Authoress: Hello, readers!

Erik: Finally, you changed it up!

Authoress: Shut up! I'm not in the mood today!

Erik: I am the Phantom of the Opera, no one- *sees the look on her face and stops*

Authoress: That's better. Sometimes I don't even know why I keep you around.

Erik: I think it is because I provide a sense of comical relief. Also, I do the disclaimer for free.

Authoress: Yeah, unlike Raoul, who for some reason is really mad at me right now. Remind me why, please.

Erik: He wants you to add him to the story. Apparently there is not enough of him in the story.

Authoress: * Sigh* Remind me to punch him in the face later.

Erik: I won't forget, but should I do the disclaimer now?

Authoress: Go ahead.

Erik: The Authoress does not own any copyrighted material mentioned in this chapter, as they are owned by their respective creators. And, on behalf of Authoress, I shall wish the readers a happy reading as it seems she is battling a migraine. From school, I am guessing?

Authoress: Spot on. *Grimaces* Happy reading, lovelies!

Erik POV

He had heard her sing, playing at being the star, as Christine had once done. Her song described his hope when he was sold to the gypsies, that he would have a better life...and his crushed dreams when he found his life was even more bleak.

I need to investigate, he thought. I will get her to sing, as she is a diamond in the rough….but I need her to trust me. To stay, she must have a job, and she has an interview today. If she does not get the job, I will pressure the managers, and she will stay.

The cogs in his head started turning as soon as she started singing "And still I dream he'll come to me," but stopped as he heard her sobs.

He peaked out of the box, still hidden in the shadows, only to see her curled up and crying uncontrollably. He realized that in his planning, he had missed the raw emotion in her singing, a sharp bitterness not unlike his own.

But, no matter the sadness, what in the hell happened to her hair? But, he shook off the thought. There were other things that were more important.

He continued to watch silently until she composed herself again and left.

She has had a similar life to mine, he realized. I doubt she will be more open to telling me her story than me to outsiders, but I have to try.

As long as he was in the Opera House, she would be safe from harm. But, now he had to return to his Angel of Music. Christine would be waking soon, and he had to attend to her, for now.

Amethyst POV

She stood outside the door, poised to knock. She shook herself off, then knocked three times.

Andre opened the door, and here she realized the implications of her setting. She was in the freaking musical!

He looked at her with a quizzical face, and she realized he had no idea why she was here.

She took a deep breath to keep from fangirling and started talking.

"Good morning, Monsieur Firmin," she started, " I am here for the stagehand job interview."

"Ah, of course! Come in, mademoiselle, come in!" He ushered me in, then closed the door quickly. He gestured to a lush leather seat in front of a messy desk. He sat behind the desk on a shaky three-legged stool.

"You'll have to excuse the mess as well as Monsieur Andre, as one has not shown up while the other has made its appearance very much apparent this morning." He sighed and rubbed his temple.

"But, enough about me, tell me a little about yourself, maybe your name, and where you are from…"

My face flushed. "Of course! How rude of me! I am Amethyst Dalvia, but please, call me Amy. I am 17 years old, and I am from…Italy, but I am also fluent in French, English, Spanish, Russian, as well as basic German and Latin."

His eyes bugged, and his jaw dropped.

"Whoa….", he said as he clamped his jaw shut, "you are certainly well versed. And, how strong are you, considering that your job would be mostly physical work?"

"Well," I replied, "I could probably beat most of your men in an arm wrestling match, so I consider myself strong."

"Okay then, because the position has been open for a month, and no one else as qualified as you has come in, so you are hired."

I was speechless. Then I regained my speech and said,

"I'm sorry, Monsieur, but why…?"

"No one else has come in, and if our ushers fail to translate with the more foreign guests, we may always call you, and you may show them to their seats." When I gave him a strange look, he simply said,

"It happens more than you think."

"Very well, when should I start?"

"This coming Monday, and until then you may get settled and explore the Opera House."

"It was a pleasure, Monsieur Firmin, and thank you for your consideration."

I tipped my head in a farewell, then opened the door and left. As soon as I closed the door and was out of earshot, I screamed "Yes! I did it!" Then I started giggling like a maniac. I was snapped out of my trance by the realization that I had to write to him.

But, he'll probably be moping over Christine right about now, so it is better to go to him.

She hurried down the long corridors, and found herself in what would be Carlotta's dressing room, but she could tell that it had not been inhabited by the diva for at least 24 hours.

I stood at the mirror and was about to feel around for a secret latch when I heard a noise. I let out a shriek and jumped back as the glass moved silently back, revealing Erik forcefully leading Christine out of the dungeons.

He dropped her unceremoniously on the floor of the dressing room, then saw me, grabbed my arm, then pulled me into the mirror.

Dear God, I thought, not again.

Erik POV

What the girl was doing in the dressing room, he had no idea. But he had nothing to lose at this point, so he pulled her in, closed the mirror, and dragged her down to his lair.

He was sure she was listening to him humming his monkey's tune to himself like a madman, but he didn't care. In fact, was she… singing along with him?

He stopped suddenly, causing her to crash into him.

"Your name, Mademoiselle, what is your name?" He said this in such a commanding voice that she answered right away.

"Amethyst Dalvia, but call me Amy," she said in a voice that was comforting, and….friendly?

How could she be so friendly to such a monster? he thought as he pulled her down into the boat.

"Erik, if I intervene your thoughts," she stated, "you are not a monster."

Authoress: Another, longer chapter up.

Erik: How did she read my mind?

Authoress: *Smirk* You'll see...

Erik: *Sigh* You are only doing this to torture me, right?

Authoress: Yes, but no complaining and you will get chocolate.

Erik: CHOCOLATE? WHERE?

Authoress: By the next update you will have it.

Erik: YAYYYYYYY!

Authoress: And you complain about my fangirling. So, lovelies, please remember to favorite, follow, review, and comment, as they are confidence boosters and will help me get more chapters out! Until next time!