Hurray I've hit the 30 chapter mark. But the story isn't over yet. I have many more tricks up my sleeves to dazzle and amaze you. Now put up your feet and relax.

Chapter 30: Good Things Scare Away the Bad

The Opera House and Erik's opera were both finished close to the middle of December. Lotte and Pierre had already begun practicing their parts and Christine would come whenever she had a chance to come and practice her part.

Christmas was not far off and with the completion of the Opera House, Raoul suggested having a masquerade ball on Christmas Eve to celebrate. Erik liked the idea, because he could seek out from the crowd those that would be good dancers or singers. Yet, he was afraid the past would repeat itself. Last time there was a masked ball he had come as the Red Death and scared everyone half to death. This was Lotte's first time at such an event and the last thing he wanted to do was ruin it for her. She would hate him forever if he did anything to ruin the evening.

xxxxx

Lotte was so excited. It was her first time in 8 years that she got to out among the people of Paris. She was so anxious for the day to come, but yet she was scared that the worst thing possible could happen; someone recognizing her, causing Erik to reveal himself and both of them being taken away by the police. She shook her head. "We've been getting away with this for months now. I don't think a little ball could ruin it. Besides we'll have masks hence the title. But at the end of those events they have everyone take off their masks. I'll just leave early," she thought to herself.

The day before the party Lotte went up into the costume room and began searching through the dresses for one that might make a good outfit for the ball. Most of the dresses were large, because of La Carlotta, but luckily there were plenty of smaller dresses hung up on the other side of the rack. A slender white one caught her attention. She pulled it off the rack and looked at it in the mirror.

It looked like it would fit. She tried it on and was amazed to find it fit her body perfectly. She looked again in the mirror. The material seemed to resemble feathers and there were ruffles up around the collar. The sleeves were so big they looked like wings. Lotte smiled. "I could be a swan," she said to herself as she twirled around in the dress. Looking through a box she finally came across a white mask that covered her face down to her mouth.

"Now I just need shoes and I have the perfect pair downstairs." She ran down to the lair and right into her room not noticing Erik playing on the organ. All he saw was a blur of white rush past and disappear into the bedroom.

Lotte dug through a box of shoes, but after not coming across the pair she needed she dumped out the box and began flinging each shoe aside in frustration. She had taken one pink toe shoe and tossed it back over her shoulder ignoring the clink from the organ. Picking up a black one she chucked that also.

"OW!"

Lotte seemed to freeze in place as the shoe in her hand fell to the floor and she turned around. Erik was standing there with the pink shoe in one hand and with the other hand was rubbing his head. "Sorry! I didn't know you were there."

"Lotte what is going on in here? It looks like the Paris brigade just trashed the place. I thought I taught you better than this."

"I can't find my white dress shoes and I need them for my costume," she said returning to dig through the pile.

"I see. What are you going as?"

"I'm going to go as a swan. I found a white mask and this dress in the costume room. I can't wait for tomorrow night." Just then she remembered something. "Father, there's something I need to tell you."

"What is that?"

"I had another vision awhile back. Actually the day you started writing your Opera."

"Lotte, why didn't you tell me?"

"I felt that, because you were in such a good mood I didn't want to have you worry about me," she said finally finding her shoes.

"What was it of this time?"

"The first time you brought Mother down to the lair and the night I came along."

"You saw all that?"

"Just up to the part when you were standing in front of the organ together. Pierre had snapped me out of it before anything else. I even called out in the vision wondering if you were able to hear me like all the people had before, but you didn't even look in my direction the whole time I was standing there. It was your mask that brought about the vision this time. Father I'm scared."

"I know Lotte. I'm scared too, but remember that things will get better. I have a feeling," he said hugging her. "Now why don't you finish up your costume? Tomorrow is a big day for you Little Lotte."

"Father what are you going as?"

"I thought of going as the Phantom I already have the outfit," he chuckled.

"They'll know right away. I'm sure you'll come up with something."

She went past him to her easel and took out her paintbrush and some paint. Erik went into his own room and opened the wardrobe. Inside was the outfit he wore to the last Masquerade. The Red Death suit and the skull mask tucked safely away. He glared at it. There was no way he would wear that. They would know him for sure. Then he saw the mask from Don Juan. "Now that could be rather promising."

Just then a knock came at the door. Erik looked up to see Pierre stride in and close the door behind him. "Excuse me Monsieur, but may we talk in private?"

Erik nodded. "What did you wish to discuss?"

"I was hoping sir if it's all right with you for me to…ask Lotte's hand in marriage? I was hoping to ask her tonight at the ball, but want to make sure you approve" he said holding up a velvet box.

"You want to marry my daughter? Well this comes as no surprise to me and you are so kind to her; if she accepts you then you my have her hand in marriage. You're already like a son to me."

Pierre couldn't hold back the need to hug Erik, which was no surprise to him. "Thank you so much. And don't worry I don't plan on moving her away from the Opera House. She had told me she wasn't ready to leave this place yet and I don't blame her. This is one fascinating place."

"One question Pierre. Where did you get the money to get that ring?"

"Father sent me some through Christine from all my years helping him harvest the raspberries and I used what you gave me as payment for working in the Opera House. I hope this will be good enough," he said opening the box. Inside was a small diamond ring.

"I think Lotte will love it. I see a wonderful future for the both of you. Now do you have an outfit for tomorrow night?"

"Actually no I don't. Maybe I should go as you. They won't be expecting that."

"I wouldn't suggest that. I don't think Lotte would like the idea of her fiancé being dragged away by the police; even though it was a very amusing thought. I have an idea." He went into the wardrobe and pulled out a half black, half white mask. "Take this. I'm not completely sure where I found it, but it will work for you."

"Thanks. Can I borrow that suit too?"

"You know why don't you just keep it. I won't be needing it anymore."

"Once again thank you."

Pierre left the room clutching the things in his arm. Lotte was putting the finishing touches on her mask. "What was that all about?"

Pierre only smiled and disappeared into his room. "Well how rude," Lotte thought to herself.

xxxxx

The following night Lotte got into her costume and then helped Erik do up his make up and put on the mask so as not to smear it. She warned him that when he took it off to do it slowly so that he didn't mess up the illusion. Pierre came out dressed in his suit and held up a paper fan. Erik had hidden something in his cape and then rowed them across the lake.

Erik and Pierre headed up first, and then Pierre reached back through the mirror to help Lotte out.

"Now Lotte repeat to me what I told you."

"If anyone asks I am Jacqueline, Pierre's fiancée. I come from out of town and will be making the Opera Popular my home as an actor."

"Perfect." He went to the door and listened before opening it. No one was in the backstage area. "Quickly before someone comes this way," he said ushering them out. He closed the door and led them to the main lobby where Raoul and Christine were assisting in putting up decorations.

"Ah, Monsieur Armand we've been awaiting you. I see Pierre has joined us and who is this darling young lady?"

"I am Jacqueline, pleasure to meet you Monsieur."

Raoul kissed her hand. Erik growled. "Is something wrong Armand?"

"What? Oh, nothing is wrong. I was just clearing my throat."

Christine came up dressed in a black dress and had a black mask around her eyes. Erik wanted to take her into his arms and kiss her, but instead took her hand and kissed it. "How wonderful it is to see you again Madame. And you look so elegant in that dress if I do say so myself."

Now Raoul gave out a growl. Christine glanced at him. "The manager was only giving a complement. Don't be so sour."

Not much more was said as people began to arrive. Erik however leaned in close to Christine and whispered something into her ear before handing her a small box. She tucked it away.

A band came in and began to play. "Jacqueline, would you like to dance?"

"Pierre I'd love too."

He took her hand and brought her to the middle of the dance floor. Erik watched with pride as the two of them waltzed across the floor. Lotte was as graceful as the swan she was trying to portray and along with Pierre they looked very happy.

Then Erik saw Raoul begin to dance with Christine. He slowly walked over and tapped Raoul on the shoulder. "Excuse me Monsieur, may I cut in?"

"You may," Raoul said stepping back and watched as Erik took Christine's hand and began waltzing with her.

"Monsieur you're such a good dancer," Christine giggled.

"Not as good as you Madame. I could never learn how to move with such grace and beauty."

"It's not that hard. Just let yourself go with the music and soon you'll be dancing in the clouds with ease."

Erik smiled at her. How badly he wanted to kiss her, but knew the second he did Raoul would be on top of him trying to harm him. "Let that puny man try and harm me. I could easily strangle him with my bare hands."

The party went on for a few more hours and Lotte was having the best time, until she noticed something strange going on. People were beginning to disappear and in their places people from the past began to fill the room. Lotte looked to where her parents were talking and they too disappeared. Then she looked next to her and Pierre had disappeared. "What's going on? Where is everyone?" she thought her mind racing.

Luckily her mother reappeared much younger and standing beside Raoul with a ring around her neck. Erik was no where to be seen. Suddenly the entire room went black and Lotte let out a stifled cry. Everyone in the room was looking up to the top of the grand staircase. She looked also and was horrified and angered at the figure standing before her.

Erik was standing here in a red outfit and a skull mask was in the place of his white one. He was saying something, but she was too angry to hear it. He threw a leather bound script to the floor, the contents spewing out of it. He began barking orders to some of the people standing on the stairs then looked passed Lotte at Christine. Lotte looked to see Raoul take off down the hall. "Wow, Raoul is such a wimp. He sees the Phantom and runs."

Erik had now made his way down the stairs. Still upset and unaware of the event taking place she went up to him, glaring back into his golden eyes. "Father, what are you doing?" she hissed under her breath. "This isn't what we agreed on." He said nothing and continued coming forward until he had walked through her. This sent shivers down her spine as she turned to see Erik pull the ring from Christine's neck and yell at her.

By now Pierre had noticed Lotte's strange behavior and was trying really hard to snap her out of it. People were starting to get suspicious and he hated how they just stared and muttered amongst themselves. Because the band was also looking at the strange girl the music had stopped and Erik finally analyzed what was going on. Christine looked at him fear clearly visible on her face.

"Erik what's wrong?" she whispered.

"Lotte's seeing things again and I know exactly which one just by how she's acting. "She's seeing the other masquerade."

Christine was still holding his hand from dancing and gave it a squeeze. Raoul ran up to them.

"Armand, what is Jacqueline's problem. She seems to be in a trance or something."

"To be honest Raoul I have no idea what's going on. In all of her visits she's never acted like this before."

Suddenly Lotte came to realize where she was and in shame pushed Pierre away and ran up the stairs, the sound of her shoes clicking across the marble. Pierre looked back into the crowd, and then chased after her. Suspicious murmurs and gasps filled the room. Erik went over to the band and had them start playing again. In no time everyone had gone back to dancing and having a good time, yet Erik knew deep in his heart that Lotte was having the worst time of her life.

xxxxx

Lotte made it up to the roof and sat down in her favorite place amongst the statures. She pulled her knees up to her chin and sobbed. "Why is this happening to me? I don't know what's going on. Why won't it just stop already and let me be at peace?" she thought as the snow and wind whipped around her. She shivered.

Then she had the feeling that she wasn't alone. She looked up to see Erik standing next to her staring off in the distance. Unlike all the other times she would come to the roof to cry and he had come looking for her this time he wasn't looking to comfort her. Instead he was looking towards the section of roof near the door. Lotte turned to look and saw Christine and Raoul standing together and singing.

The look on Erik's face was one of betrayal. She felt awful. She had heard the story, but seeing it was more painful than words. She wanted to stand up and hug her father. Make him know how much he was loved, but she remembered how the other vision had just walked through her. It would probably be the same with this one. As she cried Christine and Raoul had decided to go downstairs and Erik came out of his hiding place and picked up the rose Christine had dropped on the rooftop.

Lotte stood at the sound of his sobs and with pity began to cry harder. He put the rose by his mouth kissing it then in a sign of anger crushed it. With his cloak flowing behind him he ran over to a statue and climbed to the top where he cursed the two lovers for not following his demands. Father it doesn't have to be this way!" she screamed. "Can't you see we are happy just as is? It doesn't have to be this way!" Knowing that he couldn't hear her she fell into the snow and just let the tears flow.

"Lotte are you all right? Lotte please talk to me," Pierre said taking Lotte into his arms. Lotte came back to reality and looked at him, then pushed him away. "I don't understand. Did I do something wrong?"

"It's not you Pierre. In no way is it you that is my problem right now. The past won't leave me alone. It continues to haunt me and I don't want you to be drawn into all of this. Besides how can you love someone that is going insane? Tell me how," she said rubbing her arms.

"Lotte I've told you I love you. As scared as I am about all these visions your having it won't make me stop loving you. And I have something to prove just how much I love you." Lotte turned around to see him approach her and get down on one knee in front of her. "Lotte darling would you take on the honor of being my wife," he said producing the ring from the box and putting it on her finger.

Lotte looked at it and gasped. Her tears of sadness and fear became those of happiness and joy as she hugged him around the neck sending them back into the snowdrift. "I do. I will be yours Pierre. Oh, I believe you when you say you love me."

"Merry Christmas Lotte."

"Merry Christmas Pierre."

xxxxx

Erik had gotten to the door when they had started kissing. He shook his head. "Who knew that asking someone to marry you made all the fears go away? But I'm sure even after their married the nightmares still won't go away," he thought staring at them helplessly.

He went back down to the lobby where the revealing part of the party was about to take place. He spied Christine and hurried over to her. She was surprised when he took her hand and pulled her aside into a dark corner. "Erik what has gotten into you?"

He looked around to make sure no one was looking in their direction before he spoke. "See if you can stay in the Opera House tonight. I think Lotte would like it if her mother was around. Something tells me that the visions are happening more often."

"I will. Oh, Erik every time I hear that Lotte is suffering it breaks my heart. I feel like we're the worst parents on the face of the earth."

"Don't say that. We're not the worst parents on the earth. We have flaws just like every other person. Nobody said we were going to be perfect at this or anything else for that matter. Don't go beating yourself up." He pulled her close.

"All right everyone. It's time to take off your masks," Raoul announced from the top of the stairs. Erik and Christine rejoined the crowd. "My I have Monsieur Armand come up please?" Erik went to the top of the stairs and stood besides him. "You will be the first to reveal yourself."

Erik slowly pulled off the mask and was grateful that none of the makeup had wiped off, because no one shrieked or made a noise until someone started clapping. Then the whole room started clapping. Raoul held up his hands. The room fell silent. "We would like to announce the opera coming up at the Opera House."

"We will be doing a new piece titled, "Love Concurs All." However the score was delivered to me without a name so I have no one to give credit to it seems. It will be starting up in 3 weeks time. So make sure you attend."

There was another cheer and everyone threw their masks into the air as the clock struck midnight. People bid good night as they left and soon the only people left were Erik, Christine, Raoul, and Pierre and Lotte, who had remained on the roof.

"Christine if you want to stay tonight that's fine. I know you have a rehearsal; tomorrow and I'm sure Armand has a room for you. But let me give you your Christmas present before I go." He pulled out a small box and handed it to her. She opened it and pulled out a pair of fancy earrings.

"Oh, Raoul thank you. They're beautiful." She went up and kissed him. "Here's something for you," she said handing him a box as well. Inside was a pair of white dress gloves.

"How did you know I needed another pair?"

"I saw the hole in the other pair. Do they fit all right?"

He nodded and kissed her. "Sleep well tonight. I love you darling."

"I love you too."

Erik groaned and was finally glad to see Raoul leave. "Did you open my gift yet Christine?"

She pulled out his gift and undid the black ribbon. When she pulled back the lid she let out a gasp and took out a crystal rose without the stem. "Erik it's beautiful. Did you make this?"

"Yes, I crafted it out of some of the extra crystals left over from the chandelier and from making Lotte's present."

Just at that moment Lotte and Pierre came down the stairs and joined them. "Pierre I guess we missed the end of the party," Lotte giggled.

Christine wrapped her arms around her. Are you all right darling?"

"I am now Mother. I have a present for you and one for father." She took two gifts from behind her back and handed them to them. Erik opened his and laughed. She had given him more music sheets and ink. She had given Christine the picture of the sun rising over the mask.

"Now Lotte I have a very special gift for you," Erik said taking out a long slender, box. "I know I can't top the gift Pierre gave you, but I can do my best. In this box is something that will never die."

She took the box and undid the black ribbon. She looked up reassuringly before lifting the lid. Her eyes began to tear again as she looked at the crystal rose nestled in cotton inside the box. She lifted it out carefully and admired it. "Father this is so beautiful. I'll cherish it always," she came up to him and hugged him.

"You're welcome Lotte. I knew you would like it. All of my love was poured into making that for you. "But I suggest we get some sleep, because once again my opera will soon begin."

Yes I finally finished after a bunch of interruptions throughout the day. But the plot has thickened and I want all of your input. Don't leave me hanging guys.