Hi everyone! So, I have had another breakthrough as I have imagined another story for you all that I think you might like! Since my other story "All About Us" is only a few chapters away from closing, a new story must arise and this is it.

While reading the performance part of this story, please listen to Assasin's Creed Revelations Main Theme, that's what inspired me in this story and that's the song that is being played in this chapter. You can find it on youtube super easily!

Anyways, please Review so I know you guys like it The more reviews, the more I will be inspired to keep writing

Thanks everyone, and happy reading!

Erik

"Tonight is the night," Erik thought to himself as he picked out a mask to wear. He was used to wearing all sorts of interesting and fascinating masks to different events, but tonight he picked a black warm-leather mask that would be comfortable while sitting in a room filled with hundreds of people. Having a deformity on almost his entire face was a burden and a hardship for Erik Destler but he finally came to terms with it when moving to San Francisco from Paris 6 years prior to this day. There were all sorts of characters that lived in this city, that Erik walking around with a mask didn't seem to phase anyone.

Tonight he would be attending the years "Winter's Night" Gala that is held at the San Francisco Symphony every December 22nd, as tribute to the Winter Solstice. He usually never attended parties, since he was a recluse, but this year was different. A few months back, Erik had spoken to the maestro of the symphony, Paul Dven, and discussed if he would be willing to play one of his compositions. Luckily enough, Paul has been listening to Erik's music for years and was actually inspired by his work. There were a few complications, however, due to the fact that Erik hated every single singer that popped out to be a lead soloist for the piece. After much debate, Paul, Erik, and the owner of the Symphony, Cecil Craveya, decided to do a United States search for someone whose voice would be perfect for the piece. Erik left it to the two other hands so he may be pleasantly surprised to see who they picked. Of course, Erik didn't have any faith because no one could really sing this song, except for the voice in his mind.

Fortunately, only a mere week ago, Cecil and Paul had found a girl from Northridge, CA who they advised could sing this part. They wanted him to hear her voice, but he refused. He wanted to hear on the night of the Gala, and now it was time.

Facing the large mirror that was his closet door, Erik stared at himself, making sure that his outfit was up to par. He wore a three piece suit with a leather black bow to match his mask. Slicking his dark brown hair back, he made sure that none of his deformity peaked through the mask.

"Well, this is it," Erik said as he grabbed his Fedora and coat.

Arriving to the Symphony, Erik could see men and women dressed to the nines. Some women even wore large, poofed up ball gowns, which he thought was rather gaudy and unnecessary. He tipped his driver as he got out of the UBER and started to walk up the stairs to the main ballroom. Erik was never a fan of Christmas, due to the fact that he had never had a normal Christmas. He didn't understand a point of a jolly old man bringing presents to good little girls and boys and coal to the bad ones. In his mind, he would always receive the coal.

The halls and ballroom were draped in champagne and oxblood colored drapes, which matched the colors of the ornaments on the trees and the table clothes. Servers were dressed in the same color pattern. At that moment he noticed that almost all attendees were dressed in that color pattern, which made Erik's suit stand out, which he didn't like.

"Mr. Destler!"

Erik turned to the high pitched voice and saw Cecil walking towards him, wearing a oxblood colored pantsuit with champagne streamers in her mahogany colored hair.

"We have been waiting for you, come, I will take you to the managers box."

Erik turned to take some champagne from the server to his left and turned back to Cecil.

"No need, I would like to sit in the back if you don't mind, just in case." Erik sighed as he took a sip from his glass.

"Just in case, what?" Cecil asked, as she cocked her head to once side.

"The person you picked for this would be horrible that I would just have to leave as fast as possible without making a scene, of course."

Cecil huffed, "Now, Mr. Destler, we have picked the most angelic voice for this piece, you dare to question Paul and myself?"

"We shall see," Erik answered as he sipped his drink.

"Erik, you will sit in the box with me and that's final. Plus, if you really want to sneak out, you may do so without embarrassing the poor girl and myself."

"Fine," Erik said, knowing there is no way to reason with this woman.

A few minutes later, the lights of the ballroom had flickered meaning that the show was about to start, that was when Erik's stomach started to twist and he could feel the nervousness creeping up inside of him. Usually Erik was never nervous, but this song could really make him break out from the Parisian scene and have a new life. The past 6 years he did a few movie scores for Indie movies but nothing that was ever a blockbuster. It paid well, but it wasn't enough. He knew his music deserved more, but it always lacked something, an angelic voice. Would this be the voice he would hear tonight?

There were some lovely scores that came before Erik's masterpiece. A few that were epic like Erik's but they lacked a certain something, others were rather up beat, which wasn't really Erik's taste, but they were still pleasant. Erik sat there, drinking his third glass of champagne when finally his score "Revelations" was about to be played.

"Don't be nervous Erik, Rose has a beautiful voice," Cecil whispered as she grabbed onto Erik's free hand.

"Rose…" Erik repeated, in his head as he took a final gulp of his beverage.

The music was low at first as the room was dark, causing suspense. Then as the music grew a bit louder, a dim spotlight grew on a moving object. Erik realized that it must be the girl…Rose…

Black thick hair cascaded in loose curls that reached under her ribs, which was a great contrast with her skin that looked almost ghostly white. She walked slowly towards the middle of the stage, holding a microphone in one hand and in the other hand was a fist. Erik could tell she was nervous. Her eyes only stared at the floor of the stage as she finally took her place in the middle of the stage, he had yet to see her face. Her dress was as long and black as her hair, with a plunging neckline that was covered in lace. She wore no jewelry, but she didn't need it, the dress was enough.

Rose then started to sing, still staring at the floor. Erik sat back in shock, without noticing that Cecil smirked at this.

"Erik, you won't hear her properly if you sit back, so ahead and lean at the railing," Cecil whispered, coaxing him to basically gawk at her. Erik would normally find this annoying, but Rose's voice was too beautiful not to gawk. Then finally, Erik saw Rose's face.

As she sang she raised it to look straight towards the light that made her glow. Erik first noticed her big turquoise eyes that were so reflective of the light that shown down on her, they were almost transparent. Erik had never seen eyes like that in his entire life, and he had very gold eyes to start with. Her lips were full as well and were covered with a blood red lipstick to contrast, he assumed, with the dress.

With the final note of her first part, Erik turned back to Cecil.

"Jesus Christ, Cecil. Where the hell did you find her?"

Cecil just put a finger on her lips to shush him and pushed his shoulder back to the girl.

He leaned forward and this time he saw the music surrounding her as she sang. True, there were no words to this score, but he didn't need the words to hear how she sang the notes. Unless she's an amazing actress, he could tell there was sadness when she sang. That was what he was looking for.

Finally an instrumental break came and he just watched her as she walked around the stage in a sorrowful march. It was perfect. Then on some sort of spiritual que, Erik figured. Her gaze went up and met Erik's. Her eyes burned into his like a fire; it was like she could see under the mask he wore, into his very soul. Even if the glance was only a second, he felt that it lasted eternity.

Finally, Rose ended up back in the center, but as the music crescendoed, a choir appeared behind her, singing in harmony with her as she finished the last minute of the song. Erik was amazed at the notes she reached, with no effort whatsoever. After her performance, there was a silence that fell upon the room. After a few seconds, there was a roar of applause as Rose looked at the audience, barely smiled, and walked off the stage. Erik wanted to know this girl; he wanted to know what was inside her head and he was going to, tonight.