Hey everyone I'm glad that you're all still reading the story. Here's the next chapter so read and enjoy!!

The next morning, Christine rolled over in Erik's bed and moved her arms under his pillows. As she buried her head into them, the familiar scent of his cologne filled her nose causing her to awake thinking that Erik was lying beside her. Once she opened her eyes Christine realized that he wasn't there and that she was all alone. Worrying about him, she got to her feet and walked out of his chambers and noticed that the couch was empty as well. Christine began to worry when all of a sudden she spotted his reflection from a mirror that was on a table. As she walked towards the reflection she spotted him sitting in his bath tub and approached him. He was maskless and naked as he sat in the soap filled tub.

"Erik."

His eyes looked up at her, and then darted back to the soap that was surrounding him in the tub.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, I'm fine."

"Are you sure? How are you feeling?"

"A little better I guess."

"Your body looks horrible."

"I know that's why I feel like crap."

"Your body is going to get infected if you don't wash everyone of those cuts."

"I can't, it hurts too much."

"Give me the wash cloth and I'll do it."

Erik handed her the cloth, and Christine began to clean everyone of his cuts as he cringed in pain.

"They really beat the crap out of you Erik."

"Please, I can feel it without you reminding me."

"What on earth did you do last night with Clorinda? I found you two asleep next to each other."

"Long story, but I think that maybe you should un punish her."

"What do you mean? what she said to you was wrong."

"Yea well I didn't say so many nice things to her either. Look, lets just forget about last night and move on."

"She has you wrapped around her finger Erik."

"Maybe and maybe not."

"You have a bad temper Erik but you also have a soft heart."

"I didn't ask you, how was your show last night?"

"Great everyone still loves me."

"How could they not you're perfect."

"All because of you."

With that, Erik got to his feet and wrapped a towel around his waste.

"I haven't seen you like that in a while."

"Like what?"

"With nothing on."

"Just help me find some clothes to wear."

Christine and Erik walked back to his chambers and went into his closet. Christine picked him out a crisp white shirt and a pair of black trousers and helped him into them.

"Hand me my mask."

Christine handed him the white half mask and watched him place it over his distorted skin. He then placed the black wig over his head and ran his fingers through it to get it straight.

"Andre wants me to sing again tonight, is that ok Erik?"

"Yes that perfect. Maybe if I'm feeling better I'll come by tonight and watch you."

"Ok."

"Don't count on it, I'm only going to do it if I feel better."

"Ok, that's fine."

"Maybe today I'll work on fixing my music sheets and getting them into order."

"I have to go practice now so maybe I will see you tonight."

"Ok Christine."

With that, Christine gave him a quick kiss and walked away leaving Erik alone with Clorinda. Erik walked over to his Organ and had a seat to begin fixing his music sheets. A few minutes later, Clorinda was at his side still dressed in her night gown.

"Where's my mother at?"

"She went to practice you'll see her tonight."

"Could we go to the opera?"

"You're still grounded, I talked to your mother today about letting you off the hook but she didn't give me a straight answer."

"Oh come on Monsieur Kire, please take me to the opera."

"I would but I'm not your parent, what ever your mother says goes and as far as I know you're still grounded."

"Well why my mother is gone could we do something?"

"Such as what?"

"Go ice skating."

"Now Clorinda, you know as good as me that I'm still sick. I'll catch my death if I walk outside. Your mother would kill me if she found me outside."

"Well can't we do something? It's boring being down here with nothing to do."

"Why don't you go swim in the lake and leave me to my music."

"The lake? Eww gross that water is all murky."

"You're definitely not your mother's daughter, I say the same thing but she insists on swimming in that disgusting water."

"Where are your parents Monsieur Kire?"

"Dead, I'm an orphan. No one ever wanted me and if it weren't for Madam Giry I would still be in a cage in some gypsy camp."

"The masquerade ball is coming up, are you going to go with my mother?"

"I don't think so Clorinda."

"Why not?"

"People don't take kindly to the sight of me."

"You'll be in costume, oh come on you got to go, you just have to."

"Perhaps. Are you going?"

"No, children are only supposed to go with their parents and I only have a mother. Besides when they have the father daughter dance I don't have one to dance with."

"You should still go and have fun Clorinda."

"I don't know."

"You should really go."

"Yea maybe my father will be there."

"I am pretty sure he will be."

At the Opera…..

Christine stood on stage waiting for Ryer's cue to start singing and when the music began to play, Christine began to sing.

"Angel of Music guide and guardian grant to me your glory. Angel of

Music hide no longer come to me strange angel. He's with me even now, he's haunted me

For now he frightens me he frightens you. Angel of music take me with you don't ever

Leave my side. Angel of Music I love you stay with me strange angel….."

Just then, Colum stood up from his seat in the empty theater and started clapping.

"Bravo, bravo Miss Daae."

At that moment Ryer turned around and yelled at Colum.

"Please Monsieur Colum we are rehearsing"

"Sorry Monsieur Ryer, it's just that I think she is remarkable."

"Yes and so does the whole city of Paris, now please be quiet."

Colum took his seat once more, and Ryer turned back towards his orchestra.

"From the top Mademoiselle."

Just then Andre came through the doors interrupting them once more.

"Monsieur Ryer."

"Can't anybody see that we are practicing?"

"I understand Monsieur but your wife is demanding to see you. It seems that she has brought you lunch."

"Ok, fine everyone take a thirty minute lunch break and then be back here to continue practicing."

At that moment, Colum approached the stage, and held out his hand to help Christine down.

"Thank you Monsieur Colum."

"You're quiet welcome."

"So why are you here?"

"To watch you practice of course."

"Thank you Monsieur."

"Would you be interested in having lunch with me?"

"Sure, I guess."

"I would love to meet your daughter one of these days."

"Maybe I guess."

"Am I coming onto you a little too strong miss Daae?"

"No you're fine."

"It is Miss right?"

"Yes, I'm not married."

"They say this theater is haunted."

"Really?"

"Yes by the Opera Ghost. Have you ever seen him?"

"No, and who ever has died the moment after."

"Right, perhaps tonight you would like to come with me to my chambers."

"Why would I want to do such a thing?"

"Just to get to know each other better Miss Daae."

"Look you're a very nice man and all but I'm in love with someone."

"Really? Who?"

"It's complicated Colum. I will be your friend but that is all that I can be. He's a good man and very sweet to my daughter."

"How do you know that he's not a rapist?"

"Because he would never hurt a fly now please let us have lunch and be merry."

Later on that night, Erik got dressed in his best and adjusted his mask as Clorinda watched him.

"Can't I come Monsieur Kire?"

"No your mother will have my head if I let you out of here."

"Say hi to the opera for me."

"Look, you just sit tight and guard the fort. I shall return later with your mother."

"Ok Monsieur."

Erik grabbed a rose that was sitting on the table and proceeded to walk out of the lair. Once he got to the hallway, Erik lifted himself into the rafters unnoticed and made himself a spot so he could watch the opera unnoticed. As the music began to play, Erik waited for his beloved Christine to take the stage and begin to sing. As she did, Erik's heart began to soar. It had been months since the last time he had heard his angel sing, and hearing it brought painful but pleasant memories back to his head. All he wanted to do was take her back to his chambers and make sweet love to her as she sang to him. It had also been months since they had done that as well, and it was past due.

As the half time intermission approached, Erik fled the rafters to pay a visit to her dressing room to drop off the rose so she would receive it after the show was over. Once Erik walked into her dark dressing room and turned on the lights, the once empty dresser was filled with at least five dozen white and red roses. It was his spot, the spot that he had always laid his rose in, now cluttered with somebody else's roses to Christine. Erik angrily placed the rose down on the seat of her chair and turned around to leave when he heard somebody entering. He quickly dove towards the mirror and walked behind it and closed the passage way right before the door opened. When it did, he watched through the two way glass as Christine and some strange man enter. Christine didn't even notice the rose, and sat down on it. Watching that made Erik's blood boil, for his rose had always been out in plain sight and out of harms way. If not for the roses being all over the dresser his rose would have been there and not crushed. What made Erik even more angry was the man being with Christine. Who on earth was he? And what did he want?

"You are so great Christine."

"Thank you now please just leave me be."

"Something wrong?"

"I just want to be left alone is all."

"I wanted to ask you something."

"What?"

"The Masquerade ball is in a few nights and I wanted to know if you would go with me?"

"I appreciate the offer but I just can't."

"Has someone asked you already?"

"No."

"Then go with me, please miss Daae."

Christine smiled, and nodded. Erik turned himself away and couldn't believe that she had said yes to such a question. He was going to ask her and instead she had said yes to someone that he had never seen before.

"After the show would you like to go out to dinner with me?"

"I would love to Colum, but I can't. I have to get back to my daughter."

"Completely understandable. Then I hope you like the roses I sent you."

Christine turned toward the roses and smiled.

"Of course."

"Goodnight then Miss Daae."

Erik cringed in pure jealously, Colum? What the hell kind of name was that? And what have he to come here and wrap his beloved Christine around his finger? With that he left Christine alone and walked down to his lair in complete anger. He roughly pulled off his wig and jacket before lying down on his bed. Erik could no longer hold back his tears and began to cry. He had everything, the whole night planned first he would go to Christine and ask her to the ball and then propose to her. Now everything was completely ruined all because of some strange man.

That evening once the opera ended, Christine walked back down to the lair sad that Erik hadn't showed up for the opera. Once she reached her destination, she noticed that Clorinda and Erik were both in bed. Once she got into her night gown, Christine walked to Erik's bed and crawled in with him.

"You weren't there tonight Erik, you would have liked it."

"Just leave me be."

"What's wrong with you?"

"Did you enjoy your night? I'm pretty sure you did, you and all your adoring fans."

"What do you mean Erik?"

"Nothing, besides the night is ruined anyway. It seems that maybe my token of appreciation is no longer good enough for you."

"Erik you're confusing me."

"Would you go to the masked ball with me Christine?"

"I'm sorry Erik but someone has already asked me to go."

"Why? Why couldn't you have asked me to go first?"

"Because I though…I thought…"

"Thought that I wouldn't go because of my face? Is that it Christine?"

"No Erik I didn't think that."

"Then why Christine? You know I just thought that maybe you loved me."

"I'm sorry Erik, it's just that…"

"What? I don't care anymore Christine. Just go and have fun without me."

With that Erik got to his feet and adjusted his mask.

"Where are you going?"

"What do you care anyway. Just incase you were wondering I was there tonight and I did leave you a rose but you destroyed it."

Erik then left his chambers and sat down at his organ. Christine sighed, and lied back down upset at what she had done.

More to come soon!!