I did own anything related to POTO. Sorry for the delayed Chapter!

Chapter 7: Masquerade

By PittsBurghFuzz

It was New Years Eve, and the Phantom has not tormented the management in weeks. Christine almost didn't attend with Raoul, but he convinced her to go with him. Christine wore a beautiful pink dress, and her hair was done how she had it when she first sang in front of Raoul. That was also the day when the Phantom first took Christine to his lair. Christine was shocked Raoul took something out of his pocket.

"Marry me Christine." he asked her.

She blushed. "Raoul, don't you think its a bit soon?" she asked.

"Well, we've known each other long enough, and we have been courting for sometime now."

Christine looked out to the window. "I'll have to think about it."

Raoul pouted but then told her,"Alright then."

When Christine and Raoul arrived at the Opera House, it was swarmed with people. The masquerade ball was a time where the world was forgetful of caste, and had a merry time. Christine had never seen Andre and Firman so happy in life. Carlotta actually looked decent for once, and Piangi of course gained more weight. It had seemed that all of the people were living as if this were to be their last night. The costumes were spectrum of bountiful colors and various shades of green, yellow, red and others. Christine and Raoul were talking amongst the crowds about opera productions and what not. The only person not partaking in the festivities or wearing a costume, was the Persian. The old daroga was like an old watchdog, never leaving his post and always keen on things. It was midnight when everyone started dancing around the room. The people were so giddy and drunk, that Erik was able to sneak into the upper levels without trouble. However, everyone sobered up when a spectral figure robed in red, wearing a skull's head descended the grand staircase. In his hand, he was holding a leather case. He snarled at a few people to merely frighten them, but it was fun for him. Then, it was clear to all who this funeral masquerader was when a foolish man tried to touch him.

"Do not touch me, for I am the Red Death, stalking abroad!" Erik said as he crushed the man's hand. The fool was taken away with his hand bleedng.

Erik walked over to the managers, and gave them the package.

"I wish for you to perform this opera, known as Don Juan Triumphant!" he roared as he gave them the music. "I also wish for Ms. Daae to play the largest role. We wouldn't want anymore chandeliers to fall, now do we?"

The managers shook their heads.

Erik clasped his hands together. "Excellent. I will message you with further requests through my loyal Madame Giry."

The red figure walked away from the grand staircase, and disappeared with a bang.

Christine woke up crying. She had a dream about her beloved father. Christine decided to take a carriage to her father's grave. It was a snowy winter morning, and it was very cold. However, Christine did not notice, for it was also cold in Erik's lair. As she approached the gates, Christine started to remember better times, when she and Raoul were young and happy. They frolicked and played through the fields as her father told them stories of Little Lotte and the "Angel of Music". Christine knelt beside the stone, engraved with her father's name, and time spend on earth. Her father was 46.

"Oh Papa, why did you have to leave me so soon?" Christine cried out.

Christine heard crying somewhere in the cemetery. She recognized the voice. Christine followed the voice until she saw a man holding a mask standing by a tombstone, slightly sobbing. She walked towards the man to give him comfort, but another figure stopped her. It was Raoul!

"Christine," he cried, "stay away from him!"

The man turned around and revealed his face to both of them. Christine already knew it was Erik, but was still slightly shocked at his face.

Raoul dismounted from his horse and approached the weeping Phantom.

"Stay away from Christine, you beast."

Raoul was about to walk away from the Phantom with Christine, when all of a sudden, a skeleton's hand grabbed his arm, damn near crushed it.

"Those are brave words monsieur," Erik told Raoul, "but also foolish words."

Erik threw the young lover to the ground without effort, and had him in a choke hold.

"Why so surprised monsieur? You never thought a fifty year old man could hold you as if you were no more than a baby?" Erik said mocking Raoul.

"Oh shut-up you ghost! You would never be able to give Christine the kind of pleasure that I would supply her with!" Raoul yelled, as the Phantom tightened his grip. "You are just too old for her monsieur" Raoul said while struggling.

Erik slammed Raoul into a cemetery gate. "Old am I?" Erik asked Raoul. "It seems to me that you can't even defeat someone thirty years your senior!"

"Erik please," Christine cried, "not like this."

Erik's eyes seemed to have lessen in their tight glare into a less threatening, more sympathetic stare. He finally looked at Raoul and dropped him. The Phantom placed his mask back on his face, and disappeared into the snow.

Raoul had a bloody nose, and the back of his head was a little red. Christine helped Raoul stand up, and they went to Raoul's horse. Christine rode their way home.

Down in his lair, Erik was cursing himself for not killing Raoul. Then, Nadir came down into the lair.

"What do want now daroga?" Erik asked Nadir.

"You were about to kill the young de Chagny boy." he replied.

"Yes, what does that matter?"

"Erik, you can't trap Ms. Daae down here forever."

"Of course I can! What makes you think that I won't?"

"Me."

"Daroga," Erik said as he placed his hand on the Nadir's shoulder, "you are a clever little man, you are. In fact, I don't give you enough credit sometimes. However, you are no match for me."

"You cannot ruin someone's happiness to obtain your own!"

"You damned idiot, she is happy here! What you do not understand, my dear friend, is that Christine is no more than a young child, and needs someone to take care of her."

"And why can't the vicomte do that?" the Persian asked Erik.

"You have heard the rumors about him, and saw his physical shape, and you dare to ask me that question?" Erik spat out venomously. " First off, he is a fat little one, in fact, if I didn't know any better, I would say he was Piangi's brother. Another thing is that how can a man in fifties hold Raoul in a choke hold, nearly killing him?"

"Let us not forget Erik, that you are no ordinary fifty year old man." Nadir added.

"You do make a valid point my friend, but I am dying, and no longer at my prime. Also, you should have heard of the affair Raoul had with the toad! Oh that damned toad, if Raoul hadn't proved himself time and time again so stupidly unreliable, I would have killed Carlotta first!"

"I thought you didn't kill women Erik?" Nadir asked.

Erik laughed a little. " She is a toad, not a woman. However, let me come to my final point about Raoul. I stated earlier Christine was no more than a little girl, did I not?"

Nadir nodded. "Yes, you made that ever so clear." he replied.

"Good. For one to be a lover for Christine, one must not only play the lover, but they must play the father. Not to offend the great Gustave Daae, but he raised his child on fairy tales up until he died. Christine is no more than a scared child in the horrifying reality of the nightmarish real world. She needs someone like myself to not only care for her, but to love her."

"Erik, are you sure you are not doing this for your own benefit?" Nadir asked in a monotone voice.

"My friend, my benefit is teaching Christine and being able to comfort her. Those are my benefits."