Disclaimer: I do not own the Erik, Christine, or any other characters or song references mentioned. All I own is the plot.

A/N: Thank you to those who have reviewed and the silent ones who haven't! Hands out red roses tied with black ribbons. Sorry about last chap but I needed a filler.

Enjoy!

Chapter 8

"Christine! I'm so glad you're better! You should hear what everyone's saying about you—"

Christine only had one thing on her mind, though, "Have the results from the audition been posted by Monsieur Gabriel yet?"

"This morning, but the formal announcement hasn't been made yet. I believe that Monsieur Gabriel was waiting for your health to return before he posted them."

"So what are we waiting for, then? Let's go!" Christine hurried off in the direction of the office.

Meg could tell by her stride that she was confident she was the choice. "I hope she gets it, for her sake, because of the rumors—" Meg thought as she followed her friend.

When Meg caught up with her friend it was at M. Gabriel's door. Meg could read her friend easily, so she knew there was something wrong.

"Did you get it, Christine? Are you Prima Donna again?"

Christine looked over at her friend, trying to quash the tears that were welling up, "No, do you remember the other singer I told you about? She's the new Prima. And I'm her understudy."

"There's no shame in that. Look at yourself; the Opera will wear you out if you let it. M. Gabriel knows that you were sick, he probably thought he was doing you a favor."

"I understand that, but I guess I was hoping that I could prove to the world that I could maintain the position without outside help. Everyone thinks I turned tricks for the Phantom, and in return he trained my voice. That was never true."

Meg inwardly winced. So she had heard the rumors about her relationship with the Phantom. "Now you get that chance. You can still take the position away from this girl just like you took it from La Carlotta."

"I hope you are right."

"Of course I am I can hear everyone now praising you as a virtuoso in your own right, proving to them all that you can do it on your own."

Christine sighed then smiled, "Thanks, Meg."

"That's what I'm here for; you just wouldn't be the same if you didn't have me to give you a vote of confidence."

"Well I guess the ladylike thing to do would be to go congratulate the new Prima Donna and let her know I have no hard feelings."

With that, Christine and Meg went to breakfast and congratulated the new Prima Donna.

In Christine's Room

Later Christine found herself in a contemplative mood. She entered her room and walked straight to the mirror, "Where are you, Erik? I realized I made a horrid mistake, but when I come back to ask your forgiveness. You've already left these walls. Today, it was proven that without your help I'm nothing. I can't even hold onto the position of Prima Donna without help. Was I even a good singer the first time?"

Little did Christine know that she was both speaking aloud and that she had an eavesdropper.

"So, the wandering child has found courage enough to return to face her Angel of Music!" A voice boomed within the walls of Christine's room.

"Angel, I hear you. Speak. I listen. Stay by my side guide me. Angel my soul was weak forgive me. Enter at last Master!"

"You dare address me by that title, Vicomtess? If I remember correctly, you haven't called me by that title in quite awhile. Last name I remember that you had for me was the pitiful creature of darkness. What's the matter? You and that fop of yours have a lovers' spat? Is that why you came crying back to me? Or is it just because you get some ghastly pleasure out of torturing me?"

"Two can play this game; if this is the game he's playing." Christine thought.

She answered him, "Oh, pardon me, I forgot. You're only a man or should I say Phantom? And if I remember correctly you had Raoul strung up with your lasso ready to kill him. I was trying to reason with you. And I chose you, remember? Or did you forget that fact while you were playing victim to the world? If we're arguing who's more victimized then it must be my turn. First, I'm not a Vicomtess, second your fop and I are not lovers anymore and it will stay that way as long as I'm alive, third you shouldn't speak of what you do not understand."

Erik yawned and asked, "And what is it I don't understand, oh victimized Christine? You don't even know what it is to be a victim. Come back when you have a better sob story."

"Don't discount me just yet, Erik." Christine said as she started to remove her makeup, "I have one last card to play."

When she was finished she turned to the mirror, where she knew Erik was hidden and stared in silence.

It didn't take Erik long to see Christine's twin black eyes, it took everything he had not to go to her and care for her eyes.

"I know what it is to fall victim to false love." Christine finally whispered.

Erik could only bring himself to ask the next logical question, "Who did that to you?"

Christine answered, "Who else but my ever so loving ex fiancé, the Vicomte Raoul DeChagny."

Erik immediately regained his detached care he had before he saw her unmade up face and said, "So, let your new courter take care of it?"

At Christine's confused look, he added, "Monsieur Olivier Gabriel? You and he seem friendly."

Christine shot back, "I was sick; he helped nurse me back to health. What you saw was no more than the participants of the Opera taking care of one another. One last question: how did you restore the dress?"

To this, she got no answer. She realized he had left her so she readied herself for bed and allowed herself a new mantra to repeat: "He never left at all…"

Olivier's Office

Olivier was in his office paging through possible Operas that could do for a season opener.

He had been slightly dozing off when a voice that shook the walls boomed, "Who are you and where is M. Reyer? I have a problem with his choice for Prima Donna!"

"I'm sorry; M. Reyer no longer works here. I am his replacement."

"Then my problem is with you then, Monsieur. Why is Christine Daae no longer the star? This Prima you have chosen will not last even a quarter of a season."

"So I can assume I am conversing with the Phantom of the Opera I've heard so much about."

"That you may, you must have heard of my temper, too, so answer the question!"

"Christine has been sick, Monsieur Phantom, I thought it prudent not to push her once again into the limelight until I am sure that she is well enough to handle the stresses that go with it. Until then, Louise should serve as a good lead. Her voice is almost as good and as passionate as Christine's at the peak of performance."

"And I am telling you, Monsieur that this Louise of yours will have a reign half that of La Carlotta's last."

"If that happens, I'll be sure to place the blame where it belongs."

"You'd better be careful, Monsieur, it almost sounded as if you were threatening me. I shouldn't catch you being friendly with Mlle. Daae. If you harm her I will be sure to put the blame where it belongs."

"Monsieur, if the best you can do is threaten me from behind the wall, it doesn't seem as though I should be that frightened.

Silence was Olivier's only companion.

DeChagny Chateau

BANG! BANG!

A maid answered the door. "Yes, hello, what is your need to see my master?"

"I am merely a humble messenger hired to deliver a message for your master."

"Well, give it here lad and I'll see to it that he gets it."

"I'm sorry, Madame, but I had strictest orders to hand deliver the response to him."

"Yes, Raoul must have hired him. Raoul's become so very secretive since Christine finally left him. Oh, I do hope he's let go of her for everyone's sakes." The maid thought then told the messenger, "Come in, you should find him in the study-second door on your right.

"Monsieur Raoul, you have a visitor," the maid said into the crack of the door.

"Send him in."

The maid opened the door for the messenger then left to prepare Raoul's supper.

"What news do you have for me, boy?"

The messenger handed him the note.

"You've already gotten your payment, go." Raoul dismissed.

Once the boy had left, Raoul opened the letter and scanned its contents.

"It has started; soon Christine will want to forget all about the Opera house and its resident Phantom and she will be once again in my arms. Fear is always a good means to use when things don't go your way." Raoul thought smugly, "Soon Christine will once again be my fiancée. Soon."

At Practice

Olivier spent no time dawdling after the Phantom confronted him. He raced to Madame Giry's quarters and banged on the door until she answered.

Between gasps of air he requested, "Tell me everything you know about the Phantom of the Opera."

"Why the sudden interest, if you don't mind my asking, Monsieur Gabriel?"

"I think he may have decided to return once more to the Opera House to haunt."

"God in heaven, are you sure, Monsieur Gabriel? After all, I've gotten it on good authority that he hasn't returned to his lair. If he did Mlle. Daae would be the first one who would know it since I don't think he ever got over her. And she hasn't said anything to me about his contacting her."

"I hope you are right, Madame, for the sake of the Opera."

"I hope so too, Monsieur, I hope so too. Good night, Monsieur Gabriel, I've got a feeling that in these coming weeks we will not have many opportunities to sleep well, especially if he has returned to this place."

A/N: You all know the drill. Review! And if you need something else to do, I highly recommend moseying over to read Adrienne Thorcuff's The Phantom's Mending Soul and dropping her a review or two.

TNC,

Writer Muse