WARNING: If you do not like excessive drama, do not read this chapter. Then again, if you don't read this chapter, nothing in Chapter Twelve will make sense. ;)

Note: For part of this chapter, it will be in 3rd person. Which means Emily will not be narrating. But I will switch back to Emily's narration in a certain part(s).

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Chapter Eleven

Aurora was in her room. She stared in the mirror as Meg helped her with her hair.

"Oh, there's nothing to worry about, Aurora," Meg assured her.

"I'm just so nervous…" Aurora said.

Meg finished her hair and turned her around. "You look wonderful."

Aurora bit her lip. "I'm scared, Meg."

"Of what?"

"That Jude… That he loves Emily," she confessed.

Meg gasped. "Think nothing of it! He loves you and you alone. Emily is like…a sister to him. They've known each other practically their whole lives."

"That's why I'm afraid!" Aurora said. "He knows Emily better than he knows me. And the way he looked at her the night of the Masquerade Ball just… He was scared for her."

"Of course he was! We all were!" Meg said. She took Aurora's hands in a friendly fashion. "Don't worry. I know Jude loves you. Why would he ask for your hand in marriage if he was not?"

"It was an arranged marriage. He never did like the idea…"

"But he came to love you! Emily is just in trouble and he fears for his friend."

"I suppose you're right, Meg," Aurora replied half-heartedly.

Meg smiled and nodded. "Now, I'll fetch Mother and we'll start for the chapel."

Aurora smiled a bit.

After Meg left she looked at herself in the mirror. Her black hair was all pulled back and her pale cerulean eyes looked perfect against the darkness of her hair.

Madame Giry walked into Aurora's room and smiled. "You look lovely. Now, we must get to the chapel." She beckoned for the bride-to-be to come.

Aurora obeyed as her stomach twisted into a knot. She gulped wondering if this was a good idea.

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"Congratulations, Jude… It's your big day…" I whispered, my eyes closed. I laid on the swan bed, listening to Erik play a beautiful song… I hummed along softly. I had been sleeping for a while, as the recent events kept me from rest.

I stirred a bit and my eyes opened as his song ended. I exhaled and got up. My bare feet were cold against the stone floor and I shivered a bit just from the chill in the air.

I walked over to Erik and asked him what he had been playing.

He sighed and didn't look at me. He stared at the keys of his organ.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing of your concern," he replied coldly.

I swallowed. "Will you be watching the opera later today?"

Erik turned to face me. "Which?"

"I… I'm not sure… I was told to write and opera for today, but I could never," I said quietly.

I could scarcely hear Erik's soft breathing. Then suddenly his cloudy green eyes lit up a bit- but I'm afraid to say that they seemed mischievous. "I think attending the opera is an option. Do you wish to attend?"

I nodded a bit.

"Then we shall," Erik said with a small grin.

"You're not lying?" I didn't believe him.

"Would I lie to you, dear Emily?" He got to his feet and placed a hand on my cheek briefly.

"No, Erik," I said. I feared my love for him was deepening as I stared into his eyes.

He nodded. "I'll be back soon." He quickly took his cape and wrapped it around his shoulders and then got in the gondola and left.

I watched him leave and walked back to the swan room. I hadn't noticed it before, but there was an exquisite red and gold dress in the room across a chair.

I lifted it to examine it. It was so beautiful! I had the feeling Erik intended on me wearing it at one point. So before he got back, I put it on. The dress was a solid deep red with intricate gold markings. I walked out of the room and looked around the lair, waiting for Erik to return.

When Erik returned, he didn't see me at first, but when he did he stared at me for a moment.

I looked down at the ground.

"The opera will be starting soon," he announced.

I nodded and gave a brief smile. "Alright…"

Erik licked his lips and walked back over to his organ. He sat there for a few minutes before playing. "Nighttime sharpens… Heightens each sensation… Darkness stirs and wakes imagination. Silently the senses abandon their defenses…" he sang softly.

I stood there listening to him. I walked over and watched him play.

"Slowly, gently, night unfurls its splendor… Grasp it, sense it-" Erik suddenly stopped. His fingers slipped off the keys and he closed his eyes.

I saw a single tear fall from his eye.

"Erik," I whispered. "That was beautiful…"

He opened his eyes and looked at me. "Thank you…"

"What song was that?"

"A song I only play for my Angel of Music…" he whispered.

"What do you mean?"

"Christine… Christine Daae was my first student, but she didn't love me. She never did," he explained. "Then you heard my music and saw my face. You didn't cower. You understand and possibly love me, yet you still long to leave me here."

I gasped silently and turned and walked away. I sat myself down on the swan bed and stared at my hands in my lap. I'd hurt him. Was I always…like this? Did everything I did or say offend him?

About an hour or two passed with Erik and I not speaking. Until Erik came into the room and said, "Do you still want to see the opera?"

"Yes," I whispered and followed him to the boat. He helped me in and I sat down before him.

Point Of View Change

Aurora smiled and Jude kissed her on the lips lightly again.

Jude smiled back as they sat in Box Five, waiting for the opera to start.

"I did make the right choice," Aurora said.

"Pardon?" Jude knitted his eyebrows a bit, with a small smile still on his face.

"Before the wedding…I was telling Meg my fear," she began.

"Which is?"

"'Was', you mean. I was afraid you loved Emily, not me," she finished.

Jude's heart stopped for a few seconds. "You thought I loved…Emily?" He was scared to speak, for he did…did love Emily.

"Jude? I something the matter?" Aurora asked.

He shook his head. "No. I'm just fine."

Point Of View Change

Erik and I saw Jude and Aurora sitting in Box Five.

He scowled as the opera began.

I looked at him. "Erik… Don't do anything you'll regret."

"I won't… Because I won't regret this," Erik said. He grabbed my arm and began to drag be back down a flight of stairs, towards the back of the stage.

"What are you doing?"

He didn't answer, only kept walking.

As I listened to the music, I soon learned that the opera being performed was II Muto. The last time this was performed, Erik had ruined it with his trickery. I was afraid of what he'd do this time.

When we stopped walking, he told me to stay in one place, so that I was out of sight.

"Erik!" I grabbed his arm. "What is going on?"

"The end of this story…" he said, darkly.

I wanted to follow him, but I was scared of the consequences if I did, so I stood where he told me. I could only imagine what he was doing right at this moment.

Once he came back he took my hand softly and began to guide me towards the stage.

Erik led me out onto the stage and I heard multiple gasps from the crowd. I looked around, embarrassed and scared.

Erik turned to the guests. "Good messieurs!" he said. "There has been a change in the opera selection. The new opera will be performed as soon as possible." Erik smiled mischievously and took my arm again, as we disappeared behind the stage.

He pulled me aside and held me, his hands on my shoulders. "Emily," he said. "You've heard the story of Christine Daae?"

"Of course. My mother told me all the time."

"She told you…everything?"

"What do you mean by this?"

Erik looked me in the eye and I knew what he meant.

"Erik, no!" I objected. "I-I won't."

"You will," he said forcefully.

"But…"

His eyes glittered with an unreadable emotion.

I looked at the ground and didn't want to speak to him at the moment.

Erik rushed off, leaving me there. I looked up and dreaded the future.

Point Of View Change

Aurora moved in her seat. "Jude, do something."

"There's nothing I can do…" Jude said.

They watched the crowd, from above, as they all murmured, whispered and talked amongst themselves. Then Jude and Aurora saw police rush into the opera house, armed with muskets.

"I have a bad feeling about this…" Aurora muttered.

"Stay here," Jude said. He got up out of his seat and walked out of Box Five.

He found Madame Giry and began to interrogate her. "What's going on?"

"The Opera Ghost is making the past repeat itself," she answered.

"What?"

"There's not much to it, Monsieur DeLouis," Madame Giry said.

"I have to save Emily. This is my chance!" Jude began to rush off before Madame Giry stopped hi.

The elderly woman grabbed his arm. "No! You must wait! You will have your chance!"

"I have to go now," Jude said, taking his arm from her grasp. He ran off and Madame Giry watched him go. She prayed that he would be alright, for Erik would not take this lightly.

Jude found Emily behind the stage. "Emily!" he said.

Emily turned her head and ran to him. "Jude!"

They embraced in a hug and Jude broke it, looking down at her. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, but we must go," Emily said quickly.

Point Of View Change

Jude took my hand and began to lead me away from the stage and towards the doors of the opera house. Well, until Erik stopped us.

Erik stepped out from the shadows and stopped us before we could get off the stage. "Emily. Where are you going?"

"Away from you, Erik," I answered quietly.

"I beg to differ," he answered. He drew his sword and pointed it at Jude's throat, once more. "Give her to me and you can leave alive."

Jude pushed me towards Erik and I bumped into the Phantom of the Opera's chest. I turned back to look at my friend. "Jude what are you doing?"

Jude only turned and ran away from us two.

Erik looked down at me. "You will not escape your fate…"

"Which is?"

"Your fate will be revealed to you soon…"

"Erik, if my fate lies within your hands, I would rather end up dead," I said.

He looked at me, his green eyes cold and hard. "I wouldn't kill you… But perhaps you wouldn't want your dear friend Monsieur DeLouis to die before your eyes."

"Why not kill me?" I asked.

"I don't need to answer your foolish questions," Erik said firmly. Then he turned and walked away from me.

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"What sweet seduction lies before us?"

Erik and I walked to each other from separate sides of the stage. His enchanting voice lured me in, and there wasn't a thought in my head of turning back.

"Past the point of no return… The final threshold!" he sang gracefully. "What warm unspoken secrets will we learn, beyond the point of no return?"

Once we reached each other he reached his hands out behind my neck and clipped, around my neck, the golden-rose necklace he had given to me. I stared up into his eyes and began to sing as he wanted me to. "You have brought me to that moment where words run dry; to that moment when speech disappears into silence… Silence… I have come here, hardly knowing the reason why!" My voice seemed to suddenly become better than it had ever been. "In my mind I've already imagined our bodies entwining, defenseless and silent… Now I am here with you. No second thoughts. I've decided… Decided…"

Erik's eyes edged me on to sing for him.

I closed my eyes for a brief moment and then sang for him. "Past the point of no return; no going back now! Our passion-play has now at last begun! Past all thought of 'right' or 'wrong'. One final question: how long should we two wait before we're one?"

I could feel everyone's eyes on me as Erik put his hands on my neck and they slid down to my arms and eventually onto my waist.

I took a breath and started singing again. "When will the blood begin to race; the sleeping bud burst into bloom? When will the flames, at last, consume us?"

He then began to sing with me now, and my heart raced as his voice filled my mind and soul. "Past the point of no return; the final threshold! The bridge is crossed, so stand and watch it burn! We've past the point of no return…"

Erik's hands moved back onto my arms and they stayed there. Then he twisted me around so that my back was pressed up against his front. He began to sing softly into my ear, "Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime; lead me, save me, from my solitude. Say you want me with you here, beside you." He gripped one of my hands within his and my fingers were locked in his grip. "Anywhere you'll go, let me go too! Emily, that's all I ask of you!"

I turned around to face him and my eyes were watery with tears as I stared at him.

Quickly my hand reached up and ripped his black mask off. Then, my lips were pressed against his in a passionate and true kiss.

Point Of View Change

Jude and Aurora stared at Emily and Erik in disgust.

"Stay here!" he ordered to his wife. He got out of his seat and rushed off to find Madame Giry.

"Madame Giry! Madame Giry! This has to stop!" Jude said.

"There is nothing I can do, monsieur!" the elderly woman protested. "The Opera Ghost has won!"

"No he hasn't," Jude growled. Then he turned and rushed onto the stage. "Emily!"

Emily turned and looked at him. "Jude," she said softly.

"Emily, get away from him!" Jude's arms locked around her waist and he began to drag her away from Erik.

Erik began to move forward to take her back, but then armed police jumped onto the stage and grabbed his arms.

Emily stared as they began to drag him away. "Erik!" she yelled in desperation. "Erik, no!"

The Opera Ghost didn't turn to look at her, but only went with the men cooperatively.

Emily turned and pressed her face into Jude's chest, weeping uncontrollably. "No…" she whimpered.

Jude tried to calm and comfort her. "Shh… Come with me."

Madame Giry rushed out to them and took Emily from Jude. "You have done enough, monsieur. You can leave Emily, now."

"But-"

She shot the young man a look that said, "Don't argue with me."

He sighed and walked off to get Aurora.

Emily sobbed and Meg rushed to her, and hugged her. "Emily!" she said in joy, but sorrow clouded it. "Oh, Emily you're safe!"

Emily broke the hug and looked at Meg. She gave the faintest trace of a smile. She nodded a bit. "Yes… But Erik is gone."

"He can torment you know longer," Madame Giry answered, cutting in.

"But Madame Giry…" Emily started. "I feel as if I loved him… What do I do?"

"Forget is all you can do, child," she answered. "He shall not strike fear into the minds of the people of this opera house any longer."

Point Of View Change

I nodded a bit. Though I still longed for my Angel of Music to return to me and wondered what fate lie ahead.

Leaving the two women, I walked to my mother's bedroom. I was about to walk through the door when Jude found me.

"Emily!" he called.

I sniffed and turned. "Y-Yes?"

"Emily, are you alright?"

"I'm fine Jude," I said. My cheeks were red and my eyes a bit puffy from sobbing.

"He didn't hurt you?"

"He wouldn't hurt me…" I muttered. I walked through the door, leaving him standing there. I then walked through the mirror-door and down the pathway in the halls of the Opera Populair.

I didn't stop walking until I came to the lake, then I just walked through the water as if it were air, only thinking of Erik.

Once I had reached his lair, I had almost thought he'd be there waiting for me, but he wasn't. I walked onto the stone and then took one of his cloaks. I wrapped it around my own shoulders, and then went to lie down in the swan bed.

Though I longed for rest, I couldn't. The tears still ran down my cheeks slowly as Erik's voice haunted my soul…

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Author's Note: It's good, no? I apologize for part of it, because I tried really hard not to use any big songs from the movie, but I ran out of ideas and besides, I thought using "Past the Point of No Return" worked well. What do you think?

Drama, drama, drama (the main course of this amazing meal)! And I think I prepared it perfectly, for it was delicious. Yes?

Although I think Chapter Eleven is good, I still need reviews to know if there was anything I could have done to make it better and more appealing.

And, yes. There is more Erik and Emily to come in the future! Keep reading, everyone!

-O.G. Knights