A/N: Okay, I can't have all this sadness for too long. What can I say, I'm a hopeless romantic! Yeah, I still don't own it.
The opening day for Don Juan arrived, and Calliope was sitting before her dressing table, absently brushing her hair. She wore her costume, and her mother's pearls were waiting to be woven amongst her hair. She chanced a fleeting glance at the heavy table that had been moved in front of the hidden door that Erik would often use to visit her. A soft knock sounded at the main door, and Madame Giry stepped through, a worried look on her face.
"Petit, is something wrong? You have hardly spoken all week, and eaten even less. I only ever see you in the costume rooms or onstage with the dancers. Please, tell me what has happened." she asked, sitting next to the younger woman.
"I am leaving the opera house, and Paris, for good. I will be returning to my homeland." she said quietly.
"But why? You never told me what happened to you. I think you owe me an explanation." the ballet mistress said. With tears in her eyes, Calliope told the older woman everything. Madame Giry looked on with a shocked expression as the costume mistress told of her father's death, her dancing, and finally her mother's death and the horrible night afterwards.
"Madame, I killed him for what he did. It is time that I face my past. I will go to my grandfather and plead for mercy, though I do not expect it." Calliope said. Madame Giry was shaking her head.
"No, petit. I cannot let you go, not when it could mean your death. These last few weeks you have come out of your shell and revealed yourself to be a rare pearl, just like your mother's treasures. Your parents would be so proud of you. I know I am." she said. Calliope's tears seemed to increase.
"My heart is broken, Madame. I cannot stay here any longer." she sobbed. Madame Giry took the girl into her arms as realization struck.
"It's Erik, isn't it? You were there at the cemetery when he and the Vicompt fought." she said. Calliope looked away, smoothing away her tears. When she looked at Madame Giry, her face was carefully blank.
"Why should he look at a half breed, when a perfect angel stands before the world." she whispered. Madame Giry stood up and fixed Calliope with a hard glare.
"Calliope-Amira StClair! How dare you think even for a moment that you are any less important than Christine? You possess a strength and grace that most girls can only dream of. Never doubt yourself." she said. Calliope smiled sadly and gathered her pearls and her coin sash.
"I must go help Christine prepare." she said, and left the room. Madame Giry turned and stalked over to the dresser, pulling it away from the hidden door. When she yanked it open, she saw Erik's mask in the difference.
"Erik, you are a fool! Your precious muse is leaving for her homeland, where she faces almost certain death. If you do not resolve this, I will track you down and throttle you myself!" she snapped.
Fear ensconced itself in Erik's heart. Death? What could she have done that meant her death?
"What could her crime possibly be? She was a victim of a cruel man. If I could, I would hunt him down and kill him myself!" he said, anger lacing his words. Antoinette's eyes softened sadly.
"She did not tell you? She killed him Erik. After the man cut her, she took up the blade and ran it through his heart. If she returns to Persia, she will surely be executed. Women are held in even less regard in her homeland." Antoinette explained. Erik was stunned.
"She cannot leave!" he insisted. The ballet mistress raised an eyebrow at him, folding her arms over her chest.
"She is leaving because you have broken her heart. She is in love with you, but you seem to only have eyes for your precious angel." she snapped.
"That is ridiculous! Why would I care for that naïve child when I love a goddess?" he raged. Antoinette's eyes widened in surprise.
"The go to her. Tell her how you feel. If you do not, we will all lose her." the ballet mistress said, turning and stepping through the door, pushing it closed. Erik turned and raced through the tunnels, looking for his beloved muse.
Calliope stepped into Christine's dressing room and picked up a brush, arranging the soprano's hair.
"Roux, I'm so afraid. Raoul has laid this trap for the Phantom, but I must be the bait! I cannot do it!" she sobbed. Calliope sat the brush down and kneeled before her friend.
"Christine, listen well. Tonight, we will both be onstage, and together we will amaze all of Paris. I want you to smile the whole time, because that is how I want to remember you." she said sadly. Christine looked into her friend's eyes, confused.
"What are you talking about, Roux? You're starting to frighten me." she asked. Calliope smiled, willing her tears away.
"I am leaving Paris. I am returning to my homeland." she replied. Christine's eyes widened in fear.
"No, you can't! You'll be killed! I can't let you do that! Why on earth would you leave?" she cried.
"I have been a fool. I have fallen in love, but he desires another. In all honesty, she is a better match for him. She is a lovely pale beauty, and she outshines me at every turn. Rossignol, promise me that you will never judge a person for what they look like. The face of an angel can hide the soul of a devil. Swear to me that you will always look beyond the surface." she said. Christine looked up at her friend in disbelief.
"I promise Calliope. But who is this fool who cannot see your beauty? I will strike him with Madame's cane for being such a fool!" Christine proclaimed. Calliope laughed and pulled her friend to her feet.
"Thank you for your support. It is time. Go, I'll be right behind you." Calliope said. Christine nodded and hurried out the door. Calliope took a deep breath and closed her eyes, willing her body to stop trembling. She took a step towards the door when a familiar voice froze her in her tracks.
"Oh, Calliope, can you ever forgive me?" Erik whispered, his voice so sad, so forlorn, it broke her heart all over again to hear it. She turned and held out her hands.
"Erik, please, you have to leave. Raoul has set a trap. If you attempt to take Christine from the opera, they will kill you. You must wait until at least tomorrow." she said hurriedly, though it killed her to say the words. Moving almost quicker than she could see, Erik crossed the room and swept her into his arms, kissing her passionately. Calliope lost herself in his touch. Finally, he pulled away and gazed into her eyes, love swelling in his heart.
"My beloved muse, why would I chose a terrified singer when I am in love with a goddess?" he whispered. Calliope's eyes widened at his words, her broken heart healing in a second as tears came to her eyes.
"Erik, do you truly mean that?" she breathed. He leaned forward and captured her lips again.
"Every word. I have meant it every time I whispered it in your ear as you slept, and I mean it now. Say you love me as well, and I will shower you with gifts. I will take you wherever your heart desires." he whispered. She smiled serenely at him.
"As long as I am with you, anywhere would be paradise." she said, meeting his lips with hers. He returned the kiss fervently, his fingers splayed against her bare back. They languished in each others arms for what felt like an eternity, before a knock sounded at the door.
"Mademoiselle StClair? It's time to get onstage! Are you ready?" Meg Giry's voice called through the door. Calliope turned and faced the closed door.
"I'll be right there!" she called, and pressed her lips to Erik's once more.
"I will be watching, beloved. Make me proud." he whispered, before slipping through the hidden door in the mirror. Calliope quickly checked the pearls woven in her hair, and stepped out the door. Meg looked up at her, a puzzled look on her face.
"Is everything alright?" the child asked.
"Of course. Why do you ask?" Calliope asked.
"You have this dreamy look on your face." Meg replied. Calliope flushed as red as her hair, and ushered the young ballerina onstage, grinning like mad.
Raoul sat in Box 5, watching the opera below. He was tense, watching closely for any sign of the Phantom coming after his beloved. Looking down at the dancers, he was amazed to see Mademoiselle StClair dancing at the front of their numbers, her movements graceful. She moved as if she had been dancing like that her whole life.
"Incredible. I never knew Roux could dance like that." he breathed, watching as the costume mistress moved alongside Christine, the pair moving in perfect harmony.
"My beloved muse is full of surprises." a voice from the shadows answered, making the Vicompt jump. He turned to face the Phantom, hand on his sword, when the masked man held up his hand.
"Peace, my good man. I have no intention of spiriting away your fiancée. I have eyes only for my lovely muse." he said, his gaze locked on the beautiful woman dancing onstage. Warily, Raoul sat down again, watching the rest of the opera. From time to time, he would glance at the other man in the shadows. The Phantom was watching with an almost disinterested air, considering it was his work being performed. That all changed whenever the beautiful costume mistress appeared onstage. Then he would lean forward, his eyes locked on the woman's graceful movements. Raoul was shocked at the love and pride that filled his eyes as he watched her dance.
"You truly love her, don't you?" Raoul asked, his voice soft. The masked man looked over at the young Vicompt, a gentle smile on his face.
"I daresay I love her even more than you love Christine." he replied, an amused tone in his voice. When the performance ended, the two women were given a standing ovation. Even Raoul and the Phantom applauded the pair. Christine looked up into the box and stiffened, but her friend placed a hand on her arm and whispered something in her ear. The soprano looked at the older woman in surprise, before hugging her fiercely. Raoul turned and saw the Phantom was already gone.
Calliope and Christine entered the Prima Donna's dressing room laughing. The pair quickly changed from their costumes, Christine into a hunter green gown, Calliope a royal purple dress that lay just off her shoulders.
"Does this mean you are not leaving?" Christine asked. Calliope smiled warmly.
"I am staying. Christine, can you ever forgive me?" she asked. The soprano looked at her friend in surprise.
"Roux, there is nothing to forgive! You have done nothing wrong! If anything it is I who should beg forgiveness! I allowed all this to happen." she said. The pair embraced warmly.
"Let's just agree that we both did nothing wrong." Calliope said. A knock sounded at the door before Christine could respond. The soprano opened the door to reveal Raoul, holding two bouquets of roses, one red and one white.
"Congratulations, Mademoiselles." he said, handing the white roses to Calliope and the red to Christine. Christine smiled and pressed a kiss to her fiancée's lips. Calliope smiled warmly at the pair, her smile growing even wider as she felt familiar arms slip around her waist.
"You were amazing, my love." Erik whispered. Calliope leaned into his embrace.
"Thank you, my prince." she whispered. Erik chuckled, the sound reverberating through his chest.
"I am no prince, my love. But I would be as rich as a king if you would marry me." he whispered in her ear. She turned and flung her arms around his neck, kissing him all over his face.
"Oh, my love, of course I will! And then, you really will be a prince!" she cried. Erik froze, looking down at Calliope.
"What do you mean, my muse?" he whispered. By now, Christine and Raoul were watching them in confused curiosity. Calliope blushed.
"My last little secret. My real name is Amira Jahad StClair. I am the granddaughter of a sultan. In fact, my mother was his favored child." she explained. Erik was staring at her in shock.
"Roux?! You're a princess?!" Christine cried. Calliope looked into Erik's eyes, a trace of fear creeping into her.
"Erik?" she whispered. Finally, he blinked and pulled her into his arms again. When she looked up at his face, he was smiling dazedly.
"I fear this is a dream I will wake from at any moment." he managed. Calliope laughed and laid her hand on his exposed cheek.
"This is no dream. I am really here, and I am really going to marry you. There is nothing that would change my mind." she replied. Just then, Meg burst into the room, a look of terror on her face.
"Calliope! There is a Persian in the managers office. He said that he recognized you when you were onstage. He's accusing the managers of kidnapping the crown princess!"
A/N: OOOH, I'll bet you hate me now! Seriously, I need some reviews. This is as far as I have gotten, and I am not really sure where to go from here. I could; A. Have Erik and Calliope flee Paris, B. Calliope can face the Persian and return home, or C. Something else. I DON'T KNOW!!!! Hit the green button and tell me what you think!