The Phantom And His Muse

Found Somewhere Lost

Gustov wondered close to the Phantom's piano. Though he had never been near the Phantom, he was still afraid to touch anything around his lair.

"Gustov," I called. "Would you like to play for your... for Erik?"

He smiled and looked at Erik. "Can I?" he asked.

"Well does the young Brighten play?"

As soon as he could get the words out, Gustov's fingers pricked across the piano as he played his symphony. Erik stared at me.

"That voice. That sound... That music... He's only ten... only ten...

Have You Ever Yearned To Go

Past The World You Think You Know?

Been In Thrall

To The Call

Of The Beauty Underneath?

Have You Let It Draw You In,

Past The Place Where Dreams Begin?

Felt The Full

Breathless Pull

Of The Beauty Underneath?

When The Dark Unfolds It's Wings,

Do You Sense The Strangest Things?

Things No-one Would Ever Guess?

Things Mere Words Cannot Express?"

Gustov's eyes lot up to Erik. "Yes!"

"Do You Find Yourself Beguiled

By The Dangerous And Wild?

Do You Feed

On The Need

For The Beauty Underneath?

Have You Felt Your Senses Surge

And Surrendered To The Urge?

And Been Hooked

As You Looked

At The Beauty Underneath?

When You Stare Behind The Night,

Can You Glimpse It's Primal Might,

Might You Hunger To Posses?

Hunger That You Can't Repress?" Erik howled at Gustov.

"YES YES!

Does It Fill Your Every Sense?

Is It Terribly Intense?

Tell Me You

Need It Too,

Need The Beauty Underneath?"

Erik idled at Gustov as they sang together. "When It Lifts It's Voice And Sings,

Don't You Feel Amazing Things?

Things You Know You Can't Confess?

Things You Thirst For Nonetheless?"

"It's All So Beautiful!"

"Can It Be?" Erik whispered, eyeing Gustov sweetly.

"Almost Too Beautiful!" Gustov yelled.

Erik pointed at Gustov as they sang together again. "Do You See What I See?"

"Heavenly."Gustov said.

Erik gasped. "To Him, It's Beautiful-

My World Is Beautiful!"

"How Can This Be What It Seems?" Gustov sang.

"All Of My Most Secret Dreams,

Somehow Set Free!!" Erik picked Gustov up and sat him on the edge of the piano.

"You Can Feel It..." He spoke

"Yes!" Gustov gawked. I shuffled closer, worrying myself.

"Come Closer..." Erik whispered.

"Yes!" Gustov smiled widely.

"You've No Fear Of The Beauty Underneath...

You Can Face It.

You Can Take It."

"Yes! Yes!" he howled.

"You'll Accept It."

"Yes!" Gustov yelled.

"You'll Embrace It!"

"Yes!"

"Let Me Show You The Beauty Underneath!" Erik reached for his mask.

"The Beauty Underneath!" Gustov yelled.

"Erik, I don't like where this is going." I piped. He only ignored me and pushed my comment aside.

"To The Splendour!"

"Splendour!"

"To The Glory!"

"Glory!"

"Let Me Show You Beauty Under..." He removed his mask and Gustov screamed, running for me, and then running out of the lair.

"Gustov!" I yelled. "Gustov! It's alright, it's me! Gustov. Please, take him away.

I'm so sorry, please forgive him. He meant no harm."

Erik snapped his head towards me as one of the men took Gustov away. "How could you think I wouldn't guess?"

"What do you mean?" Blood rushed to my cheeks and painted my chest red.

"How could you think I wouldn't know?" He grabbed my arm.

"Oh no..." I whispered.

"Do you have something to confess?"

"Please don't make me!" I begged.

"I want the truth right now if so!"

I paused, breathed in deeply, and sang to him. "Once upon another time, you went off and left me alone

But that's not all you did. You left me with a son.

Ever since that other time, I wish how I wish you'd have known

I kept the secret hid, the secret my marriage forbid

What else could I have done?

Just love."

"A son..." Erik whispered.

"Just live."

"My son..." He said.

"Just give what I can give, and take what little I deserve."

"My own flesh and blood and even he recoils in horror from me. Just like his mother."

"Forgive me, I beg you, if you can

I've brought you nothing but woe

Tomorrow night, I'll sing with all my heart

Sing for you again!

Then we'll go."

"From out of ugliness, such light

From out of darkness, such a flame

In him my wrongness is made right

And yet he loathes me all the same

So let him shun me in disgust

Let him flee this cursed face

If I must hide from him I must

Yet shall he be my saving grace

For Brighten, my Brighten

If it's true I've no reason to live

Then Brighten, then a boy shall have all I can give

Ah Brighten

All I create on this earth

All that I'll never be worth

All shall be his!" He finally promised.