I don't own the song Time to Say Goodbye. Or any other songs used in the story nor due I own the character of Erik.

Angel of Music

"Hey Jewel, mind telling me what is going on here?" asked Aeris running behind her friend.

"Why did you have to bring that!" asked Jewel glaring at her friend's flower basket with Aeris's Hiei plushie in it .

"Leave me alone!" Said Aeris.

The girl's entered the dressing room and Jewel shut the door quietly behind them. Jewel glanced over to the mirror.

"Erik, are you here?"

Aeris stare at her friend as if she was insane. She looked around dark dressing room aimlessly as her friend sang out,

Angel of music hide no longer enter at last, my master.

"You bring a friend with you," Erik's voiced boomed out of nowhere.

Aeris, jumped her eyes wide "shit, Jewel, who was that," she asked.

Aeris grabbed Jewel's arm when she saw Erik's figure in the mirror. She was taken over into a deep stare. Slowly Erik pulled back the glass and stepped into the dressing room.

"Your beautiful, is she for me?" he teased looking over at Jewel (aeris yays in the background. He looked Aeris deep into the eyes as if he were studying her. Erik bowed to her tiping his hat.

"Good day Mam'selle," He kissed her softly on the hand.

Speechless Aeris grabbed a pink flower from her basket and handed it to Erik. He took it smiling at her," What sweet innocence…" Erik gestured toward the mirror, shall we go?"

"Yes!" said Aeris excited taking his hand.

He glanced at her but walked toward Jewel who was smiling at him. He gently took his hand away from Aeris.Erik pulled Jewel from her wheelchair and helped her stand. He led her through the mirror. Minutes passed and Aeris waited quietly. She looked behind her feeling uneasy even though the door was closed. She set her flower basket in the corner to keep it out of sight. Stepping toward the the mirror she examed it carefully.

"I am your Angel ... Come to me, Angel of Music..." Aeris froze hearing him speak. Erik was walking toward her slowly his hand held out to her, "I am your Angel ... Come to me, Angel of Music..."

She stepped towards him letting him take her by the wrists and lead her through the mirror. Aeris hardly believe her eyes she was standing in a passageway lit with thousands of gold candelabras. Hypnotized she followed the figure of the Phantom down the narrow passageway. He stopped her at a large archway with dark stairs going down.

"Stay close as to me," he warned her.

Aeris gripped his hand tighter as he took a torch from the wall. She smiled at him as he led her slowly down the stairs. Erik glanced back at her every so often to make sure she was following and him. Aeris started to sing as they turned the corner.

And do I dream again? For now I find
the Phantom of the Opera is there inside my mind…

Erik stepped in the boat helping Aeris in as well.

My spirit and my voice in one combined

The Phantom of the Opera is there inside my mind

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

Erik looked down to Aeris," Sing…my angel of music." Aeris breathed and let out a solid note. She sang out what sound like a scale climbing higher and higher. The boat had reached the lair and they could see Jewel waiting for them at the shore.

"Sing my angel…" Erik eyes glared at Jewel who obeyed going higher, "sing for me!" he commanded.

Jewel's voice rang higher echoing around them. Reaching the shore of the lair he stepped out from the boat and took off his long black cloak in a twirling motion as he lay it on the ground.

He gave Aeris his hand helping her from the boat. They stood face to face for a moment. With a look of wonder on her face she reached out and touched his mask. She fainted at that moment but he caught her in his arms almost instantly. He carried her to his bed and laid her down.

He came back to Jewel and stared at her. He noticed the black ribbon tied around her wrist and smiled at her, "My dear have you missed me?" he asked.

She was silent her smile was her only reply. He walked her toward the organ, "Begin your scales your lesson will start soon."

"Yes…Erik."

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Aeris awoke lying in a bed of red velvet and black curtains around her. She sat up letting her eyes adjust to the dim candlelight. With her hand she pulled the black curtain back and walked out. Jewel's voice drew her to the organ where she saw Erik sitting with her. Jewel finished the first part of the song, Time to Say Goodbye when Erik joined her singing the next solo. His eyes were on Jewel who was smiling up at him. Aeris stood silently listening to her friends soprano voice join with Erik's in a sweet harmony. She was in aw at how beautiful they sounded together.

Taking her hand Erik sang to her," Bravi, bravi, bravissimi…Really my dear, such improvement in such a short time," he spoke, "You really should be on stage."

Jewel blushed, "Thank you, Erik."

Erik rose seeing Aeris walking up to him.

"If you don't mind," she asked shyly," would you take me on a tour of your beautiful opera house?"

He looked at Jewel who gave a nod.

Aeris followed as Erik walked toward the theatre's stage. Aeris stop turning around looking up at the theatre grand balconies and nude statues. Even in the dark she could make out the detail.

She turned to address Erik, "You have so many talents why'd you build this place?"

"Music is my passion. The only thing that could comfort me in my solitude was music. I wanted to build a place I could hide from the word…" he paused, "Would you like to go up to my box?" He asked changing the subject.

"Please," she answered her eyes falling on Box 5.

Erik took her hand and led her up to his box quietly. He watched her take a seat in one of the chairs placing her flower basket on her lap.

"What is that?" asked Erik in a low tone glaring at Hiei in her basket.

"My Hiei pushie, Jewel got it for me. He goes everywhere I go," Aeris smiled brightly.

"You carry around a toy?" He asked dryly.

Aeris matched his glare, "He is not a toy!"

Erik dropped the subject," Shall we move on?"

They descended and he showed her the back stage area along with up above where the grand chandelier once hung. Aeris was now standing on the roof of the opera house with Erik lurking in the shadows. The night sky seemed to be bare from where she was but her eyes could scale the rooftops for miles. She smiled to herself soaking in the sight of Paris from above. Then following Erik like a shadow they walked to the statue of an angel toward the edge of the roof. Aeris traced its gold edges with her fingers admiring the detail.

"This is truly a work of art, just like the statues inside. By the way I've been meaning to ask what's with all the nude statues." She asked.

"Think of the era…"

"So, you seem pretty of fond of Jewel," said Aeris.

"She is only my student," said Erik.

"You know we're not from here, right? We came down here for the summer. We have to go back home in a month."

"Jewel, is a close friends of yours?" He asked circling her.

"She is like my sister," said Aeris.

"She has had a hard life hasn't she?" he asked.

"Yes, more so than others, but she doesn't complain," she answered.

Aeris stepped away from the angel facing Erik," She reminds you of Christine, doesn't she? How long have you been watching us?"

"Since the first day she came down to the lake. She was by herself but you soon followed. You two wanted so bad to know the truth of the Phantom of the Opera, and here I am…"

"I still can't believe it, you're the whole reason we came down here. What do you plan to do with her and me?" She asked.

He looked at her seriously for a moment, "Are you frightened?"

Her eyes dropped from his, "No she said boldly, "well maybe a little."

He laughed shaking his head," Do not worry I have no plans of harming both of you."

Aeris felt relief hearing him say that but part of her didn't feel any safer. For Erik's true intentions were still a mystery. She thought of her friend waiting back below the surface. She closed her eyes picturing Christine and Raoul singing their sweet duet. Raoul cradling Christine before they shared that ill fated kiss.

Say you'll share with me

One love, one lifetime . . .
say the word and I will follow you . . .
Share each day with me,

Each night, each morning . . .
Say you love me . . .

A cold wind blew passed and Aeris soon stopped realizing she was the one singing. She looked at Erik who was looking down at the ground. Aeris heart skipped a beat as she saw the tears in his eyes. Slowly Aeris walk to him her eyes pleading to him she was sorry. Aeris threw her arms around his neck hugging him tightly not caring if he just stood there. Erik was puzzled but said nothing for her gesture had defiantly shocked him. Still he stayed letting Aeris hang on him.

"I'm so stupid…I'm sorry" Aeris said. Looking up at him she raised her hands to his mask. Erik snatched her wrist roughly twisting her hand away, "Never try again…as long as you leave the mask alone no harm shall come to you."

Aeris took his warning seriously backing away.

"Come I will take you back as far as I can," said Erik hold his hand out to her.

She took it," And what about Jewel?"

"She is safe with me." he answered.