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Here's an important chapter...watch the rating on the next one!

-Nico

Meg stared at Christine, her mouth agape. "You did what?" She asked, her voice a bit loud.

"Shhhh," Christine said, quickly running to close the library door. "Raoul is downstairs…he'll hear you!"

Meg scoffed. "He's too busy talking with Mama to care what we're doing," she reasoned, coming to grasp her best friend's hands. "Now tell me every detail, Christine!"

Christine blushed, feeling like a giddy schoolgirl. "I don't know how it happened," she gushed, feeling ashamed at the slight giggle in her voice. "One moment we were talking and the next," she looked over her shoulder and said in a whisper, "we were kissing!"

Meg bit her lip. "Christine, you're so lucky!"

"Lucky?" Christine squeaked. "I've betrayed Raoul!"

Meg nodded. "Yes, but it's not as if you're already married," she pointed out.

"I gave him my word, Meg," Christine retorted.

Megignored her."What now, Christine? Will you go back to Erik?"

Christine shivered. "You make it sound as if I'm carrying on some torrid love affair with him."

Meg winked. "I hate to be the bearer of bad news, Christine, but you are."

"Be quiet, Meg," Christine said, taking out her overwhelming emotions on her best friend.

Meg ignored her, sitting down a little less than delicately on an overstuffed reading chair. "Tell me what it was like, Christine," she plead, pulling her knees up to her chest and hugging them to her chest.

"What what was like, exactly?" Christine asked.

Meg rolled her eyes. "Erik," she said, exasperated. "What was it like kissing the most handsome man I've ever seen?"

Christine sighed, suddenly getting a far-away look in her eyes. "It was like sunshine and a thunderstorm all at once," she said softly. "It was like walking to the brink of the earth and nearly falling off. It was like tasting a piece of forbidden fruit."

Meg's mouth went dry and her eyes grew large. "Christine," she whispered. "You're in love with him!"

Christine scoffed, coming out of her trance-like state. "Hardly," she replied, her voice shaking a bit.

"Oh yes you are," Meg said, coming to stand in front of Christine again, grasping her hands desperately. "And you absolutely must tell him!"

"Tell me what?"

Christine and Meg jerked their heads to the side to see a smiling Raoul walking towards them.

Christine dropped her friend's hands. "Raoul," she said, her voice teetering on hysterical. "I didn't hear you come in."

"I'm stealthy," Raoul said, coming towards his fiancé and dropping a chaste kiss on her cheek. "Like a cat."

Christine giggled nervously, pulling slightly away from him.

Raoul did not seem to notice. "So what must you absolutely tell me," he asked, obviously having heard the last of Meg's words.

Christine bit her lip, words escaping her.

"Christine has finished learning the main aria," Meg said quickly, coming to her best friend's rescue. "She knew you would be proud to hear that."

Raoul clapped a hug around Christine's shoulders. "Wonderful, my darling!" He exclaimed. "I suppose I was wrong to doubt that teacher of yours!"

Christine winced inwardly at Raoul's mention of Erik.

"Oh yes," Meg said wickedly. "Monsieur Mansart is absolutely amazing."

Christine shot her an evil look.

Meg winked back.

"I was actually just coming to discuss Monsieur Mansart," Raoul said. Christine's stomach tightened.

"Oh?" She asked nonchalantly.

"I daresay I'm embarrassed we haven't made him feel more comfortable," Raoul continued. "I've spoken with my parents and we've agreed that the least we can do to show our gratitude is have him over for a meal."

Christine all but stopped breathing. "I don't know, Raoul," she said, forcing herself to sound calm. "Monsieur Mansart isn't exactly the most social person…"

"Nonsense," Raoul pished. "I've already sent out an invitation to him and his wife, Athena."

Christine paled.

"Have you?" She asked weakly.

"Indeed," Raoul nodded. "They should receive it today."

Christine looked over at Meg, whose thin shoulders rose in a helpless action. "How wonderful," she said, sounding as if nothing was wonderful at all.

Athena hurried into Erik's music room, her face more animated than Erik had ever seen it. In her hand was a crisp white piece of paper, which she was waving excitedly.

"Erik," she addressed him as she brushed towards the piano. "It seems all the time you've been spending with that little tart has finally paid off."

Erik's eyes darkened. "Do not speak of her as such, Athena," he warned.

Athena childishly stuck her tongue out at him. "We've been invited to a dinner reception at the De Changy home," she said, waving the paper again. "This Friday," she scanned the calligraphy on the paper, "to celebrate 'the impending success of the Opera Populaire's premiere female star,'" she read, making a face.

Erik swallowed, hoping Athena wouldn't notice the warm blush peaking up from his starch-white collar.

"You may tell your little prodigy that we will happily accept the invitation," Athena said.

"I don't know if I'll see her again before Friday," Erik said, trying to sound indifferent. "Perhaps you should send word back via mail."

Athena placed her hands on her hips. "You've worked with the girl nearly every day for three weeks," she said. "And now you refuse to work with her once we've gotten this invitation? That's simply bad form."

Erik placed a hand to his temple. "Please, Athena," he said. "Could you take your caterwauling elsewhere?"

Athena's mouth fell open. "How dare you!" She exclaimed. "No one speaks to me like that!"

Erik looked up at her. "I believe I just did."

Athena's face grew red. "Now you listen to me…"

Erik stood, cutting her off. "I don't believe I will, Athena," he said smoothly. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have work to see to." He motioned towards the door. "I trust you can see yourself out?"

Athena's mouth opened and closed.

And then, suddenly realizing she held much less clout than her husband, she left the music room in a huff.

Erik watched the door slam behind his wife.

Slowly, he moved over to a deep oak desk, pulling out a piece of parchment and some blood red ink.

Like a man possessed, he took out a quill, dipping it in ink and scribbling his message furiously.

Tonight, midnight, the chapel.

He folded the note and quickly sealed it with what he assumed was a Mansart family wax press. Then, he rang for one of his wife's dutiful maids.

Merry quickly appeared at the door, somewhat shocked to see that the man of the house and not Athena had summoned her .

"Sir?" The little maid squeaked, bobbing a curtsey once Erik caught sight of her.

"Merry," Erik addressed her, moving closer to the young woman. "I have a mission of the utmost importance for you."

Merry's brows furrowed together as he handed her the envelope.

"You must take this to the Giry residence," Erik continued, closing the girl's small hands around the parchment. "Do not let anyone see its contents except for Miss Christine Daae."

Merry blinked. "The diva?"

Erik briefly closed his eyes. Christine was anything but a diva. "Yes," he replied, too exasperated to argue with the maid. "It is imperative she gets this today," Erik said, clasping a hand over Merry's. He felt sick to his stomach as he caught a twinge of lust fill the young woman's eyes. "Can you promise me you will do this?"

Merry nodded furiously. "Yes, Sir," she replied. "I'll go straight away."

Erik smiled. "Thank you, Merry," he said earnestly.

The woman bobbed another curtsey and rushed from the music room, elated over her exciting mission.

She held the envelope tightly as she ran to her quarters, quickly donning her faded-red cape, complete with hood. Hurriedly, she ran towards the main lobby, hoping to make her exit unnoticed by anyone.

Especially…

Athena.

Merry skidded to a stop, her worn shoes nearly colliding with the billowing skirts of the lady of the house as she stood in the doorway, preventing Merry's quick escape.

"Where are you off to in such a hurry?" Athena asked the young maid, her voice dripping icicles.

Merry clutched the note tighter to her chest. "Master Mansart has asked me to deliver something," she said, too frightened to come up with a lie. "I promised I would do so immediately."

"Oh?" Athena asked, an eyebrow raised. "To whom are you delivering this very important letter?" She asked sarcastically.

Merry bit her lip.

"To Master's pupil," she said quietly. "Mademoiselle Daae."

Athena held out her hand for the letter.

Merry considered her situation.

Refusing to hand over the letter would probably mean her immediate termination.

And as horrible as living with and working for Athena Mansart was, living on the streets was worse.

So, reluctantly, she handed Athena the envelop with a shaking hand.

Athena opened it carefully so as not to upset the wax seal.

She scanned the paper quickly and then refolded it and handed it back to Merry.

"Deliver Master Masart's precious letter," she said coldly.

Merry curtsied and rushed from the home.

Athena watched the young maid leave. "Oh Erik," she said under her breath, a thin smile curving up the sides of her mouth. "You are so very stupid."