Here's where Erin and Erik go at a different level

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In this chapter, the opera is rehearsed and performed. Will it be successful? Find out.

And can Erin and Erik be more than opera writing partners? Find out.

I have some interesting facts about names Erik means "forever" "alone" "ruler" or "peaceful ruler." Erin means "peace." Christine means "annoited" Ironic, isn't it?

Erin and Erik-Right after the masque

Erik and I begun preparing for the gala of our opera, Passion. On some rehearsal days, Erik and watched them rehearse the music and the opera itself.

Madame Giry knew that we were often hidden to "supervise" the rehearsals. She saw me and told me,

"Erin, you've become his."

"No, I have not, Erik is special to me and we are just seeing how our production is processing. And he is doing what I say, for I wrote most of the opera."

"Hiding up here is not his idea?"

"Well, he does. But…. it's not harming anyone. I have kept my promise, Madame Giry and besides we will be using Box Five on gala night. He asked to see to that's done."

"How many weeks before the opera will before gala night?"

"I believe in one week. Have you heard of it?"

"No, and I must know that we will be permitted. We keep our promises by not going to hurt anyone. But I never would."

"Erin, if you want Erik, go to him."

I wished people would stop wondering about him and me. But something had happened, though in the course of the long ten months I had worked and supervised the opera with him-and without us doing anything but working on our amazing opera, I did feel an attraction to him.

I will see, I thought.

"Well, Erin?" Madame Giry asked.

"I….I don't know."

"You do love him but…"

"…I feel I'm not allowed to and I don't think he wants anyone but Christine."

"You have not been forced to be with him and it is something I have never seen Erik do."

I left.

Gala Night!

Erik and I arrived in Box Five and for once, Madame Giry kept her end of the deal.

Christine sang well and probably can sing opera better than I ever shall. I noticed the audience was enjoying it and it was to. Madame Giry also had done an excellent job with the ballet and production was well respected. After Act II, we had an intermission.

We remained in our box.

"My dear Erin," Erik said to me, "I will tell you this. I did not think I would love anyone else, but I do love you."

He pulled out a diamond ring small enough for my fingers and almost as small as the ring itself. (Note: Not the one Christine gave back to Erik, he got Erin a different one)

"A few weeks ago, I bought this for you. Will you marry me?"

I knew he found a way. Send Madame Giry or whomever to get it for him.

"Erik…."

"You don't love me…?"
"I just need a little time…."

I left the opera house and sat outside.

I thought,

He proposed to me, but do I want this now? I just cannot leave him, but I needed a little time. A hard decision. I loved him and I had to enjoy what he wanted from me, but he loved me?

I walked to the bakery, for I decided to buy some bread for the both of us. After buying bread, I entered the Opera House. I sat in one of the front seats, for one it was over, and no one was present.

"Erin?"

"Oh, hello, Madame Giry. Christine."

I thought,

She's always popping in at times. Why now? I just came to relax. Just for a few moments.

'Something is troubling you, Erin. You are here for something. Is it…Erik…may I dare ask?"

"Yes, but I need to relax here."

"What happened?" Christine asked.

"Erik proposed to me-he asked me to. But I need to think about, so I came here."

Another visitor came in. Lynette walked in. My mother of all people!

"Erin, with your successful opera, I have found you a suitor."

"Mother, I have already been offered a proposal."

"To whom? That creature?"

"STOP!" I yelled firmly.

My voice echoed through the House. Suddenly, I felt the whole room shake in fear.

"I have not accepted it yet, but going here has made me understand that I do want to marry him. We belong at this Opera House."

"Go with him, Erin. Let him love you." Christine added.

Lynette thought,

I must do something about this. I'm not letting my daughter marry a creature, a murderer, a horrible thing.

I thought,

I must go to Erik. Now.

I came back to the lair and began singing.

Say you'll share with me

One love

One lifetime

Erik turned to see me. I saw his happiness and sadness in his eyes.

Lead me from my solitude

Say you'll share with me

Each night

Each morning

We both care for each other. And he said,

"And you accept me?"

"Yes, I will marry you."

Erik started walking toward me and we walked to theorgan.

"My mother tried to find me another person and there are times when I want to kill her. But I cannot."

"I know, but now we are engaged."

After placing the ring on my finger, he began to design a wedding dress for the wedding.

Meanwhile, back above, Lynette was furious with her daughter. She said,

"I'm going to have to murder that creature. She will have no husband and have to follow my rules."

Lynette had a pistol in her husband's old weapon closet.

"The wedding will be in a month, I had heard."

Lynette went to her daughter when she was in the Opera House.

"I will come to your wedding. Erin, I realized that you cannot be swayed by my orders. Have you a wedding dress made?"

"Erik has a design that he asked me to send the design to a seamstress. It's been done."

"Okay. The wedding?"

"February 15th."

As the show Passion gained popular ground, it was hard to believe that a denied Opera Singer and a dancer and the Phantom wrote it. It had everything an amazing opera had.

As we headed into February, Erik and I had an amazing engagement. An opera singer cannot handle this.

Then, the day of the wedding arrived. I was not sad or happy. Just content. I wanted to be a good wife, but I never thought I would be marrying him.

Meanwhile, Erik was readying himself for the wedding.

-

Lynette carried her small sack and put her gun in it. Time to kill.

-

My servant at the church dressing room helped me dress. I felt myself once again be with someone I wanted to be with. I was nervous, but I suppose that was normal for a young bride. As I finally dressed, my servant remarked,

"He designed an absolutely beautiful dress for a reason," she said to me.

I nodded.

Then, the reception began.

"Do you, Erik Muhlheim take Erin Richardson Chalet to be your lawful wedded wife? Will you care for her, love her, nature her in sickness, or in health?"

"I do," Erik replied.

"And do you, Erin Richardson Chalet take Erik Muhlheim to be your lawful wedded husband. Will you care for him, love him, take care of him, in sickness or in health?"
"I do," I said.

"And by the power vested in my by the church, is there anyone who has a reason they should not be married?"

Third person POV

"I object," Lynette yelled.

"Mother, why have you done this?"
"If you marry him…"

Then, she brought out her pistol.

"If you kill him, I'll kill you."

"Come on, my daughter, Erin. You wouldn't…"

"Madame Giry, I know what I promised you. That Erik nor I will not harm anyone, but if she kills him, I will make sure she suffers."

I stood in front of my husband.

"Don't make me kill you, too."

"You wouldn't kill me," I replied hastily.

"Oh, my dear young naïve Erin. I wish you were a dancer or an opera singer. You were never what I wanted. And you never followed orders. You disrespected me, you betrayed me, and now you are married and are marrying that."

Lynette brought the gun and pulled the trigger.

And then…

I stood in front of Erik. And it hit me…on the arm. I began to bleed and Lynette simply said,

"You were in my way."

"Erik…."I said, "A promise is a promise. I really made that promise for you. Now something needs to be done."

I slowly limped with my bad arm and grabbed Erik's sword…I took my sword…I took my sword and stabbed my mother in the chest. She fell to the ground.

"And I now pronounce you man and wife," the preacher said.

My arm was wrapped and healed, but a scar was left.

"Erik, I had to do that," I said, "and I love you too much. And my mother did not believe it. She lied to me. She called me the traitor, when she was the one."

"Oh, Erin, we can do this-together."

Soon, I realized that our love was strong. But I often wondered about Christine.

I lay next to him and we fell in a deep sleep.

-

The next morning, I awoke to him playing his organ.

"Erik, I have something to ask of you. Don't get angry at me to ask this."

"Yes, Erin?"

"Take off your mask, for I will see you for who you are."

Hide no longer

Secret and Strange Erik

"You've seen it, Erin."

"And I've loved you nevertheless."

"You want me to take it off…. for good?"

"Yes, I am telling you to do this because you no longer need it anymore."

Think of me

Think of me fondly

When we said this now

Remember me

Once in a while

Please promise me you'll try

Then, you long to find you heart back and be free

If you ever find a moment, do this for me.

Then, he slowly came to me.

Stop and think of me…

Think of the things

We've said and seen

Don't think about the way

Things Might've been

There will be never a day when

I won't think of you!

Erik joined me.

Can you do this?

Can you take this off?

Then, I went to him and took it off. I no longer saw fear in his eyes. No sadness. I felt a sense of freedom, a release from him.

"Erin, you have released me from my prison of my mind."

"I know, but I've killed someone and now they're going to find me."

"But you were protecting me. They cannot harm you."

"That would still be up to them."

"If you're the Phantom of the Opera, what am I, Erik?"

"The Author-no the Writer of the Opera. But no one calls you that. They already know you as Erin, and that's easier to say."

"Yes, it is."

"Let's go."