The next day, a sea of black surrounded the long, deep grave where Lord Charles Wittingham Bowler the third would finally be put to rest. The widow was covered with comforting friends like her face was covered with a veil. The servants stood by her side in somber grays and black. The priest read from the scriptures loudly,

"Ashes to ashes...dust to dust..." As the priest continued, Firmin whispered to Erik harshly,

"I can't possibly believe you aren't convinced Grady is the killer! Why can't you let this go?"

"Because Grady may have been an arsonist...he may have been a thief! But he was no murderer!" whispered Erik back insistently. With Antoinette on his arm, Andre whispered,

"And where's your proof? Grady had the motive, he had the means and he had the opportunity!"

"Actually we don't know that! We never did uncover where Grady really was at the time of the murder! And don't forget, John Canter had a hidden fortune somewhere anyone would love to get their hands on!" pointed out Antoinette in a hushed tone.

"Including Grady a known thief who BURNED the evidence! Chances are he took Canter's money and made that ring of fire to throw people off the scent!" said Andre. Erik furrowed his brow,

"Maybe we have been looking at this the wrong way. Maybe Grady did cause the fire, and he was waiting to collect on the money. What if the real killer used Grady as a scapegoat?"

"Oh God in Heaven! You're insane!" whispered Firmin. Erik looked at him with a seething anger, before walking away from the funeral.

"Erik! Erik, I'm sorry I didn't mean...damn!" said Firmin saying the last word out loud. The priest stopped and joined the mourners in giving him disapproving looks. Andre and Antoinette stifled their laughter as Firmin said,

"Damn shame that's what it is! Damn shame!" When the services continued with a red faced Firmin staying respectfully quiet, Andre whispered to Antoinette,

"Go and check on Erik, my dear. While no one's about." Antoinette nodded and mouthed, 'Thank you!' before walking off down the road towards the house ten minutes away. When she arrived, she heard a lonely, sad song playing on the piano and filling the house with music. She followed the sound like a sailor would to a deadly siren when she heard an angel of heaven sing in a husky and soulful baritone,

"¯ Child of the wilderness, born into emptiness,

learn-to be lonely, learn to find your way in darkness.

Who will be there-for you? Com-fort and care-for you?

Learn to-be lonely, learn to be your one companion.

Never dreamed-out in the world, there are arms to hold you.

You've al-ways-known! Your heart-was on-its-own!

So laugh-in your loneli-ness. Child of the wilderness.

Learn to be lone-ly. Learn how to love-life that is lived-a-lone.¯" Antoinette found the music room and saw Erik playing the piano masterfully. Her eyes watched his hands, oh, his wonderful hands! They were treating the keys like a long lost lover. Gently and with passion. He finished singing in that captivating, heart melting voice,

"¯Learn-to be lone-ly. Life can be lived, life can be loved-a-lone." ¯

"What a beautiful and depressing song. Perfect for a funeral!" she jested watching his still back. He heard her boots echo on the marble floor as she came towards him. He shut his eyes when he felt her hands come to his shoulders and begin to massage them.

"Erik...you aren't alone anymore. You have us." she said.

"No Mam'selle. The deal has been finished. I helped them solve the crime. Now once they cash in on their commission, I shall go my seperate way." he said. Outside in the hall, Firmin stopped Andre from going in and whispered,

"Wait!" They listened behind the door to hear Antoinette say,

"But the mystery isn't solved. Grady didn't kill Lord Bowers." Erik stood and walked to the window rubbing his temples.

"All the evidence says he did! I have no proof of my theory! Just a look he gave Lady Bowler when he was being arrested!"

"What look?" she asked. He faced her.

"The same look I had on my face five years ago, when I learned Christine didn't love me."

"Who's Christine?" she asked.

"You never heard the story?" asked Erik.

"I was in America at the time. In Louisana living with my cajun cousin. I didn't hear much about Paris at all." she told him. He sighed and sat her down on the piano bench. He kneeled before her and took her hands,

"Toni, what I am about to tell you...may change your entire opinion about me. But don't interrupt until I'm finished."

"Very well Erik."

"I was born to a mother from a well to do family, but they had disownered her for having an affair out of wedlock with my father, whoever he was. She raised me for five years, but she was replused by me. I was born with a facial defect, and she had been so beautiful, she hated the sight of me. She thought I was the punishment for her sin. When I was five, she had enough. She sold me to the gypsies. They would call me 'The Devil's Child' and keep me in a cage for their freak show. My gypsy master, would beat me daily before each show, and then pull off my burlap sack mask for the world to laugh at. That was my life for six years. Then one day, I decided I had to escape. I had to fight back. So I began to physically train myself in my cage everyday to make myself strong and to pass the time. I would do push up, chin ups that sort of thing. I waited for my chance. Then it came one night after one of my 'performances'. While collecting the tips, my gyspy master left a piece of rope on the ground. I took it and brought it aroung his neck, choaking the life out of him. But the alarm was raised for the police and I didn't know what to do. Luckily, the young ballerina who would grow to be Madame Giry, the head ballet mistress during my life of the Opera house, had seen it all and had pity for me. She hid me in the Opera Populaire, and I began to teach myself about music, architechture, science, illusion, anything and everything that came into the theater door. One day, about ten years later, a young girl sang in the chapel while praying for her father. I hid in the shadows, and then complimented her. She wasn't scared to my surprise, but she asked if I was the Angel of Music. I said yes. I began to train her to sing, using my knowledge of the opera. Meanwhile, when I was a thick headed teenager, I had begun to play tricks on the cast and crew, then demanding a salary from the managers so prevent the tricks to happen. The first manager paid it, thinking it might bring him good luck to have a ghost in his favor. The second paid it, out of fear when my pranks were getting more dangerous. It was Andre and Firmin who refused me, not believing I could bring them harm. At that same time, Christine had blossomed into a dazzeling beauty, and I, foolishly, thought I was in love with her. That she could help me have a normal life. I demanded they make her the star and replace this shreaking harpy named La Carlotta. They refused so to prove my point...I killed a stagehand. He was a drunk and a filanderer, who noone missed, but I still strangled him and hung him by his neck during a performance. Christine was being courted by her childhood sweetheart, the Vicompt De Changy, and I overheard them enchange their proclaimations of love towards each other. I flew into a jealous rage. I stayed away for four months and wrote an opera. Don Juan Triumphant. At the New Year's Masque, I appeared and told them to do the opera and cast Christine in the lead. They did thinking they could trap me when I would come to watch Christine. But I had a surprise for them. I killed the lead tenor and took his place in the last act. I seduced Christine right on the stage, and they couldn't stop me. Just as I told Christine I'd go anywhere with her, she pulled off my mask and showed my face to the world. I was still one step in front of them. I disappeared into a trapdoor with Christine, and pulled a lever dropping the chandelier below, sending the House into flames. The Vicompt came to save Christine, but I trapped him in my punjab lasson and told Christine to choose me or he would die. She told me she pityed me, and that I was not alone...and then she kissed me. Twice. That snapped me out of the madness and I came to my senses releasing them both. I left my underground lake until I was sure the mob that came for my blood was gone. I stayed down there for five years. I believe you know the rest." Erik had been looking down at the ground, knowing he'd never finish the story if he had to look at her face. While he waited for her to respond, Firmin and Andre silently made a mutual decision in the hall. Antoinette raised his chin so his eyes could look into hers. She smiled,

"You're right. It did change my opinion of you. I now know you are the strongest, most beautiful soul I've ever met and ever will meet!" He asked in confusion,

"You aren't horrified by my past?"

"What's done is done. If you weren't repented of your sins, you wouldn't have told me and feared I would hate you. The man I see before me, is a total stranger from that sad tale." she said stroking his hair.

"We couldn't agree more." said Firmin coming in the door. Erik and Antoinette stood, Erik wiping his wet face as he asked,

"How long were you listening?" Andre came in and said,

"From the beginning."

"Erik. I'm sorry for my comment earlier. You aren't insane. It's a miracle you're not after we just heard!" said Firmin. Antoinette rubbed his arm in comfort as Erik replied,

"Apology accepted."

"So you plan to leave once we deposit the check?" asked Firmin.

"That used to be my plan..." said Erik not knowing what to do. Andre looked aside to Firmin,

"You know M. Firmin, after we solve this case and clear Grady for murder, we are going to get all sorts of murders thrown at us!" Firmin matched his implying tone,

"Yes, and we could certainly need a good assistant who knows more about detective work than we do!"

"Someone we could also be friends with wouldn't hurt!" said Andre as Antoinette smiled at the two older men.

"Say why don't we ask Erik? We like him enough." said Firmin.

"Why not? I certainly would want a friend like him on my side!" said Andre. Firmin reached forward and said directly to Erik,

"What about it Erik? Care to make our deal a permanent arrangment?" Erik smirked and shook his head before shaking Firmin's hand.

"I remain, gentlemen, your obedient servant!" he said. Firmin rolled his eyes and went out saying,

"Well if I knew he would be corny about it!" Andre winked at Antoinette and said to Erik,

"Come Erik. We have a mystery to solve!"

"Oui Mousier!" called Erik before looking back to Antoinette and smiling. He then reached out for her hand, and she took it interlocking his fingers with hers as they walked out to join the wake.