Rachel's POV

Well I was wrong, there was literally nothing I could do to see Erik again. Tonight was the night of the masquerade ball, and I was stuck in a hard place. I just have to meet up to him once I get there.

Though I have to say, Christine outdid herself with helping me find a dress. She was in her dress which was in the stage production. After a few days search, I found the perfect dress. It was a lilac purple gown with butterfly wings sewn into the arms. My mask was the same color with butterfly accents. I absolutely loved it! I also found a necklace with a gemstone that would hopefully hide Christine's ring, which was now hanging on a chain around my neck.

"You ready to go?" Christine snapped me out of my thoughts. We were in the carriage just outside the Opera Populaire.
I smiled back, giddy, "Yeah, I am."

With that we got out of the carriage and Raoul who was sitting with the driver, escorted Christine into the ballroom. By the time we got there the party was in full swing. Andre and Firmin were going through their dialogue.

"Monsieur Firmin!" Andre exclaimed with his wife on his arm.

"Monsieur Andre!" Firmin nodded before singing, "Dear Andre, what a splendid party."

"The prologue to a bright new year," Andre nodded now singing as well.

"Quite a night, I'm impressed," Firmin sang.

"Well, one does one's best," Andre sang, looking at the decor for the ball.

"Here's to us," both of them sing.

"A toast to all the city," Andre said lifting a glass of champagne.

"What a pity that the Phantom can't be here!" Firmin laughed clinking glasses with Andre. At this point all the guests were entering the ballroom as well. They all burst into song.

"Masquerade! Paper faces on parade
Masquerade! Hide your face so the world will never find you
Masquerade! Every face a different shade
Masquerade! Look around, there's another mask behind you," The chorus sang all with a variety of costumes.

"Flash of mauve
Splash of puce
Fool and king
Ghoul and goose
Green and black
Queen and priest
Trace of rouge
Face of beast
Faces!
Take your turn, take a ride
On the merry-go-round
in an inhuman race
Eye of gold
Thigh of blue
True is false
Who is who?
Curl of lip
Swirl of gown
Ace of hearts
Face of clown
Faces! Drink it in, drink it up
Till you've drowned
In the light
In the sound."

"But who can name the face?" Raoul, Christine and I sang as we got in the middle of the fray. We started singing with everyone at this point.

"Masquerade! Grinning yellows, spinning reds
Masquerade! Take your fill, let the spectacle astound you
Masquerade! Burning glances, turning heads
Masquerade! Stop and stare at the sea of smiles around you
Masquerade! Seething shadows breathing lies
Masquerade! You can fool any friend who ever knew you
Masquerade! Leering satyrs, peering eyes
Masquerade! Run and hide, but a face will still pursue you."

Just then I saw Madame Giry, Meg, Carlotta, Piangi, and the managers walking down the large stairs.

"What a night!" Madame Giry exclaimed.

"What a crowd!
Makes you glad
Makes you proud
All the creme
De la creme," The managers observed everyone dancing and laughing.

"Watching us, watching them," Carlotta smiled on Piangi's arm.

"All our fears are in the past," Meg sang softly.

"Three months," Firmin and Andre said, referring to since the Phantom has been gone.

"Of relief!" Piangi sighed in relief.

"Of delight!" Carlotta smiled at the crowd.

"Of Elysian peace!
And we can breathe at last." Both managers said.

"No more notes," Carlotta exclaimed.

"No more ghosts," Piangi sang.

"Here's a health," Madame Giry toasted.

"Here's a toast
To a prosperous year
To our friends who are here," The managers sang a toast.

"May the splendour never fade!" Piangi and Carlotta sang.

"What a blessed release!" both managers exclaimed.

"And what a masquerade," Madame Giry said holding up a large folding fan like a mask.

"Think of it
Our secret engagement.
Look," Christine sang, pointing to the ring around my neck, "your future bride.
Just think of it."

"Why is it secret?" Raoul asked, still confused by the context of the situation, "What have we to hide?
"You promised me."

Raoul went in for a kiss, but Christine ducked away, "No, Raoul, please don't, they'll see."

"Well then let them see," Raoul shrugged, "It's an engagement, not a crime.
Christine, what are you afraid of?"

"Let's not argue," I sang, trying to appease both.

"Let's not argue," Raoul agreed.

"Please pretend," Christine pleaded.

"I can only hope," Raoul sang.

You will understand in time," Christine and I sang as Raoul sang, "I'll understand in time."

She looked back at me with a worried look. I mouthed, 'Go,' and she smiled then started dancing with him. I looked on the side with a smile, dancing on my own, until a black gloved hand clasped around mine. I turned to see a familiar masked man in a crisp tux. Instead of his trademark mask however, he wore a full black mask that covered all but his mouth and chin.

"Erik," I smiled.

"Hello, Rachel," he said smoothly, "You didn't visit."

"Believe me, I tried," I sighed, "It got to the point I wasn't by myself long enough to sneak away."
"I understand," Erik and gestured to the crowd, "Shall we dance."

"Of course," I replied and took his hands. Erik and I glided across the floor. I passed Christine and Raoul a couple times, and Christine looked in surprise and then wiggled her eyebrows with a smile. I suppressed a laugh and then looked back at Erik.

"I'm really glad you came," I told him, meaning every word.

"I'm glad I came too," Erik said with a smile, then he asked, "What's that?"

I looked down and saw the ring on the chain on full display. I looked up at him and couldn't dispatcher his emotion.
"This is Christine's ring, Raoul proposed," I whispered.

"Then why do you have it?" he asked, his tone smooth, yet cold.

"She was afraid that the angel of music wouldn't accept her if he knew, so she had me hide it until they announce it at midnight."

Erik's eyes flickered with something, I don't know what though, but then the music was in full swing again. I watched the dancers for a little bit, and when I turned back, he was gone. Oh wait, that's right! Erik's supposed to come in as Red Death and show his opera... 

"Masquerade!
Paper faces on parade
Masquerade! Hide your face so the world will never find you
Masquerade! Every face a different shade
Masquerade! Look around, there's another mask behind you
Masquerade! Burning glances,turning heads
Masquerade! Stop and stare at the sea of smiles around you
Masquerade! Grinning yellows, Spinning reds
Masquerade! Take your fill, let the spectacle astound you."

Then the light dimmed, with only one still casting a glow, which was on Erik. No not Erik, the Phantom.

Erik's POV

"Why so silent, good messieurs?
Did you think that I had left you for good?" I sang as I walked down the stairs. I could see many faces in the crowd. The managers, Carlotta, Piangi, Madame, the little Giry, Christine, Raoul, and her.

"Have you missed me, good monsieurs?
I have written you an opera.
Here, I bring the finish score.
Don Juan Triumphant!" I pull out the score and toss it to one of the managers, who'd suprisingly caught it.

"I advise you to comply
My instructions should be clear
Remember there are worse things
Then a shattered chandelier."

I saw everyone titter in fear, except for my angel. She looked at me head on, but I knew she was hiding something from me. Then, with her shoulders back, she bravely walked up to me. I knew she was going to say something, but before she could. I ripped off that delicate chain holding that ring around her neck.

"Your chains are still mine, you will sing for me!"

With that I fell through a trapdoor in the floor in a flash of red smoke and fire.

Written 1/10/18