I wanted to thank those of you who have reviewed my story. I really appreciate it! I also wanted to apologize for the slow update. I'll work harder on that. Please read and REVIEW!

Nicole- You have no idea how pleased I was to get your review. After I read it, I jumped around the house and sang Phantom Of The Opera for a while. (Pretty pathetic, huh?) Please keep on reviewing!

Chapter 3: The Lesson

Erik smiled at the thought of Emily. He could still remember the first time they had met as clearly as if it had been yesterday.

Flashback

Emily sank onto a chair and grabbed a hairbrush off the vanity. Slowly, she ran it through her blond hair, working out the tangles.

The day had been exhausting and yet rewarding for Emily. She had just finished her audition for Madame Giry and the managers. They all seemed thoroughly impressed with her performance. Because she was new and inexperienced, the managers cast her as a chorus girl. However, they informed Madame Giry that she had lots of potential.

"Not bad for my first day at the opera house," Emily muttered to herself. Immediately, she blushed, not meaning to say those words aloud.

Emily was about to put the brush away when the room was shrouded in darkness. The candle on her bedside table, luminous before, had suddenly gone out. Her breath quickened. What was going on? Emily had the uneasy sensation that someone was watching her. Quickly, she fumbled around in the darkness for another candle.

"Emily!" a voice called through the darkness.

She felt her heart leap into her throat. Surely she was dreaming! Candles do not go out on their own and you don't hear strange voices saying your name!

Emily hastened to the door and looked in the hallway. No one was there!

"Emily!" the voice called again. It was a man's voice, sinister and yet strangely calming. "I called your name, I expect you to answer me!"

Emily scanned the room, looking for some sign of life. Again, no one was there.

"Who are you?" she asked fearfully. "Where are you?"

"Where I am matters not," the voice replied smoothly. "And who am I you ask? I am your teacher. Your master. The Phantom of the Opera."

It took Emily a few minutes to digest what he said.

"You're the what?" sleekly

"You heard me perfectly," the Phantom replied easily. "I will be teaching you, giving you voice lessons. We will begin tonight."

Emily stifled a laugh. " I do not take orders from a voice!"

"You will take orders from me! If you refuse you shall suffer my …displeasure," the Phantom answered menacingly.

Emily considered her situation. She did not know who this Phantom Of The Opera was. She didn't even know if he was human! Could she refuse to obey a spirit? There was nothing so horrible about taking voice lessons, really.

"I'm sorry," Emily murmured. "I will take lessons from you if that's what you wish."

"Good," the Phantom replied evenly. "Now, I wish you to sing for me. Show me your range."

Emily hesitated. Could she really do this? Tentatively, she started at the lowest note she could reach and worked her way up.

Erik caught his breath. Emily's voice was gorgeous! It was so much like Christine's! Erik had to ask.

"Are you related at all to Christine," he paused. "…de Changy?"

Emily grinned.

"Yes, she is my aunt."

Erik felt as though someone had kicked him in the stomach. This girl, Emily, was related to Christine? How could Madame Giry expect him to do this? It was bad enough that he had to teach her. If it was up to him, he wouldn't. But her being related to Christine was just too much to handle. This would be the one and only lesson.

" That was very good," Erik managed shakily. The fact that he could talk at all astounded him. "Could you please sing a song? I don't care which."

Emily chose a song she used to sing when she was little. Her heart still thumping madly, she began.

Any previous anger that Erik felt melted to the power of Emily's voice. Melodic and captivating, it sent shills up his spine. Its likeness to Christine's was uncanny. Slowly, Erik closed his eyes and willed himself to believe that it was Christine singing for him. He was caught in a rush of harmony and dreams long passed. The sweet sound on Emily's voice filled his mind, his soul. Erik wished that the song would go on forever.

Emily stopped singing. Erik kept his eyes closed though, not wanting to wake up from the dream that possessed him.

"Phantom?"

Finally, Erik opened his eyes and was quite surprised to see Emily, not Christine standing there.

"Erik," he said with difficulty.

"Sorry?"

"You–you can call me Erik."

Emily tested the name on her tongue. "Erik."

There was a brief moment of silence.

"Emily, I must tell you, your voice is simply enchanting. However, you are probably very tired and need some rest. I will return tomorrow, same place, same time."

"Alright," Emily agreed. Any trace of fear had long receded. In fact, she was almost looking forward to her lesson with this Erik.

Thus began Emily's relationship with the Phantom of the Opera.

Sorry if that chapter was a bit slow. The next chapter will be back in the present tense and have a lot more action. Please leave me a review, okay? It takes about thirty seconds! Even one review will mean a lot to me.