Disclaimer: I own more lyrics, but toward the end they belong to ALW because he knows how to ruin my life. All things related to The Phantom of the Opera belong to Gaston Leroux and/or Andrew Lloyd Webber. Go split the credit amongst them. And…behold music's throne! RAWR!

The Nightingale

Chapter 4: Let Us Dance Again

Adrianna woke and again did not recognize where she was. She looked around at her things that were sent to her new dressing room. A dress stood on a figure with a sleek figure that matched hers. It must have been Christine Daae's dress before, she thought. She didn't like it there so she carefully tucked it into a wardrobe where she saw other elegant dresses and costumes hanging. But as she was closing the wardrobe door, she noticed something flash at her. It was a golden brooch. Knowing it had been a gift from the Opera Ghost to Christine, she quickly closed it.

She left her dressing room and met Meg practicing on the stage with the other dancers. She looked the papers over with her as they took their breaks. "Are you nervous, Adrianna?"

"No, but scared. Is that worse?" Because the Angel wants me to have this part so much, she wanted to say.

"It's okay, you'll do great. Carlotta hasn't been to practices much and she's not even as good as you!" she joked. Adrianna gave her a weak smile wondering who this Carlotta singer was.

Clacking of heels made everyone turn to the center of the stag where a woman in much make-up, furs and pearls stood. "Ahem…ahem, AHEM! Yes, can anyone tell me where the managers are? I believe he has the papers for my role of Felisa in Renaldo." Monsieur Firmin and Andre' rushed to the stage and met her.

"Remember, you must convince us the part is for you. First listen to our newest addition of singers. Miss Hale, please come over here," Firmin beckoned over to her. "Are you ready to sing those lines for the role of Felisa?" he asked. She nodded and he looked pleased at her readiness. "You may begin."

The stage was silent again to watch but Adrianna quickly forgot about this. She sang Felisa's lines in the scene where she sees Renaldo riding towards her, thinking of their doom if they were caught together.

"My love, my life, stay away where you are safe!

Hold me not and go back to your haven and I to my betroth

Take me from your beautiful mind and gentle heart

Think of me never and keep us only in spirit, wish for me not!"

Her arms opened for someone invisible to welcome an embrace, to the invisible audience, and unaware, of the masked figure watching her performance in Box 5 who in turn stretched his arms to her and answered her lines with his own.

"My love, please…my love…" she sang, her voice fading. He gave her a silent praise for just receiving the lines and already doing so well with them.

The stage was silent as she stepped down from the center and sat next to Meg who gave her hand a squeeze.

"Now, if you could like to try for the part, you must sing the same lines for us…" the managers said to Carlotta. But instead of going up to perform the lines, she dragged the managers into the hall and everyone presumed their work. What was Carlotta so eager to speak with them over about?

Erik cursed the woman under his breath for even still wanting the part. What was she up to?

Later that day, the results were put up for everyone to see. Adrianna retreated into the shadows, Erik watched, after she saw the paper with the names.

She ran to her dressing room in tears and sobbed at her vanity set, her quivering figure reflected in the mirror. She buried her face in her hands and tried to stop but the tears seem to come from years of hiding…and now, this. She locked her door, knowing Meg would want to comfort her again, which she appreciated greatly, but did not need right now.

She stood suddenly and heard her voice soft and shaky, just to singer herself calm.

"Come out from your secrets and hiding there, take me with you in my despair

Keep me with you and tell me good night, and hide me from the eyes that stare in this light,

My angel that rocks me to sleep, my crying Angel

…d-denied from heaven at its gates, my only, my Angel, my only…"

The mirror began to glow but she did not notice because she again buried her tearful face in her hands. He stepped out from the mirror and stroked her hair. He was relieved to find her calming at his gentle touch and her sobbing shoulders began to relax themselves.

Curious, Erik thought, Christine never cried when she didn't get her parts. Adrianna knew who was there and lifted her face, wiping away her tears. "I'm sorry, I just wanted to sing those lines, be a g-good singer…for you, I did not even mean to call for you. I just needed to sing for myself, Angel. I-I'm sorry,"

He nodded, staring at her reflection in the mirror. She stared back at him through his reflection too, ashamed at her current state. "I can not say I am pleased with the results either, nightingale." He helped her stand once she was composed. "Come with me, you shall have that role. We need to start practicing, darling."

He led her to the mirror but he could tell she was hesitant. He drew near her and whispered "I promise no harm to come to you, darling. Let me take your hand…" He grasped her hand firmly in his with no intention of letting go and they disappeared into the mirror and everything in their sight went black.

Adrianna closed her eyes, feeling Erik's hand in hers. At the same time, she wondered when she could tell him when she knew his real name, the name of a trapped monster, nothing but the name of a mere boy.

Suddenly, his hand disappeared from hers and she called to him, frightened. "A-Angel? Angel?" she called. She felt the wall next to her but Erik was not around; at least she could not hear or feel him. Her fear increased. "Angel? Are you there? Please!"

She felt an arm wrap around her and she felt her hand on his shoulder. "I am here, nightingale," He continued to lead her and her eyesight improved in the dark. She could now make the faint figure of Erik walking beside her and the flash of a gold band on his hand that held hers. And then she noticed the light at the end.

They were now in front of an underground lake, its light reflecting it against them. Adrianna could feel Erik staring at her as she looked at the house at the other end. She turned to him and their eyes met again. He released her from his arms and helped her into the boat.

They slowly paddled across the lake, Erik keeping his eyes on his pupil the whole time. She tried not to look nervous or frightened, though she was a little. The first thing she noticed there were the bushes of roses that surrounded the house, and the giant black gate that surrounded the house. The windows were dark and everything was quiet. She felt the thud of the boat against the land on the other side and Erik took her hand and helped her out of the boat. Inside, there were many candles and a giant organ in the middle of the entrance, a ray of light glittering on its keys.

There was the organ, papers of music sheets, bookshelves of famous musicians, a violin sitting in an arm chair…

This was the kingdom of music, music's throne.

Erik immediately went over to a grand piano standing with pride under a painting of dark trees, their branches stretching our menacingly at Erik who sat underneath it on the bench seat. He looked back at her, still lingering at the door. "Come, come and sing with me, my nightingale, let us sing together once more."

He began to play and the each note he played called out to her and she answered, singing with its notes. It was a song from an old Celtic folklore of drama and tragedy. Their song rang out.

"And come to me and play in the wind's dance

We will dance together until the clouds die away

And we can fly back until the music dances again in the trees

We will sing together another day, in some other life of misery, another day!"

Erik raised his voice and sang with her, the power of his voice enthralling her so. She had to hold onto the side of the piano for support he looked up but she continued to sing.

Erik continued:

"Come to me and swim in the melody of decades ago

Praise the sun and moon for beauty

And maidens dance with bells

Come and dance with me again, dance with me!"

Erik stood and held his arms out to her. "Dance with me!" he sang.

"Dance with me!" she sang in return and he took her in his arms, dancing to a gavotte. She had no idea who was playing the music now but she never broke their gaze, their feet taking each graceful step. They seem to have been born dancing together all their lives. The music continued and Erik sang to it as they danced.

"Dance with me and see the power of this melody

Do not turn away now

You must face this music's great mystery

You can not turn away, now you belong to the music, to me!"

Adrianna only wanted the sound of his voice, their steps dancing together perfectly, all of it. She did not even know the significance of the lyrics he had just sang to her…and she sang in return.

"I shall dance with you to the end of the world

Take me to the end and dance with me

Here…I belong in this music's rapture

I belong to you, me, I belong to you, only me!"

Behind his mask, Erik's eyes glowed, his heart beating furiously in his chest.

He saw her expression, dreamy from the excitement, the music. B-But had she really meant it? They stopped and Erik saw her wobble on her feet. He smiled at her just as her eyes closed and she fell forward.

He caught her and gently laid her on the black marble floor, her head resting on his lap…just as Christine had once before…

He caressed her face, and he knew. How he had fallen so easily once again! Now what would he do if anyone took his nightingale away from him? He stroked her cheek and his finger traced the corner of his lips. His hand was shaking as he brushed her porcelain pale skin. She was beautiful but there was something more…and yet, how could he be trapped so easily this time, after two years of solitude!

"Let your soul take you where you long to be…only then can you belong to me…"

Adrianna opened her eyes and saw him looking down at her, stroking her ever so gently and then her eyes fell again.

"I thought…she alone could make my song take flight…can you…help me make the music…of…the…night?..." he half whispered, half sang to her.

"…please…help me make the music of the night…" he sighed. She was his now. His alone.

"You belong to me…"