Chapter 19 - Four Months Later

'Dear Kimberlee,

How are you and Richie? We hope you are well and that you have a good holiday season, baby's first Christmas after all. When I say "we" I mean Raoul and myself.

Oh good news, Meg was right all those months ago when she said we would be engaged by Christmas. He asked me the other night and I have accepted. We will be married in the spring. Oh Kimberlee I love him with all my heart and though I struggled with an attraction to the Phantom I know now that it is Raoul my heart truly belongs.

I have put two and two together and come to the conclusion that the Phantom is Erik. Am I right? He has not been seen or heard from, even to myself, since El Muto the night you left. That night Carlotta lost her voice on stage and Joseph Buquet hung himself, though many have said that he was murdered.

I have a bad feeling that the peace we have experienced is about to end. On New Years Eve we are holding a Bal Masque at the Opera House. I know that Richard is only six months old and if I didn't feel a sense of urgency I wouldn't ask you to leave him and come here, just in case he makes an appearance. Raoul has sworn to get rid of Erik and I don't want to see him hurt, he seems very lonely.

I hope to see you soon, but if I do not then have a very Merry Christmas and I'll see you in the spring for my wedding, you must come stand for me.

Love, Christine'

Kimberlee placed the letter down on the table and took a sip of her tea. She looked around her apartment and listened for Richard to wake up from his nap. She had moved out of Jason's place three months ago, not only because of his feelings for her, but also because she wanted her own space. The money her father had left her helped her to find a nice place to rent and there was still some for a down payment on something nice when she was ready.

She went to the computer and checked for flights to Paris, if she could make it to the masque she would. All flights until the new year were already booked solid so she booked a ticket on a flight leaving January 10th. She would ask one of her relatives here if they would watch Richard while she was gone, not knowing how long that would be.

Erik had just put the finishing touches onto the score of Don Juan Triumphant and was placing it into a folder. He decided that he would present them all with his opera the night of the masque. He went toward the kitchen and from the corner of his eye noticed something glimmer on the table. He went over to it and picked up the cd Kimberlee had left behind four months ago.

'I still love you and that will never change, there will never be another for me.'

He remembered her words to him and decided to play the cd now out of curiosity. He placed it in the player and listened as her voice once more filled the caverns. As he listened his heart filled with sorrow at what he had lost and wondered if there would ever be a possibility they would reunite one day.

'The first time ever I saw your face
I thought the sun rose in your eyes
And the moon and the stars were the gifts you gave
To the night and the empty skies
My love

The first time ever I kissed your mouth
I felt the earth turn in my hand
Like the trembling heart of a captive bird
That was there at my command
My love

The first time ever I lay with you
And felt your heart beat close to mine
I thought our joy would fill the earth
And would last 'till the end of time
My love

The first time ever I saw your face
I thought the sun rose in your eyes
And the moon and the stars were the gifts you gave
To the night and the empty skies
My love'

January 10th

Kimberlee walked up the stairs to the opera house and let herself in. She had telephoned Mme Giry to let her know to expect her and greeted her as she came down the stairs. Monsieur's Andre and Firmin were following her anxious to see Kimberlee.

"I trust your flight was good?" Mme Giry asked

"Not as much turbulence this time around so yes it was good."

"Where is Richard, I had hoped we would see him again?"

"I left him with a cousin; considering the circumstances of my visit I didn't know how long I would be and felt it best he remain at home."

"Of course, come with us somewhere we can discuss this matter further."

The foursome made their way to the manager's office and along the way were met by Christine and Raoul. They had just returned from the cemetery where Erik and Raoul had fought. Kimberlee noticed the cut on his arm and taking the first aid kit instructed them to follow. On the way Raoul spoke up with a plan.

"We have all been blind and yet the answer is staring us in the face. This could be the chance to ensnare our cleaver friend."

"We're listening, go on" Andre and Firmin said in unison.

"We shall play his game, perform his work but remember we hold the ace. For if Miss Daae sings he is certain to attend."

The group entered the office and closed the door behind them.

"We are certain the doors are barred" Andre said.

"We are certain the police are manned" Firmin said.

"We are certain they are armed" Raoul said.

"The curtain falls, his reign will end" the three of them said together.

Mme Giry rolled her eyes and looked at Kimberlee.

"Yes it will, but not with violence" Kimberlee said as she cleaned the wound on Raoul's arm.

"How would you have us do this, how do we get rid of him?" Andre asked

"Hurt him and I will hurt you" she said glaring at the men.

"Mademoiselle, why do you care so much what happens to this monster?" Firmin asked

"Because he is not a monster. He is a man and beneath all that he has become in the last year he is still the man I fell in love with...he is my son's father."

Everyone except for Mme Giry and Christine stared at Kimberlee in disbelief. Raoul was the first to speak after what seemed an eternity.

"How do you propose to stop him Kimberlee? Before anyone else gets hurt."

"I will take Christine's place on stage for the duet between Don Juan and her character. You and she will leave the opera house and not look back. To ensure he is on stage singing with me, Christine you will have to sing the line before his entrance from beside the stage and I will lip sync on stage. Once he is on stage he will not stop the performance."

"Then what?" Andre asked

"I don't know. He will possibly be upset that it is me on stage with him and not Christine, but I will deal with that. Whatever happens leave us be, let me talk to him. And be prepared for anything to happen on stage."

"What about your son Kimberlee?" Mme Giry asked

"My cousin knows what to do if I don't return. Richard will be cared for. Though I don't think that will be necessary in the end."

They all left the office going their separate ways. Christine and Kimberlee went to see Monsieur Reyer so she could learn the duet before the performance the next night.

Beneath them Erik sensed Kimberlee's presence. He thought of what he was going to do the next night and suddenly wished things hadn't come to this. He suddenly wished that he could go back in time and go with her to California and not have had any of this happen. He wished that it would be Kimberlee on stage with him tomorrow night and not Christine, he had really been thinking of her when he wrote the Point of No Return.