A/N: I wasn't going to post today since it is my birthday, but I decided to anyway. I love this chapter and I hope you do too. Please read and review. I love that new people are starting to read as well. Pass the word! LOL! Enjoy!

Chapter 25 – The Dance of Angels

The stage was barren as was the seats in front of it. Several torches and candles lit the room but not enough to make a mark. Very little could be seen in the darkness but Angelina had learned to adjust her eyes. She was becoming accustomed to the dark and had made it her second home.

She was comfortably dressed – slacks and a shirt that her father had given her. When she practiced her dance routines, she always dressed comfortably so that she could move with ease. The thought of someone watching her, so 'underdressed' made her uneasy but she knew only one person was watching…

Erik...

It was early in the morning when she rose. Her had had been full of pain as she watched Madam Giry's company continue to practice for Faust. Brigitte continued on her tirade of making sure that Angelina knew that Brigitte was the lead and not her. On this particular morning, it did not affect her.

Her thoughts had turned to Erik and how he told her that she was not her mother. It had made her happier then he could have ever imagined. Nothing could touch her. She was floating on air. Even Gabriella and Rene had asked her what was wrong. She could not answer them. If they found out that Erik had given her hope and assurance, they would think her mad.

Soon after the practice, Rene offered to take her to lunch, which she would not decline. They talked about many matters and she had told Rene of some of the things she had done in her childhood. She was not the well mannered child everyone had thought her to be. She was actually quite unruly and would hardly ever listen to her teacher or her parents. It wasn't until she was in her teens did she grow and learn.

Rene made her happy when he was around her. Angelina and he had grown to be quite good friends. It was her fortune to have her there in Paris with her.

It was after the lunch and the torture of watching the company practice once again, that she returned to her room. She quickly let her hair down and was beginning to get ready for her own practicing when she noticed a note sticking out of the mirror.

He's never left it in that manner before.

Removing it from its home, she began reading the letter from her teacher:

Dearest Angelina,

Tonight you will practice on the stage. I know you grow tired of the lair and I will give you a rest from it. You will dance for me tonight and we will begin a routine in which you will perform for the managers for the next auditions. Not only will you receive the lead as singer but dancer as well. You will not be denied.

Come prepared to work, Angelina. There is much to be accomplished.

Erik

Sighing, she put the note on the table. There was no rest for the weary. There was not a night this week that she had not practiced. It was either her voice or her dancing. Tonight, once again, she would dance for him. She refused to disappoint him again. So with much strength and will, she began to get ready for her next lesson.

The slippers dangled from her hand, unsure if he had wanted them on her feet. It was the white pair he had given her only a few weeks prior. They were already worn. He did not know they had become her favorite pair. Angelina loved how the ribbons crossed and tied just below her knee. They were special and unique, unlike any she had seen before.

Maybe he thinks I am special and unique.

She smiled at the thought of it. I am not my mother after all. What did it matter? Erik had only seen her a few times – watching from the wings. But she held onto the thought that she was special and unique. If she thought that, she would continue to work hard to prove that she was.

"You will not need the slippers."

His voice came from the darkness that surrounded her. Angelina put the shoes down as she watched Erik slide from the darkness. How does he do that? Every time he came to her all she could do was watch him walk with grace and style. His long legs carried him over to her in several steps.

Erik looked upon her. She was not dressed as she normally was. The pants were tight but not constricting. They would serve his purpose.

"Come to me."

He held out his hand and she took it. Spinning her into his arms, Angelina let out a small scream. He smiled at her as she looked up at him.

"No practicing tonight."

She looked at him, bewildered. "But you had said…"

"Tonight there will be no practicing."

Without warning, he scooped her up and swung her around. It was not a scream of terror that escaped her lips but a scream of happiness. He gently put her down and looked at her.

"You are tired."

"You taught me a lot this week."

"Which is why tonight we will be performing for each other."

"I do not understand."

Erik knelt down in front of her as she looked down at him.

"Spin."

"Pardon me?"

"Spin."

Angelina pirouetted away from Erik. She spun and spun until she collapsed onto the floor. Erik laughed causing Angelina to glare at him.

"You find that amusing?"

"I thought you would only spin once. I did not expect you to pirouette into the night."

"I would like to see you spin."

"Alright."

She watched as Erik rose to his feet. Not trained in ballet, Erik did his best to pirouette. It wasn't until Angelina burst into laughter did he know he was doing it wrong.

"I can see that you might be able to command and teach me in ballet but you cannot do it yourself."

Erik laughed as she continued to. "I have not…"

His laughter stopped. Angelina looked at him, curiously, and crawled over to him.

"What is it?"

"I have not laughed in a very long time, if at all."

He sounded like a child. Angelina's heart ached for him. Without laughter there was no happiness. She would not have survived her life if Alexander had not made her laugh or if her father did not make jokes the made no sense. It was laughter that made her life memorable.

"Then laugh. You have much to make up for."

She stood and held out a hand. A single tear rolled down his unmarred cheek. He took her hand and stood in front of her.

"I think it is time I taught you."

Placing his right hand in hers and his left arm on her hip, she locked eyes with him.

"What are we doing?"

"We are going to dance."

It took some time and many near falls before Erik had finally realized they were ballroom dancing. Angelina floated with grace and Erik fumbled. She finally stopped and looked at him.

"You are trying to hard."

"I am not accustomed to this."

"You do not have to be. You must follow my lead. It is not like a woman to be the leader but until you learn, you follow me."

"I am not used to taking commands either."

"Welcome to the start of a new life."

A new life. He smiled and let her guide him around the stage once again. It was a lesson he had never learned: trust. Madam Giry had saved him so many years ago. She had been the only person he had ever trusted. But Angelina was beginning to gain his trust as well. She had been nothing but kind to him but of course she did not know the real him. Angelina had never seen his scarred flesh.

He pulled away from her once again. The thought of her reaction repulsed him and he could not bear to look at her. The sobs racked his body but suddenly stopped once he felt a gentle hand on his back.

"Please, do not cry. It was not my intention to hurt you."

"You have not hurt me, Angelina. It is I who will hurt you."

Erik turned and faced her. The look of confusion on her face made it that much harder for him to look at her.

"Why?"

"It…I…"

He could not tell her. Not now. He smiled and put a hand to her face. In one fluid motion, he picked her up once again and spun her. She smiled and laughed. Her laughter filled his heart and his soul. It truly was a new life.

Gently setting her down, Angelina sat down on the stage floor and looked up at Erik.

"I am tired of taking center stage alone."

"It is your destiny."

"And yours."

He laughed and shook his head. "Foolish girl."

"Why am I foolish? You deserve to be in the spotlight as much as I do."

"I can never be in the spotlight."

"Because you will not allow yourself to be."

She quickly jumped to her feet and began running into the darkness. Erik watched her go, confused by her actions.

"Where are you going?"

"I will be back in a moment's time."

That moment seemed like an eternity. It was not until a bright light shown on the stage did Erik finally figure out what Angelina was doing. It was only minutes after the light hit the stage when Angelina returned to it as well.

"What have you done?"

"If you will not be in the spotlight in public, then you will be in the spotlight in my presence." She gestured to the brightest part of the stage. "The stage is yours."

She watched as he walked into the light. He grimaced from the brightness of it but quickly adjusted. Erik looked back at her and decided it was time. He held out a hand.

"Join me."

Her hand hesitated but took his. Both of their hearts were racing as he brought her to him. He stood behind her and brushed back her hair.

"Sing for me, Erik."

Her plea caught his heart. Don Juan came to him in waves and he did not want her to know that it truly was him. Remembering another song, his arms wrapped around her waist and drew her closer to him.

"Floating, falling…sweet intoxication!"

Her hands slowly covered his. Without thought or reason, he entwined their fingers and began gently rubbing her stomach. Angelina's eyes closed from both his voice and his touch.

"Touch me, trust me…"

He slowly brought her hand up to his face. Her hand lingered there as his hand began down her arm and the side of her body. He was drinking her in. If she had been wine, he would have been intoxicated by now.

"…savour each sensation! Let the dream begin, let your darker side give in to the power of the music that I write – the power of the music of the night."

She turned to him and looked at him. Passion filled both of their eyes. Music echoed through the night. No one but them could hear it or feel it. Neither could move nor speak. Her other hand slowly began its way to his mask. Her hand caressed it but Erik grabbed her hand before she could remove the mask.

"Please." It was a single plea filled with desperation. He did not want it to sound that way but fear consumed him and took over.

Seeing the pain in his eyes, Angelina removed her hand and nodded. "As you wish."

He brushed back a lock of hair from her face and looked at her. An angel. That is all she is. She is an angel.

"You must get some sleep."

The words stung her. Once again she felt as though she were dying inside. She did not want to leave him. Erik made her happy and she could not tell him – afraid he would leave her for good.

"I am not tired."

Erik smiled. Putting a hand to her face, he smiled wider. "Tomorrow night we will begin rehearsals again. Faust is being performed tomorrow and you must be ready for auditions."

"Of course."

He slowly began into the darkness. She watched him go but her heart refused to acknowledge him leaving. The darkness enveloped him before her heart finally succumbed to the fact that he would not return to her.

Her dreams would be full of happiness and passion. She denied herself by telling Jonathan that she would think of his proposal. She loved one man and one man alone…

Erik…