Chapter Eight

I had hidden myself away in the piano room thinking of an opera. I bit my lip, racking my brain for ideas. A salty taste hit my tongue and I realized I had been my lip hard enough it had begun to bleed. I sighed and licked my lip. "I know nothing about music."

"Knock, knock," Jude chuckled as he walked in the door. "How are you?"

"Oh, I'm alright, Jude," I muttered, smiling half-heartedly.

"We can get someone else to write the opera, if you like."

"Oh, no. That's fine. When should I have it finished?"

"In a week."

I nodded. "A week. Perfect…"

Jude smiled once more and walked out.

"A week," I repeated. I couldn't write an opera in a week! I'd have to talk to Aurora.

Out of boredom I began to play my mother's lullaby on the piano, one note at a time. "Help me, mother." Then it hit me. Mother had told me stories of the Opera Ghost writing a genius opera called "Don Juan Triumphant." Erik must be able to write operas! "What was the song called? 'Past the Point of No Return', maybe… Is that what she said?"

Suddenly a memory filled my head. I was seven years of age and sitting on my bed, but this was back when my mother wasn't leading soprano. She was telling me stories of the Phantom of the Opera.

"And then he took poor Christine down, down, down to his lair beneath the opera house. There's a lake underneath the Opera Populair, darling. He had imprisoned her and told her he would kill Raoul if she did not stay with him," Mother said. She snarled playfully and began to tickle me.

"That's not true!" I protested, laughing. I pushed her hands away. "A lake under the opera house? That's silly, Mother!"

"Oh, but it's true, dearest!"

"Okay, well what happened next?"

"Then Christine found a way to escape with Raoul. They left and the Opera Ghost cried for his Angel of Music."

"How do you know? You weren't there!" I accused.

"Well, no, but I've heard stories?"

"Who told them to you?"

"Meg Giry, the dancer, darling. Now, go to sleep," Mother said. She tucked me into my bed and kissed me on the forehead.

"But I want to hear more stories, Mother!" I begged. "Did you know the Opera Ghost?"

"No, Emily. But he knows you." Mother smiled her face even prettier in the candle light.

"Me? I've never even seen him!" I laughed.

"You can't see him, but he can see you. He sees everything in the Opera Populair. And he punishes those who persecute music," she teased.

"Liar… He doesn't exist!"

"Yes he does. And be on your guard, Emily," Mother said. Then she began to whisper, "He can hear you."

I shook my head.

She kissed my cheek and said, "Go to sleep, now. I'll see you in the morning."

"Wait! What was the song again? Can you sing it for me, Mother?"

"Alright, but just a bit. It's starting to become late."

I smiled.

"The Phantom of the Opera walked to Christine, singing in a beautiful voice: "Past the point of no return; no backward glances. Our games of make believe are at an end! Past all thought of 'if' or 'when'; no use resisting! Abandon thought and let the dream descend!" Raoul watched in horror as Christine Daae became entranced by his voice. Now go to sleep."

I shut my eyes.

"Emily," she scolded.

"I am asleep!" I said.

She chuckled and blew the candles out in my room, leaving.

"Past the point of no return…" I whispered. I understood the words: they meant that Christine would stay with Erik, forever. But she left…

I was beginning to think I needed Erik's help with this, but I was frightened to see him.

I took a breath and got up from the piano. I walked out of the room. Some dancers passed by me bickering and a few men passed by and said hello. I only nodded at them.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

The next day, I woke up and yawned. I lifted myself to my feet and walked over to the bureau.

I rubbed my eyes and looked down. Upon the dresser I saw a rose and wrapped around the stem was a beautiful gold chain. I unwrapped the chain. It was a gold necklace with a rose charm.

I held it up and stared at it. It was beautiful! But who had sent it?

Then I saw the note. I broke the wax skull seal and took the note out.

A rose for my Angel.

O.G.

That was all it said. I looked back at the necklace. The rose was so carefully made... I put it on and stared at myself in the mirror. He was making it harder and harder to say "No." He was so persuasive and charming but gentle and loving… How could I say "No"?

I sighed and got dressed, putting on a midnight blue dress.

I looked at the rose on the dresser top. Why are you doing this Erik? I thought.

I walked back into the piano room and sat down, trying to think. But all I could think about was Erik.

"Gently he carried my soul into song… Singing the darkness of love; Gently he taught me to love and to sing… I heard his voice in my heart..." I murmured, half singing.

"You received my gift, I see," Erik said from the shadows.

I didn't turn around. "Yes."

"You are unhappy?" His voice had more a questioning tone than a stating tone.

I didn't answer.

He walked over to me and took one of my hands, leading me away from the piano. "That song was lovely…"

"What song?" I followed hesitantly.

"The song you just sang. But, if I may be so bold as to ask- Who is 'he'?" Erik said.

"You," I whispered. I immediately regretted answering.

He didn't say anything, but kept leading me away from the piano.

Suddenly we were out of the room. I looked around and saw we were in a dark hallway. There was some light up ahead and he held onto my hand gingerly, leading me through the hall.

"Where…are we?"

"You should know, Emily," he answered, simply.

I studied the hallway. It was so dark… He was taking me to his lair beneath the opera house again! My brain yelled at me to let go and run, but my heart overpowered me and I just followed.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

"Why did you send the necklace?" I asked when we arrived.

He stayed silent.

I sighed. "Erik," I said quietly. "Why… Why do you want me to sing? Why not someone else?"

"You… You heard me. You didn't believe in me, but you heard. No one else did…"

I looked at the ground. My hand reached up and I clutched the necklace. "I am not Christine Daae. You are trying to replace her, but I will never be her."

"You will. I will teach you," he said.

"I don't want to be Christine! I don't want to be yours!"

"You belong to me! You promised you would stay with me!" He grabbed my shoulders and stared me in the face.

"I promised nothing to you."

"What does that world have to offer you? You have no one there."

"I have family in the world. But you took some away from me!" I protested. "You…murdered them…"

"I didn't want to hurt you. You didn't listen until after they were gone!"

"I listened because…I wanted you dead," I answered.

"Then why haven't you killed me?" he demanded.

"Because…" I stopped and thought. "Because I think… I think I love you…"

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Author's Note: Yay for short chapters! I wanted to get this up before Christmas for you guys. So here's your gift!

Sorry it's really short, but I saved other plans for Chapter Nine. That's why. Hope you liked it and hope you review.