Thank you all for being so patient! I now have movement of four of my five fingers on my right hand. I believe I will be able to update more frequently now, although typing without a thumb is still taking some getting used to!

I've had three surgeries since that last chapter and have really been missing the wonderful feedback I've been getting on this story. I have to admit, it's been my favorite to write!

This is by no means the last chapter!

On with the show!

-Nico

The Devil's eyebrows shot up. "My, my," he said sardonically. "That's a very vicious plan, Athena. Bravo."

He clapped pale hands together in approval.

"What's going on?" Erik growled, moving in front of Christine in a decidedly protective stance. "I want answers. Now."

The Devil stalked a bit closer towards Erik, his face still twisted into a mocking smile. He stopped just in front of Erik, who stood to his full height, refusing to be intimidated by the entity before him.

He had stared down evil enough times in his life to no longer be frightened.

"Erik, Erik, Erik," The Devil said softly, clasping his hands behind his back and inspecting the masked man before him. "You were to be my greatest accomplishment. Whatever happened?"

"What are you talking about?" Erik demanded, his voice low.

The Devil smiled. With a small gesture, the mask covering Erik's face vanished, leaving him feeling impossibly exposed. Yet, instead of moving his hands to protect his gnarled skin, he kept them behind his body, still protecting Christine.

The Devil moved a finger down the side of Erik's face, causing him to wince as raw heat came into contact with the already damaged skin. "Did you honestly think you were just born unlucky, Erik?"

"Leave him alone," Christine demanded, fighting to get around Erik but being held back by him.

"Everything about you…your scars…your unfortunate childhood…everything that happened to you was supposed to mold you into a monster," The Devil continued. "A monster I would gladly accept as my…what's that horrible expression? Ah yes…my 'right hand man'."

Athena snickered to herself, watching the scene unfold before her with unabashed giddiness.

"You were well on your way to becoming such a beast too," The Devil continued, moving his graceful hand once more, painfully wrenching Erik away from Christine. Another fluid motion brought Christine's chin to The Devil's fingertip. "Until this little beauty ruined everything by making you fall in love with her."

"Don't touch her," Erik warned, his body locked motionless by unseen chains.

"And I watched," The Devil continued. "I watched as she sang, melting your heart…melting the heart I had so carefullycarved into stone."

For the first time, The Devil turned his attention to the frightened woman before him. "Did you know what you were doing, Christine?" He asked her. "Did you know that you were spoiling all my fun?"

His voice had taken on a strange quality, as if he was talking to a naughty child.

"Stop this!" Erik roared. Charles flailed against his chains, screaming curses at the Devil through the gag still lodged in his throat.

Christine met her eyes with The Devils', whom was apparently still expecting her to answer.

"You would have failed in your project with or without me," she said through gritted teeth. "Erik has more strength in his heart than you could ever hope to possess in your entire body."

The Devil's eyes darkened. "Is that so?" He said quietly.

Christine felt an invisible force tighten around her throat, but she nodded, refusing to show any sign of weakness.

"Athena," The Devil said evenly, his eyes never leaving Christine's, "Change of plans, my darling. You will kill Erik first and make Christine watch. We will show her just how easy it actually is to destroy her precious Erik's strength."

"As you wish," Athena said, moving slowly to the incapacitated man, a thin rope in her hands behind her back.

"No!" Christine shrieked, the sound piercing through the air, causing The Devil to wince and momentarily lose his grip on Christine, who took advantage of the opportunity by rushing in front of Erik, plastering her body against his own, protecting him from Athena, whose eyes darkened as she regarded the small woman before her.

"Move, you little twit," Athena demanded.

"No," Christine shook her head vehemently. "Athena, stop this…there's still time…there's still time to save yourself…"

Athena blinked, yet she scoffed. "I am already damned," she hissed. "I have nothing to lose."

"Wait!" Christine shrieked again. "Think about this, Athena!"

Athena scoffed again, yet the rope remained stationary at her side.

"You loved him once," Christine continued, her breath harsh in her throat. "You loved him in that life, I know you did…is there not one ounce…one speck of that love within your heart now?"

Tears had suddenly sprung to Athena's eyes and she swiped at them furiously. "No, not a speck," she said, yet her voice betrayed her.

"I know that's not true," Christine pressed.

"How do you know such things?" Athena suddenly shrieked, her eyes blazing with an uncontrollable rage. "How do you know I can't wrap this rope around his throat…how do you know I won't laugh as I squeeze the last breath from his lungs?"

Christine swallowed hard. "I don't know," she admitted. "I suppose I'm hoping that you will realize that you're in control of your fate, Athena…and that there is always forgiveness, if you ask for it."

"Don't listen to her, Athena," The Devil suddenly said, his voice sounding choked and panicked.

"Ask for forgiveness, Athena," Christine pressed. "And leave this man to the love he never had but always deserved."

Athena looked at Christine for several long moments and then finally to the rope at her side. With a small sound of defeat, the rope fell to the ground. "Dear God," Athena whispered, suddenly sounding frightened. "Dear God, what have I done?"

Almost instantly, a brilliant flash of light threw Erik and Christine to the ground. Out of the corner of his eye, Erik could see that The Devil and Athena had suffered similar fates, now struggling to gain their footing against the immense light and equally powerful warmth spreading over the scene.

Charles felt his hands come free from their chains, his mouth suddenly void of the restraint that had been choking him. He moved rapidly to where Erik was protectively embracing his daughter.

He barely registered the feel of her flesh beneath him as he quickly embraced her as well.

The Devil was kneeling beneath the all-encompassing white light. His mouth was curved into a smile, although anyone could see from his stance that he had been defeated.

Black mist began to swirl at The Devil's feet, his form dissipating in the air.

"What's happening?" Christine whispered to her father.

Charles smiled.

"Divine intervention is merely another opportunity," Charles said softly. "And it appears this is one opportunity He didn't see fit to pass up."

Swirling black smoke suddenly clouded the scene, momentarily blocking out the powerful light as The Devil completely disappeared in a blast of menacing, yetdiminishing,laughter.

As the smoke gave way to the light, Christine, Erik and Charles watched wordlessly as the light intensified around Athena, causing her to fall to her knees in a weeping form of prayer.

Christine closed her eyes.

"Forgive her," she whispered.

When she opened her eyes, she met Athena's, which had softened to a light blue. The women stared at each other for a moment before Athena mouthed two simple words.

Thank you.

And then, what was once Athena Mansart was now a thousand shimmering particles, swooping rapidly into the brilliant white light that had come to offer forgiveness.