A/N: I just wanted to note that I have decided to put quotes that I find fitting for the chapter at the beginning of each chapter and that all reviews are much appreciated and inspire to update more. As for previous chapters, I will update them with lyrics at some point.

"Oh we ought not to part
I have said from the start
You're the one rose that's left in my heart"

-From "One Rose" by Johnny Cash

Chapter Nine: Confessions and Lies

Charlotte looked up into the face of her third and final suitor, Baron Philippe De Savois. Both the Vicomte Pierre d' Sartre and the Duke James Roth had been seeking trophy brides who were not only wealthy, but beautiful as well.

She hated the Baron. It wasn't that he was ugly, his black and silver hair and beard gave him quite an elegant and refined look, especially combined with the rough, chiseled features of his face. His eyes were a cold steel grey and he frightened Charlotte more than Erik ever had. He talked consistently of money, a subject that fascinated him and bored Charlotte to no end. Charlotte was frightened most by the knowledge that Philippe was determined to marry her for her father's money. Then he would use her as he liked, until she died of exhaustion or that same terrifying fate that had claimed her mother, but that she refused she would kill herself first.

Charlotte shuddered as Baron De Savois placed his arm around her waist possessively. He would marry her and soon, she could sense it. This one outing and then he would ask her father for her hand and she would have no more say in the matter. Unless of course, she were to elope, or die….

Charlotte shook her head realizing that Baron De Savois had just asked her a question.

"I- I'm sorry, could you repeat that? I- I didn't hear you."

Philippe chuckled.

"Ah… Ma Ange…. You are quite the little dreamer. I asked where you would like to go now."

"Oh…. Um…. I- uh…." Ange…..Erik, my love….. she thought suddenly unable to focus on the question. She loved Erik, she could no longer deny what she felt for him, but….. "I don't know, Monsieur De Savois, why don't you decide."

"Ah… weak and indecisive as any woman…." he chuckled before directing the driver to their next destination.

Charlotte settled back into her seat and her thoughts of Erik, the Angel she loved, but could never have.

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The next day her father broke the terrible news. She was to marry Baron De Savois. Charlotte spent most of the day in her room crying. Once the she had calmed down, at the cost of several bloody cuts on her arms and legs, she came up with a plan. She would go to Erik for help.

When she arrived that night it had to be night so she could sneak out Erik was at the piano singing one of his many compositions. Charlotte was about to approach him when his beautiful, haunting voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Oh, my love, my darling
I've hungered for your touch
Alone, lonely time
And time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much
Are you still mine
I need your love
I need your love
God, speed your love to me
Lonely rivers flow to the sea to the sea
To the open arms of the sea
Lonely river sigh, wait for me, wait for me
I'll be coming home
Wait for me
Oh, my love, my darling
I've hungered, hungered for your touch
Oh, my, lonely time
And time goes by so slowly and time can do so much
Are you still mine, I need your love I need your
love, God speed your love to me."

As Erik finished the song Charlotte wiped tears from her eyes. How fitting it was to the way she felt about him, but he probably wrote it for that Daaé girl, well the Comtesse De Chagny. Charlotte sighed fearing her future association with the elite of Christine's world. Charlotte shuddered with revulsion at the thought of a marriage to at man she could never love. Her heart belonged to Erik alone. She straightened herself preparing for what she faced and stepped towards Erik.

"Erik-" Charlotte said, hesitantly placing a cold, slender hand on his bony shoulder. He turned to look at her, his blue eyes seemed even sadder and more haunted than usual. She wondered briefly how long it had been since he'd slept.

"Yes, child." Even Erik's voice sound thin and worn.

"Erik, what is wrong?" Charlotte asked, momentarily forgetting her own concerns. He just looked at her blankly for a moment before changing the subject.

"Why are you here Charlotte?" He asked wearily.

"I-I… My father is forcing me to marry." The news stunned Erik. Here he was just realizing he was in love with the girl and she was being married off.

"When?" He asked slowly.

"In three weeks." So soon? That was ridiculous. He'd had no time to come to terms with his conflicting feelings. Truthfully, Erik didn't know if he would ever conquer his demons. Charlotte might be the salvation he so desperately needed, but she deserved better… didn't she? Erik shook his head to clear his thoughts. "To whom, are you being married?"

Charlotte wrinkled her nose in a way that Erik realized he found quite endearing.

"Does it really matter? I don't want to marry him…"

Erik raised an eyebrow at her.

"I asked you a question Charlotte."

"I know Erik, My… husband, is to Baron Philippe De Savois, who is extremely rich and has two daughters from two previous marriages. Both his previous wives died suddenly after their daughters were born." Tear fell gently down Charlottes face as she restrained herself from throwing herself into Erik's arms. His face showed no reaction to her news, he only looked up at her with those fathomless blue eyes. A sob finally escaped her lips and she gave in; falling into the comfort of Erik's arms and sobbing on his thin shoulder.

Her actions caught him off guard and sat still and silent for a moment before he slowly put his arms around her. He stroked her hair in an effort to soothe her pain, but he knew that nothing could heal her broken spirit, she was too much like him. Eventually she calmed some, but still remained in his arms. She is only seeking comfort, Erik told himself, She could never love a monster like me… He sighed and, placing his hands on her shoulders, pushed her back some. She didn't look at him, she only stared at her hands.

"Why did you come to me?" he asked her softly.

The moment of truth, the thought sent daggers through her heart. She opened her mouth to speak, but made the mistake of looking into Erik's eyes. He doesn't love you, she thought bitterly, He could never love you, you're ugly! Erik deserves beauty and serenity and you are neither… She sighed.

"You… You're smart Erik, I thought you could help me. I don't want to marry him!" Charlotte felt the anger boiling as she thought of the injustice of what was happening to her. "I don't love him! I don't want a marriage of convenience, I want a marriage of love! I don't love Philippe, I love…." Charlotte caught herself before that dreaded you that would cause only painful rejection, "… to sing! A Baron could never have a wife who was a Prima Donna! Erik, please help me."

"Why me Charlotte?"

"You're my only friend," she answered softly, staring at her hands again.

This confession caught Erik off guard. He was stunned into silence. He found himself staring at Charlotte's lips, wondering briefly what it would be like to kiss her. He would never know, Charlotte did not, could not love him. It could never work out. He wanted her to be his redeeming angel, but he couldn't allow it. He was murder and therefore unworthy of her love, and Christine's for that matter. He shook his head and looked into Charlotte's tear-filled chocolate eyes.

"Erik," she whispered.

"Yes child." He reached out automatically and brushed a strand of hair off her face. She bit her lip, looking into his eyes.

"Erik, I-I love you…" her voice was soft and low as she confessed this. Erik dropped his the hand he had let linger on her cheek as he slowly stood up. He wasn't entirely sure how to react to this confession, he loved her, but whether or not he felt in the same magnitude that he did for Christine was another question. He could not provide a decent life for her below the opera, but above ground the Baron could… He looked at Charlotte again, longing to wipe the tears that flowed down her pale cheeks, but he couldn't.

"Charlotte," his voice cracked, he felt the pressure in his throat and tears building in his own eyes. Its in your soul that the true distortion lies… Pitiful creature of darkness… Christines word's haunted him. He lowered his head, he knew what he had to do. "Charlotte, child, you cannot love me."

Charlotte could hear the pain and the unshed tears in Erik's voice, she felt her heart shattering again as she faced the rejection she had feared.

"Why Erik? Why can't I love you?" She sobbed.

"I am a monster Charlotte. A monster. I do not deserve your love or any other's."

"You are not a monster Erik! You are not!" Charlotte half screamed half sobbed.

"You child!" Erik cried. "You silly, stupid child! You know nothing of the world! You know nothing of me! Do you want to see what is behind my mask? Do want to see why I am a monster?" Erik turned to face her and felt his heart break. Her face was white with fear and she had bitten her lip so hard that it was bleeding. He wanted to hold her, to comfort her, to tell her that everything would be okay, but he couldn't he had to go on. He removed the mask from his face and stood still as Charlotte's face revealed shock and horror. She put her hand over her mouth, her face growing even paler. She stared a moment longer before she ran from Erik. Her heart wrenching sobs echoing through out the underground house.

Erik watched her go, tears streaming down his face. It had hurt him more than he thought to let her go, but it was what was best for them both, wasn't it? Erik had give up on dreams of romance long ago. Life was no fairy tale, but still the monster had no happily ever after. Charlotte would be much better with the Baron, who could afford to keep her in the style she was used to.

Erik sat back down at the piano, his fingers lightly caressing the keys. Charlotte's terrified, heartbroken sobs echoed in his mind, replying over and over with Christine's words. Erik put his head down on the keys and began to sob hopelessly for broken wings and long lost dreams that could never come true.

A/N: Well, that was thoroughly depressing. Did it make you cry? It certainly made me cry. Infact I'm still crying…. I need a tissue…..