A/N: If I can pull this one off it should be sort of soft, dreamy and romantic, with just a little of my normal angst and drama towards the end. Oh, by the way, I'm not posting anymore on this until I have a total of fifteen reviews. I need your reviews like Kay's Erik needs morphine, so give them to me before I go insane and kill of all the characters! Don't doubt me, those of you've read "Endless Longing" know I can do it……..

Chapter Six: The Color of Desire

Charlotte sat in the dressing room, the same one where she'd first discovered the tunnel to Erik's lair, after her stunning Gala performance. Erik's teachings had, in fact, paid off, the crowed had loved her, jumping to their feet and roaring with applause after her final aria. Charlotte was ecstatic, her voice had soared to heights she'd never thought possible and even her father had seemed taken with her performance.

As strange as it seemed after the events of last week, Charlotte was only concerned with Erik's opinion of her performance. Charlotte had grown quite fond of him over the last week, after his one violent outburst, Erik had been as gentle with her as a Shepard with a lamb. Charlotte smiled at her reflection in the mirror, she was radiant with happiness. Charlotte left the mirror and sat the chaise lounge, wondering if Erik would come to her or if she should go to him.

Charlotte began to hum the tune of a lullaby her mother used to sing to her. It was an old Irish song the they had both dearly loved. She began to sing the words softly to herself.

"O Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
From glen to glen and down the mountainside
The summer's gone and all the roses falling
'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide.

"But come ye back when summer's in the meadow
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow
'Tis I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow
O Danny boy, O Danny boy, I love you so.

"But if ye come and all the flowers are dying
If I am dead, as dead I well may be,
You'll come and find the place where I am lying
And kneel and say an Ave there for me.

"And I shall hear, though soft, your tread above me
And all my grave shall warmer, sweeter be
For you will bend and tell me that you love me
And I will sleep in peace until you come to me. "

As the last note cleared the air Charlotte collapsed into sobs as bittersweet memories of her mother flooded over her. She didn't know how long she had lain on the chaise lounge, but she had cried until she had no tears left. When she finally stood and looked in the mirror to see the toll her crying had taken on her appearance, she was stunned to see, not her reflection but Erik's. She turned suddenly, to see if he was behind her, but there was no one. She turned back to the mirror, still it was his reflection she saw.

"Erik?" The question escaped her lips as a mere whisper.

"Child, why do you despair? Your performance was excellent tonight."

"I-I miss my mother terribly Erik. She was the only one to ever show me kindness and love, but she died when I was young. I miss her terribly." Charlotte's voice cracked and in seconds she was in Erik's arms sobbing on his shoulder. Erik gently stroked her hair, the only way he knew to soothe her, but there was another way….. No, he would not sing again. He was Angel of Music only for Christine, the one who held his heart. He gathered the sobbing girl in his arms and carried through the mirror and down to the prison he called his home.

Once Erik had Charlotte calm and drinking tea, he wasn't quite sure what to do. It had been a long time since he'd had a woman in his 'home' for anything other than a lesson. Memories of the last time he'd seen Christine still haunted him.

Pitiful creature of darkness, what kind of life have you known? God give me courage to show you; you are not alone!

But Christine had lied. He was alone, more alone than she could ever know. Erik sighed and closed his eyes, visions of his Angel plaguing him as always.

"Erik," Charlotte's voice pulled him out of his reverie. "Erik, what is the matter?"

"Nothing, child, nothing," he sighed.

A/N: Well, that's where it ends for now…. Please review, I'd say I won't update 'til I get a certain amount of reviews, but I can't do that to my loyal readers. J You know who you are! Thank you for your support!