Author's note: A good start for a good story. The song that appears in this fanfiction is a traditional one and is quite beautiful, so you best try to find it wherever you like. The other song is Kings and Queens that belongs to 30 seconds to Mars. God, the Phantom of the opera is really inspiring for finding songs.

Cheers

2. The Shepherd and The Prince

Erik hardly noticed the sun light coming into his room. He could heard the sounds around the house so clear he could swear it was like flying. For a few while, he felt like a bird. Free from his face, from the horror, the people outside, the pain in his side.

And this bird only let one thing came up into its mind: Christine. His angel, his queen. Only a few minutes of talk was all he needed to feel he need her with all his soul. Outside, the terrific nineteenth century was too scary for him, like a foreboding of future horrors. So he decided to remain as a bird for a bit more time.

"[oohh oohh]

Into the night,
desperate and broken.
The sound of a fight,
Father has spoken.

[oohh ohh]

We were the kings and queens of promise.
We were the phantoms of our selves.
Maybe the children of a lesser god,
between Heaven and Hell.
Heaven and Hell.

Into your lies,
hopeless and taken.
We stole our new lives,
through blood and pain,
in defense of our dreams.
In defense of our dreams.

We were the kings and queens of promise.
We were the phantoms of our selves.
Maybe the children of a lesser god,
between Heaven and Hell.
Heaven and Hell.
Heaven and Hell.

The age of man is over.
A darkness comes and all
These lessons that we've learned here
have only just begun!

We were the kings and queens of promise.
We were the phantoms of our selves.
Maybe the children of a lesser god,
between Heaven and Hell.

We are the kings!
We are the queens!
We are the kings!
We are the queens!

[Oohhh.]"

Erik opened his eyes. It was still early, but the pain had finally ceased to be so he could finally got up. Nobody was in the house, so it was clear that he had to go to the opera house, his real "home".

Walking towards the place, he wondered about Christine. What was her relation with his best friend and protector? Was she the destined one? Was there still hope for him, the Lost Prince as Meg called him? Erik was not sure of that. He wasn't sure of anything.

Once inside, he went to his private place. Box Five. There he could watch the rehearsal of Hannibal, singed by Carlotta. And let's say it, it was exactly as hearing a dying cow or a strangled cat. Goorsh. It felt like his soul was screaming, somebody please kill her or at least throw something at her face.

He looked around. Where was Christine? No where in sight.

The two patrons were talking with the owners so Erik had time to go look for the girl. The people hardly noticed him, the broad brim hat and the cloak hid him from prying eyes.

Nothing. Where could she be?

"Into the night,
desperate and broken.
The sound of a fight,
Father has spoken."

Hu?

Joseph Bucket trying to get a girl's attention. Now that was "unusual". But maybe he knew.

"You there." They both knew each other in some way.

"Uh. It is you, monsieur. Still looking for a chance to talk with little Blondie?" Jerk. "What can I do for you?"

"Have you seen a young girl with dark brown hair who works in the custom department?"

"You mean that Christi girl, I guess. Yes, I had saw her. With Carlotta in her room. Treats her like a slave, I tell ya." Now that is called being nice, don't you? That Prima Donna needed a fright or something bigger.

Erik didn't stay with the drunken worker and went to the Prima Donna's room where thousands of roses had been placed. There she was. Christine was too tired to walk back to the scenario. Her eyes wandered around the room until they found the piano.

She sat down and carefully unveiled the magic of the instrument.

Our phantom of the opera had a closer look when she started singing a beautiful love song.

"One morning in springtime as day was a-dawning
Bright Phoebus had risen from over the lea
I spied a fair maiden as homeward she wandered
From herding her flocks on the hills of Glenshee

I stood in amazement, says I, "Pretty fair maid
If you will come down to St. John's Town with me
There's ne'er been a lady set foot in my castle
There's ne'er been a lady dressed grander than thee"

A coach and six horses to go at your bidding
And all men that speak shall say "ma'am unto thee
Fine servants to serve you and go at your bidding
I'll make you my bride, my sweet lass of Glenshee

"Oh what do I care for your castles and coaches?
And what do I care for your gay grandeury?
I'd rather be home at my cot, at my spinning
Or herding my flocks on the hills of Glenshee"

"Away with such nonsense and get up beside me
E'er summer comes on my sweet bride you will be
And then in my arms I will gently caress thee"
'Twas then she consented, I took her with me

Seven years have rolled on since we were united
There's many's a change, but there's no change on me
And my love, she's as fair as that morn on the mountain
When I plucked me a wild rose on the hills of Glenshee"

Her voice took over his soul and mind. An angel, no doubt. Of music, of the very heart of Heaven. The feeling of the free bird ran again through his bones.

"We were the kings and queens of promise.
We were the phantoms of our selves.
Maybe the children of a lesser god,
between Heaven and Hell"

Erik with his eyes closed, felt each of the little parts of the tune fill him, destroy and rebuild his body and soul piece by piece. The story of a noble, a prince perhaps, who falls in love with a shepherd, a wild rose. Maybe that was his story. He was the Lost Prince. Could that be his Julieta? The pain in his side remined him on the previous day, when she was in his arms.

Breathing and touching each of the centimetres of that ethereal creature had been paradise. But how could she loved him? Nobody would ever love a face like his. A soul like his so full of hatred, pain and sorrow.

"Into your lies,
hopeless and taken.
We stole our new lives,
through blood and pain,
in defense of our dreams.
In defense of our dreams."

Hope was not done for. He had it right in his hands. All those lives, horror and despair would be vanquished. But how was he going to teach her to love a creature like him? The son of a lesser god? A monster?

"We were the kings and queens of promise.
We were the phantoms of our selves.
Maybe the children of a lesser god,
between Heaven and Hell"

The pain in his side answered his question when it became so strong that his mind was left to no other option but darkness.

Hope you like it so far.

I don´t how many chapters will I do before going out.

Anyway, thanks for reading!

Next stop: Lost Prince