Authors Note - Sorry I have posted for so long. RL has been hectic with a promotion at work and just general problems. Hope you all enjoy and I promise I'll try to update more often.

Chapter Sixteen

Meg knocked on Charlotte's bedroom and waited for her to answer. She frowned when she didn't answer. She listened and couldn't hear anyone inside.

'Charlotte,' she called softly and waited for another minute before she tried to open the door, seeing it was unlocked.

She opened the door, peering inside and saw the room was empty. She frowned slightly. Had she forgotten they were supposed to be going into town?

She checked Joshuas room and found that empty as well.

She frowned further. Perhaps she had forgotten and they had already left? She moved to Charlottes dresser, to check Charlotte hadn't left a note for her.

She didn't a note and turne to leave when she knocked a pile of papers from the dresser.

'Oh,' Meg sighed, leaning down to pick them up and put them into a pile, seeing they were some of Joshuas drawings.

A particular one caught her eye and she picked it up to look at it, gasping when she saw what it was. It was a black figure, wearing a white mask, the same white mask she had hidden in the bottom of her travelling case under her bed.

The Opera Ghost!

Well, not quite a ghost. She knew from Christine that "O.G" was a man who had lived under the Opera House all his life.

Still he had not been heard of for so long, she had assumed he had left the Opera House or even died in the fire which had consumed the building.

Although the drawing she held in her hands, proved otherwise. She put the rest of the pictures back on the dresser before she folded up the drawing and pushed it into her pocket, going to find her mother.

'Charlotte,' Erik breathed her name as she slipped into unconciousness. He checked she was still breathing and checked her a pulse, which was still going steady.

He saw she was shivering and her lips were turning blue. She was only wearing a white night dress which clung to her. He swept off his cape and quickly wrapped her in the black material before he scooped her up into his arms. He needed to take her to Madame Giry, she could help her. She needed to get changed and he wouldn't feel right changing her into dry clothes.

She was as light as a feather and carried her back to where Joshua was still sitting on the step, waiting for him to return.

Joshuas eyes widened when he saw Erik carrying his sister and looked worried.

'She's alright,' Erik assured the boy gently. 'She's asleep,' It was a tiny lie but he wasn't sure how else to explain to the boy. 'I'm going to take you both back,' he said and Joshua stood, Angel in his arms and Erik led Joshua up to the Opera House.

Using the mirror entrance into Charlottes room, Erik opened the catch and walked inside, moving over and placed Charlotte down gently on the bed. She whimpered softly as he released her. He sighed softly, singing to her softly as he wrapped her in anoher blanket.

Sleep my Angel, I shall help thee
All through the day
A Guardian angel, God has sent thee
All through the day
I shall keep watch over thee

His voice seemed to calm her for she remained quite after that. Erik's gloved hand stroked her cheek gently before he stood and turned to see Joshua watching him.

'I shall go to Madame Giry and bring her back,' Erik said. He wasn't sure what the boy understood but Joshua simply nodded, sitting at his sisters dresser and watched her "sleeping" form.

Erik watched Charlotte for just another moment before he disappeared back through the mirror.

'Mother,' Meg burst into Madame Girys bedroom. 'Mother I need to speak to you!' she said.

'Megan, you know better then to simply burst into a room,' she turned from her dressed and saw she looked upset. 'What is wrong?' she frowned.

'I was supposed to meet Charlotte, we were going into town but when I went to her room, she wasn't there,' Meg said. 'I went inside, to see if she had left a note for me. I thought something might have been wrong. But I found this on the dresser,' She handed her mother the folded piece of paper.

Madame Giry took it and opened it, seeing the picture inside. Obviously one of Joshuas.

'You don't think the Opera Ghost took her do you?' Meg look worried. 'Well I mean.. I know he isn't a ghost but.. you don't think he's kidnapped her do you?'

'No of course not,' Madame Giry shook her head. Although in the back of her mind, she wasn't as sure as she sounded. She knew Erik would never hurt her but perhaps he had take her to his home.

'How could Joshua know about him?' Meg looked at the picture.

'Perhaps he heard stories of him and has drawn it from what the other girls have said,' Madame Giry said softly.

'I'm scared for Charlotte,' Me said softly.

'Don't be Meg, I'm sure she's fine,' Madame Giry put an arm around her daughters shoulders. 'Perhaps she has gone into town and forgotten you were going together,'

Meg nodded but wasn't convinced.

'Now why don't you go into town and I'm sure Charlotte will return by our rehersals. If she isn't back then, we'll go and look for her,' she told her daughter. She would send a note down to Erik, perhaps he had taken Charlotte down to his home.

Meg nodded, giving her mother a hug before she left her room to go into town.

Meg didn't notice the figure that was hiding in the shadows. Erik waited until Meg had left before he emerged from the shadows and knocked on Madame Girys door.

'Meg, I'm sure Charlotte is fine, there is no need to..' Madame Giry opened the door and was surprised to find Erik standing there.

'Erik,' she said surprised, standing aside to let him in and closed the door behind him.

'Madame Giry,' Erik nodded to her. 'I need your help,' he said softly.

'My help,' she smiled. 'Of course Erik, what is it?' she asked him. This was the first time she had seen him for 2 months and she noticed he had lost alot of weight and looked quite pale.

'It's Charlotte,' he said.

'You know where she is?' Madame Giry asked.

'Yes, she is in her room right now,' he frowned slightly before he continued. 'Joshua was chasing his cat and they got into the labyrinth. Charlotte came after them and fell into the water chamber,'

'Oh my Erik, is she..' Madame Giry breathed the unfinished question.

'She is alright, I rescued her. But she needs to be changed into warm clothes and I couldn't..' he shook his head.

'Of course, I shall come immediantly,' Madame Giry told him.

'I shall take you, the passage ways are faster,' Erik said.

Madame Giry simply nodded and they left together.

Review Responses

VagrantCandy - Thanks for reviewing and for pointing it out about the indoor plumbing. I couldn't survive with anything but a full finctioning bathroom and I can't imagine life without one so I figurre the Opera House was doing REALLY well. lol. Thanks for reading

Princess Airiana - Sorry it has taken so long to send another chapter. Hope you enjoy. Thanks for reviewing

fluffy-bubbles - It has taken awhile but another chapter has finally landed. Thanks for reading

Opera Phantom - Thanks for reviewing, hope you enjoyed the latest chapter.

lovesforgotten - Thanks for being so patient. I'm glad to hear you're enjoying this so far. Thanks for reviewing

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Phantomsecretlove - Please dont hurt me lol Thanks for reading and reviewing

Alda Rethe - Thanks for reviewing, I'm glad you're enjoying!

Don Juanita Triumphant - Dont apologise, I'm just glad that you're getting a chance to read it :) Thanks for reviewing

Jen Lennon - Thanks for reading and reviewing

KitSunRW - Yes he has saved her :) Glad you're enjoying and thanks for reviewing

pixiestars162 - Thank you for reviewing several chapter, I appreciate just one review so thanks for sending them all. Glad you're enjoying

Well that's all for now, I promise I'll try and update more often!