My Angel of Music

Day of Leisure

"What about Jolene?"

Erik was following me around as I picked up the scattered articles of clothing from the floor. We had really become slobs over the past few months, and Erik telling the servants not to enter our room didn't help. So I was cleaning the room while Erik nagged me with ideas of names. "No, that sounds too much like Joanna." I said with a disgusted look. "Alright, how about Marie?" He asked again. I turned around and gave him a look that described how I felt about the suggestion: repulsed. He sighed and bent down to pick up a shoe. "Do you have any suggestions then? Or are you too busy throwing down mine?"

I shook my head and sighed. "We have four months, still. Just calm down and help me clean up!" I snapped. I heard a laugh and turned to see Erik looking at me, amused. I smiled and bent down again to retrieve a piece of paper. I felt a hand on my back and stood up to see Erik standing over me. I raised my eyebrows in question. "Sit down. You've been working for a few hours, so you need to rest." He said gently. I shook my head. "The room is dirty and I-" I was cut off by a hand to the lips. "I'll clean it, just lay down."

I chuckled. "You're going to clean? Yeah right."

"No, really. Watch me." Erik argued. He then proceeded to pick up the rest of the things off of the floor while I sat down and sipped my tea. The liquid was hot, and it slid down my throat slowly. I smiled in pleasure at the warm escape from the chilly air. A fire was lit in the corner, but since I insisted that the window be kept open, a breeze flew in. As I warmed myself up with tea, Erik huddled in a warm coat while dusting the mirror.

"Think of me, think of me fondly, when we've said goodybye." I sang, getting bored with the silence. Erik spun around to face me, a broad smile on his face. "Remember me, once in a while, please promise me you'll try." I continued, my lips turning up in amusement. My husband stared at me in adoration as I sang with a voice "like an angel's".

When I finished, Erik laughed and brushed a finger across my beaming cheek. "Your voice never ceases to amaze me." he whispered. I smiled and stood to embrace him. He held me tightly as we swayed back and forth to the music that played in our heads continously. "Do you hear it too?" I asked softly as my head leaned on his chest. When he did not answer immediatly I explained. "The music. Is it always in your head?"

His muscles stiffened. He was silent for a moment. "Yes. I always hear it." he finally answered. I breathed a sigh of relief. I wasn't insane after all! Then, Erik pulled me away from him and smiled. "I have something to show you."

***

I sat on the piano bench as Erik fumbled around, looking for something. I waited impatiently for his "surprise" that he had seemed so excited about. Papers flew to the floor as he threw them around like trash. "Ah-hah!" He pulled out a stack of papers from a wooden drawer under the piano. "This, my dear is your surprise." he said soflty before handing the papers to me gently. With a confused look, i glanced at the crumpled up parchment in my hand.

I looked up at Erik, confused. "I want you tp sing it." He said. My eyes widened in happiness as I once again took in the beauty of the music in front of me. "Did you write it?" I asked eagerly. He nodded. I jumped out of my seat and stood with the music in hand. Erik laughed and sat at the piano bench. "We must warm up your voice first, child." He scolded. I glared at the back of his head. "I am not a child, and I am not your student." I snapped. He nodded and looked at the paino keys. "Sorry, just a habit. This is the first lesson we've had in...." He trailed off in thought. "A year." I finished for him.

The reaization of just how long ago it was that my world changed hit me.

Erik cleared his throat, interrupting my thoughts. "The beginning of the aria, please, Christine.' He commanded. I nodded and looked down at the music, humming it in my head. The notes sprung off the page and into my very soul, making me ache to sing them out loud. Finally, the piano began and I was able to start.

"Who knows when love begins,

Who knows what makes it start.

One day it's simply there

Alive inside your heart."

The song was beautiful, and the words rang true throughout the room. Erik simply stared at me with a satisfied look. My eyes glittered and I felt my hands begin to roam, following the words.

"Love never dies

Love never falters.

Once it has spoken

Love is yours"

I got lost in the music, losing control of all senses and forgetting the world around me. I didn't understand the power music had over me. The power Erik had over me.

"Love gives you pleasure,

And love brings you pain

And yet when both are gone

Love will still remain."

Erik's fingers glided across the piano keys, making the heavenly music that infiltrated my very being. He seemed lost as well, but his eyes were closed, and mine were wide in joy and amazement.

"Love may be fleeting

Love lives on."

When I was finished, my hand flew to my chest in a gasp. I stood, shaking before the piano. Erik's eyes were closed, and he too shook with ecstasy. "Did I do good?" I asked timidly.

Erik looked at me like I grew an extra head. "Did you not hear yourself? It was beautiful." I smiled at his answer and curtsied.

"And your music, my love, there are no words to describe it." I said breathlessly with a hand on his shoulder. He nodded with a soft smile. "The Angels wept tonight." He whispered.

I gasped at the phrase uttered long ago. The very sentence that confirmed my adoration for my angel. "Yes. They did." I agreed.

Suddenly, Erik stood and pressed his lips to mine roughly. My eyes widened at his sudden outburst of passion. We did not pull apart for a long while, to my delight. His hands pulled my hair and mine cupped his now unmasked face. I never felt comfortable kissing him in that blasted mask. He protested but I let the mask drop to the floor with a thud. My hand caressed his twisted flesh and I began to kiss his cheek.

Erik whispered my name and I giggled as he pulled me closer. "Erik." I protested as he pulled me down to the piano seat, our lips still locked. "Erik, we have to leave soon!" I whimpered. He pulled away, his eyes wild and animal-like. "Luke is meeting all of us at the lake, remember?" I reminded him.

He sighed and stood begrudgingly. "I'm sorry, Angel." I said apologetically. He smiled and bent down to kiss my forehead. "We have all the time in the world, my dear." He whispered.

***