A/N: I'm really sorry about the long wait! I meant to update it two weeks ago but somehow I never had the time to finish the chapter. A lot's going on in school right now with tests and so on, so I guess that's the reason. I hope you'll forgive me.

Also, thanks a lot to Illandrial and sbp for your reviews! You guys are the best!

Chapter 6

Pierre Morel was a man not bothered by the concept of what was right and what was wrong. He was quite an ordinary man; fitting into any crowd without problem. Contrary to what you might believe of a man like him, he had no outer features that gave away his ruthlessness. His hair was not greasy and straggling and his nose was most certainly not crooked or decorated with warts. To tell the truth, Pierre was a pretty handsome man with golden hair and clear blue eyes, like the sky on a sunny summer day. Depending on what situation you should meet him in, you would either take him for a good-looking apprentice at one of the many shops in Paris or a handsome aristocrat. If you should see him at a ball, you would never suspect what a cool and calculating mind that was hiding behind those innocent eyes. Pierre looked like a man you could trust, a man you could easily fall for even, but what a mistake you would make to do so.

They say that the people most insane look like someone you would never suspect, right? That a person you had as a neighbor for ten years and you thought you knew from the inside and out, one day could turn around and torture several people to death and you would still be incapable of believing that person could have done something like that. That's the greatest strength of someone willing to bend the rules, someone not bothered by murder as long as he gets paid; you would never suspect him. And that's how he can carry on his business all his life without being stopped.

In fact, Albert de Martin had found Pierre's services to be of use a number of times. Whenever he needed acts of violence to be carried out and people to be taken care of, Pierre was the one he would call upon. And Albert was very generous with payment for a job well-done. Throughout their years of cooperation, some sort of friendship had been forged between the two of them. Both of them had use of the other and knew what benefits that came from working together. Albert knew that his wishes would be taken care of swiftly and unnoticed without any loose treads leading back to himself and Pierre knew that there was much, much money to earn by following Albert's biddings.

Therefore, it was not surprising that Pierre was the man Albert would send for when he had the picture of what needed to be done worked out for him. The identity of the mysterious man needed to be revealed and then he needed to be silenced immediately.

Pierre nodded to show that he had understood, sitting on a chair in front of Albert's desk in his study but couldn't help to ask a question - something he had never done before.

"Why this girl, Albert? Why do you want this girl so badly that you are willing to turn to murder and paying greats sums of money for it? I'm not complaining, mind you, I could always use more money for we both know I have quite extravagant taste but why not go for some other girl? They practically throw themselves at your feet!"

Albert rose abruptly from his chair and turned his back on Pierre to look out the window. He was silent for such a long time that Pierre began to shift uncomfortably on the chair, wondering if he should make a run for it.

"She haunts my dreams every night," Albert said at last, his voice barely a whisper. "Wherever I turn I see her, her eyes mocking me, telling me I can never have her. In the beginning I only wanted her to play with; to conquer and then discard, but it's not that simple anymore. I want her for keeps and I'll get what I want in the end. I always do. She can turn me down over and over again but I'll have her sooner or later. I don't even care if I have to rape her or keep her imprisoned. No method is too hideous; no price is too high. I'll get her. She'll just wait and see. But, my dear Pierre-"

Albert turned back towards him, his eyes dangerously chilly,

"- I'll never get her if you don't get a move on and kill her little friend."

Pierre nodded again and hurried out, knowing it would be to push his luck if he kept asking question. He couldn't quite picture to be that obsessed with one woman. Why, he just had to take a stroll down specific alleys and pay a small sum to be with beautiful, warm, soft women any night of the week! No promises, no tiring courtship; just one night and then it were all over and the next night he could pick someone else.

That's the way he liked it and only recently that had been the way Albert liked it as well. But ever since he went to that last Opera, he had changed. That Cartier woman had turned his head with some exceptional beauty she was said to possess and Pierre feared that if his friend didn't come to his mind and realize what he was doing pretty soon, there would be no going back. He would risk losing everything; his name, his fortune, his business, his life just to get one bloody woman when there were so many of them.

Well, that was just plain insanity from Pierre's point of view.

Rehearsals for the next Opera began the following day. The managers had made more profit out of the last one than they ever thought possible and were eager to get everything started again.

Strangely enough, Meg didn't come by to pick Serena up that morning. Not once during all the months that had passed since Serena came to the Opera Populaire had she failed to show up. Perhaps she was ill?

Serena hurried down the corridors towards the practice rooms, repeatedly being halted along the way by people working at the Opera who wanted to know where she'd been before when everyone thought she was missing. She really didn't know what to tell them. "I just took a stroll down to the Phantom's lair who, by the way, ISN'T DEAD, to confess to him that I love him," was probably not the best thing to say, even though it was the truth. So she stuck to the story that she had needed some time alone but received only doubting looks in return. Apparently, they found the story as unlikely as she did but it was the best she had been able to come up with. It wasn't as if she cared about what these people thought about her, anyway.

But what about Meg? There was nothing about Serena that Meg didn't know, apart from the whole Phantom business, that is. They shared everything with each other. Should she tell Meg the truth? The thing was, Serena still remembered quite clearly the frightened look upon Meg's face when she told Serena about the Phantom of the Opera. It was obvious that Meg was still afraid of him, even though he was believed to be dead. So what would Meg do if she found out that her best friend was in love with the Phantom?

"Probably drag me off to the Psychiatric Ward while hysterically calling for the Police," Serena thought dryly but immediately regretted the words.

Meg would never be hysterical. Was there a way to explain the situation to Meg so she would understand? Maybe, but how?

Serena stored the problem to the back of her head to ponder upon later. Right now, she had rehearsals to think about. Hopefully, everything would work out fine in the end.

Madame Valet, the vocals teacher, gave Serena a questioning look when the young chorus girl walked through the door.

"Miss Cartier, what are you doing here?"

Serena faltered in her steps, suddenly nervous. Had the managers been so angry with her absence that they had decided to throw her out of the Opera?

"Um, shouldn't I be here?" Serena asked.

"No, no, Miss Cartier. After a performance like yours last night, do you really think Monsieur Andre and Monsieur Firmin would allow you to go back to be a mere chorus girl? No, they were so pleased that they decided the Opera Populaire should have two Prima Donnas! Monsieur Reyer and Signora Giudicelli are undoubtedly waiting for you on the stage. You must hurry!"

Completely at loss for words, Serena did as she was told and hurried off to the stage. So now she and Carlotta were both Prima Donnas? What would the self-centered loudmouth think about that?

The answer to her question was provided as soon as she dashed out on the stage and found Carlotta eyeing her the way a wolf would eye its dinner. This would not be pretty.

"Ah, Miss Cartier!" Monsieur Reyer said happily. "We were beginning to wonder if you would show up at all."

"Yes, I'm sorry, Monsieur Reyer, but I didn't know I was supposed to be here. Madame Valet informed me just a moment ago."

"I see. Let's get started then, Miss Cartier – Signora Giudicelli."

Carlotta's face darkened when Serena's name was called before her own, but she didn't say anything.

"Miss Cartier, would you be so kind as to sing some scales for me?"

The fact that Serena was picked before her as well did nothing to lighten Carlotta's mood. The rehearsal in itself was uneventful, but Serena almost dreaded the end of it. The only thing to have kept Carlotta from throwing herself at Serena was Monsieur Reyer and as soon as he left, Carlotta would have a thing or two to say.

She was not mistaken. The moment Monsieur Reyer announced that they were done for the day and left, Carlotta whipped around to face Serena with blazing eyes.

"Who do you think you are?" She hissed. "Do you think you can take my place as Prima Donna just like that?"

"You have no reason to blame me for it," Serena replied. "It was the managers who made the decision, not me."

"Well, you would hardly complain, would you?" Carlotta said bitterly.

"Would you?" Serena shot back.

Carlotta snorted and reached up to make sure her hair was still perfect.

"Oh, well, I will not have to put up with you long. Christine Daae thought she could steal the light from me as well, but she left with her tail between her legs soon enough, didn't she?"

"That was hardly your doing," Serena said. "It wasn't as if she left out of fear for you. She left because of the Ph… because of other reasons."

"The Phantom, you mean? That stinking, cold-hearted murderer that died three years ago? That bastard got what he deserved! A most vicious sight he was to behold when Christine ripped off his mask on this very stage. He looked like the Devil himself and I hope he went straight to Hell!"

"You take that back," Serena whispered angrily.

"What's it to you? That was before you came here anyway."

"You take that back! He wasn't a cold-hearted murderer and not a Devil!"

"No!" Carlotta screeched, making Serena jump in surprise over the sudden sound. "If he wasn't a murderer, then how come my Piangi is dead?"

Serena's anger vanished instantly and was replaced with sympathy.

"He didn't mean to kill Piangi. It was an accident," Serena said and touched Carlotta's arm.

Carlotta took a step back to avoid the touch and blinked furiously to hold back the tears threatening to fall.

"Murder or accident, what's the difference? Piangi's still dead."

Once Serena was alone on the stage, she sat down on some sort of requisition for the next playand sighed. She knew what Erik had been responsible of doing three years ago and she loved him, but it was hard when she was faced with the consequences of his actions like this. It didn't make her love him any less but it made her sad to think about all the pain and sorrow he had caused. The knowledge of it probably hurt him more than her, but still…

A faint thud behind her made her realize she wasn't alone anymore.

"Did you hear it all?" She asked, without facing him.

"Yes," he replied and she closed her eyes.

They were silent for several minutes. Then she opened her eyes again.

"I wish I could have protected you," she whispered. "I wish you hadn't heard what she said."

A warm hand squeezed her shoulder and she was surprised to see that he didn't wear his black gloves for once. She turned to look at him, his eyes dark pools of pain, but he still tried to smile for her sake.

"Carlotta's pain is my doing, however accidental Piangi's death was. I should be reminded of my actions. I will have to live with the guilt for the rest of my life. It's my burden to bear. But I will not allow you trying to bear it for me."

She got to her feet.

"I cannot help it. The ones you love, you want to protect. I want you to be happy, Erik. You've been through so much and I want you to smile, not cry."

She took a step forward into the protecting frame of his arms. He hugged her close, inhaling her scent. He wanted this to last more than he had wanted anything in his entire life. He had never been this happy before. Even though he trusted her when she said she would always be there, life so far had taught him that everyone left sooner or later. So he imprinted his moment in his memory forever; the way she fit so perfectly in his arms, the way she looked when she smiled, the way she smelled of flowers.

"How I love you, Serena," he breathed.

"I love you, too," she replied.

They looked into each others eyes and she smiled when his lips descended upon hers. She would never tire of kissing him. Then, suddenly:

"Serena? Are you there?"

They hastily broke apart, Serena's eyes wide with fear.

"It's Meg!"

Erik nodded and smiled one last time before disappearing into the shadows. Serena took a deep breath and turned around.

"Yes, Meg, I'm here."

Meg appeared before her. Was it just Serena's imagination or did Meg eye the shadows as if searching for something?

"I was beginning to wonder if you were ill when you didn't show up this morning," Serena said.

Meg didn't reply. She studied Serena for a few moments in silence.

"Where were you last night and this morning?" She asked abruptly.

Serena was completely unprepared for the question.

"I… I just needed some time alone."

"So you decided to take a walk around the Opera dressed only in your nightgown?" Meg inquired disbelievingly.

Serena didn't know what to say.

"Why do you lie to me, Serena? I thought we were friends?"

"We are!" Serena assured.

"Really? Then why don't you tell me the truth? Why don't you tell me that you were down in the Phantom's lair the entire night?"

Serena gasped and took a step back. Meg knew! Oh God, what had she done? Had she called the Police?

"Why didn't you tell me that the Phantom was alive?" Meg continued. "Why didn't you tell me that you'd met him and that you willingly spent some time with him? How, Serena, can you protect that murdering madman?"

A/N: So what do you think about it so far? I know I said Serena's brother would be introduced in this chapter but he had to wait. I thought Serena's confrontations with Carlotta and Meg was more important. Please R&R! Love you all!