A/N Well here you go, please review!

Ch 7♪

She turned around to face him; he was the epitome of the devil himself. His eyes raged with wild flames. His face showed no emotion, just disdain.

Had she really provoked those emotions that he was possessing at the moment? But even in the midst of his rage, Anna no longer feared him. She loved him, but at the same time she felt an immense sorrow for him.

"Come here." Erik said his voice was haunting. But that was one of his many attractions.

Anna could tell that he was trying desperately to figure out how to handle this awkward situation. Inside Anna knew, there was no going back now, they were finally going to have to face the demons of Erik's past.

Erik could not believe what he had just done. He had unfortunately made someone feel the way Christine had made him feel, rejected. Erik could see the tears in Anna's eyes, tears he wished he had not caused. He could sense her pain; it was so much like his own. He did not want to be the cause of her pain, no, he wanted to be the cause of her happiness.

Erik almost did not realize Anna was standing next to him for he was so deep in thought. Her eyes looked helplessly lost, and he wanted to weep for her.

"Anna." He began his voice very soft, hoping it would comfort her. "Do you believe I love this woman that I just spoke of?"

Anna could see the answer in his eyes. "Yes Erik, I believe that you love her."

"You are right, I do love this girl, but not the way I love you. I did want to marry her and have children with her. I thought she was going to be my salvation." He spoke, each word brought on new tears in Anna's eyes. But he had to tell her the was he was feeling.

"But she left me, Anna she left me for the Vicomte de Changy and she broke my heart. I honestly thought that I would never love anyone again and then you happened. I came in here one morning out of curiosity and then I found you. You were so lost and helpless and then you opened your mouth and all the inner demons I possessed left me. You are my salvation." He said finally capturing her lips with his.

Erik felt Anna melt against his body, and knew that things were going to be okay. But even as the broke apart, Erik could still see the sadness Anna's eyes carried. He knew she was still shocked by something; he just had no clue to what it was.

"You coached Christine de Changy." Anna asked in disbelief.

"Yes back when she was known as Christine Daae." Erik responded surprised. "Anna do you know her?"

"Yes I know her and I know Raoul. They are close family friends with the Caldwell's." Anna said stepping away from Erik, for some reason she was still uncomfortable to be next to him.

"Anna please stop this foolishness." Erik said, pleading with her. "Do you really doubt my love that much?"

"I am truly sorry Erik, but I really do not know what to believe right now." She said her frustration starting to show.

"Do you really need me to show you?" He asked her, his anger rising also, but he was only met with silence. "Fine I will show you."

Anna watched Erik as he walked over to the large organ that he was only playing for her moments before the unfortunate change of emotions. She saw him glance back up at her before pounding away at the keys.

The melody was different for the ones Erik usually played for her. This song was not filled with pain and turmoil. No, it was filled with joy, and happiness. Anna looked over at Erik, he was crying. Seeing the pain she had put in him only brought more tears to her eyes. Why had she doubted his love?

Christine.

She knew of the girl's beauty, charm, and above all else, her infamous voice. Anna was ashamed to think it, but she did feel less than adequate next to Christine. But here was Erik, trying so desperately hard to make her see that it was her he loved. It was no longer Christine that pulled the string of his heart. Anna walked over to where Erik was playing. He was still crying for her.

"I love you Erik." Anna stated simply.

Erik stopped playing as he grabbed Anna and brought her closer. He wanted to always know what it would feel like to have her in his arms.

"Anna I love you." He replied back through his tears.

He gazed into her eyes seeing that she really did love him. Her look of love for him was enough to last him a lifetime.

"You made my music come alive again." He said to her as brought his lips to her.

Both Erik and Anna knew they would love one another till the end of time.

Anna looked back at that night and even though she knew Erik loved her, her heart still ached at the fact that he had loved another. She had felt so horrible when she thought about it, and she had known that Erik knew what she was thinking most of the time. He usually tried very hard to comfort her, but all his admissions left her still unconvinced.

Unconvinced to what, Anna would never know.

Anna had been attending many galas with Andrew and soon began looking less forward to them more and more. She did not enjoy the people, and having to care what other thought of her made her blood boil.

'What do I care of what these people think of me?'

That was the question she asked her self time and time again. But she knew that for right now, this was the way her life was, and there was not a single thing she could do about it.

Tonight's ball was like all the other. It was lavishly decorated, and the who's who of Parisian aristocracy were present. Anna was thinking of Erik when she felt a small hand rest on her shoulder.

"Are you quite certain that you want to marry into this?" The sweet voice asked her.

Anna turned around to see the heavenly face of Christine de Changy.

"Bonjour Vicomtess." Anna said bowing to Christine.

"Please Anna, stop, you really do not have to do that." Christine told her sweetly, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

"Pardon me." Anna responded, smiling at the small girl.

"I just want to say well done last night on your performance." Christine began. "Andrew invited Raoul and me to see the show last night. You were superb."

Anna could see the lost look in her eyes. She missed the performing. Who would not miss the stage? It was a place that gave one power. Even Anna feared losing that type of power.

"Thank you Christine. That is quite a compliment coming from you." Anna stated, taking her turn in blushing with embarrassment.

"What ever do you mean?" Christine questioned confusedly

"You are an inspiration to me. I was there that night that you took over La Carlotta's place in the Opera Populair's production of Hannibal. You were phenomenal." Anna praised, each word she spoke was true.

Thank you very much." Christine said thinking back to her days at the Opera. "I have not gotten a compliment like yours in such a long time."

"You miss it." Anna said accusingly as she looked Christine in the eyes. "Do you not?"

Christine gave a look of guilt. "Miss what the performing?"

"I can see it in your eyes; it is okay to tell me." Anna said trying to comfort her. "When I marry Andrew I am expected to take leave, but I do not think Andrew will make me leave. He knows I love what I do."

"You are lucky Anna." Christine said as they gazed at all the dancing couples. "But I do not have a place to do what I love, at that is to sing."

"My dear have you not heard?" Anna asked in disbelief. "The Theater Magnifique is to put on an opera."

"Really." Christine gasped, extremely shocked. "Who is the star?"

"Whom do you think?" Anna questioned her sarcastically.

"I never knew you could sing." Christine said, her hopes a bit let down.

"Yes, it was the managers well kept secret." Anna spat, still bitter at those two fools. "But they are still in search for the second star."

"Really Anna." Christine squealed excitedly.

"Yes, this opera is to have two stars." Anna replied calmly. "Maybe you should audition."

"Maybe I will." Christine told her reflecting on the thought. "Who is the composer?"

"Have you not heard?" Anna asked her a bit shocked.

"No who is it?" Christine questioned, confused once more.

"Christine it is the Opera Populair's Opera Ghost." Anna responded as the face of the young girl standing next to her went white.