I don't own POTO.

Chapter 3: Notes

By PittsBurghFuzz

Erik was fooling around with his organ as he was pondering in the dark prisons of his mind. Erik was shocked at the horror he saw down at the stables. Raoul and Carlotta have an affair! Neither Christine or Piangi didn't know about the accursed relationship their lovers were having. Erik now knew what he had to do: he was to send a letter to the managers about allowing Christine to take up Carlotta's role in Ill Muto. Erik wanted to ask Christine how her dinner went with Raoul. Erik no longer wanted to say his name, because Erik felt that the name lost dignity through his disgusting relationship.

Christine woke up from her long sleep and yawned. He remembered the great time she had with Raoul the night before. She was glad that the Phantom allowed her to go out and have some fun. The only problem with that was Christine preferred that dark dream world of the Angel of Music. It was twisted, dark, and strangely sexual. Christine however, was terrified by the Angel's temper. It was as if the Angel was really Satan, luring her with his empty promises. In a sense though, Christine didn't care, it was too beautiful to be an empty promise. Christine took a bath. She came out dressed only to find Raoul in her dressing room, reading a newspaper, sweating.

"Raoul, what a surprise!" Christine said to Raoul.

"Good morning Christine." Raoul replied. Christine came up to Raoul and hugged him.

"Raoul, are feeling alright?" Christine asked placing her hand on Raoul's forehead.'

"I'm fine Christine. Shall we have breakfast?"

Christine hesitated for a moment. "Yes." she replied.

After Raoul and Christine left, Erik gave his note to Madame Giry. When the managers read it, they went ballistic.

"What? The Daae girl take over Carlotta's role in Ill Muto?" Monsieur Firman yelled.

"This is an outrage!" Monsieur Andre commented.

"Look, he even asks for his salary!"

"What kind of ghost asks for that?"

"I don't know, but we do not negotiate with apparitions!"

"I second that notion!"

Both managers were on their way out of their office to the grand lobby, only to find Carlotta leaving.

"Mademoiselle, why are you leaving us?" Andre asked the Prima Donna .

"Look at this note I have received.

The two managers took the note and read:

Carlotta,

If you perform tonight, a disaster beyond comprehension will come upon this opera house...and your career!. So I would advise you to comply with my request, and allow Ms. Christine Daae to play the role of countess, while you stay silent as the pageboy.

O.G.

Raoul came into the lobby with another note.

"Where is Ms. Daae?" the young lover asked.

"You mean their precious little ingenue?" Carlotta asked as she pointed to incompetent theater managers.

"Where is she?" Raoul continued to ask.

"We don't know." the two managers said simultaneously.

The two managers left the lobby to get away from the chaos. Carlotta looked and Raoul and slapped him.

"Why do you care about that little brat?" Carlotta asked him.

"Look at the note I have received."

Carlotta took the note and read:

Vicomte de Chagny,

Stay away from Christine if you wish to continue this disgraceful relationship with Carlotta. If you don't comply, I shall disgrace your family name for generations to come.

O.G.

"I did not write this letter." Carlotta told Raoul.

"What do you mean? You are jealous of Christine aren't you? Well we have nothing in common, it is just a mere distraction to lure people away from knowing about us."

"It seems like you are enjoying this far more than a mere distraction."

Christine was in her dressing room, preparing for her role as the pageboy. She heard a knock. Christine opened the door, but there was no one there.

"Not there Christine! Through the window!" a voice told her.

"Master?" She asked.

"Christine, I have yearned for days to talk to you for days. Why are you dressing up in the pageboy outfit?" the Phantom asked.

"Well, that's kinda the part the managers assigned me to. I do have a contract you know."

"Those fools ignored my notes!" the Phantom yelled. "They have the audacity to ignore my notes!"

"Master, it is alright. I don't mind the small part. In fact, I don't think I can handle anything bigger."

"Yes, but your career needs to progress! Anyway, good luck with practice, I need to speak with my managers."

"Master no!"

The Phantom disappeared and his voice went with him.

Erik went on to write to his managers. He decided to send the letter tomorrow. He went on to read Edgar Allan Poes' "The Masque of the Red Death" Erik was intrigued by the final lines of the story which read:

"And Darkness and Decay and the Red Death held illimitable dominion over all."

Almost ironic, Erik held domination over the Opera House, and Christine.

Christine was in dress rehearsal waiting for Carlotta to come out of her dressing room. Carlotta was always the last to enter rehearsal and the first to leave. When she finally came out, Carlotta could only stare at Christine.

"Why are you looking at me you little toad? Get out of my way!" Carlotta yelled.

Christine could not complain because if she did, the management would take Carlotta's side or the Phantom would intervene...