Chapter 5

Albert de Martin had always regarded himself as a man with patience. In his mind, he liked to compare himself to the slyness, fierceness and strength of a lion. He knew the value of waiting for the opportune moment before striking, staying close to his pray but not making a move until it would be most profitable. When he struck, though, he did it from every angle and by doing so prevented the pray from getting away.

From the moment when he first laid eyes upon Serena Cartier, he knew that he had to have her. She had to be his. It was a quest for pleasure as much as satisfying his ego. What he hadn't taken into account was that she would appear indifferent by his approach. Usually women were flattered or overjoyed when he showed interest in them, but Serena had been neither. Perhaps she already had someone she cared about?

Albert snorted dismissively. If that was the truth, that supposedly existing other man would soon find himself to be out of the picture.

But what he didn't like was that Serena Cartier was found to be missing the day after her song debut with no one knowing where she had gone. She was tired and needed to go to bed, she had said. Well, now it appeared she had decided to celebrate after all – not just with Albert and that was angering him.

When he arrived at the Opera Populaire earlier that morning asking to see Serena, Madame Giry had only shaken her head telling him that Serena was nowhere to be found. The woman couldn't have much to gain from lying to him so he had to assume it was true.

So Serena thought she could be with some other man and treat Albert like he was unimportant? She would soon learn what a mistake that was!

Serena had expected Erik to do a lot of things when his tears finally subsided. She fully expected for him to be embarrassed and refuse to meet her eyes, or to curse himself for letting her see his vulnerable side and act stiffly around her. She had not expected him to regard his outburst as some sort of relief, though. It was as if he had been waiting to do that for so long and that he was actually grateful to her for having evoked it. All the walls that had been dropped earlier stayed down. He didn't close himself off again. Perhaps she had at last proven to him that she could be trusted and depended upon.

"I love this Opera house," he confessed when they sat beside each other on the couch, the fire blazing once again in the hearth.

"You do? But I had the impression that the Opera held only bad memories and that it was more like a prison than a home for you," she replied.

"It was, once," he admitted. "After… Christine left, I wanted nothing more than to die and be released from the pain I was enduring. Life didn't seem worth living without her. At first, I was reminded of her in everything. Every tune I played on my instruments seemed to have her voice hidden in the background. Every object here in my house had been touched by her. Her scent lingered still in the covers of her bed. Wherever I turned, I could see her before me. It drove me mad. Though I knew she was gone for real and that she would never return my heart wouldn't give up hope. I used to see her in my dreams, waiting for me here in the living room and I would wake up and rush out believing she was there, but every time I was met with silence and an empty chair in front of the fire. It tore my heart in two.

And one day I realized I couldn't live like that. I couldn't allow myself to suffer anymore. I could choose the easy way out and simply take my own life or I could try to live again. In the end, I chose the latter. When I reflected upon it, I came to the conclusion that it was pitiful to be drowning in my sorrows like I did. Surely I must have had other interests beside Christine? Admittedly, it had mainly revolved around scaring the stagehands and making demands to the managers and that was not an option for me anymore. If anyone found out I was still alive, they would call the police and have me executed for all the damage I've caused. Perhaps that is what I deserve."

She took his hand in hers, making him turn to look at her.

"No, Erik. You don't deserve that."

He smiled slightly before continuing.

"I still couldn't play my music, but I began to venture outside of my lair, sneaking around the stage just like old times. I was very careful, of course. I let no one see me. I would pretend that the past three years had not happened. I pretended that everything was as it had been before. But I knew it was only make-believe. I knew I could never get away from all the bad things I've done. No pretend would bring the people I killed in the fire back from the dead. I didn't mean to, of course, but I still did. And then one day, when I was creeping around the stage as usual, I saw you. You stood there all by yourself with your eyes closed and a soft smile on your lips."

He swallowed and forced himself to look at her, his nervous blue eyes meeting her brown tearful ones.

"In that moment, my heart stopped. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen and from there on, the memory of Christine began to fade from my mind. I would think of you all the time and though I knew it was not safe for me to let you see me, I couldn't help myself. I had to see you, to talk to you. I figured it was worth the risk only to be released of my loneliness for a while. And then you surprised me by wanting to be my friend. You were not afraid of me. You acted no different towards me than you do to anyone else. I had never played or sung for you so it was not my music that caught your interest. It was only me and the person I am. And when you asked me to take you down here tonight, a part of me began to hope that you…"

He cut himself off, too afraid to keep going; too afraid that his heart would be broken once again. She knew it was up to her now. She could turn away from him, giving in to her fears because oh, was she frightened! It was not him, but simply the fact that she had no experience of love. She was as afraid of getting hurt as he was. No man had ever evoked any feelings inside her before. But whenever Erik was around, her heartbeat quickened and butterflies fluttered in her stomach.

"Life is like a cliff," her father told her when she was young. "It's all about having the courage to take the leap."

So she took a deep breath – and leaped.

"You intrigued me from the moment I met you as well. I couldn't see you properly when you stood there in the shadows. I could only estimate your height and make out your black cape. Your voice held me captivated immediately. It amazed me how easily you could read me and the following weeks I kept an eye out for you wherever I went, hoping to meet you again. And then I caught sight of you up on the catwalk that day on rehearsal. Without a second thought, I went up to see you, a part of me suspecting that you were the Phantom of the Opera from everything that Meg had told me. I agreed to meet you that night. I knew you would never hurt me and I trusted you enough already to dare to be alone with you. You made me laugh and I longed to see you again. And then I got the chance to sing on the stage, like I had always dreamed to, and suddenly I was both nervous and scared. But I knew everything would go well when I knew you'd be there to listen. I pretended I only sang for you and all my nervousness disappeared in a heartbeat. I knew exactly what I asked of you when I begged you to take me with you down here tonight. I asked you to forget Christine and trust me. I asked you to depend on me not to abandon you. And you did. You trusted me, you welcomed me into your house and you spent the better part of the night trying to beat me in chess."

He chuckled at that and the small sound gave her the courage to go on.

"When I held you a while ago, butterflies fluttered in my stomach and something my father said to me when I was young flashed across my mind. I tried to pinpoint that scent that surrounds you and suddenly recognized it as the scent of a kind of flower I would pick beside our house in my childhood. My mother called them Moon tears and my father would say to me that it was the scent of adventure. The kind of scent that promises you danger and hardship but at the same time the greatest happiness you will ever know. To tell the truth, I am scared to death right now. I have never been in love before but I also know that I would spend the rest of my life regretting it if I didn't dare to take a chance on this."

And so all the words where said. They sat gazing into each other's eyes, neither of them knowing what to say because whatever sentence appearing in their heads seemed to be superfluous.

"I do trust you, Serena," he said after a while. "I trust you enough to reveal my entire face to you, fully knowing that you might turn away from me like everyone else has done."

Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and reached up to take off the white mask that covered the right side of his face. Maybe it was because she was already in love with him, but whatever she had been expecting to see behind the mask it was certainly not this. Sure his face was scarred, red and embossed as if caused by fire, but the sight did not scare her. When Meg had spoken of the true face of the Phantom, Serena had expected to see a monster. This was just… Erik.

"I thought you knew by now," Serena whispered and gently placed her hand on the scars. "I am not like everyone else. I won't turn away from you. I love you."

His eyes shot open in surprise but she only smiled and reached up to press her lips against his. After a second of hesitation, he kissed her back and she felt as if she could soar to the sky. This was more than she could have ever dreamed of, probably more than he could have dreamed of as well, and she knew her father had been right. This was the greatest happiness she would ever know.

"Serena?" Meg tapped lightly on her friend's door, beginning to worry.

Her mother had told her that Serena was missing from the Opera. No one knew where she had gone; only that she had retired to her room immediately after the show last night. Meg could fully understand that the press from the past week had begun to weight on Serena and had been glad that she went to bed early. After all, it had been Serena's first real show here at the Opera and in an unexpected twist of fate, she had been given the privileged of performing alone on the stage. She had been splendid, no question about it!

But this sudden absence had Meg real worried. Serena wasn't the kind of person to spend a lot of time alone. Perhaps Serena had decided to take the day off, walking around Paris to clear her head. Or perhaps something had happened to her. What if she was in danger? Maybe kidnapped or hurt? Maybe both?

Meg shuddered at the thought. Surely, there was a reasonable explanation to all this. But those two words kept echoing in her head: What if?

So Meg had taken it upon herself to take a look around Serena's room, maybe keep an eye out for clues. Like if there were any signs of struggle or any strange bloodstains. Meg had to suppress a nervous giggle. She had obviously heard too many murder case stories from the stagehands. Still, it couldn't hurt to be sure, right?

No one answered when she knocked, so she tried to turn the handle. The door opened easily and Meg took a quick look around her before slipping into the room. It was dark inside; all the candles put out. She reached for the box of matches in her pocket and lit the candle on the bed stand, thereafter using it to light a few more. That taken care of, she surveyed her surroundings and reluctantly had to admit everything looked normal. The room was clean and tidy and the bed was made. Maybe she hadn't gone to bed at all?

Meg walked over to the closet and peeked inside. The nightgown was gone and the beautiful dress Serena had worn when she sang last night hung neatly on the inside of the door. So Serena had changed into her nightgown and then decided to take a stroll around Paris? No, that didn't seem likely. Either she had been taken away forcefully, or she had wandered off on her own free will. And if she was dressed only in her nightgown, she must still be inside the Opera house.

A growing suspicion in her stomach made Meg turn towards the full-length mirror on the wall. Last time, with Christine, the mirror had been slightly ajar. There was no opening in this mirror that she could see, but what if she would…?

Meg hesitantly placed her hands on the mirror and gave a gently push inwards and to the side. Without a sound, the mirror slid to the side to reveal a dark passageway behind it. On the floor of the passageway, a few fresh, dark red rose petals lay; the small, silky things almost mocking her with their presence. How could she have been so stupid as to believe it had all been over three years ago? They never did find his body, did they?

Meg stared at the petals with her eyes big and mouth wide open, fear overtaking her mind. He was back. He wasn't dead. He'd been there all along. And he had taken Serena.

With a fearful gasp, Meg turned on her heeland rushed out of the room.

Later that afternoon, the man Albert had sent to the Opera house to investigate Serena Cartier's disappearance reported that Miss Cartier had returned. According to the man, she had been inside the Opera all the time but explained to everyone asking that she had needed some time alone. Women sure could be strange sometimes and Albert wasn't in the least pleased that she hadn't even returned from her solitude when he came to visit that morning. She must have heard that he was looking for her, but pretended that she didn't. Oh, well, the important thing was that she hadn't spent the night with a lover. That meant the field was still free for Albert to make a move.

As soon as he learned of her return, he ordered a carriage and hastened to the Opera. On the way, he stopped only to pick up a large bouquet of white roses. He was admitted entry to the Opera instantly, the two managers André and Firmin practically throwing themselves at his feet, groveling. Seemed the Opera could always afford a few extra sponsors; especially after Vicomte de Chagny had withdrawn his involvement with the Opera Populaire three years ago. Oh, Albert could sponsor, alright. If he got something in return, that is. Say… Serena, for example?

This wasn't something he shared with the managers just yet. He preferred to try and win her on his own before turning to threats and blackmail. But that would hardly be necessary. She'd come around sooner or later. Fame got to everyone on some level. Soon she'd begin to wish for expensive dresses and jewelry and who could better provide that for her but Albert?

He was so busy musing over his thoughts that he almost missed the hurried whispers and faint giggling that came from ahead. He slowed down, making his footsteps soundless and crept closer. What he saw made his vision turn red with anger.

Serena stood talking with someone he couldn't quite make out but it was without doubt a man. The person stood partly hidden in the shadows and only his black cape and dark suit was visible. Albert was good at estimating opponents and this man seemed both fit and slightly muscular. There was a dangerous aura around him, making it obvious to Albert that this wasn't just any man. This one would be a real fighter if you moved in on him in the wrong way.

Albert couldn't hear what they said to each other and his hands curved into shaking fists when he saw Serena smile softly and reach up to kiss the man. They said something more and then they parted ways, Serena walking back towards her room.

Albert sank down on a nearby chair, the bouquet dropping to the floor. So it had been another. That man thought he could have Serena for his own.

Unfortunately for him, Albert already had his eyes on her and he was known to never give up. Forget all the plans about winning her love fairly. It was time to move on to threats and blackmail. Whatever the cost, Serena would be his and that man would be taken care of. In one way or another.

A/N: The story's beginning to speed up, isn't it? I'm hoping to get some more action and excitement in the following chapters. Keep a look out for Serena's brother in the next chapter! I'm planning on introducing him. Anyway thanks tomegumisakura for your review! Please, R&R and I promise to update soon. Oh, and Happy Easter everyone:D