Hello faithful readers! I was really bored so I decided to update, right now I am in the middle of chapter thirty-one...evil laughter... you will not be disappointed. (by the way, up until there, it's Raoul-free, just thought I'd share) Here is another chapter for you guys, I will update the next one if I get five reviews... only five! Okay, there is a reason that Erik "too perfect" all will be revealed soon, not to worry. I forgot to ask this, but did youguys like that I included Nadir? I am perfectly aware that he isn't a composer but I couldn't resist putting him in seeing as I didn't put him in the first one. I'm glad everyone likes this fic, its actually more popular than the first one. yay! I can tell by the reviews that you do. (blushes) yay! everyone likes my writing! And as for chapter sixteen, I'm going to leave that one to the imagination, mum's the word. (evil laughter) Okay here is yet another filler chapter. Chapter Eighteen:

The Phantom of the Opera

"Erik, that name-"

"I know. But I could hardly resist it." He put the violin back and after tapping out the rosin out of the bow, he closed the leather case. "It's a duet. The next single. You can imagine how Noah was when he found out I had made a song for a duet, he immediately said Melody should be in it." He seemed to shudder. "That girl cannot sing even if her life depended on it. She needs help."

"Or an Angel of Music," Christine chimed in.

Erik smiled. "Or that." He turned to her and took her hands in his. "Please, Christine, sing with me."

She opened her mouth to speak but he cut her off.

"Say you'll consider it."

"No," she said quickly.

His smiled seemed to fade.

She touched his cheek gently. "Why would consider it when I have already agreed?"

He smiled again. "You'll do it?"

She nodded. "I will."

He caught her in a powerful hug. "Oh, Christine, you have made me so happy. You have no idea."

"It's the last I could do after-"

He stopped her from speaking. "It is your birthday present, my dear. Think nothing of it."

She smiled, it was as If he were reading her mind.

He took the violin case and her hand, then he led her upstairs again to a different part of the house. She found out why he called it the recording room.

It had a booth and many instruments. There were speakers over a mixing table with a lot of buttons.

"Okay," he said sitting in front of a computer. He started clicking around as Christine looked around.

Then the music began to pour from the speakers starting with an organ playing surprising notes that brought her attention. Two hard beats continued the song, followed by a guitar. There was a low guitar playing harmony, throughout most of the song.

"This is vocals, right?"

He nodded as he looked through some drawers. He took out pieces of paper and handed them to her.

She watched the speakers as the song continued.

When it was over, Christine looked at the papers. It was the words to the song. "Why opera and not auditorium?"

He smiled, knowing she had figured out it was their story. "It didn't make sense, too many syllables."

Christine laughed and began humming through the song, he said. "That's when I come in. Sing once again with me…"

Christine nodded. "But there's more music than there is words. In the end you have about a minute of music."

He nodded. "I was thinking of just cutting it short."

Christine shook her head. "You shouldn't. How about a guitar solo or piano?"

He looked as if he were considering.

Christine smiled looking over the music, humming the tune. She knew how to read music so reading the words to the tune was easy.

As she hummed the melody, a silence seemed to have stretched between them.

That was until Erik spoke to her softly, "Do that again."

"Do what? Blink?"

"No," he said standing. "What you did just now."

"What?"

"What you were doing, humming."

Christine did it again. When she finished she asked, "What?"

"Vocalize it, don't hum it."

Christine bit her bottom lip. "Erik, I don't know. I'm not any good."

Erik shook his head. "Trust in me, Christine."

"But it's been years since you heard me sing, how do you know I have not changed since then?"

"I am confident in you, dear," he said plainly.

Christine began again, vocalizing just as he had said.

"Louder. This time try not to make the F sound so flat."

Christine remembered all the time he would get mad at her when she wouldn't practice. He would be frustrated and yell at her but in the end, she found it was what she needed to keep her going forward. He needed to cruel and strict to get results.

Christine took a deep breath and began to vocalize yet again.

Erik shook his head. "Again."

Christine did about two more times.

"Again."

"It would help if you could just tell me what you were looking for."

Erik smiled again. "Perfection. You are just a step from it."

Christine did as he said and Erik smiled in triumph. "You did it. Perfect. That is what we will use in the song in the end."

Christine began to protest. "But-"

Erik stood forcefully and took her chin in his hand. "You are my instrument, I need you. I wouldn't have you if I didn't think you were ready. Your voice will be heard all over, this I promise you."

Christine smiled at him. Damn, he is so convincing. Especially the eyes. "When can we begin?"

Coming up, Chapter Nineteen: Meg's Confession