I would have posted this yesterday, but Fanfic was being surly...I couldn't upload...

I apologize for any formatting issues in this chapter...hopefully it won't take away from the story...

The next update will be on monday as I am away for a wedding this weekend!

Enjoy!

-Nico

As much as Erik despised the woman, he had to admit that Athena was excellent in the role of his demure, wealthy wife. As they sat down to an impressive dinner with the DeChangy family, the managers of the Opera House, Raoul and Christine, Athena laughed when appropriate, sipped her soup with the utmost poise and never once faltered in keeping up with the conversation, which had inevitably turned to music.

"Mademoiselle Daae's voice has improved tenfold," M. Firmin was saying.

"It is no doubt the direct result of your skillful tutelage, Master Mansart," M. Andre added.

"My husband has a gift," Athena said, placing her pale hand on top of Erik's. She looked up at him sweetly.

To any outside observer, it appeared the couple was very much in love.

Christine looked away from the scene, trying to hide her breaking heart from everyone by reaching for her wine glass and taking a stiff gulp.

Erik cleared his throat, discretely pulling his hand from underneath Athena's. "Mademoiselle Daae is the one with the gift," he said, his deep baritone reverberating off of the highly polished room. "I simply helped her to harness her stunning power."

He lifted a glass in Christine's direction. She met his eyes with hers, which were brimming with crystal tears.

She looked back down at her hands before anyone saw. "Master Mansart," she said, her voice tiny. "You flatter me."

"You deserve more than flattering, Christine," Raoul suddenly piped in, his smiling face oblivious to the underlying tension in the room. "You are a musical genius."

"Hardly, Raoul," Christine muttered, embarrassed under his always over-the-top way of expressing a notion.

"It's true," he insisted. "A toast, to the Opera Populaire's finest shimmering star!"

Glasses were raised and clinked, but Christine barely noticed. She was too busy watching Athena's hand fall possessively over Erik's once again.

"I see no better time to make an announcement," M. Firmin said, standing as the toast died down.

"Announcement?" Angelica asked, intrigued.

M. Andre stood as well. "We saw no more appropriate venue to make this announcement, seeing as how we are currently surrounded by what is surely the backbone of the Opera Populaire."

"What announcement?" Raoul asked.

"Such an announcement will be talked about for months to come...by patrons, staff and society..." Firmin began, caught up in the dramatics of the situation.

"Monsieur," Erik interrupted, his deep voice carrying a curt tone. All eyes turned to the normally quiet man. Erik softened his tone. "The announcement, if you please."

Firmin cleared his throat, obviously irritated by having his performance cut short but in no place to say so. "Andre and I have come to a decision," he began. "As you all know, we have been struggling to acquire the rights to Aida for some time now." He took a deep breath. "I'm happy to say..."

"We got the rights!" Andre exclaimed, stealing Firmin's thunder.

The dinner party applauded.

"But that's not all," Andre said, excitedly waving his hands for silence. "We would also like to announce..."

"That we would like Miss Christine Daae to play the lead!" Firmin interrupted, giving the now scowling Andre a taste of his own medicine.

All of the guests applauded except Erik, who gently nodded his approval to Christine, who was being embraced by Angelica.

"This is marvelous news!" Angelica declared, clapping her hands together.

"Stupendous," added Raoul's father, who up until now had looked mainly interested in his dessert. The prospect of having an incredibly wealthy actress marry his son and bring more positive light to the DeChangy name, however, was more interesting than his now melting sorbet. "We must have a dance!"

Perfectly timed, the small orchestra Angelica had hired for the evening struck up a jaunty tune.

"Christine," Raoul said as they rose, "Perhaps it would be best fitting for you to share the first dance with your incredible teacher."

Christine's brow furrowed, surprised that Raoul would give up an opportunity to show off his polished waltz.

Yet, Raoul was infuriatingly proper, and his gesture gained approval from the older members of the dinner party.

"And if you don't mind risking it," Raoul said, approaching Athena with an outstretched hand, "I'd be more than honored to share a dance with you, my lady."

Athena, who had been looking at Christine with daggers in her eyes since Raoul suggested Erik dance with her, smiled politely, suddenly intrigued by the opportunity to dance with a new, decidedly handsome partner.

"It is I who would be honored," Athena said, dramatically dipping into a curtsey before taking Raoul's arm as he led her to the dance floor.

Angelica winked at Christine as her husband, who once again bore the look of an incredibly bored man, led her to the dance floor.

Christine stood before Erik, her eyes lowered to the floor.

Erik cleared his throat, suddenly uncomfortable with his proximity to Christine. Something about it seemed inherently wrong, even if they weren't touching.

"I suppose we should dance," Christine said lightly, raising her eyes to his. "I mean, everyone is expecting it."

Erik nodded. He extended his arm, trying to ignore the warmth of her hand as it touched him.

Gently, he led her to the highly polished dance floor. The music had morphed into a slower dance, forcing partners to come a little closer to one another.

Christine looked nervously towards Raoul, who was properly leading Athena around the dance floor. The pretty woman's head occasionally fell back in boisterous laughter, her thin neck and cascading curls obviously delighting Raoul, who had never been one to ignore beauty.

Christine looked up timidly at her own dance partner. Erik was looking straight ahead, his strong jaw clenched as if he was holding back a torrent of curses. His hand was pliant at her back and he subconsciously held her close to his body.

Close enough for Christine to feel his heart thumping spastically.

"You have a very pretty wife, Erik," Christine said quietly.

Erik looked down at her for the first time since they began their dance. "Yes," he agreed. "Unfortunately, that is where her assets end."

"Then why did you marry her""

Christine"s question was laced with a sort of venomous poison, audible only to Erik.

He closed his eyes briefly, his breath coming in a tight sigh. "I don't remember," he said honestly.

"Then perhaps that is a lesson to me," Christine whispered. "How quickly you forget your actions."

Her words hurt, but Erik felt deserving of such treatment. Increasingly, he felt trapped...more so than he had even as a child, fenced in by iron bars, courtesy of the traveling circus he had run away to.

This, however, was much worse.

As he danced with the depressed Christine in his arms, the wheels of his mind began to turn. He felt no loyalty to Athena, besides the fact that he, as a man he wasn't truly, had married her. The only reason he was here...the only reason he had agreed to a second chance...was to have Christine.

So why wasn"t he doing anything about it?

He looked down at Christine again,anxious that the chords of the song were coming to and end. "Christine," he said desperately. "I must tell you something."

Christine looked up at him, the urgency of his tone captivating her full attention.

"Not here," Erik said. "When all this nonsense is over with, I want you to come back to the theater. Do you remember how to get to the lake?"

Christine thought for a moment and then bit her lip. "I believe so," she said. "Why, Erik"what is this all about""

Erik looked around the room. "I...I cannot say now, Christine. Please, promise you'll meet me, tonight."

Christine looked up at him. "I don't know, Erik," she whispered. "I don't think I can bear being alone with you"" she trailed off, tears once again springing to her eyes. "I don't think I could bear it...knowing that you"ll return to Athena's arms."

Erik's heart wrenched. "Please meet me," he repeated, his eyes burning intensely as the music ended. "Please."

Christine stepped away from him as Raoul approached.

"Christine," Erik said, a last, desperate plea.

"Alright," she whispered. "Midnight."