Angel of the Night -Phantom of the Opera-

The Mask

"Y/N?" Christine entered your room. Meg followed behind her.

"Where is she?" Meg looks at Christine, concern washing over her.

"Look..." Christine pointed at the mirror, which was an open door, leading into darkness.

The two of them approached the mirror. Meg peaked her head inside.

"Y/N..?"

It was dark. Full of darkness and shadows. The scampering feet of rats could be heard. Meg shivered and turned to Christine who looked worried.

Christine stepped through the mirror, Meg touched her arm and followed. The only thing that could be heard was their heavily breathing as they moved further and further into the passageway.

It was covered in cobwebs and cracked stones. The dark seemed to whisper to them.

A hand reached out. The two of them screamed, it was Madame Giry. She sighed and grabbed both the girls wrists, dragging them out of the tunnel.

Later, Buquet was showing off in front of the ballet girls. Meg, Christine, and Madame Giry entered and watched as Buquet used fabric to resemble a Cloak and dramatically strutted around the girls.

"Like yellow parchment is his skin... A great black hole served as the nose that never grew..." He laughed and took a rope, then wrapped it around one of the girls. "You must be always on your guard, or he will catch you with his magical lasso!"

Madame Giry huffed and took the rope. She looked around at the girls, then at Buquet. Christine and Meg watched.

"Those who speak of what they know find, too late, that prudent silence is wise." Madame Giry wrapped the noise around Bouquets neck along with his hand trapped as well, "Joseph Buquet, hold your tongue - keep your hand at the level of your eyes..." The ballet girls gasped as Madame Giry pulled the noise up to his neck. Then turned and walked away.

Meg and Christine looked at each other for a moment, then at Madame Giry who walked out of the room.

***

The Phantom is seated at the organ, playing with furious concentration. He breaks off occasionally to write the music down. He still wears his evening trousers, but a loose white shirt hangs open, revealing his well developed physique.

You rise from the bed the Phantom has laid you on, your long h/c hair fell over your shoulders like waterfalls. You have an urge to sing to him, to go to him, it's magnetic and intoxicating how you feel as he plays the instrument.

"I remember there was mist..." You vocalize with the sound of his playing, he wrote down a few notes, "swirling mist upon a vast, glassy lake... there were candles all around and on the lake there was a boat, and in the boat there was a man..."

The Phantom turned to you from where he sat, the masked side of his face visible to you.

You step forward and walk towards him, he continued to play. You had so many questions, so many unanswered mysteries.

"Who was that shape in the shadows... Whose is the face in the mask...?" You sing and slowly move towards him. You touch the sides of his face, he accepts your touch. His skin is soft and silky, as your hands touch him it's like a fire is lit inside of you, spreading from your fingertips and shooting down your body.

You study the mask and touch it, reaching for the edge. Suddenly, the Phantoms hand snaps around your wrist. It's a hard tight grip as his fingers dig into your skin. It was a warning, and his eyes were full of anger. Like he was saying: Don't.

You were startled by his sudden actions but he releases your wrist. You sit beside him on the bench after a few moments of hesitation in front of the organ.

The Phantom begins to play again, occasionally glancing at you from time to time.

"Did you write this?" You muster the words from your throat, avoiding his dark gaze.

The Phantom nods and continues to play. You take this time to study him, your angel of music who taught you so much. He was mysterious and dark...but he was beautiful and... different. Not like anyone you had ever known. His hands moved meticulously across the organ. You wanted to speak with him, to sing with him, but you didn't want this moment to ever end. He was so different from anyone, from Raoul, Christine, anyone. He seemed almost inhuman in a way. 

You glanced at the mask he wore, you wanted to see what was underneath. What was he hiding under that mask?

As he played you hummed a soft melody and the Phantom turned to you as he played. You met his gaze, looking into those blue-almost grey eyes. 

He stopped and reached out his un-gloved hand. The Phantom brushed his fingers down the side of your face, sending a shiver through you as his skin met yours. Everything was perfect, you didn't want this moment to end, but sadly it did.

"Come we must return," Phantom gets off the bench and offers you a hand, "those two fools who run my theatre will be missing you."

You take his hand as his deep voice echoed in the cavern. Sliding your hand into his they fit together perfectly.

"But...I have so many things to ask you...I don't want to leave your side..." The world's bubbled from your throat, you couldn't control yourself, this was so ethereal, you felt if it ended it may never begin again.

"Soon..." His voice is a sharp whisper, "I will see you again soon..." He clasped your hand in his own and kissed it, his hot breath against your soft skin sent a wave of fire through your body.

He led you through the lair. He was so different...

"You aren't like everyone says...are you?" You ask, climbing back onto the boat as he guides you.

"No..." He smiles.

Once you turn away his face hardens...

He whispered so quiet you couldn't hear, "I'm much worse..."