I don't own POTO. Short chapter today, but next chapter will be longer!

Chapter 6: Misunderstanding and Loss.

By PittsBurghFuzz

Christine was putting on some makeup, as she was trying to comprehend the events of the past evening. Erik not only tarnished Carlotta's career, but he also murdered Buquet. Buquet probably deserved that, but Christine didn't think that Erik would do such a thing! Christine and Raoul were also having a stressful argument about who she truly loved~the Phantom, or Raoul. Christine told Raoul that she did not know how she felt about either him or Erik. However, Christine knew well in her mind who she truly loved...

Erik POV

I was rowing down the dark river as I pondered on the events of the previous evening. I had committed a murder, the first one in years. However, he was trying to kill me, so I took necessary caution against him. Although, I wish I hadn't dropped his corpse on stage, I hope it didn't frighten Christine. She was merely a child, one who had no idea of the reality of how morbid life truly is. Christine never recovered from her father's death, I would assume, and that is what shaped the course of her life. With her father gone, Christine behaved like a small child went she went to the conservatoire. Christine acted impatient and did not try, because the sole light of her life was gone. In some ways, I think I gave her a father figure to rely on. However, I wished I could be so much more for her. At this point I decided to call upon the services of my dear friend, the daroga. When Nadir finally arrived, he had an impatient look on his face.

"Erik," he asked, " why did you kill Buquet?"

"Self-defense, but if you don't believe that, then I guess I needed a hunting trophy for my wall. Say, do you happen to know how I can keep the redness in Buquet's face so that whenever someone passes by, they will know that Buquet was a drunk?" I replied.

"Erik, enough with your morbid jokes. By the way, I did like what you did to Madame Carlotta."

I smiled. "You mean the toad?" the daroga and I chuckled.

"Erik, please don't force me to perform something rash, alright?"

I turned away and walked to my organ. "Yes I promise. Now, do me a favor."

"Yes Erik."

"Take that box away and dump it somewhere." I said pointing to a box.

"May I ask what are the contents of this box?" Nadir asked as he examined the outside of the box.

He placed his hand on the box, nearly opening it.

I gently placed my hand on his shaking my head. "Nights filled with regret. Now go!"

The daroga nodded and left the house. He knew what was in the box, my morphine and its needles. I had started to get rid of my deadly addiction. However, like smoking, once a person quits, they hunger for sweets...

Christine POV

I was walking to my dressing room to gather some personal belongings of mine. Among them, the rose Erik gave me at Ill Muto. I sighed and closed my eyes at the though of him. Erik, despite the mask issue, seemed to be a gentle man. However, it seemed to me that his morphine addiction was getting out of hand. I wanted to help him so badly, but I knew he would only groan and get angry at me. I never wanted to disappoint Erik, he tried so hard so I may have an actual future in the opera. Both Raoul and Erik were growing very impatient of me, and each one of them deserved an answer. They truly did. Raoul tried to cater to my every need and Erik gave me a world in which I can look forward to returning to.

Erik POV

After Nadir took my morphine, I began to commit myself to my other true love-music. Music could be what I wanted it to be. It couldn't fight back, it was not afraid of me, and I was not afraid to add my personal touch without fear of making it delirious. That was the problem with Christine. However, I am like other men and I shall not be denied of my right to experience happiness. Christine would be mine, and mine alone, not for any young suitor to ruin her purity. Currently she loves as if I were her father, but I will make her love me like she does Raoul. Oh that damned fool, if I had a Franc for every time I could have killed him, I would never ask the managers for my salary again.

Back to narration...

Erik looked down as he was sulking into depression. He remembered his opera.

"Yes," he said, "I will give the company my opera, Don Juan Triumphant, so it will give me a means to ensnare my beloved Christine into my grasp. The only problem is that how will I give the managers my opera? Oh yes, I know! I shall come to my public during the masquerade ball and give them my magnum opus. I will descend the stair case as the Red Death! Yes, they shall tremble in fear, those great yellow cowards, for their pants will be filled with urine by the time I leave them. This is so delightfully menacing, only a few more days and I shall curse this damned place!"

Erik started to find material to create his grand costume.

Christine was very upset for the past few days, for the Angel of Music had not taken her to his lair in what seemed to be an eternity! Raoul had taken Christine do dinner for while now, and Christine believed that her insolence was the reason of Erik's disappearance. So she decided not to accept any of Raoul's dinner invitations. No, Christine knew why he was mad. After the death of Buquet, Raoul and Christine escaped to the rooftops, away from the anarchy. Raoul had kissed Christine! She never be able to forgive herself after that moment, Christine betraying her true love! Christine decided to attend the masquerade ball, she thought that the Phantom would possibly pop in.