I've decided to move this story forward a little bit.

In the original novel, we never get to see the meeting of Erik and Christine, don't get to witness their lessons.

I've already written a couple of parts with the lessons between Erik and Kelsi, and I don't want to repeat myself too much.

I also want to up the action a little. Pushing forwards will help toward this.

I'ts also come to my attention that some of you may not have a good vision of Erik.

He's younger then the past incarnations. He's 25, has dark hair and gray eyes. Very tall and thin.

Think David Tennant (Doctor Who) with grey eyes and a mask.

If the thought of David Tennant makes you melty, you're not the only one. This will only help with the characterization of Erik.

RHAPSODY

part 11

The apartment was large, covering the entire sub-basement floor of the theater.

Erik had worked for years to design it to his tastes and specifications.

The walls and floors had been completely waterproofed on the off chance that a flood should ever happen. Unlikely in New Mexico, but one could never be too sure.

Because there where no windows to see out to the outside world, Erik chose to paint one wall with a mural of a mountain range. He marked the seasons by changing the painting as they came.

Budding flowers in spring, shades of green in the summer. Autumn was beautiful with its riot of reds, yellows, and oranges. Winter was a serene field of white.

The lighting for his home was soft, for he did not like bright, stark lights. If it where not for the fear of fire he suffered from, he would have liked to have his illumination provided by candle light.

His furniture where classic reproductions of antiques, only much more comfortable then their original inspirations.

A large black grand piano stood upon a raised platform in the left hand corner of the living room, a twin to the one on the theater stage.

He sat on the padded bench before the piano, the musical score spread in from of him.

His eyes followed the music, his hand flowing along with the melody as it played on the small tape recorder by his side, earphones covering his ears, blocking out all other sound.

From time to time he would stop and make a note.

Kelsi not strong on upper register in third stanza. Need to work on.

High C needs improvement.

'Wishing' good. Last 5 notes may need cutting. Not a problem.

'AOM' lovely.

After 3 weeks of tutoring, Kelsi had improved dramatically.

Already her voice had gained a strength, a power beyond anything he had heard.

Each time her voice flew higher and higher, filling the theater with its beauty.

He attended each cast rehearsal in secret, watching her as she expertly played the score. She needn't have worried on that account. Her playing was perfect.

He could see her lips move as they silently formed the words to the songs that she knew by heart, the songs that the Sharpay Evans girl sang with a nice, but conventional voice.

How he had longed to hear Kelsi's voice then, see Kelsi in Sharpay's spot.

Sharpay was not Christine material. Her acting, voice, and manner all spoke against it.

Christine should have an innocence, should show a wide-eyed wonder, a joy at the sound of the Phantom's voice.

She should show a deep love for Raoul, but there should be a distance as well.

Sharpay was normally all over that poor Troy Bolton boy during their scenes. He seemed embarrassed, even horrified.

Kelsi wouldn't act that way. She'd be shy, just a girl, but would give the audience glimpses of the woman underneath.

Oh! How brilliant she would be in the role.

Her voice filled his ears as she sang Christine's entrance in 'Don Juan Triumphant', one of the three 'operas' performed within the show.

Her voice was eager, hopeful, wanting of love.

No thoughts within her head but thoughts of joy.

No dreams within her heart buy dreams of love.

Another notation was added to the page.

Must be softer at first. Save stronger sound for the end. Give no hint of voice that is to come.

He had insisted on recording their sessions so he would have a sample of her voice to work with while she was not there. He had given a copy to Kelsi as well, telling her she should practice with it as often as possible.

Her voice and his where the only two on the tape, singing all parts, every song.

By the time the show premiered, Kelsi would be able to do it in her sleep.

He sang along with his own voice as the Phantom took over the role of Don Juan, having murdered Piangi with the Punjab lasso.

Past the point of no return.

No backward glances.

The games we've played till now are at an end.

Past all thought of if or when.

No use resisting.

Abandon thought and let the dream descend.

What raging fire shall flood the soul.

What rich desire unlocks its door.

What sweet seduction lies before us.

Past the point of no return, the final threshold.

What warm unspoken secrets will we learn,

beyond the point of no return.

"Erik?"

A hand on his shoulder had him turning around, then quickly shutting off the recording.

"What?...Aunt Marianne? What are you doing here?"

"Pardon me." She replied at his tone. "You have given me and my students permission to be here."

"I'm sorry. I meant," He folded up his music and notes, hiding them from her view, "Aren't you supposed to be at the school?"

"The students had a free period before lunch. I thought I would come to see my favorite nephew."

Erik smiled. "Your only nephew."

"That too."

"I was just going over some of the numbers." He said. He carefully slipped his notes into a red folder.

"How do you think it looks so far? I'm very pleased with it."

"Most of your students are very good. There are some though who have no idea of discipline."

"They are only teenagers."

"So one would assume."

"Who is it you're not pleased with?" She asked.

"That Sharpay Evans girl has no concept of her character. She believes herself to be playing 'Carmen', not Christine."

Her smile was indulgent. "Sharpay can be brash, but she has the talent. I cast her because I thought the female lead needed to be strong for this role."

"There is a difference between strength and power." He said. "That girl is drunk with one, and misunderstanding of the other."

"But her voice..."

"Is nothing special. Oh, she can carry the tunes well enough, but I don't believe she will be bringing your audience to its feet."

"Erik!"

"Don't ask the question, Aunt Marianne, if you don't want to hear the answer."

She stood there, stunned. Never had she heard her nephew speak about anyone this way.

"She is a very nice girl."

He laughed. It sounded menacing. "The way she yells at Kelsi Nielsen? You call that nice?"

It still made his blood boil to remember it. A week ago while Sharpay was rehearsing the 'Wishing' scene, Kelsi had stopped her to point out a missed note. The Evans girl had exploded on her, calling her a deaf little runt who couldn't play a note if it bit her.

The look on Kelsi's face was enough to drive him mad. He could have throttled that little, bratty blond.

"I'll admit she can be hard to handle at first, but she..."

"Aunt Marianne, I don't feel like discussing the pro's and con's of that girl."

"Very well, we will leave that for later. How are you getting on with Kelsi?"

"Kelsi?" He fiddled with the tape player at his side, touching it almost lovingly.

"Yes. I've noticed she seems to have a very good grasp of the music."

"That surprises you? She's the most extremely talented girl I've ever known."

"You've not known many." She said. "I do wish you'd try to go out. If you'd just let me introduce you to..."

"No." He shook his head. "Please."

"But you've been working with Kelsi, and that has been working well."

"Kelsi is different." He stated.

"Is she?"

"Yes, she is. Kelsi is...extraordinary."

"Erik?" She hesitated. "What exactly have you two been doing together?"

He rounded on her. His eyes flashed with the assumed insult.

"What kind of question is that? Don't you know me? I'd never cause harm to her, and god help anyone else who tried."

She stepped back. For the first time in her life, she felt fear towards her nephew. Erik, her beloved sisters child.

"Oh god. Erik, she's only 17."

He slammed the cover down over the piano keys, causing the resulting sound to reverberate around the room.

"I know that. I know she's young, but I also know she's older beyond her years. And I'm only 25. That is hardly an old age."

"Erik." She touched his arm. Before Kelsi, Aunt Marianne was the only one who wanted to touch him.

He loved her, but Kelsi's touch meant so much more.

"I think...I think perhaps you should stop working with her."

"No!" He tore his arm away from her. "No."

"This is not like you. What is going on?"

"I'm finding out what I want for the first time, that is what is going on. I will not, WILL NOT, allow you or anyone else to take it away from me."

He watched as a tear escaped her eye. It caused him guilt to know he had hurt her, for she had never done anything but love him. But he could not stand the thought of losing Kelsi. No now, not ever.

"I'm sorry." He steadied his voice. "Please Aunt Marianne, we're almost there. Kelsi is on the verge of something incredible. To take her away from it now would undo all the work we've already done."

"I don't like it."

"But your personal feelings on the subject will not stop me." He said. "Or her."

"Very well." She nodded. "I'll give you till the shows premiere. 3 more weeks, Erik. Then we have this discussion again."

"There is no discussion to have. I wish to see Kelsi wether there is a show or not."

"You do know she is dating Ryan Evans. It seems very serious."

He waved his hand as though brushing away an annoyance. "He is young. He'll move on once he's tired of her."

"I really don't think so."

Erik breathed deeply to control his rising temper before replying. "It doesn't matter."

"I just don't want you to be hurt."

"She wouldn't hurt me." He whispered, more to himself then her. "She would never hurt me."

"I do hope you're right."

"