Erik

Jewel awoke late that night to a soft voice haunting her room. It was the same one she'd heard singing the other night. She sat up in her bed and listened. Sadly she could only here it for a few seconds before it faded off again as it did before.

"Maybe my angel of music has come to sing me to sleep," she whispered looking over at Aeris who was asleep.

A strong cold chill ran down her spine as Jewel listened again. She could hear the heavy breathing of another person in the room. Starting to shake she turned to where the noise came. The room was pitch black and all she could make out was the tall figure in the corner by the window. Jewel could feel their gaze upon her.

"Hello…" she gulped.

Her eyes finally adjusted to the dark and she was able to make out that it was a man; however the darkness covered his face well.

Scared she wanted to scream but before she could make a sound the dark figure lunged at her covering her mouth with a white cloth. Jewel soon passed out.

When Jewel awoke again everything seemed like something out of a dream. She was back in the opera house and it was dark still. The only way she could have known where she was, was because she'd toured this room earlier that day. Shaking her eyes wandered up to the face of the dark figure towering over her. Jewel's eyes widened as she gasped in disbelief. Under the shadow of his black hat the figure wore a white mask well fitted to the right side of his face. Jewel tried her best not to stare but she could not help looking back at him and the mask.

"This can't be real," she though watching the man light another candle.

"Erik?" the name slipped off her tongue breaking the silence.

He turned to her, "Indeed I am Erik, alas, poor damned Erik.

Jewel spoke out in a daze, "You're him, The Phantom of the opera? This can't be real even if you did live you'd be dead by now."
He spoke in an eerie manner "Oh no Child, ghosts never die."

Jewel shook her head, "Then…the story and Christine Daae she…"

Erik gave a shout startling her, "Oh you must never say her name!"

"I'm sorry, Erik please forgive me…" she tore her eyes from his face.

"Give me your name?" he asked he had a thick Scottish accent.

"Jewel…"

Erik made no comment turning his back to her.

"Why did you take me away? I need to go back," said Jewel.

"I will return you when I wish,' he said," but for now you shall sing for me. Sing as though you are baring your soul to me. Sing like you did when you were up on my stage."

Jewel gasped, "You heard me? That was you; it was you in Box 5 wasn't it? I saw you."

"Yes indeed, you have a sharp eye," he said, "I wish to take you as a student do you accept?"

"Student… you mean you'll tutor my voice?" Jewel asked.

He nodded handing her some scales he'd written out.

Her eyes dropped from his dark figure to the notes then to him again. Jewel's heart pounded in her chest as she opened her mouth.

The next morning Jewel awoke back in her hotel room as if she'd never left.

"Hi…" Aeris towered over her," sleep well?" ( Aeris's face looked like this….→ )

Jewel gave her a grumpy look turning on her back pulling the covers over her face.

"No, it was only a dream…" Jewel monad sleepily.

"What was?" asked Aeris

"Erik was…"

Aeris paid no attention to the name plopping a chocolate donut on her face. ( → aeris's face)

"Get up I want to go shopping," said Aeris poking Jewel repeatedly.

Jewel stomach turned at the idea, "I don't feel well…I think I'll stay here and rest."

"Are you sick Jewel?" asked Aeris.

"I'll be fine with a little more rest just please go without me."

Aeris nodded, "Okay fine, I got my cell phone on if you need me."

"Ha, do you have in on?" Jewel laughed.

Aeris left soon after and Jewel was left alone in the quiet. She moved the donut to the night stand next to her bed and settled back to a cool spot on her pillow. She thought of her dream she had that night. How she'd been secretly kidnapped by the Phantom and brought back to the opera house. Jewel found it strange how vividly she'd remember the dream.

"It only seemed real because I'm in Paris," she thought.

Still she smiled to herself singing,

Angel of Music guide and guardian

Grant to me your glory

Angel of Music Hide no longer

Secret and strange angel . . .

Jewel awoke again at dusk. Surprised she'd slept all day Jewel quickly looked around her. Aeris was no where.

"Awake now are you…" Erik's voice startled her with a jump.

She sat up in the bed spotting him in the darkest part of the room. Erik moved ghost like toward the bed and reached his hand out to her. Questions raced Jewel's mind as she fixed her eyes on his white mask.

"Wake up, Jewel you have to be dreaming again…" She told herself.

"Come to me, my dear. Come to the angel of music," he spoke out.

She could feel the power in his voice as if he were drawing her spirit to him. Jewel took his gloved hand letting a smile pass her lips. Erik pulled her from the bed and swung her arms around his neck scooping her up in his own arms. His long black and sliver cape covered Jewel's eyes as they walked out. The cold night air told her she was being carried outside and when the cloak was lifted from her face Jewel saw a gorgeous black horse tied up as if waiting for them.

It nickered jerking its head as she was lifted on to its back. Erik swung up into the saddle with Jewel in front of him. Taking the rains he tight fixed his arms around her holding so she was secure in the saddle.

The Horse took off at a gallop and headed down the dark streets of Paris. The buildings raced by them in the bury moonlight. Jewel's eyes traveled up the moon following them as they rode. She listened to the horses hooves beating against the payment and leaned back almost resting her head on his shoulder. Jewel took a breath and began to sing to him,

In sleep he sang to me

in dreams he came
that voice which calls to me

And speaks my name
and do I dream again?

For now I find
the Phantom of the Opera is there inside my mind…

She could feel his breath as he breathed and sang hauntingly close to her ear,

Sing once again with me our strange duet
my power over you grows stronger yet…

The horse came to a stop as it entered the stable. Erik slipped off its back leading it to a stall. He then held out his arms to Jewel caching her as she dismounted. He brought her back into the dressing room where they where before and sat her down.

"Erik?" she asked

He lit a candle by her and blew out the match looking at her, "yes…"

Jewel smiled, "You came back."

"It is time for your lesson, my dear, sing your scales I have a new piece for you to sing tonight," he said handing her more sheet music.

Jewel looked up at Erik with an admiring glaze. He was truly a man of his music taking it very seriously. He definitely had a talent for bringing out the beauty in ones voice. All in all he was a great teacher firm and strict.

Hours went by with Jewel's voice echoing as she sang for Erik, a piece from Romeo and Juliet. She guess she'd been sing for two full hours when he finally told her to rest.

"Erik, how long have you lived in this place," Jewel asked.

He chuckled at her from the other side of the room, "My dear, I built this opera house"

"Then I guess what they say in the book is true, you ran away from home, joined the circus…"

He cut her off," Yes, it is all true I did all those things and more…even killed. Does that frighten you, my dear?"

"No, Erik…" she said bravely. He looked back at her and Jewel almost thought she saw a smile.

"You are so drawn to me you silly girl…come it is time for your return," said Erik.

She looked at him with pleading eyes," Why can't I stay with you? I can't go back now, Master, I don't want to go back," Jewel's eyes dropped in shame realizing how childish she sounded and thinking he'd laugh.

"Very well," said Erik placing his hat back on top of his head.

Jewel was in his arms again being carried through the opera house. He took her deep down into the cellars of the opera house down to the lake where a small boat was waiting for them. She could feel the dampness in the air as she was placed into the boat. Erik lit a match lighting the small lanterns hanging on the boat. The lamps gave off an eerie glow as they floated down the lake. Jewel's head was spinning as she studied the old opera posters and stone statues in the darkness as they floated past. Every part of her told her she was still dreaming and yet, it was so real. The haunting song filled her head and her heart soared as she sang,

Those who have seen your face draw back in fear
I am the mask you wear

Erik joined in…

It's me they hear
your spirit and your voice, in one combined
the Phantom of the Opera is there
inside your mind…

Erik glanced down at her and sang,

In all your fantasy, you always knew

Jewel lifted her hand out to him and he took it with a gentle squeeze,

That man and mystery…

She joined in…

Were both in you …

Their voices rang and union as they sang together,

And in this labyrinth, where night is blind,
the Phantom of the Opera is there inside my mind…