I DONT OWN PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

PLEASE READ THE AUTHERS NOT AT THE BOTTOM, ITS IMPORTANT BECAUSE AT THE MOMENT, ALL Erik FEELS FOR ELIZABETH IS FRIENDSHIP, IMTAKING THIS SLOWLY

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Elizabeth didn't really know what to say about what she just heard. She always knew that there was something dark and sombre about her Master, but she never expected this. He was so well educated, so honourable. He didn't act anything like what her mother told her commoners acted. To think he escaped a place that abused him as a child and grew up in the opera house without any companionship.

That wasn't right; humans were not made to be a lone

But this didn't change her opinion of him, no matter what his background. Parentage did not define a person; she herself was a perfect example of that. Elizabeth refused to pity him, she knew better than anyone that when you had the same pride that she had that you did not want pity. Sympathy was another thing, sympathy was something one could accept because it was a common human reaction, she didn't mind sympathy. But not pity. Pity made her feel weak. And if he was like her in any way that it was somewhat similar for him too

But when Elizabeth thought about the pain he must have gone though, her chest hurt so badly and she wasn't entirely sure why.

What a brave, amazing man.

"Now" the Master announced "enough of the past, now that you've heard seen the opera, you now know what people expect when they see one. Your singing is good, very good. But it is not good enough; it is still at the level of singing when it needs to be at the level of living."

She listened to him, completely captured by his smooth voice.

"Stand" he said "and sing The Winter General" he sat at the organ and for a moment Elizabeth thought about a boy version of him, pressing down on a key and running off. She smiled and stood, then took a breath and began perfectly in pitch.

""Fall begins to wane, as the winter general descends"

"I sit and wait, at my window pane, for my lost bird to come flying home"

"Come back to me

Dear heart don't forsake me

I lived my life eternally, so I could meet you again"

"No, no, no, no, no!" her Master said, stopping his piano playing instantly. "It's not right, I said feel the emotion, understand it. You can't sing with such hollowness. The song is about a woman who is in love, but her love doesn't return her devotion, she is about to die and sings this to him." he took in a deep breath. "Now take a moment and try again."

Elizabeth tried again, but received the same reaction as he slammed his hands down "No! Remember how they sang last night, how real it was, your singing is dead compared to that and they are all imbeciles! Elizabeth, understand the music, let it fill your soul and take you far away. Make me believe in her pain."

Believe in her pain, he wanted to feel it? Elizabeth wanted to please him, but she didn't know how. When she heard her own singing she agreed with him, it did sound hollow, it sounded like how verity's piano sounded compared to her Masters. Cold and lifeless compared to vibrant and alive. She remembered how beautiful the opera last night had been and wanted so badly to recreate that.

But how? How could one recreate emotion? The song was about a woman whose love wasn't returned...

Then something came to mind, a little idea. But for it to work, she would need to bring up a lot of sad memories, painful memories. But for her Master, she could suffer great pain of memories she had kept hidden for years.

Could she do it?

She looked into the face of her Master and realised that for him, she would do anything.

"Master, give me another chance" she said softly, her eyes downcast, a part of her didn't want to do this.

He didn't notice as he asked "Are you sure?"

She nodded and whispered "I think I know how to do this." Elizabeth continued to sing

"The summer king, has gone to sleep, his lover spring had died,

She will come once again, when the sun doth rise

Will the winter snow, freeze you more?

Will my love melt you at last?

Can a frozen heart even beat

When it's been broken into shards of ice?"

"My bird. please return, I will hold you to my breast

Let my blood be yours again,

So I may be put to rest

The winter general calls for me

But I want to see your face,

One more time, before I drown

In my own eternal sleep."

Elizabeth blinked and gasped, emotion was spilling out of her, but not good emotion. Memories overflowed and passed over her mind, she closed her eyes in hopes of banishing them, but she had unlocked a gate she wished she hadn't and now she was filled with regret. Was it worth it?

Her Master however looked pleased "Good" he said "that was exactly right, the emotion was there, it was real."

It was worth it.

He reached for her hand "Come, sit and rest for a time, we will continue shortly." Elizabeth gratefully took it, singing opera was quite tiring after all.

He looked at her with a strange expression "How were you able to find the right emotion so perfectly. I expected something close to it, but nowhere neat that amount of passion."

Elizabeth smiled "I only did as you told me; I tried to understand the music and allow it to fill me."

When he didn't answer Elizabeth asked "Master have you ever been in love?" she asked.

He froze, and didn't say anything. After a long time he finally admitted "Yes."

She smiled "You told me to understand the woman's emotions, so I compared it to my situation."

"Have you ever been in love?" he retuned her own question.

This time Elizabeth didn't hesitate "Yes, but he wouldn't care for me."

She looked down.

More silence until he said softly "Tell me."

Elizabeth wanted to refuse, but she knew she could never say no to her Master. She looked up into his face and felt all her secrets spilling out and with hungry hands she tried to catch them before they reached him. In the end the truth came out.

"I was in love a long time ago. I met him when I was fifteen and it was love at first sight. He was very handsome with dark brown hair and bright green eyes. It was love at first sight I could say, I know it sounds crazy, but I couldn't explain it any other way. I thought I finally found the one for me. Over the years I would grow to love him more, but he only ever saw me as a little sister and nothing more, no matter what I did. We got on so well, I was so sure he loved me"

Her Master had a strange expression on his face "What happened?"

Elizabeth tried not to let the sadness show "I was wrong" she said "what happens with everyone? He ended up falling in love with my younger sister. It's nothing new, I'm quite used to being passed over for them, but somehow it hurt more because it was him. I really loved him you know. But I love my sister more. So I gave up and supported them. He and Hermione have been married for some years now."

She said nothing more.

After a while Elizabeth sighed and smiled brightly "But even though I love him, I know that my sister makes him happy and that is what matters, I can give up as long as I know that he is happy. So that's why I can understand what the girl in the song feels."

She sighed again and stood "I want to sing it again" she said

At first the master didn't react, he watched hr with his piercing brown eye and Elizabeth felt as if he could see right into her mind, she wanted to put up some sort of barrier, so he wouldn't see her shame, but she didn't know how.

He finally nodded and they continued the lesson

They sang it four times before her Master was finally satisfied.

Elizabeth now sat in the garden with a book in her hands as she bathed in the light of the sunset. She loved this time. Because it was summer, England was so terrible hot and sometimes Elizabeth did not know exactly how to handle it. but in this time where the sun was going down and the evening air was beginning to chill the area, she loved this.

Elizabeth sighed at the cool air and thought about earlier today.

She really wished she had not told him of that, the memory was so raw and painful, but she felt that he deserved to hear it, after telling her such things of his past he deserved a glimpse into her past.

She had not lied at all about what she said, neither had she omitted anything or denied anything.

Dear, dear sweet Anthony.

Elizabeth had loved him so much.

He was the one to tell her she was as pretty as her sisters, he was the one to say her piano was cute and her habitual love for learning was inspirational. When she was just a girl he fell out of a tree in the park and quite literally, right beside her. And instead of cursing like most men would he only grinned up at her with the most adorable smile you would ever see. Elizabeth had been hooked the moment she saw his smile.

But Hermione also fell in love with him, and really, what man would want a dark haired, shy, know-it-all when he could have a fair haired beauty with social standing and talent?

It hurt her so much when they announced to everyone that they were going to get married, it really broke her heart. But what could she do other than smile and wish them luck, they were so happy. Elizabeth loved Anthony enough to let him go and at least it was Hermione.

Hermione was good, kind, sweet and loving, she would make him happy. If she had to lose her love to someone else, she supposed that it was a good thing it was her beloved little sister.

Although, it hurt more because it was her sister. Because once again, Elizabeth was passed over in favour of her sister.

Would she ever be good enough?

She put down her book and tied not to think about it, but it was too hard. Images of their wedding flashed though her mind. She had been all smiles and laughter, even sharing a dance with the groom and wishing her sister luck.

Why, she had even supplied the something blue for the wedding day, an old tradition of their family. She had acted so happy for them and then later, when no one was around, she had cried into her pillow with until there were no more tears left to cry.

It hurt for so long, what hurt most was seeing them so ridiculously happy. How many times Elizabeth had wanted to scream, she never hated herself more than she did at that time. She cursed how shy and weak she was that she wasn't able to fight harder.

But soon time healed her sore wounds and she became truly happy for her sister and her sisters husband.

Elizabeth had pushed the memories to the very corner of her mind for years and had forced herself not to think about it even though it constantly hurt; she knew when to give up.

But...for the past few months she had completely forgotten about her love, which was what scared her. And the catalyst for forgetting was her meeting her Master. That's why she had no problem telling him and although the memories were painful, they went as bad as before. She was slowly finding a way to move on.

IF YOU GUYS ARE EXPECTING A STORY WHERE ERIK FORGETS ALL ABOUT CHRISTINE SO QUICKLY AND FALLS STRAIGHT IN LOVE WITH ELIZABETH THAN YOU ARE ALL AT THE WRONG PLACE.

ERIK REALLY LOVED CHRISTINE AND IT WOULD BE UNREALISTIC FOR HIM TO FORGET HER EASILY, SO I HOPE YU'RE READY FOR A LOT OF TURMOIL LATER IN THE STORY.

BUT DO NOT FEAR, BEAUSE THE END RESULT WILL BE THAT ELIZABETH AND Erik WILL END UP TOGETHER...PROBABLY

YOU WILL HAVE TO READ TO FIND OUT

AND REVEIW