*Chapter 4: Music of the Night*

"When I hear you sing, it was a gift. And now, I give you my music. Music is the gift I give to you." Shadow said with a smirk that forms on his face. Maria didn't say anything to him, listening to his words. Could this hedgehog really be her angel that her grandfather send? Shadow began to sing with his masculine voice.

"Night time sharpens,
Heightens each sensation.
Darkness stirs and wakes imagination,
Silently the senses abandon their defenses."

Shadow had his hand out for Maria to take to get out of the boat. As he pulls her out, he stares into her blue eyes. He continued to sing.

"Slowly, gently,
Night unfurls it's splendor.
Grasp it, sense it, tremulous and tender."

He then frowned when Maria turned her head away. She is looking at the lake where they came in. They're pretty far from where they came from. Maria hoped that no one will worry sick about her absence. Shadow gently grabbed her chin to make her head turn back to him.

"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."

Shadow began to circle her, singing to her. Maria watches him, not leaving his eyes. She felt so entranced by him. Shadow smiled at her as he sings after he circled her.

"Close your eyes,
And surrender to your darkest dreams.
Purge your thoughts of the life you knew before.
Close your eyes..."

Maria obliged, trying to feel the music inside her of the darkness. Shadow smiled at her. It's like Maria was under his control.

"Let your spirit start to soar..."

Maria then opened her eyes, feeling amazed by this feeling inside her. She can feel it. The dark music. Shadow came towards her.

"And you'll live as you've never lived before."

He took her hands, singing softly to her. Maria can feel his warmth of his gloved hands. His red eyes burning into her eyes behind that mask he is wearing. She couldn't help but to wonder what is hiding behind the mask.

"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."

Shadow began to circle her once more, but this time, he went around the candles and the organ, singing loudly to her. Maria watches him walking around her and the candles and the organ with a small smile on her face. So mysterious.

"Let your mind start a journey to a strange new world,
Leave all thoughts of the life you knew before.
Let your soul take you where you long to be!"

Shadow came in around Maria, bringing his body close to hers. They are face to face. Shadow brought his hands up to touch her face, cupping it gently. Maria felt like she could blush by his touch. Shadow placed his forehead on hers, shutting his eyes. Maria stood still, looking at him.

"Only then, can you belong to me?"

Shadow place his lips on Maria's for a kiss, but it only lasted for a moment. He made her turn her body, feeling her back against his front. Shadow slowly slides his hand over Maria's stomach as his other hand took her hand. Shadow inhaled Maria's hair as he sings.

"Floating, falling,
Sweet intoxication..."

He brought Maria's hand up to his side of the face where it is unmasked. Maria shuts her eyes at his warm touch. She felt him kiss her palm. She turned around to kiss him again, but kept his head up and continue to sing to her.

"Touch me, trust me,
Savour each sensation."

Shadow led Maria up the cave stairs, singing out loud, which made Maria smile from being sad for not having another kiss from the phantom. Behind Shadow is a curtain that is satin red, and there is a small room behind it.

"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."

Maria gave him a loving smile as she came around and turned to see what was behind the curtain. Shadow revealed a doll to the yellow hedgehog. Maria grew pale of what she had saw. This doll...is a life size version of her! But, it is wearing a white wedding gown, a veil, holding a fake bouquet. Maria's head is spinning, her knees are growing weak. She fainted, and Shadow caught her in time. He carried her away to put her in his room. There is a music box with a green Chaos Emerald, and a bed with black and red sheets. Shadow slowly placed his diva on his bed.

"You alone can make my song take flight.
"Help me make the music of the night."

Shadow finished his song as he brushes the hair away from Maria's face as she rests on his soft bed. He closed the curtains around him and the bed and turn out the candles of the room. Everything is dark inside.

It's now 5 in the morning in the Opera house, and most mobians are asleep. But, one is awake. Cream came in the dressing room with a black key she had found. She and the girls haven't seen Maria since last night. They are unaware that she's been gone with the phantom. Cream calls out the hedgehog's name in a whisper. She then notices the mirror is slightly open. Cream figured that might where Maria is. She's with Shadow. Cream walked inside and see a corridor with no candles lit. There are rats by her feet, but they don't scare her. Suddenly, she felt a tap on her shoulder, making her turn around and gasped.

"Cream." Vanilla spoke in a stern voice. "You shouldn't be here." She grabbed her daughter's hand and walk back to the dressing room. Cream was relieved that it's only her mother, not anyone else following her. Still, Cream would explore Shadow's lair.

'Someday I will.' Cream thought. The rabbits return to the dressing room, and Vanilla shuts the mirror and told her daughter to return to bed before the sun rises.