lady kathrin: My first review! YAY! Here's a cookie! And I'm glad you like it!

Christine Elestor: Thank You! I was trying to be as descriptive as possible so I'm glad you noticed!

Ragingfires666: Glad you like it!

Renee: glad I got you attention! And I agree E/C Forever!

The next morning I sit in my dressing room in the Opera Populaire. I look through the dresses the seamstress has brought me, from these I must choose one for the masquerade ball tonight. I choose a white dress with beading on the bodice, filmy sleeves, and a silk and lace skirt. The masquerade was to be held by the Opera Populaire's mysterious composer. As I arrange my hair and dress my thought turn to the masked man in my dreams. Last night's dream was the first in which he did not sing to me. His voice is . . . intoxicating. It speaks to my soul in a way nothing else has. His voice, his touch, the way he looks at me. He does not only sing to me, and touch me, he talks to me as well. Erik -for that is what he calls himself- knows the pain I feel over my fathers death, most of all he understands the loneliness I felt when first coming to the opera house. He speaks not of his past but I know much about him he too feels lonely and is a musical genius. In my dreams he has taught me a great deal about music and how to use my voice. Maybe that is why I cannot quite convince myself that these dreams are just that dreams. I would think he is an angel, an angel of music. But surly an angel would never send me such erotic dreams. I am interrupted in my speculating by Meg she says it is time to leave for the ball.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

I am in awe as Madame Giry, Meg, and I enter the ballroom. The large room is astonishing, in the center of the room is a large marble staircase. Lavish tapestries decorate the walls and roses and candles are practically everywhere.

I suppress a laugh at the costumes worn by the Opera Populaire's managers Andre and Firmin. They approach and greet us. "So, Madame Giry why has our host not yet made an appearance?" asked Firmin.

"He will join us when he feels so inclined" she replied.

"Why does he host a party if he does not attend?" asked Andre.

"As you will remember Monsieur, he did not want to host this party. Nevertheless, you demanded it."

"The whole point of this masquerade is so we can meet the man. Yet how can we meet him if he does not show himself?" Firmin said looking very irritated.

"He will come."

Firmin sighed as he motioned to someone across the room.

"Ladies, I would like you to meet our new patron, the Vicomte de Changy."

Could it really be Raoul, my childhood sweetheart? It seems like forever since I last saw him, forever since I left the house by the sea. I am disappointed that he does not recognize me until monsieur Firmin introduces me as 'our leading Soprano, miss Christine Daae.' I know I have changed, grown up. Yet, am I really so different in appearance from the little girl he called 'little Lotte'? He barely acknowledges Meg as he asks me to dance. So as he leads me onto the dance floor I wonder if he would be dancing with me, were I still a chorus girl.

As my dance with Raoul ends and the music changes a man appears at the staircase. The man is clothed in a black suit with a brown vest white shirt and black cravat and half of his face is covered with a white mask. A million thoughts flew through my head as I realized that this is the man from my dreams. How could I have dreamt of a man who is flesh and blood. As he descends the stairs I move toward him, and soon we are face to face. We looked at each other for what seemed like an eternity.

"Erik?" I ask, as I notice in the fact that his body is just inches from mine.

He looks at me in surprise and asks, "how did you know my name?"

Suddenly embarrassed, I look at the floor as I tell him I have been having dreams about him and in one of those dreams he told me his name.

He looks thoughtful for a moment, then leans in to whisper in my ear. "When you get back to the opera house, go to box 5. I will meet you there."

I wait anxiously for the ball to end. Meg has asked several times if I am alright. Madame Giry observes me silently. I know she witnessed my encounter with Erik, and knew of our rendezvous. Raoul asked me to dance several more times and barely noticed that I was distracted.