Mia paced back and forth in her room, dressed for the New Year's Bal Masque. "You know what I've been wondering Hazel?"

"What Madame?"

"If Andre and Firmin are so worried about their masked Phantom, why on earth would they have a masquerade? It doesn't seem very bright to me."

"But I thought you and Monsieur Barineau said there was no Phantom of the Opera?"

"There isn't," she replied quickly. "It's just some of the staff taking advantage of their superstitious nature. But they seem convinced that there is. And hypothetically speaking, if there was a Phantom to be worried about, and we both know there's not, a masquerade where anyone could show up in disguise would be a terrible idea!"

Hazel looked at her with concern in her eyes. "Is there something you're not saying Madame?"

"No," Mia said with a shake of her head. "I was just thinking out loud."

There was a moment of silence before the door opened and Gaston popped his head in. "Amelia we are leaving in five minutes and if you're not ready…"

"I'm ready now," Mia replied quickly before grabbing her mask off of the vanity. She followed her husband down the stairs, but stopped as they reached the foyer. Erik would be there, she knew it, and Mia was terrified of his reaction. She was terrified of what he would do to her, and she couldn't bear to face him. Mia knew he was beyond hurt and was afraid of how he would retaliate. "Gaston…"

He whirled around, a flash of anger in his eyes. "What?"

"Gaston, it's just that I'm not feeling well and I think it would be better if I stayed home and you went on to the Masquerade without me."

"Absolutely not! Do you expect me to go alone?"

"Please Gaston!"

"I said no!"

"Just take your mistress instead!" she snapped. "All of Paris knows about her, you might as well just admit it."

His face twisted with rage and he raised his hand as if to slap her, but froze when he saw her cringe. "You will accompany me to the masquerade because you are my wife and it is your duty," he snarled as he lowered his hand.

"Well maybe I don't want to be your wife anymore!"

Mia cried out as his palm made contact with her cheek this time, not hard enough to bruise, but enough to leave a stinging red mark. "Do you think I want this, to be stuck married to you?" Gaston hissed. "Because if you do, you're sorely mistaken. But I have to put up with you, and you are going to do as I say because I am your husband, and when we married, you vowed your obedience. Now you've already made me angry. I recommend you get in the carriage before you make this worse for yourself."

Erik screamed in agony before hurling a candelabra across the lair. It slammed into one of the already broken mirrors. The glass crunched and a few more pieces fell to the ground before being ground to dust under his foot.

"Mia," he sobbed bitterly, putting his hands on the one whole mirror, the one that hid the secret passage she had escaped through. "Mia, how could you do this to me?"

The lair remained silent except for his quiet sobs until he heard echoes of music coming from upstairs. He raised his head and stared at the ceiling, his eyes burning with fury. He had discovered Christine's engagement at the masquerade, he had met Mia at the Masquerade, and now he had to listen to it alone.

"NO!" Erik roared before pulling open the mirror and storming up the passage. He wouldn't listen to it. He would reduce the opera house to a pile of rubble before he had to listen to it. He wasn't ready to face those crippling feelings and heartbreaking memories again.

He found himself upstairs about to rush into the festivities, when he realized he didn't have a plan. Erik didn't have any idea on how crash the party, he didn't even have an intimidating costume, but he didn't care. He was prepared to go around with his Punjab strangling all of the partygoers one by one if that's what it took to put a stop to his pain.

"Gaston!" Erik felt his heart stop as he prayed he heard wrong. He glanced through the party and saw her not too far away. He was certain it was her. He recognized her voice, the curve of her face, that little tic where she bit her lip when she was nervous. "Gaston where are you going?"

"I'll be back in a little bit."

"You're going to be with her aren't you?"

"It's none of your concern Amelia."

"I'm your wife!"

Barineau shoved her aside. "And like I said, it's none of your concern. Wait here. I'll be back in a while."

"Please Gaston! Don't leave me!"

"Stay there Amelia."

"Can I at least-"

"No!"

The moment Barineau was out of the way, Erik saw his chance. He wouldn't need to take his wrath out on everyone if Mia was here. Moving quickly and silently, Erik slipped behind her and grabbed her from behind. She began to struggle against him and he could tell she was about to cry out, but he clamped his hand over her mouth and dragged her out of sight before anyone noticed.

He pressed her back against the wall, his hands on either side of her so the only way she could get away was through him. "How could you do this to me?!" Erik demanded.

Her eyes were wide with panic. "Let me go."

"Why Mia?!"

"Erik please!"

"I love you Mia!" Tears of anger and pain began to slide down his cheeks. "How could you betray me like this?"

"If you don't let me go Erik, I'll scream."

"Then scream!" he roared. She stared at him, testing him, but when she realized he was serious, she lowered her gaze, unable to follow through with her threat. "I knew you wouldn't. Mia, I just want the truth!"

"I was trying to protect you!" she cried.

"Protect me from what?"

"From the gens d'armes, from Gaston, from everyone who would hurt you if we were ever discovered together! Do you know what they'd do you Erik? I couldn't let that happen!"

"Why does it matter to you? You're no better than any of them," he spat, knowing that was the worst thing he could ever say to her.

She was crying from his harsh words, but Erik was too hurt himself to care right now. He just wanted answers. "Goddammit Erik, because I love you!"

He froze. "What?"

Mia dissolved into sobs and would have collapsed if Erik hadn't caught her. "I love you," she whispered into his chest. "I love you and I thought if I left, I could keep you safe."

"You don't have to protect me," Erik murmured, pulling her closer. "I can take care of myself."

"If Gaston came after me, do you know what they would do to you? You'd be imprisoned and tortured and hung and I couldn't let that happen!"

Erik pressed a kiss to the top of her head, his anger having dissipated with her confession. "You are giving them entirely too much credit and not giving me nearly enough."

"But you don't understand…"

"I can handle myself. They've never been close to catching me before," Erik assured her. He reached up and untied the ribbon, letting her mask drop. His eyes narrowed as he saw the faded red mark on her cheekbone. "I'm more worried about you. What happened?"

"Nothing," she replied, turning away. "It's nothing."

"Just say the word, and I will make sure he never hurts you again."

Mia shook her head before reaching up and putting the mask back in place. "Erik, I can't. You know I can't."

"Come back with me. It'll be like it was before."

"Erik, I can't." She held up her left hand, showing him the ring on her finger. "As long as that is there, I can't be with you."

He reached out and slipped the ring off. "There. Now come on."

"Give it back!" Mia ordered.

"Stay with me Mia."

"Don't do this Erik." Her voice tremored as she pleaded with him. "Please don't. Just give it back."

"No. Forget Gaston. I can help you Mia. I'm not whole without you. I need you Mia."

She had tears in her eyes. Erik knew he was guilting her into staying, but it was true. He loved her with all his heart and without her, his life was meaningless. "I can't," she whispered. "Not tonight." Mia leaned in and gave him a soft but sad kiss. "They'd know it was you. I'll try to come back and visit you soon."

"Mia, I'm not going to be second to your husband. It's me or nothing," Erik threatened, trying to convince her to change her mind.

"And it's this or nothing," she replied before pushing him away. "Goodbye Erik."

"You can't do this."

"Do you love me Erik?"

"More than life itself," he answered without thinking.

"And do you want me?"

"Of course I do."

"Then it's going to have to be liked this," she whispered, before turning and fleeing. Erik followed her as far as he could without running into the party.

"Amelia," her husband growled. "Where have you been? I told you to stay right here!"

"I'm going home," she answered through her tears. "With or without you." And with that, she turned and ran out the door.