Authors note:

I honestly haven't felt like doing this in a long time (I don't really feel like doing it now). If you didn't know, removed The Phantom and the Fop, and The Secret You Know. They're gone bye bye forever into the pit of whatever they threw them into. I just got really upset with the site, because this is like the 9th story that they've wiped, and I just… got disgusted. So I decided never to write on again. However –grin- I've had a couple of my friends make sure and let me know what they thought about me not writing anymore… and finally, I've decided to update this story again. Hope it's not too awful.

Music of the Night:

Frustration and an overwhelming anger surged through Erik as he ran in the direction he had last seen Willow go with full intentions of finding her and setting her straight on the actual events that had transpired in the closet. He couldn't believe that that vile woman had stooped to the level that she had to try to win his affections! Couldn't she see, couldn't ANYONE whom cared to look see that his heart belonged to Willow?

And Willow… surely, once the initial shock of the scene wore off, she would realize that he, Erik, would never betray her in such a manner! And what had that comment been about Willow running into Rafe's arms? He couldn't even begin to imagine Willow running directly from the scene, and into that… that… Fop's arms! No… his love was stronger than that, she would know that something was going on, and would wait for him. She would allow him to have a chance to explain…

Wouldn't she?

He ran into the parking lot in time to see Willow's brown hair bisected by a white gag, rushing away in the back of Rafe's car.

abcdefghijkIhavetopee…okay…

Willow sped down the hall, away from the scene her eyes had laid witness to. She honestly couldn't believe that Erik and Carlotta had been… no. The longer she stood there with her back pressed tightly against the wall, the less likely it seemed to her that that 'kiss' that she had seen was real. It was probably nothing more than some staged thing by Carlotta to get Erik and her separated. It was no secret, after all, that she wanted him for herself. Yes, that was it… any moment now, Rafe was going to come strutting along, to put his little touch into the masquerade.

"Hello there Willow." As if called by her very thought, his smooth voice broke through her silent contemplation.

"Aren't you going to tell me why those beautiful eyes of yours are filled with tears?" His cajoling voice tried to smooth away the hurt that he assumed she still felt.

"These eyes are not filled with tears." She stated calmly, keeping her voice neutral as possible.

"Well," he reach up, brushing a wet spot on her cheek and bringing his hand back. "Something upset you, you're just too strong to let it get to you for too long." A flash of white came after that.

She shook her head quickly, wiping at her face for a few moments. "Well, it's nothing now." Just a small amount of sullenness rang through her voice with those words. He gave a knowing smile.

"If it's nothing, why is those pesky emotions running through your voice?" She gave him a rather perturbed look.

"Rafe, I said it was nothing."

For a moment, his eyes flashed darkly, as if something wasn't going as planned. She wanted to give a smirk, and shout 'HA!' at him, for having foiled this moment of his plan. All she had to do was find Erik now, and let him explain…

"If you'll excuse me…" She turned to leave. A rather rough grip on her arm stopped her. She turned cold eyes to Rafe, and spat out, "Let me go."

"I don't think so." He said angrily. "Carlotta and your Erik were together, didn't you see?" She rolled her eyes.

"I saw Carlotta plastered to the front of him, and him with a rather disgusted look on his face." Which, when she thought about it, it seemed like that was indeed the expression on her face. Oh, how silly she had been to have ran from him like that!

"Well." His grip tightened somewhat. "It seems my vixen wasn't quiet as seductive as she thought. No matter." He reach into his coat pocket, pulling out a white kerchief. She gave him a suspicious look.

"What in the world is that for?" She began to tug in earnest, trying to free her arm from his seemingly steelish grip.

"To gag you my dear, of course." He gave a harsh laugh, and his eyes flashed dangerously.

She gave him a disgusted look. "Do you think I'm just going to let you stick that nasty thing in my mouth?" She tugged harder, and felt his grip loosen slightly.

"Of course not. If you let me, it wouldn't be half as fun as doing this."

"Doing what?"

"This." She saw his hand flash forward, and felt it impact on the side of her face before she blacked out. Rafe quickly bound her hands and mouth, tossed her over his shoulder, and ran out to the car, stowing her in the back, and driving off.

IxHatexRaoulxHexHaxHa!

I should have an update for this by tomorrow. I promise. Tomorrow or the next day.