Heart Melody

Erik looked around his lair. He couldn't believe he had let that woman, no that girl! He was so furious! His moment of triumph, his chance to finally win back Christine, and that empty-headed viscount had to come and ruin it. He just couldn't believe his luck.

"Or was it fate?" a menacing voice said.

"Are you telling me that you had a hand in this?" Erik turned around coolly. Jareth had expected more emotion from him at this point, but he was unsurprised. This damnable man was getting increasingly harder to predict.

"Well I must tell you that things did not go according to my plan, I ever so cordially stage for you and Christ- her to have your moment together and be just in time to finish off the competition." The Phantom glared at Jareth. "Well I thought you'd finish off the competition, but it seems that this Raoul chapper is more of a competition than you had originally anticipated. He obviously has the affections of your ladyfriend, not to mention he's a better swordsman, and he definetly has you beat in the looks depar- "

"Cease this mockery at once!" The phantom boomed. He threw several objects in Jareth's general direction. "Why do you torment me like this? Is this what you want? To see the caged monster become enraged?" He paced quickly around the floor. "Yes I want to rip the little whelp's heart out, yes I want to claim Christine for my own and have her say that she loves me and no one else, and yes, I want her to forget all about this cursed face and become my wife! Do you hear me? My living wife!" The phantom paused to catch his breath. He saw a small little smirk come across Jareth's face. He felt his rage boil over. "You! What is it that you want from me? My soul? It's long gone! Do you know how many people I've murdered in cold blood? Do you know the monster that is Erik?" He bared his face. "Know me and know that I know no mercy!"

Jareth's smirk turned into a full faced smile that exploded into laughter. "Oh Erik, I remember this all too well. Remember, we've done this before? You get all angry and throw your lasso at me. But this is not why I'm here. Now that I've let you have your release, of sorts, allow me to council you one last time."

"So then, you'll leave me be after this?" Erik inquired, still panting from the heat of his pent-up rage.

"I expect so, it seems time is running out for you and the young lady, I know that on the night of the premier of your opera, the managers are planning to rid themselves of you once and for all, by using the mademoiselle as bait."

"You think I didn't know this? Those bumbling managers have tried to get rid of me before, it is no concern of mine anymore."

"Yes, but this time, it is the young viscount orchestrating their moves. He wants you gone, Erik, and I don't think your young ladyfriend is objecting too much." Jareth paused. He had hoped to capture some more of that fire that he had seen before, but the as phantom of the opera turned to face him, he noticed something that he hadn't seen before. The man was dying. He had smelt death on him before, but he thought that that was just a byproduct of his murderous ways. But this time…it was different.

"It is not in my hands anymore." Erik said. "I would appreciate it if you left me now." Erik turned his back on Jareth and sat at his organ and began to play a somber tune. The slow silky melody washed over Jareth and he had to sit down. He let the music wash over him like a tide washing over a sandbar. For a moment he forgot who he was, where he lived, and even his devious ways. There was just him, and this melody. Jareth closed his eyes and all of a sudden he was a witness to a host of emotions. He could translate guilt, anger, and frustration, and he could feel it all the more with every keystroke the phantom took. Soon the grey mist took him and he found himself back in the Goblin's castle. In silence. Silence. And as sleep finally took hold of the Goblin King, he tried to recall the melody one last time. But he couldn't hear it anymore. And now he knew that what he had heard was the beat of Erik's heart. A heart that would beat for only a short time more.

Jareth knew what he had to do.