My Angel of Music

Little Swan

Erik didn't sleep all night.  I woke, several times during the black night, sweating and whimpering from the terrible nightmares that now plagued my mind, only to find an empty space next to me, and hear the distant sound of an organ's melody.  I figured he had spent hours tuning it while I slept, so now he was enjoying one last night with his precious organ.  

I sighed and let my head roll back onto the blood-red silk pillow.  Maybe I would take one with me to America....

***

I woke, once more to the sound of the organ.  But this music was all too familair....

"May I hear it?"

"No, Christine.  I shall play you Mozart, for that will only make you weep.  But my Don Juan, it burns..."

The memory flashed before me, as if it were yesterday.  And now, I heard the dark notes from Don Juan crashing into my room, freezing me with the melody.  It swirled around me like a black cloud of fog, making me gasp.  I clutched the bed sheets as I closed my eyes and let myself become enclosed in the music.  A hot fire formed in my chest, growing bigger with each note I heard.  He was absolutley right.  His Don Juan burned...

I was filled with an empty ache that could only be filled by the Phantom.  So, I climbed out of bed, and followed in the direction of the music.  

In a trance, I mindlessly stumbled into Erik's music room, where he was pounding the keys, emitting a dangerous tune.  

"Erik..."  I mummered, longing laced in my voice.  The Phantom's head whipped up and looked at me, fiery anger ablaze in his eyes.  When he saw me, the fire softened, though never going out.  "Christine.."  He uttered my name like the name of God Himself, and I blushed.  Oh, in what a state he put me in!  

He had a mask on, he must have found an extra one somewhere in the lair.  I inwardly pouted at the dreadful thing.  But before I could comment on it, he was suddenly pulling me to him, his hands grasping my hips.  I flushed and let my hands rest on his chest.  How I wanted to kiss him...

It was as if he had read my mind.  He hungrily crashed his lips onto mine, making me moan in surprise.  I clutched his arms, steadying myself as I felt a haze slowly drifting over my mind.  However, just as my mind was in his power, a sweet little voice spoke through the darkness.  

"Mother, who are you speaking to?"  Annabel's frigtened voice mumbled.  Erik pulled away, and in the darkness I could see a hint of a grin.  "Darling, I have a surprise for you."  I giggled, standing up and making my way through the darkness to my daughter.  She clutched at my night gown as I led her blindly through the dark.  "Alright.  Hold out your hands and close your eyes."  I commanded gently.  She did so, a faint smile on her little pink lips.

As we reached Erik's bench, I let go of her and sat down.  Erik, with a huge grin on his malformed lips softly grasped her hands with his.  Her eyes fluttered open, her confused look slowly fading and a joyful one donning.  "Papa!"  She squealed, flinging her frail arms around his neck as he lifted her onto his lap.  "Ma Petite little swan."  He mumbled into her curls.  

I smiled as I watched the happy scene unfold.