Disclaimer: Enjoy this chapter of more lyrics, made-up by me, and other things not familiar to the books/musical. All things related to The Phantom of the Opera belong to Gaston Leroux and/or Andrew Lloyd Webber. Go split the credit amongst them.

Special thanks to my reviewers: Countess Alana and Amanda17, you have no idea how much joy they gave me.

Longer chapter? Maybe the author is a bit sick or something…or really bored of Spanish and Algebra homework.

The Nightingale

Chapter 6: One Heart Trapped Within

"Adrianna! Adrianna, over here, quick!" Meg cried to her friend from the other end of the stage a week later. Adrianna pushed her way through this sudden crowd and sat next to her friend who smiled up at her as she laced her ballet shoes. Meg tugged furiously at her laces, her grip white with numb. Something was definitely bothering her today.

"Is everything alright, Meg?" Adrianna asked softly, laying a hand on her friend's shoulder. "You seem very tense today."

Meg gave her a weak smile as she stood and tapped her feet on the ground. "Well, I admit I am a little nervous. But more for the other girls. They have not even tried to practice the market scene once this past week!" She turned to the crowd, her brow furrowed in frustration. "And then this new singer for the role of Renaldo comes and all the girls want to do is swoon in his tracks. We'll never be ready!" she said, throwing her hands up.

Adrianna gave her friend a sympathetic look. But she was curious as to who this man was. She had heard that they had gotten a singer well known on the other side of France who had played the role many times before. She was nervous to meet him, a singer with so much experience working beside her.

She felt the same way when she had her practices with Erik.

Sometimes Erik sang so wonderfully and beautiful that he seemed like nothing of their world. She would feel depressed thinking there were many like him and she stood no chance in singing. She was still new to this and had only sung for friends and family.

She straightened her saddened expression when she noticed Meg staring at her.

"Adrianna?"

"Hmm?"

Meg sighed. "I've been worried about you. You're always cooped in your dressing room and never want to come with me to the Paris streets and shop as much as we did in the beginning. Are you avoiding me?"

Adrianna shook her head fervently. "No, never! I just like to practice singing. I don't want to let anyone down at the premier."

Meg's worried face didn't change. She sat next to her friend again and took Adrianna's hand in hers. "Adrianna, you're disappearing for hours now…has he visited you?"

Adrianna's heart was beating rapidly and she was sure Meg could hear it.

"Adrianna…where in the world have you been hiding…" Meg looked as if she might burst into tears with her words. "You sing perfectly at rehearsals…really you were perfect…I think…I know your secret…"

Adrianna's breath was caught in her throat.

"Tell me, friend, who is your great tutor?" Meg's voice was pleading now.

Clearing her throat of her fearful voice, she answered, "It's not what you think, Meg…I assure you, and there is no Angel of Music. I have no time to meddle with some childish legend. We have a show in a couple of days!" she said, exasperated. She calmed, realizing her friend was only worried about her. "Meg, I am not worthy of the Angel of Music to grant me his glory…if all that they say about his talent and genius is true. I never wished to frighten you."

At least this was true. It pained her greatly to lie to her friend.

Meg nodded and smiled wearily. "You're going to do wonderfully, you hear?" Adrianna nodded. "It's just that…I've received a letter from Christine Daae, the singer I told you about? She has sent me a letter, the first in these two years and she believes the Angel of Music. She saw him and he hurt her. I don't want you to get hurt too."

The mention of Christine's name stabbed her heart over and over. The name frightened her as the Opera Ghost scared the little children. Something told her that this new sense in the prima Donna to suddenly reach contact again wasn't good. Erik could get hurt again and she knew his heart couldn't take anymore.

She did not want to get hurt watching him get hurt either.

"You must be careful, Adrianna. The Phantom has been known to be very dangerous. He's killed and threatened, and he shook the chandelier down upon us too!" Meg shook her head. "I don't want anyone to get hurt again. I do not want those terrible times to return to our Opera House. This is my only home."

Adrianna nodded and Meg released her hand. They both smiled and nodded to check they were both okay. Adrianna didn't want their friendship to start and whither.

That was another thing. Christine and Meg were friends…and if Christine returned…

She would take all her comforts in Paris.

Adrianna watched as Meg took the other ballet girls to practice, scolding them over and over. She would have laughed if she wasn't so down. But she knew she would have something left, her singing. She still loved to sing, needed to sing. It was her life. A cold air swept around her and she looked around and saw something move in the shadows. He revealed part of his face into the light so he could see her for a quick second.

He frowned.

She hadn't even noticed that she had her arms wrapped around her. She was shivering. The words echoed in her head, her friend's worried face blinking at her. "…the Phantom has been known to be very dangerous…"

Adrianna quickly turned so she couldn't see where Erik stood, hiding. She saw the managers motioning for her to go over to them on the other side. She could still feel his gaze, like powerful wings that held her to his control. She thought of different emotions he could be feeling at the same time.

Anger...triumph…and those seductive eyes that lured her to him. She was nothing more than some puppet with strings to be pulled on by everyone. But she had never met anyone who had so much power over her, he was the puppet master.

Yes, Erik's eyes followed her across the stage, watching her sing. But other thoughts, different from what Adrianna was thinking, were going through his head. Wonder…amazement…curiosity… Why had she looked at him that way? He couldn't place it exactly. He swept up to the top of the theatre where he hung above with the stage ropes, watching everyone move below him. Something caught his attention.

Who was that man going over to Adrianna?

Monsieur Firmin and Andre' greeted him warmly. "Miss Hale, this is Ferdinand Pierre. He is to play the role of Renaldo. Monsieur Pierre this is Adrianna Hale. She has the part of Felisa." Pierre stepped over to her and smiled. Monsieur Firmin and Andre' looked excited at how "well" they were getting along so well.

"My! It is a please to meet you, my lovely mademoiselle. I have heard about the gorgeous new singer who has graced the famous Opera House." he said, taking her hand. She plastered a smile to her face, trying to look convincing. "I am surprised that you would still choose to perform with the Opera Ghost haunting around here." he joked.

Erik produced a very low growl but was careful not to be heard.

The other ballet girls were able to escape the wrath of Meg Giry and her mother and ran over to Pierre. They giggled at him. "Yes, you would have thought that she'd leave! I don't think the Opera Ghost would appreciate anyone trying to use his theatre to gain spotlight unless it was Christine Daae!"

Adrianna shifted uncomfortably on her feet. Erik's eyes glittered intriguingly at this.

The girls gathered around Pierre and Adrianna, because he had not yet let go of her hand. Pierre threw back his head with a strong laugh. "But I do not think she should worry, not with a professional working beside her." The girls sighed and whispered to each other. "Miss Hale should not believe in these foolish tales anyway. I most certainly don't!" Erik continued to prowl above the stage, staring venomously at the man as hard as he could.

Madam Giry rushed to the girls and shooed them from the two. "Miss Hale, please begin the song One Heart from the Dungeon Scene."

Adrianna nodded but looked nervously from Pierre to Madam Giry to Meg standing beside her. Her friend nodded with a reassuring smile. She pictured something that she would sing to in her mind, a lesson her mother had taught her to get rid of stage fright. She imagined her father there in his rocking chair where he probably waited for her on their porch.

Still, she could not sing.

She glanced nervously around her and Madam Giry looked worried. Again she searched her mind for something and saw a hand. Her heart skipped a beat, it was hers. But another hand, dressed richly in white glove touched hers. She grew frightened as the thought revealed Erik but she found that she could hear something sing to her.

"Take my heart…" It was her voice. She was singing. "…and you will see,

We are one heart, you and me

Let us run to the end of the world!

In your arms I long to be!"

Sobs of fear threatened to break loose. He was there; somewhere and she would never be able to leave his prison, his control, his power. But she could see Erik, when they first met.

A boy, not much older then thirteen years of age sat on the bench, waiting for his turn…

…to be jeered by the crowds.

If his mother had only loved him….he would not be here to face this torment.

But he had also chosen this fate.

Adrianna saw the boy, his chin in his hand.

There was a tattered piece of cloth over his face…

When he saw her, she ran…

But she returned everyday to catch a glimpse of him for week.

One day he called to her and told her his name.

He was not there the next day.

"And return…return to me your heart and be

Loved in this world of unfair cruelty…" Erik felt his body shaking as he clenched the ropes, this powerful urge to sing back to her growing stronger with each word she sang. It was the most curious thing which happened to him every rehearsal he watched. He needed to sing! He must sing with her!

He caught himself and steadied his nerves. He continued to listen to her voice…

"Take me, leave this unkind world behind

And save me, take me, fly me into the sky….!"

Her shoulders shook slightly and fiery eyes stared at her from the dark wherever she looked. She tried to push them away but she then noticed their softness and gentleness. She felt her hand stretch to them.

"We are one heart, forever and everyday

My heart has chosen…"

Let my heart…

"…and will stay…this way…"

…find its way.

"…until they take it…away…!"

Adrianna let her hand fall from the emptiness she was trying to reach and looked at Madam Giry who smiled proudly at her. "Very well, my dear, the managers are always glad to hear you improving so much when we never thought you needed it in the first place!"

Everyone turned to Pierre to sing and he seemed to grow two feet taller at this.

"Come with me and I will show you

All you need to know…"

Erik watched carefully, the music reaching his ears. No, this would just not do. He was not right to sing with her…next to her… There voices could never be one, never be enjoyed together. His voice was strong and proud when the character of Renaldo was supposed to be shy and hiding under his father's shadow when inside he fought fiercely in the eyes of danger…he was a soul determined never to hurt Felisa who's own spirit was quiet, frightened of letting her heart go to any man…

But also, Erik didn't like this Pierre one bit.

He had seen the play before, but it was new to his Opera House. He remembered as the gypsies danced by the fire and he was allowed to sit next to their leader who greatly admired Erik's talents. He was the only one who would go near him. The others began to act scenes from a play they had witness in the streets and sang their same songs. The voice of the gypsies haunted and delighted him to the very day. It was them who taught him to play his beloved violin.

Erik shook his head of the thoughts from the past. He had to meet Adrianna in her dressing room so they could practice together. The premier was in a few days, she needed more training. He told her once he would be able to make her song "open the gates of heaven". He smiled, seeing her expression, dazzled and lighted with happiness at his words.

He watched her from behind the mirror as she stared back at her reflection, unknowing he too was watching her. He gasped as her hand stretched to him but she quickly put it down, squeezing her hands in her lap.

He could hear her softly. "The Phantom of the Opera is there—inside my mind…"

a/n: This one is very long…I don't know why, hadn't written a chapter in only two days and this spills out, I guess. And if you haven't guessed the return of a certain character, I advise you to reread this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it. There is something going on with Adrianna and Erik's relationship of curiosity and interest. Erik never said he loved her, only that she was his. Maybe he could admit to the love of having her with him. He never really said 'I love her'. So…hearts and old memories will be broken in future chapters.

PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!

Explanation for "Ferdinand Pierre":

I thought I'd make him come from Spain so I got "Ferdinand" and then I wanted him to be French so I bugged my friend in Biology who took French class, I take Spanish, and she told me the simplest one of all "Pierre". She just stared at me like I was crazy after I took it in and began to scribble furiously at my paper. I should thank her but then she'd go "you're mental" on me.