HI!

I would like to ask you all a question. Do any of you take online quizzes? Well, I've just become totally addicted to There are SOOOOO many quizzes there, I just love them! Love them all I say! I think I've taken over twenty "Which Hogwarts House Do You Belong In?" quizzes, and almost ALL of them said I belonged in Gryffindor! YAAAY! They have a quiz for everything there! It's just so awesome! Okay, I'm done now.

I want everyone to officially know how much I just LOOOOOVE this next song! "The Point of No Return" is probably my favorite song out of the whole musical (besides the POTO theme, of course)! So I'm just super outrageously excited to finally be writing this chapter! Oh yes!

It's really surprising how many of you think that this song is called "Past the Point of No Return". I'm sorry to say that the actual name is only a little shorter. It's just called "The Point of No Return". But the word "past" is said a LOT in the song, so it's very understandable at how people could get confused with the name.

Ninjamonkey- it's your favorite song too? That's so cool, I think I'll drive everyone about crazy with how much I like it. I hope you like it!

Hanbags- you get to be Christine! EVEN MOOOORE NOT FAIR! Are you in middle school or high school? Because my high school would never let us perform plays like that! We just do normal musicals that only need a singing talent, not opera. Are you actually going to be singing opera, or just normally? Because my voice teacher says it's not healthy for most teenagers to sing opera like that (apparently it strains the voice when it's too young). I found that out when I asked to be taught arias (those are opera songs). He said he would let me sing some opera (in my case) but it is generally not supposed to be done. So yeah, I so wish my school would let us do that.

Tanaris- You read the book too? Yay! I love it when I get reviewers who've actually read the book! And thank you!

Strodgfrgf- thank you! It's one of my favorite songs too! I just LOVE this song!

Smart One- I'll try to make this okay for you to read, but this chapter and onward is kind of where mature stuff starts. There isn't going to be any sex scenes or anything (I don't write anything more than PG-13…Lemon just isn't my thing) but there's just going to be sexual tension. Nothing too explicit, I promise.

Nova Beam- I'm sorry to say that the Phantom never really asked her to "marry" him specifically, he just wanted her to love him back and spend the rest of her life with him. I guess marriage would come with that, but probably later, after she accepts. But we all know she doesn't really do that…so yeah. Glad you liked the last chapter! And yes, school can be a total pain.

GS Dragono- yep, Richard is becoming quite the scardy-cat right now, but he's supposed to be. And don't worry, I won't give up on anything!

StakeMeSpike04- you got to see Phantom! NO FAIR! NO FAIR AT ALL! Wait, are you saying that you hadn't seen it before? Now I never knew this; I thought you had seen it. I suppose you had only read the books and seen the movie. Well now you've seen the musical and your life feels just about complete now, don't it? I live in Illinois, but the city where I live is right across the river from St. Louis, Missouri. There's a Fox Theatre there, and that's where I see all my Broadway performances. The next time Phantom is coming to St. Louis is next June, and I definitely intend on seeing it for a second time! Oh, and speaking of musicals, I'm going to see "Wicked" in less than a month! Have you seen that musical? I haven't, and I just can't wait to see it!

Abby- hahaha…you're funny! Thank you! I'm so glad you like it!

TTHPfan- well, I'm glad I helped at least some people understand Don Juan better. I'm glad you actually liked the slight humor I put in. I can't wait for the Goblet of Fire either! I just really hope they don't ruin it. All my friends say that they changed a lot of stuff from the book, and they pretty much did. I just hope it doesn't totally ruin the effect of the movie. Although Ron should really cut his hair, but that's just my opinion. But I really really REALLY want to see that movie!

Laurashrub- you've been working on your story for over a year? WOW! Cool, you get to sing a song about hating men! Yay! You're an alto? I know a lot of people who're altos, and even more who are metzos. I'm a soprano, though, so I think the Phantom songs are fun to sing, it's just the opera part that's difficult. Apparently it's not normal for teenagers to sing opera since their voices are so young. My voice teacher said that I could go into an operatic field in the future if I wanted to, and I think that would be sooo cool if I did!

Angel saiyan 22- I'm glad you don't see any improvement needed…that's a relief. I just hate it when people do see something, but they just nitpick on the spellings instead. Thank you, and I hope to read your story when it's published.

Jackalobe- HAHAHA…it wasn't THAT much of a cliffy…was it? Well, I'm glad I at least have you on the edge of your seat! I also love Kiona's part in the song, and in the movie, yeah, it really does give you chills. But I'll have you know that the girl who sings as Carlotta in the musical is just soooo much better than the one in the movie (although the girl in the movie is really good too) but this girl just sings like…WHOA. Just whoa. Like so so so powerful. I'm so glad I'm not the only person who didn't understand "You Lick Snape's Balls" review. I mean, did you even see a point in what they wrote? I mean, it's just the first chapter of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" only written in their own words. I so didn't read it all, but there was nothing about commenting my story in it. What do you think the person meant? I mean, I personally have no clue.

Jaina 12- I'm glad I could help with understanding stuff. School is getting easier to find time for. I'm so happy you like my story, and I'm really glad I finally get to write this chapter!

REMEMBER…when it says they're both singing (and the lyrics are in bold), it means that they're both singing! Yes I do in fact realize how stupid that sentence sounded, but that's not bothering me at the moment.

And now…for the moment we've ALL been waiting for…

Kori sat still, as was her part. She gazed longingly at the white flower held in her hand. She had no idea she was being watched, for she thought Steven was still backstage. For a split moment the girl let her mind rest with ease; and serenity swept her. A sudden and powerful voice from behind caused her heartbeat to freeze.

"You have come here
In pursuit of your deepest urge,
In pursuit of that wish, witch till now,
Has been silent…"

She jumped violently at the sound of his voice. That was not Steven, and she was sure of that. She slowly turned her head around to look behind her, with her quivering mouth agape in shock. Her wide and fearful eyes poured onto the face of the Phantom in Steven's costume. At first she did not recognize him, without his white mask with the red X scratched into the right cheek. But his voice affirmed her fears, and she suddenly ran short of breath.

He saw her flinch, but only basked in her frightened surprise. He swept to the side of the stage so she could have full view of him. A wicked smile played upon his lips as he noticed and enjoyed her fear. He knew she would try to make a signal to Richard if she could, but he wanted to taunt her first. He put a pale finger to his lips as he smiled again.

"…Silent…"

She understood now. He was telling her in his sick way not to try anything, at least not anything to mess up the scene. She turned her head back towards the audience, her eyes downcast and full of terrifying comprehension. She was trapped now. There was no way out; she would have to finish the scene.

"I have brought you
That our passions may fuse and merge,"

She felt her eyes tempting themselves to roll, but she wouldn't let them. She snapped them shut and began to stand. She was going to perform the play like nothing was wrong, and that would take all the energy she could ever have. She stood there for a moment and opened her eyes. She looked at him as if her character would. She walked towards him, with his voice growing ever stronger.

"In your mind
You've already succumbed to me,"

She walked slowly and robotically towards him; she was supposed to, after all. She slowed, and showed signs of stopping, but, without her consent, she really came to him without a fight. Her face seemed to fully embrace his persuasion, for she was no longer acting.

Dropped all defenses,
Completely succumbed to me…"

She approached him, and she did not know what she was getting herself into, or what was going to happen. He touched her forearms and swayed her to his opposite side, so that she was facing stage left, and him stage right.

"Now you are here with me,
No second thoughts,"

He was getting so close, ever so close. She would have felt horribly awkward if he hadn't entranced her with his voice. He smoothly trailed a solitary finger down her jaw line.

"You've decided…"

He coiled his finger into his hand and cupped her chin with it. He raised her reluctant eyes to meet him head on. He saw weakness and helplessness in those eyes. She almost seemed to be silently pleading with him, but it only urged him further.

"…decided…"

A sudden flick of panic alighted into Richard's eyes. No one else in the audience had noticed the switch of cast members. And with horror inexpressible in words, he swerved his head around to look at the balcony; it was most definitely empty, and he now knew for sure. His knuckles whitened as he gripped tighter onto the velvety armrests. He then and there faced that what he feared was happening right before his eyes, and he would have to sit back and watch it all happen, lest he ruin the entire plan. Whether the plan included the Phantom taking the place of the lead role or not, Richard had no clue. All he knew now was that he could not let him know he knew, and to do that he would have to do the hardest thing imaginable at the moment: sit and wait. He focused again on the stage, where Kori still remained ahold in the Phantom's lustful grasp.

Kori gazed into his eyes, trying her hardest not to let her guard down. But it would soon prove fruitless, for this was his expertise, his play, and his rules. There was no way she could win.

The Phantom let go of Kori's chin and slightly touched her hands, slipping his own around them.

"Past the Point of No Return,"

With a quiet gesture too quick for her to notice, he took her arms gently in his grip.

"No backward glances,"

He turned her around, making her back face his stomach. Still holding onto her arms, he moved her closer to his body, so that they were touching the other.

"The games we've played till now,"

With a swift movement, he moved his left leg in between hers and pulled her backward onto him, as he leaned back slowly. Her arms fell loosely at his side, she leaned into his hip, and her head rolled back into his chest. He arched his back, pulling her back with him, and he whispered into her ear seductively.

"…are at an end…"

He brought her back up, bringing a brisk intake of breath from the girl as he did so. He grinned at the thought of making her breath faster than normal. He took a step forward, she did too.

"Past all thought of 'if' or 'when',"

He turned her again, this time to face him. They took rhythmic steps to the beat of the song, her moving one step backward at a time, and he moving each step forward.

"No use resisting,"

With a sudden tug, he swung her toward him, and she complied. It was all part of the scene, and no one would know of her horrible situation. He swung her into his side, with her arms slightly raised over her head, with a tempted look upon her paling face. She turned her head and looked into his eyes.

"Abandon thought,
And let the dream descend…"

She moved her arms slowly back down to her sides as he sprawled his arm around her waist. With his other hand he gently pressed against her stomach, slowly moving her backward towards the floor. As he moved her back, his hand glided up her chest, onto her neck, and trailed back down as he brought her back up. Her head fell fully backward as he raised her in the forward pull, causing her long tightly curled hair to sway behind her. When she was standing erectly, she felt his presence leave her for a split second of relief. For a moment, the girl was lost in her state of mind, and she did not know where he was, or where she was, just that he wasn't there.

The masquerading Don Juan suddenly came up from behind her and clutched her neck in his left hand, with his right enclosing on her right arm. She felt his breath flow heatedly onto the right side of her neck and shoulder. She felt like the victim of a vampire waiting to be bitten, but no such thing occurred.

She knew him, and she also knew that he would know better than to try something that drastic in front of people. Before her mind allowed her to calm, her subconscious told her that he certainly would try something of the sort, or why else would he be on the very stage she stood, if not to claim what he believed to be his? She yelled at herself to put the thought away, that it wasn't true; none of it was true, "just finish the scene", she thought to herself. She repeated words of comfort into her head, and it succeeded in smothering her fright. But when she heard the ghastly sound of music emitting from his lips in the moment that followed, she could literally feel the lust clinging onto his every word.

"What raging fire
Shall flood the soul?"

The hand that had a hold on her right arm suddenly found itself in her own. He squeezed her hand slightly as she felt the edge of his cheek softly make contact with her face.

"What rich desire
Unlocks its door?"

Moving his hand across her neck, he brought his other hand up to rest on her shoulder. His lips lightly touched her skin as he slid his hands down her right arm.

"What sweet seduction lies,"

Taking her hand again in both of his, he turned his head upward, hoping to find a reaction. Kori began to breathe deeply again as she felt his mouth against her ear. She squeezed her eyes shut, like a little girl hoping to hide and to make everything leave her presence, but it did not. Her temple began to throb with pressure as his voice crept into her eardrums, making her nerves tingle with fear and desire.

"…before us…"

The word 'us' was barely heard by the audience, for he had whispered it in a way that made Kori inwardly shiver. Her eyes fluttered open for a split second before immediately closing again, this time not of her own consent. She rolled her neck at the sound, and stretched it backward as he wrapped his arm around her and took hold of her other hand. It was not the first time he had rendered utterly powerless, but the short time he owned her then was startling with the adding situation.

When the orchestra's smooth violins made their cue, the two stepped in line with the rhythm, and the song went on.

"Past the Point of No Return,"

He twirled her around softly, causing her lacy dress to spin into a rippling effect around her frail body. He kept her arms above her head and looked her up and down.

"The final threshold,"

He came upon her from behind again, taking her head lightly in his hands, whereas she followed his every motion. With her eyes still restfully closed, he swayed her head from side to side, in beat with the slow and sensual tune.

"What warm, unspoken secrets
Will we learn,"

His arm snaked around her waist, with the other resting upon her shoulder. He spoke to her from behind, and brought his voice down to a slow tone.

"Beyond the Point of No Return…"

The minute he stopped singing, Kori's eyes snapped open. It was nothing short of mechanical, but she knew what she was doing. She swept out of his grasp, and walked a few slow steps to the left, looking back at him as she tip-toed.

"You have brought me
To the moment where words run dry,
To the moment
Where speech disappears
Into silence…"

She looked into the audience and found Richard immediately. She gave him a pleading look that only he could recognize.

"…silence…"

She turned her head back to face the Phantom, for he had noticed nothing. To lead him on in the way she knew she should, it would be vital for him not to realize how much Richard knew.

"I have come here,
Hardly knowing the reason why,"

She walked towards him, never breaking her gaze, until they were almost as close as they were before.

"In my mind
I've already imagined,"

She continued to walk to his other side, but on passing him, rubbed the front of her body against his.

"Our bodies entwining,"

His eyes widened in surprise and bewilderment at the sudden physical friction between them, and that she was the conductor this time. After recovering from his pleasuring surprise he smiled at her, for she had now already passed him, and seemed to remain walking in the same direction.

"…defenseless and silent,"

She turned on her spot and approached him, forbidding a small smile. She took her hands in his and wrapped her hands around his arms, moving closer to him in the process.

"And now I'm here with you,
No second thoughts,
I've decided,"

His eyes seemed to burn into her, for she found it increasingly hard to look away from him. Her face was straight and serious, but it still hung in an air of defeat.

"Decided…"

With the blink of her eyes, she disconnected her gaze with him. She swept around him, in a walking motion, behind him, causing him to turn around and look after her.

"Past the Point of No Return,
No going back now,"

At that very moment, her skinny sleeves of lace that laid upon her shoulders immediately dropped to the sides of her arms. Revealing her bare shoulders, she began to make her walk more slow, putting a drooping emphasis on each step, as if teasing him to follow her. She looked back and smiled as she stepped, with a playful look of seduction in her emerald eyes.

"Our passion play
Has now, at last,
Begun…"

With every emphasized step she took with the beat, he slowly followed, like a dog drooling along, waiting for a piece of steak. She rolled her neck again, this time of her own consent, and spun around in rhythm as the music was reaching a crescendo. He was right behind her when she turned around, and she knew he would be. Although he was the one in control of the play, for the briefest moment, she was the one in control of him.

She put her hand against his shoulder and straightened her arm against it, playfully pushing him backward in step with the melody. Every step she took forward, he took backward, and he was beginning to respond to her game of sensuality.

"Past all thought
Of right or wrong,
One final question,"

Suddenly the Phantom's hands clenched around her arms and drew her to his right side. He looked down upon her face as he ran his hand up and down her arm.

"How long
Should we two wait
Before we're one…?"

With an unexpected smile from the girl, he spun her around and pressed her against his stomach. At the moment she wasn't facing him, Kori faced the audience. She scanned the audience and locked gazes with Richard. In the split second that she saw him, a look of sheer panic swept across her features. In a look that only Richard could understand, Kori let the words come out of her mouth not as a song, but as a plea.

"When will
The blood begin to race,"

Only Richard noticed that her eyes had become glassy. She was faltering. He tensed in his seat, praying she wouldn't give in. Hoping that she wouldn't lose herself to the powerful forces in front of her. Her evergreen eyes shimmered with tears that refused to fall. She pleaded with Richard. She pleaded that he would help her, but he could not. The scene was almost over, and she couldn't turn back.

"The sleeping bud
Burst into bloom,"

The Phantom tightened his grip on her arms, so that he held them behind her back. Like she was his captive. And she was. The more she thought of it, no matter how hard she wanted to deny it, she really did belong to him, whether she willed it or not.

She slid her right foot behind his, and leaned her weight onto her left knee. He pulled her downwards to balance onto his knee and he held her hovered over the ground.

"When will the flames at last,"

Her vibrantly ruby hair hung woefully over her face in a look of defeat as she hung, feet from the ground, by his arms. Her face could not be seen, but her head hung downward, helplessly, breathing heavily. Not a soul saw the soft glittering tears that splattered across the black floor as she breathed the heart wrenching line.

"...consume us…"

The specter dropped her. For a reason unknown to Kori, he had dropped her. He was supposed to let her down gently at that moment, but his icy fingers trembled where they had last touched her skin, with the sensation that he had been temporarily burned. But before Kori could grab ahold to a light strand of hope, she looked into his eyes and shuddered.

A look of new arousal had flickered onto his expression. His eyes were alight with lustful malice as he beckoned her to stand. He had broken her. As the twisted smile appeared on his lips, he realized that he had shattered her spirit, taken everything away that would allow her to oppose him. She was his now. Looking into her fearful eyes he now understood that she would not again refuse his touch, or retaliate against his actions. She stood up like she was told.

Kori's face had hardened. She looked more than willing to do what he wanted, to belong to him forever. A smile of her own touched her lips, and that alone encouraged the ghost further. Her playfulness returned, her debauching demeanor unfolded once again. She walked to him steadily, approaching in the sensual way as she had done before, leading him further and further.

They sang together as the music began to crescendo. Circling the other like birds of prey, they sang out with a new fiery sound.

"Past the Point of No Return,
The final threshold,"

The two were feet apart when they broke their circle and darted toward the other into a gliding sweep. He caught her in his arms, swung her, twirled her in a circle at the speed of light, with her dress flying all about her.

"The bridge is crossed,"

He spun her all around his own body, then rammed her into his stomach again, where her head flung itself to the left. The music ran into a raging fortissimo, swinging its vibrations around the two people. Kori snapped her head back forward to the right side, overexposing her neck.

"So stand
And watch it burn..."

He pressed his mouth against her ear, so that his hot breath blew into it. Kori closed her eyes, in an attempt to make it stop. Noting she said could stop him now. She didn't want this, and he knew it. But he had convinced himself that she would find a way to love him when, in reality, she never could. She numbed her senses, so that she wouldn't feel his unwanted hands roam her body.

"We've Passed the Point
Of No Return…"

With an overpowering hand clutched at her arm, she let his other hand smooth over her stomach, up her chest, around her shoulders. He made his way back down, gliding over her left breast, where he knew she had a pressure point. Kori bit her lip and squeezed her eyes tighter. It would soon be over…all over, and she would be with Richard. Richard, yes, she had to keep thinking of Richard, it was the only way to keep her sanity.

She felt his hand take hold of hers as he pressed his lips to her neck. He kissed her soft skin with his light lips, silently threatening with them. She flinched at this, but he did not notice. His mouth left her neck; and without realizing what had hit her, she felt his breath in her ear again. His arm had snaked around her waist, while the other still had hold of her hand. Before completely succumbing her mind to him she heard a soft sound emit from his lips. It was not in the script, but the audience still heard. It was a soft and haunting melody that Kori and Richard both recognized. He sang it softly to her, rocking her back and forth as he sang.

"Say you'll share with me
One love,
One lifetime,
Lead me, save me
From my solitude…
Say you'll want me with you,
Here, beside you…"

The arm that had taken her waist had now wrapped itself around her neck. He brought her head under his to rest in the crook of his neck, leaning his chin into her hair. He really did love her. No matter how lustful he may be, he still loved her. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, and she knew it. She opened her eyes, with fresh tears flowing freely from them. She soaked up his hold, becoming one with his soul. He embraced her with all the emotion he had, letting out every feeling of infatuation, lust, and love that he had kept inside for so long.

"Anywhere you go,
Let me go too,"

Kori's arm reached up from behind her to touch his face. To her astonishment, it was warm, full of the burning desire and love to keep her as his own for all eternity. She ran her hand over his skin, absorbing in it's intense warmth.

"Kori,"

Her hand suddenly made contact with something different. The hard mask scratched against her fingernails. With saddened determination, she let her fingers latch across his mask, and she tightened her grip.

"That's all I ask of…"

Kori clenched her eyes shut, and with a violent sweep, snapped the mask off his face. She inhaled more violently than she had ever done before, for she felt his fingernails dig into her skin. She heard a low growl escape him, and she was stabbed with fear. She could literally feel his rage pierce into her soul as his grip tightened. But before she had a chance to panic her thoughts were interrupted by the violent screams of the audience.

Okaaaaay, so I waited a little longer than I should have to update..can I blame school again?