OK, I'm starting the next chapter. This chapter is some weeks ahead and they're at the Opera House! And sorry I haven't updated in awhile but I've been so busy with school and all that. So here goes the next chapter.

Chapter 3-The Royal Opera House

Aurora was in a carriage with her father, and she was unusually quiet. She just stared out the window not caring whether or not her father was worried about her. "Daughter please must you be like this? I thought you and Erik would get along just great," Mr. Adams said which made her head turn to him quickly

"You thought I'd get along with some unknown man who hides the half of his face in his mask and thinks that he can control me? Well, Father I must say you have poor judgment," she said narrowing her blue eyes.

"Now see here, Missy, you are still my daughter and live under my roof, and I will not tolerate anymore of your so called attitude! I hired Erik because he was an excellent singer and plus he was in need for a job. I couldn't just allow him to be caught by the French police!" Mr. Adams said in a loud voice.

"Ah, so Monsieur Erik is a criminal. Why Father? Why would you hire a criminal when you could have hired someone more respectable?" Aurora said her eyes now round with amazement.

"Erik is no criminal just misunderstood like you. Now please Aurora, darling, try to get along with him," he said touching her cheek lightly which made her smile.

"All right I'll try but that doesn't mean I'll succeed," she said nodding. Her thoughts about Erik were that he was no gentleman and why should she even try to like him.

Erik was in the carriage right behind Mr. Adams' and he was thinking about Christine. Meg had told him recently as they got off the boat that Christine was on it at the same time. He had gotten extremely upset about it, yelled at Meg for not telling him about Christine, and had made poor Meg cry. Madam Giry was indeed very upset at him for making Meg cry and had told him in her authoritative voice that if Erik ever hurt Meg or make Meg upset that he'd be out on the street in a second. Erik had to say Madam Giry was the very mother that anyone would have wanted, and plus he agreed to it because he owns her for all the kindness she has shown him.

Madam Giry knew that Meg and Christine were seeing each other while they were on the ship, and she had specifically told Meg not to tell Erik about Christine being on there. She wanted to keep Raoul and Christine a distance from Erik when they were on the ship, and that was due for a reason. Madam Giry knew that Erik was still obsessed about Christine, and she would not allow Erik to take Christine away, again, from the man she loved.

"I hope we get there soon, Mother," said Meg which made Erik look at both of the ladies.

"We will dear," Madam Giry said smiling warmly at her.

"Have you seen this opera house before?" Erik asked Madam Giry and Meg.

"I have many years ago," Madam Giry said nodding, "It is a very magnificent opera house built around the same time the Opera Populaire was if I remember correctly."

"Mother has told me it' even more beautiful than the Opera Populaire!" Meg exclaimed excitedly, but Erik didn't believe her. He had put his heart and soul into the Opera Populaire when he had built it, and he would never think any other opera house is as or more beautiful than his precious Opera Populaire.

Soon Erik felt the carriage come to a stop and the door opened. Erik soon appeared out of the carriage after both Madam Giry and Meg got out of it, and he saw Aurora standing there smiling as she looked at the marvelous opera house in front of her. She looked beautiful just standing there with that big smile on her face, her sapphire eyes shining with glee, and wearing a lovely purple silk dress.

No! he thought angrily, Christine is my only love, and plus this woman is extremely irritating.

Soon Mr. Adams walks over to him and says, "Welcome to the Royal Opera House, Erik. I hope you enjoy your stay here, and feel free to do what ever you wish. . Unless it is something illegal or will put my daughter in a position of disrespect."

"Thank you for allowing me in this opera house," Erik said politely which made Madam Giry smile.

"Ah, Erik you have made it," Aurora said as she spotted them.

"Aurora! You look lovely in the dress!" exclaimed Meg before Erik could even answer.

"You like it? I don't know purple really doesn't seem much like my color, and nor does the French design suit me. I much more prefer English designed dress. Much more comfortable and you don't have to pull the darn corset so tight to where you can't even breathe. But I must say some English dresses are where you can hardly breathe as well," Aurora said in English her accent very strong in her voice. Erik had not noticed it mostly because when she talked to him, which was only once (she wanted to avoid Erik as much as possible after that little incident at dinner), she talked in French; her English accent was much hidden as she spoke French.

Purple does not suit her? Is she blind? That dress is positively lovely on her. . It brings out her figure more than that dress she wore at dinner, Erik thought with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh it must be dreadful!" Meg exclaimed.

"Oh no not really, you tend to get use to it after wearing a dress like this for about a good half hour," Aurora replied shaking her head.

"Come, daughter and Meg let us go in," Mr. Adams said smiling at the girls.

"Oh but Father we had just started talking!" Aurora complained.

"No, I think Mr. Adams is right, and besides it seems that Erik is getting bored with the talk," Madam Giry said which made both Aurora and Meg burst into laughter.

"We should have thought about poor Erik, listening to us girls ramble on about how uncomfortable dresses are these days! I must say, now that I look at him he seems to want to get away as fast as possible!" Aurora said roaring with laughter.

Erik looked at Meg and Aurora who were still laughing and said, "I must say I was actually intrigued by your talk, Miss Adams. But I couldn't help but notice that the dress you are wearing does bring more of your figure out and suits you very well."

"Sir, you are indeed no gentleman! Talking about a lady's figure is not gentleman like at all!" Aurora said with wide eyes.

"I did not say I was a gentleman, did I?" Erik asked smiling.

"No, he didn't say that he was Aurora," Meg said still smiling.

"True," Aurora said nodding.

"Come, Miss Adams I'll lead you in," Erik said putting his arm out.

"And yet he is now acting like a gentleman!" Aurora said to Meg in an amazed voice, making Meg laugh once more, as she touched his arm with a gloved hand.

Meg walked beside Aurora as Mr. Adams and Madam Giry into the Royal Opera House. Erik looked at the enormous building before him, and when they walked in he was very amazed. The Royal Opera House was huge! It had four stories of seating, all the seats were a dark shade of red velvet, where the chandelier hung it was a dome shaped ceiling, and had a very nice design on it though it was a painting like the one in the Opera Populaire. "I see you like the opera house Erik," Aurora said which made him turn to her quickly.

"Yes it is very impressive!" he said in a shocked voice making her laugh.

"You seemed you are shocked to see an opera house that is far more amazing than the Opera Populaire, aren't you?" she questioned with a mocking smile.

That smile made him angry but he kept calm as he replied, "Yes I am."

"Come Erik you must see backstage!" Aurora said excitedly as she led him backstage.

Mr. Adams smiled at the two, and soon Madam Giry said, "I think you have found someone for your daughter."

"I'm am not so sure. Aurora is the type that will not go chasing after a man," Mr. Adams said.

"And I do not blame her! I mean after her marriage I would have thought she would never touch or go close to any man ever again!" Madam Giry exclaimed.

"What! She was married?" Meg asked hearing her mother's conversation.

"Yes she was, but I will not tell you what had happened. It is her choice to tell people about her past just as it is Erik's," Madam Giry said nodding slowly and sadly and Mr. Adams face lost its warm smile it had on before.

Meg got the feeling that Aurora's marriage was not a happy one, and whom ever was married to her probably treated her so bad that Aurora couldn't take it anymore. Meg was soon getting the feeling that like Erik, Aurora had a mysterious past of herself that explained the way she looked and treated men, at certain times of course.

"I can't wait to dance again! It is so much fun!" Meg said changing the subject quickly which made both smile again.

"Good job at changing the subject Miss Meg!" Mr. Adams said patting her head.

"Yes very good. Now come we should go catch up with Aurora and Erik before they get into trouble," Madam Giry said and when they caught up with them Aurora was showing Erik where the ballet girls would sleep and practice.

As Aurora showed Erik the ballet area Mr. Adams saw him lean close to her ear and whisper something in it which made her face turn red. "Erik you are so bad!" Aurora exclaimed out loud hitting his arm, and Erik burst into laughter.

"Remember, Miss Adams I am not a gentleman," Erik said smiling.

"And that's what I am worried about," she said smiling slightly.

I think this is a start of beautiful friendship between them, Mr. Adams thought then added, I hope.

Hope this is good! Please review and give tips! hope to update by either tonight, or Saturday. Thanks! And sorry if there are any misspellings! Picture of The Royal Opera House (the outside of it) go to this URL: http/www.mti.dmu.ac.uk/rherrema/londonRandy/operaHouse.jpg.