A.N: Yeah, I've actually updated. This chapter is vital to the story, and it strengthens Erik and Sarine's relationship to the point of unbreakability. It's a little longer than usual, so please bear with me. Trust me, it's worth it.

Song mentioned is "One Caress" by Depeche Mode. If I owned it, then I would beg Gerry to sing it. Alas, I don't v.v

I don't hate fanart! I would adore and worship any of you if you made pretty fanart, for I cannot draw. I have a

BTW, this chapter is dedicated to LoverOfBalto and LittleLottie, because they both helped me out so much with the writing of it, one of you gave me the inspiration for some, and one of you made a fan art! Huggles! Aishiteru!

Chapter Thirteen: Masquerade!

The next day the opera house was in a flurry of excitement. It was the first time Venice Opera House had held a masquerade, and everything was being pushed to the extreme. The entire orchestra was being set up in the lobby, where the dancing was held. Silk tapestries were hung from the walls and ceiling, and people were set up to sing. Sarine was asked quite a few times to sing, but she politely refused, stating that she sang all day and wanted a chance to hear others.

The entire afternoon, Sarine stayed in her dressing room. She had gone out in he morning to help with the decorating, but no one would let her do anything. So she sat in her room, staring at her outfit. The entire time would be spent with Jonathan, but she did have to talk to Erik. Still not knowing what to say, she called someone in to help her dress for the masque.

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By suppertime the masque was in full swing. Everywhere you turned there was someone extravagantly dressed with a mask on their face. Sarine clung to Jonathan's arm, afraid that if she let go he would be lost in the sea of faces.

Silently Jonathan walked her to the center of the crowd and began to waltz to the music. Sarine could feel all eyes on them, and wondered if Erik's was among them. She had searched for the Red Death amongst the crowd, but to no avail. Still, as if he were watching, she held her head high and danced as if no one was watching.

When the song finally finished, Sarine stood in the centre, waiting for the next one. A voice resounded into the crowd, and Sarine froze as she realized who the person was, and what they were saying. She turned towards the voice as it began a dedication.

"I dedicate this song to my sweet Sarine, my angel of music."

All eyes shot to her as the silky voice began the song. Erik walked over to her and took her hands. Torn between anger and love, Sarine stood still, stunned. Erik was dressed as Don Juan, complete with black mask and poet's shirt. He handed her one of his roses and got down on his knees, holding her hands in his.

"Well I'm down on my knees again

And I pray to the only one

Who has the strength

To bear the pain

To forgive all the things that I've done

Oh girl

Lead me into your darkness

When this world is trying it's hardest

To leave me unimpressed

Just one caress

From you and I am blessed."

Erik stood up and placed a hand on her cheek. His thumb moved slowly over her lips, and his eyes lingered on them before they returned to her eyes.

"When you think you've tried every road

Every avenue

Take one more look

At what you found old

And in it you'll find something new."

Erik took one step back and held one hand out to the side, as if showing something 'new'.

"Oh girl, lead me into your darkness

When this world is trying it's hardest

To leave me unimpressed

Just one caress

From you and I am blessed.

I'm shying from the light

I've always loved the night

And now you offer me eternal darkness."

The whole party laughed, because it seemed to be the opposite of their outward appearances. Even Erik smiled, as he looked at her from head to toe. As his eyes moved over her body, Sarine blushed a deep scarlet. Erik grinned at her reaction, as it fit for the next verse.

"I have to believe that sin

Can make a better man

For it's the mood that I am in

That's left us back where we began.

Oh girl

Lead me into your darkness

When this world is trying it's hardest

To leave me unimpressed

Just one caress

From you and I am blessed."

The last word reverberated through the hall and left everyone silent. Sarine looked at Erik, slapped him as hard as she could, then turned and ran out of the hall. Erik stood there, looking still at the spot where Sarine was standing. He regained his composure and walked swiftly outside. He spotted Sarine leaning against a wall, her back to him. He walked over to her.

"Sarine…" he whispered.

Sarine heard him and turned to face him, "Go away Erik. I don't want to see you right now."

Erik reached out for her, but she shoved him away. He reached out and took her arm firmly, but there were tears in his eyes.

"Sarine, let me explain…" he said, trying to turn her towards him.

"No Erik," Sarine yelled, tears welling in her eyes as well, but she still stood strong. "I'm tired of your explanations and promises. You can make all the ones you want, but you always go back on them. You promised, no, you swore that you were over Christine. But a relationship like yours isn't ignored that quickly, is it? The Point of No Return was always your song."

Erik looked at her strangely, then it dawned on him. That day when he and Christine were practicing Point of No Return, and she was making the dance even more ambiguous. He was trying to tone it down, because his feelings for Christine were gone, and because he didn't want to do what he did: hurt Sarine.

"Sarine, listen. Please," Erik said, letting go of her arm and taking her hand. She pulled it from him, but turned to face him. "I love you. Not Christine, not Meg. You. I wouldn't come this far from my home if I didn't. I left Christine behind. We were close, both physically and emotionally, and I was hurt from it. You and I weren't that close physically, but emotionally I was always closer to you. Christine and my relationship was all about the physical aspect. I felt lust, not love, though I thought it was. Did you know that maybe the reason I never slept with you is because I wanted you differently? I wanted us to be the closest we could before we ever did that. Christine and I weren't. You're not Christine, and I'm glad for it, because I'd hate you if you were."

Sarine turned away from him, hugging herself. She didn't want it to be true, because if it was, then she had made the biggest mistake of her life. Yet she knew it was true. She knew that precious little mattered more than his home, and he would hate to leave it. Sarine hated herself for everything she'd done to him. She collapsed on the ground, sobbing.

Erik moved towards her and kneeled down. Instead of embracing her, he reached inside his jacket and pulled out another rose and handed it to her. She took it, tears running down her cheeks, and stared at the ribbon around the stem. It was gray.

"Black is for death, darkness, sadness and despair. White is for life, happiness, light. One cannot survive without the other. Without light, there is no darkness to compare it to. Without death, there is no room for life. They support each other. Yet nothing is just black and white. Only varying shades of gray," he said, reaching out and cupping her hands with his. "You are the light to my darkness, the life to my death, the happiness to my sadness. I am physically, emotionally, and mentally unable to live without you. Together we make the perfect colour, gray, the balance. Together we are perfect. Apart, we are nothing."

Sarine looked at him sadly, as if her entire world were collapsing at his words. In a sense, it was, because she had based her Venice life inside the walls of her mind and heart. She had built up a fortress, and Erik tore it down by giving her a flower.

Finally, after he stared at her for a moment, she fell into his arms. It felt so good, so right. They belonged together, and not even the gods could tear them apart. Erik, though, did. He pulled away and stood her up, then went back down on one knee. Pulling a velvet box out of his jacked, he opened it to show a ring in the shape of a small rose.

"Sarine Marie Toumont, I don't expect you to forgive me for what I've done. What's past is past, and the events leading up to this moment have mad us stronger. Will you spend the rest of your life with me? Will you become my angel of music?"

He stood up, took the ring out of the box, and put it on her finger. Smiling, Sarine reached up and pulled him to her, her lips kissing his. She gave him small kisses, laughing and smiling in between, saying only one word: "Oui!"

After he got her calmed down, which wasn't easy, because he was as happy as she was, he pulled out his watch and checked the time. They had spent a good hour outside, and the masquerade was as festive as ever.

"Shall we, my love?" Erik asked, extending his arm for her to take.

She did, instead, wrap her arm around his waist. He smiled at this gesture of familiarity, and wrapped his arm around her waist. They walked in together like that. The rest of the night was spent dancing in each other's arms, stopping only once to talk to Jonathan. He watched them with a smile all night.

When the party was over, the trio went back to Jonathan's house. Having a few drinks, Erik told them of news of the Opera Populaire.

"We're not done the show yet, but all the roles are filled, plus a good twenty extras, plus another twenty stagehands. We are missing one thing, though…" he said, looking to Sarine.

Her face went somber, "What?"

"Our star," Erik said, looking at her deep in the eyes, then down at his glass. "Christine and the Vicomte are gone. I fired her the day after you left, and he went with her. Alas, now we have to find a patron."

Sarine groaned. Jonathan looked from one to the other.

"Hello?" he said, standing up. "Did you forget whose house you're in? I have money to burn! Hardly any goes into my own opera house, and the rest is spent on buying residences that I'll seldom to never use. How about you ask me to be your patron?"

Sarine jumped up, hugging him tightly. After she let go and he regained his colour, Erik stood up and shook his hand. They went to bed right after that, Erik staying with Sarine. Instead of their usual sleeping position, he held her to him, facing him. They stayed up until the sunrise just talking, and telling each other how much they loved one another. Softly, Erik stroked her side, until she fell asleep. He nuzzled his face into her hair, falling asleep the luckiest man he'd ever known.

A.N: Another Aww ending. Well, let's recap. We now have an engaged couple, and Christine and the Vicomte are gone. Alas, not for good.