Hello everybody and welcome back to Redemptions and Chasms. Yes, I am a little late with this newest chapter. I will not lie; I've been doing overtime at my job and loving on my niece these past few weeks in the meantime as well. I am slightly on a writer's block as well.

I know the story is a slow one, but please, stay with me.

I do not own Phantom of the Opera or Inuyasha! POTO is owned by Andrew Llyod Webber and Inuyasha is owned by Rumiko Takahashi.

Revelations…

~Back in France, in the middle of the night at the Giry Residence…~

Madame Giry worked her best to calm Erik down. Not only Erik, but Omar and Meg down as well. The letter had upset them all to the point of panic with only Madam Giry the calm one of the four and she was barely holding it together. She was failing her task at calming them down because of the note's information.

When Erik had arrived earlier in his peasant attire, almost bursting into her home hours earlier with the letter after he had been to his lair, she had disregarded his urgent ramblings about needing liquor and got the message through his thick skull that he needed Omar present. She had calmed him down enough to the point so he wouldn't attract attention at such a late hour and to call Omar to her residence at such short notice at the hour of night. Meg had awoken at Erik's intrusion and remained silent the entire time with wide, pensive eyes until Omar had arrived and the letter was read loud quietly. She watched with tired eyes and sometimes rambled out worried sentences on the note.

Madame Giry probed Erik, "Did this… Assassin… say why Christine's in danger or the reason he's even involved? Surely there's more to it than just Christine and his friendship that he would come to you?" Antoinette frowned at the agitated Erik as he paced.

"No. All I know is the same as you, Antoinette. The letter is all I received. That is why I came here to ask all of you advice on this… news… and how to go forward. With the new moon in two nights from this night, I will be forced to stay in France far beyond what I planned! I am supposed to be out of the country by tomorrow evening. Back to Norway!" Erik growled in anger, handing clenched, body shaking.

Omar ordered, trying to help Erik calm down, "Erik, keep your voice down, shouting won't do any good and you could alert neighbors that something bad is happening here. So, keep your voice level to a minimum. Besides there may be evil listening through the walls…" He glared at his friend, who glared right back. He continued, "Though my advice would be to at least hear what the gentleman has to say. You cannot turn down this chance at seeing Christine again and helping her if this Assassin is right about what is happening to her."

Antoinette hummed hesitantly, arms crossed as she tensed over the situation, "I don't know Omar Dessan. It may be a trap set up by Raoul to bring Erik out to the open."

Omar looked to Antoinette, asking, "That could be in the realm of possibility, Madame Giry, but you cannot deny that this Assassin fellow is doing this in the night at a park at the edge of Paris to make sure that no one over hears. And from what I have heard from my merchants' reports, there are some fishy transactions that I have seen go through my businesses here between Persia and France. All connected to Raoul… Who I might I add, I have had some business meetings with about the shipments? I saw Christine at all those meetings with him, though always in the background." Omar paused when Erik sucked in a breath, holding his breath.

So… he still loves Christine… Interesting… Omar though as he continued, ignoring Erik's reaction to his interactions with Christine, "She didn't look her normal self. She never was out of Raoul's grasp for the entire time, or at least out of his sight while I was there at his residence during business. The last time I saw them both, it was the party he threw just hours earlier this evening, and I noticed she sported several bruises at her neckline, mostly hidden beneath her dress's high lace. I suspect he abuses her physically behind the scenes. And upon seeing her for the first time since the events of the Opera house two years ago when I saw her two months, she sports a large, thick, jagged scar from above her right temple down her eyebrow, across her nose, slanted on her left check, and ending at her jawline.

"Rumor has it, from what I heard from Monsieur Francis de Johann that first business meeting and banquet, she had gained the scar by protecting Raoul from a thief's desperate attack at his life and her face suffered the scar." Omar finished; face masked of his emotions.

Erik was stunned at the news. He staggered back and sat down on a nearby chair silent and shocked. At hearing Christine had been scarred deeply on her face, he started to weep. Meg, who had been scarred of Erik during her time at the opera house until a few days before what had transpired in his lair beneath the Opera house, had become friends with him and they were like siblings now and she walked over to his slumped form and gently pulled him into a hug. He flinched at her touch and relaxed ever so slightly as he awkwardly hugged her back. Antoinette, stunned, couldn't speak at Omar's news.

No one speak for several minutes, even as Erik went silent. Meg offered him a handkerchief and he turned away, to take off his mask to wipe away the tears. Replacing his mask, he turned back to the others, having made his decision, "I will meet up with this man, this mysterious Assassin as he calls himself. If he still is lurking about, I will leave my response on my organ bench tomorrow night and lay low in my lair. No one will suspect that I am there as there still many hidden rooms that haven't been touched by the populace as I searched earlier. I have a second residence I created hidden away that even you don't know about Antoinette."

Antoinette nodded, "Be sure that you remain down there in the day time and avoid alerting anyone to your presence, even at night. I wouldn't want all our efforts to keep you safe and hidden to be wasted. Besides, with the news that Christine is in peril and there is evil afoot… Even Meg, Omar, and I must be kept vigil as this new evil may very well be aimed at us as well. I…"

Omar interrupted, concerned written all over his face, "I know we have a lot more to speak on and discuss, but I strongly suggest we continue this tomorrow evening at my place… It is getting towards morning and I wouldn't want you to travel to your lair in the light Erik. It's best you get along now and as should I. We need sleep for when we speak further on the subject and a safer place to discuss." He pointed to the grandfather clock in Antoinette's living room. It read 4:59am. An hour and a half to sunrise.

Antoinette sighed in annoyance and regret, "As much as I hate to do so, but I agree with you, Omar. It's getting too late in the night to discuss further. Erik, return to your lair in stealth and try not to have anyone see you. Omar, you as well. Even though I called you here to speak, make sure no one sees you on your way home. Meg get to bed." She stood and ushered Meg to the stairs before she shooed Erik and Omar out the door. "Good night you two and stay safe we'll speak in 14 hours."

Omar and Erik watched as Antoinette shut her door. They heard her lock it as well before they said their quiet goodbyes and disappeared into the Parisian night's shadows, like ghosts disappearing into the darkness.

~ Raoul's Residence the next morning…~

Christine slowly came to consciousness with the feeling of pain in her head. Not only that, she felt pain in her right arm and she realized that she had it under her stomach. She groaned in pained, though she instantly regretted it not knowing if Raoul was in the room. Freezing in horror, Christine glanced around with her eyes and listened with her ears, straining to hear if Raoul was near or in the room. She whimpered when the door opened and closed gently only to sigh in relief when she saw her servant and friend Kagome appear from where she could see beyond her bed. Christine whimpered, "Kagome! Thank God you're here!"

Kagome gasped in surprise at Christine's appearance, rushing over to help her off the ground. Raoul had taken off her chains while she was unconscious and had left for who knows where. Christine groaned in pain as Kagome helped her sit up before helping her to sit on the bench in front of her dressing table. "Lady Christine, please you must see someone about the master's behavior! You cannot keep this charade up!"

Christine refused to let the tears fall as she acknowledged Kagome's words, "I know, I know, Lady Kagome. I just don't know if the police will believe me or if they're on my side? Besides you know Raoul… He won't let me out of the house or even beyond the garden walls unless I have an escort of at least three guards who are just as cruel as he is…"

Kagome remained silent, pondering her lady's words, almost defiant. She thought to Assassin and suggested, "Why not tell Assassin? Maybe he may be able to help you with escaping?"

Christine tilted her head in thought, never having thought of that before, "Though what could he do? You know Raoul would just kill you and then maim me over it if Assassin failed in his efforts…"

Kagome went silent again, knowing Christine was trying to deny on getting help. She knew her lady believed that circumstances with Raoul were consequences for treating Erik initially before the events in the opera's underground lake. And for treating Raoul horribly as well between the time of getting to know Erik and getting the position of prima dana. Thus, Kagome left it alone as she helped Christine to rid her hair of tangles and to freshen up her makeup Raoul had insisted that she wear.

As Kagome was brushing out Christine's hair, Raoul came barging into the bedroom. She gasped quietly, bowed and backed away, bowing deeply on the floor, as Raoul came forward to Christine who tensed in anticipation and fear as she stood and turned to him. She lowered her face to gaze at the floor, complacent and quiet, saying, "Yes my lord? What do you need?"

Raoul rolled his eyes and hmphed, "I will be taking all day to deal with my business and I won't be back until late this evening, if not after dark. I would love to make sure that you don't deal with anything or anyone today, dearie… Otherwise it will mean another beating tonight…" Christine cringed, flinching away from Raoul when he hmphed at her.

Raoul glanced over to Kagome, who had knelt down to the floor, eyes down at the floor. Raoul growled and Kagome flinched, "Slave! Make sure that no one speaks with her, or it means your head and her flogging." Kagome nodded, shaking in fear. Christine didn't do or say anything to this threat of violence, knowing that it would only insight his anger further.

Raoul dusted off his lapels and hmphed again before sneering at the two women and leaving them, slamming the door behind him. After a few minutes to make sure he was truly gone, Christine burst out into tears as Kagome did as well, "What are we to do Lady Christine? You cannot keep this façade up for long… And I don't want my life to be taken…"

Christine rushed to Kagome and took her into her arms. Sobbing Christine held Kagome who held her back, "Neither do I Kagome. You have been one of my only friends and my most faithful friend. Forever I will be grateful to you, and you are like a sister to me. I will not let him take your life, for you and your friendship are too precious to me." She kept blubbering for a few more moments as she held Kagome before stepping back and sitting on her stool again.

Kagome finished putting Christine's hair up in a fashionable way and then went to gather a dress for the day. Upon getting dressed fully and her makeup done so that her bruises were effectively covered and her scar mostly covered, Christine, with Kagome trailing closely behind her, went out of her bedroom and to the dining room.

Raoul was gone, the only one there was the cook who blandly placed out several dishes of food for her to eat. Upon sitting at the table, Christine nodded and the cook left in a hurry, causing her to sigh in sadness and loneliness. Kagome raised a brow, but left it alone as she dished out some food for Christine, serving her lady before Christine allowed her to take her own meal.

Raoul's butler Lars, an old, mean, nasty crow of a man who was just as coldhearted at Raoul, came in just as Christine started to eat, Kagome in the corner eating her own meal. The butler sneered at Christine though, this time, he didn't give her any snarky, rude comments, instead saying, "Lady Christine, there is a letter for you here." He reached from inside his jacket and pulled out a sealed scroll.

Clearly taking note that Lars remained quiet and respectful for once and not insulting, Christine titled her head in puzzlement, eyebrows furrowed and mouth slightly opened in an awed way. Smiling at Lars, who looked at her in shock, clearly remorseful for his actions, she gestured to the open table near her plate, "Thank you, Lars. You may leave it here next to me." He nodded and left it where she gestured. She nodded and Lars left just as puzzled as she was. He paused outside the door after leaving, feeling guilty, almost contrite, at his treatment of her, but he shook it off and left to tend to his duties.

Christine eyed the scroll as she ate breakfast in silence. She was curious to see who would write her. No one, since about a year and a half ago, had written her. For the most part. Ever since the accident with the thief scarring her face, it seemed Raoul made sure to keep others from finding out his schemes by isolating her from society, only letting others see her when he entertained guests. Though he did allow a few to come through and most of those letters she received were opened before she got them, and those that weren't were just notes of congratulations on her marriage.

Kagome eyed it as well, recognizing its design in that it was Assassin's style. She merely remained where she was as Christine finished her meal and stood to go grab the scroll. Christine picked up the scroll and fingered the seal as she approached Kagome. She was beyond surprised that neither Lars, nor any other servant had opened up the scroll. All were instructed to open any and all letters or scrolls addressed to her before it got to her, unless they were harmless ones. This one was vastly important.

Something inside her whispered, "I made sure no one would look at it before you did Christine… The information inside it is too important for foul minded men to read. Now head to the library… that will be the safest place for you to read the scroll…"

Christine looked around wearily, the voice's owner was someone she knew was familiar, but she couldn't put her finger on it. Plus, the thoughts weren't her own, which unnerved her to no end. Where have it heard that voice before? She looked up from the scroll without opening it and to Kagome, "Kagome, come. Let's head to the library. I heard a voice just now that told me to read this in there." Kagome nodded and followed Christine to the library where they found no one around. Even the trip to the library, they saw none of the other servants. It made them both nervous and on edge.

Sitting in chairs by the mantle which had a nice fire going on in it, Christine opened the scroll and quietly read the letter out loud for Kagome to hear, "'Christine and Kagome, I am working on several issues to get the two of you out of Raoul's clutches and those that are plotting against you both. I have discovered several evil forces trying to get you both. Yes, even you Kagome. I have been contacted by two scouts sent from Japan that were looking for you, inquiring if I knew you. And both were sent from relatives that you know quite well. I suggest that the two of you lay low until tonight. I will meet with you both this evening.

"'However, the timing will be precarious… Expect some… resistance. There are forces that are plotting even now to come and get you both. So be wary and on edge of who you talk to today and throughout the evening and into the night hours. I suggest that the two of you always stay in sight of each other and not disturb the rest of the staff. Do not engage them at any cost. For they are in a trance that I have put in place. Also be wary of Lars and Raoul once he arrives home. Both are in league with some of these evil forces.

"'If you can, open the front door to allow entrance to your home for my friend and fellow assassin Samwise Peters. He will take you on a stroll of the city of Paris for I suspect there is a scheme to kill you Kagome. Even as you read this, Kagome, Raoul is in league with an old enemy of yours from when you were part of the Feudal Era. And he will stop at nothing to kill you if he gets his hands on you or has Raoul come after you once he is done with his… errands. Avoid the house as long as you can as well. Burn this scroll as soon as you're finished with it. I do not want this information out there for the servants to find. Your faithful servant and friend… Assassin.'"

Christine went pale as did Kagome. Both were stunned at the news and the information. Neither spoke for several minutes as they stared into the fire's flickering flames.