Our Strange Duet

"You don't think it is too low?" Jewel asked.

Erik studied the music as he sat at the piano, "No…you could sing it."

Jewel took a spot beside the piano ready for her lesson to continue…

Erik played the first few notes of the song slowly. Jewel couldn't help but watch him play. She was amazed at how he could play any piece and make it his own. Music just seems so natural for him. She had only just given him the sheet music and was playing it perfectly. Swallowing the lump in her throat she felt a knot growing in her stomach.

"Jewel?" Erik called her.

Jewel quickly snapped back to what was happening she looked at Erik face her red.

"You missed the queue," he said firmly.

"I know, I'm sorry I was distracted."

Erik replayed a few of the beginning notes before she broke into the song

Midnight
not a sound from the pavement
has the moon lost her memory?
She is smiling alone
In the lamplight the Withered leaves collected at my feet
And the wind begins to blow
Memory
All alone in the moonlight
I can smile at the old days
Life was beautiful then
I remember The time I knew what happiness was
Let the memory live again…

Jewel dropped out letting Erik's Piano take over. The song continued but Jewel let her mind go. The memories of her time here came rushing back to her in the notes of the music. She remembered how she felt when she first came here both naive and excited. She had known that this trip would be one to remember, but nothing like it had turned out. Jewel's world had become that of fairy tale and deepest fantasy. This whole time with Erik and the opera house was something she'd only dreamed of. She could remember how much she doubted everything at first, though it never showed.

Daylight,
I must wait for the sunrise
I must think of a new life
And I mustn't give in
When the dawn comes
Tonight will be a memory too
And a new day will begin

It hurt her to think that all her time came down too was a day and now not even that. Her summer was almost gone. But the harder thing to face was that Erik said this was their last lesson and that he'd be taking her back in a few more hours. Yes, for her, her fantasy world was soon to end. Soon she'd have to leave him.

Touch me, it's so easy to leave me
All alone with the memory
Of my days in the sun
If you touch me
You'll understand what happiness is
Look, a new day has begun….

A sad Jewel look came her face as felt her tears. She heard Erik playing the last lines then finally let the melody die.

"Erik, tonight I gave you my soul…"

He walked over and bent down to her level, "There is no finer gift, " and he wiped her tears away, "The angels wept tonight."

She smiled as he raised her chin while he rose to his feet. She quickly composed herself. Erik sat back at the piano his hands on the keys. She turned her head toward him when she heard the notes of Music of the Night, followed by Erik's voice.

Night time, Sharpens, Heighten each sensation,
Darkness stirs, and wakes imagination,
Silently the senses, abandon their defenses,
Helpless to resist the notes I write,
For I compose the music of the night

Jewel came and stood beside Erik placing her hand on his shoulder as she started to sing…

Slowly, Gently, Night unfurls its splendor,
Grasp it, Sense it, Tremulous and tender,

Erik smiled joining her. He sang lead while she sung the harmony…


Hearing is believing,
Music is deceiving,
Hard as lightening, soft, as candle light,
Dare you trust the music of the night

Erik seemed very pleased as he sung the last line of the verse by himself. He dropped out letting Jewel take the first few words of the next verse as a solo before rejoining halfway through.


Close your eyes,
For your eyes will only tell the truth,
And the truth isn't what you want to see,
In the dark it is easy to pretend,
But the truth is what it ought to be
Softly, Deftly,
Music shall caress you,
Hear it, feel it,
Secretly possess you

Jewel drew his gaze to her as she laid her hand on his mask. Again he was met with her beautiful smile. They both continued looking into each other eyes…

Open up your mind,
Let your fantasies unwind,
In this darkness which you know you can not fight,
The darkness of the music of the night

Erik left the piano taking her hands in his. Both were so entranced in their duet that either seemed to miss the music as they sung. Jewel rose out of her chair with his aid she followed Erik away from the piano and toward center stage


Close your eyes start a journey through a strange new world,
Leave all thoughts of a world you knew before,
Close your eyes and let music set you free,
Only then can you belong to me

Jewel closed her eyes leaning on Erik as he stood behind her. Taking his hands she placed them on her body. Pressing her against him his hands slid down her waist moving her hips slightly as they sung the next words…


Floating, falling, sweet intoxication,

"Touch me, trust me," he begged softly in her ear as he felt her hand caressing his mask.Jewel turned so could face him.

savor each sensation,
Let the dream begin,
Let your darker side give in,
To the power of the music that I write,
The power of the music of the night

Smiling at her Erik dropped out again letting her take the last word of the verse. She sang it climbing higher closer to her normal range. Jewel sang with such passion Erik could only listen in aw. He took her hands in both of his singing to her just himself…

you alone can make my song take flight,
Help me make the music of the…

Jewel cut in her voice blending with his…


Help me make the music of the night…

He saw her close her eyes and when she opened them again tears poured down her cheeks. Slowly Erik removed the mask from his face letting it fall to the ground. His hand was hot against her skin as his fingers stroked the curve of her neck. Tilting her chin up Erik finally kissed her their lips brushing into each others at the songs end. He pulled her into an embrace to deepen the kiss. Jewel couldn't help but feel a little light head as she pressed her hands to his face. Perhaps it was the high emotion still thriving from the song, but she swore her heart had wings.

Aeris returned with a chocolate cone topped with pink sprinkles for Jewel the pink sprinkles she added herself and bag of gummy bears for herself.

"Here you go…" said Aeris hanging over the cone.

Jewel took it happily, "Ah yes the breakfast of a champion…"

"Hey this worst than that time I made us Jell-O for breakfast?" She pointed out.

"How?" Jewel asked licking her ice cream.

"The Jell-O was sugar free…"
Jewel rolled her eyes, "Always count on Aeris for her stupid morning comments…"

Jewel and Aeris started making their way toward the gate of their first plane. They weren't happy they had to be up at 5am but there they were. Surprisingly, Aeris who was not a morning person was the first one up and wide awake. It took Jewel however three cups of coffee to even get coherent this morning. Lucky for them the airport wasn't too crowded and they were able to fine their gate easily. Finding a seat by the gate Aeris flopped down and started going through her pink carry on bag. She pulled out two romance novels throwing one to Jewel.

"Happy reading…"

Jewel took one look at the book and laughed. She pulled out her Mp3 player and set her headphones in her ears. Her ears were greeted by Michael Crawford's version of, Love Changes Everything. Grinning at Aeris she opened her book. Sadly the book didn't peck her interested 30 pages into the story and she put the book down. They'd now been sitting there for 30 minutes and more people started to pop up around the airport. Leading back in her chair Jewel switched folders in her Mp3 player till Phantom's overture blasted in her ears.

Closing her eyes she let her mind go being moved by the music. She always found it odd how the music of Phantom of the Opera's, unlike others, never failed to move her. Every time she heard any Phantom song a rush of excitement fell over her. Phantom just had that power over her and it made her happy knowing it always would. Smiling she looked over at Aeris deep in the middle of her book.

Jewel was surprised that Erik hadn't been mention since her return, surprised and grateful. It was clear they were both sad about leaving Paris and yes the main reason of that sadness was Erik. In this trip the girl's beloved fantasy had become a reality. They could now say they'd been to the grand Paris Opera House built by Charles Garnier or so they say. Yes, they tell people they've sat in Box 5 and seen the dusty dark tunnels of the underground. But sadly both knew the heart of the trip would have to keep secret. They couldn't tell anyone about Erik.

Jewel looked down at her wrist where the black ribbon was still tied. How she missed him already she would have stayed if he asked her. In the back of her mind she knew, he knew but refused to ask. But maybe this was right or maybe he just didn't want her to stay. He'd given Aeris his mask when they'd said goodbye. For her it was passionate kiss and it was a kiss she'd not soon forget. Though he left it unsaid she knew her care for her and even if wasn't in the way she care for him it was good enough for her.

Aeris shook Jewel on the shoulder, "I'll be right back," she handed her a small envelope as she was walked away.

Jewel looked up at Aeris "What's this?"

"Erik gave it to me…"
Jewel stared at letter before flipping it over to break the seal. She unfolded his letter and began reading

Dearest Jewel –

I think that by now you know that I am man who keeps to himself. I think that you know how I struggle to stay way from others. I once loved so passionately and like the rest of my unhappy life was rejected. Since then I've come to terms that no has ever loved me and no one ever will.

I've been that way for years.

The day I met you your voiced lured me from shadows. I heard you singing and thought you were her. I sat outside your window hearing you talk with Amanda about me. That I must admit furthered my interest in the two of you. You spoke so fondly of your Angel of Music that I wanted to be that for you. In a way I felt that my dear Christine had returned to me as I took you under my wing. But that didn't last long because you are very bold and she was a quiet girl. Do you remember when you told me about people's cruelty? You had your arms around me and said, 'Why do you torment yourself. Why do you let yourself suffer so much inside? People are shallow and cruel you can't change that.' It was after you left you left me that I realized I was drawn to you for different reasons.

The next time we met you brought Amanda with you. Such a sweet girl, though she is a bit hot headed. Still I enjoyed her company she is so curious about everything. That night I sang you to sleep and you kissed me. It scared me when you did that. I held you close that night as you slept soundly. Holding you in my arms I cursed myself forever for thinking you or wishing you were the woman I once lost. Your face and tears of that tender moment are forever burned in my mind.

The compassion both you girls gave me shall not be forgotten. Both you are a little light shining in my dark world. I've come to care for you both very dearly. I curse myself for not being able to tell you this face to face when I have the chance but I want nothing more then to have you stay here with me both of you but I know that's not possible. In this letter I've enclosed a small gift for you Jewel, I had one made for myself so that in some way we may be connected. I love you…

Erik

Jewel stared at the paper her face red with emotion. Tears were streaming down her face. The ink in the letter started to run as tear drops dabbed freely on the letter. Carefully she folded the paper. She turned the envelope over letting a sliver ring fall into her hand. She choked on her tears as she examined it. There was a music note imprinted on the small band. The imprint was filled with diamonds. Slowly she slipped the ring on her finger of her left hand. Jewel looked up to see Aeris walking back toward her. Noticing her friend's tears she froze meeting her eyes. Jewel lifted her hand showing the ring a weak smile on her face.