Music of the Night

Christine did not stop calling Erik her angel.

She would use his name every once in a while because he had started to tease her that she had forgotten his name. She made sure to say it so that he knew that she did not forget it and was not able to tease her about it.

For the most part, things between them remained the same. They would meet up in the chapel and Angel would carry on his lessons like he always did. The only difference was that Angel was now in the room with her during practice and Farren would keep Nada company as time went by.

Without the walls in between them, Christine could listen to her angel's voice in all its glory and found it more enchanting then behind the stone. His voice had sounded like an angel to her, but knowing that he was only human made his voice all the more ethereal and impressive. She did not think she would ever tire of it. Their lessons had a routine. He would have her sing for him, then with her, then end their sessions with a song for her. He would send her off as he began the final verse and Christine would walk out of the chapel listening to his voice follow after her.

He still avoided telling her about himself but every few times she would ask him a question he would answer her.

She had not been happy to find out that Angel was close friends with Mme. Giry and had known about him being her angel the entire time. He had protested on the Madame's behalf, but it still took her a few days to cool down from that information. It was Mme. Giry who had eventually come to her and explain her relationship with Angel. She did not give too much detail but she did let Christine know that the older two have been friends for multiple years, and basically tell each other everything.

Christine did not want to admit to herself that she was a bit jealous of the Madame for knowing so much about her angel, no matter how much Nada teased her about it.

There was another question that she had been able to get an answer out of him.

It had been at the beginning of their lesson. Christine had lit the single candle, a habit she did not have the heart to break, and waited for her angel to appear.

Like always, he announced his presence with music and she turned towards the hidden doorway that could not be seen without it being opened.

The secret door opened and Angel walked out with Farren on his shoulder.

The eagled swooped to the ground and landed a few feet away from Nada. The deer and eagle walked away from their humans and Christine turned to her teacher.

"Can I ask you something?" she questioned.

"I do not know, can you?" Angel countered with a twitch of his lips.

Christine rolled her eyes. "May I ask you something?"

"What is it?" Angel conceded, taking off his hat and untied the strings of his cape.

"When you first started to teach me, you had me agree to a condition. That I was to never marry or fall in love." Christine told him, watching her angel as his back stiffened at the mention of her old promise. "I want to know why you had me do that."

In the corner of her eye she saw Farren shift uneasily from one foot to the other, displaying the nerves that she could not get from Angel.

Angel turned back to her with a considering frown. "Do you remember what I said when I asked you to make that promise?"

"Not really." She admitted.

He nodded. "I said that love and marriage had brought numerous artists down from their career. They fall in love and they lose sight of what they desire from the stage, it is painful to watch." He then pointed at her. "I see a lot of potential in you, Christine. I truly believe that within a few years you will be ready to take Paris by storm and, if you work hard enough, become the prima donna. I would hate to see all of my and your hard work go to waste because you get distracted by a suiter."

Angel had said the last part of the sentence with a hint of bitterness and Christine felt that her angel had witnessed something like that before and that explained his request. She could understand his logic, even if it was not a standard one. She also knew that her angel did not have to worry about that happening to her, for the man she loved was the same that told her to never marry unless she wanted him gone from her life in the first place. She would give up any chances of marrying another if it meant that Angel would stay by her side.

Then she thought about what Angel had said and a person came to her mind, she straightened in realization.

"Madame Giry." She mused in surprised, half not realizing that she had said that out loud.

Angel glanced away from her and she knew that his silence was confirmation.

"She got married while she was raising through the ranks as a dancer and shortly after she retired and became the instructor instead." Farren answered from her spot next to Nada. "We love Meg, but sometimes wish that—"

"Farren!" Angel hissed and sent Christine a wary look.

"Meg." Christine repeated slowly. She knew that Farren realized her mistake because the eagle began to back away slowly. "The two of you know Meg?"

"She is Erik's unofficial niece." Farren answered then let out a cry when Angel dove to grab her.

"Be quiet!"

"Meg knows about you? Does she know that you're the phantom and my angel?" Christine demanded.

Angel let go of Farren but sent her a glare. "Meg is going to kill you and I will not help you."

"If I die, so do you!" Farren protested.

Angel shook his head before turning to Christine.

"Yes, Meg knows I am the phantom and she knows about my lessons with you as your angel."

Christine had thrown a fit and it took the entire session time for Angel to calm her down enough that she would not yell at Meg the next time she saw her. She felt betrayed by her friend to whom she had spoken about her angel to. The whole time, Meg had known she was swooning over her uncle and did not feel the need to tell her, even after Angel had shown himself to her!

Though Christine had to admit that she took advantage of the situation a little.

Angel had wrapped his arms around her to stop her from knocking anything over in the chapel when she began to pace aggressively around the small room. It did not take long for her to calm down after that but she pretended to be to keep Angel's arms around her. She felt somewhat guilty at taking advantage of him like that, but Angel was not much of a physical person in the first place, therefore she would take what she could get.

While she did not yell at Meg the next time she had seen her, she did scold the younger for keeping her secret. Meg had been surprised that she had known but apologized, though there was a slight glare in her eyes.

"If you want blame someone, blame yourself for waiting." Christine huffed, but then leaned forward to whisper in Meg's ear. "Farren was the one that told me."

Meg's dark look turned into a mischievous glint in her eye. "Thank you!"

Angel later told her that Farren had an accident that involved a bucket of water being poured on her and was sulking back in his home. Nada was disappointed that her friend was not able to make it but Christine found the news funny and she could tell by the spark in Angel's eyes that he thought it too.

It took a year after Angel had revealed himself for her to convince him to show her where he lived.

She thinks that the only reason Angel finally gave in was because she had complained to Meg about it and she probably told Mme. Giry who told Angel.

Either way, she got to see where he lived.

It had been at the end of their lesson and she had asked, in what she thought was in vain, about him taking her to his house.

He had surprised her by agreeing, after he took Farren for her flight exercise.

It had taken her and Farren to convince him to let her come for that as well. He relented and brought her and Nada up to the roof of the opera house.

Christine's breath was taken away by the view. She had never seen such a glorious sight. However, the weather was chilly and she did not have her coat since the chapel was usually warm enough without one. She shivered as a brisk wind blew around.

Suddenly, something was dropped on her shoulders and she looked down to see that it was Angel's cape. She turned and saw the man walking away from her with Farren on his outstretched arm. He raised his arm higher and the eagle took off with a cry, Christine lost sight of her in the black cloud covered sky. She pulled the cape tighter around her, loving Angel's earthy scent that covered the cloak.

She glanced back down and saw Angel with his head tilted upward but his eyes closed. She realized that he was doing a merge!

A merge is something that can only be done between a human and their companion. It happens when the human leaves their body to become one with their companion for a short period of time. Christine could understand why Angel would merge with Farren. It must be some feeling to be able to fly. However, merging was also dangerous in some instances. For one, if a person is merged with their companion for too long, they might not be able to return to their body because they lose themselves within their companion's mentality of an animal. And second, if a person is jerked out of the merge for whatever reason, they could take on the characteristics of their companions form. That one was a hit or miss scenario that was only really dangerous for the people who had predator types. Though it is being researched on how more easily frightened companions would affect the human's metal state if they were forced out of a merge.

Christine had only merged with Nada once and that was right after her father had died. She had wanted to get away from her pain and grief and had become one with Nada to escape.

She had almost lost herself in the process.

She did not blame Nada, companions do try to return their humans if they felt that they had been together for too long, but the humans do not always heed their warnings. Nada had warned her and she had gone back to her body reluctantly. After realizing how close of a call she had been from becoming a permanent porcupine she became too afraid to do another merge since.

Watching Angel though, Christine could imagine how great it must feel to fly in the air with a companion.

She did not know how long she stood there watching him, but then took note that she could go to him without him noticing.

She wanted to see what was underneath that mask.

Christine started towards him.

"Christine." Nada cautioned her but she ignored it.

She came within a few feet away from him when Angel shifted, telling her he was coming out of the merge.

Disappointed that she missed her chance, she ran back to the edge where she had been before and took another look out at the city below.

Farren came soaring down from the sky and landed on a statue next to her. She was pretty sure that it was called Apollo's Lyre. The eagle expanded her wings for a few seconds then let out a sigh filled with content.

"That was nice." Farren sighed happily. "Let us go back now."

Christine heard footsteps coming towards her and turned to see Angel.

"Ready?" he asked as Farren went from the statue to land on his shoulder.

She nodded and took his offered gloved hand.

He guided her through the tunnels and Christine was extremely lost by the time they got to the boat. Angel helped her and Nada in and Farren took off to fly to the house that Christine soon spotted on a lake.

She was amazed by the sight, partly in disbelief that Angel could have built it on his own when he was a child, and partly in awe because all the candles around them gave the place a captivating view.

Then again, she thought taking a brief look back at the man as he steered the boat, I should never be surprised by his abilities.

They made it to shore and Christine quickly jumped out of the boat to take a look around. Nada followed behind her and Farren greeted them as they walked in. She began the tour of the small but impressive house while Angel stayed outside, tying the boat. He walked in when they were just about to enter his bedroom.

"Farren." Angel warned the eagle who sent her human a sheepish shrugged, to which he rolled his eyes. "Christine does not need to see that room."

Oh, Christine definitely wanted to see it, but made no comment.

Angel took over for Farren from there, steering Christine away from his bedroom. She did not mind, since he held her hand as he led her around.

She spotted the organ and asked Angel to play for her.

He did as she asked and she was not surprised by how good he was. The music swept over her and she closed her eyes to fully appreciate it. She had never heard the piece before but it sounded beautiful. Soft and soothing, Powerful yet tender.

Once it was over, she refused to let Angel take her back and spent the night in his guest bedroom.

It was a good night, in Christine's opinion.

I just realized that I forgot to put the info on Christine's deer form up last time! My bad! I'll put it at the end of this chapter. Also, I know that the song Music of the Night isn't in here, DON'T HATE ME, but I used the title for this chapter because it was the first time Christine went to Erik's home and heard him play.

Hope everyone enjoyed it and will review thoughts! Next chapter brings Raoul!

Christine: Nada Deer- Compassion, peace, intellectual, gentle, caring, kind, subtlety, gracefulness, femininity, gentleness, innocence