Chapter 13: Angel of Music

Erik awoke with a start from his light doze as footsteps upon stone echoed in the small chapel area, leaning forward from where he sat in his hiding spot behind a painted screen of an angel he searched through the shadows to see who it was. His heart clenched at the sight of Meg rounding the corner, a small smile tugging the edges of her lips upward as she set a small candle upon a pew to light the way. It had only been two weeks since their fight but for Erik it had seemed an eternity. She motioned to her companion as her smile grew, "Don't be frightened Christine." Meg reached out and grabbed the younger girl's hand, "You're safe. See," she pointed to the candle she had placed on the pew, "will that be enough?"

Christine slowly nodded her head as she stepped closer to the light of the candle and looked ahead at the flickering light of the other candles in the chapel. "This will be fine Meg."

"Are you sure?" Meg brushed an errant strand of hair behind her ear, "I could stay if you like."

"No, go Meg, I've already have gotten you in enough trouble with your mother." Christine whispered as she picked up the candle and held it close.

Meg gave her a small smile and nodded, "You know where to find me," She paused, glancing quickly towards Erik's hiding place, "if you ever need me."

Erik's heart lurched in his chest as he reached out with his hand, his lips forming Meg's name until he remembered where he was and why they had not spoken for two weeks. Upon remembering he then settled back into the darkness as he watched Meg send one last look towards his spot, his ears perking up when he heard her half whispered, "Erik."

Fighting the urge to run after Meg, Erik turned his attention to Christine, who was slowly approaching the small memorial candles. She stopped before one and carefully lit it, pausing to gently touch the photograph with the edge of her finger as she whispered, "Father."

Looking around Christine took a small breath, edged closer to the candles and slowly lit one. "Father," she whispered again as a tear trailed down her cheek.

Erik pressed closer to the screen that concealed his hiding place and swallowed nervously, he was so close. So close to find a way to break the girl, and regain his title as Meg's only friend. He sat back and could almost taste victory on the tip of his tongue when, the girl began to sing.

It was a simple melody, one that tickled the back of his memory. It was a lullaby that mother's sang their children to sleep to at night, and it was the most beautiful song Erik had ever heard.

The girl sang, in her innocent voice, softly at first gently rising until a tremendous crescendo:

"Golden slumbers kiss your eyes.

Smiles await you when you rise.

Sleep,

Pretty Baby,

Do not cry.

And I will sing a lullaby.

Care you know not,

Therefore sleep,

While over you a watch I'll keep.

Sleep,

Pretty Darling,

Do not cry,

And I will sing a lullaby."

By the time the last note hung in the air, tears ran freely down Erik's cheeks, this voice. Her voice was the one that haunted him at night, was the voice his music needed to become truly alive. Countless scores that lay littered across his organ, his bed, his many rooms and they existed for her, for the sole reason that she would sing them. Holding his breath he waited, debated making his presence known, demanding that he teach the girl how to sing properly so that she could reach her full potential.

But, before Erik could make a decision the girl collapsed into a heap, sobbing as she reached upwards for the picture of her father. "Father," she gasped, "father you promised you'd send me the angel of music!"

His eyes narrowed in speculation, 'angel of music' Erik thought. The girl wanted an angel? Straightening from where he sat Erik cupped his hands around his mouth, cleared his throat noiselessly, and cautiously sung into the empty air surrounding him and the girl, "I am your angel of music."

Christine looked upwards, her eyes glossy with unshed tears, "Angel!" She cried, her small hands reaching outwards in every direction, "Angel, please," her voice cracked, "guide me. Tell me what I must do."

Erik smiled from where he was hidden; he would mold this girl, this Christine Daaé into his own angel of music, for it could only be an angel who sung his masterpieces, his magnum opus. Cupping his hands over his mouth once more Erik began to sing once again, and Christine, small child as she was, obeyed every order.

Meg tossed restlessly in her bed, the sheets were too itchy and the air around her thrummed with the snores and sighs of a dozen other girls. Turning over on her side once again she had just begun to drift asleep when she heard soft footsteps pad to the bed next to her and the bright glare of a lit candle accosted her eyes.

"Wh-" Meg mumbled, rubbing at her eyes, "Who is that?"

"Sh!" Christine hissed, her hands fluttering nervously, "Go back to bed Meg."

"Christine!" She gasped, hurriedly sitting upright in bed, her long hair spilling around her shoulders as the ribbon she had tied around it fluttered down upon her pillow. "Why are you out of bed so late?"

Looking around nervously Christine leaned close to Meg, "I was with an angel Meg." She whispered excitedly, "My father promised to send me an angel of music when he died and my angel has appeared!"

"An-an Angel?" Meg questioned, "Christine, it was probably just a dream. Come now, you need your sleep."

"No Meg!" Christine reached out and grasped Meg's hands.

She gasped, "Christine your hands are ice cold!"

But the girl wouldn't listen, "No Meg, my angel truly has come. But, for my sake please don't tell anyone. I swore to him I would not speak a word. If I do," Christine paused, her eyes filling with tears, "he will leave me forever."

Meg frowned, but gently extracted her hands from Christine's, "I…promise." She sighed, "Now go to bed Christine."

She jumped into bed, giving Meg one last grin before she blew out the candle she had placed on the small stool between their beds. Meg gathered her hair back up and quickly retied her ribbon before turning on her other side, worry knotted her stomach as the last thing she whispered into the dark air was, "Oh Erik."

A/N: Better late than never? Can I say thank you to all of my readers? 70 Reviews! I still have to pinch myself to believe this story has gotten so much attention and love! Thank you, I hope you'll have the patience to stick it out to the end.

Now we see how Erik really becomes Christine's "Angel of Music". Next chapter will have Meg back in as the focus.