A/N: Erik wanted me to tell you that unfortunately he cannot take credit for a song in this chapter. As much as he would love to say he was the composer of the piece, he is not. The credit goes to Josh Groban and Charlotte Church.

As for the rest of our story, we would like to thank Phoenix for scribing for us. She has been wonderful in this process. We hope that you will continue to read and review and tell others of our tale.

Tears are coming to my eyes just thinking of this chapter. Please, enjoy. Have a good weekend.

With much love,

Angelina

Chapter 40 – The Devil's Child

Erik had not anticipated the crowd to be as large as it was. Children and adults were all out for the event Paris had not seen in years. Toys, food, and other goods were in the arms of the patrons walking throughout the carnival.

Angelina had been right. The black mask he wore seemed more like a shadow then anything else. The hood concealed the rest of his face from the world around him.

"Are you alright?"

Her voice was light and barely auditable to Erik's ears. The sounds and sights had him distracted. Memories were flooding him unlike anything else ever had. Her hand quickly grasped his and turned him toward her.

"Erik, tell me now. We still have time to turn back."

"I…" He shook his head. There was no turning back now. The wound that he tried to close was now too open. "…no, Angelina. There is no turning back."

Angelina slowly nodded her head. "Very well."

Glancing up, she noticed the sideshows beginning and the fun part of the carnival ending. Her stomach became full of knots. She did not feel like herself and could just imagine what Erik was going through. Angelina felt him stop cold as he noticed what they were approaching.

"Angelina…"

"I am right here – by your side."

Angelina jumped as she heard a voice beside her.

"Come see the wonders of the world, child."

Erik drew her closer, recognizing the voice. It was a gypsy woman who was in charge of reading palms and the crystal ball. Instead of the black wavy hair he remembered, it was now peppered with gray and white. The midnight blue dress she wore made her even more haunting.

Angelina felt his warm touch yet felt the need for her to be close. He knew this place more than she did. Erik knew the pits she could fall into and never be found again.

"Stay close to me." His head was near hers. "Things have changed since I have been here last."

"Lead the way, Erik."

Erik took her hand and grasped it. He made sure that he would not lose her along the way.

"Hey! I know you!"

Erik stopped cold. He did not move as Angelina's head slowly turned. Stumbling through the crowd was an old man with a whisky bottle. It sloshed from the mouth of it, onto the grease covered pants he wore.

"Describe him to me, Angelina."

"He is an old man that is very unkempt." Angelina nearly choked on the alcohol the man had on his breath as he approached. "And very intoxicated."

Erik slowly turned and looked at the old man as he nearly fell on Angelina. Gently putting Angelina behind him, Erik looked into the bloodshot eyes of the old man before him.

"I have seen you before."

"You have not, Monsieur."

"Sure I have! You are that man…" The old man hiccupped and nearly fell over. "You are that man…"

Angelina shook her head and tugged on Erik's cape. "Let us go, Erik. The man does not know you."

Erik held up a hand and silenced Angelina. He did not recognize the old man but he knew that things changed. "Where have you seen me?"

"I have seen you at…"

Before the old man could finish his statement, his eyes rolled to the back of his head and fell face first into the mud. Erik grinned.

"Silence at last."

Turning, he noticed a large banner hanging in front of a blood red tent. Erik's back tensed as he noticed what it read: The Devil's Child.

"Erik?"

"Come."

Erik began toward the tent with a pace Angelina had never seen before. Paying several francs, Erik pulled back the tent flap and let Angelina inside.

Angelina let her eyes adjust to the light as Erik stepped up behind her. She listened as his breath caught. Looming in front of her was a large cage with ropes separating the crowd from whatever lay inside.

Slowly approaching, Angelina watched as the patrons began pointing and laughing. Finally reaching the ropes, she peered inside and saw the sight before her.

"My God…it is merely a boy."

The young boy, no more then seven, had a burlap sack over his head. Two eye holes were cut out so the boy could see around him. Hay seemed to be his bed. Tears came to Angelina's eyes as she looked at the sight in front of her. The laughs did not stop as the boy seemed to cower in fear.

"Erik?"

She turned and noticed Erik stood at the entrance of the tent. His stature was unlike anything she had ever seen before. He stood in fear. His entire body was tense and unmoving. Tears ran down his cheeks as if they were a waterfall.

Approaching him, Erik took a step back from her. She held up her hands, trying to assure him that she would not harm him.

"Erik, I will not harm you."

"All it is, is a prison. All day, every day."

Angelina closed her eyes, not wanting him to see the hurt in them. She could not begin to imagine the pain he went through as a child. Just seeing the boy in the cage now, made her long to help him. She could now understand why Madam Giry saved Erik.

"You are no longer in the cage, Erik. You are free."

He looked into Angelina's eyes and saw salvation. There would be a way to redeem his past, his present, and possibly his future. Taking her hand once again, he allowed her to lead him over to the ropes. Peering inside, he did not see the boy caged in there now. All he saw was himself when he was about the age of the boy inside.

"Angelina, I do not know if I can do this."

"I am your strength. Do what you must." She squeezed his hand, assuring him that all that he feared would be feared by both.

"We are closing now."

Erik turned and saw a new gypsy heading the sideshow. The gypsy seemed to be much younger than the man who took care of him.

Angelina watched as the crowd began to dissipate. She looked up at Erik. "We must return tomorrow."

"No, I will not be able to return. I must do this now."

She watched as the gypsy stepped outside of the tent. Fearing the worst, she watched as Erik climbed under the rope and sat beside the cage. Angelina's heart stopped as Erik held out his hand for the boy to hold. A single tear ran down Erik's cheek. He began speaking to the boy but Angelina could not make out what he was saying.

Her heart was slowly breaking. Two people so hurt because of something they had no control over, were sitting in the one place neither of them should have been. The jingling of keys left Angelina searching for a thought.

Seizing the moment, Angelina left Erik's side to stand by the tent entrance. Using skill and tact, Angelina bumped into the gypsy and stumbled outside. The gypsy looked at her with disgust.

"Watch where you are going, little girl."

"Sorry, Monsieur. I must have tripped."

Quickly running away from the gypsy, Angelina ran around back and lifted the bottom of the tent up. Ducking underneath, Angelina rushed over to Erik as he looked at her.

"What are you doing, Angelina?"

"Saving a boy's life." Retrieving the keys from her cloak, she began to search for the right key.

Erik watched as she began to unlock the cage. "Did you steal those keys?"

"Yes. And I would do it again – without question." Angelina crawled into the cage as the boy backed into the corner. She held out a hand, trying to show the boy she meant no harm. "I am not going to cause you harm."

Erik looked around – watching to see if anyone would enter the tent. He watched as Angelina carefully tried to get the boy to come to her. "Angelina, we are going to get caught."

"Just a few more moments." Angelina was praying to God that they would get out safe. The boy needed to be saved just as Erik was. She could see the bruises upon the boy's chest and back. "I promise you, I will keep you safe."

Angelina watched, as the boy quickly skidded past her and into Erik's arms. She crawled out from the cage and locked it once again. Carefully, she approached the gypsy and placed the keys at his feet. Looking at the sight behind her, Angelina almost burst into tears. Erik held the boy close to his chest as the boy continued to cry in his arms.

"We must go, Angelina."

Angelina quickly nodded her head and rushed over to the opposite side of the tent. Lifting the end of it, she allowed Erik and the boy to leave first. She quickly followed suit.

Erik wrapped his large cloak around the boy – to conceal him as they left the carnival. Angelina smiled to herself – proud of the act that she just committed. Although there would be severe ramifications, it did not matter to her in the least. She saved a boy – a boy that would grow-up to be a genius, just like Erik.

Erik stood in the entrance of his bedroom. He watched as Angelina tucked the young boy into the bed. She sat beside him and smiled down at him.

"In the morning, I guarantee you that you will begin a new life."

"Why did you save me?"

Angelina smiled and kissed him on the forehead. "Because you have a heart and a soul that should not be wasted. Get some rest. You have many days to live. You have many to make up for."

Angelina stood and began toward the door when she noticed Erik. He smiled at her as he began toward her. Gently kissing her on the forehead, he looked at the boy, frightened by his surroundings.

"Let me tend to the boy. I will be with you momentarily."

She nodded her head and began to leave until she heard the rustle of sheets. Turning around, she leaned on the doorframe and watched as Erik smiled at the young boy.

"You are afraid to go to sleep?"

"Yes, Monsieur. Although the nice girl told me I should not be, I still am. Nightmares fill my mind."

"I understand. You will have many nights where this will happen."

"Will they ever go away?"

He brushed back the hair from the boy's face. Erik knew that much would have to be done before he could be given to a proper home. The deformity on the boy's face was not as severe as his. There was no excuse as to why the child was where he was.

"In time, you will find other things to replace them with. There will be many nights that you will have pleasant dreams. Or dreams of things to come. They will overpower any nightmares that you will have."

"And you experience this?"

Erik smiled. "I do now."

"What brought this to you? I mean, how are you able to overcome your nightmares?"

"I write music. And a talented singer sings my songs far beyond expectations." Erik knew Angelina was still standing in the doorway. He smiled as he saw Angelina blush. "Music makes all of my pain go away."

"Will you show me?"

"I do not know…"

"Can you sing me to sleep?"

Tears streamed down Angelina's face at the boy's plea. Would Erik sing?

Holding out a hand, Erik beckoned Angelina to him. Angelina did not resist. Her hand grasped his and she stood along side him.

"Do you remember the song I taught you?"

"I believe so."

"If you begin it, I will join you."

Angelina nodded her head. The boy in the bed tossed and turned for a brief moment before becoming comfortable. It seemed as though music filled the room. He smiled as it surrounded him and made him safe.

"I pray you'll be our eyes…and watch us where we go…and help us to be wise…in times that when we don't know…let this be our prayer. As we go away…lead us to a place…guide us with your grace…to a place where we'll be safe."

The child could feel his eyes growing heavy. It was not until Erik's voice began, did the child truly realize that the nightmares he feared would go away as Erik had promised.

Erik began his verse, knowing that Angelina would compliment him. "La luce che tu dai."

"I pray we'll find your light."

"Nel cuore restera."

"And hold it in our hearts."

"A ricordarci che."

"When stars go out each night."

"L'eterna stella sei." Erik paused, letting the note sink in. "Nella mia preghiera."

"Let this be our prayer."

"Quanta fede c'e."

"When shadows fill our day."

Their voices combined and echoed throughout the room. "Lead us to a place…guide us with your grace…give us faith so we'll be safe."

Erik looked down at the boy and noticed he was sleeping peacefully. Squeezing Angelina's hand, he led her out to where they would not disturb the sleeping child.

"Your voice had heart behind it tonight, Erik."

"I felt free, for the first time in my life." He looked at Angelina and smiled. "You risked your life for a child."

"I risked my life to save a boy that wanted to live his life as he should." She smiled back. "I could not save you, Erik. So I saved that child instead."

Putting a hand to her face, Erik drew her close and looked down at her. He had never felt such love for a woman in his entire existence. The consequences would be severe but he would help Angelina through them if she needed.

"No, Angelina. You saved me. You helped me retrieve some of my soul from the past I could not let go." He wiped away the tears that ran down her cheek. "Thank you."

Silence hung in the air like a thick fog. But it was not deafening as it usually was. Angelina and Erik both understood one another. Their love for a child brought them closer together than ever. It was only a matter of time before fate found its way into both of their hearts and brought them to the place they needed to be – with one another.