Sorry it took so long-bows a dozen times-!

Charles sat in the manger's box waiting for the opera—Aida this time—to begin. He was much calmer then he had been last time and hardly paid any attention to the lively conversation. Instead his eyes were fixed on Box Five as though something—or rather someone—was going to appear there any moment.

There came a light touch on his hand and he turned to see his mother looking at him concerned.

"Why are you so quiet?" She asked. "Is something wrong?"

Charles felt a stab of guilt for making her worry about him. "Nothing's wrong Mother," He said laying his hand on hers. "I was just thinking."

He smiled as the worry disappeared from her face. But when she turned back to her husband his eyes instantly went to Box Five again.

James was trying his best to focus on the opera and not the eyes that hardly ever seemed to leave his box but it was too hard. No matter how hard he tried his eyes kept sliding over to the manger's box.

Eventually Erik sighed and turned to him. "If you're not going to watch the opera," He said, "then you should leave."

"I'm sorry," James said bowing his head sheepishly. "I'm just finding it hard to concentrate."

"That's understandable," Erik said. "The de Chagny boy is rather distracting tonight."

"Father…" James said raising his head to look at Erik.

Erik held up his hand to stop him. "You don't need to explain, James," He said. "But all the same I want you to return home."

"Yes, sir," James said. Careful to keep to the shadows he rose from his chair and moved towards the door. "Will you be returning home after the opera?"

"No," Erik said. "I have some business I need to see to first."

James glanced worriedly at Charles, already having a feeling about what his father's business was but he said nothing and slipped out of the box.

Once he had gone Erik looked over at Charles to find him staring at Box Five once again. His eyes narrowed. That boy was definitely going to be a lot of trouble.

Charles trudged into his room with a heavy heart that night. He hadn't seen James at all tonight. The boy was probably avoiding him.

Sighing he began to undress but when he turned to throw his clothes onto the bed he noticed something there that made his eyes widen.

There on his pillow was an envelope sealed with a red skull.

He quickly snatched it up and tore it open but the note inside wasn't written in James's neat, strict handwriting. Instead the letter was written in a strange, childish scrawl.

Monsieur Charles de Chagny, I noticed that you seemed to be quite interested in my box tonight. I believe I can guess the reason why and I warn you to stop pursuing it. I will not allow you to interfere in my son's life.

If you do not leave him be then I will be forced to step in. And believe me when I say that that is the last thing you want to happen.

O.G

Charles scowled at the letter and crumpled it up into a ball. He wouldn't be intimidated by a ghost.

The next day when Erik was making his normal patrol of the upper half of the opera house he was surprisingly accosted by Madame Giry. The nervous look on her face when he asked her what she wanted confused him even further.

"I have a letter for you," She said.

"From who?" Erik asked, taking it from her.

Madame Giry's lips tightened worriedly and she said nothing.

Frowning Erik opened the envelope and pulled out the letter inside to stare at the unfamiliar handwriting.

O.G, I understand why your trying to keep James and I apart but I assure you that I am nothing like my parents. I will not reject him like my mother did to you and I won't be disgusted by what he is and call him a monster like my father with you.

I will not stop trying to know James. Over these past eleven years I've never stopped thinking about him or stopped caring about him.

I don't care what you do to me; I won't rest until I see James.

Charles de Chagny

"I tried to dissuade him from sending it," Madame Giry said, "but he wouldn't take no for an answer." She was surprised at the soft laughter that answered her statement.

"I admire his courage," Erik said. He slipped the letter inside the folds of his cloak with a small smile. "Very well, I'll give him a chance."