Disclaimer: I do not own POTO or Elisabeth.

A/N: Now that my latest community theater show has opened, I have even less time to write- dang.

Chapter Twelve

The Visit

It was done. Christine had divorced him. The task had been so hard to carry out, seeing that she still had some sisterly affection for Raoul, but she realized that that was all she could ever be to him, a friend. Christine felt the need to just leave Sweden. Her only worry would be Mamma Valerius, who had been living peacefully in her own flat with a nurse since Raoul and Christine's marriage, but she knew that she would be all right.

Vladen eagerly accepted the letter from Monsieur Wischard. He'd been at the Paris Academy for young men for one month now and hadn't heard any word from either of his parents. He broke the seal and began to read:

Dear Vladen,

I regret having not written you yet, but there isn't much to say except I love you, I love you, I love you. At this very moment I am preparing to leave to visit you at the Academy. I hope all is going well for you. See you soon.

With all my love,

Mamma

A voice resounded through the room, "Hello, Vladen."

"Hello, Ami," Vladen replied. He waved the letter from Christine in the air. "Look, look, Ami! Mamma is coming to visit me!" The room fell silent. "Ami?"

The voice replied, "I am here."

"I'm so glad Mamma is coming, Ami. You know how much I miss her."

"Yes, it will be wonderful." The voice's sinister tone scared Vladen.

"Ami, is something wrong?" He asked hesitantly.

"No," the voice replied, this time back to his composed air. The clock in the hall chimed six.

"I have to go. Good-bye, Ami."

"Good-bye, Vladen." Vladen walked out the door, leaving the letter behind. Erik emerged from his hiding place, picked up the letter, and smiled.

Two days later, a cab pulled up in front of the Paris Academy for Young Men. A woman, dressed in a brown traveling suit with a thick veil wrapped around her face stepped out. She dropped a few coins in the cabdriver's hand, and went up to the door. At the sound of the cab riding away, Vladen threw open his window and called, "Mamma! Mamma!"

Christine lifted her head. "Vladen, my darling!" She quickly knocked on the door. Monsieur Wischard opened it and asked, "How may I help you, Madame?"

"I am Vladen de Chagny's mother, Monsieur, and I would like very much to see him," Christine replied civilly.

"Of course," Monsieur Wischard bowed. He made a move to go get Vladen himself, but the boy was already at the foot of the stairs.

"Mamma!" he cried, running into Christine's arms. She ruffled his hair and pulled him close.

"Oh Vladen, how long it has been!"

Monsieur Wischard watched the reunion and said coldly, "Perhaps you would like to walk in the garden?"

"Yes!" Vladen cried, jumping to his feet. He took Christine's hand and eagerly led her out into the garden.

Once they were in the garden Vladen asked, bouncing up and down, "How is Nels? What about Grandmamma Valerius? How is everyone back home?"

"Fine, fine," Christine said with a laugh. "Now calm down. It's my turn to ask a question." She looked into his eyes and asked seriously, "Are you happy here?"

"The other boys ignore me and I dislike my teachers, but at least I have Ami."

"Ami?" Christine asked worriedly, "Who is Ami?"

"You must meet him! Come, I'll take you to him!" Vladen grabbed Christine's hand and brought her up to his bedroom. "Ami! Ami!" he called.

A smooth voice replied, "I'm here Vladen."

"Erik!" Christine cried, moving out towards the door.

"Who is Erik?" Vladen asked, surprised at his mother's sudden fear. "This is Ami. Ami, this is my mamma."

"So glad to see you, Madame," the voice replied.

Christine rejoined coldly, "I don't know whether I can say the same."

The hall clock rang. "I have to go to class, but I'll be back." Vladen walked out the door. Christine, dreading to be alone with Erik, hurried to follow him.

Erik's voice resounded through the room, "Stay, Christine."

"No." Erik emerged from his hiding place, reaching Christine just in time to seize her wrist.

"Let me go!" Erik dragged her away from the door and shut it. He released her wrist, and she fled to the door, only to find it locked.

"So you finally severed yourself from the boy," Erik said with a malicious smile.

"I don't know what you mean," Christine replied, turning around.

"You divorced him, Mademoiselle."

"No I didn't."

"It was all over your letter." He removed the piece of paper from his lapel and laughed. Slowly and gracefully he walked up to Christine. "Besides, you didn't seriously think that I wasn't watching you always, even if I wasn't standing there beside you?"

Christine felt herself unwillingly weakening, like melting butter. "No," she murmured. "No, I didn't."

He caressed her cheek and laughed, "Of course you didn't."

Christine closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. She'd missed Erik's voice, Erik's musical voice. How could she ever have lived without it…? "No!" Christine cried aloud, reproaching herself. She flew over to the window. Erik followed her. He whispered in her ear angerly, "If you do not make up your mind soon, I will be forced to leave you forever." Christine turned around, but Erik was gone.

A/N: Please R&R!

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