School starts tomorrow so I'm not sure what I'll be doing with posting of the chapters. I probably will edit them the night before and post them in the morning before I leave or just post them up during the evening right after I edit them. Hopefully I'll stick to the daily posting cycle, though.

Don Juanita Triumphant: First of all - I love your new name! Second of all, your apology is accepted. I'm so glad to have you back! I was starting to get sad that you weren't posting anymore, but now your back! --throws confetti in the air and does a happy jig--

PhantomLover05: You may take Vincent as your prisoner! Also, I'll try to check out your story sometime, but with school starting tomorrow, I'm not sure when.

Phantoms' Lobo: It's okay that you didn't review on the last chapter. Your review was missed, but it's good that you are still reviewing! I also love your way of calling Vincent a "Friggin' For head". For some reason that just makes me laugh so hard!

AngelicFlutist: I was hoping some people would get a rather sorrowful feeling towards Vincent because Loralee doesn't exactly hate him, just is annoyed at his insistent bugging-ness. I would also definitely swoon if Erik kissed my hand. Just the thought makes my stomach flip! Glad you love the story!

Ethalas Tuath'an: Aww, I'll miss you! --hugs Ethalas Tuath'an goodbye-- I might finish posting the story when your gone so I hope when you get back you'll enjoy the rest of it!

Chapter Twenty Six: Masquerade

"If I have to wait another minute out here, Mademoiselle Donoghue, I shall simply just have to break through this door and drag you to the ball by you pretty little neck."

The only answer Erik got from outside of Loralee's door was a giggle.

"Thanks for calling my neck pretty!" she said in a sing song voice.

It was already ten minutes after the beginning of the ball and Loralee still hadn't managed to find a proper way to wear her hair. They had decided on going to the ball later than the rest so as not to attract that much attention, but Erik was still jumpy and nervous about the fact he was going to be out in public.

He growled at Loralee's thank you and just knocked on the door some more, irritated.

"What is taking you so bloody long in there anyway?" he asked.

"My hair," she replied simply.

"Your what?" he asked, enraged. "God damn it woman, wear it down!"

Loralee scowled at the door, but none the less tried to see what it would look like if she wore her hair down. Surprisingly, it looked absolutely stunning and fitted perfectly with her costume and she broke out into a smile.

"Congratulations Erik! You've just knocked off ten more minutes of waiting for me."

She then put on her mask as Erik let out an audible sigh of relief and went over to the door, opening it.

Erik had been leaning sideways against the door at the current time she opened it, so if he hadn't caught onto the door frame he would have toppled over onto her. In the act of catching himself before he fell onto her, though, his face ended up very close to hers.

Loralee and Erik just stared at each other in shock, neither wanting to move. She blushed at the closeness of their mouths and praised the fact that she wore a mask to hide her now flaming cheeks. Erik glanced at her lips with the overwhelming longing to kiss such a delicate and soft mouth. He tore his eyes off of them and instead stood up straight, backing away from her face, and cleared his throat.

"You look. . . breath taking," Erik said to her in a slightly dazed voice making Loralee blush even more.

"Thanks," she said and looked at him. "You don't look too bad yourself."

" 'Too bad', Loralee? Is that all I get when I worked extra hard to get myself ready for this special occasion?"

"Life's tough," Loralee said to him, smiling ear to ear. She actually thought Erik was incredibly handsome.

"Shall we go, then?" he asked, holding out his hand. She took it and after he kissed it gently, they hooked arms and headed off to the Masquerade.

It was absolutely exquisite!

Tons of people had attended, everybody with their own unique and colorful costumes. Some people dressed up rather absurdly with costumes of cows or birds, where as some other people dressed up in remarkably beautiful long dresses or robes of gold and rich blue. Erik and Loralee were like a black hole among the all the color. One glance from each other and they both had to bite back their laughter.

"Well, now at least Vincent will be able to catch us easily," she said to him.

"What do you mean?" Erik asked, both of them walking along the edge of the crowd in the shadows.

"I told him how I'm going in flames and darkness and you in something familiar. I don't see any other darkness out in that crowd."

"None from my eyes," agreed Erik. Then quietly he whispered in Loralee's ear, making her spine tingle when his breath caressed her cheek and ear. "Do you wish to see Monsieur Badeau?"

"Good heavens, no! I'd rather. . . rather. . ."

"Rather what, Loralee?" he asked, clearly amused.

"Oh be quiet, Erik. You know I don't like him and you're only trying to torture me with the fact that he likes me."

Erik only grinned sheepishly which granted him a glare from Loralee.

"Well, how can I make it up to you?" he asked her. She shrugged her shoulders, but Erik got an idea when a waltz started up.

"How about the first dance of the evening?" he asked her, extending his hand. She smiled up at him and gave him her hand.

"You know I can't say no to a dance!"

So he whisked her off into a waltz, the other people around them were just blurs as they danced, eyes fixed on each other. Loralee's graceful feet from being a ballerina all her life matched Erik's perfectly as he lead her across the ballroom floor, going from one side to another throughout the course of the song.

When the dance ended, Loralee didn't want to stop and reluctantly separated from Erik. He kissed her hand chastely before his eyes flickered away from Loralee's, seeing something he most definitely didn't want to see, and let out a silent groan.

"What is it?" Loralee asked him. Erik's gaze suddenly focused back onto Loralee's as he held out his hand again.

"Shall I save you from the love struck boy behind you, or would you like to face a living nightmare?"

Loralee got his hint and took his hand again. Only once they were safely dancing on the ballroom floor did she look over to confirm her guess. Sure enough, Vincent Badeau was watching her dance with Erik. When he caught her eye, he waved to her, but Loralee slid her eyes onto other people next to him, pretending she didn't notice his wave, before looking back up to Erik.

"My hero!" she said to him making him chuckle.

"Truth be told, I didn't really feel like conversing with him either. I'm sure he'd have a few words with me about dancing with 'his girl'."

Loralee glared at him.

"You speak as if I'm a piece of property."

"Welcome to Paris, Mademoiselle Donoghue," Erik said jokingly before quickening his strides to match the newly hastened waltz beat. She yelped a little with surprise and glee but quickly matched his strides.

She wasn't ballet mistress for nothing.

Later during the waltz when they got comfortable with the fast pace Loralee dared mention the emotional topic.

"Uh, Erik?"

"Yes?" he asked, looking down at her.

"Have you seen Christine yet?"

Erik suddenly tensed in her hands and a muscle twitched in his neck.

"Not yet. There's too many people."

"Do you think you know what you're going to do when you see her?"

"Most likely ask for a dance and. . ." Erik took a gulp, his eyes flashing. "And apologies for my past actions."

Loralee smiled up at him and reassuringly squeezed the hand she was holding.

"You'll do fine, Erik." Then she shrugged. "And if you do need help, I'm always there."

Erik couldn't help but smile down on her as she said such words that no one else had ever spoken to him. It took all his will power not to lean down and kiss right then and there.

"Thank you," he said, and by God did he mean it.

They danced the next few dances happily, secretly enjoying the closeness of one another as they wove in and out of other happy pairs. It was after their fifth dance that Erik finally spotted Christine.

She was over by the drink tables, sipping on a glass of water. She was wearing a pale green dress made out of many skirts of silk with a cream sheen covering the poofed out bottom. Diamonds were woven in on the corset and pale green ribbon adorned her beautiful curly brown hair. She was wearing a pale green, diamond encrusted mask which was small enough to show her happy pink cheeks. Raoul was over talking to some of his wealthy acquaintances. Erik was very lucky to catch her alone.

No wonder why Erik had fell in love with Christine. She was an absolute beauty in every way possible.

Loralee felt her mood sink considerably when she saw Erik gazing at Christine longingly, his hand on Loralee's tightening.

"I think it's time I face Monsieur Badeau's stupidity," she said silently to Erik. He glanced at her quickly, but it seemed Erik couldn't keep his eyes off of Christine.

"Good luck," she silently whispered to Erik as he left her and traveled off to Christine. Loralee stayed just long enough to see Erik ask her for a dance. Christine looked up at him and her joyous face suddenly turned pale, but she reluctantly accepted his hand.

Sighing, Loralee turned around to come almost face to face with Vincent.

"A pleasure to see you here, Mademoiselle McLay."

Loralee had the overwhelming urge to start speaking in a different language and walk away pretending she had no idea who he was or who Mademoiselle McLay was, but resisted, knowing he already knew that she was in fact Beth.

"Good evening, Monsieur Badeau."

"May I take this dance?" he asked, holding out his hand to her. She reluctantly let him have hers. As Vincent led her around the dance floor, Loralee stayed as far away from him as seemed proper and glared at him when she figured out he was staring at her open mouthed. His dancing was also rather mechanical compared to Erik's graceful stepping. Oh, how she had been spoiled by Erik.

"You look absolutely splendid tonight, my dear," he said, hoping to flatter her. She didn't reply at all except flashing him a dazzling smile. While dancing, she noticed how he was getting into that stiff state of nervousness that he did the other day when he asked her to the Masquerade. She looked at him questioningly, knowing whatever he said she wasn't going to like.

"Is something the matter, Monsieur Badeau? You seem awfully tense. There must be something important on your mind."

"Yes, well, I guess it's a good time to discuss it now." He sighed and stopped the dance suddenly, leading Loralee over to the side of the room, near the main doors. Vincent then took both of her hands and looked straight into her dusky blue eyes.

"Ever since I laid eyes on you, Beth, I've been a prey to love. Every day I live for you and every night I dream of you. I know this is all sudden and you barely even know me, but from what I have seen, it's been true love at first sight."

Loralee tried not to gag and left her face emotionless.

"I wish I wouldn't have to put it like this, so sudden and blunt, but Mademoiselle Beth McLay, will you marry me?"