"I am but a messenger from The Almighty, Erik. He is the one who answered
your
prayers."
The little angel's face shone with affection. "But be assured that I
will always be with you. I
would never, ever leave you now. I love you very much. Come, lay down
upon your bed and
I will stay with you until you sleep."
Dominie took Erik's hand and led him to his bedroom. He was so exhausted
that he
managed just to kick off his shoes before he fell upon his bed. Dominie
fluttered above
him, covering him with the quilt. His eyes opened to smile up at her,
and then closed again
as he sank into sleep, on his lips a sigh of "Mamma".
The cherub softly played on her harpstrings until she saw that he was deeply asleep.
Fluttering beside him, she whispered, "Au revoir, chèr Erik.
God bless and keep you
safe."
Tenderly kissing his cheek, the little angel then floated back into
the lounge and curled up
on Erik's own chair, there to await the final part of her earthly mission.
**********
Christine murmured in her sleep. Words of love and longing, of pleading
to see her Angel's
face. She heard faintly the sound of someone crying. It was a heartbreaking
sound which
wrenched at her heart.
Then she tossed restlessly as a nightmare interrupted her dreams; there
was a face,
covered by a white mask.
Do not touch the mask, Christine!
Oh, but I must, for it is my Angel of Music. Why does he hide his face?
There! I have
snatched the mask away - oh horror! Such a terrible, terrible face.
It was the face of Death!
She whimpered in her sleep. "No..no. Go away....where is my beautiful Angel of Music?"
The death's head came closer and closer and she saw the stricken eyes.
She flung up her
arms to shield her face from those pleading eyes in their sunken sockets.
She heard a low
moan, like that of someone in pain. There was the feeling of moisture
upon her face.
Christine woke abruptly and sat up in bed, staring into the darkness.
She found that her
face was wet with tears. Those eyes... those haunted eyes, so full
of sorrow, and yet so
compelling, the message within them for her alone.
The horror of the nightmare faded, and turned gradually into a strangely
tender
compassion. A poignant yearning slowly filled her heart. She stretched
out her arms to
reach for something ----- someone? It was just beyond her grasp.
Then softly, an enchanting voice began to sing to her. She sank back
onto the pillows and
closed her eyes.
**********
Christine dreamed of a beautiful Archangel with noble features.
The Archangel spoke gently to her, telling her that his name was Michael
and that he
served le bon Dieu.
Christine stood before the shining vision, her hands clasped together
beneath her chin,
enraptured by his grace.
He told not not to be afraid of the face in her dream, for it was the
face of a man who truly
loved her. The man, who was called Erik, had borne the burden of the
hatred of his fellow
men all his life, because they had reviled his ugliness and feared
the strange, spectral
features.
"Child", Michael continued, "Yours is a compassionate heart. Be kind
to Erik and treat
him well, for he is a man as all other men. Try, if you can, to see
beyond the tragedy of his
face, for Erik offers you an immense and selfless love. Look into the
depths of your soul
and understand the sweetness of your love for this man. If you can
turn to Erik, I foresee
happiness such as you have never known. Remember, my little one, we
are all God's
children."
A shadowy figure came to stand beside the Archangel. The figure turned
towards Christine
and she saw his face. The pitiable face with its deathly features.
Christine held out her
hands to the figure, and slowly walked towards him. She saw that he
was wearing an
elegant cloak, such as her own beloved Angel of Music wore.
She came to stand before him, and looked up into his distorted face.
The skull was white
and almost hairless. Still she held out her hands to him. His long,
slim fingers touched hers.
She thought they would be cold, but they were warm and strong. She
could feel his
trepidation, his fear that she would reject him.
Instead, she pulled him gently towards her, reached up and kissed him
full on the lips. She
stepped back, saw him trembling. Then she put her arms around him and
held him close.
She kissed him again, the pity and compassion in her heart overwhelming
any fear.
Releasing the phantom figure, Christine moved back to look up into his
haggard face, and
thought that she had never seen such beautiful eyes; so dark, yet with
a luminous brilliance
which seemed to see deep into her soul.
She held that mystical, beseeching gaze; a shy smile dawned in her eyes
and lifted her
tremulous lips.
She saw the dark eyes shimmer with tears, and at that moment, the sweetest
and most
tender feeling of love was born in her heart.
"My child," the Archangel Michael spoke again, a smile illuminating
his fair features,
"you have looked upon Erik's face without fear in the realms of your
dreams. As you see,
the man they call the Phantom is just.... a man. A man whose love for
you is deep and true
and of the heart. Tell me if you can, my little one, if you were to
see Erik's face before you
when you awaken, would you run in terror from him?"
Christine shook her head, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Oh
no, Archangel
Michael, no, never. For Erik is my Angel of Music, is he not? The Phantom
and my Angel
are one and the same person. I love my Angel of Music so very much,
and I have longed to
see him; to tell him of my love. He is kind and thoughtful, gentle
and good, and he has
given me so much."
Christine told the Archangel about her singing lessons; how she had
heard the Angel of
Music's wondrous voice in her dressing room at the Opéra. How
her love for him filled her
every waking moment with joy, and how he filled her dreams at night.
"His heart is true and his soul is beautiful. If his face is that of
the Phantom, then it is the
face of my Angel of Music. I love him, you see, and will love him forever."
Christine's eyes were deeply blue, full of passion and intensity as
she related to the
Archangel how her Angel - Erik - gave meaning to her life.
Michael laid a hand on her head and smiled. "My child, your eyes tell
me all that is deep
within you. You have a wisdom and understanding far beyond your years.
God bless you,
little one, for your pure and loving heart."
"When you awaken, one of my cherubim will be waiting to take you to
Erik. Try, if you
can, to tell him all that you have told me. Your love will bring you
the greatest happiness
you have ever known "
The Archangel then laid her hand in that of the man standing by his
side. As she looked up
at the Phantom, something truly miraculous began to happen. Slowly,
very slowly, the
Archangel and the man began to merge into one being.
The being was a man with the voice of an angel. A man with music his
life's blood,
passionate, tender and loving. A man dressed in immaculate clothing,
wearing a long, black
cloak over his dress suit; a soft fedora hat worn on his dark hair,
showing just a glimpse of
a fine profile. A man who held out a compelling hand to her, beckoning
her to come closer,
all the while singing to her in soft, seductive tones.....................
***********
Christine slowly awoke, reluctant to leave her dreams. She sat up in
bed, reaching over to
turn up the small oil-lamp on the bedside table. She hugged her arms
around her body as
she thought of all that the Archangel Michael had said to her.
She was filled with a sense of wonder, and growing excitement, for Michael
had told her
that Erik was very near. Erik, the man who was her Angel of Music!
Sitting up in bed, she
pushed back the covers and stretched out a little foot to the floor,.
As she did so, she heard a high, childish voice softly call her name.
Whirling round, she saw
a small wingèd creature hovering near her, holding a tiny finger
to its lips.
Christine thought for a moment that she was still dreaming. Then the little cherub spoke.
"Mademoiselle Christine, my name is Dominie. I am of the cherubim who
serve le bon
Dieu, and I have been sent by the Archangel Michael to take you to
M'sieur Erik. Will you
come with me?"
Christine stepped forward, enchanted by the tiny creature with its wings
of gold. She held
out her arms as if to enfold her.
"Oh yes", she breathed, "I long to see my Angel."
The angel-child beamed at Christine, and fluttered into her embrace.
"We must be very quiet, for Erik lies deeply asleep. I hope he is also
having some
beautiful dreams, for he has been so sad and lonely, M'amselle."
"Oh Dominie, I do so want to see him; see his dear face." Christine
kissed the cherub's
rosy cheek.
"You will not be frightened, M'amselle? You have seen his face in your
dreams, now you
are going to see the reality." Dominie spoke anxiously.
"Please call me Christine, little friend," the young singer said. "I
long to see Erik, and I
already know his face. I love my Angel, no matter what he looks like."
"Good", beamed Dominie, "let us go to his room, Christine. We do not
need a candle for
as you see, I can light the way."
Christine was fascinated by the cherub's little halo of soft light as
they made their way to
Erik's room.
Dominie pushed open the door carefully, and they trod quietly over to
where Erik lay
sleeping on his bed. The little angel hovered by the end of the bed,
leaving Christine to go
to Erik's side.
**********
For a long, long moment, Christine looked down at the sleeping face
of her beloved Angel
of Music.
Dominie watched as Christine knelt down beside the bed and stretch out
a slender hand to
touch Erik's gaunt cheek. She gazed intently at the face on the pillow
for a long time, as if
she were imprinting every detail and feature into her mind and heart.
The skeletal lines of
his face were relaxed in sleep, and in the faint light, the deep eye-sockets
were softly
shadowed.
She bent forward and gently kissed his brow. Her hair fell over her
shoulder, brushing
lightly against his face as her lips came down to rest upon his own.
Christine straightened and looked across at Dominie, tears shimmering
in her eyes. Erik
stirred in his sleep. He moved his head a little on the pillow. As
Christine and Dominie
watched him, they heard him murmer "Christine... I love...you ".
Christine smiled through her tears as once more, she bent to kiss the
sleeping face. She
whispered, "je t'aime, Erik, mon Fantôme", and walked on tip-toe
to where Dominie was
beckoning. She followed the cherub back into her own room, and went
to sit on her bed.
Dominie touched her hair, and said, "Dearest Christine, have I accomplished
my mission?
May I leave my Erik in your care now?"
"Oh yes, little Dominie, oh yes", whispered Christine. " Erik is my
life, my love, Angel of
my soul. I have been waiting for him for so long.
I love him."
Christine looked at the angel-child and said, "I thank the Archangel
Michael with all my
heart for sending you to me. You may tell him that all is well, and
I do so thank him for
sending you to me."
"But most of all, Dominie, I thank God for Erik." This was said with
such simple, heartfelt
sincerity that Dominie knew Erik's prayer had been answered.
Dominie tenderly kissed Christine's tear-wet cheek, and said, "May God
bless you and
keep you, beautiful Christine. Take care of my Erik, for he is very
special to me. Until we
meet again. Be happy!"
The little angel tucked Christine into her bed and stroked the curls
back from her
forehead. Fluttering above the young singer, she blew her a kiss, and
then began her
journey back to Heaven.
**********
Go to Part 5 of Dream of Angels
by Erika Shadow.