Disclaimer: Buffy the Vampire Slayer belongs to Joss Wheldon and The Phantom Of The Opera belongs to Joel Schmacher, Gaston Leroux and Andrew Lloyd Webber. The songs in this story belong to the songwriters who wrote these amazing songs. Please don't sue me, I'm completely and utterly broke and it's for entertainment purposes only.
Timeline: Post-season seven, Buffy and during the movie The Phantom Of The Opera.
Pairing(s): Erik/Christine (a little bit), Buffy/Erik, Dawn/Erik (friendship), Willow, Willow/Christine (friendship)
Author's Note: So sorry for the delay, real life got in the way as usual. Anyway, I've made a change to this story. Orginally, the story was supposed to take place six months after the BtVS espisode Chosen but to accomdiate the timelines for the sequels, I changed it to three months instead of six so don't be surprised if you see that the dates have been changed. Anyway, enjoy and remember no flames. I will ignore them and I don't have any patience for them.
WARNING: Major angst ahead. Just to warn you!
Summary: The Chosen Trio revealed the truth to Erik and then gave him memories of Buffy's exploits as the Slayer and her relationship with Spike.
Oh, man! I should've thought about what to say instead of bluring it out.
That was the one thought that rang through Willow's mind as she saw the confused look on Erik's face. She knew that now she had no choice but to explain to the Phantom what she meant and of all of the terrible things she did after she lost control following Tara's death and when she tried to destroy the world.
"I know what you're about to ask, Erik." The redheaded Wicca said. "I'll answer you with a question of my own. Did the woman ever mention to you about witches?"
Erik nodded. "She used to tell me stories about witches and different types of witchcraft. But at the time, I thought she was mad for believing in such things."
"What if I were to tell you that witches do exist and there's one standing in front of you?" Willow said. She nearly winced at the shocked look on his face. Please don't react the same way you did when Buffy told you that she's the Slayer. Then she breathed a sigh of relief when the look disappeared from his face and was replaced with a mixture of understanding and confusion.
"That explains it." He said.
Willow was now nervous. "Expains what?" She asked afraid that she may already know the answer.
"Your eyes." Erik said as evenly as he could. "When I lost my temper and lashed out at you, Dawn and Christine, I saw something in them that changed. At first, I thought I was imginating it but now I know that I wasn't. I saw your eyes turn black."
Willow felt the blood drain from her face and began shaking uncontrollably. Tears welled in her eyes as the painful memories of what happened the day of Tara's death ripped through her. She struggled to keep her voice even as she began telling her story to Erik. Buffy and Dawn both rushed to their friend's side supporting her.
"I began using magic when I was in school with Buffy and Xander, my other best friend. The first major spell I cast was a soul restration spell and I used it on Buffy's ex boyfriend …"
"Who turns out to be a vampire." Dawn added. The teen blinked at the shocked look on Erik's face.
"It's a long story, Erik." Buffy replied. "I promise, I'll tell you everything when Willow's finished. Okay?"
Erik wanted to shout and demand the Slayer to tell him but decided against it when he saw the sincere look in her eyes. Sighing and struggling to keep his temper in check, he gestured for Willow to continue with her story.
Willow took a deep breath before continuing. "Anyway, after graduation, I met a fellow witch, Tara. After a while, we fell in love and she became one of us. Part of our little family that we call the Scoobies. After Buffy died, it was hard on all of us. I began thinking that she was trapped in a hell demension and so Tara, Xander, his girlfriend Anya and I all gathered around Buffy's grave and I used black magic to bring her back from the dead. I thought that I was saving her from suffering for eternity."
Erik's temper immediately cooled when he saw the tears streaming down Willow's cheeks and her voice growing thick with emotion. Feeling a great swell of pity for the redheaded Wicca, Erik went over to her and glanced down at her. His golden eyes filled with sympathy and pity.
"But I was wrong." Willow continued with a sob. "We found out later that Buffy was in heaven and she was at peace. Since I found out, I never forgave myself for what I did. At that point, I became addicted to magic. I began to use it for everything. It destroyed my relationship with Tara and I almost killed Dawn one night when I used magic to drive and got into an accident. After that, I swore off magic and got rid of anything magical out of fears that I would fall under temptation. Then Tara and I got back together and we're going to give our relationship another chance."
Seeing that Willow was about to break down, Buffy spoke up. "But then a guy named Warren came by my house to kill me and he shot not only me but Tara as well. I survived but she didn't. Tara was killed in Willow's arms. After that, she snapped and lost control swearing revenge against Warren and his friends. Willow sucked all of the magic out of books that my friends and I hid in a magic shop that Anya was working in at the time. After she did that, she took off after Warren. Of course, we tried to stop her but at that point, we were too late. Willow found Warren and frayed him alive. Took his skin off and everything."
Erik was horrified that Willow could be capable of something like what Buffy had described to him. Ever since the night they met, he always knew that the Wicca had done some terrible things but he had no idea that her actions were this terrible or horrifying.
"Merciful lord." He whispered in horror.
"It gets worse." Willow said with a sob. "After I killed Warren, I tried to go after his friends as well but luckly for them, Buffy and Xander were able to protect them for as long as they could. When I grew weak from using my magic, I killed another man, a warlock, just to energize myself. I threatened to turn Dawn back to the Key. I nearly killed Giles, my friends. Then I sucked some magic out of Giles but the magic he had in him tapped into what humanity I had left. When I did that, I decided that the only way to end it all was to destroy the world. Just as I was about to do that, Xander stopped me. He never gave up on me and he kept on telling me that he loved me."
Willow's shoulders began to shake with sobs as she spoke. "It all came back. What I did. Knowing that I killed out of revenge. I …" Then she broke down crying long, heaving sobs. With tears in his own eyes, Erik silently took the distraught Wicca in his arms and held her. He looked up at Buffy and Dawn who were glancing at their friend in sympathy. Despite feeling angry over the fact the three women kept secrets from him, Erik felt sympathetic toward them and began to understand the reasons why Buffy, Dawn and Willow didn't tell him before. They were afraid that if they told him before, he wouldn't believe them.
A week ago, they would have been right. Erik thought as he continued to comfort Willow. If I haven't heard all of the stories about the Slayer, witches and other magical creatures as a child then I would have dimissed them easily.
But then another thought crossed Erik's mind. But then again, I have dismissed the stories as myths. I used to think that the stories of the Slayer and witches are myths. Now after what Dawn, Willow and Elizabeth have told me, I'm not so sure anymore.
After ten minutes, Willow seemed to cry herself out but still Erik held her like a brother would hold his sister. Then they pulled back and he glanced at the redheaded Wicca who gave him a small smile.
"Are you all right, Willow?" Erik asked in a concerned voice.
Willow nodded. "I am now, thank you." She said. Then she turned to Buffy and Dawn who were smiling at her.
"I suppose you want to hear everything I did as the Slayer." Buffy said. She grinned when she saw the look on Erik's face that suggested that he did want to know.
"I do, Elizabeth." Erik replied.
"If I were you, Erik, I'd sit down." Dawn said. "Because this is going to take awhile."
Erik sat down on a chair near his organ while the Chosen Trio remained standing. Buffy took a deep breath before she spoke.
"Well, it all started back in a city in America called Los Angeles in the year 1996 …"
Four hours later …
Buffy is going to pound me for this.
That was the first thought that rang through Dawn's head as she walked through a passage that was leading her out of the catacombs. After Buffy began telling her story to Erik, Dawn stuck around but she wanted to leave just as Buffy was getting to the battle against the First Evil. So she decided to visit Christine and check up on her. Armed with only a stake, Dawn walked carefully listening for any signs of anything out of the ordinary. After the incident with the demon, she wasn't taking any chances. Unfortnately, she wasn't watching where she was going and she hit something hard causing her to fall back onto the ground. Dawn looked up as she began to stand and recoiled when she saw what was in front of her. She was in front of the enterance of the secret passage.
The room on the other side when we entered it back in the twenty-first century is Christine's room!
"Holy shit!" Dawn cried out. What she didn't realize was that Christine was in the room at the other side and the young singer jumped back in fright upon hearing her.
"Dawn, is that you?" Christine's voice rang out.
Oh, crap. "Yes, Christine. It's me." Dawn replied. At that, she pushed the mirror open and stepped through looking very embarassed and asbashed for swearing in front of her friend. Christine, however, looked a little shocked both at the fact that Dawn was able to get to her room via the mirror and at her words.
"Hi, Christine." Dawn said sounding very embarassed and ashamed. Her face turned beet red at the look on her friend's face.
Taking pity on the teen, Christine gave her a small reasurring smile. "Don't worry, Dawn." She said. "Your secret is safe with me. Although, it was quite unladylike what you said."
Dawn surpressed a groan as she spoke. "Elizabeth would've given me a lecture about swearing if she was with me." She said. And that's the truth. Buffy would've given me quite an earful if she was with me. But she's not. She's down there telling Erik everything about her life as the Slayer.
"I apologize by the way." Dawn added.
Christine's smile grew bigger at her apology. "I accept your apology." She said softly. "Just out of curiousty, what are you doing here?"
"I came to see you." Dawn answered. "I was bored and so I decided to come to visit you. But if you're busy, I can come back later."
"No, Dawn." Christine said. "You are quite welcome here."
Dawn grinned at her. "All right, good." She said. As an hour went by, all that Dawn and Christine could talk about was everything about life at the Opera Populaire from the performances to the people past and present working there.
"For the past five seasons," Christine was saying to Dawn. "Carlotta has been the star donna prima."
Dawn made a face. "All right, don't get impatient with me for asking. Who's Carlotta?"
Christine laughed at the face her friend made. "Don't let her hear that or she'll give you quite an earful. La Carlotta is the main singer at the Opera Populaire. She's an horrid person. The first day she was here, she had me carry her dog in my arms all day. She even gave the managers a hard time about everything from the costumes to the casting."
Sounds a lot like Cordelia during her high school days. Dawn thought.
"What's her singing like?" Dawn asked.
Christine made a face. "Horrid but the managers kept her here despite that." She said.
Dawn rolled her eyes in disgust. "If I was them, she'd be out of here a long time ago." She said. "She must've had a bad singing teacher if her voice is as bad as you say. I wouldn't want to listen to me either."
At her words, Christine laughed. Dawn looked at her and then exploded in giggles. She couldn't help it. In her head, the words sounded bad but coming out her mouth, it sounded very funny. The two teens were laughing so hard that neither one of them nearly didn't hear a voice coming from the other side of the door.
"Christine? My dear, are you all right?"
Dawn and Christine quickly stopped laughing and glanced at each other. The young singer had a fearful look on her face.
"Christine, who is that?" Dawn asked.
"It's Madame Giry, the dance instructor." Christine explained. "She mustn't find you here. You must go."
Knowing that she was right, Dawn rushed to the mirror and pushed it open. "I'll come back later." She promised. "See you later, Christine."
"Goodbye, Dawn." Christine said as Dawn disappeared in the dark.
Twenty minutes later …
"Where the hell have you been?"
"Well, hello to you too, Buffy." Dawn said with an annoyed expression on her face. It took the teen twenty minutes to navigate herself back down to the catacombs and back to Erik's home without any trouble. But when she returned, she saw that Buffy looked pissed at her for leaving without telling her, Willow and Erik where she was going. "I was visiting Christine up at the Opera House."
"Without telling me, Willow or Erik where you were going?" Buffy shouted at her.
"You were too busy telling Erik about your exploits as the Slayer if memory serves me right." Dawn snapped.
Buffy was about to let Dawn have it when she felt Erik's hand on her shoulder. She turned and looked up at him. He had a rather calm look on his face and in his eyes.
"Elizabeth. Dawn is right. Yes, she should have told us where she was going but you were busy telling me your story and I think she didn't want to interupt your story. Just let it be for now."
Buffy was about to protest when she saw the look on Erik's face that closely resembled Willow's resolve face and then decided against it. Instead, she settled for a warning look at her sister's direction. Then her thoughts drifted back to the previous five hours when she told her story to Erik and gave him all of the details of her life as the Slayer. She almost laughed at the expression on the Phantom's face when she told him the story of the Halloween when she, Willow and Xander turned into their costumes. Erik laughed when she told him the story of the surprise party Willow and the rest of the Scoobies threw her for her nineteenth birthday. He cried a little bit when she got to the part about Angel. How she ended up killing him to save the world and what happened during her high school graduation.
Then when Buffy got to the part about the war against the First Evil, Willow jumped in to help her finish the story about the final battle against the First, the destruction of Sunnydale and Spike's death. The reactions from him were from sadness to anger at what the Scoobies and the Slayers did to Buffy the night before the final battle to sympathy over the deaths of Spike and Anya. Then the conversation that followed was the most heartfelt conversation they had in the short time they knew the Phantom. The Slayer's lips curved into a smile as the memory of it ran through her mind.
/FLASHBACK/
As she and Willow were finishing their story, Buffy didn't bother going into details about Spike's death knowing that Erik already knew what happened between her and the vampire. Instead, she got to the part where she had to escape the destruction of the town and the Hellmouth. The look on his face as she and Willow finished telling their story was astoshing. Instead of looking like he was a difficult time believing them, he looked understanding and even sympathetic for them.
Erik shook his head in a mixture of understanding, disbelief and sympathy. "What kind of a higher being would curse you to live such a life?"
"Them." Buffy said pointing at the heavens. "The Powers That Be. Being the Slayer, Erik, is a gift and a curse but mostly a curse. When I moved to Sunnydale, I wanted to quit. To live a normal life and it took me a very long time to realize that it was not possible."
"Same about me being a witch." Willow added. "Except I wasn't chosen to have magic in my blood. I was born with it just like you were born with the deformities on your face."
"You all went through so much. Too much." Erik said. His face filled with pity for Buffy, Willow and Dawn.
"I know, Erik." Buffy replied. "Me, I had no choice. It was my destiny. Willow and Xander had every chance to walk away from this but they didn't. They stood by me in every fight, every struggle and every battle. So did my mom before she died. Hell, I wouldn't let Dawn fight for a while till I realized that I couldn't keep her locked up forever and I took her under my wing. I taught her everything I knew about fighting vampires and other supernatural things. If I could walk away from this, I would've done it a long time ago but I can't. Even though, I'm not the only one Chosen anymore, I'm still the orginal Slayer. I still have responsibilities to protect humanity from the forces of darkness."
The Slayer and the Wicca watched as Erik struggled for the right words to say. "That is what the woman told me of the Slayer who was called all those years ago. The girl had no choice and was cursed with the knoweldge that she was not going to live to marry and have children. She was alone, the woman told me, with no-one but her Watcher to support her in her calling."
"That sounds like my life would've been like if Giles hadn't be there when I came to Sunnydale." Buffy replied with a smile. "I'm grateful for him, Wills, Xander, Cordelia, Oz, Tara, Anya and later Spike and Faith for being there for me through everything."
Erik smiled at her. "I'm glad that you, Dawn and Willow have such friends." He said.
Willow grinned at him. "Thank you, Erik."
"Thanks." Buffy said also with a grin.
/END OF FLASHBACK/
As she pulled herself out of her thoughts, Buffy walked slowly to a table where she saw a miniture version of the stage of the Opera Populaire. On it were figurines of the cast members of the new opera production that was coming up. She remembered Erik mentioning it during her storytelling session with him. Looking down, she saw a note written in neat handwriting. Then she remembered what Willow told her about the Phantom sending the managers notes with demands. Slowly, she picked up the note and read it.
Gentlemen,
I have now sent you several notes of the most aimable nature detailing how my theatre is to be run. You have not followed my instructions. I shall give you one last chance. Christine Daae has returned to you and I am anxious her career should progress. In the new production of Il Muto, you will therefore cast Carlotta as the pageboy and put Miss Daae in the role of Countess. The role which Miss Daae plays calls for charm and appeal. The role of the pageboy is silent which makes my casting in a word ideal. My companions and I shall watch the performance from our normal seats at Box Five which will be kept empty for us. Should these commands be ignored, a disaster beyond your imgination will occur. I remain, gentlemen, your obient servant.
O.G
We were lucky to get those seats at Box Five last time. I don't think we're going to get lucky this time. Buffy thought as she finished reading the note. From what Erik was telling her and Willow about the managers of the Opera Populaire, they weren't taking him seriously at all and from personal experience, Buffy knew that it's not a good thing not having people take a person's demands seriously. She sighed and put the note back on the table. Then she rejoined Dawn, Willow and Erik in a candid conversation about the upcoming new production of Il Muto.
"Maybe, we'll get lucky again and be seated at Box Five again." Dawn said.
I wouldn't bet on it, Dawnie. Buffy thought.
Willow was obiviously thinking the same thing because she said. "I wouldn't count on it, Dawn. I mean, we were lucky to get those seats last time and I don't think we'll get lucky again this time."
"With the way those guys are running the Opera House," Buffy added. "We'd be lucky to even attend tonight's performance." She shuddered at the mishevious glint in Erik's eyes that closely resembled Spike's.
"You let me worry about that, my dear." He said. "You, Willow and Dawn will attend tonight's performance even if I have to ruin the Opera House to do it."
Oh, boy. Do I want to know what he's going to do? Buffy asked herself. I don't think so.
Two hours later …
As she was getting dressed for the performance of Il Muto, Buffy couldn't help but feeling anxious about attending the performance. She knew that she should be out there patrolling and looking for the demon but she also knew that she couldn't disappoint Erik by not going to the performance. That was when she decided to keep her eyes peeled for anything out of the ordinary during the performance. Just as she was putting her shoes on, she looked up and saw that Erik and Dawn had returned. The teen was asked to come with him to assist him with a few things but he didn't tell her what. AsBuffy looked at them, she saw thatboth of them werelooking very netural.
"Okay, what did you two do?" She demanded. Her hands on her hips.
Dawn gave her sister a sickeningly sweet smile. "Us? What did we do, Erik?" She asked in a equally sickeningly sweet voice.
"Nothing but talk." Erik said with a innocent smile. "We may have given quite a few people a fright."
"Played a prank or two." Dawn said. "On a certain prima donna."
Buffy's eyes narrowed dangerously. "I ask again, what did you two do?" she asked.
Dawn and Erik glanced at each other and then started laughing. To the Slayer, Erik's laughter sounded sexy, sweet and sensual and it was the sweetest sound she ever heard. Pushing those thoughts aside, Buffy shook her head.
"At second thought, I don't think I want to know." She said with a sigh. "As long as you two didn't do anything dangerous." Then as she was pulling her hair back,Dawn looked around.
"Where's Willow?"
"In Erik's room getting ready."Buffy said. "Or what's left of it."
"And I'm finished getting ready in Erik's mess of a room."
Buffy, Dawn and Erik turned to see that Willow was dressing in her outfit of the evening which was a beautiful black dress that went down her ankles with a matching cloak. Her hair was loose that framed around her face.
"You look great, Wills." Buffy said with a grin.
"Thanks, Buff." Willow replied with a smile. "You look amazing as usual."
Buffy looked down at her own outfit which was an emerald green dress that matched with the shade of her eyes. Her hair was styled into a French braid that went down her back. She was even wearing a matching pair of shoes that went with her dress and a matching cloak. After a minute of inspecting her dress, she turned to Dawn.
"Unless, you want to go to the perfomance dressed like that," Buffy said gesturing to the pants and shirt that the teen was wearing. "Go get ready!"
Dawn rolled her eyes and as she went to get ready, she muttered something under her breath too soft for Buffy to hear but loud enough for Erik to hear and he gave her a hard warning look that resembled Buffy's. After twenty minutes, the teen came out wearing a beautiful light blue dress with a matching cloak and pair of shoes. Like Buffy's hair, hers was also styled into a French braid that went down her back.
"Dawn, you look stunning." Buffy said giving her a thumbs up.
"Ditto." Willow agreed also giving her a thumbs up.
"You look very beautiful, Dawnie." Erik added with a smile.
Dawn smiled. "Thanks, you guys." Then she processed what Erik called her. "You called me 'Dawnie'!"
Erik chuckled lightly. "It is your nickname, is it not?"
"But for the week, we've been here. You've never called me 'Dawnie'." Dawn exclaimed. She saw that Willow and Buffy also looked shocked.
"It's always 'Dawn' never 'Dawnie'." Buffy added. Then her shocked look turned back into a grin. "But it's about time you called her that with the way you are with her. You and her are like brother and sister."
That is true. Dawn is the sister I never had and I wish I had in my childhood. Erik thought. And I feel the same way with Willow. He only nodded and with a smile led the three women onto the small boat to take them across the lake for the performance.
Twenty minutes later …
"Well, you were right about one thing, Buffy." Dawn said as she was walking. "We weren't going to get lucky with the seats this time."
By the time they reached the upper levels of the Opera House, the place was packed with people and as Buffy predicted, the seats in Box Five were given to someone else to the trio's dismay and they were given seats at the middle of the audionium. According to the person, she was talking to, the seats in Box Five were given to the patron of the Opera Populaire.
"I told you not to count on getting lucky again." Buffy said. "I mean, if the patron has the seats …"
"Elizabeth?"
Buffy turned around to see who called her name and her face turned as white as a sheet when she saw who it was. Oh, crap! I didn't think I'd see him again so soon.
"R-Raoul?" She sputtered.
Raoul chuckled at her lightly and smiled at her. "So we meet again." he said.
"What are you doing here?" Buffy exclaimed ignoring the shocked looks on Dawn and Willow's faces.
"I'm the patron of the Opera Populaire." Raoul explained. "My family has supported the arts for years so I'm here to respresent them."
"Oh, I didn't know that." Buffy replied. Then she turned to her sister and best friend who were gaping at her and Raoul. Now I'm not going to hear the end of it from those two.
"Uh, Raoul. This is my sister, Dawn." Buffy said making the introductions. "And my best friend, Willow. Girls, this is Raoul."
"Hello." Dawn said brightly. Her cheeks turned red when Raoul kissed the back of her hand. "Pleasure to meet you."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Dawn." Raoul replied before he went to Willow. The Summers sisters laughed when they saw that after Raoul kissed the back of Willow's hand, her face turned as red as her hair.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Willow." He said.
"L-l-likewise." Willow stammered trying in vain not to start babbling.
Taking pity on her friend, Buffy stepped up. "We better find our seats. We'll talk later, Raoul." She said with a smile.
"I'll be in Box Five if you want to talk to me after the performance." Raoul said. As he was starting to walk away, he kissed both of Dawn and Willow's hands again.
"It's nice to meet you both Dawn and Willow." He called out.
"It's good to meet you too, Raoul!" Both the teen and the Wicca called out back. Then just as they were walking away to find their seats, they then began asking the question that had been nagging at them since Raoul called out Buffy's name.
"When did you meet him?" Dawn demanded.
Buffy looked nonplussed. "I met Raoul last night when I was out on patrol. He was attacked by a group of vampires and I saved him. He knows that I'm the Slayer."
"Last night and you never told us?" Dawn exclaimed.
"As you recall, Dawnie, we were busy with Erik to even mention that I met his rival while out on patrol." Buffy pointed out.
"Raoul knows that you're the Slayer? How?" Willow asked concerned.
"His brother is in England studying to become a Watcher." Buffy replied. "He told Raoul how to I.D vamps and the Slayer. He knew that I was the Chosen One before he knew my name because his brother told him the characteristics of the Slayer."
"If Raoul's brother is a Watcher-In-Training, do you think he might help us find a way back home?" Willow asked.
"Raoul knows about me being the Slayer, not the fact that we're from the future." Buffy pointed out. "But if we tell him the truth carefully then maybe he could help us."
"I hope so." Willow said.
At that, the walk to their seats was silent and they remained that way during the performance. For the first minute of it, Dawn stared at the actress dressed in pink and white make-up on her face with a large wig she assumed to be Carlotta. The teen made a face when the actress began to sing her part of the opera. She saw that both Willow and Buffy had the same expressions on their faces at the sound of her singing. Then she looked to see that Christine had a laughing look in her eyes when she saw the look on Dawn's face at Carlotta's singing.
I can see why Erik wanted Carlotta as the pageboy and Christine as the Countess. She's the reason why I don't listen to opera.
Buffy winced inwardly as the actress continued her part of the opera. Then ignoring the performance entirely she looked around for any signs of anything out of the ordinary but so far nothing. Then as she turned around behind her, she saw a dark figure she couldn't mistake to be a man.
Erik!
The Slayer's lips curved into a knowing grin. Before going to the upper levels, Erik had told her, Dawn and Willow that he was going to make an appearance and sure enough he did. She looked down at her watch. Her grin growing bigger
"Yep, right on time." As she said it out loud, she heard Erik's voice ringing out like a bell in a boom.
"Did I not instruct that Box Five was to be kept empty?"
Dawn and Willow glanced at each other upon hearing Erik's voice before they turned to Buffy. The trio shared the same knowing look. Dawn was about to say something to her when she heard voices from the stage. Even with the noise of people talking, she could hear the actors on the stage speak as clear as day.
"He's here. The Phantom Of The Opera." One of the performers Dawn assumed to be Christine's friend Meg said softly.
"It's him." Dawn heard Christine say despite that she said it quietly.
"You're damn right." She muttered under her breath. Mental note: have Buffy yell at Erik after the performance. She was about to say something to Buffy and Willow when she heard Carlotta's voice snapping at Christine.
"Your part is silent, little toad!"
That bitch! Furious, Dawn stood up angrily. As she did, she yelled. "You bitch!"
"Dawn!" Buffy hissed. "What are you trying to do? Get us thrown out? Sit down!"
Dawn obeyed with a glare at Carlotta's direction before turning to Buffy with a writing glance. The actress just gave the trio a fake smile before getting off the stage.
"Oh, God Almighty." Buffy muttered and she rolled her eyes in ill-disguised dislike.
The Slayer's senstive hearing also caught Erik's words which were directed at the actress and the words almost made her choke on her own spit in shock and left her flabbergasted and nonplussed.
"A toad, Madame? Perhaps, it is you who are the toad."
Dawn, however, exploded into giggles and laughed outright while Willow was trying in vain to suppress a snicker at Erik's remarks and the look on her best friend's face. They managed to calm themselves down when they saw that people were looking at them and the performance continued with Carlotta still playing the Countess.
Dawn made a face. "Someone ought put do something to that voice of hers." She muttered in intense dislike. She got her wish a few seconds later when the actress started to sing but when she tried to do a high note, her voice came out in a loud animal-sounding croak. The teen's jaw dropped and she covered her mouth. Buffy was trying to hold on to her usual expression but it was impossible and she burst into pearls of laughter. Willow was giggling like mad and trying in vain to stop. Dawn struggled hard not to give in to the impluse to laugh but when Carlotta tried to do another note and made another sound that closely resumbled an aminal, she couldn't hold it any longer and laughed so hard that tears were running down her face.
Dawn was laughing so hard that she almost didn't see another dark figure in one of the box seats. At first, she thought it was Erik but then she saw that the shape was too bulky to be Erik and her eyes widened in horror when she realized what it was. She turned to Buffy struggling to keep her fear in check.
"Buffy!" She hissed.
Buffy's laughter stopped and turned into concern when she saw the horrified look on her sister's face. "What is it?" she asked.
"It's here." Dawn whispered. "The demon that got us here. It's here."
Willow stopped laughing and glanced at Dawn with a concerned look on her face. "Where?"
"Over there." Dawn said pointing at one of the balconies.
Buffy spun her head around to where Dawn was pointing and sure enough, she saw the demon standing on the balcony with an evil grin on its face. Then it disappeared from view. Buffy stood up and turned to her sister and Willow.
"Stay here." She said and she ran out of her seat muttering her apologies to anyone she stepped on along the way. Then she ran out of the audtorium and made her way to the backstage. She looked around and saw that the demon on top of the stage where the lightening and stage backgrounds were. She also saw Erik and another man were in the demon's path.
"Bastard!" Buffy swore under her breath and she ran to a nearby door which proved to be a starcase to the top of the stage. She silently gave a thanks to the heavens and she climbed up the stairs two at a time till she reached another door. She opened the door and saw the body of the man, Erik was with, lying in front of her. She could tell that the man died of a broken neck from where she was standing. Then she looked to see that the demon had Erik cornered and he was trying to fight it. The demon threw a punch which Erik barely blocked and he kicked it in the stomach. The demon roared in pain and rage.
"You'll pay for that!" It roared. The demon took out a battle ax from the cloak it was wearing and swung it in an effort to cut Erik's legs from under him but the Phantom was too fast for it and he managed to jump out of the ax's path. Buffy couldn't help but be impressed with his fighting skills. While Erik lacked her Slayer speed and strength, he was able to hold his own. As the fight progressed, she saw that the demon was gaining more of the upper hand and delievered a vicious kick to Erik's ribs. He cried out in pain and fell onto the ground. Erik laid there grasping in pain and glanced at the demon with a disgusted look on his face.
"Blasted, foul creature." He spat as he tried to get up despite the pain.
The demon gave Erik an evil grin and raised his battle ax high preparing for the killing blow. Resigned, Erik squeezed his eyes shut and waited for the inevitable. But then he heard a familiar voice.
"Get away from my friend!"
Erik opened his eyes and he gasped both in surprise and shock when he saw Buffy standing there. She had a cold and determined look on her beautiful face and the look of a fighter flashed in her eyes. The demon grinned evily when it saw her.
"Well, well, well. Look who decided to join the party." It said with a sneer.
"Conversation's over, asshole!" Buffy snarled and she took out a battle ax from under her cloak which, if she were a normal woman, should been impossible for a woman to able to carry. Then the demon lost its focus on Erik and went after Buffy with its battle ax high. As Buffy was fighting the demon, she turned to him.
"Erik! Get out of here!" Buffy yelled.
Erik was about to protest but he decided against it when he saw the look on her face. He ran to the door but then felt something grab him by the throat. His eyes widened when he saw yellow eyes and a hideous looking face with sharp teeth and fangs. Suddenly afraid, he struggled to get free but the vampire held onto him tightly. It licked the side of his neck and then licked it's lips in delight.
"You taste good. You will make a nice meal." The vampire said insanely and just as it was about to bite him, it roared in pain and it exploded into dust all over Erik. He looked up to see Dawn standing over him carrying a piece of wood that looked like a stake.
"Dawn." Erik said. "Thank you."
Dawn gave him a cheeky grin. "Don't mention it." Then she looked up to see that Buffy and the demon were exchanging brutal blows. Unfortnately, she and Erik didn't notice that a group of vampires had arrived until it was too late when one grabbed her by the hair. She cried out in pain and dropped her stake.
"Dawn!" Erik shouted and tried to get to her but his path was blocked by a female vampire. She smiled evily at him.
"What is your hurry?" she said with a smirk.
Foul, disgusting creatures. Erik thought angrily as he faced the vampire before him. When he saw that one of the vampires had Dawn captive and was leering at her like she was food, he did what he had always done. He let his murderous side out and a with cry of rage and despite the pain of his ribs, he attacked the female vampire. She threw a punch that Erik blocked easily and for a while, they exchanged kicks and punches. But at that point, Erik knew that he had end it and his eyes darted at Dawn's fallen stake. Delievering a swift kick to the vampire's face, he slid under her legs and scooped the stake up in his hand.
"Erik!" Dawn screamed as she struggled to get free. "Aim for the heart!"
The vampire ran at him to stop him but before she could do anything else, Erik plunged the stake home into the vampire's heart. She looked up at him with a shocked look on her face.
"No fair." She said before she exploded into a dust cloud. Two vampires lost their focus on Dawn and were now focusing on Erik circling him like he was prey.
"You killed my mate." One of the vampires snarled and at that he attacked but Erik proved to be the better fighter and without mercy, he staked him leaving the other vampire looking frightened. However, that didn't move Erik at the least.
"You attacked my sister." Erik snarled and he staked the last vampire. Then he ran to Dawn.
"Are you all right?" he asked. "Are you hurt?"
Dawn shook her head. "I'm good." Then she saw that Buffy was in a losing battle with the demon. It threw a punch that she didn't have time to block. Buffy cried out in pain and was thrown a few feet in the air and she landed a few feet away from her and Erik.
"Elizabeth!" Erik shouted frantically.
"Buffy!" Dawn screamed and then something inside of her snapped. Suddenly a green light surrounded her and she began speaking in a language Erik couldn't understand. Then the demon roared in pain and yelled in the same language Dawn was speaking only to Erik, it sounded a lot darker and more evil. Suddenly, the whole Opera House went dark. Through the darkness, Erik saw that the only light was the green light that was around Dawn. She yelled louder in the unknown language before the demon roared in pain again and it disappeared into the darkness but not before it said.
"You won this round, Slayer. I'll kill you and your boyfriend next time."
As the demon disappeared, the lights came back on but the body of the man it killed hung from a noose for a second before it fell onto the ground below. As the screams from both the actors and the audience echoed in her ears, Dawn collapsed against the wall. Her face now very pale.
"Dawnie!" Erik shouted. He ran to her and placed his hand in front of her mouth. To his relief, he felt a breath indicating that she was still alive. Then he went to check on Buffy.
"Are you all right, Elizabeth?" he asked worried.
Buffy nodded. "What the hell just happened?" she demanded.
Erik shook his head. "I'm not sure. There was a green light around her and she was speaking a language I've never heard before." He said.
Buffy paled at his words. The Key was described as being a green ball of light by the monks. What if she's somehow developing powers as the Key without her realizing it? Wait! What about the language she was speaking? I've never heard it before and neither has Erik.
Erik saw the look on her face and grew more concerned. "What is it?" he asked.
"I think we need to get her back down to the catacombs and do some research." Buffy said. "Research is maybe the only way to answer some questions."
The Phantom nodded his head. "You and Willow go. I have to check on Christine to make sure she is all right."
Spy on her, you mean. Buffy wanted to say but she wisely kept her mouth shut. She only nodded and went to her unconcious sister. She scooped up Dawn in her arms and went down the staircase. As she was coming through the door, she saw Willow running toward her.
"Am I glad to see you." She said with a sigh of relief. "I was worried that something happened …" The Wicca stopped when she saw Dawn in the Slayer's arms.
"What happened?" Willow asked worried.
"I'll explain later. Take her." Buffy carefully placed her sister in the Wicca's arms. "I have to talk to Erik. Take care of her, Wills. I'll explain everything when I get back, I promise."
Ignoring her best friend's protests, Buffy rushed to a nearby staircase which led her to the roof of the Opera House. She quickly hid behind a stature when she saw that Raoul and Christine were there.
Thank God for Slayer speed.
Then she glanced at the left side of her and saw that Erik was also hiding behind a stature. The look she saw on his face was enough make her feel concerned for him both emotionally and mentally. It was the look of jealousy and longing for something that was out of his reach. Two emotions she knew all too well with someone in her life she once knew and loved.
Spike.
The memory of that night in the abandoned church the night she discovered that he had his soul returned to him entered her mind univited. The words he spoke to her echoed like a bell.
"Why does a man do what he mustn't? For her. To be hers. To be the kind of man would nev … to be the kind of man. She shall look on him with forgiveness and everybody will forgive and love. He will be loved."
It was at that moment that the old grief that lived in Buffy since Spike's death began to bubble to the surface. As she began to shake with emotion, she also realized something that she hadn't thought of before. While Erik was developing feelings for her, she felt the same way about him. He was falling in love with her and her with him. The only thing that was now stopping her was the unsolved grief over Spike's death. Pushing her thoughts aside, Buffy turned to see that Raoul had his arms around Christine and was singing to her. Telling her that he loved her and asking her to spend his life with her. Then they pulled away for a moment before they shared a passionate kiss.
Oh, God.
Buffy quickly turned away but not before she saw the heartbroken look on Erik's face as she did. She squeezed her eyes shut fighting back tears and shaking with pure emotion. After a few moments, she heard the young couple talking excitedly and as their voices faded, she then heard the near silent footsteps as Erik walked out from his hiding place behind the stature and him singing in a heartbroken voice. As he was singing, Buffy turned around again and watched.
I gave you my music
Made your song take wing
And now how you've repaid me
Denied me
And betrayed me
He was bound to love you
When he heard you sing, Christine
Buffy couldn't help but feel helpless as she watched Erik and heard his soft sobs as he cried. Tears prickled behind her own eyes as her pity for Erik grew and her emotions threatened to get the better of her. Then she saw that his body was beginning to shake not with heartache but rage. She saw that he dropped the rose and he ran to another stature what was a few feet away and he shouted at the top of his lungs. The words made Buffy's heart jolt horribly.
"You will curse the day you did not do what the Phantom asked of you!"
At those words, Buffy let the tears she had been fighting back run down her cheeks letting loose feelings of anger, pity, love and grief. She slowly walked out of her hding place behind the stature and then she began to sing. Just a song she heard from one of her CDs she owned back home but to her, the song fit the tone of the situation perfectly. It was called Answer and it was sung by one of her favorite singers of all time.
Erik turned at the sound of Buffy's voice and tears welled in his eyes when he saw the tears running down her cheeks and the mixture of emotions on her face. The emotions of anger, pity, love and grief. His own emotions ripped through him painfully. Feelings of heartbreak, sorrow, rage and love. A tear slipped down his cheek followed by another and another. Overwhelmed, he fell onto his knees sobbing. As he cried, Erik felt a hand on his shoulder and heard the emotion in the Slayer's voice as she continued singing.
As she was singing, Buffy went down on her knees in front of Erik and took him into her arms. As she did that, she finished her song. Then her whole body began to shake with sobs and for the first time since Spike's death, Buffy gave in to the grief that she pent up forthree long months and wept holding onto Erik as she did so.
Well, that's it for now. Long chapter I know but I wanted to get everything in one chapter this time. I know that I cut out some very important parts but I wanted to keep the story going. Don't worry, the rest of the characters of the POTO unverse will make their appearances in upcoming chapters and there will be more interactions between Buffy, Willow, Dawn, Christine and Raoul very soon in two or three chapters. As for some Buffy/Erik action, that will be some soon. Anyway, please review and remember no flames! I will ignore them and I have no patience for them.