Erik took Gustave on a tour of the Opera house below sea level leaving me free to explore this foreign world. The Opera Populaire had been rebuilt to an expect replication of my old home. But the people were all new. Monsieur Firmin and Monsieur Andre had moved to Italy where the junk business was at its highest. After the fire most of the stage hands moved to other theatres. A few ballerinas stayed behind. I could hear their whispered fears when they saw me. But I continued walking. I knew where I was going. I rounded the corner and found the old chapel. It was untouched by the fire and therefore never needed remodeling. I sat on the ground before the candles and lit my father's. His picture still sat there among the other lost loved ones. I said a prayer for him and then blew out the candle and pulled his picture from the frame that sat above his candle. I carefully place his photo in the bodice of my gown. I rose from the ground and went looking for my old dressing room.

I gave the door light knock and then slipped inside. Everything was exactly as I remembered. The wallpaper contained the same pattern. The rug was as fluffy as I remembered. Each breath I took was full of flowery smells of freesia, lilac, and roses. My curiosity got the best of me and I found myself walking to the full length mirror hanging on the wall. My fingers gently touched the cold glass and began to slide it from its usual place. It groaned in a dark manner. But what was behind the mirror was solid. I pushed the mirror completely and stared in horror. Erik's old passageway to my dressing room had been closed up brick by brick.

"What are you a doing in my room?!" I quickly shut the door before they could see what I was up to. I turned and saw the single person I had been dreading since I had arrived in France. Standing before me was the Opera Populaire's very own prima donna diva, Carlotta Giudicelli. She was adorned in beautiful custom costume for the Opera's newest show, Faust. When she saw my face I saw her freeze in fear. I took a step toward her and she took one away from me. "What are you doing here?! You need to leave!" Tears fell from her cheeks sending black river of makeup across her face.

"Carlotta, I'm sorry! I didn't mean for you to get hurt!"

"I did not get hurt! You know who get hurt? Piangi! He is dead! He is in ground! And it is your fault!" She slapped my cheek with every bit of anger she had been storing within her for nineteen years. I stumbled back and fell to the floor. I instinctively grabbed my cheek. I winced at the pain that coursed through my body. I could taste the salty blood that fell from my ripped lip. Carlotta fell into a chair and began to cry.

"I'm sorry, Carlotta. It was not my intention. I did not want anyone to get hurt!" She wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand.

"Well it seems your childhood sweetheart has married another and replaced you. Perhaps you shall get what you rightfully deserve!"

"I'm so sorry!"

"No you are not! It wasn't enough that you have to steal my roles, no you have to kill my happiness and steal my love. You sick monster!"

"I did not steal your roles! And I was surely not the person who killed Piangi! You have always hated me for so long and I have never done anything to you!"

"You do not understand, little girl. You have never been replaced by the younger model."

"I never wanted to replace you, Carlotta. I used to look up to you. You are so beautiful and talented. As a child you were who I wanted to be."

"Well congratulations you succeeded." I rose from the floor and walked to the door. "I do understand that you did not kill him. But he did die because of you and I will never forgive you for that."

"Well, perhaps it is not your forgiveness that I came looking for." I turned the knob and left. I was sitting on the sidewalk with my head resting in my hands when Erik and Gustave found me.

"Mother you will not believe everything I saw! Here, Papa brought this back for you." I looked up to see that Gustave had place a music box in the shape of a barrel organ with an attached figured of a monkey dressed in Persian robes, playing the cymbals, still in working order, in my lap. My wound it up and the monkey played the same haunting melody from those many nights ago.

"It's lovely darling. But I think it is time to be heading home." Gustave was quick to display his disappointment.

I sat staring at my reflection in the mirror. My mascara had run down my face and left black smears across my cheeks. My pulled out the last pin and watched my long brown curls cascade around my shoulders. I wiped at my eyes one last time and tried to smile back at the pitiful creature in the mirror. Once we got home I tucked Gustave into bed as Erik showed our friends where their rooms would be. After Gustave was tucked safely in bed, I locked myself in the bathroom and let my fear and anxieties rush over me. I didn't fight the tears anymore.

I turned on the sink and splash water in my face. I calmed my shaking body and wiped the mess of makeup from my face with a warm, wet towel. I let myself fall gently to the ground. The cold tiles chilled my legs and soothed away my headache. My hand slipped against a towel sending it to the floor. A small white envelope slipped out of it. The hair on the back of my neck rose as I pulled the paper out.

I hope you are enjoying your room. I know that I will. I am going to miss you so much! I love you, Christine. You and Erik have been so kind to me. I wish there was some way to repay you. Thank you so much for always being there for me.

With Love,

Vicomtess Meg De Chagny

My muscles relaxed and I let out the breath I had been holding. Why did I always have to be afraid of what was going to be around the next corner? There was a soft knock on the door.

"Christine?" I got up from my spot on the floor and unlocked the door. Erik had his arms around me in a second. "Are you alright, Christine? I was afraid of asking you earlier. I did not want to upset Gustave. What happened?"

"I ran into Carlotta today." I felt him relax instantly.

"Oh? What happened?"

"She blames me for Piangi's death. She hates me Erik." I felt the hot sting of tears.

"I am sorry, my love. I had lost all sanity back then. I did not mean for anyone to-" I looked up into his regretful eyes.

"I know Erik." He held me tight against his body. His heart pounded hard against his chest. It echoed in my ears and bounced around in my head. He rested his head against mine.

"I love you my Christine." I could feel the change as my heart set pace to his.

"I love you too Erik."

"I forgot to tell you how beautiful you looked today, Christine."

"How could you even call me beautiful after you saw Meg?"

"Easily." I smiled up at him and he met my lips with his. I wrapped my hands around his neck pulling his face closer to mine. I need him. I need the feel of him. I needed the scent of him. His fingers wrapped themselves in my curls. My hands slipped down his neck and into his jacket. They slipped beneath the fabric of his jacket. He untangled his hands from my hair and let the jacket slip off his arms. His hands found my cheeks and pulled my face even closer to his. My kisses became even more aggressive. I bit his lip and I could taste the blood. I pulled back from him, embarrassed.

"Oh, Erik! I am so sorry!" His arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me back towards him.

"Don't worry about it, Christine. It is not my safety I am worrying about right now." My lips feverishly found his once more.