Alright! New chapter! Enjoy :)

"Quit! You're aunt can get better, we need you here for the work! You're the best at the job!" Andre yelled, Firmin shook his head at the unknown false story. Eva bowed, "sorry, but my duty is my duty," Eva smiled as she took the last pay of 450 francs, "I bid adieu, Monsieurs". Erik watched from the shadows, and dropped a letter telling them that he'd found a new star, as Eva dressed into one of her dresses and headed down to the lair. The lair was a little colder than she remembered, but she had only been here a short time, and would get used to it. Last night was nice, after he led her down to the catacombs, he placed her stuff into a wardrobe, and played the organ until she fell asleep. Eva was certain that Erik liked her in a friendly way, it saddened her a bit, but she won't force him to love her. Eva was confused by her new emotions that flooded her head and heart. Erik held a mystery to him, held himself with pride, and was graceful. Evangeline would wait for his return, but in the meantime, she wanted to sing.

Eva stopped before she could start, "Erik? Where are you? Don't tell me you were caught," Eva was waiting, "why in the world would you think that I would get caught?" her head snapped in his direction. Eva smiled, when she did, Erik did the same, when his smile faded, she gave him a confused glance. He waved it off, and handed her food for the week. Eva woke up in the morning to see Erik sleeping, she got up quietly and stripped at the lake. She smelled terrible, Eva grabbed soap from her bag and a tin cup as well as a rag. Erik heard singing and splashing of water as he woke, looking for Eva, hearing her just singing notes. When he went down the stairs and around the corner, what he didn't expect was what he saw. Eva was in the cool water, cleaning. Erik was surprised that when he backed up, he ended up sitting on the organ. Eva turned around quickly, "Erik!" he quickly scrambled around as he fixed and looked at the instrument. Eva ran up to the room, and put on a pair of trousers and a loose men's shirt.

When she came back out, all was quiet, Erik was scribbling on paper as means of distracting himself. "I'm terribly sorry Evangeline," he looked embarrassed, but Eva didn't worry about it, as she started to giggle. Erik heard her and snapped his blue eyes towards her, "it was an accident, Erik, you don't need to apologize! I didn't realize you'd wake up," Eva couldn't stop giggling. Erik smiled shyly, "well," Eva said walking up to him, the top of her head reaching the end of his nose. "Good morning," Eva smiled as she kissed the end of his nose, Erik froze slightly, "what should I wear to meet the managers, something red, blue, or maybe green?" Eva said gathering her stuff, and went to get her cooking supplies. "Lavender," Eva grabbed the food from him and gave him a confused glance, not hearing how he slipped out of the room as she turn her back. "Erik, I don't have a lav-," she turned and Erik stood there holding the corset and dress. "It's lovely, but Erik, I don't wear corsets," Eva said oddly, Erik grinned at her, "no, no, no," she backed up as he chuckled evilly. "Something wrong?" Erik set the dress down on a chair, Eva backed up slowly and started to sprint. "Evaaaaaaangeline," Eva looked back and saw he wasn't following her as she entered the halls. When she turned Erik held her by the upper arms with a triumphant smile.

Evangeline's red hair done up beautifully with crystals and hairpins, the corset and dress keeping her from slouching, and her feet aching from the heels. Eva looked down when they were finished as he started her make-up, his gaze softening. Eva blushed and closed her eyes in embarrassment, Eva felt Erik lean forward and his breath brushed over her lips, but he pulled away instantly. Evangeline blushed at the memory as she looked down at the invitation, the driver stopped and helped Eva out. As Eva entered the opera house, chatter started, as she ignored it what she couldn't ignore was the blonde onstage and the angered Carlotta. "What happened Signora?" Eva asked, "these fools have let rats into my room, I quit!" she said loudly, and the managers turned. "Ah, hello mademoiselle, if you would wait a moment, we are going through auditions," Eva was confused, "monsieurs, I was invited here, it is odd you ask for auditions when one of you invited me to sing here". Firmin and Andre turned abruptly as Eva showed them the letter, the blonde looked at them confused as well. "Monsieurs!" the beautiful but screechy woman started, "you promised I would be a star!" Andre made a sympathetic face. "Madame, you will be a star! She was just joking! Just joking," Andre nervously chuckled. Eva showed them the red wax skull, "I do not allow jokes not when it comes to singing, monsieurs, I assure you". The managers looked at each other, nervous of where he was.

Madame Giry watched the scene unfold before her as Erik snuck up behind her, "what is going on between you and the girl, Erik?" Giry asked before his gloved hand touched her. "Better yet, what happened on the roof? This opera house, your home would've been abandoned if they found the group of dead men up there," Erik sighed. "Those men were after that angel you see over there, I saved her," Giry's eyes went wide, but she seemed to understand. "Can she sing?" Erik's eyes cast downwards in sadness, "I've only heard her heavenly voice once, but it was awhile ago," Giry nodded. "I would like to hear it again if the blonde screeching bird would get out of the way," and so, the blonde woman got offstage, bumping shoulders with Eva on the way and Andre following directly behind her. "Name please," Firmin asked boredly, Eva smiled while answering, "Evangeline Alexander," Firmin wrote it down. "What will you sing for us today, mademoiselle Alexander?" Eva thought for a moment, knowing Erik was watching and wanting to impress him, she smiled, "I would like to sing the Queen of the Night's aria from Mozart's Magic Flute". Firmin seemed interested now, this would certainly be a challenge not to mess up and they wanted her out as soon as possible.

"Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen,
Tod und Verzweiflung flammet um mich her!
Fühlt nicht durch dich Sarastro
Todesschmerzen,
So bist du meine Tochter nimmermehr.
Verstossen sei auf ewig,
Verlassen sei auf ewig,
Zertrümmert sei'n auf ewig
Alle Bande der Natur
Wenn nicht durch dich!
Sarastro wird erblassen!
Hört, Rachegötter,
Hört der Mutter Schwur!"

"Superb!" Madame Giry whispered nearly speechless, Erik's eyes were wide and his mouth hung open until Giry closed it. Firmin eyes were wide as well, "you, my dear child can sing soprano at this lovely opera house! That was fantastic!" Eva smiled, and when Giry turned, he was gone, "let's get you a contract!" Eva followed the nicer of the two managers to the office. When Eva finally left the office, she heaved a sigh, "you have one splendid voice, Madame." Eva smiled at Erik, "I just want to get out of this damned corset," Erik chuckled as he lended her an arm, she gladly took ahold. The door opened abruptly, "mademoiselle! You start rehearsing tomorrow morning!" Firmin started, Eva looked for Erik, but he disappeared. "Also, if you'd like we have a room for a new possible lead, if you'd like?" Eva smiled, "yes monsieur, I'd like that," Erik appeared as soon as the door shut. "You're more like a ghost than the frightful phantom, Erik," he smiled, "yes, but when I'm the phantom, more tend to fear me and give me privacy". Eva stopped when they came to the door, "I'm sure you'd be listened to by thousands of people," Erik commented. "Erik, you're feared but are you listened to? Are you just putting up a strong front to hide your loneliness?" Erik didn't answer as darkness enveloped them.

"It is better to be feared," Eva looked at him as she descended into the boat, "are you so sure?" Erik rowed but when she asked, he didn't know how to answer. Eva ran her fingers in the cool water, "how would you know?" Eva said as the boat came ashore, Erik ignored her. Eva's face held sadness, she didn't know what his life was before the opera, before her. She just didn't like that he felt alone, she knew she hated it.

"No one would listen,

but I'll stay and listen,

to hear as the outcast hears...

Chained into solitude,

Shunned by the multitude,

You learned to listen...

In the dark,

your heart of music,

you long to teach the world,

rise up and reach the world...

No one would listen,

You, alone, could hear the music,"

Erik stopped, listening to her, turning to her, Eva's gold, sad eyes, locked on only him.

"I heard your voice and cried,

'I hear you!'

I hear your fears,

your torment and your tears...

I see your loneliness,

now shed in my emptiness...

No one would listen,

but I'll stay and listen,

to hear as the outcast hears...

No one would listen,

but I'll stay and listen,

to hear as the outcast hears..."

Erik saw Eva come closer as she sang to him, he looked at her intently as her lips came closer.