a/n: like i said, another chapter this week! and three reviews! YAY!
Tay-kun: I know, that chapter was a bit harder to write cause i was in a slump, tho i do hope this chapter is better!
Lize Radcliffe: lol, thank you very much!
inkie pinkie: that's alright, you reviewed this time! smile and hug
RAOUL POV
I feel terrible leaving him down there. Taking one of the faster passages to get there and get back I run up and carefully open the end. Checking both ways and seeing no one there, I follow the screams and commotion of the crowd toward the main room, stepping out and instantly running into Christine.
"Good evening," I greet her.
"Hello, Raoul," she answers.
"This is not the time to go informal on me, Christine," I scold.
"How are you?" she asks, ignoring my comment.
"Never better," I smile, "You?"
"Fine," she answers simply.
"Look, let's not fight," I try, "This is supposed to be a celebration."
She nods, "I suppose so. I wonder what's with the sudden change of heart, he is not dead Raoul. I know that he can't be dead, he never will die as long as I live."
"Christine, you broke the man's heart, he does not love you," I defend my angel without thinking.
"And how would you know this, Raoul?" she gets in my face.
"Who could anyonelove someone who tears their heart out?" how could he still love me?
"I don't know, but he's different," you don't know the half of it Christine.
Just then the managers run up, "Ah, Vicomte, very nice to see you."
"Thank you, gentlemen, it is a pleasure to see you as well," I nod.
As the conversation continues my mind wanders. How is my angel?
ERIK POV
Meg sits next to me, taking up the violin and playing flawlessly. I used to give her lessons when she was much younger. She is very good.
"That's quite an improvement since the last time," I applaud.
"Thank you," she looks at me, stopping the music that was easing my pain, "I have practiced."
"Don't stop," it comes out a near silent plea.
"Pardon, Erik?" she urges me to repeat something I find myself ashamed of.
"I said, don't stop, you're doing better than I had expected you to do in such a short amount of time. Just last month this piece would have been your limit," I search through the pile and find a harder piece, "But something tells me that this is the piece for you now."
She looks over the piece for a few moments before beginning to play. Something that I have never done in the presence of a student I find myself doing. I shut my eyes and lean back against the pillow. The music caresses me, calms me, eases the pain once more of being so distant from my love.
She reaches a difficult spot and falters; my eyes shooting open as she does so.
"Where was that?" she points to the sheet.
"Right there," the exact note is a quick and difficult change.
"Try this," I lead her hands in a quick and easy solution to the problem.
She returns tothe problem area and playswith no flaw,so I relax against the pillow once more, my eyes open and alert this time. She reminds me so much of my newest student, my angel. I wonder what he is doing.
RAOUL POV
We sit down at a large table for a meal. I see Ubaldo Piangi, back from his traumatic near death accident, Carlotta Guidicelli, the only reason she has stayed seems to be Piangi, Christine, the managers, the director, Maestro, and myself. Small, elegant dinner plates are set before us as the meal begins.
I look up nervously and see that Christine is staring at me. She never did get over loving me, though I have long forgotten my love for her. Erik is my only true love, and I see that now.
Piangi and Calotta eat in silence, very strange, usually Carlotta can not shut up.
"Why are we all here?" I finally speak up.
"To celebrate the death of a ghost!" Firmin speaks up.
"Who said he's dead?" Carlotta screams, "we said that before and he came up with his new opera! We have thought him dead before and only paid!"
"That's it, he is not dead!" Andre exclaims, "but we have made peace!"
"You made a deal with him?" Christine cries in outrage.
"But of course, only for the good of the opera, Mademoiselle," Firmin answers.
"Still, you made a deal with him?" Andre nods, "This is terrible!"
"How?" Firmin stands up, "if it keeps him away—"
"That's just it, nothing will keep him away," Piangi takes his side, against the managers, as I finish my meal regretting every moment that I have come.
"What do you think, Raoul?" Christine turns to me.
"Me?" I answer.
"Yes, you!" she cries, "Do you think he's gone?"
"I don't think he'll bother us anymore. He lost his only reasons to do so," I stand as well, "Money and you. You, well, you took care of that yourself and broke his heart, and the money is why we are he, because they settled the problem! He has no reason to bother us, or live for that matter." No reason except me.
"Now you're against me?" she yells, standing up in furry.
"Yes, I am! I may hate the man, and I may even have loved you, but now I see that you are not the woman that I am destined to be with, and looking back I see how terribly you treated him! I actually feel sorry for him!" I find my furry gets the best of me.
"Raoul," her tone softens, "please. Don't speak like that."
"Why not?" I growl.
"Raoul…" her voice dies.
"No," I stand straight, towering over her.
"Fine!" she stands as tall as she can. Her voice lowers to a feral growl; "You are no better than that monster by the lake!"
Before I can stop myself I raise my arm and slap her hard to the ground. Around me there are gasps. I don't care. I stare at her on the ground, her face showing only shock.
I turn to leave, stop at the door, "My sincerest apologies M. Andre, M. Firmin."
Without another word I leave.
CHRISTINE POV
Embarrassed beyond belief and quite upset, I soon follow Raoul in leaving the dinner, not another word from me to anyone.
How dare he?
Why was he so protective of the Phantom? Erik, of all people, has no reason to be protected… unless it's by his lover.
That's it! Raoul and Erik are lovers! Is it that hard to believe it would happen? I mean, they both have loved and lost me. Those two… wow!
And yet I envy them, they would make the perfect couple!
They're too perfect of a couple, but not for long:
Dear Comte Philippe de Chagny,
It has come to my attention that there is quite the scandal between the Vicomte Raoul de Chagny and another man. Though word has not gotten out about this scandal yet, it takes place at the Opera House and you know how news travels there. I hope that I have been helpful.
Yours Truly,
Christine Daae
If this doesn't break them, I don't know what will. I fold the letter and stamp a seal onto it.
Leaving my room I head to Madame Giry's room. Finding no one there I shrug and move to the stables.
I find a stable hand and ask him to deliver it for me. He blurts out an unreasonable price, but I pay it, the money will be well spent.
He grins and I watch my latest plan go to work.
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a/n: thank you for reading, please review!