A/N: What must I do to get you guys to review? 2 people out of 55 visitors review. THANK YOU to you two! Anywho, I am sorry for the terribly short chapter. I didn't know how to drag this out longer, so I kind just got straight to the point lol. I hope you like it! And I promise next chapter will be longer! Oh, and some of you may have noticed that I changed the summary a bit. It says 'LND MEG' there now. It's true, in this story we will have that insane, pitiful Meg as in LND. Except Madame Giry will not encouraging this, Meg will jsut become obsessed with Erik on her own. I thought it could make for a more interesting plot. You'll see hints of her jealousy of Christine and craziness in the next few chapters, but it will really come out much later. Anyways, I'll stop rambling now and let you guys read! oh, and did i forget to mention? REVIEW. Thankyou :D

{Rose Diamund}

Eternally Yours

3. Much Too Beautiful

Christine's eyes widened, anger and shock warred in her mind. "You… I... it can't be…" She stuttered stupidly. She moved her gaze to the floor, then back at Marie, who was staring at her with a hard expression plastered on her face. Her eyes cut into Christine.

"Christine, I know Erik. I have met him, seen him, spoken with him – "

"No, Madame Giry, you know the phantom. You do not know my Angel of Music." Christine's voice softened, thinking of him, "He is kind and gentle. He knows me, inside and out. He understands… he is my guardian. And I cannot – will not – believe he is capable of such wickedness, Madame. It is not possible."

Marie's expression softened, she sighed. This would not be easy. "My dear, ever since you have arrived at the Opera Erik has been fascinated with you. He finds a friend in you, perhaps, someone who will love him and smile upon him. But," Her voice grew sharp, "He is almost never like that to anyone else."

Standing in a dimly lit, cobweb-filled corridor, Erik stared in on Marie and Christine, his body completely numb. What the hell was Marie doing?

"No." Christine replied, her voice was like a razor. "No, my father promised me an Angel. And he has sent it to me."

Marie stood, "You will know soon enough that it is the truth, my dear. I suggest you learn quickly. Your blindness will only be a weapon he can use against you." She began to walk towards the door, then turned and looked at Christine, who was staring at the floor in silence. She left.

"What have you done?" Erik shouted at Marie, slamming his hands down on his desk.

"I told the girl the truth, Erik, we both know she'd find out sooner or later."

"Christine is a darling girl and is in no danger. I can't imagine why you'd think otherwise! I would never hurt the child!"

Marie's tone was calm and cool, but she spoke with a slight edge to her voice and she stared up at Erik with her ice-blue eyes, "That is just it, Erik, she is no child anymore."

Erik turned and shot her a cold, hate-filled look, "And what, Madame, are you implying?"

"I imply nothing, Erik. Only that you have a certain… fondness for the girl."

"I don't like that tone!" Erik exclaimed. "You know I'd never lay a hand on that sweet girl. I guard her from the world and its dangers!"

"There are no dangers for her Erik, just for you."

"Pardon me?"

Marie raised an eye, "You were not treated so kindly, I gather? Or have you forgotten? Christine is not like you Erik! She is pure, sweet, innocent. She is ignorant of anything bad from the world, and I care for her as well! I am there when you were not!"

Erik grimaced, "Kindly elaborate, Madame."

"Were you there to put her to sleep when she had nightmares? Wipe the tears from her eyes when she missed her father? Answer all those silly little questions children have? No! You taught her to sing! You were too afraid to step away from the shadows." Marie shook her head, "And now what Erik? Do you love the girl?"

Erik gritted his teeth, "I was always there for her! She told me things, confided in me. She trusted me. I was just a teenage boy, Madame. Do not forget that. I could not care for her even if I was able! I wouldn't know how!"

"You did not answer my question."

"And what would that be, Madame?"

Marie's voice was low, "Do you love her?"

Erik did not reply for a long time. He turned away from Marie so that his back was facing her.

She gasped, "You do!" She stood and came over to him, so that she faced him, "Don't you dare." She said angrily, "Don't you dare love that girl, Erik. Don't you see? You're wasting your time on fantasies. She's a child, almost ten years younger then you. If you dare to take advantage of that girl – "

"HOW DARE YOU!" Erik screamed, sending Marie jolting backward. "Christine is an Angel above me! How dare you accuse me of this! I would never…" His voice trailed off, and he sat down, covering his masked face with his hands.

Marie walked up behind him, gently laying her hand on his shoulder. "Erik… you cannot love this girl. Do you hear me? I will not see you break your own heart again. She is young and foolish. She is – "

"Beautiful…" Erik whispered. "Much too beautiful."

Marie took in a sharp breath, "That isn't what I meant…"

Erik mumbled something, but Marie could not hear. Then he spoke more clearly, his voice a whisper, "Why would you tell her?"

"To save you, Erik." Marie replied slowly, "To end these illusions and spare you the sorrow." The was a paused, "When did you start…?"

"Only around when she was fifteen," Erik said, looking up with a little smile, "Not before that, Madame, oh no. But one day… one day she was just…" His voice dropped so that is was hardly audible, "Beautiful."

"Angel?" Christine whispered into the darkness of her own dressing room. "Angel – are you there?... I need you…"

"Yes, Christine." Erik's voice came.

Christine smiled into the dark, "Madame Giry came to see me… she… she said the strangest things…"

"What kind of things?"

Christine looked down, "She said your name was Erik. And that… that you were the phantom of the opera."

Silence. Erik closed his eyes, hardly daring to breathe. His name upon her lips was so beautiful… if only it wasn't such a cursed name…

Christine spoke again, "I know it isn't true. It can't be true. You are my Angel, sent from my Father. You are kind and gentle, I know you could not be the Phantom." She waited for him to speak, but again there was only silence. "Because I… I believe that you'd never…"

"Christine."

"Yes, Angel?"

"Please, Christine. Do not call me that."

Christine frowned, "Please, I do not understand – "

"I am all Marie – Madame Giry – says I am."

Christine's vision went blurry, and she suddenly noticed she was crying. When she spoke, it didn't sound like her at all. Her voice was weak and cracked, "But… you can't be – "

"Please let me explain, Christine, my darling…"

And then her Angel sang. His voice so pure she couldn't help but feel calmed and relaxed at his voice – that lovely voice.

"Flattering child, you shall know me…

See why in shadow I hide…

Look at your face in the mirror… I am there inside!"

Christine looked to her mirror; a white mist had entered the room, swirling about. And then she saw him, appearing slowly in the mirror. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with eyes a smoky green and jet-black hair. And on the right side of his face there was a white half-mask. She could not help but stare at him, his voice was seductive, his eyes seemed to be staring into her soul. And her mind seemed to go blank staring into his eyes, those murky green eyes… As if hypnotized, Christine began walking toward him. And then she found herself singing to him.

"Angel of music! Guide and Guardian!

Grant to me… your… glory…!

Angel of music! Hide no longer! Secret and strange… Angel…"

"I am your Angel of Music…. Come to me Angel of Music…"

He held out his hand. Thoughts whirled in Christine's mind all at once, and she stared at his hand for a few moments. But then, hesitantly, she took his hand in hers.