Disclaimer: don't own it yet…

Hey everyone! Sorry for the month delayed post, but I have had a huge writer's block since the last chapter and was busy studying for finals. But school is over now (PARTY) and I'll have plenty of time to write, so expect updates often!

RE-CAP: Erik and Christine have spent the night in each other's arms… Raoul gets suspicious of Christine's evening disappearances while Meg may discover the secret life that Christine really has.

I am sorry to say that this story won't go on for much longer, only to say that there are only maybe 3-4, if that, many chapters left. I have a much better idea planned for a Phantom fic once this one is complete.

Enough of my blabbing and on with the story!

Illusions

Her eyes fluttered open slowly as she squinted at the candlelight above her head, its flame made her eyes burn; she closed them instantly. Christine opened her eyes again as her eyes re-adjusted to the darkness.

A soundly snore came from besides her, and her eye drifted over towards the man who slept besides her. The white of his mask stuck out plainly in the darkness as she shivered. The room she was in felt cold, but the heat from the comforter around her body warmed her slightly. Her eyes drifted down to where Erik lay, and his body looked welcoming.

Christine felt a sudden urge to remove the comforter and scoot closer to him, but that's when it hit her. She was completely naked, except for the mess of hair that covered her head. Maybe that's why she was so cold.

But her thoughts turned to Erik again. She turned over on her elbow and just watched him sleep. He looked so peaceful, so calm. The contour of his body seemed to be relaxed and at rest, which earned a happy smile from Christine. His arms were spread over as he rolled onto his back and let out another snore. The soprano smiled and chucked slightly as she scooted closer to him.

As she did this, a sudden wanting came over her. She felt the need to be in his embrace, to feel him around her. She slowly entwined her fingers into his and slipped his arm under her neck and around her shoulders as she snuggled into her Phantom. She closed her eyes and let out a sigh as she shivered.

"Darling, if you were cold then you should have waken me." His deep voice whispered in her ear. Christine picked up her head as she made contact with his green eyes. "I would have fetched you a blanket."

"No, that's okay, Erik." She hardly recognized her own voice. "All I wanted was to be in your arms." She whispered and lay on her back, pulling the comforter over her chest and up to her neck.

He yawned and turned on his side, tightly wrapping an arm around her bare waist. "Go back to sleep, Christine." He whispered and kissed her lightly on the forehead. "The night is still young."

She smiled and snuggled into his warm embrace, then slowly fell back to sleep.

Later that afternoon

"Christine!" someone yelled, snapping her out her trace. "Child, is something wrong?" The diva recognized the voice to belong to Madame Giry.

"Huh?" came her reply. After blinking for a moment, she finally remembered where she was. Christine was on stage as they rehearsed the latest production at the Opera Populaire, Dancers of the Sun.

"Christine, are you sick? You have been dazing out all afternoon." Meg patted her shoulder and drew her off of the stage. She handed Christine a cup of water as the soprano drank it.

"No, I'm just… having trouble concentrating, that's all." Christine said. She sighed and nonchalantly glanced towards the large mirror. She hoped to catch his eyes through the mirror.

She felt Meg's hand on her chin. "Christine, look at me." She muttered and gazed into her friend's eyes. There was an unusual sparkle in her eyes that Meg had easily recognized. It was the sparkle that Alicia Jenson had the day that she came back from her honeymoon. It was the sparkle that changed a girl from a woman, a virgin to a lover.

"What?" Christine asked curiously.

Meg eyed her friend. "Christine… have you and Raoul finally…" she blonde shrugged. "Consummated your marriage?"

"Well," she began.

The doors swung wide open as Madame Giry came stomping into the room. "Christine, Meg, come! You are needed for the next scene."

Meg looked at Christine, her eyes filled with curiosity. "We'll discuss this later, Meg." With that, the soprano took her leave. Meg sighed.

Christine was hiding something, and Meg was determined to find out.

Night Time

Rehearsal had gone well for the young diva. Dancing, singing, it was all tiring for her. Christine closed her doors reluctantly as she slowly lay down on her bed and sighed. All she wanted as rest, all she wanted was to sleep.

But sleep didn't come easily for her. She longed to have his gentle touch. She longed to feel his arms around her, giving her the feeling of comfort and security. She longed for her Angel.

"Erik." she whispered. Christine closed her eyes as sleep engulfed her. But all that she saw was a figure looming over her, his voice brushed past her ears.

"Christine…"

The next morning

The sheets around her warmed her fragile body as well as the arm that was draped over her. The room was dark as she opened her eyes. She yawned slightly and turned over in his arms. This earned a light chuckle from him.

She rubbed her hand over his chest and he chuckled even more. Christine smiled at his amusment. "I knew I couldn't keep you away from me…"

He smiled and placed his eyes level with hers. At seeing his face, Christine's smile was lost. "Raoul." She said slowly.

He kissed her forehead. "Yes, Little Lotte. It's been me for the past year of our marriage."

Marriage? This word seemed strange to Christine, but reality soon sunk in. "How did I get back to the mansion?" she asked.

He sighed. "You passed out in the Prima Dona's room. I feared you were sick and I brought you home. You've spent too much time in that Opera House as it is."

But Christine wasn't phased. "Raoul, what time is it?"

He glanced over at the clock in the corner. It read 2:30am. "You know, Christine," He said as he kissed her collarbone hungrily. "We still need to consummate our marriage. It's been a year… and I for one, think that is long enough."

Her heart stopped. She gave her virginity entirely to Erik…what would Raoul say to finding out his beloved wife no longer held her innocence?

She felt his hand travel up her nightgown and stop on the inside of her thigh. No, she couldn't. She couldn't make love to him. If it were a year ago she would have done it willingly. Her mind screamed for help. She no longer desired this husband of hers. No, she desired a mysterious man, she desired Erik.

She felt his hand travel up her thigh farther as she jumped. "Raoul, I…" His hand retracted from her thigh.

"Christine, what's wrong?" He asked curiously and suppressed a sigh.

"I just don't feel well, Raoul." She looked at him and faked a smile. "I promise, soon."

He merely smiled and lay back down. 'Women are nervous about these things.' He thought. 'She only needs time.' That's when he heard the door open. "Christine, where are you going?"

"For a walk, I…I just need to clear my head."

"Just, hurry home. It's getting cold and I fear a storm is approaching." He said and turned to face the window.

Christine left in a hurry and closed the door. From inside their room, Raoul got out of bed and watched her suspiciously as she walked off towards the streets of Paris. She was different, no doubt. He saw it in her eyes. She was a changed woman as far was he was concerned. She would never push his touch away, no. Christine had pushed him away, as if she desired the touch of another man.

There was only one other man in her life that he knew of. He was the Phantom of the Opera, he was her Angel of Music, and he was Erik. They were one in the same. Another thought crossed the Count's mind.

Had Christine been untrue to him? No, she loved him. She told him so every night before she sang at the Opera again. Before she sang. Things could have changed since then. She could have made love to that Phantom that loomed over them. There was only one way to find out, and Raoul was determined to know.

No matter what the cost was.

Back at the Opera

He lay in bed silently; his white mask lay at his side. A canvas rested on his knee as he drew her form from memory of last night. He remembered the texture of her body from the shape of her fingers to the contour of her breasts.

Erik smiled to himself of their previous night; the memory of her body against his gave him a warm feeling. A feeling that he hadn't had since the first time she kissed him. The pencil glided over the surface of the canvas as he drew her. Her body was that of a goddess. He drew her nude body and covered it in a silk cloth. Around her were shades of black, red and white.

"Christine, you're beautiful." He muttered and ran a finger over his drawing; his thumb ran down from her neck to her naval. He sighed and closed his eyes. A sudden tightness formed in his pants, as if they shrunk almost two sizes.

He groaned at the devil that reside there, and waited for him to leave. But this devil was consistent and didn't leave his body. He was about to rid himself of this pleasurable demon when a voice echoed throughout his lair.

"Erik!" it screamed. "Erik, please. It's Christine." At the sound of her name, Erik jumped.

"Christine?" he said curiously. He pulled back the curtain to find her distraught. "Chris, what's wrong?" he asked.

"I don't know, Erik." She muttered and suddenly began to cry in his arms. "I've just had a bad feeling, and it worsened just a few moments before."

He walked her over to a chair and sat her down. He bent in front of her and took hold of her hand. "Tell me, Christine. What happened?"

She sniffed and wiped her eyes. "It's Raoul…he…"

Erik's eyes suddenly became dark. "Did he hurt you?"

She shook her head. "No, nothing like that. It's only that, he asked me to consummate our marriage, and I became scared. I mean, I'm no longer a virgin, and I was scared of what he would say if he found out. He'd disown me as his wife. Erik, he would know that we slept together."

"And this is what bothered you, if he were to find out our secret?" Erik asked. Christine nodded and fell into his arms.

"Oh Erik, if I were to loose you, I don't know what I would do." She muttered into his shirt. He stroked her hair and lifted up her chin.

"Christine, darling, look at me." He brought her eyes to meet his. "He will do nothing of the sort to harm the love that we have. If he so much as lays a hand on you, come to me and tell me. I will never let him get away with that."

"But Erik, what if he finds out about us?" She asked.

The Phantom sighed. "He won't. I have many eyes and ears around this opera house and many people to vouch for your disappearances. Nothing will come to harm myself or you. I promise you that." He held her close. "Now, no more tears. Go back to him. If you stay too long his suspicions will arouse even more."

She nodded and left his arms, but he suddenly pulled her back. She felt his lips against hers as he kissed her gently. "I love you, Christine."

"I love you too." She whispered in reply. Christine gave him one last look as she turned and left. Once she was out of sight, Erik grabbed his cape and made his way up towards Madame Giry's room.

Back uptop

Christine closed the mirror slowly as she stepped out. Once it locked and was secure, she turned around and headed towards the door.

But someone stood between her and the way home. "Christine," the voice said.

"Meg?" she recognized the voice. The blonde stepped out of the shadows and nodded.

"Christine, I want to know what is going on here." She said. "More importantly, I want to know why the Phantom has made his appearance again."

Christine gave her friend a lopsided look. "What are you talking about, Meg?" she asked nervously.

"You can't fool me, Christine." Meg muttered. "You've slept with the Phantom, haven't you?"

Christine stated at her friend and was lost for words.