Authors Note: Yay! More reviews! I enjoy reviews immensely. Now to be brutally honest, the story originally was one big lump. It was not divided into chapters or anything. So its hard work separating it all into sections. But thanks for your guys' support! When you review it gives me inspiration to go and cut out another chunk into a chapter~! Thanks a bunch.

Disclaimer: Erik, Do I own you?

Phantom: No, last time I checked I owned myself.

Me: Oh, okay. ::smirks:: I'll buy you anyways!

Phantom: No that's alright.

Angel of Music once again.

The crisp, cold air throughout the day had given the girls reddened cheeks and their breath was visible every time they opened their mouths. Michael decided to call it a day.

"Mlle's We should head back to the hotel. I still have a job to do."

"Oh Michael we completely forgot! Forgive us!" Carley swung the bag of clothes over her shoulders.

"Allow me." Michael reached for the bags. Carley gave them willingly.

"Ah! Here come Firmen and Erin." Carley watched as Erin hurriedly came up beside him. She looked as if she had drunk rotten milk. The look she had on her face would curdle blood.

"Well Firmen, I.....  uh must be off. I fear I am not feeling well enough to go out. Thanks for the clothes.  I'llseeyoulater bye." She spit out the last words in a slurred rush. Firmen smiled.

"I am sorry to hear that Mlle. Please may I escort you to the ho-"

"Nothatsalright. I have Carley here." She put her arm around Carley. Firmen turned and left. Michael hid a discreet smile of amusement.

 "You don't seem to like him very much." He said bluntly. Erin turned towards him.

"Gee how did you know?" She said her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"You know I was thinking it was that look of extreme disgust, or maybe the hurried exit, or maybe it was the –,"

"Yeah yeah I got it. " Erin said tactfully. Carley grinned at her.
"Well we should be off!" She said, pulling Michael towards the nearest coach. Erin tagged along deep in thought. They stepped into the carriage and felt it jerk as they started off.

*          *          *

"Erin! We're here." Erin jumped out of her thoughts. Carley tugged at the hem of her dress. "You coming?" She tilted her head. Erin laughed, "Sorry. Must've zoned out there" They drew their hoods up against the cold wind that nipped at their cheeks. The hotel was warmed and smelling almost cinnamon like. A large fire burned merrily.  Carley and Erin both ran upstairs hurriedly, Carley turned to wave and mouth a word of gratitude before disappearing around the bend. Michael watched them go. Interesting pair those two. That they were.

Carley reached their room and turned into the one across from it. Erin followed suit.

"Monsieur le Erik?" She called. No answer. A shuffle came from inside.

"ERIK?" Erin echoed calling. The door opened.

"Pardon moi?" said the housemaid.

Carley rounded on her. "Mlle. The man... this room...Where is he?" The maid smiled.

"Downstairs having a drink Mlles." She turned and bustled down the hallway. Erin had already bounded down the stairs and was halfway down. Carley leapt after her. They both skidded to a halt and turned into the main room.

"Michael where is the drinking place?" Carley said breathlessly. Michael looked at her flushed face.

"What for Mlle le Carley?" He replied while pointing to a doorway half hidden from view. "Your not thinking of drinking are you?" He said teasingly. Carley shook her head as they ran to the door.

"Not at all!" She shouted back. Inside the drinking room several men where smoking foul cigars while flashy harlots served them drinks. Erin spotted a man hidden in shadow being hounded by a young woman with too much make up on.

"That's him!" She pointed. They ran over. Carley shoved the woman aside who uttered a yelp of indignation. "Watch it wretch. This isn't your kind of man."  Carley's voice held a low threat. The woman stalked off.

"Erik!" Erin said joyfully. Erik looked up, again with the shadow covering half of his features. Carley and Erin jumped on him and hugged him despite his outcry of surprised astonishment. 

"Thank God." Erin said. "I thought you.... were gone." Carley agreed all too much. Her heart had nearly stopped when they found his room empty and a cleaning maid going through. They backed off suddenly, blushing at their forwardness. Erin motioned at the seat next to him.

"May I?" She said and sat down as he nodded.

"So..." Erik paused, he wasn't used to making any informal conversations. "Did you, clothes I mean.... Get some?" Carley smiled warmly at him.

"May I?" She said indicating at the seat on the other side of him. "We did get some clothes actually. Although we did have to sing for them." Erik's attention was fully on them.

"Sing?" He inquired.

"Might I try some of that?" Erin pointed to the drink. Erik tilted his head in consent.

"You may. Here, Mlle, I'll order some for-" Erin had grabbed his glass and took a swig, and immediately spit it out onto the table. Carley started laughing despite herself. She put her head in her arms and quivered from the gales of laughter that were trying to escape. Erik tried to compensate for Carley's laughter. He gave her a napkin only to see Erin giggling too. Erik felt a small smile twitching to break out and he gave a small smirk. Erin took the napkin and wiped up the spilled wine.

"Tastes… wonderful…" Erin said in disgust but Carley just laughed. Determined not to be laughed at, Erin picked up the glass as if it were poison and took another big drink.

"Erik?" Carley said softly after a moment. "I've always wanted to ask you something, if I ever met you." Erik tilted his head towards her and she went on. A tinge of redness blossomed on her cheeks. "Will... you give us voice lessons." She turned away quickly "If you don't I completely understand." Erin looked at her in silent astonishment. Erik was quiet for a while. He smiled underneath his velvet mask. A soft caressing voice appeared by her ear.

"If you wish. I will." Carley jumped and turned looking on her shoulder.

"Oh!" She cried in delight.

Carley watched as Erin took another drink.

"Oh being a little braver now aren't we?" She asked. Erin nodded then swallowed.

"Its not so bad the second time around." Erin nodded then her eyes widened and she keeled over.

"Erin?..." Carley asked leaning over the table. "Erin?..."

"Maybe we should bring her back to her room." Carley said hefting Erin in a halfway sitting position. She tugged her up.

"Gah! Erin you need to lay off the cream puffs" She tugged her up holding her on her back and pulling her like a mule. Erik stood up.

"Mlle? Do you need help?" He moved towards her to balance her and touched her side. She recoiled, and pulled away blushing.

"No...I...got it." She huffed and dragged Erin out the door. Erik could feel the eyes of nearly everyone in the bar on them, but for once ignored them entirely.