So... Child of Dreams, you have given me inspiration for another Phan-Phiction. I own nothing!

Death. I had waited how many years for it, only to find myself alive again.

As a cat.

A cat.

A bloody cat!

How is that a thing?!

I befriended the usual "Jellicle" cats immediately, to my surprise. Old Deuteronomy explained to me that when humans deserve a second chance they are turned into "Jellicle" cats to fulfill what we did not as humans. In my case, love.

On my second day as a "Jellicle" Asparagus, or Gus, lead me around and showed me the city and the many Operas he had served at as the Theatre Cat. And that was where I saw myself for the first time as a cat. We were wandering through the hall when a mirror on the wall caught my attention. I jumped up on the stairs to see myself better. And that was when I came up with my name. Erik would be my first name and Imaginaire; my second. French for notional, fanciful, and lastly: phantom. My face was a cream white in the shape of my mask but my glowing gold eyes were rimmed with a bit of ginger fur. My ears, legs, and tail were solid black but my body was black streaked with dark gray and dark ginger. I seemed a very neat and presentable cat. Asparagus joined me in looking at our reflections. His fur was scraggly and matted together. Next to me, he looked like a mischievous kitten when it was actually I who was the kitten. Strange. The infamous Phantom of the Opera, a kitten! "I have decided upon my name," I said softly. Somehow, I still had my glorious talents of voice from my human life.

"What is it?" Asparagus asked as we began to leave.

"Erik is my first, and Imaginaire is my second."

"French in there, I see."

"Naturally."

"What was your human life like?" I stopped and looked him dead in the eyes. If only looks could kill. "Alright." He sighed. We continued walking. "Can I at least see where you lived?"

"Perhaps. Follow." He followed me to the Palais Garnier eagerly. We stood outside the main façade.

"Majestic." He whispered in awe.

"Indeed. It took fifteen years for us to build."

"'Us'?"

"I was one of the architects. I worked day and night for years. I hardly ever ate or slept. This building was and is my child." I ran off to the Rue Scribe and he ran after me. I triggered the passageway and Asparagus looked at me in awe. I lead him through the labyrinth of tunnels and catacombs. When we arrived at the torture chamber entrance he looked around at the mirrored room.

"What is this?"

"A torture chamber. My own invention from when I worked as an assassin in Persia." I ignored his disgust and opened the chamber door. The gust of cold air took us both by surprise. I showed him through the house, ignoring my room and Christine's. Asparagus eventually nagged me into my room. I shoved open the door and beheld the mess I had made. Blood, metal, pipes, keyboard keys, papers, ink, mirror shards, poison spilt on the rugs, tapestries torn from the walls.

"What happened here?" Asparagus said as he jumped up on the ledge of the dias. I jumped up next to him then onto the coffin lid to push it open.

"That is what happened!" I sneered, looking upon my masked face. Asparagus hopped up beside me to look upon my human self. Unsure of himself, he reached down and pawed off the mask. He jumped back behind me in fright. "No! Look upon my face and fear me for I am the Devil's Child!" I screeched. "See! See that this is not another mask!" I laughed maniacally and shoved Asparagus into the coffin.

"Imaginaire! What has gotten into you?"

"You think something has gotten into me? You ignorant fool! You insolent boy! This is what I am like and have been like since Persia!" Just then, I silenced as I heard glass break. I looked up to the doorway and my pupils widened. Christine stood in the doorway, golden locks flowing and cerulean eyes glowing sadly. She merely looked about in shock and surprise. I jumped down and Asparagus took my place. I glided over to Christine to rub against her leg. "Oh, my sweet, dear Christine!" I muttered softly. She lifted me up and I purred like a madman.

"You, my dear friends, should not be here. You are disturbing Erik's peace." Her voice positively dripped with sadness as she addressed both myself and Asparagus. I felt something thick and wet on my head and looked up to see tears running down the child's face. "You should return home, dears. You cannot stay here. Sure, Erik loved cats but he must rest now." Christine rubbed behind my ears and I purred enough to vibrate her arms.

"Oh, my dear Christine." I sighed. "How much I love you."

"Perhaps I shall keep you two." If I could have purred any louder, all of Paris would hear me.