A/N: I want to thank ebonyribbon for pointing out how much I've been saying that Erik and Angelina love each other but won't tell each other at the end of my chapters. I'm hoping to stay away from that for awhile. If I touch on it, I'm sorry. I really don't mean to. Forgive me… I promise you, it will be all worth it at the end. And yes, I have plotted out the end of my story already. But just so you know, I'll begin to plan chapters 44, 45, and 46 tomorrow. I just wrote chapter 42 and I do have to say it's one of my favorites. Enjoy the chapter and read and review as always.

Chapter 33 – The Reality of It All

The midday Paris sun had begun to seep through Angelina's bedroom windows. Although the windows were dusty and dirty, the heat still managed to find its way through.

Her head began to pound as Angelina slowly stirred in her bed. Squinting from the sun, her eyes barely focused on the chair beside her. A figure was sitting on it but Angelina could not make out the features or the face.

"I am glad you are awake, Angelina."

Her eyes began to focus and saw the Madam Giry was seated by her bedside. Strong hands were rested in her lap as her gaze was focused upon Angelina.

"Am I late for rehearsal?"

"I have assured Meg that you would work twice as hard tomorrow."

"What happened?"

Madam Giry helped the young girl sit up in her bed. Angelina was still pale but seemed to be much better then the previous night.

"Rene escorted you back to your room after a bout of dizziness."

Angelina hardly remembered the previous night. There was a flurry of gold and white and music within her mind. Then there was…

"Oh my!"

Madam Giry watched as realization passed over the young girl's face. "What is it, my dear?"

"The man I was with…"

"Rene?"

"No! It was not Rene." She could not reveal who it was. "This man, who I have been seeing, he was there…He kissed me."

The fears Madam Giry had held in her heart had come to pass. Angelina had remembered that Erik was with her. The plan that was thought not to be needed would have to be used.

"A dream perhaps?"

"No, it was much more then a dream. It was reality."

"You were with Rene the entire night, my child. There was no one else with you."

Angelina shook her head. It could not be. It could not be that Erik's kiss and their dancing was all in her mind. "It is not possible."

"I assure you, Angelina, that you were on Rene's arm the entire night." She would have to tell Rene to go along with Erik's plan. "There was no other man near you unless they were passing by you while dancing."

Angelina pulled the sheet up to her chest. It was all a dream. Everything that stirred within her wished to be released. She could still feel Erik's lips upon hers. The dream seemed so real…

"Who is this man?"

Madam Giry's question sent Angelina's mind in search of a quick answer.

"Is it your fiancé?"

"No, Madam, it is not."

"Then who claims your heart in such a manner that you cannot tell dreams from reality?"

"I cannot say, Madam."

She had already known who claimed the young girl's heart. There was no way to stop what was developing. Erik had fallen for the young dancer while Angelina had fallen for the tortured soul.

"Then tell me about him without mentioning his name."

"Why?"

"You need to tell someone, Angelina. You have told no one of your feelings for this man and it is building inside of you."

"You are right."

"So, tell me about him."

"He is a composer."

"A promising career."

"He is an amazing singer and dancer."

Madam Giry had known about the singing but the dancing was a talent she had failed to notice about Erik.

"His eyes could pierce your soul, Madam Giry. His voice captivates me like nothing I have ever felt before."

Erik had cast his spell on the young woman. "And this continues in your dreams?"

"Yes."

"Have you told this man that you love him?"

Angelina solemnly shook her head. "I cannot."

"Why not, child?"

"He sees me as only a student and nothing more. I cannot tell him my feelings."

"You would deny yourself love because of fear?"

"I would deny myself love because it would not be reciprocated."

Naïve child. Both were denying themselves because each was afraid of rejection.

"Madam Giry, you can tell no one of this. Please, for my sake."

She sighed and turned to Angelina. "You have my solemn vow. No words will be spoken to anyone else about this matter."

Angelina sighed and smiled. "Thank you, Madam."

"Rene has been worried about you."

"I have no doubt."

Angelina rose from the bed and quickly pulled on her dress for the day. Madam Giry sat and watched her.

"If you will excuse me, Madam, I must get to rehearsal." Stopping once she opened the door, she turned back to Madam Giry. "Thank you again for telling no one what I have told you."

Madam Giry simply nodded as Angelina quickly left the room. Rising from the chair, she walked over to the mirror and slid it open and then closed it behind her. The looming corridor before her would be long but she would travel it to talk to Erik.

He must be told. He must know.

Their eyes met once again. Standing up straight, Angelina rose on her toes and her lips touched Erik's lips. The touch was light like a feather and Erik hardly knew she had touched them. Before she could pull away, Erik drew her closer and made the kiss deeper. Adjusting for her height, he bent his head down, making it much more passionate.

The music reached a crescendo as Erik's arms wrapped around her tiny frame. He could not believe what he was doing.

The image kept replaying within Erik's mind – distracting him from his composing. The feel of her silky lips were still upon his. He had found his hand gently touching them, hoping to find hers on them.

"You must tell her."

His thoughts were shattered as he turned to find Madam Giry standing near the water's edge.

"Madam…"

"Do not 'Madam' me, Erik. You must tell the girl."

Erik was bewildered as to why Madam Giry was so adamant about admitting to Angelina of his feelings for her. He knew that the feelings would not be reciprocated. The plan of not revealing to Angelina that the kiss was real was to keep her from being frightened of what happened.

"No."

"Just no?"

"No, Madam Giry. My answer is final."

"I will not take that as a final answer."

She was being stubborn and had always gotten her way when she had been like this. Erik would not let her win this time. He would not give in.

"My answer is no, Madam. I will not change my mind."

"You are stubborn, Erik. Your foolish pride will hurt you."

"I am not hurting, Madam. I am perfectly content."

"For how long?" It would not be long before Angelina consumed Erik in the same fashion Christine had. She would not let it get that far. "Angelina will not be Christine."

"No, she will not." Erik stood and looked upon the woman below him. Madam Giry had protected him for years. He did not need protecting any longer. "Angelina will not find out about my feelings for her."

"Your heart is breaking. I will not be here to pick up the pieces."

"I do not wish for you to."

"The kiss, Erik, is just the beginning."

Erik had found out that she had seen it all. She had confronted him as soon as he had returned from Angelina's room. They had talked for hours – almost until the sun rose. The plan had been plotted and everything was set into motion. But Madam Giry did not know everything. Feelings stirred within him – feelings that he did not know how to control.

"It is the end." Erik looked down at Madam Giry.

"You fail to see it. You are so blinded you fail to see it."

"I fail to see what?"

Her mind screamed for her to tell him what Angelina had said to her only moments prior. But her heart knew otherwise. "You fail to see everything around you. Your heart tells you to tell her but yet you deny its release."

"Angelina is merely a child…"

"Whom you love. Erik! Please, spare yourself the heartache and tell her you love her."

A chill filled the air as Madam Giry watched the candles extinguish one by one. Erik's anger was growing and his illusions were intensifying.

"No. And do not ask me again."

Erik moved back to the organ and sat down. Only two candles were lit – one upon the organ and one right near Madam Giry. The light illuminated every feature on Erik's face. He took his right hand and removed the mask from his face. The scars did not scare Madam Giry as they once had in the past. They were apart of Erik as much as his music was.

"Leave."

Music began to fill the lair. Madam Giry lingered for only a few moments longer. She knew his mind would not be swayed unless by some unforeseen miracle. Leaving him to his solitude, she began to devise a plan to have Angelina show her devotion to her teacher. She walked through the darkness, finding her way without thought.

The darkness surrounded him once again. But the light that lit his features reminded him of the light that Angelina had cast into his life. It was brighter then anything he had ever known. But the darkness was a part of his life and would not easily be cast aside. Until it diminished, he would leave Angelina in peace. But the storm that raged inside of him would not be contained for long. Soon, it would be released in some form or another. He prayed that it would not be the way he thought it would be.