Raoul didn't know how to feel. Could he truly claim her kidnapped? He wasn't entirely sure. It didn't seem likely. Especially not given the way she'd looked directly at him before following.

It was almost as if she was trying to spite him. He could only hope she wasn't but he couldn't come up with any other logical explanation. If not, she should've struggled or at least fought against it a bit more.

But she hadn't. It was almost as if she'd wanted to go with that beast. Just because he'd once been her angel. As he told her at the restaurant, she really needed to grow up.

Maybe he needed to be firmer with her when he had that conversation with her again. Because he would most definitely be reminding her of that fact.

Christine would never cut it as a vicomtesse if she couldn't keep her head out of the clouds and her heart off of her sleeve.

He'd always loved how tender she was- but the other members of the upperclass would eat her alive if she wasn't careful. Raoul couldn't have that. He didn't want her getting hurt.

But first things first. He needed to save his naive woman before he could focus on any of those issues. Without a second thought, he followed after them. He didn't even hesitate for a moment before jumping.

Which wasn't his finest moment, but he wouldn't have done that under normal circumstances. He grunted and steadied himself, chancing a glance around them room.

Christine was nowhere in sight. In fact, the whole room was filled with nothing but mirrors. He didn't even have the faintest clue of where he was outside of it being beneath the opera house.

Many flashes of red appeared in the mirrors. The figure was smirking at him as if it had already won. But how many were just the reflection and which was actually the beast?

This was something that Raoul needed to figure out before he could continue. Unfortunately, he wouldn't get the chance. Someone grabbed his shoulder and as soon as he turned around to face them, the figure disappeared.

He cursed under his breath. He would've been annoyed that someone had gotten in his way if he hadn't realized it was Madame Giry.

The fact that she had somehow gotten down here in a different way meant something. It meant that the wench knew far more than she'd ever let on.

It was for this reason and this reason alone that he allowed her to guide him back to the surface. He allowed the silence to remain until they were safely above ground.

Madame Giry attempted to leave him but he grasped her elbow in his hand tightly. She glanced over her shoulder, her expression thoroughly unimpressed. Raoul didn't particularly care.

"Tell me what you know." He demanded, leaving no room for argument.

"Monsieur.. I'm very busy." The woman tried to argue, looking away.

He could only shake his head in annoyance. She was a fool if she thought he'd buy that.

No one seemed to be busy during the masquerade. Not even the managers. So why would she be?

"No. Christine may be in danger. I can't help her if I'm unaware." Raoul sneered, tugging her towards him rather harshly.

Madame Giry stumbled as she turned around to face him, a gasp leaving her. Her hand tightened on her cane and she used it to help steady herself.

She glared balefully at him for a brief moment before ripping her arm away from him. She made a show of brushing herself off as if his touch was disgusting to her.

"Christine is in no danger. You, however, a pressing your luck. Especially if you attempt to enter his domain. Now if you excuse me, I have more important matters to attend to." She informed coldly before storming off.

Fine. If she didn't consider helping Christine to be important, perhaps her daughter would.

Though he wasn't sure how much a mere ballerina would really know. It was his only other option.

Carlotta didn't like Christine and Piangi followed Carlotta's lead, after all. Not only that, but the managers were complete idiots.

Christine had yelped quietly upon making impact with the floor beneath them. She was almost certain that she would've fallen had Erik not been there to steady her.

She blamed the dress. She'd opened her mouth to question what the mirrors were- but he'd pushed her a little further along and told her to wait.

She'd done her best to seen unimpressed with the way that he'd messed with Raoul - but she just couldn't. He sort of deserved it. For multiple reasons.

She couldn't believe that he'd be so foolish as to follow her without back up. One would think a vicomte had more brains in their head. Apparently not.

Erik approached her the moment her fiance was distracted, grabbing her wrist in his hand. He pulled her along various tunnels and she followed willingly. For the most part.

Before Christine knew it, they were in the familiar part of the area. The lake was a dead give away.

When Erik climbed into the boat and held a hand out for her, she took it hesitantly and climbed in as well. She considered breaking the silence between them but opted to wait a little longer.

Once they'd arrived, Christine allowed him to help her out of the boat. But she wouldn't let go of his hand. He stared at her blankly but she could almost feel him raising his usually visible brow.

"What was that? Why have you brought me back down here?" Christine questioned desperately, breaking the silence.

"What was what, specifically? I need you to be more clear. As for why I brought you back down here, I'm sure you're very much aware." Erik answered, his tone unbothered.

"That room with all the mirrors! Maybe I am aware. But I want you to say it." She shot back before she could stop herself.

Why did she want him to say it? Would that really change anything? It wasn't as if she was at liberty to actually go back on her word.

Despite her changed feelings and opinion - she'd essentially tethered herself to Raoul. This was going to just cause more pain for both of them.

"The mirrors are none of your concern, my dear." Erik drawled, stalling.

He was clearly uncomfortable with her sudden boldness. But she didn't care. His little games and manipulations had gone on long enough.

"Say it." Christine murmured pleadingly, ignoring his words.

The mirrors really weren't the most pressing matter and so she wasn't going to make a big deal out of them.

Erik peered at her, biting his lower lip for a moment. Perhaps for a moment she thought he might refuse.

But before she could worry that she was making everything worse, Erik closed the distance between them.

He grasped her chin and brushed his thumb across her bottom lip. He leaned in slowly, almost hesitantly.

Christine couldn't stop herself. She impulsively leaned in and pressed her lips against his. He followed her clumsy lead- but as clumsy as it was, it still felt good.

Guilt swirled in her guts, if only because it would make this situation even harder on both of them.

Apparently Erik held no such opinions because he looked almost blissful.

"You're mine, Christine. Nothing is going to change that." Erik purred.