Disclaimer: I own lyrics here again, meh. Those lyrics DO NOT really exist in Romeo and Juliet. All things related to The Phantom of the Opera belong to Gaston Leroux and/or Andrew Lloyd Webber. Go split the credit amongst them.

The Nightingale

Chapter 3: Dance with Me

She woke with a startle and had forgotten where she was for a second. She sighed deeply, remembering she was in the Paris Opera House and now part of the singers there. She sat up and placed her feet on the ground, once again looking around at the dressing room she was in. Something on the vanity set made her stand up.

Someone had left her a note. Meg?

No, she had locked the door.

She stood and for some odd reason felt herself shaking uncontrollably again. She picked up the note and carefully unfolded it. She held her breath as she read:

"Dear Miss Adrianna Hale,

I congratulate you on your wonderful singing. You have won over the managers, the Opera, and even me. You are welcomed here and your talent is greatly needed now-a-days at my Opera House. I hope you have found the building to be very comfortable.

Forgive me for our speechless encounter on the grand staircase. It was rude of me not to introduce myself there. Your singing was enticing and I was very honored to sing with you before, Miss Hale. I promise you, we shall do it again. If you have problem with anything, do not be afraid to tell the Angel of Music. Again, congratulations. I look forward to your upcoming acceptance for the lead role and to our next encounter. I remain you obedient servant,

O.G.

P.S. You have very good taste in art. That statue is my favorite of all the statues on the grand staircase."

Adrianna folded the letter back up and tucked it into her dress pocket. It was near eight o' clock and everyone must have retired to their rooms by now. She decided to get a feel of the halls around her dressing room at least.

Who was "O.G."?

She unlocked her door and just walked down halls she felt safe and alone in but close to her dressing room. She suddenly found herself on the stage, a few lights were on. She walked across it, examining the large, velvet red curtains, the floorboards, background props, a box of pieces of costumes…she picked up a black and red mask with a red feather on the side and placed it on her face.

She suddenly started to dance an old dance she had seen from "Romeo and Juliet". She lifted her hand and touched an invisible dancer's hand and started to dance with nobody on the stage.

She began to hum a song to it, lost of her steps and where she was…

A white gloved hand touched hers.

His dark eyes met her amber eyes.

Everything else disappeared around them.

"A moon is not full unless you want it to be

Love is the disease and the only cure

Tonight you can only dance with me…

And fall into this strange night's silent allure…"

He sang softly and he could see her eyes flood with different emotions all at once. But it was hard to see what she was really feeling with her mask covering her face.

They danced across the stage, her dress and his cloak flailing behind them. Their eye-contact never broke. As they danced, they seemed to have a silent conversation like that, each knowing and unknowing to its meaning. Adrianna felt his finger lace with hers for only a moment and then his hand went back to just their rigid fingers and palms touching.

They danced in and out of the shadows with such grace. They looked like beautiful spirits enjoying the light of the harvest moon. "Tonight, love, you are only for me…" he sang, almost a whisper, just for them to hear. Then their dance stopped and they stood there with their hands touching.

They're hands dropped and he lifted his hand to her face and took the mask off. She just stared in wonder at him.

And then she lifted her hand to his face…his breath hitched slightly at this. No one had touched him for two years now. And her hand was moving to his face, she was caressing him. 'Like the statue' he thought. He felt himself melting with the emotion of needing this for so long. He just stared at her with an impassive expression. And then he felt fear as her fingers began to trace his mask. 'No! Please! Don't! I don't wish to loose another!' his mind mentally screamed out. But he kept silent. Her finger traced his mask and then it traced the corner of his mouth, his jaw line…

"The Phantom of the Opera…" she breathed. "The Opera Ghost, the—"

"Your Angel of Music," he finished for her.

Her hand lifted from his face, a burden and gift lifted from him. So, she was not going to lift his mask then. A wave of relief overcame him and he took her hand and pressed it against his face again without thinking. He had longed for human contact, company, for someone's touch for a long time…for a lifetime.

They stood like that and he even closed his eyes for a second to enjoy her caress. She saw that pain in his eyes when she touched his mask. Now she knew more about him, and even what happened with Christine.

But did he remember? Did he remember her still?

Most likely no. They had only met and known each other for less than a week…but she was here and she remembered at least.

And they were both hiding in the shadows together.

Erik snapped back to reality and let her hand go…but slowly. They had been staring into each other's eyes for a very long time and Adrianna finally looked away, her eyes resting somewhere in the dark.

She felt her heart beat faster as his face drew near hers and he whispered into her ear "I shall be looking forward to your lead role. We will have to start practicing, you and I." She closed her eyes at his soothing voice hypnotized by some secret melody behind his words, playing with anyone who heard it and entrapping their heart. He was so close that he could smell her lilac perfume. Dare he?

He kissed her cheek as if she were made of the thinnest porcelain…if he kissed her, she could break.

She whispered just as his lips left her touch, "You can not be a ghost…"

"No, just a monster hiding under—"

"An angel…"

He withdrew himself and stepped back into the darkness. "Come with me, my Angel, something for you…" He took her hand at her side and brought her into the dark with him. He led her down a hall and to a door not so far from the stage. It looked to be in a section of dressing rooms. "Darling, your dressing room," he said.

"Oh, b-but I've already received one, A-Angel." she said. "My things…"

"…have already been put inside here. It is better for you to be near the stage and this room has better requirements for you, my Angel." He looked surprised when she turned to him with a pained expression and then away. He stroked her cheek and his touch drew her to face him. His face showed no trace of emotion but his eyes asked her 'what is it, darling?'

"You called her that too, Angel?" Adrianna asked.

It was now Erik's turn to look away. He wanted to be angry with her for even bringing this up but couldn't. "Y-Yes, yes, I did, occasionally." He turned to her. "I called my student that sometimes, you do not wish to be called that then?"

Was he angry at her for even leading their conversation to this? "Please, Angel…"

Something in his eyes lighted and he continued to gently stroke her. He began to hum something, this little tune tugged at her heart. "For the angel's voice trapped within the soul of a human…" He stopped and smiled a small charming smile. His words obviously had some sort of effect on her, her eyes had widened.

Inside she mentally pleaded 'Remember, Erik, please remember!'

He continued to hum the tune that both inside remembered faintly. It was some sort of carnival tune. "Nightingale…" he sang to some rhythm. He nodded, pleased with the sudden choice of name.

"The bird that sings to my nights,

The nightingale sings to me good night…"

"Nightingale, would you like that better, darling?" She nodded slowly. But why torment her with old nicknames? Did he remember and was he playing with her mind…her heart? Or had he really forgotten? She wanted to know.

"How did you know my father used to call me that, Angel?"

Erik just stared at her. "I did not, my nightingale. I must go now. You must continue to rest. Tomorrow you will take the lead role and we begin our lessons together."

Adrianna turned the door knob and he followed her inside. Memories attacked him, most of them sad and painful. She watched as he approached her mirror and disappeared inside it. But he called to her, his voice coming from all four walls. "Only call to me, call to your Angel and I will be there. Call to me, nightingale with the voice of yours that sings to the lonely stars…"