AN: I'm having to RE-do this stuff, so that I won't get into trouble. I refuse to get into trouble for this story!

Music of the Night

Erik didn't have anything to do. He had been around for so long, not dying, not letting go… never letting go. He had faked his own death simply to give his darling angel, Christine, peace of mind. He wanted so much for her to be happy… even if it wasn't with him, and for some reason, after that, he hadn't changed, hadn't grown any older… he didn't know why; it was just how it was, and he had accepted it.

So now he went out, wandering aimlessly, his mask in place, black shirt, black pants, and his cloak. He was still the same, even though the world had changed. He slipped slowly into bar, where a man was sitting on a stage singing…

"Empty soulless… come unto me…" Erik snorted softly. The man couldn't carry a tune. He sat down at a stool near the stage, fully intent on pleasing himself by listening to these mere mortals sing their songs. He was something other than that. His story had been written, and movies had been made about him, and he still lived. The man stood and left the stage, and the lights got dark. He looked towards the soft spotlight that slowly appeared on the stage, and a woman stood with her back turned to everyone.

"And next on our Karaoke list is… She hasn't submitted a name, but she's promised us a good song. Give it up!" The light slowly got brighter, until it was focused on her back. He could tell from the back that she had longish brown curly hair, and a nice figure. She had on a long sleeved black shirt and dark blue jeans… He was completely prepared to criticize her…

"Nighttime sharpens, heightens each sensation. Darkness stirs and wakes imagination. Silently the senses abandon their defenses." Erik's jaw dropped open as his song spilled from her lips in an angelic voice. The emotion held inside of his words, coming out of her mouth nearly rocked him from his seat. He sat there in awe as she continued.

"Slowly, gently, night unfurls its splendor. Grasp it, sense it, tremulous and tender. Turn your face away from the garish light of day. Turn your thoughts away from cold, unfeeling light. And listen to the music of the night…" She began to slowly sway with the music, and he could hear the tears in her voice. She kept her back turned, and suddenly all he wanted to do was see her face, the face of the angel who could his song with as much compassion as he did.

"Close you eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams. Purge thoughts of the life you knew before. Close your eyes, let your spirit start to soar." Her voice grew stronger with each word, and then slowly dropped, until it was a mere whisper…

"And you'll live as you've never lived before…" She let out a little sigh, and then continued.

"Softly, deftly, music shall caress you. Hear it, feel it, secretly possess you. Open up your mind, let your fantasies unwind. In this darkness that you know you cannot fight
the darkness of the music of the night." Erik actually started to stand with the passion that rang out of this girl's mouth.

"Let your mind start a journey through a strange, new world. Leave all thoughts of the life you knew before. Let your soul take you where you long to be…" The tears returned to her voice and she turned slowly. Erik's eyes widened as he saw her…

"Only then can you belong to me…" A dark black mask encased her slender pale

face. Her vivid green eyes stood out from behind them, her make-up done so that they seemed to glow from behind the mask. A set of pouty lips spilled the words, and a single tear slipped beneath her mask.

A small and wistful smile graced her lips and yet, she continued… "Floating, falling, sweet intoxication. Touch me, trust me, savor each sensation. Let the dream begin, let your darker side give in. To the power of the music that I write. The power of the music of the night…" She slowly stepped off the stage, holding the microphone in her hand… She turned her back to everyone softly and finished… "You alone can make my song take flight. Help me make the music of the night." She held the note perfectly, and ended exactly where she was supposed to. Erik was in utter and complete stupor over this mystery girl.

She laid the microphone down softly and turned. For a moment, no one said a thing, and the bar was silent… and then it erupted in applause, Erik being the loudest. He couldn't get over it… She had on a mask, and she sang with sorrow the only one such as he could know… She gave everyone a small smile, and then turned to leave.

"No!" "Encore!" "More! More!" Shouts rang over the whole bar. She smiled softly and shook her head, turning to everyone…

"I'll be back tomorrow night guys, and anyone who can sing the Phantom of the Opera song with me is happy to join me up on the stage." She shook her head softly and made her way out. Erik sat there dumbfounded for a moment, and then shook himself out of it as the next person took the stage, a small look of sadness on their faces, knowing that they couldn't follow a show like the one that the mysterious girl, who everyone was calling, "Phantomette…".

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AN: Okay, I ain't really changing that much, but yeah.

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