Angel of the Night -Phantom of the Opera-

The Phantom

You took his hand, lacing your fingers with his. He was beautiful in a way. Dark, twisted, mysterious. There was an aura about him. Your angel...

"I am your angel of music..." He sang, his voice wrapping around your mind.

The door shook, Raoul must have returned. You heard him say, "Who is that?! Who's in there?!" The door was locked.

You kept your eyes on the Phantom, the one who tutored you, protected you. You saw a small glitter in his eyes and he led you through the mirror.

You followed him, your hand linked with his, you didn't dare look away. As you walked down the candle-lit halls he looked back at you. You studied the mask on his face. Why did he wear it? He pulled you deeper into the catacombs of the opera.

Your voice rose from your throat, "In sleep he sang to me. In dreams he came..." You marveled, "That voice which calls to me...and speaks my name. And though I dream again...for now I find...the Phantom of the Opera is there..." He looked back at you, a small smirk tugged at the corners of his lips. But not enough to be considered a smile. "Inside my mind..."

The Phantom led you towards a large black horse who sat stoically. He helped you into the beautiful creature and held the reins. You looked down at him as he led you. He was gracefully moving like a whisper in the wind, it was surreal.

"Sing once again with me...our strange duet." His voice was like fire to your cold, it crawled up your body and made you shiver. It was edged, raw, and beautiful. "My power over you...grows stronger yet. And though you turn from me, to glance behind. The Phantom of the Opera is there..." His voice turned into a raw growl at the end, "Inside your mind."

There was a boat waiting. The Phantom helped you down from the horse, wrapping his hands around your waist.

"Those who have seen your face..draw back in fear..." You recalled the stories you heard, the horrifying tales. He didn't seem like a monster...not at all.

The Phantom rowed the boat, you looked out at the water. You must be under the Opera house.

"I am the mask you wear..." You looked up at him as you sang.

"It's me they hear..." He leaned down.

You turned away, looking at where the boat was being led. You sang together in perfect sound, his voice carrying yours through the Opera. "Your/My spirit and my/your voice, in one combined: the Phantom of the Opera is there - inside your/my mind..." You looked around at the gargoyles on the walls, they seemed to stare back at you. Your voice and his fit together almost perfectly. The sounds echoed around you consumingly.

"He's there, the Phantom of the Opera..." your voice was a light whisper.

"Sing for me! Sing, my angel of music...Sing, my angel... Sing my angel! Sing for me!"

The boat stopped. His lair was revealed. It was a grotto shaped like a harbour. As you reach your final climatic note of song, candles rose through the water, which were already alight. The boat glides through the harbour. Behind it a portcullis descends and a curtain closes in front of it. The lair surrounds the harbour. On one you saw a pipe organ; all around are huge mirrors covered in dust sheets. You also notice a small model of the opera house.

The Phantom steps onto the shore, leaving you in the boat. He begins to light candles. Your eyes followed him, watching is every move.

"I have brought you to the seat of sweet music's throne... to this kingdom where all must pay homage to music... music...You have come here, for one purpose, and one alone... Since the moment I first heard you sing, I have needed you with me, to serve me, to sing, for my music... my music..." His voice echoed in the lair. It entranced you.

Serve him to sing...?

He led the boat closer with rope, still lighting candles. He was dark and attractive and calling to you. You could barely breath as you watched him. This man was the opera ghost, was your angel of music, was here with you.

The Phantoms voice changed to a soft tender sound as he sang, "Night-time sharpens, heightens each sensation... Darkness stirs and wakes imagination... Silently the senses abandon their defences..."

He sang like a lover and stepped towards the boat where you sat, "Slowly, gently night unfurls its splendour... Grasp it, sense it - tremulous and tender... Turn your face away from the garish light of day, turn your thoughts away from cold, unfeeling light - and listen to the music of the night." His voice got darker, "Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams! Purge your thoughts of the life you knew before! Close your eyes, let your spirit start to soar! And you'll live as you've never lived before..."

You felt yourself shudder as the Phantom stepped into the water and move towards you.

"Softly, deftly, music shall caress you...Hear it, feel it secretly possess you...Open up your mind, let your fantasies unwind in this darkness that you know you cannot fight - the darkness of the music of the night..."

He reaches towards you. You hesitated a moment, you tried to think but his presence was too distracting. You let him get closer, you wrapped your arms around his neck as he lifted you out of the boat. He set you down on the short but held your hand in his own.

"Let your mind start a journey through a strange, new world! Leave all thoughts of the life you knew before! Let your soul take you where you long to be!" His voice was loud and powerful. He let out a breath, and it grew soft and quiet. Almost like a whisper, "Only then can you belong to me..."

He walked closer. You stood your ground, heavily breathing as he approaches. He took your hand and twirled you toward him, pressing your back against his chest. You gasped, feeling his body this close was thrilling.

"Floating, falling... sweet intoxication! Touch me, trust me... savour each sensation!" His hands slowly traveled up your waist, creasing towards your stomach and a long your bodice. "Let the dream begin, let your darker side give in to the power of the music that I write - the power of the music of the night..."

It was intoxicating. His touch, you didn't want him to stop. You raised your hand and felt your fingers touch the bare, unmasked side of his face. He closed his eyes, longing for your touch.

"You alone...can make my song take flight..." He led you to a small area of the lair, you drew back a curtain.

A wax figure of yourself wearing a wedding dress stared back at you. You gasped, feeling immensely overwhelmed by everything that was happening. Your legs weakened and you collapsed in a faint.

The Phantom caught you and picked you up in his arms. He carried your limp body to a cushion-like bed behind a wave of black shein-lace curtains. Your body was tenderly laid down on the soft bed. He leaned his face towards you.

One of his gloves hands stroked one side of your face. The cool leather moving down your warm cheek.

"Help me make...the music of the..." His eyes moved down your face sensually, "night..."