Disclaimer: All things tied to the musical/book Phantom of the Opera are (regretfully) not mine.

AN: Yes, the plot is thickening. Don't you love it? (winks) And yes, Erik has some serious issues, but we all knew that already, didn't we? Thanks for all of the wonderful support and reviews, and I hope you enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 12: Return of the Diva & Consequences:

That night, Erik felt like smashing someone's head against the wall in frustration. Marie had practically declared that she did not want to see him for a long amount of time for some reason or another, and then she'd had the audacity to send Christine out with that…that boy!

Erik bit back a growl as he stalked down into his lair. What really angered him was that the Vicompt could hardly be called a 'boy.' From the rumors going around the Opera House, the young man was at least Marie's age and an eligible bachelor. However, he had no right to kiss the hands of both sisters before escorting the younger one away to an evening of fine dining and amusement!

'She is to be back early,' he reminded himself as he paced his home. 'There might still be time to put the plan into action once she returns.' However, he knew that Christine would not return until it was too late to attempt his plan. She would come home, be fussed over by her sister, then be put to bed in order to be well-rested for the next day.

Attempting to relax his hostile impulses, Erik changed into a loose shirt, black pants, and his green robe. He then sat himself at his organ and positioned his fingers in the familiar playing position, as it was a habit of his to play whenever he needed to calm down and organize his thoughts. Playing the smooth white and black keys was usually very soothing for his nerves, but tonight, music would not come. Not tonight…not after having both Marie and Christine stolen from him in one day. First Marie refused to see him, and then Christine disappeared with a fop.

And yet, it had been Marie who had practically shoved the two young lovebirds out the door with a word of encouragement and no thought of Erik's wishes for his protégé this night. Instead, Marie had told Christine to have fun, amuse herself with her suitor, and relish the fact that she was being courted by a handsome, wealthy young man that they had known many years earlier.

'This will not do.'

No, it would not. He had not spent all of these years training Christine, protecting her and loving her, for all of his work to fall apart on him now, especially because of the arrival of a boy-suitor. Nothing would disrupt his plans. Nothing. Not Carlotta, not the managers, not Madame Giry, and certainly not some wealthy Vicompt.

As for Marie, he had something planned so he could keep an eye on her and out of his way.


At last, the final showing of Hannibal was over, and Marie let out a sigh of relief. The opera had gone unusually smoothly, largely because there was no Carlotta around to make things difficult for everyone with all of her demands. The diva's loud, obnoxious requests tended to interrupt rehearsals more often than not, and the fact that she required her dogs, maid, and hairdresser close to her was annoying as well. The people she called her 'entourage' only took up valuable space onstage that should have been occupied by cast members only, and it tended to drive people insane.

'Thank goodness it was Christine they replaced her with!' Marie thought with a relieved smile.

Sweet, undemanding, good-natured Christine was a blessing to have as a replacement. Most of the diva's understudies were as snobbish and demanding as the first; it was a relief to finally be thanked for helping a diva instead of having to dodge thrown hairbrushes and a room full of cursing. Now, though, with the gala and Hannibal over, Marie was certain that the new managers would do what managers did best: grovel on their knees to get the lead soprano back to fill the seats.

'Honestly, do they really think that the public will choose Carlotta's screeching voice over Christine's superior one?' Marie thought with a snort of anger. 'Just because Carlotta's famous name fills seats doesn't mean that she'll keep filling them after this, especially if Raoul or anyone has anything to say about it!'

Marie had a feeling that, with Raoul as the patron, Christine would have the star spot, with or without a certain Ghost's help. She shook her head to clear Erik from her thoughts once more; he always seemed to sneak up on her whenever she least expected him, just as he appeared and disappeared in real life. Sighing, Marie made her way to the grand staircase to see if the mail had come yet.

A commotion in the great echoing room caught her attention. Taking a peek inside, Marie spotted Firmin and Andre chattering over a newspaper. Whatever was written in this morning's paper had to be about the opera, since that always took over a large spot on the front page once the event was over. Checking for the reviews always was the first thing a decent Opera House manager read the moment he was awake and dressed. From what she could tell, the reviews for the performances were a mixture of good and bad, probably consisting of gossip.

Words like 'Carlotta' and 'cursed stage' made Marie's eyes roll in exasperation as she listened. The managers continued to chatter on about how the seats would possibly either not sell because of Carlotta's absence, or would sell faster with Christine now singing as the lead. However, to them, publicity was always a good thing, and if it helped sell seats, so much the better.

"But what is this nonsense about a salary?" cried Firmin's voice, followed by the sound of crumpled paper. "Who would send us notes demanding money and declaring Carlotta to be a useless old hen?"

"It is signed O.G.," Andre replied in an annoyed tone, the sound of more paper crumpling quickly following. "Opera Ghost? Clearly these people are so obsessed with this fantasy that they even write notes with his signature on it!"

Marie merely shook her head and snickered quietly as she peeked around a corner to get an actual view of what was happening. They would learn soon enough to fear the one who truly sent the notes. Suddenly, she heard the familiar, unpleasant shrieking of Carlotta as the diva entered the building, as well as Raoul's frustrated and fearful voice.

"Where is she?" Raoul cried, running up to the managers.

"Who?" the two older men asked, clearly confused.

"Mademoiselle Daae!" said the Vicompt. "This note was sent to my home." He began to read it aloud. "Do not attempt to see Christine Daae again, for the Angel of Music has taken her under his wing."

"I demand that you put a stop to this madness!" cried Carlotta, who had come up behind them. The three men looked at her in confusion, and the diva sniffed disdainfully at them. "This note you, Monsieur Patron, sent me: Your days at the Opera Populaire are numbered. Christine Daae will be singing on your behalf after this night. Be prepared for misfortune if you attempt to take her place."

"Monsieurs," called Madame Giry's crisp voice, who appeared from a side doorway, a note in her hand and Meg at her side. "I bring a message from the Opera Ghost."

The managers immediately tore it open and read the contents. Marie saw their lips move, but could hear nothing. Instead, she watched as they cried out in outrage and began blurting out random sentences to the listening patron, singer, and ballet mistress.

"Cast Christine as the Countess in Il Muto!" cried Firmin. "And Carlotta as the silent Pageboy, which is the ideal part for the shrieking banshee that she is!"

Carlotta looked insulted. "I play a silent role?" she screamed. "And what do you mean, banshee? I know that this is all a plot to help Christine! Her name is everywhere!"

"There's more," said M. Andre. "Mademoiselle Marie Daae, sister to the soprano, is to be made one of the head costume mistresses, as her talents in this art form are superb." He looked angry. "That is absurd! Playing favorites with a singer and her sister!"

"Great disasters shall happen should you not obey these demands," Madame Giry said in an ominous voice that caused all the others to stop in their complaints.

Marie had heard enough. Turning around, she went to start getting ready for the next production.


She was in the middle of adjusting the elaborate pink gown of the Countess in Il Muto when she heard Madame Giry approaching, muttering insults about the intelligence of the Opera managers under her breath. Marie bit back a laugh and turned to greet her foster mother.

"The managers are fools," the older woman remarked, glancing down at the nearly finished gown. "They have reestablished Carlotta as the lead and Christine is now the silent Pageboy." Madame gave the young costumer a sympathetic look.

Marie merely laughed. "It's alright," she said, smiling. "I overheard the whole squabble about the demands, and it doesn't bother me. I don't want a job title that I haven't rightly earned. I'm just glad I don't get to fit Christine into this." She glared at the gown. "You know how I detest this color."

Madame actually laughed, a rarity in itself. "I know, petite," she said, chuckling as she remembered the one (and only time) she had ever forced Marie into a pink dress. "Now, get that costume up to Carlotta's dressing room so that she can try it on for the performance."

Biting back a groan, Marie picked up the gown, a pen and a stack of paper, and made her way to the diva's dressing room. Even though she wouldn't have to actually fit it to Carlotta herself, she still hated going anywhere near the awful woman. Walking quickly in order to get the ordeal over with, Marie was happy to hand the costume off to one of the diva's maids and wait outside for the complaints to float through the closed door.

In the end, Marie spent almost an hour writing down all of the criticism that Carlotta dictated through the door so that the gown could be altered. Finally, the ordeal was over, and the maids brought out the costume and practically threw it into Marie's waiting arms. With a forced smile, Marie thanked them and quickly rushed the outfit back to the sewing rooms to do her job.


During the entire preparation for the performance of Il Muto, the cast and crew kept their eyes open and traveled in groups around the Opera House. Many knew that the managers and patron had gone against what the Phantom had commanded, and they didn't want to get caught up in one of his revenge plots. Even the stagehands kept in a tight pack as they walked back to their rooms, not stopping even to flirt with the dancers. Madame Giry was more aggravated than usual about the dance routines, meaning that she was just as nervous and frightened of the Phantom's wrath as everyone else. Well, almost everyone…

It was somewhat amusing to know that a young woman of twenty-three years of age was not frightened of the Ghost, but Marie knew that Erik would not hurt anyone unless he felt threatened in some way or another. This thought helped keep her calm and gave her a safe feeling…right up to opening night. A few hours before the performance, she had been walking back to her rooms when the louse Joseph Buquet approached her and made the offer he gave to all young women.

Marie sniffed in distain. "My answer is as it always has been, Buquet," she snapped, glaring at the man. "I refused you when I was fifteen, I refused you every week after that, and I refuse you now."

Buquet merely smiled. "The ballet mistress cannot protect you forever, pretty one," he said, his hand snapping out to grab Marie's shoulder. "I give and get pleasure from all of the women that I want."

Marie had then reached out and punched him with her fist, causing him to release her long enough to escape to her rooms. He had followed her to the entrance of Madame Giry's hallway, but no further; he, too, feared to confront Madame face-to-face after touching one of her 'daughters'. Sighing, Marie waited for the ballet mistress to come and find her, as she always did before each opera opening.


Two hours later, Marie was contentedly walking beside her foster mother, who looked extremely angry. Everyone knew better than to bother either Madame when she was like this, so a path was cleared as the two went to the stage to give final orders to the ballet dancers. Marie was then quickly recruited to help adjust Carlotta's enormous puffy, pink gown just before the curtain went up.

Once she was no longer needed, Marie sighed with relief and took a spot on the side of the stage nearest Box 5, fully prepared to watch the opera. A hand on her shoulder caused a small squeak of surprise to escape her lips. Turning around, she spotted Raoul at her elbow, a playful smile on his handsome face. He jerked his head towards Box 5, which he had claimed as his own, silently asking her to join him in watching the performance. Marie nodded and took his offered arm.

The opera progressed fairly well. The cast seemed to relax, and the comedy that the performance was supposed to project seemed to flow better as everyone lost some of their previous tension. Marie found it quite uncomfortable to be watching an opera from Box 5 without Erik's permission, but it was still a good view. Suddenly, a booming voice filled the theater from above.

"Did I not instruct that Box 5 was to be kept empty?"

Marie's head jerked up towards the empty ceiling before she caught herself. 'Of course he's not up there,' she mentally scolded herself. 'Ventriloquism is one of his talents, you fool!'

"Your part is silent, little toad," snapped Carlotta from the stage.

"A toad, Madame?" mocked the Phantom, his voice coming from a different direction now. "Perhaps it is you who are the toad!"

Marie tried to hold back her laughter as the diva's voice began to croak like a frog's. She had always wanted something like that to happen to the arrogant singer, but never did she think that Erik would do something to publicly humiliate her! Looking around, she watched as several members of the audience laughed, though most were whispering and looking fearfully around them as the diva raced off the stage in a fit of rage and panic. Knowing that this must be all about getting Christine on stage, Marie raced out of Box 5 and towards the diva's dressing room, where her sister must be waiting.

A quick look around that area told her that Christine was nowhere near where she was supposed to be, causing Marie to go into a slight panic. The young woman was asking cast and crewmembers where Christine was when she heard screaming from the stage area. Fearing it was her sister, Marie raced towards the sound, glanced around a corner, and spotted Joseph Buquet hanging from a…

'Punjab lasso,' she thought, wanting to faint. 'Erik just killed Buquet.' Another thought entered her mind, one that always exploded into her head whenever danger was nearby.

'Protect Christine.'

Marie immediately turned around and found Meg. "Where is Christine?" she demanded, copying the tone that Madame used when she wanted answers right now.

"She went up to the roof with the Vicompt," gasped the petite blonde dancer as she raced to get onstage.

Biting back a dozen curse words (which Madame would slap her for if she found out her eldest daughter actually knew them), Marie raced towards the roof. The climb was one she did not enjoy, as she had developed a fear of heights, but it had to be done if it got Marie to her sister. It was also a very long climb from the ground of the Opera House to the top, and Marie was out of breath when she reached the doorway that led to the large rooftop. Hearing two voices singing, she paused before opening the door.

"Love me, that's all I ask of you…"

Marie sighed; it was such a beautiful song, and if it was being sung by who she thought it was, then everything would work out for the best. Bracing herself, Marie cautiously opened the door and peeked out. There stood Christine and Raoul in an innocent, though somewhat passionate, embrace. In fact, they were kissing! Biting back a giggle of happiness for the two, Marie swallowed before clearing her throat.

Raoul, being the gentleman he was, immediately stepped back from Christine, his body language telling her that he was getting ready to apologize for his actions. Meanwhile, Christine was merely blushing prettily and giving her sister a look that begged her to forgive them for what they had been doing together before Marie had interrupted.

Marie heaved a large sigh. "Alright, you two," she said in a gentle chiding tone. "I'm not going to yell at you for 'manhandling' my sister, Raoul, so do not start apologizing." Raoul closed his mouth. "And Christine, since I the one that told you to go to supper, this sort of thing can hardly be disappointing to a girl who was trying to play matchmaker to her younger sister."

The two lovebirds smiled sheepishly before Raoul bowed. "Thank you," he said.

"Yes, thank you, Marie," Christine whispered before walking over and kissing her sister on the cheek.

"You're welcome," Marie replied, smiling happily at them. "Now, Christine, get back down there! You have a performance to put on tonight!" Christine's eyes widened before she raced past her sister and into the Opera House. Marie then turned to Raoul. "If you break her heart, I swear I'll…"

Raoul chuckled before reaching out giving Marie a hug and kiss on the cheek. "I wouldn't have it any other way," he said, grinning as he walked past her.

Marie sighed and glanced around the roof. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a bit of shadow move by one of the large statues that decorated the top of the Opera Populaire. There was only one way that another person could get up here, and only one person who could use that passageway.

"I know you're here, Erik," she said aloud, aware that he heard her. Another bit of movement confirmed it. "I know what you tried to do. I heard all about the notes you sent to the managers, the Vicompt, and to Carlotta." Her voice was getting angrier by the moment.

"I thought I was more than a plaything for you, Erik," Marie said, glancing straight ahead so that she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of knowing the emotion he had stirred up in her. "I know you tried to make Christine the lead soprano through threats, and tried to frighten the Vicompt away from her. And since you know everything that goes on within the Opera House, you know that Christine and I knew him from long ago, and that we are old friends.

"If you didn't know before, you know now that Raoul has my approval and my permission to court Christine as he wishes. He is a good man with a good heart, and I know that he has loved her since he first met her. I have no objection to seeing my sister fall in love with a man who will treat her like a princess and take care of her throughout her life." Here Marie paused to catch her breath.

"Also, I am not going to gain some sort of higher position within the Opera House because of you and your influence," she retorted, hands on her hips as she lectured to the shadowy figure that lurked just in the corner of her eye. "I will do that myself, through my own skills and abilities, not through fear and extortion. Besides, I know you would rather focus most of your energies on helping Christine instead of me." Marie bit back tears. "I know that you only want me to advance so that I can be as far away from her while she rises as a star, but I won't let you toy with and separate us!"

She turned and stalked off of the rooftop, back into the Populaire.


Erik watched Marie flee the rooftop in a huff. He had seen her upset, but very rarely at him, and it hurt to know that he had caused her pain. However, the anger he was feeling towards both her and her sister overrode all other emotions, especially after all he had done for them! He did not want Marie stuck being an assistant to someone her entire life; she was better than that, and deserved to at least be successful at the Populaire! And Christine…

His heart broke at the thought of Christine and her Vicompt together. After all he had done for her, being her Angel of Music, teaching her to rise above all others at the Opera House and become something great and beautiful, she had betrayed him! Falling in love with…with…that Fop and coming up here and flaunt it (albeit unknowingly) in his face, both of them going against the demands he had sent! Anger ripped through his body as he stood in the center of the roof, howling his rage to the heavens.

"You will curse the day you did not do, all that the Phantom asked of you!"


AN: Chills, anyone? Please review and let me know how you liked the chapter! Thanks!