A/N: Hey guys! Thank you so much for supporting me with the recent chapters. I'm going to try my best and post the address for my Lonely story. Bare with me as I try to do this: http colon backslash backslash www dot fictionpress dot com backslash read dot php?storyid equal sign 1919864

Now that I've said my peace, here is the man of the hour.

I do not have much to say and I know that you do not mind. But my fair Angelina is still in the darkness. I hope that this chapter will shed some light on all that has happened. I would like to thank all of you who are reading this story. In one of the future chapters, Phoenix will be posting the name of her new Phantom story. I, Light Erik – as I like to call myself, will be taken over by a new Erik. Hopefully you will welcome him with open arms as you have done with me.

Please enjoy this chapter. As always, read and review. And for the sake of copyright laws, the song within this chapter does not belong to me, Phoenix, or Angelina. We would like to thank the movie Moulin Rouge – considering it is one of Phoenix's favorites, for the song. We found it appropriate and plays quite well with the chapter.

The stage is yours.

With much love,

Erik

Chapter 46 – The Song That Will Never Be Sung

Days seemed to pass like years. Time became slow and haunting. It did not want to give Angelina time to heal. It wanted to drag the tragedy through her mind for all eternity.

Rene watched as Angelina pirouetted across the stage. Music echoed in his ears without the beautiful voice to accompany it. Meg stepped along side of him and watched with her heart breaking.

"She still will not sing?"

Rene solemnly shook his head. "It has been almost a week. She has not said a word to anyone."

"Raoul has been afraid of this happening."

"She has gone into her own world. Meg, there is no one to bring her out of it."

Meg knew that Raoul was still tending to Christine. Christine had slipped into a melancholy so serious that nothing would console her. The doctors were afraid of her heath failing even more than it already was. Raoul could not be with her daughter as much as he wanted to be. There had been several correspondences after the one with the tragic news. Raoul wanted Angelina kept safe and happy. Meg was failing in her task.

"Monsieur DuBois…"

Turning, Rene watched as a young dancer stepped up to him with a letter in her hand. She lowered her head and held out the letter – trembling with fear.

"…I was told to give you this."

Rene did not need to open it to see who it was from. His master had changed his seal to conceal who was writing him letters. The normal blood red skull seal was replaced with an 'E' in white. The young girl scurried away, leaving Rene and Meg alone.

"What is it?"

"Will you excuse me?" Rene bowed and stepped off to the side. Breaking the seal, he began to read…

Rene

You will reserve the stage for Angelina and me tonight. I know what has transpired over this past week. Her melancholy will consume her until someone brings her soul back to the surface. Assure me that you will do this for me.

Erik

Stuffing the letter in his pocket, he approached Meg once again. Meg noticed Rene's look right away.

"Rene, what is it?"

"I need to have the stage tonight."

"Monsieur Laurent wanted to use it. His orchestra needed to practice."

"Make it another night."

Meg looked at Rene, confused. "What is with the sudden need of the stage?"

"Please, Meg, tell me that I may use the stage." Stepping closer to her, he leaned near her ear. "It is a surprise for Angelina. I hope to help her through this fear she has within to let go of her sorrow. I have something planned for her tonight and just received a letter that it can be done as planned."

She knew that Rene wanted nothing more than to help Angelina through the pain that consumed her. Nodding her head, Meg smiled. "I will tell Monsieur Laurent that he must practice tomorrow night."

Hugging Meg, Rene raced from the stage. "Thank you!"

"It is done?"

Rene stood near the shore and watched Erik sit at his organ. He nodded his head as if his master could see him.

"Yes."

"There will be no one there?"

"No one." The music made its crescendo and caused him jump. Rene watched as Erik continued on. "How will you get Angelina to come?"

"My music will bring her to me."

"You are sure of that?"

"You doubt me?"

"No…" It was Angelina he doubted. She had been so detached from the world around her; she did not even speak to him. "I fear that your music will not bring Angelina to you. Everyone has tried, Erik. No one has reached her."

"I assure you, I will reach her."

Turning his head, Erik looked down at his protégé. How naïve Rene was. Rene still had much to learn about the world around him and much to learn about women as well. Ever since finding out that Angelina loved him, Erik had been bound and determined to make sure that her heart began to heal as it should. The loss of Alexander was great but it would only be a matter of time before his angel used her wings to soar once again.

"Erik, Angelina told me that you sang to her when she came to you…"

Erik stopped playing the organ that somehow now became second to Angelina. Music always filled his life and his mind. Now he was finding something else becoming more important than his music: his angel.

"…she felt secure and safe. But it did not help her."

"It will help her. Music is a part of her life. Once she realizes the healing power it possesses, she will return to what she was."

"Music is not as much a part of her as it is with you. Music heals you – helps you through everything. Her brother was her life."

Sighing, Erik rose, his black robe hiding his figure. "You are right."

Rene watched as Erik began down the stairs toward him. He always feared what his master would to do him if he ever disappointed him. There had been one instance, when Erik first discovered him. Erik had become so angry; the walls shook in his dressing room. After that moment, Rene had vowed to himself never to disappoint the man who gave him a new life.

"I am not angry, Rene. You can stop trembling." Walking toward him, Erik's eyes looked toward the heavens. "I just wish her happy once again."

"She will be."

Alexander, his name is Erik. I could sing his voice from the rooftops and it would never be enough. I love him more than words could express.

Erik closed his eyes as he pictured the letter in his mind. Angelina's handwriting had been careful and full of feeling. The words scribed on the paper were true. She loved him and he could not bring her back to the light that she had lived in for so long.

"Do you wish for anything else tonight?"

"No…" Erik looked at his protégé and smiled. "…nothing else."

Bowing, Rene turned toward the staircase. He watched the flames flicker and dance along the walls.

"Erik…"

"Yes?"

"She loves you. She does not want to disappoint you. I do not want her to hurt any longer. But I think, once she sees you, things might change."

Erik could not contain his smile any longer. "I know, Rene. I know. And I do hope things change. My angel needs to be back in the light that she belongs in. She does not need to travel through the darkness that I do."

Rene laughed to himself. "You no longer live in the darkness." Turning to Erik, he smiled. "She has brought you into the light and you did not even know it."

He watched as Rene began up the stairs. The light danced upon his hunched frame. Erik knew of the feelings that Rene had for Angelina. But now the feelings had turned into a brother/sister bond. Rene was disappointed that he could help her as much as he could. Erik was glad Angelina could have such a close friend. He knew that if she could not turn to him, Rene would be the one she would confide in.

The lair seemed to grow brighter as Erik moved up the stairs to his organ. He needed to bring his angel back into the light. There was a need so great inside that Erik wanted to go to her room and bring Angelina to the stage himself.

No…I must do it this way…

Gathering his sheet music, he moved to his bedroom to get ready.

Tonight is the night that my angel will return to me…

The music seemed to call to her – waking her from a nightmare. All she saw was blood and could only hear Alexander scream. She continued to search for him and could not find him. That is all she dreamed about. Alexander consumed her mind – every second, every minute, of every day. Her heart felt as though it was tearing in two.

Angelina stepped onto the stage and watched as Erik stood on the stage, looking out at the empty seats. She never knew how he did it. The music seemed to fill the air without ever truly being played. No one else ever heard it – only her.

"I have heard a rumor…"

Angelina stopped – letting his voice fill her. It was the only thing that made her feel at ease.

"…that the lead in the opera will not sing." Erik turned to her, his eyes filled with sorrow. "And she will not speak."

She had not spoken in days. Not wanting to keep saying what happened over and over, she kept to herself – not uttering a word.

"An angel should speak." He watched her for signs of letting herself let go of the grief. "Where is that angel?"

Angelina stood silent. Erik wanted her to speak but she still was not ready. If she had her way, she would be alone in her room. His music called to her as he knew it would.

"If you will not speak, then I will sing…"

She was about to speak, to stop him, until the music abruptly changed. It became soft – haunting. She closed her eyes and listened.

"Never knew I could feel like this…like I've never seen the sky before…want to vanish inside your kiss…every day I love you more and more…"

Erik circled her, his hands lingering just around her body. He could feel her warmth – her longing to let everything go. The song was filled with things about love. Without proclaiming it to her, he sang it. She would not know that this was how he felt but he knew. He knew that every word he sang – he meant.

"Listen to my heart, can you hear it sings…come back to me, and forgive everything…seasons may change, winter to spring…but I love you till the end of time…"

A single tear ran down her cheek. She knew the song. The song had been rehearsed several times. Erik had found it in the depths of the opera house. He wanted to make sure it was a song needed for his newest opera. With her voice and his, he knew it would be something that would be toward the end. The song was a beautiful piece and with their voices, it had remained in her heart.

"Come what may…come what may…I will love you until my dying day…"

He stood behind her, his hands on her hips. Her hair was down and about her shoulders. She smelt of fresh lavender. He longed to run his fingers through her silky hair. Erik denied himself to give Angelina the time she needed.

Angelina hesitated, not wanting to move into her verse. How she loved Erik. But the loss of Alexander seemed to overtake every other emotion she felt. Even Erik's hands on her body seemed distant.

Leaning near her ear, Erik felt her hair on his unmarred cheek. It sent his imagination soaring. "Sing, Angelina…no one else will hear you."

She quickly shook her head. Tears began to fall more readily. Sorrow was consuming her and racked her.

"Sing. Alexander would not want you to be like this."

Angelina trembled in his arms as his words tried to sooth her. The music continued to grow until she could take it no more.

"Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place…suddenly it moves with such a perfect grace…suddenly my life doesn't seem such a waste…it all revolves around you…"

Erik sighed. Her voice was shaking but there. It was filling with power. He brought her closer to him, listening to the voice that he had been without for days.

"And there's no mountain too high…no river too wide…sing out this song and I'll be there by your side…storm clouds may gather…and stars may collide…but I love you till the end of time…"

Her eyes opened and her breathing grew heavy. Leaning her head back, she rested against Erik's chest. Every emotion was being sung – every emotion felt.

"Come what may…come what may…I will love you until my dying day."

Their voices joined – a feeling so great that Angelina's tears dropped onto Erik's hand.

"Come what may…come what may…" Angelina put her hands on Erik's, wanting to feel closer. "…I will love you…"

He listened as Angelina's heart broke but finally seemed at peace. "Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place…"

"Come what may…come what may…I will love you until my dying day." Their voices joined once again, with feeling and purpose. It echoed throughout the opera house.

Angelina turned into Erik's embrace and cried. Her tears fell like hot rain upon his chest. Arms wrapped around his body, not wanting to let go.

"Why did He take him? Why!"

Erik could do nothing but hold her. "Everything happens for a reason."

How true that saying now rung. If he had never let Christine go, Angelina would not be in his arms right now. His heartache from that night took years to let go. He could not imagine the pain Angelina felt but knew it would not go away in a day's time.

"Make it go away. Please, Erik, make all the pain go away."

His took his hand and lifted her face from his chest. Looking into her tear filled eyes; Erik knew what he had to do.

The heavens cried as Erik's lips touched Angelina's. Her eyes closed, taking in the sensation of his touch and caress. His arms wrapped tighter around her, bringing her closer to him. Her hands reached for his face. She caressed his left cheek while the other found the hardness of his mask.

Before she could remove it, Erik's hand grasped hers and entwined their fingers together. His free hand reached for her neck and kept a hold of it – afraid she would break the kiss. His fingers danced, brushing over the necklace he had given her only a few weeks before. Neither wanted to lose the feeling – their needs too great.

It is not a dream…

Slowly pulling away, Erik opened his eyes and looked at the beautiful creature before him. He slowly traced a finger over her lips as he leaned near her ear.

"You will need to continue to deal with the pain. It will take time but you will come to grips with it. I am always here for you, my angel."

He began into the darkness, leaving Angelina stand there – eyes slowly opening. His mask was the last thing Angelina saw before he was completely swallowed by the shadows that he always hid in.

Angelina fell to her knees and wept. Her emotions were playing games with her heart. Tiny hands covered her face as tears fell to the wooden floor. The loss of Alexander was great – her heart barely able to contain what lay inside. But now, love filled her and took over.

Alexander, forgive me. But love has sought out my sorrow and has taken over. I love Erik. I love him…guide me as you have always done. Guide my heart to where it belongs.