A/n: Sorry it took so long to post this chapter, I'll strive to get the next ones out much quicker. Thank you to all my reviewers!(rounds of applause and black roses with red ribbons tied around them for you all)

ladyflutter-I sorta had a brain fart and forgot about that little detail of the band aids.. Thanks for correcting me

Angel or Demon

Tex110

Kathy.L

DragonHeartRAB

Kchan

(authoress disappears with swoosh of a cape)

Reminder: Christine's thought s are italics and Erik's are in bold.

Chapter 5

Black flames danced along her ravaged body, engulfing her petit form in a suffocating darkness. 'Forgive me' she pleaded into the burning heat that licked the very feeling from her flesh, leaving her numb and pained. Her thoughts swam, her heart raced, her entire being shook with fear and hatred. Gray smoke steadily churned and tightened it's hot hold around her body, squeezing the breath from her heaving chest. Terror deluged her mind and she fought uncontrollably against the darkening unknown. 'Help me!', she mouthed, trying to force the sound from her silently sore throat. Gasping for breath, she went limp into it's strangling hold. Right before the life was entirely extinguished from her, the foggy force vanished leaving her lying on the damp ground.

Christine groaned trying to coax herself into opening her eyes, but to no avail. A moan of pain escaped her lips. Her body was sore from head to toe, especially her wrists. But why? She thought curiously. Than it came back to her, all the pain staking memories from the days before. Random scenes presented themselves before her closed lids majestically, each replaying every foolish move she made.

What have I done! Each image took a jab at her heart thus, forcing her eyes to flash open. A creased black curtain hung in her view, hiding her from the details surrounding her

Oh dear lord non… He has discovered me! With all the strength in her, she wrenched her weak body from her sweat drenched sheets. Although the black silk was blocking her view, Christine knew where she was. Reaching blindly through the dimly lit void, she grabbed a smooth tassel. With a small yank, the curtains rose, revealing the rest of Erik's later.

I'm in the Louise-Phillip room. Why did he stop me? How did he find me? I did not hide myself away well enough for his genius to not find me, damnit! Foolish girl, did you expect to die easily? Your thoughts were so clouded with death, that you did not realize how your rash actions were bound to draw attention, therefore your stupidity lies in the fact that you did not cover up you be founded trail! Than to not be aware of the fact that you were committing suicide out in the open for every one in the god damned village to see! Her once pallor face, grew crimson with fury.

"Shit!" she muttered under her breath violently. Her sudden urge to swear at the top of her lungs, left her breathless and unbearably tempting. Letting her head fall gracefully into her hands, she silently scolded herself.

Control yourself. It is 'unlady like' to curse even a tiny amount according to my inane fiancé… Imprudent is what I am…I must get out of here, all because Erik stopped me from committing suicide once, doesn't mean he will be able to stop me twice. This way I'll make it so he can't revive me. Perhaps something grotesque. Any thing for him. Why he saved me is beyond me. I'm a disgrace to society, the demon from the nightmares… I broke his heart twice, how can he love a monster? A tear slid from her closed eye, stinging her cool cheek.

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Meanwhile, Erik was thinking quite the same thing. Imbecile! How could you fall so shamefully for her act! Breaking down at her feet, pleading for her not to go, resulting to Begging! What has become of the Phantom of the Opera! Where was my pride when she returned, I just let her walk all over me. This seductive vixen shan't play with your head again. Never shall I relinquish power to the likes of this.. Of this…Ange.

Sighing, Erik pulled his fingers through his hair in exasperation.

"My ange de musique, mon cherie." A soft wisp of dust flew from the organ as his long black cloak fluttered down onto the piano bench. The keys remained untouched, like they had been for one year.

In his sorrow, the Phantom abandoned his musik, finding that his overwhelmingly emotional notes brought back pain filled memories.

Suicide. A thousand angels cried that night for you. Mon amor, once again I was the cause of your strife. It shouldn't have had to of been you with the blade, this loathsome gargoyle should be burning down in the wraths of hell. Why did you come back? Is it true that what I saw in your eyes was…

With a growl of disgust, Erik leapt from his chair yanking his cloak from the dusty confines of the piano bench. She does not love you. What you saw was pity, pure pity. She told the damned Vicomte she loved you too make him jealous before she took the cowards way out. Who could love such a carcass as yourself?

His heart fell in his chest, a bitter, stone cold wall rising about it's bleeding confines. He slid through the passage way behind one of his shattered mirrors, slipping into nothingness.

Now time to settle the matter of Raoul still existing.

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When the sound of a closing door met Christine's ears, she leapt from her bed, rushing to the door of the Louise-Phillip room. She slid her petite form through the entrance way easily. The feeling of longing inside of her had caused her appetite to decrease, gradually each day, until she was at the point of a meal a day.

After she was absolutely sure Erik was not hidden somewhere in his lair waiting for the chance to spring at her with his Punjab lasso, she practically flew towards the lakeIcy shivers ran up her spine at the touch of the rippling water.

Fly! Unless you want to be murdered by the one you love. Although, it sounds better than dying alone… Her thoughts trailed off before she remember what she was doing and, muttering swears under her breath, trudged through the murky waters. All the time, her thoughts strayed to Erik.

"Please forgive me, mon amor." Her heart called to her phantom, yearned for his presence, grieved in the absence of his godly voice.

He could never love a monster. The callous words echoed through her mind, stinging the insides of her heart.

He deserves more than this hell he puts himself through, he could never a monster. A single tear caught the edge of her eye, the last of her pure thoughts. With a trembling hand she brushed it away vigorously.

No man deserves this monster, this fowl deceptive demon. The second her numb feet touched the shore line, they flew through the dark cellars of the once majestic Opera Populair. Blindly stumbling over her sopping dress, grotesque images of her mangled body lying at the foot of the building deluged her black view.

Auburn locks, matted by blood seeping from her cracked skull, her once graceful limbs, twining in every unnatural position imaginable. Eyes staring blankly into the nothingness she had damned herself to. A tremor of terror wound it's way up her spine, intensifying her already distraught visage.

Do not think of such things. You can not weasle your way out, you brought this upon yourself. You do this for the men you broke. They could never love a monster.

Finally, Christine reached the top cellar. Sighing in relief, she slammed the trap door open, peering out over the vast and dusty expanse. Pulling herself gingerly out of the trap door, memories of her first major role in the theater swamped her suddenly, relieving her physical and emotional pains, though if only for a moment.

Each footstep echoed throughout the unusually silent opera house. Disdainful whispers than erupted from the front row, spreading like a ripple through the crowd off richly dressed patrons and wealthy couples. 'This child can never replace the real diva' she heard from the front row. Her breath caught in her breast, a warm burst of fury pulsing through her. Looking down in to the orchestra pit, she saw the conductor give the signal and hesitantly, parted her lips and let the soft angelic note escape.

Think of me,

Think of me fondly,

When we've said goodbye,

Remember me once in a while,

Please promise me you'll try

The crowds doubting whispers stopped all at once. Gaping wide at the sweet melody floating around them, the smile on the edges of Christine's lips widened. The nerve-raking discomfort seemed to evaporate from the triumphant Christine as she poured her soul into the last of the song.

Please promise that sometimes,

You'll still think of…

Christine fell suddenly from her trance like state, falling towards the gaping black hole beneath her. "NO!" She reeled away with all her might, ripping her crimson dress.

Scrambling to her feet, she flung herself off stage and up the staircase. No, he can't take me back to his hell hole, I won't let him! No more sins on his slate, let Erik be free of this monster! Guide me so he won't reach me, speed me towards the heavens so I can plunge back into my hell!

Shock shrouded her thoughts in unmistakable fear, her already pale face changing to a lighter paler. With the wings of mercury guiding her, her feet carried her faster than ever before. Sweat dripped into her wide eyes, blurring and burning them. They remained open despite the pain, no use in running into a wall while blinded.

Her body screamed at her to stop, her legs protested with almost unendurable flaming sensations every time her muscles reacted to her quickened pace.

I will never stop. No demon or fiend of the most terrifying could stop me. He could never love a monster. Her head spun, one floor to go. In the back of her mind, she heard the swoosh of a cloak, the whirl of a Punjab lasso, the creaking of the unexpected, egging her on.

The deep emotions she kept locked away inside the very bowels of her soul, erupted onto her cheeks in great showers of salty rain. Run fool, he can never love a monster! Christine piled through the door ways to the roof tops like a mad man.

Before she could catch herself and drag herself the extra 10 feet, the ground loomed in front of her, slamming the cool cement into her face. The air flooded back into her lungs, sending stabbing shocks in her chest. Gulping in breathes of precious air, she let her eyes weep freely.

"He doesn't love you, he never will. He can't love a monster, he can't!" She yelled viciously at the grey rooftops. Forgetting about the fact that Erik might be somewhere, gaining quickly on her in hot pursuit, she ripped off the bloody cloths to her wounds.

Starring dumbfounded at the damage she inflected, she set off her right hand, searching for something, anything that would help her with her next step. Hands met broken glass and a malevolent smile creased her lips. Slitting the small glass into her arm, her eyes rolled up in t her head with numb pleasure.

"Forgive me Erik, Raoul. I never meant to hurt you." Blood spilled onto her wrists, leaving little rivers running over arms. Cutting deeper, she felt glass hit muscle, and laughed with a strong ait of malice.

"I hate myself for all the pain I caused you. I love you." She cried into the black swirling clouds, reading themselves to spill their heavy contents on to the streets of Paris.

Stop this folly, take your life before Erik can. It's the least I can do to help him find redemption. She dipped her finger into the trails of blood, and on the floor wrote, Forgive me love. Forgive this Monster.

"Forgive this me, mon amor! Forgive this monster who loves you so." She wept openly to the heavens in with the voice of a thousand falling angels.

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Erik watched numbly from the shadows, too stunned to stop his mad love. She loves you still, she loves you! Yet you stand and watch her die? Christine, your angel that you once sought revenge against begs with you for forgiveness. My ange de musique. His heart pounded in his ears, his mouth now dryer than the vastest deserts. Heat swelled almost unbearably through his systems, calling for her touch to come and cool him. Get her you fool!

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Christine gasped for breath, the amazing heights sending cold chills through her spine. All the bustling Parisians seemed like tiny ink dots swirling this way and that in a mad struggle to find a way out of the mass they were suppressed in.

"Forgive this monster, he could never love a monster, father.. for I have s-sinned." She took a step, feeling the frigid air beneath her naked feet. "Forgive me, mon amor." She whispered, closing her eyes and waiting for the plunge.

A smarting jerk sent her flying to the opera rooftops. Christine's eyes shot open, taking in the scene before her. Her body was smashed to Erik's, the Punjab lasso in his hand. They crashed to the floor, Erik still holding onto her tightly. With a pleading yelp, she tried to push away but found herself encased in his massive arms. Tears fell from her cheeks, wetting the Phantom's velvety cape. Their breathing labored, their hearts beating as one. She was crushed under him, her back to his chest. His hot breath caressed her ear, the scent of rosemary and dust wafting around them. They lay like that for what seemed like hours until, finally Christine spoke,

"Why'd you do it?"

She pulled from his grasp, sitting on her knees. Watching her graceful movements, Erik almost lost himself in her beauty, before realizing she was speaking to him. The feelings of hatred he felt earlier vanished, leaving his heart open and vulnerable to her. "Christine, why do you think?" he put out his arms to draw her closer to him to only see her shrink back in fear. Looking hurt, he realized he still held his Punjab. Damned fool, she's afraid of you, hates you! He thundered at himself. Pain twisted her heart, releasing a wave of grief.

He could never love a monster. She thrust out her neck and waited for her suffocating demise.

"Christine I.." He stopped mid-sentence to see her bow her head as though waiting for the executioner.

"Forgive me mon ange. I never meant to be the monster in your nightmares." Tears hammered at the back of his eyelids begging him for freedom, to no avail. He slid a calloused hand under her chin gruffly pulling her to face him. Their breathes mingled in the air, both sweet and tangy, etched with blood and strife.

"Christine, how many times must I tell you, no matter what you do, I'll always love you." He tilted her lips to his and kissed them gingerly. The salty bitter blood mingled into their soft embrace, causing him to break away. Without warning, he lurched at her arm. Grabbing tenderly, he brought it to his chest, ripping strips from his muslin shirt.

"Christine, promise me this," bringing the cloths to stretch tightly so that she bit her pale lip in pain, he growled "Never try your fate with suicide again. I forbid you." A wall of rebellion rose in her at the word forbid and Erik felt her tense beneath his palm. She sighed, giving in,

"Yes mon amor. I give you my word." Erik trembled at the words mon amor and tried not to show how these words affected him so. "I love you to much to have you die." He bound her wrists gently, silently cursing himself for his earlier actions. She stole a glance at his forest green eyes, wincing at the tears that threatened to spill.

"Don't leave me again mon ange." Reality struck her in the back of the head making all her dreams turn to ashes before her eyes.

"This is why you should of let me go." she whispered gravely, staring at the shard she had used only moments ago. "I'm bound to him, it's too late to turn back."

"The point of no return." he jested, letting loose a tremor of sorrow that felt like it slapped her.

"He has deceived you though, betrayed you in the most ruthless of manners, how can you still love a bastard like that?" he growled, voice dripping with sarcasm. "We can't help who we love, you should know." She replied darkly. Slick idiot, just slick. There was a long silence between them, the eye of the storm just before it hits again.

"I can't leave, I'm-I'm sorry." Her voice trembled, thick with sorrow. "Get revenge than, for everyday he betrays you, come to me! I will willingly help you take revenge! Please, just don't leave me. Not again. The heart can only suffer so much." Without thinking, Christine replied, "Revenge, fine." Erik looked up startled by her sudden out burst.

"W-what?" Maybe I won't have to hold her against her will after all, he thought hopefully. "What you just said, we could do it." Her face lit up slightly, making his heart flip. "No.. I can't… It's disgusting. You wouldn't get all of my heart. Please.." "No, do it." stammered Erik. "I don't care if I get a third of your heart, I need you." Silence.

"Alright, mon ange. We'll do it."