Paper Faces On Parade Chapter 3 begins in Christine's dressing room and progresses into the Masquerade Ball

It was the night of the Ball, and Christine had her costume made to perfection. Originally, Raoul had given her a pink princess costume complete with magic wand and glass slippers, but the outfit was far too cheery for Christine's current mood towards Raoul. It was decided between her and Meg that a new costume must be made. Thus the two ballerinas spent three nights straight completing Christine's 'new' costume. Feeling a bit malevolent in her costume, Christine sneered dejectedly at the second gift that had come along with Raoul's costume. Placed atop the dress in a typical velvet box, was a blue diamond engagement ring and Christine was quite pleased when she pawned the damn thing for materials for her costume. Completely put together, Christine smiled and left her dressing room. Upon exiting she spied the Giry's waiting patiently for her. Both Meg and her mother knew of Christine's condition and smiled happily as they escorted her towards the foyer and eventually the ballroom.

Upon entering the lavish party, people left and right gasped in shock at such a provocative and unique (in the most grotesque way) costume that Christine wore. Her hair was drawn in a beautiful French braid and her face had a touch of blush added to her naturally pale cheeks. Her gown was long, spidery and nearly see-through. It had no sleeves, but the tip of the dress rested just above the line of her collarbones. From the back hung a low hood, and at the base of the dress was a thin cut on each side, which revealed her slim dancer's legs.

To make her character apparent, two glossy white and feathered wings were attached to her shoulders and tied between them was the neck and stock of a long curved scythe. Her feet were clad in black Grecian sandals and her hands were gloved in leather so fine it appeared as silky as a horse's mane. At each fingertip, her knuckle was revealed and her eyes were accentuated with black mascara and eyeliner. The gown was just loose enough so that nobody would be able to tell that she was expecting.

Finishing her saunter, Christine stood in the middle of the room and was greeted by a wide-eyed Raoul.

"Christine…What…What on earth are you wearing!"

"Well, I couldn't decide between Perspherone and Pandora so I combined the two."

Raoul's counter to her response was cut short by the screams of the other patrons as heads turned towards the stairway leading from the foyer into the ballroom. Christine gasped as her silent lover and (unknowingly) marvelous father to her unborn child stood slowly descending the stairs. She could hardly breath as she realized that they were dressed to near perfection, he as Red Death and she as his deadly angel. Christine could hardly think as she heard his melodious voice threatening and vengeful as he presented his opera to Andre and Firman. He had just finished his tirade when his sweeping gold eyes found his mate and began to softly glow as he silently called to her.

Understanding perfectly what he was asking, Christine practically felt as though she were floating as she walked towards Erik. Now standing only a few inches from Erik's warm chest she smiled lovingly at his face. Erik's eyes swept across her outfit before he quietly opened his mouth.

"It seems as though the angel has come for her master."

"It seems as though her master has come for his angel."

A small smile graced his lips as he drew a rose pendant from thin air and whispered possessively,

"You belong to me!"

Swiftly he clasped the necklace around her neck and turned just as Raoul charged between them with his rapier drawn. Erik produced a small flash fire and leapt backward into a trap door. Before it closed, Raoul followed and all Christine could do was stand petrified several feet behind.

End Chapter 3

A/N: Please review. Thank you to all those who reviewed in past chapters. A little information, Perspherone is the goddess of the underworld who was tricked by Hades into marrying him in Grecian mythology. Pandora is from a tale in which the character Pandora opens a box and releases a curse upon the land. Also Grecian mythology, it is very similar to the story of Eve and the Tree of Knowledge. I will submit a new chapter tomorrow!