The Dancer's Secret (Phantom of the Opera Phanfiction)

Il muto

Clementine

About a week had passed, maybe a little longer, since I had met the phantom of the opera. Or as Christine knew him, Angel of Music. I hadn't stopped thinking about him since that night. The offer he made me was tempting, but I still wasn't sure. Maybe it was just a way to make me drop my guard so he could kill me for knowing his secret. His secret being that he was not an angel.

Il Muto was going to be performed tonight so everyone was busy practicing their parts and dance ques. I was in the chorus while Meg played a silent maid. Christine played a silent part as well. The mute lover.

It was getting late. The sun was about to go down and I didn't have anything to do before the show started. Meg and Christine were both in the chapel lighting a candle for Christine's father. I would have joined, but I wanted to be alone. I knew exactly where I wanted to be on this beautiful evening.

I went to the roof.

I leaned against one of the statues and I felt a few snowflakes fall onto my nose. I pulled my cloak tightly around me and breathed in the cold air. I closed my eyes, tilting my head back. I was content in that moment. Nothing seemed to nag on my mind which was surprising.

I stood there for a few minutes until I heard footsteps in the newly fallen snow. I turned swiftly, opening my eyes. What I saw surprised me, The Phantom of the opera was standing across the roof facing towards me.

I didn't really know how to react to seeing him. He was standing near the edge of the roof, leaning against the border that was built so people would be more careful when up there. I walked over to him, Looking up at the stars. He copied me, tilting his head back.

"Why are you up here?" I heard him ask after a few minutes of silence.

"I'm almost always up here. It's my favorite place to be." I smiled, not taking my eyes off the sky. He apparently wasn't looking at the stars anymore because I felt his sharp gaze fixated on me.

"Funny, I've never noticed you up here before."

"Maybe because you need to pay more attention." I said, smiling widely. "I thought you knew about everything that went on in your opera house." I teased.

I turned to look at him to find him glaring at me. I giggled at his facial expression and noticed his face relax.

"Why are you up here then?" I asked. He furrowed his brow like he had done the last time I saw him.

"This is my opera house, I can go anywhere I like."

"Yes, I am well aware, but I was asking why you were up here."

"I wanted some fresh air. I can't go out onto the streets, so where else am I supposed to go?"

"You don't leave the Opera house?" he simply nodded.

"Well, I've left before. But only for things I need that I can't live without. Example, if I run low on parchment or candles I'll go out." He explained. "I usually go in the middle of the night to run errands though, my mask would just draw too much attention in the daylight. And considering people have seen me and have a description of me... That wouldn't be a good idea."

"Why not just simply take the mask off?" He stiffened at the idea and froze up.

"Believe me, Mademoiselle, what is under this mask is worse than the mask itself. Why do you think I wear it?" Oh, so that was why he always wore the mask.

"I had simply thought it was worn to build up the mystery." I shrugged.

"Yes, definitely." He said sarcastically. I straightened my back and started to play with the ends of my hair. I looked at the sun which was going down slowly, creating many different colors forming in the clouds above. Red, golds, blues, and purples all mixed together in the puffy light clouds.