I don't own POTO!

Chapter 4: Conflict

By PittsBurghFuzz

The next morning, the managers found another one of those bothersome notes they had been receiving from the Opera Ghost. It read:

My managers,

With two days until the opening night, I want to be clear on our mutual agreement. Christine Daae is to play the countess, while Carlotta is to play the pageboy. If I found that we are not in agreement, then I shall place a curse on this venue!

O.G.

"Why is this ghost obsessed by this soprano, Daae?" Firman asked while scratching his head in curiosity.

"Good question." Andre replied.

Carlotta came into the room and the managers jumped a little.

"Who did you think I was, the Opera Ghost?" Carlotta asked the trembling managers.

"Um, maybe." they said in unison.

"Now, am I still playing the countess like we said?"

"Of course madame." Andre told her.

"Why wouldn't you?"

"Good, because I thought you would give in to the ghost's demands again." Carlotta said as she left the room.

"Do you think the ghost means what he says?" Firman asked Andre.

"Well no. I mean, under the previous managers, he didn't cause any deaths of major accidents, scared them a little." Andre told him.

Christine woke up that morning to find Raoul reading a newspaper in her room.

"Raoul!" she yelled.

"Good morning Christine." Raoul replied.

"I didn't expect you here for another two hours."

"I didn't expect for you to wake up for another five hours. You look exhausted."

"I'll be back soon Raoul, I have to get ready."

"I will be waiting outside." Raoul left as he said those words.

Christine sighed. She undressed herself and took a bath. Christine got dressed and applied her make-up.

"Good morning Christine." a voice called out.

Christine nearly dropped her make-up at the sound of the voice. She was relieved to find out that the voice was the Angel of Music.

"Good morning master." Christine told the voice.

"You are going out with the de Chagny boy?" the Phantom asked.

"Yes, I ma going to eat with Raoul, if that's who you mean."

"Yes, him. Come down to lair later, alright?"

"Okay." Christine told him.

Christine sighed once more. She really did not want to got with Raoul, but she would come later to the lair anyway.

Erik smiled as she left the room. Erik wanted Christine to be happy with Raoul, but he proved to be a monster, having an affair with Carlotta. However, this could be just some fling. After all, Raoul was young and rich so it could be getting to his head. He would only need time to mature and he would be a perfect man for Christine.

Raoul was getting his watch fixed, so Christine decided to go to the flower shoppe across the street. There were so many different flowers covering the beautiful shoppe, that Christine thought she walked into a jungle oasis, or discovered the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Then, a rude, unexpected acquaintance appeared: Carlotta!

Carlotta was looking all around, carrying her prized pet poodle in her arms.

She turned to Christine and said: "You know he doesn't love you."

"Who are you talking about." Christine said as she was trying to get away from Carlotta.

"I am talking about the vicomte."

"Raoul? He adores the ground I walk upon."

"Really? That's strange, because I heard he is involved in an affair."

Christine looked to Carlotta. "How do you know?"

"I mean, he's young, rich, and somewhat arrogant. Don't take this the wrong way, but I don't think you are his type."

Christine left the shoppe. Raoul came out of the clock shoppe only to find Christine coming to his arms.

"What is the matter, my love." Raoul asked Christine as he held her in his arms.

Raoul looked over to the other side of the street only to find his eyes gazing at Carlotta's.

"Can you just take me back to the Opera House Raoul?" Christine cried.

"Of course."

Christine ran to her room crying. The Phantom knocked on the mirror.

"My child, what is wrong?" the Phantom asked.

"It's Carlotta and Raoul." Christine said while crying. "Oh master, can you please take me to your lair?"

"Certainly."

The ghost extended his hand out to Christine, but she passed out. The Phantom picked her up and to the lair they went.

Erik placed Christine on the bed so she could rest. Erik went to his organ to touch up Don Juan. Christine woke again, this time, she did not touch the mask.

"Would you care to sit down Christine?" Erik asked

She nodded. Her eyes were shining with tears as Christine looked down at Erik's hands.

"Erik, is Raoul-" Christine asked.

Erik knew what she was going to ask but he pretended he did not know what she was to ask of him.

"What Christine?"

"Is Raoul having an affair?"

Erik looked down as if he were the guilty one. "Now why would you say that?"

"Carlotta."

"She told you something?"

"Yes, she said he was having affairs with multiple women, and claimed I was not his type."

Christine was still looking down. Erik took Christine's chin and raised her head so he could look into her eyes.

"Christine, he was having an affair with Carlotta."

"What?"

"I know, it kills me to be the bearer of bad news. However, don't ind Raoul, for he is young and had too much money on his hands to even think if he is doing the right thing or not. In fact, it is probably Carlotta's fault, taking advantage of his immaturity."

"So you think he really does love me?" Christine asked, like a young child.

"Yes. I don't see how he can't."

"I just wish I could..."

"What? Get back at Carlotta? That can be arranged." Erik said with a grin on his face.

"Yeah. Don' do anything too drastic, alright?".

"Don't worry Christine, I will take care of everything. Now I think I should take you upstairs, alright?"

"Alright then."

"That's a good girl."

Erik led Christine through the dark labyrinth. Before Erik left Christine needed to tell him something.

"Master, wait master!"

"I need to go now Christine, but I will return tomorrow."

Erik needed to go back. He needed his morphine injection. Erik actually hadn't been taking morphine for a long time, but he was running on easy at this point. Erik dreaded morphine. It made him more of a lunatic than he normally was. He knew that Christine was to be his only way out. However, Erik would rather see Christine happy with her childhood friend, than miserably stay in the stale dark catacombs. Erik decided not take his morphine. Little did he know, he would cause terror in the opera without his accursed drug.

Christine pouted for a moment. She wanted to tell the Phantom that she loved him and him alone.