Disclaimer: I don't own the Phantom, goshdarnit!

FINALLY, right? Yeah, I know it's been awhile, but it needs to be good! Hope you like it, I think I corrected and added everything I needed. Enjoy!

A/N: These chapters are divided into POVs between the five main characters, instead of one person telling everything as in past chapters.

Chapter 23 – Modern Masquerade

Sam

We pulled our coats close as we moved up the driveway to David's house. It was dark and windy and cold, but… hey, that's winter in Ohio for ya.

Erik stopped to give the place a once-over before we got to the door.

"This is a house?" he asked critically.

"What's it look like?" I bit back from under my scarf.

"Un château."

I heard Josie gasp and we all looked up at the house. Erik was right – it looked like some sort of castle!

"I wondered where this was going to be when we passed his allotment," she said.

"So this isn't his house?" I asked.

Kayla laughed. "How d'you have a costume party for around thirty people in a two-story house and still have room for dancing?"

I sighed. "How'd you guys get this place, then?"

"It's a plot device/rental."

It takes a little getting used to, all this fanfiction stuff…

Kayla knocked on the door and it was immediately opened by a knight in (rusting) silver armor.

"Um, David, I think the phrase is 'knight in shining armor'," Kendall giggled.

He gave her a wide-eyed stare and declared in a false British accent, "Ah, but I am no ordinary knight!"

"Monty Python?" Kayla guessed.

He glared at her. "I am a knight-who-will-take-over-the-world!" he cried, brandishing his sword at the ceiling.

"Good luck with that," Josie muttered. "At least it saves us from your perverted side for the evening."

He grinned evilly. "Don't bet on it… Hey, wasn't there somebody else?"

We turned. Erik had disappeared.

Kayla sighed. "I'll find him, eventually."

David headed for the stairs. "Well, everyone's down here, whenever you want to make an entrance."

I sighed with excitement as we hung our coats in a side closet. "I'm going to—

I was cut off by a firm grip on my elbow. I almost screamed when I saw that it was Erik. "What?"

He eyed me. "You will wait here until your escort comes."

My eyebrows disappeared into my bangs and I wrenched my sleeve from his grasp. "Sorry, that's too nineteenth-century for me. Catch you all later."

I fled downstairs before Erik could follow me.

Josie

All three of us had to grab Erik to stop him going after Sam.

"Erik, she's right," I said. "This century isn't exactly known for gentlemen and flowing skirts." I glanced at the steps in longing. "I need to find Alan, too…"

I could sense raised eyebrows behind his mask, but I held him back long enough for Kendall to slip past.

"I'll let you meet him when I find him," she said, adjusting her tiara. "Unless I don't find him and end up with David…"

I smiled. She hadn't told any of us who her date was.

"I can't take this anymore! I'll see you two down there, but don't take forever." I raced after Kendall.

Kendall

My initial reaction to the ballroom was stunned amazement. There were so many people (girls, really) everywhere, but I saw Julia and Kennedy at the punch table first. Julia's Gothic princess costume looked like something out of a Dracula movie: a high spiked collar around her head, almost like a hood, and long flowy sleeves, but I recognized her rebel side in the flames licking the hem of the dress.

Kennedy's mouth was dripping red.

"What are you guys doing?" I gestured to the table, where each of them had poured at least five cups of punch.

"We're drinking blood and looking gruesome!" said Julia, raising a glass triumphantly. "You can be Dracula's bride."

"No thanks." I moved toward the little round tables at the back of the room. Where was he?

Kayla

"Shall we enter, my dear?"

"Erik I'm warning you, don't get all 'Point of No Return' on me."

He chuckled. "Is that not what you want?"

I forced myself to think of something other than how gorgeous he was. (Easier said than done, right?)

"Listen for a sec, will you? There's going to be so many girls who want to attack you it's not even funny."

"What is the point of this party?"

I shrugged. "We're all friends; sometimes we have parties just to have parties."

"Do you always dress up?"

"What is this, twenty questions? Let's go already!"

I grabbed his arm and we moved to the staircase.

I could see everyone from the stairs. Adi and Jess were chatting with Temani at one of the tables; Sophie was glued to a man's side who looked extremely like Aragorn and was talking to Faith, and it looked like Kendall had run into Julia and Kennedy.

"Let's do this thing."

He gave me a sideways glance and we proceeded down the steps. It was total deja-vu. I felt like I was part of Erik's greatest masquerade entrance, when he was Red Death. He exuded total confidence and an air of complete superiority. I barely realized that everyone had gathered at the foot of the staircase when Erik purred, "Why so silent, good mam'selles?"

All the girls melted. Erik owned the crowd, and he knew it.

Adi pushed past Miranda and Andrea. "What took you so long?"

Sam smirked. "They were making a 'fashionably late entrance'."

Adi looked Erik up and down. "Well, it certainly is fashionable."

A squee of agreement erupted from Miranda, Riley and Isabella, and I stepped in front of Erik. "No glomping allowed!" I said sternly.

Sounds of dismay echoed, and a few voices asked, "Why not?"

I rolled my eyes. "You can't attack someone who's unarmed. That's one of the basic rules of combat."

Adi nodded. "She's right, girls."

As they turned away, I saw a gleam in her eye, and she whispered as she passed, "Besides, you know my rule. I don't glomp, I seduce."

Josie

All the fuss over Erik had died down and I still hadn't found Alan. That made me start to panic, and I wondered if he had even shown up. Erik slipped up behind me.

"So there is someone?" he purred, eyeing me sarcastically.

"Erik, not now, it's not the best time to get on my nerves."

"Is that him, there?" He pointed at a figure leaning against one of the hall's marble pillars.

"You idiot, don't point!" I twisted his arm back. "Okay, so maybe it is."

The thing is, we (Alan and I) are perfect for each other. He's drummer, I'm lead guitar in our band 'Not of This World', and we've been really good friends for some time. (Classic case of 'girl-falls-for-her-guy-best-friend'.) What Erik didn't know is that our bass player, Shayna, had hinted to Alan that I was interested. Hence, he had ignored me all week, sinking me into depression.

Erik smirked, snapping me back to reality. "Then go to him."

"What? No!"

"But why stop fate?"

Now he's getting all philosopher on me. I groaned. "I'm not stopping fate, just… delaying it. And anyway, that's not the point…" But he was off through the crowd.

"Mauvais crapaud," I muttered, racing after him.

It seemed like just as I reached out to grab his cloak he disappeared, leaving me two steps away from Alan. I turned to walk away nonchalantly, but a warm hand and a deep voice stopped me. "Josie!"

I turned around. "Is everything okay? …Are you mad at me? I mean—

He clamped a hand over my mouth.

"Let me try and say this," he whispered, "I need to know."

I nodded. "What is it?"

He gazed at me. "I love you."

I swallowed to control the tears at the corners of my eyes. "I love you too." I couldn't think.

Then he kissed me. On the lips, neither of us caring who was watching. It felt like an eternity that I was locked with him in that embrace.

Finally, he took my hand. "Come on, I brought the instruments so we can show them some real music."

I laughed, and I glanced to the left to see Erik in the shadows, his eyes gleaming. He smiled and nodded slowly as the first six bars of the Phantom overture made everyone else race to the floor, partnered or not. He slipped around a pillar, I assumed to seek out Kayla, and I thought no more of him.

Erik

Predictable?

Oui.

But perfect?

Oui aussi.

After a minute, Kayla urged me to go dance with the other girls.

"I came with you," I protested.

"Yes, but they all want to dance with you too," she pointed out. "Besides, if you came with me, then all it means is that you have to leave with me. You can dance with whoever you want while you're here."

That clicked in my brain, and I disappeared from her side.

I took the hand of a girl who wore a dress like Christine's Masquerade gown, but white and red. She gasped, then smiled as we revolved on the spot. I could see in her eyes that this was what she'd always dreamed of.

"What is your name?"

"Jess."

I pressed a kiss to her hand. "Merci, mademoiselle."

I spun away before she knew what happened.

"Can you sing?" I asked a girl with a deep burgundy gown.

"Je m'appelleRiley," she said, her eyes lighting up. "And of course, monsieur."

Those who have seen your face

Draw back in fear

I am the mask you wear

"It's me you hear…"

I moved close, kissed her cheek and disappeared.

The next girl I spun around was dressed in a replica of Christine's pink Masquerade gown.

"You look beautiful, ma chérie."

She blushed. "Thank you so much. I'm Isabella."

"A beautiful name as well." I smiled and moved away.

A small vampiress took my hand. "Dance with me?"

"Of course, mademoiselle…?"

"Kennedy," she smiled. "You're a really good dancer."

An elf tugged at her elbow. "Kennedy, come on—

"No, Steve," she wrenched out of his grip and back into my arms.

He persisted in trying to take her away, and I held his shoulder in a death grip.

"She said 'no'," I growled. We stared into each other's eyes for a second before he backed away.

Kennedy gave me a grateful look. "He's a little annoying, but he's a good friend."

After a few more minutes, I caught her looking wistfully after him.

"Shall I leave you to deal with him?"

An evil smirk crossed her face. "I suppose…"

I moved back to dance with a beautiful little moon goddess who sparkled like the stars themselves. Her long, flowing violet skirt was edged in silver swirls and melded smoothly into a deep blue top with silver stars.

"This is probably the first party you've been to, right?"

I nodded.

"Hope it's a night you remember. It definitely is for me."

The music faded out as she left me to my thoughts.

Viggo

Most of these girls are totally into Phantom of the Opera. Don't get me wrong, it's cool, but I like being able to mix things up a bit. Kayla told me earlier that pretty much anything was fair game, but she had several very specific requests. (Seeing as how she hired me, it's all good.)

So here we go with another musical…

Josie

Oh my Lord. What is this, musical night? Next he'll be playing something from Rent. But seriously, West Side Story is awesome. I saw Kayla across from David when we lined up (that's the best way to dance to something like America) but Erik was nowhere in sight. I dismissed the thought as Sophie and Aragorn came to stand next to me and Alan.

"I haven't seen much Lord of the Rings, but," I gestured toward him and looked at Sophie, "how did you bring him?"

She laughed. "I pulled him out of Fellowship, the same way what's-her-face pulled Johnny Depp out of Secret Window."

She nodded contemptuously down the line, where Charlie Quill (aka water nymph) was dancing with her muse.

I groaned in exasperation as we spun around. "Sophie, for heaven's sake, kiss him and get over it already." I indicated Aragorn. She didn't need telling twice. My jaw dropped as she pressed her lips to his and melted in his arms.

Sam

When America was over (I'd found Maria and the song had made us both totally hyper) I stood back to admire her costume. Maria loves the Cheetah Girls, and she had dressed like Dorinda. Everything was there: the printed skirt, the fishnet sleeves, and her white fuzzy hat.

"Nice choice," I commented.

She nodded enthusiastically. "How many people do you know here?"

"Not too many," I admitted. "Have you seen Dominic?"

"No, what's he dressed as? I see Strider (Aragorn), a knight, an elf, Johnny Depp… is that him, dancing with Josie?"

I spun around. "She wouldn't be caught dead dancing with him. That's her boyfriend, Alan."

"Oh. Then no, I haven't seen him."

We set off through the crowd. I spotted Isabella with a dreamy look in her eyes. "What happened to you?"

"This is the best night ever," she said. "I can't believe he danced with me."

"Who?"

"Erik."

Maria gave me a confused look. "What?"

I dragged her away from Isabella. "Erik, you dork! Phantom-Erik!"

Her eyes lit up. "Where is he?"

"I was hoping you could tell me." Kayla had come up behind us. "Oh, no…"

I turned. "Dominic?"

He was dressed as (what else?) the Phantom.

"Dom, I did want you to meet him," she said, "but now I'm afraid of what'll happen if he even lays eyes on you."

He didn't listen to her. "Sam, I've been looking for you everywhere, come on!"

He grabbed my hand as a bit of the Harry Potter soundtrack came on.

"Okay…"

Erik

I paced between the back tables, torn between finding one of the girls (and getting myself mobbed in the process) or staying put. I was dragged out of this stupor of thought by two nymphs sitting at a corner table. Why weren't they dancing? I crept closer to hear what they were saying.

A wood nymph dressed in green and brown was surveying the crowd with open disdain. "I can't believe how many princesses there are. We're in high school, you'd think they could be a little more sophisticated."

Her companion, a water nymph dressed in turquoise, smiled. "Come on, Ralena…"

"I'm serious! They have no originality! There's at least two people dressed as the Phantom of the Opera, and he himself is here! …I did like Sophie's Arwen costume, though," she added.

"And her date?" Charlie Quill prompted.

"He is absolutely gorgeous," Ralena gushed. "I wish I'd brought someone with me… Luke or Anakin Skywalker might have been nice…"

I was almost behind the girls now, hidden in the shadowed corner. There was a certain mystique about Ralena that captivated me.

She ran a hand through her dark hair and I noted the vines encircling her arms. Her top changed smoothly from deep green to an earthy brown, and her skirt fell in strips. Charlie Quill's costume was similar, but sparkling water drops ran down her arms and the upper part of her face was covered by a white mask.

I shivered as my gaze switched back to Ralena. Her costume was beautiful enough to rival Kayla's.

"That's my only problem," she continued. "I could show them real dancing, but I was an idiot. I need a partner."

An idea sparked in my mind as Charlie Quill nodded in agreement.

"Perhaps I could assist, mademoiselle?"

Ralena spun in her seat, eyes wide.

"You!" she cried. "Where did you come from?"

"I come and go as I please. Shall we?"

She swallowed and took my hand.

As we moved to the floor, her grip turned from nervous to utterly confident.

I fixed Viggo with a warning stare, and he changed songs smoothly as the orchestra of the last piece died away. The familiar melody of my own composition flooded my brain as I pulled Ralena to me.

We spun and waltzed, then she broke away from me. I stood in wonder as she danced gracefully, her skirt flaring out with every turn. She dipped back in front of me and I caught her in my arms.

"Let your darker side give in to the power of the music that I write…" I purred.

Her eyes sparkled. "The power of the music of the night…"

I kissed her full on the lips and led her away from the center of the floor as the music slowed and died.

"That was amazing! Thank you so much!" she looked much happier than earlier.

"It was a privilege, my dear."

I swept into the shadows. There were other things to attend to…

A/N: This was so much fun! For those of you who didn't get big parts, I'm sorry. I'll try to up it a little in the next chapter – yes, I still have some cameos to do. Adi, I stole your 'why so silent good mam'selles' line only because I love it, it totally rocks, and it totally fit. I also loved doing this bit at the end with Ralena, she's a friend from school and she loved it when she read it.

PS: For some of you who were only sort of 'mentioned', I'll try to give you more of a part next chapter! Promise! …Also, mauvais crapaud means bad toad, literally. It's one of our French class inside jokes. :)

PPS: Josie's section w/ Alan was collaborated on by my best friend, Cassie. (Tell her good job if you review, she enjoys self-esteem boosts!)

Phantomfreak07