3 months later

It had been three months since that night. I had cried an ocean, but at the same time, I had been plotting. You could say I had turned into Erik when he was the Phantom, but to me, then I thought that I was still my regular self.

Tonight was the masquerade ball. I was going to make a special appearance for I haven't shown myself in a long time. Hmm? How should I appear? Casual? No. Demanding? Almost there. Aha! Dramatic.

As I was brushing and fixing my hair, memories raced into my mind. Memories of the first and only masquerade ball that I had ever attended. Will had taken me, oh how much fun we had, dancing and laughing, until Erik appeared. He had looked like the devil himself, but he had still been able to make my heart skip a beat.

When I had arrived at the party people were singing, dancing, and laughing. The same melody that will always haunt my mind: Masquerade! Paper faces on parade! Masquerade! Hide your face so the world will never find you. Now it was time to look for Erik and Helen. I scanned the sea of mask. No luck, until I turned my head to see Andre, Firmin, Erik, Helen, Meg Giry, and Madame Giry coming down the stairs, singing:

Helen:

What a night!

Firmin:

What a crowd!

Andre:

Makes you glad

Firmin:

Makes you proud!

All the i.e. crme, De la crme

Madame Giry (overlapping):

Watching us

Meg (overlapping):

Watching them

Helen (overlapping):

All our fears are in the past

Andre:

Three months

Erik:

Of relief!

Helen:

Of delight

Andre:

Of Elysian peace!

Erik:

And we can breathe at last

Helen:

No more interruptions

Erik:

No more ghost.

Madame Giry

Here's a health

Andre:

Here's a toast to a prosperous year

Firmin:

To our friends who are here

Erik and Helen:

And may the splendor never fade!

Firmin and Andre:

What a blessed release!

Madame Giry:

And what a masquerade!

I watched as Erik and Helen sneaked away from the crowd, which didn't fool me. I silently followed and hid in the nearby shadows once more. I knew Erik was worried for I could see it in his eyes. I knew he was anxious for the ball to be over.

Helen kissed Erik on the lips which he returned willingly. She then squeaked loud enough for me to hear, "Think of it! A secret engagement." She stepped back to let him look at herbetter, "Look, your future bride. Just think of it."

"Sshh, Helen! Keep it down. A secret engagement is all about keeping it a secret." Erik scolded her.

"But why is it a secret? What have we to hide? You promised me." Helen tried to kiss Erik again, but he turned his head.

"No, Helen, please don't, they'll see.

"Well then let them see. It's an engagement, not a crime we are committing. Come on let's dance." She began to sing:

Erik, what are you afraid of?

Erik (And Helen in parenthesis):

Let's not argue (Let's not argue)

Please pretend (I can only hope)

You will understand in time (I'll understand in time)

It was time for me to show myself to all of Paris! Once the singing began to die down I appeared at the top of the stairs. Women screamed at my sudden appearance while the men looked at me with lust. I was disgusted. I sang very coldly:

Why so silent, my good Messieurs?

Did you believe that I would leave you for good?

Have you missed me, my good Messieurs?

I have written you a new opera.

Here I bring the finished score.

The Flames of a Broken Heart!

Fondest greetings to you all

A few instructions before our rehearsals start.

Helen must learn her place

Not he normal tricks of demanding the stage

I smiled when I saw her appalled face. It gave me great pleasure to insult Erik's little "ingénue".

As for our newest star, Monsieur Nightingale

"Monsieur Erik will be the star of my opera. Many of you may know him as a composer, but none of you know him as a singer. You will all follow my instructions, for there are worst things than a shattered chandelier." I bellowed. There was no point in fighting with me; I would see to it that they follow my instructions. I looked around the room, seeing doubt on people's unmasked faces. "Come now, you should give more credit to him. He can sing. Even ask Madamouiselle Helen. Why she was on the roof of this opera house three months ago, singing with him." Both of their faces paled. I continued:

No doubt he'll do his best

It's true, his voice is good

I've heard him

But if he wish to excel

He has much still to learn

If his pride will let him return to me, his angel

His angel…

I stared straight into his eyes; giving in to his pool of green eyes with specks of gold. I began to descend down more stairs, never leaving his gaze. Helen stood there irritated, but curious, as to what the relation were between us.

I was now on the dance floor where Erik stood. His look sending shivers up my spine making me want to just kiss his sweet lips. We were so close, his breath teasing my skin. I could see tears in his eyes. He was starting to remember.I slowly put a shaky hand up to his perfect face.Erik couldn't take it,he turned away. Tears began to sting my eyes now, I put down my hand in shame. How could he keep doing this to me? One moment I see something on the borders of love and then it disappears like when a snowflake hits the windows of the opera house. I look at Helen, wondering why he loved her so. Was it her beauty that made him love her so? Was she somehow better than Christine? Then as if it was mocking me, I see a ring around Helen's pretty little neck. Reminding me too much of Christine.I look at Erik asking him "why?" with my eyes, but once again he turned away.

My blood began to boil. He was making me look like a fool. All I have done for him and this is what I get in return. In a flash I pull the ring off of her neck. I point the ring at Erik.

Your chains are still mine!

You will sing for me!

I threw the ring at him. Hating him and loving him at the same time. I ran up the stairs, Erik close behind me. I gave a quick mocking bow before disappearing into my trap door. Erik tricks he had taught me,once againcame in handy as I used special dust that turned into smoke. But Erik wasn't a fool for he followed me. Clever Erik he thought that theway to escape waswhere it once was, but I was one step ahead of him. I had changed the spot. "So Monsieur Erik, the tables have turned now you are the one being trapped!

"Let me out!" He screamed.

"No I don't think I will, for I am enjoying the position you are in, far too much. And I think I am going to wait and see how long it takes you to get out or how about, how long it takes you to die." I said coldly. His face paled.

"Please you mustn't leave me here. You are my angel." He begged like a child.

I sighed, "The angel you speak of died, three months ago, when she had seen her own angel declare his love for another on the roof." Both of us had tears streaming down our faces.

I watch as images of when he had found his Christine and her Raoul declaring their love for one another, enter his mind. "Angel I..." We both heard footsteps echoing down the passageway towards us. I hid in the shadows, watching Madame Giry take Erik out of the chamber and leave. I followed close behind.