandonment. I closed my eyes and felt myself swaying to his music in the breeze.

Suddenly I heard his song crescendo and end, and he said "Ann, Ann..You O.K?" I smiled at him and replied, "Erik, that was so beautiful." He looked at me blankly and replied, "That was a funereal march for a dead horse, how could you say it was beautiful?"

I sighed and patted the ground where Ceaser laid. Together we walked back to my room, and he bid me goodnight. I waved and went back to my sewing. It was four days before the Grand Bal Masque, and Megan wanted to be a swan. I sewed her costume and wondered if Erik would be able to sleep with all the racket the New Years Celebration would create.

He had never attended the parties before, and I didn't expect him to attend this one.