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Review Responses:

Lale-Angelica: Oh wow you really think so? Well I have started one book. I've sort of been lagging on it. The world of original work is sort of scary. You don't already have a character that everybody loves to base it on, like we do in fan-fiction. But yes I will eventually be publishing it if I can get a publishing company to give me a chance. Thank you for your kind words.

GerrysISUChick04: I guess I need to start passing out tissues. Yes for Lily and Lily alone he has dropped his defenses. Kindred spirit I guess you'd say. And on to the next chapter, where we get to see that Lily has a temper.

Ethalas Tuath'an: (Hands tissues to you too. I need to keep a supply of them handy.) Yes I promise. Very soon. Yes Erik plays his emotions close. I don't think that he can believe that anyone could love him also, after what happened with Christine. That's what I've been trying to depict with subtle thoughts and action. You'll see a little bit more of that in this chapter, and then a lot in the next.

SilverWolfSingsToTheMoon: I'm completely speechless. You're the second person to suggest I publish my own work. Thank you for the compliment. I understand what you mean by an agent. My cousin is a published writer, but he didn't get an agent. He's spending every weekend at book signings, but very rarely sells his work. I have my own story I've started, but as I told the other reviewer the world of original work can be scary.

Starlightcrybaby: Thank you. I am typing as fast as my fingers can.

Mercury Grey: Thank you for the suggestion. I use commas so often in my writing that sometimes I fear I am overusing them, so if my spell check doesn't complain when I leave one out it sometimes ends up that way. But you are right. I need to look over what I've written, and check it out again. I usually re-read my chapters at least four times before I submit them, but sometimes I'm so wrapped up in the story itself that grammatical problems slip by.

Collins: Thank you. And yes I tend to rush things a little. I know if this was a full-length book it would definitely have to slow down, but the story has captured my soul so much that the words are just pouring out onto the pages.

Terpsichore314: Thank you. This is the way that I would like to see Erik. He's so demanding and imperial in the movie, that it just seems that he's not real. I'm trying to make him real. Yes I need to go back and edit all the chapters. I type so fast that I miss things. And unfortunately my spell check does too.

RealDramaQueen817: Thank you, thank you, and thank you. I checked out and reviewed your story. I believe you have a lot of potential and I like your characters.

daferretgirl: Thank you. I will

Forensic Photographer711: Thank you. I take pride in my original characters. And yes her past is pretty bad.

The Ultimatum

Gossip was floating around the opera house following Monsieur Blanchet's discovery. Everyone had already heard of Lily's true identity, along with the strange story of her father's death. And to top that off, it was said that Lily had taken the Phantom as her lover. As she went about her work everywhere she turned she saw people whispering, and they would become quiet as she approached. She had never been the source of so much gossip in all of her days at La Fenice. But now the stories were becoming wilder and wilder.

"You must not let them get to you, Lily." Meg spoke to her as she warmed up for practice.

"I try not, but until now my life was lost in obscurity. I find it hard to be in the center of attention again. If only I could go back a few days and change things. I liked my quiet life as the costume designer." Lily confessed to the dancer.

"I will not ask you about the situation in Venice, Lily. You wanted your past to remain in the past. I can respect that. But I must ask you a question." Meg said stopping her warm up and moving closer to Lily so as to not be overheard.

"I know what you will ask, Meg. Please trust me to know what I am doing." She asked not wanting to listen to a lecture concerning Erik.

"I don't want to see you hurt." Meg said in response.

"There are many people in this world that would hurt me before he would, Meg." Lily said with strong conviction.

"Are you sure?" Meg knew she could not push Lily too much without pushing her away, but she was playing with fire.

"I have not been more sure of anything." Lily vowed.

"I trust you, Lily." Meg said continuing her warm up. But just as suddenly they heard a scream from backstage. "What was that?"

Lily and Meg rushed back stage to see Angelique the star of the opera sitting on the floor screaming at anyone within hearing. "You horrible, horrible pigs. You did that on purpose to hurt me." She screamed at two of the stagehands in particular.

"No Mademoiselle. It was an accident." One of the hands tried to calm her. Lily could see a bucket of blue paint tipped over next to a piece of scenery that was being painted. She could also see blue paint covering most of the star. She could not help but have a laugh at one of her biggest tormentors.

"And what do you laugh at, Freak? You and your crazy Phantom do not belong in this opera house. You two are perfect for each other. Crazy and grotesque." Angelique screamed at Lily.

Lily's laughter was cut off by the harsh words. She new a response was warranted, but she was shocked that anyone there would dare to say such a thing about the dreaded Opera Ghost. She turned and walked away going to her own room. She knew Erik would not be there. It was daytime, and she should be working, so he would be in his lair. She didn't want to see him anyway. She was ashamed that she had not defended him.

She spent the rest of the morning working by herself on the costumes for the opera. That afternoon she was surprised to hear a knock upon her door. "Come." She called out.

When the door opened it was Madame Giry. "Antoinette. You have not visited with me in a long time." She smiled.

"I'm sorry Lily. But I am just here to deliver a message. And you will not like it." Antoinette said sitting on the bed.

A frown crossed Lily's face at her words. "Go ahead."

"During the accident this morning Angelique broke her ankle." Antoinette said first, and Lily began to realize the gist of the conversation.

"Is this message from Blanchet?" She asked hoping she would say no.

"Yes. He says that you are to take over the lead role in Hannibal." The older woman seemed to have a note of pity in her voice.

"I will not. He knows I no longer perform." Lily stood and started pacing the room in outrage.

"I'm sorry, Lily. He gives you no choice. If you do not take the role you are to be fired and removed from the opera house." Antoinette explained.

"How can he do that?" Lily stopped pacing and stood before Antoinette.

"He owns the opera. He can do as he pleases. I'm sorry, Lily. He wants your answer by tomorrow." Antoinette reached out putting a comforting hand on Lily's own.

"This can not be happening." Lily said as her hands began to tremble in anger. She wanted to pick something up and throw it, but refrained while Madame Giry was in the room. She respected the woman, and did not want a temper tantrum to ruin her image before her. "What do I do?"

"You do what you must child."

Lily didn't care what time of day it was. She made her way down to the catacombs. She did not wait for Erik to bring the gondola. She dove into the water wading through the passages until she came to his lair. As she entered she could see him sitting at his organ working on his latest composition. He turned as he heard her splashing through the water. "Lily. What is wrong?" He immediately stood and made his way to her helping her out of the water.

"Those bastards. Those vultures. I hope they rot in hell." She stated in seething anger.

"Who, Lily?"

"Blanchet and Chenard." She spat the names out as if they held a foul taste. "They have given me an ultimatum."

Erik nodded at her words. "I wondered if something like this would happen. Let me guess. You perform or you're out."

"Yes. I have until tomorrow morning to make my decision. What choice do I have, Erik? I have no where to go." Lily said sitting on the nearest seat and resting her head in her hands, covering her eyes. But truly in her heart she had realized that not having a home meant less to her than not being able to see Erik.

"Unfortunately they know that, Lily. I wish I had never asked you to sing on that stage. This is my fault." He kneeled in front of her and wrapped her in his arms.

"No, Erik. I have to admit. It felt good to be up there again, with you watching me. I felt almost as if the past was erased." She admitted wrapping her arms around his waist.

"Then what does it matter if they want you to perform?" Erik asked in confusion.

"Because I was singing for you then. I don't want to sing for them. I want to sing for you alone." She said snuggling into his chest deeper reveling in the warmth he offered her.

"Lily, I may not always be there for you. You must learn to live again. To live without me." He said running his fingers through her hair absently.

"Not now, Erik. Let me lean on you for a while longer. At least until I'm stronger." She wanted to scream at him that she never wanted to learn to live without him. But she held her tongue knowing it would not be what he wanted to hear. "I will do as they ask Erik, but only under one condition." She finally said pulling away from him.

"What is that?" He said seeing the determination in her eyes.

"If I am to sing for you, you must have somewhere to watch from." She said remembering the stories she had been told by the ballet rats.


"You want box 5 to remain open for all performances." Blanchet asked in exasperation.

"That is my only concession. If I see anyone in that box, I do not perform." She demanded.

"Give it to her, Blanchet." Viscount Chenard said slapping him on the back. "She's worth it."

"Oh all right. Box 5 is yours." Blanchet gave in.


The opening performance was in less than a week so Lily knew she would have to practice night and day. The day before the performance she was standing on the stage waiting for the chorus to finish their number before she started.

Lily stood looking at the props spread out on the prop table. She was becoming more and more nervous as the hours drew nearer to the time she must perform. How had she let them con her into doing this?

She heard snickering in the background, and knew it was Angelique. Even though the Prima Donna could not perform she insisted upon attending every rehearsal standing on crutches, probably in hopes of watching Lily flop. Lily just sighed feeling as an outsider, yet again.

The next sound was full out hysterical laughter. She started to shake her head. "And what are you hyenas cackling about now?" She asked turning to face them.

She heard more snickers and several of the ballet rats bowed their heads in seeming shame to have been caught. Only Angelique was brave enough to repeat what was so funny. "Oh some of us were wondering if you would need help doing your makeup on opening night, you know, to cover that nasty scar." Angelique said innocently. "You are planning on covering it, aren't you? Unless you're planning on becoming the next Phantom of the Opera." They all broke out in hysterical laughter.

Lily just nodded at the statement and then turned around facing the prop table again fidgeting with a prop.

Erik was perched in his normal hiding place in the flies watching the rehearsal. His blood began to boil at that pruning peacocks gall to say such a disgusting thing. He began to formulate a plan of revenge in his mind, but stopped when Lily began to speak in a calm smooth voice.

"You know I have heard a lot of stories concerning this Phantom, that you all mock." She started quietly still fiddling with the prop in her hand.

"I bet you have." Angelique said sweetly.

Lily ignored the comment and continued to talk. "You know I heard that anyone who dared to mock him, or interfere in his business found themselves in a very compromising position." She smiled a knowing smile.

"And what position are you speaking of?" Angelique asked, not liking the sweet tone of Lily's voice.

"Angelique, let me give you one piece of advice." Lily swung around throwing the prop in her hand at the other woman. The end of the Punjab lasso landed perfectly around her neck, and Lily yanked just enough to tighten it. "Keep your hand at the level of your eyes."

Angelique sputtered in complete astonishment, as her face blazed red in embarrassment.

Lily smiled sweetly at her then tossed the end of the rope to one of the others as she strode passed them and off stage.

Erik stood in astonished silence in the flies. He could not have planned that better himself.

The others below heard a deep chuckle floating through the auditorium surrounding them. They each looked to one another in utter fright.