Over the next few days, the myth of Hades and Persephone soon became my reality. By day I attended rehearsals and socialized with members of the chorus like any normal person. But at night I was spirited away to a dark lonely place, filled with trappings, trinkets to please me and a lord who adored me.

I would find something new left for me everyday in my room. It was filled with countless treasures that Erik had acquired to make me happy, or forgetful. I had refused to touch them before, but now I found a new item left for me in the chair by my bed every morning. A boxes of chocolates, a new book, a new pair of gloves, a delicate string of pearls or a bracelet of rich tiger eye beads. Each laid out like a peace offering, and I started to accept them if only to keep Erik satisfied.

I attended singing rehearsals in the morning with the rest of the cast and continued to work through the music. My concentration on learning the notes and the Italian libretto was so great that I often forgot the incredibly strange predicament I found myself in. After lunch, we went over the blocking with M. Mercier, adding the tasks of acting and movement to my never ending lists on duties. I often found myself very content and happy during these rehearsals despite the hard work. I was certain that my fellow singers would look down at me, but instead many offered to coach me in my naivety. M. Fonta and M. Nicol who played Figaro gave me joking suggestions of how to act more like a man. I was scolded for grinning widely at Figaro's aria when my character was supposed to be struck with fear and remorse. The other women of the chorus welcomed me openly into their circle, even though I was certain my prior friendship with Genny influenced their decision.

Singing on stage, and living my dream was much more fun and jovial than I had imagined the serious and glorious experience to be.

Then like Hades emerging from the underworld, Erik always came to claim me. Sometime he appeared at the mirror but mostly he found me wandering in the passages and led me away with such swiftness and stealth, we might as well been ghosts slipping through the walls. He showed me the path from him home to the ground floor. I had been unable to find our rehearsal room after weeks of searching so naturally I became lost when ever I set out on my own to find my way back. Also Erik had mentioned that in the days of the Paris Commune, the unfinished cellars of the opera had been used as torture chambers. I was certain that Erik had laid many traps using this gruesome situation to his advantage. It was too dangerous to wander in the cellars without him as a guide.

Every evening, my training continued. First more singing lesson then Erik would ask me to demonstrate what I had rehearsed that afternoon. He was so eager, that he rearranged the furniture in the sitting room, and acted the parts of the other performers while I sang and moved across the room.

I felt uneasy by his untamed enthusiasm. Since he had confessed that he was often watching me before he had introduced himself, I only assumed that he was always watching me. I often glanced up at Box Five, certain that I saw that familiar shadow. I wanted to ask him why he insisted on having me sing again at night, if he had been listening to me already that day. But in my gut I knew the horrible answer. Here, I was his private singer, performing on his private stage only for him. And he was determined to keep me.

I kept him pleased for the moment. And I feared that keeping Erik pleased was my only solution to keep his anger from being unleashed.

"No it is wrong!" Carlotta stopped singing and interrupted the smooth flow of music yet again.

It took a great effort by M. Gabriel not to throw his score down onto the floor in frustration. Carlotta had been making a great show at causing a disturbance during our rehearsal so far. Today as we rehearsed the music for the second act, she had been at her finest, stopping to correct first me and then Genny over our notes.

The recitative between the Countess, Cherubino and Susanna was a quick paced piece like many of the others in the opera. Each singer's lines flowed into another as if in rapid conversation. M. Fonta had been waiting patiently for us to arrive at his entrance which was a mere two pages ahead of were we were. But we ended up repeating the same scene over and over. If anyone else had tried this, the no nonsense chorus master would be quick to put them in their place.

But this was La Diva.

"What is wrong this time?" Gabriel asked rubbing at his temples.

"Nothing with me." Carlotta said coyly. "But Daae has changed the notes once again. It is suppose to be naturals and Daae is singing flat."

I forced myself not to glare at her. Genny had been sending enough nasty looks at her for the both of us. "It's naturals on the staff, but it changes to both E flat and B flat in the fourth measure." I explained calmly to M. Gabriel. I also noticed Carlotta hadn't even been looking at the music when she point out my "mistake".

"Yes, yes it does." Gabriel agreed in a tried voice. "Shall we continue, Carlotta?"

"Very well."

What made this rehearsal all the more frustration was this was suppose to be a friendly and romantic scene in which Susanna persuades Cherubino to sing the love song he has written for the Countess. We were only into a few days of rehearsal and Carlotta had already made it very clear that she was not at all pleased that I was playing her romantic interest.

"No, remember it's a flat, Madame!" Gabriel corrected after a few more lines. He was barely constraining himself. Now it was Carlotta turn to not hit the right notes.

"Ah but it's natural in the staff. My mistake." She said dismissively.

"Is she daft?" Genny muttered under breath. "We just went over this two seconds ago. The stupid sign in right there on the page." I spared a glance at my friend, to give her my sympathy. I had heard enough warning from Genny and enough rumors from others about Carlotta's demanding behavior. I had always thought them to be exaggerations, but I was daily proven wrong.

"Please we only have two measures left till the arietta. Can we just finish this scene?" Gabriel begged as the other artists nodded their heads in agreement. "Daae if you could please run through this piece as quickly and painlessly as possible, I would be gladly in your debt" Gabriel struck the notes on the piano. Genny finished her last lines before the notes of the ritornello started the beginning of Cherubino's ariette.

I took a deep breath trying to imagine the scene. For now we rehearsed on an empty stage with only a few chairs as a set. So I thought instead of the stage filled with light, each of us dressed in the fine costumes and Genny as Susanna, strumming prettily on a guitar.

"You know the answer you hold the key. Love's tender secret, share it with me…"

The piece ended shortly unlike Cherubino's first aria. The notes lifted from the keyboard softy as I brought my voice down low match the volume. M. Gabriel nodded at my in relief and then struck another note. When he was met with silence, he struck it again louder.

"Madame Carlotta…" he groaned.

Carlotta cleared her throat, now realizing that the next lines was her's "Bravo, che bella voce…" she started. I'm sure it annoyed her to exclaim to me, even in character that "Your voice is lovely."

"A little more in enthusiasm if you please."

"Perhaps if I felt moved enough by that dull piece to be so enthusiastic, I would." She stated and I knew that by 'dull piece' she meant my singing and not Mozart's music. "I do not see why we should continue in this way. I already know this opera by heart."

Genny murmured curses that only I could hear. I blushed for her, wondering if her brothers knew she spoke like that.

"Sadly I agree. I think I would like to work with the gentleman for the rest of the day. Ladies you are excused." Gabriel said. I felt disappointed. I was relishing each moment I had a chance to rehearse if only to learn something new. But it seems Carlotta's antics had driven the chorus master to his breaking point.

Genny sighed and gathered up her music and coat. "Too bad, we were making such progress." She shot a sour look at Carlotta but the diva had already strutted away.

I decided to make a joke of it to lighten both our mood. "It's my fault I suppose." And then I sang one of my lines sarcastically. "Today I'm not in voice."

It did the trick as Genny let out a burst of laughter. "Oh but no my brave solider." She answered in character. "Bravo, your voice is lovely! I did not know you were such an expert singer" repeating Carlotta's line.

I smiled and offered her a round of applause as we made out way back to our room.

"I need a coffee after going through all that." She confessed. "Would you care to join me at the cafe?"

"I think I'll pass. See you tomorrow then?"

"Of course. Au revior Christine."

When I got back to our dressing room, I hurried to grab my coat and hat. I thought at least this would be the perfect opportunity to try and find the hospital were Madame was at. I had tried to find time over the past few days but rehearsal took up most of my time and Erik was still uncertain about letting me go anywhere where Frederich might find me again. His concerns were well grounded. He could have been out looking for me and seeing as he knew I would try to visit Madame, he might have been waiting for me there.

But I had to try. I decided to sit down and write a letter to Erik, explaining were I was. Surely he would understand. I had been dutiful to him...so far.

There was a knock at my door and I went to open it, expecting to find either Genny or Camille on the other side.

The concerned gaze of Raoul de Chagny starred back at me. I was startled enough by his appearance that I took a step backwards.

"Raoul, what a pleasant surprise." I exclaimed. But my mood was far from pleasant. My second thought after my surprise was on of fear. Erik could very well be listening behind the mirror. I could only imagine the intense anger that would fill him if he discovered me talking to Raoul alone.

"Yes, it is. I'm am happy to see you Christine, alive and well." Raoul returned my greeting with one of a cold and stiff manner. Now my confusion deepen at his morose tone, which was so unlike him. "May I come in?"

My hand acted of its own accord, thrusting it forward into his broad chest to stop him. "No you must not!" I protested.

His lips formed into a pout that very much reminded me of his sister. "Why not?"

"You can't be alone with me in my dressing room...what if...someone saw? I cannot have it known that I entertained you..." I stumbled over my words.

Raoul's thumb rested under my chin as he pressed another finger to my lips to stop my babbling. "Are you that concerned? Is that what you think of me." The light pitch of his voice was back as spoke, yet his face did not indicted any sense of happiness.

"Yes..." I whispered.

His wide shoulders dropped with a sigh. "Christine, I'm your friend. I've known you since we were children. What does it matter now?" He tried to step inside but I blocked him. I could feel invisible eyes boring into the back of my head. I was so filled with anxiety that I could picture Erik standing behind me, watching and judging.

"I need to talk to you." he pleaded.

"Not in here, not alone." I demanded. "Please Raoul, if not for my sake then for yours. What would people say if they saw you here?"

I watched his beautiful broad hand reach upwards to stroke a thick patch of hair. His hair was a darker blond then Genny's but it still had some of his boyish curls in it. They had been long when he was younger, but now he had clipped them back so only a few short ones remained at the top of his head.

"You think that because of my title, I need to be more careful of the places I'm seen and the friends I have?" he asked.

I nodded. "You should be."

Another exasperated sigh escaped his lips. "Well I'm not! Please, Christine you've been gone for two weeks without a word. I only came to see if you were alright. You weren't at your home. I called on you everyday for a week and you weren't there." He took my hand in his. "Please can we just talk?" He brought it up to his mouth and laid a gentle kiss over my knuckles. "Who cares who is looking."

I pulled my hand away and then with the other pushed Raoul out into the hallway, shutting the door behind me.

"All right then. How have you been?" I gestured for him to follow me down the hallway.

"Bored. Philippe returned to the estate, but I decided to stay at the townhouse with Genny. Someone has to look after her." he replied then turned on me. "Now, do you mind telling me were you have been?"

So this was to be another integration. "Not here. I was too frighten to return to the opera."

"Do you have any idea who was chasing you that night. Genny seems to hardly remember anything that happened before you screamed at her and lead her away?" he prodded.

"No. I don't know who it was. He was hidden. He wore a large cloak that covered his whole face. He was after Genny, but I stopped him and we took off." I explained.

"And after that? Are you sure you weren't hurt?"

I shot him a disapproving glance. "Trust me Raoul, if who ever it was managed to catch me, do you think I would be standing here now?" I pointed out. "Please, can we not talk about this? It...upsets me..."

He frowned but nodded in agreement. "I actually came here to apologize."

We reached the end of the hallway and I guided him down another that lead towards the foyer of the ballet. "For what?"

"For the last time we spoke. Outside the opera after dinner. You pulled away and said you would be right back. And when you didn't come, I knew my words had driven you away."

I raised an eyebrow at him. "What do you mean by that?"

"When Genny first told me what had happened I didn't believe it." He admitted. "But as the days passed, I began to worry and then I was concerned with a premonition that was so frightening to me. Something worst than the idea of you being spirited away."

I almost didn't want to ask him. "And what was that?"

His eyes closed tightly is if it pained him to speak. "I thought that since you had been gone for sometime, that you were never going to come back. I thought…" he licked his dried lips. "That you had run away to be with a lover."

At first his confession angered me. First Frederich and now Raoul! They had both assumed that I had run off to be with a lover. Had no one really thought that I was in danger? I supposed my disappearance had quickly been dismissed as other reason that I was no more than a common harlot who simple retreated into another man's arms.

He continued as we walked now side by side. " I thought you had run off because of what I had said to you, that night after dinner. It was very stupid of me to assume so much of you and to be so bold." His hands were clasped in front of him and he clenched them tightly. "I am a horrible person. While everyone else was concerned for your safety, I must confess I was consumed with jealousy at the thought of you with another man. When Genny told me you had returned, I was shocked. So that's why I came here. I had to know." He stopped and place a hand on my shoulder.

"And I had to let you know how sorry I was...and still am."

His gentle touch and his words full of self pity struck a chord with me. He reminded me of ….Erik. The same pleas and self loathing for the harm they both perceived they had done to me. The same desperate tone I could hear in both of their voices.

"Raoul...I ran home and told Madame what happened. She forbid me to return to the opera. And then she took very ill. She went to the hospital and then there was...some unpleasantness." I could feel myself tearing up, but not at the thought of what Frederich had done to me.

My tears were brought on by the memory of the sad and painful look in Erik's eyes when I had told him what happened. When he realized how I had been shamed.

"Raoul when you called on Madame Vaerlius, did you by chance speak to man about our age?"

"No I spoke to what I assumed was your housekeeper. But I confessed I stopped coming by after a week. Who is this other man?" he asked with a hint of suspicion. As if he thought I would confirm his doubts about me.

"I pray you never meet him. He is Madame's nephew, estranged from his parents...He..."

"Christine! You're crying."

I fumbled in my pocket for my handkerchief and brought it up to my face to stop my sniffing. " Raoul...he tried to rape me." I said through clenched teeth. "I had to leave. That's why I wasn't at my home. That's why I haven't been here. I've been so afraid he would find me." It was the truth. As long as I was with Erik, I had no need to be frightened of Frederich finding me, but I still was full of fear. Even now he could have returned to the opera, seeking me out.

Where as Erik would have timidly asked for my permission, Raoul instead flung out his arms and pulled me closer to him, my ear pressed hard against his shoulder blade.

"God! Why didn't you tell me? Why did you not come to me?" he asked.

"I didn't know were you lived. I couldn't burden you with my problems." I breathed into his ear.

"I'll kill him!" Raoul hissed. His embrace grew tighter as he swore."Had I only known, I would have challenged that scoundrel."

"Listen to yourself, Raoul. You can't do that! Would you risk jail...and your family's name for my sake?"

"Yes! But then..." he started. "Have you told anyone else? The police"

I shook my head. "Would they even believe me?" I pulled away and gripped his forearm tightly. "Promise me you won't tell Genny."

He nodded but I could tell he was very disappointed at me. He didn't understand. He was a man, a privileged one at that. People would believe his word, but no one would take my word over Frederich's. Even if I had gone to the police, where would have I gone afterwards?

I had ran to the only place in the world I felt safe. The home of my protector and...jailer.

"Please, I don't want to talk about this...anymore..." I begged.

"Where have you been staying?" Raoul asked.

I scrambled to devise another lie. "I went to the home of my music teacher. His wife took care of me and they both gave me some money to stay in a boarding house for ladies." It seemed comical to me having Raoul imagine Erik as nothing more than an ordinary old man with a ordinary house...and now I had invented a wife for him.

"Good then may I call on you there?" he inquired.

I frowned at him. "It wouldn't be proper."

He matched my frown with one of his own. "Oh so we are back to that again."

"Yes. Like I said you should be more careful of where you are seen. What if someone would mistake our old childhood friendship for something else?" We had made our way to the foyer, the light from the lamps casting a misty glow over the stairwell, like fog over a lake.

"Did you hear the good news? I am a singer now!" I exclaimed with forced joy, trying to distract him.

"Yes, I heard. My sister hasn't stopped talking about it since yesterday. My congratulations to you Christine." he answered

I went to take the first step down, but he stopped me, catching my hand. I couldn't help but be pulled back to his side.

"Despite my title and my name, I care very little for what other may think of me. Let them see us. Are you so afraid to be seen with me? Are you afraid to be judged?" He leaned over and stroked a stray strand of hair that fell against my cheek. "I apologized for what I said that night, but that doesn't mean I wasn't sincere about what I said."

I turned away and looked over the banister, afraid to look into his eyes, knowing what he might say. "Christine, I care for you...more than you know. That is why I was so jealous when you disappeared. A friend wouldn't think that...not if he had the feelings that I have for you..." his voice trailed off.

Raoul...don't say these things...please.

I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came.

"Mademoiselle Daae?" a voice called.

We both looked down the stairs were the voice had come from. Two men had seemed to appear out of nowhere, walking up the stairs towards us.

"It is Daae?" The man who had spoken first was wearing a simple dark navy suit with a short cut jacket. He had dark hair and a long distinguished mustache. An emblem that I did not recognized was pinned on his left breast pocket.

"Yes." I answered.

"At last." the other man sighed. He was a few inches shorter than his companion. His features were fair and his light brown hair was streaked with grey. His choice of suit was more formal, hinting that he was a man of means. "This place is a maze."

Raoul spoke up. "How we may we help you gentleman?"

The man with the mustache nodded at us. "Forgive our intrusion I am Inspector Durand and this is M. Girard. We need to speak to Mlle. Daae on a very serious matter."

I felt my whole body grow tense. Among the many fears that had plagued my thoughts in the past few days was the possibility that Frederich had reported my assault to the police. I knew the moment I pulled that knife, my word against his was worthless. He now had scars and wounds to prove I had attacked him. I'm sure it would have given him great pleasure to see me dragged away by the police and punished for my 'crime'.

"Is that so? Well say what you must gentleman." Raoul now stood behind me, a hand pressed at the small of my back. His tone was defensive.

"Forgive our intrusion, sir." the man continued. "We've come to speak on behalf of the late Madame Vaerlius."

My heart dropped at the sound of that word. Late...

He went on talking. "We understand you were her ward. However evidence leads us to discover that you were no longer living at her home."

My hand shook and the handkerchief in my hand feel to the floor.

"Wait...she's..." I started.

One look at my made the man's eyes grow wide with surprise. "You didn't know?" he asked. "I knew she...was sick...but I...didn't" I felt myself choking on the words as I spoke them.

The other man lowered his eyes in respect. "Yes, I'm afraid she passed away only yesterday." he explained with a genuine sadness in his voice. Now Raoul's arms were around my waist, as my knees buckled beneath me. I found myself too shocked to cry.

"Christine...oh Christine...I'm so sorry." he whispered into my ear.

I had begged for a chance to return, to tell Madame I was all right. To tell her that I had to leave, to be with someone who could protect me. I wanted to at least say goodbye...and now I would never get the chance.

"I'm Madame's estate lawyer, mademoiselle. I am very sorry that you had to hear this from us. But we were forced to seek you out with much urgency regarding her will." M. Girard explained.

"Her will? But I'm not even a blood relative." I explained.

"Yes, we know that."

"Then what does this have to do with Christine?" Raoul growled

M. Girard held a tan satchel across his arms, matching the color of his suit. He gave Raoul a sour look. "Madame Vaerilus stated in her will that in the event of her death, her entire estate would be left in the hands of her nephew Frederich Vaerilus." he informed me in flat tone.

I bit my lip. I wasn't surprised that Frederich would do this. He was certainly capable of it.

"But now the estate is entrusted to you, Mademoiselle Daae. M. Vaerlius is...unable to inherit it." Girard began to explain .

"I don't understand..."

The inspector cut in. "Mademoiselle...Frederich Vaerlius was founded dead this morning. He was murdered."

My eyes rolled backwards in my head and I fainted in Raoul's arms.