Author's Note: Well, you guys are in luck. Here is another chapter. I really hope that you guys are enjoying this story as much as I am enjoying writing it.

Chapter Thirteen: Opening Night

Finally the big night had arrived. The news had traveled all around Paris; Christine de Changy was going to sing in Carlotta's place. The Opera Populaire was packed to capacity, except for one seat, box five. Christine had insisted that box five be left empty.

She sat in her dressing room, already in costume for the first act. Christine took a deep breath and stood up, careful not to disturb her dress. She spotted a single red rose lying on the table and picked it up. Tied to the stem, was a black ribbon.

"Erik?"

He stepped out of the shadows. "I am here, my angel. Are you ready?"

"I am. I have been waiting for this night for so long. I had box five reserved for you so you could watch the performance."

"Thank you. I must go now so I can get to my seat. I shall see you after the performance."

He kissed her hand and left.

Soon after, Christine stepped out of her dressing room and began to make her way over towards the stage. Suddenly, a figure stepped up beside her.

"Oh Meg! You shouldn't be doing that! You nearly scared me half to death!"

The blonde-haired dancer grinned at her longtime friend. "I'm sorry Christine. I didn't mean to scare you. I just wanted to wish you luck and to give you this."

She held out an envelope and a rose. Christine carefully looked at the envelope and saw her name written in delicate script.

Vicomtesse Christine de Changy

"Who gave this to you?"

Meg shook her head. "I was told not to tell you. They just said to make sure that you get this envelope before you go on stage tonight."

"Thank you. I'm going to go back to my dressing room to read this now. Please tell Madame that I will be there in a moment."

"Of course."

Christine turned and quickly walked back to her room, looking at the letter. 'Who could have sent this?' she thought.

She entered the room and sat down at her vanity table. Placing the rose next to Erik's rose, she turned the envelope over and opened it. As she read the letter, her eyes widened.

Vicomtesse,

I have heard of your return to the opera from the Vicomte so I knew that this letter would reach you if I sent it to the opera house. Unfournately, this is not the best circumstances that I would want to contact you, but I felt that you had to know.

The other day, when we were cleaning in the study, Elizabeth and I happened to stumble across some papers on the Vicomte's desk outlining a plot to get you to return to the estate. He never spoke of the night that he discovered you in the depths of the opera house. When he returned home, he went straight up to his chambers, and asked us to contact a young lady who he has been seeing lately. I am terribly sorry that I had to contact you under these circumstances but both Elizabeth and I felt that you had to know.

The Vicomte plans to attend tonight's opening night and then visit you in your dressing room directly after the performance. I don't know exactly what he is up to, but I fear for your safety Vicomtesse.

I hope this letter finds you well and I wish you nothing but the best tonight in your opening.

All the best,

Anne

Christine folded the letter and put it back into the envelope. She set it on the table along with the rose and stood up to go to the stage for her big performance.

He saw her come out of her dressing room and meet up with the blonde dancer. He saw the blonde dancer give Christine a letter and a rose and then saw Christine make her way back to her dressing room, saying that she was going to read the letter.

After Christine had disappeared into her dressing room, he stepped out of his hiding place and made his way to his seat in the auditorium. 'I hope that she enjoys my surprise!' he thought as he sat down near the front. Soon after, the lights went down and the curtain came up, beginning the performance.

Erik sat in his seat in box five watching Christine intently. 'She's performing beautifully! It's as if she never left the opera,' he thought to himself.

He looked around the auditorium and studied the faces of the audience. Everyone looked pleased; they were happy to see Christine back on stage.

He then turned his attention back to the stage where Christine was just beginning her aria.

"Think of me, think of me fondly when we've said goodbye."

She continued to sing, her voice rising with each note.

The music grew as her voice grew, until finally the big finale was there.

"Please promise me that sometimes, you will think...of...me!"

The applause was deafening. One person stood up, followed by another and then another, until the entire theatre was on their feet, applauding.

Christine sank to the floor, a big smile on her face. She rose and exited the stage, making her way back stage.

She made her way to her dressing room and opened the door and entered the room. There on the vanity table, was another red rose with a black ribbon tied to the stem.

'He's been here already!' she thought.

"Erik? Are you here?" Christine called out to the empty room.

"He's not here but I am."

"Who's there? Show yourself!"

Christine heard footsteps and then saw the outline of a figure in the darkness. Soon the figure stepped into the light and Christine could clearly see his face.

"Raoul!"

Okay, I guess Raoul's just a little obsessed with Christine! I've got this whole storyline planned out now...hopefully you guys will like it!

I will try and get another chapter up sometime tonight. I'm on duty today and have nothing to do. So it's highly likely that I will be getting another chapter up tonight.

Please read and review!

Sarah