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The Black Shadow Starling – Nope! Because where's the fun in that?

Clockgirl191 – Thank you! And here's the next chapter.

Seal My Fate

Farren did not say 'I told you so' when Erik returned after his trip to the cemetery frustrated and sulking at the same time. Erik was grateful for the alligator's silence and spent the remainder of that day lying next to her on the shore of his island. He did not care that some rocks were poking into him uncomfortably or that his stomach began to growl after hours of remaining motionless on the ground. He laid next to Farren, her large head next to his, neither saying anything. He was exhausted from being away from her too long and at such a distance. Companions and their humans were not supposed be without the other for too long. It caused the two to become weak. Erik had gotten used to it after Farren had transformed and could not move like she did, but this trip had definitely been the furthest and longest from her.

Erik was angry at Christine but he forced himself to admit that he was angrier with himself. He had tried to get his former protégé to return to him but he should have realized months ago that it was not going to happen. Not after seeing his face, not after the chandelier. Buquet might have been an accident but the three people in the audience that died could not be excused then there was everyone who were injured. He had thought he could become the monster they believed him to be but he could not. He regretted his actions but he could not turn back now. It was too late for that, especially after Christine's apparent lie at returning to him at the cemetery.

He did not realize how much he had still hoped for her return until she had pleaded for him to come to her. The relief and joy had choked the words in his throat for a few seconds then he replied.

But then, the Viscount showed up.

They were obviously together and in love, and Erik had run away in anger at the two and shame for his brief moment of weakness. He ignored Christine's call to him and went back into the shadows of the Opera Populaire.

Hours later, Farren shifted and gave him a side glance.

"You should go inside and eat. You have not eaten anything since this morning." She whispered.

"Why did I think she would come back?" Erik whispered back instead, his eyes not leaving the ceiling of the cavern.

He heard Farren sigh.

"Because you love her, even now." Farren replied tiredly. "You would not have felt this hope and hurt if you did not."

"Love, what a useless emotion." Erik stated bitterly. "We live, we love, we hurt, and then we die."

"Do not say love is useless. Think about Antoinette if you must, Meg as well. They both love you dearly and you them." Farren countered.

Erik let out a tired sigh then sat up. Ignoring the ache of his body from being in an uncomfortable position for too long, he stared out across the lake.

"I should probably write to them. I would hate for something to happen to me during my opera and they never knew what had happened during my time away." Erik remarked.

"Do you think something is going to happen to you?" Farren questioned cautiously.

"I do not know, but it is better to be safe than sorry. I will have to remove the barricade blocking Antoinette's route. She needs to be able to come down here." Erik stated. He turned to Farren. "My only regret for my opera is that you will be unable to see it. Not with your form."

"It is fine. My regret is that I cannot be by your side if something does happen." Farren opened and closed her impressive jaw a couple times, displaying her large teeth. "I could be useful in a bad situation."

Erik sent her a weak smirk. "If the situation turns dire I would hope you would be as far as possible. I could not bear to see something happen to you."

"This is going to be the end is it?" Farren whispered.

Erik placed his hand on her long snout and did not answer her.

The time until his opera passed in a blur for Erik. He spent majority of the time observing the different departments efforts at doing as he instructed. He was impressed by their diligence but then would remember that they were only being so attentive because they fear for themselves. That thought would usually cause Erik to return down below. He removed the stones that he had used to block Antoinette's entrance, but only a couple weeks before the opera, it would not do for her to come early. He would also watch rehearsals and at one point Carlotta made a remark about the opera being trash to which Antoinette cut her off.

"Would you speak that way in the presence of the composer?" the Madame inquired firmly, a scowl in her eyes.

Carlotta made a show of looking around. "The composer is not here, and if he was, I would—"

"Are you certain of that, Signora?" Antoinette interrupted, saying the words slowly.

Carlotta stared at the Madame for a moment but then let out a huff. She remained quiet.

Erik had to grin as he watched the scene. Even now, his dear Antoinette remained in his defense.

Weeks went by and it was finally time for Don Juan to be presented to the public. The performance was schedule to show every night for a week, as Erik had instructed. That first night everyone was tense, Erik had to admit that a small part of him felt pleasure at being able to cause such fear among the employees.

An hour before the opening, Erik observed from box five Andre and Firmin give instructions to the policeman in charge of tonight's squad.

The orders were given to shoot to kill, there was one man to be stationed inside the pit that would have a perfect view of box five, and then all the doors were sealed shut. Erik figured he should have a last bit of fun with the managers before the audience came in.

"I am here, the phantom of the opera!" Erik used his voice to project it across from him. The managers and the policeman turned towards the voice.

"I am here, the phantom of the opera!" Erik moved his voice to the far corner of the auditorium, the people on stage following it, then threw his voice around the entire room. "I am here! I am here!"

He leaned out of the box to be seen. "I am here!"

He quickly drew back in and a second later a gun had been shot, the noise echoing within empty room.

"You idiot, you could have hurt someone!" Andre reproached.

"But…" the young policeman in the pit started.

"No buts," Erik decided to cut in, he leaned back against the wall and allowed his voice to project itself to cover everywhere. "For once, Monsieur Andre is right."

A smirk came to his lips, he added almost spiritedly, "Seal my fate this week. I hate to have to cut the fun short, but the joke wearing thin. Let the audience in. Let my opera begin!"

With that he left his box.

Erik found it incredibly entertaining that the managers believed that he only had one place to watch the operas and that was box five.

Oh how wrong they were.

He watched the show from his hidden spot above the stage. It was not the best view but he was content to the spot since he knew he could not go to his box. The main downside to this spot was that he could not see the audience, not with the lighting and angle of his position.

The opera went as expected, it was not perfect as how he imaged it, but what fantasies ever became exact in reality? The costumes were well-made and the settings were accurately done for what each scene called for. The dancers were on spot, not that he thought they would be a problem, not under the Madame's watchful eye. The chorus could have been better at some parts and Carlotta ruined every scene she was in. He had given her a minor role to not have to hear her voice by itself but every time the chorus sang and Carlotta was one of them on stage, she would raise her voice to be louder than the others which Erik was not pleased with but did not want to do anything that would draw attention to himself, not that night.

Erik was pleased with Piangi for the most part, he had known that the Italian was the right man for the part of Don Juan. He had even lost some weight like Erik had recommended! Granted it was not a lot but his efforts at doing as Erik said were noted. However, some scenes his acting was not passionate enough but Erik was gave the man credit for his effort.

Christine, of course, was a marvel. She sung with the passion and love for her art that Erik knew she had within her. She played the part of Aminta magnificently and the chemistry between her and Piangi's role of Don Juan was, maybe not as intense as the scenes called for, but it was enough for Erik to know that the audience was being affected. Hearing her sing made Erik miss their lessons from many months ago. He had known that she had kept up with her lessons, he had heard the chapel bell go off too often for him not to notice, but hearing her sing now made him yearn to go back to how things were, even knowing that it was never going to happen.

The opera ended and Erik knew that the employees of the Opera Populaire were confused that the phantom did not show himself. After the curtains closed, he took note that when the Viscount came backstage to be with Christine, both of them appeared distraught yet relieved at the same time. Erik did not wait to find out what such expressions could have meant and went back down below.

The next day, he was not surprised to find out that his opera got mixed reviews. Some critics hated it, others loved it. Erik had found out when he roamed the walls of the theatre and people gossiped like people were prone to do. Farren bothered him when he was back in his home to tell her every detail he had experience during his trips and he indulged her. She found the reviews of his opera just as amusing as he did.

That night Don Juan was on stage again, and again, Erik did nothing. He enjoyed the tension it brought, making everyone nervous about what disastrous thing was going to happen. To be honest, he had nothing disastrous in mind, but he liked the fear. He was going to show himself eventually, but until then, he wanted every opportunity to enjoy his opera and listen to Christine sing.

As the week went, the reviews remained the same from a number of prestigious newspapers. The employees got into arguments over his opera as well, surprisingly enough, some of them actually like his work and would defend it when others criticized it. He did not know whether it was because they thought he was listening and making note of who liked it for later use, but Erik still appreciated the kind words. Even if they were out of fear.

He could also tell that the policeman were getting annoyed at Firmin and Andre for having them at the opera house to play guard with the so called ghost that has yet to appear. The two managers were also getting antsy by his lack of appearance but were still able to keep a hold on the squads.

The last night of his opera, Erik wrote his letter to Antoinette and placed it in her quarters where he knew she would find it after the show. The letter contained all the information of what he has done the past few months, going back to the night of chandelier with Buquet's accidental death to the present. He told her that her route was no longer blocked, about what to do with his home and where to find his money from the years of salary he was able to receive and all the trinkets Farren had found in the lake.

While he hoped nothing would happen for her to have to make use of this information, he would rather be safe than sorry.

"We are not the same from when you decided to get your revenge." Farren remarked to him as he got dress for tonight's final show.

"Revenge is exhausting." Erik told her. "My anger towards Christine and the Viscount, while not diminished, was not what it was. I have one last thing to do before I let go of Christine completely. Tonight I will see it done."

"You are putting yourself at risk." The alligator pointed out.

"I know. How do I look?" Erik asked, turning to face his companion with his arms out.

Farren stared at him for a few moments but then spoke.

"Like the most stunning human in the world, with the most beautiful soul." She stated firmly.

"You lie." Erik protested calmly.

"Companions do not lie." Farren countered. "To me, nothing and no one will ever compare to you."

Erik went to her and kneeled in front of her. She raised her head and he wrapped his arms around her neck.

"Thank you." He whispered and Farren made a content rumble in reply.

So that's that. A little depressing right before Christmas but I'm thinking you would prefer that than having to wait until after Christmas? We are almost done with the story, though I'm sure you are aware of that. Just a few more chapters and this will be complete. Next chapter will be in Erik's POV again.

Note, the Christmas fic will be posted tomorrow, that's still the plan. And it's more of a present from me than a Christmas fic, the story isn't actually going to be about Christmas, but hopefully you'll enjoy it anyway. I'm going to name it simply and put the name of the previous fic it's a part of and Epilogue. So basically be on the lookout for a fic tomorrow that reads 'Epilogue: ….' Not giving away which story it's from.

Don't forget to review this chapter and the fic tomorrow. It would be greatly appreciated.

Happy Holidays.