this is really interesting. Going into the whole Voodoo cult

In for a penny, in for a pound… it seems like Raoul will do whatever it takes to get his wife her voice/spirit back!

I enjoyed Erik’s thoughts as they traveled to the shop. From the fact that Raoul had most likely never been to an “ethnic ghetto” to Christine’s deep sadness to the fact that Mirielle seemed to have some intuition about the root of Christine’s problem to Raoul’s annoying verbal banter… all sorts of thoughts seemed to be flying around in Erik’s head. There were just too many things to think on before they arrived and not enough time to do the thinking!

Raoul’s reaction to the shop, especially the crocodile head, was interesting to read. Of course, he would think about money being involved because in his world, money is always involved. I did have a good chuckle at Erik’s accusation that Raoul expected “attack by cannibals”, but Raoul’s curiosity as to why these people would help him if not for money had merit and I’m happy Erik could acknowledge that. These two spending time together lets Erik see that they don’t really think all that differently.

I was thoroughly interested in Sabine’s explanation of the ingredients for the ritual and Erik’s surprise at how educated Sabine was in spirituality other than her own. It was quite the moment when Sabine realized that these men were not being perfectly honest with Christine about what was going to transpire with the ritual. I had to laugh when she chastised them like schoolboys and told them they all had to gather ingredients for their offerings as well. I don’t know why, but the thought of these three gather grave dirt at night together just made me laugh… you just know that will be an interesting outing! I can’t wait to read Erik telling Mirielle about what he has to do… she is going to be so jealous she missed it all!

-Jax

This is getting interesting with Sabine giving the men their instructions and Erik going back to ask more questions. Grave dirt? MMM... Raoul seems open to anything, if it will bring back his Christine. More please.

*sneaking around like guilty boys* lol! how like the three stooges! erik is very interested by all those mysteries, of course. i think mirielle has an idea what's wrong with christine. i looove erik's interaction with mirielle and the others. his love for his wife is so tender and beautiful...

What a delightful chapter and I must admit that I’m surprised at how well Erik behaved toward Raoul during their little lunch.

You made an interesting choice by having Raoul use his good intentions to seek seclusion so they could talk without realizing that Erik would have to traipse past everyone in the restaurant to get to where he was going. It just goes to show that no one really can understand what it’s like to be Erik except Erik himself. I liked the way you showed the severity of the situation with Christine by having Erik observe Raoul’s disheveled appearance and level of anxiety. It subtly told me that they really need to get this ritual done and get to the bottom of what is really eating Christine.

The banter at the table was just priceless! From Erik snapping at Raoul for asking how Mirielle was to Nadir oversleeping and wanting to eat all of Erik’s food, there was a wonderful ebb and flow to the conversation. You were able to convey that Erik’s conversational etiquette still needed some training, that Christine’s view of the world is still deeply rooted in her childhood superstitions, and that Nadir is a wonderful lunch companion... as long as someone else is picking up the tab!

I liked how the three delved into the deeper meaning of the mythology behind the trolls and how such stories got started… but they weren’t really thinking about why it is so important for Christine to uphold that superstition/tradition. It very much reminded me how, in most versions of the story, Raoul easily dismisses her claims about The Angel Of Music. And why is Christine crossing so many bridges lately? I will say that this is going to be a very interesting shopping trip with these three going along!

Finally, I did love the humor you brought to this chapter with Nadir’s incorrect sayings and Raoul and Erik teasing each other in a funny, non-lethal way! Who would have thought?! Looking forward to the next chapter already!

-Jax

Fun chapter. Nadir and his misquotes. Erik and his short temper, his mistrust of Raoul. LOL... This coin business of and Christine's superstitions has will give Mambo Sabine something to work on. She can figure it out. Erik's hindsight in wishing he'd brought Mirielle. He should know better than second guess himself. Erik's interaction with Raoul at chapters in really was comical, with Nadir, too. More please.

how i love erik and mirielle's story. nadir's speech is so funny and our phantom is starting to 'mellow' a little and to learn how to act with people. i love your story!

i lost your mature, explicit chapters could you send them back to me, please?

This chapter does a wonderful job of showing us Erik’s new life of domestic bliss, but it also reminds us that he still constantly thinks about his time at the opera with Christine and ponders what his influence in her life did to her.

I enjoyed the way you described Erik’s nightly rituals and his need to keep his wife and home safe from any and all dangers. He has worked so hard in his life to have this that he isn’t going to let an unsecured door or an errant ember destroy his happiness and security. The exchange between Erik and Mirielle as they prepared for bed also let me know just how comfortable and at ease these two are together. It was all quite cozy!

It was also delightful listening to Erik talk about Nadir and their long-standing relationship of sorts. It is a relationship that might have started out under contentious circumstances, but these two men have developed quite a respect and kinship toward each other. I also think it highlights what an asset Nadir is to Erik, especially if the ex-Phantom gets into a tight spot. I liked that Mirielle recognized this as well and that she made sure Erik knew Nadir was always welcome in their home. That woman is smart enough to know a great ally when she sees one!

I also think Erik has made an astute observation by knowing that it would be hard for Raoul to trust his wife’s wellbeing to another “spirit”, especially since I’m pretty Raoul doesn’t fully understand the root cause of Christine’s distress. You do a good job of emphasizing this later in the chapter when Erik is pondering how Christine could have lost her way. Still, it seems like all these men who claim to know her so well are missing the main reason she could be so troubled. Hopefully, all will be revealed with the ritual… though I am looking forward to seeing how Erik devils Raoul at lunch! Erik might have grown in tactfulness (the pansy with the morning tea was a lovely touch), but he’s still Erik!

Thanks for the speedy update!

-Jax

Erik's takes pride in his nightly routine, now that he has someone else to look after and property to protect. Mirielle is curious about the ritual that's to be performed, as I am, trying to stay up with Erik's plotting. Their discussion of Nadir gives Mirielle a better understanding of Erik's former shadow now friend. It seems that Erik's venture into and his understanding of the world that surrounds Madame Sabine has added to his own sense of the world around him. It's good to embrace and learn from others around us. How sweet of Erik to add little details to his wife's tea tray brighten her day. Those little bits of romance add to the allure between them. Expressing concern for Raoul's sensitivity, Mirielle presses him to be kind. Knowing he can get carried away with his teasing. More please.

I am so excited that your muse has returned and that you are once again allowing us a glimpse into the world of Erik Vachon!

Not only is this chapter continuing the promise of some fun, mysterious ritual, but as always, I learned some interesting facts about the religion in question as well. I loved how you let us in on how Nadir thinks when he is observing the shop and of the intriguing contest between him and Erik when it comes to noticing details about their surroundings. I found myself looking for those “miniscule details” too! I enjoyed our introduction to Sabine and I like the way this woman thinks. Not only does she want to dispense knowledge, but she is interested where her patrons are coming from in regard to intention and desire. This must serve her well in her profession and her life. I had this sense that she could understand things right down to their root cause and when it comes to Christine’s issues, that could definitely come in handy.

I loved the conspiratorial turn the chapter took with Anais’ secret note and her idea “that some men have good intentions, but all men have the directions wrong." She has a point as both Erik and Nadir believe Christine’s issues lie in her feelings of being without a guardian instead of the bigger issue of her husband leaving her behind. While both deal with abandonment, I have a feeling that Mirielle’s note gave Sabine what the Mambo needed to have the right ritual performed.

Your back and forth between Erik and Nadir was just a delight to read, with Nadir garbling not only common phrases but *gasp!* Shakespeare too! I also got a good chuckle at Nadir comment that he hadn’t eaten at “Pistols at thirty paces”! You do write these two together so well! This chapter not only gave me hope that the lunch with Raoul will be interesting, but that Erik and Mirielle’s time together will be memorable too. I could use a little Erik & Mirielle lovin’!

Thanks for posting!

-Jax

You're back! Life throws us curves and we have to maneuver them before we can settle back to our lives. You took and made an adventure out of your curve.

Loved this chapter and the way Sabine explained her special gift. It took great courage to put this into practice during their daily lives, after having been made slaves. Whatever beliefs worked must have given them peace. Or would it also help to exact some kind of justice?

Mirielle knows how to get through to Erik. His lunch with Raoul should be very interesting. Will you be writing about Mirielle's visit to Noemi's shop? More please...

and here I though you died, but again that's life.
i'm really glad you picked this up
it'll just take a while to get back into the swing of the characters and plot

That's right Erik, you just keep thinking about your beautiful wife and how she lifted you into a life you've always only dreamed about. These last two chapters have me a little disturbed...Christine in this sequel is becoming more front and center in Erik and Mirielle's lives...a lot of Erik and the O. W. stories are very well done, and then out of the blue Christine ALWAYS returns and leaves me wondering about Erik's true feelings towards her. I'm still looking for the perfect fic, where he figuratively thumbs his nose (no pun intended) at her and lives happily ever after with his one true love. I thought this one was it. Another thing that has me puzzled, is all of a sudden Erik, after years of women screaming and avoiding him, is a very popular man with lots of sex appeal...huh?Shouldn't Erik be Mirielle's secret treasure? After all, didn't she discover the hidden man behind the Phantom?The dinner party, the goose, and the next door neighbor was amusing though.

This chapter was absolutely beautiful...I usually don't tear up reading a story, but this finally did it. Erik's trust of his lovely wife...enough to bare his face in an intimate moment is believable and tender. However, Mirielle's reaction is what blew me away...her shock at seeing his face after loving him for so long, and her grief for what that face had put him through, was such a wonderfully drawn scene. The way she clutched his mask, as if it was a breathing part of him, and the disconnect of seeing him without it until he started speaking to her, was an unmasking I'd never read before, but it made perfect sense...she had learned over time to read his moods and reactions by his voice and eyes, so his actual face was in effect, a stranger to her. But the moment when he waggled his brow at her and her reaction, was what touched me the most. I love these two and their deep and passionate love for one another. Christine who?

Madam Aulin and Mirielle had a good talk. The older woman seems to enjoy her evening and loves to talk about Erik and his former life. She soaks things up with her observances.

Love how Erik is observing as they drive to ceremony. That shop fills Erik's senses and tops his list of interests, at the moment. It's funny to see Noemi flirt with Erik. Mirielle has opened his horizons to females and their sexual allure. He'd never cheat on his wife but there is nothing in the rules about observing other women... heheh!

Let the games begin. More please.