This will be a fun/ maybe intense chapter too so enjoy!

Who wants to see Erik and Christine kiss in the oncoming chapters! R&R

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"Christine?" Erik replied turning around to look at her and immediately got up and backed away.

"Whats wrong Mon Ange?" she said suddenly worried that he was in danger.

"Did I not say, not to come?" He asked sternly walking up to her and then his gloved hands cupped her face.

I had to see you."

"Oh Christine, How are you managing with your life now?" He said pulling her around so her back faced him and pulled her into a embrace.

She quickly melted into his embrace and closed her eyes. "Good so far, There was something so strange yesterday, I was refurbishing the piano, but had a hard time so I took a break for a little while and when I came back, it was refurbished." She said taking a deep breath "Wait- Did you do it?"

"Yes I did." Erik said in amusement.

"Thank You." She said as she hugged him

"You played "Homeward Bound" beautifully." He said putting his large arms around her small, lean body.

"You were there?" She said suprised and pulled halfway back to look in his emerald eyes.

"Yes, the song was... Intoxicating... I memorized every note and word, you played and sang."

"Can you play it?" She said with pleading eyes.

"Yes."

Erik pulled her gently along with him and sat down and scooted over and eyed her while helping her down on the bench. Erik started playing the beginning notes and then started to sing.

"In the quiet misty morning when the moon has gone to bed,

When the sparrows stop their singing and the sky is clear and red.

Christine watched him intently 'Oh his voice, how could she forget his tenor Angelic voice.'

"When the summers ceased its gleaming, when the corn is past its prime,

When adventure's lost its meaning, I'll be homeward bound in time." Erik sang Seducivly

"Bind me not to the pasture chain me not to the plow.

Set me free to find my calling and I'll return to you somehow.

If you find it's me you're missing, if you're hoping I'll return.

Erik looked at Christine and smiled, closed his eyes and continued.

To your thoughts I'll soon be list'ning in the road I'll stop and turn.

Then the wind will set me racing as my journey nears its end, and the path I'll be retracing when i'm homeward bound again.

Bind me not to the pasture chain me not to the plow.

Set me free to find my calling and I'll return to you somehow.

In the quiet misty morning when then moon has gone to bed, when the sparrows stop their singing,

I'll be homeward bound again.

Set me free to find my calling and I'll return to you somehow.

Erik stopped and looked at Christine.

"Amazing." She said and felt like she couldn't breathe.

Erik pulled back and looked into her choclate brown irises. "I have to go." Christine said suddenly "I need to go talk to Madame Giry."

"I need to go too." Erik said turning his head the other way.

"Where?"

"Away from here." Erik said hoping she'd remember the letter.

"Are you going to travel to different cities in Paris?" Christine said as her legs gave way and she fell.

Erik leaned over and gently picked her up in his arms and put her down on the bench and pulled her into his embrace "Yes Mon Ange, Yes I am."

"Promise me you'll be careful and promise me you'll come back." She said hugging him while tears threatened to fall.

"I will and promise me you'll be safe." Erik said putting one of her stray curls in the back of her.

"I will." She said pulling back out of Erik's embrace and walked to where the corridor is, she looked back and found him watching her, she waved a small goodbye and walked off into the darkness

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Erik watched her go then grabbed all his stuff and Orion and walked out of the Opera House forever.

Once Erik was out of the secret passageway with Orion, he set all his luggage down and one by one put it on Orion's saddle.

He then mounted Orion and took one last look at the Opera House then rode off towards the east of France.

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After Christine talked to Madame Giry, she headed to the De Chagny Mansion.

When Christine got to the mansion, Sophia answered and let her in and Christine immediately went to the piano room and started playing different songs on the piano.

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A week later...

Erik arrived at a little town in France called Bordeaux a few miles away from the Opera House.

"Wow its so beautiful and glorius here, not that Paris is beautiful too. The rivers and streams are glistening, The sky is all kind of colors." He said "The music here that I feel around me is different and usual. But we are moving into the 20th century after all."

Erik dismounted Orion in front of a pub and gave him food and water.

"Wonder whats going on in there?"

He walked in to where a performace is going to start. The music was different

"Their costumes look different." He said to himself "And the star is excellent."

After the performance Erik sat down at a table to think for a moment, as well as get something to eat and drink.

"Oh my God! She was spectacular!" Erik mummered to himself. "But... somehow as she sang she... she..." Erik stopped

The lead singer came and sat by him "Did you like my performance Monsieur?"

"Yes I did."

"Well then not very many gentleman as yourself come here and watch me perform unless there's something on their mind." She said looking at him. "Is there something on your mind monsieur? Troubling you?"

"No I just arrived." He choked out gently.

"Really? From where?"

"Paris." he said as he looked at her closely.

"Paris... the city of love! I went there once." She said as she remembered the time that she was there. "I went there to study ballet, but I couldn't stay because my true passion was singing." She took a breath before continuing. "And besides my family needed me here. So I moved back. Met a monsieur, was engaged, but in long run, he left me, so I have nothing so I work here."

"You could always go back to the Opera House."

"I couldn't, and besides the fire ruined it and will not be rebuilt until they can come up with more money. And their main star that became popular is now gone as what I've heard." She said shaking her head. "She's going to get married soon, thats also what i've heard. To the Vicomte I believe..."

"Yes, unfortuanately." He replied sadly.

"Why? Why does it concern you?"

"I know her and she used to be my student." Erik replied as all the memories of her came back.

"I see. But I feel as soon as she gets married, he will not allow her to perform anymore. I mean that's how it is with all rich people now." She said in disgust.

"What do you mean?" He said now worried.

"Some of the main star for example here in Boudreaux would get married but never perform again because of their husbands. That was almost how it was with me."

"Can't they have their own choice?" He asked thinking about it now 'Maybe?' he thought

"Men who are rich in the world overpower anyone. Us women as well."

"If I were to marry, I would allow my wife to perform if she desired." He said thinking about marriage.

"Tell me Monsieur? Did you ever have a girl on your mind? Someone you considered to marry one day."

He just looked at her for a minute, then all the memorys of Christine flooded his mind.

"Yes I did. But I let go. Because I..." He stopped.

"Let me guess. You let her go because you thought she would be happy with someone else because of you look and wanted her to live a normal life without you in it?"

"That noticable?"

"That and I can see that you must be the famous "Opera Ghost" thats on the run, am I correct?" She said camly.

"Yes but please don't tell.." He said suddenly worried that she would tell.

"Don't worry your secret is safe with me."

"Besides... I've seen worse people than those who are like you. Even if you wear a mask. Which I can see why." She said softly smiling.

"Let me can see that I am..." He drifted off and pointed to his mask.

"Deformed yes. I have a brother who is deformed in the face as well." She said pulling out a picture of him and showed it to Erik.

She put on the table. "I am the only who takes care of him. I find it cruel how people treat others who are different then others." She took a deep breath.

"Wow. Never knew there could be others like me." He said in bewilderment.

"Yes. There are many in this world. But I believe that God made them this way because they have a special gift inside. And may I ask is that another reason why you let her go?"

"Yes I was afraid and angry at her because she saw my face and I thought I was a hideous monster, a beast to her." He replied remebering the time when she saw his face.

"I see. May I see?" She asked kindly.

"I don't know." He stumbled on his words.

"You can trust me."

He slowly takes off his mask. Once he looks at her, he see's that she has sympathy for him.

"See... I don't see your face terrifying at all." She said looking into his emerald eyes.

"Really?"

"Of course .As I said everyone is born differnt. And I am very sure that she isn't afraid of your face." She replied grinning.

"She did mention it." He said remembering that night down in his lair.

"Was there anything else that made you let her go?"

"When she showed me kindness..." He choked out. "And saw through what my life was in... She kissed me. I knew I had to let her go. Because she's too pure,beautiful,and precious and doesn't deserve to stay with someone like me."

"Well. If thats the case. Why did you run then? Is it because of the memories you have with her?"

"Yes. They are." He said looking at the women that was helping him solve the problem.

"You cannot hang memories my friend. Memories last forever. And I am very sure... that maybe she feels the same way about how she can't wish her feelings away."

"Do you love her?"

"That's a ridiculous question." He said chuckling.

"No it isn't. It is a straight forward question. Are you and is that why you ran away? Because you can't stand having to think about her."

"Yes. I love her truly, deeply lover her." he stopped for a moment "But I am also a wanted criminal in Paris. And I know that she is marrying that boy which is what breaks me."

"Well maybe you should tell her how you feel."

"I couldn't." He mummered shaking his head.

"I think you should. You never know and I would do it before its too late. Love will not wait." She said repositioning herself in her chair.

"Thank you, for kind words and advice. I wish you all the luck in the future Mademoiselle..."

"Isabelle."

"Isabelle... thank you." He said putting on his mask and got out of his chair and bowed to her.

"Thank you, Monsieur..."

"Erik Destler."

"Monsieur Erik Destler." She said getting out of her chair and curtseyed then watched him walk out off the pub.

Erik untied Orion from the chain and mounted him and headed back for Paris.

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Tell me what you think, Next chapter will be intense!