Author's Note: OMG! I got two reviews! (Does a very special happy dance!) I'm glad you like my story, hopefully, more inspiration will come to me and I'll be able to update each chapter sooner! This chapter will be very special because...it is from Erik's point of view! YAY! I'm super nervous, hopefully I don't ruin his sexiness for any of you. I'll do my best! Hope you enjoy chapter two!

Shattered Passion/Chapter Two

I awoke to find myself lying face down in darkness. The smell was one familiar to me and as I came to my senses I recognized I was in the east corridor leading to my lair. I tried to recollect what had happened. Two months ago Christine, my angel, left with that disgusting fop. I could not live my life after that. I tried everything from hanging, drug overdose, drowning, but some voice in the back of my head always stopped me.

"Maybe she does she love you. After all, it was you she chose that night and you decided to let her free. You pitied that poor fool and his love for your angel that you forgot your own feelings. You were blinded by his love that you completely forgot your own. Find her, Christine wants her angel back."

I made my way back to my lair and gasped in shock. Everything had been destroyed. The furniture, my drawings, Christine's beautiful swan bed, the mirrors, (well, the mirrors were my doing). How was I supposed to start over from this mess? My heart leaped when my eyes came across my organ. My perfect, untouched organ. True my music lay in pieces but the beautiful instrument that became my life was intact. Right at the moment, I sat down and started composing. However, these songs were unfamiliar and new to me. They were songs of hope. My angel of music will return to me, and if not, I will seek her out. She will come to realize that she belongs to the music of the night.

Christine awoke in a cold sweat. The dream that had been haunting her for the past week had returned. Ever since Madame Giry had delivered the news of Erik to her, she had these amazing, yet terrifying dreams. True she loved the man, but what of the man that lay beside her each night? The man who whispered I love you every second he could? The man who protected her, guarded her, guided her from harm. She did love Raoul, but in a different way. Erik made her feel...honestly she didn't know. These dreams however stirred a sort of fire in her she never knew. Christine pondered the thought of getting up and writing, but as she felt her husband stir beside her, she erased the thought and lay back down to have the dream once again.

How long had I been composing? Hours? Days? Weeks? The music flowed from me like never before, I had no time to stop and think of anything else. Let alone, know that there was a presence in my room with me. It wasn't until I felt a tap on my shoulder that I swiftly turned around to face a young girl with brilliant blue eyes and long blond hair. Judging from her features, I knew this was Antoinette's young daughter Meg. Seeing Meg made me think of Christine, and I turned to leave, but I was stopped by a tug on my arm.

"Please, monsieur, do not be afraid of me. I am not here because I want to be, I am here for my mother," the young girl paused for a moment and seemed unsure of what to say next. I stared into her eyes until she finally finished what she needed to say, "and because of Christine." Christine, my Christine, my angel! At that moment, I felt I could fly. I grabbed the young girl's shoulders and felt a slight flinch. No matter, that didn't bother me. All I wanted was to know of Christine. I tried to pull myself together and talk in the most gentlemanly way without spilling my heart out to this young girl.

"Ms. Giry. I have waited too long to know what has become of Christine. Please do not delay any longer in telling me what has happened." I loosened my grip on Meg's shoulders and she stepped backward. At this gesture, I had a chance to examine the girl. She was in a simple green dress that laced in the front, but was dangerously low I had to look towards the ground without wondering what lay beneath the fabric. I looked back up and realized the girl was inches away from my face. She spoke in a soft voice, very delicate and almost angelic.

"Before I say anything monsieur Phantom, I must know one thing. Did you love Christine?" I have to admit I was quite taken aback by the question. The thing that puzzled me more was the way Meg looked. Her eyes looked almost...what was the word, hopeful? Hopeful I would say yes? Or hopeful I would say no? Impossible, this girl knew nothing of me.

"Ms. Giry, none of this monsieur phantom business. Please address by my name and my name only. My name is Erik." All she did was nod. Then I answered her question.

"Words cannot express how much I was in love with Christine. I taught her the ways of music, I taught her how to sing with passion, she was everything to me. I was willing to give up everything to be with her. I would have laid the world at her feet if she would have let me. But, I let her go. Let her live the life that she had wanted. I wanted her to be happy, even if it meant destroying myself." I felt tears brimming my eyes. I could not cry in front of this girl, I would not allow it. However, it was too late. The young girl looked at me, tears in her eyes as well and brushed them away. She started with the left side, the side that was at least normal to the public eye. Then her hand went to the right side of my face. The touch was so warm, so inviting, that it took me a few seconds to realize I did not have my mask on. My eyes widened and I pushed the girl backward. She fell to the floor and looked at me with fear in her eyes.

"Oh now you are afraid Ms. Giry? Yes, be afraid of the monster. Be afraid of the creature that you always talk about. Oh yes, you don't think I hear you whisper rumors to every new ballet girl about the horrific phantom? Well my dear, you finally have your choice to really see what lies behind the mask. I am surprised that you have not run away. Now leave me be, I do not wish to speak with you." I turned my back to her and sat back down at the organ, only to be turned around and slapped hard on the face by Meg.

"You ought to be ashamed of yourself monsi...Erik. I come down here with news about Christine and all you care about is if I run from your face? Obviously, you have no idea how some people think. True, many cannot see beyond the physical aspect of a person, but do you honestly think I am as shallow as that? I've seen your face, I've been down here every night for a week watching you compose at your organ. I am not afraid, I have never been afraid. Christine was right, in your soul lies the true deformity. Pity she loves you and could not see what you really are." I could barely believe what she just said. I never imagined this girl to have such fire within her. However, it was not what she said or did that caught my attention. It was only the last sentence she said. I jumped up and grabbed Meg to push he against the wall.

"What did you say?" My face was inches from hers, I needed to know if what she said was true.

"You heard me Erik. Christine loves you. My mother went to her wedding two weeks ago and informed her that you were dead. Christine burst into tears and ran into her dressing room." Before I had a chance to speak, Meg spoke again.

"Yes, we believed you were dead. However, I could not believe that an escape artist such as you could have died down here. So I came looking for you and found you here, sitting at your organ as if nothing had happened. I informed my mother only a few days ago, but she will not go back and visit Christine to tell her you are alive. It is your choice, and your choice alone if you wish to seek her out." Meg cleared her throat before she spoke again, however I could tell she was trying to hold back tears. "If you wish, I will help you find her. I know where her and the Vicomte are living." Before I could say anything, I wrapped my arms around Meg and embraced in a hug. It was unlike anything I had done, but I was surprised at how quickly she relaxed in my arms. I titled her face towards me and kissed her on the cheek.

"My dear Meg, nothing would make me happier than having you lead me to Christine. I hope you know how much this means to me. I will be ready to depart early tomorrow morning. I will leave your mother a note informing her of your whereabouts. Meet me here at a quarter past six. Together, we will travel to the DeChagny household." I turned my back to Meg and said under my breath, "And I will finally be able to claim the angel I was destined to be with." Tomorrow would be an extraordinary day.

(Quick Meg POV)

As Erik turned his back to me, I wanted to jump for joy, but also collapse and cry. This man loved Christine, he would have killed for Christine, and I was leading him to her. What were these feelings he stirred inside of me? I had seen him without his mask, he yelled in face, yet I had the courage to slap him and for once say what was on my mind. I could not even do that with my own mother, let alone a man. When he pushed me against the wall, I had a chance to examine who he really was. His green eyes pierced into my soul, they seemed to know every word or every thought I was feeling. I was pouring my heart out to this man, in my eyes I was loving this man...wait? Did I just say love? I had admired this man from afar from a week. The only things I knew of him were the rumors spread around the opera house, Christine's stories of this "angel of music" and what I had just experienced with him. As he started walking away from me, I realized I did not want him to leave me. I wanted to stay with him, I wanted to be with him, I wanted to love him. I ran to him and turned him around to face me. The words I wanted to say did not come out, so I just stared into his eyes, hoping to God that he would understand what I was saying. He stared back at me, he green eyes making my knees weak. My knees started to buckle, but the weight of his arms on my shoulder kept my balance. After what seemed like an eternity, he spoke.

"Meg, is there something wrong? Is there something else that you wish to tell me?" I looked toward the ground, only to have my face lifted ever so gently toward his. I had nothing to tell him, only what was inside me. Could I tell him? Could I say I loved him? What then? Could he forget Christine and be happy with me? Could he ever be happy with a simple, plain, ballerina? I opened my mouth to speak, but could not say what I wanted.

"Nothing Erik, I will meet you here tomorrow." Erik took my hand in his, kissed it and with a nod, turned and walked back into the darkness. I stood there for a few moments more and was finally able to whisper what I had been trying to say.

"I love you."

Well, didn't expect that coming did ya? Honestly, neither did I. I thought it would make the story more dramatic, having both Meg and Christine in love with the Phantom? So, now we have two love triangles? What is going to happen? Maybe if you review, I'll be able to put up chapter three even sooner. Happy reading! Hope you enjoyed!

Love Always,

Alyson