A/N: AHHHH! I've been having problems with my computer lately. Hopefully it works this time. I'm reposting this, but with a few changes. When I started it I wasn't entirely sure what I was doing or where I was going with it. Now that it's done I decided to go back and fix up the first few chapters. I hope you enjoy it. Don't forget to review!

First Love

I ne'er was struck before that hour
With love so sudden and so sweet.
Her face it bloomed like a sweet flower
And stole my heart away complete. My face turned pale, a deadly pale.
My legs refused to walk away,
And when she looked what could I ail
My life and all seemed turned to clay. And then my blood rushed to my face
And took my eyesight quite away.
The trees and bushes round the place
Seemed midnight at noonday. I could not see a single thing,
Words from my eyes did start.
They spoke as chords do from the string,
And blood burnt round my heart. Are flowers the winter's choice
Is love's bed always snow
She seemed to hear my silent voice
Not love appeals to know. I never saw so sweet a face
As that I stood before.
My heart has left its dwelling place
And can return no more.

John Clare

We've passed the point of no return…

All the words that man had ever invented were useless at that moment. None of them could describe the emotions that Erik felt hearing Christine sing his song of love. He felt as though his whole life, all the pain and suffering, had been leading him to this. His life of loneliness was finally over. Erik had found someone to love him unconditionally.

When he had written Don Juan Triumphant, he had imagined the scene which was now playing out before him. He hadn't expected Christine to give herself over to him so quickly and willingly. But here she was in front of him, displaying her love for him to the entire opera house. And that damned Vicomte. Now he would see who Christine truly loved. The knife which had been plunged into Erik's heart had now turned itself on Raoul.

Raoul watched in horror as that creature moved his hands over the body his fiancée. He knew it was all an act, that Christine was only doing what he had asked of her. But he still felt a stab of jealousy as he watched them in a passionate embrace. He told himself that it would all be over soon. Then he and Christine could be married and forget all the pain they had suffered at the hands of this man. He closed his eyes, bringing back the memory of that night on the rooftop when she had promised to be his. Say the word and I will follow you. Raoul relaxed slightly, still not comfortable with the situation but knowing that Christine truly loved him.

As Christine sang, she tried to reconcile what she felt in her heart and what her conscience whispered in her head. Her dear friend, her Angel, stood before her pouring his heart out. How could she betray him? It was wrong and she knew it. But deep in her soul Raoul's voice resounded, telling her that they would never be free until Erik was out of their lives. She loved Raoul and she never wanted to do anything to hurt him, but she felt such pity for the lonely creature that she had loved like a father. She knew then what she had to do, for the sake of her future with Raoul and the love that they shared. The tears began to well up in her eyes as she raised her hand up to Erik's face. She gave him one last loving look before ripping off his mask, revealing his disfigured face to the entire Opera house.

"You damned girl!" Erik hissed at her." Do you realize what you've done? Now we must leave this place forever!"

In one quick movement Erik cut the rope to his right, sending the crystal chandelier crashing to the audience below. He threw both arms around Christine and held her tightly as they dropped through a trap door into the bowels of the Opera Populaire. They tumbled as they hit the hard ground beneath them. Erik quickly took hold of Christine's arm and dragged her through the dank corridors.

"Where are we going? Erik, I'm sorry. Please, where are you taking me?" Christine tried to plead with him, but it was useless. All she received in return was silence. And for Christine, that was more terrible and frightening than any harsh words he could have for her.

Erik moved in a silent rage. He had given her everything and had asked for nothing in return except her love. For a moment his heart had soared; he believed that her love belonged to him and him alone. But she had been deceiving him. Oh, she had played her role exquisitely! Her lover must have enjoyed watching her toy with his emotions. Erik wanted to make her suffer the way she had made him suffer, but that would never do. He couldn't bear to cause her any harm, no matter what she had done to him. Despite everything, he still loved her.

After a short time, Christine felt the chill of the night air on her skin. They had left the Opera house and were running towards a horse-drawn carriage. Erik had made sure it would be waiting there for them, but he had hoped that they would be arriving under different circumstances. In his dreams, he and Christine were running towards it, their fingers entwined. She was smiling; she never looked more beautiful than when she was smiling. He gently lifted her up into the carriage and she gave him a passionate kiss as they ran away together, singing into the night air.

Erik was sorely disappointed at the reality of the situation. He roughly tossed Christine into the carriage and jumped up to the front. As the horse took off into a gallop, Christine looked behind her. A chill ran through her whole body; she feared that it would be the last time she ever saw her childhood home, or her sweet fiancée.