Angel of Music

Chapter Eight: Secretly

The candle lights flicker occasionally, while the phantom sits at his organ, playing with furious concentration. He broke off occasionally to write the music down. Lost within his music.

Beside the grand bed, that Elsa still lay on, was a musical box in the shape of a barrel organ. Connected, the form of a monkey in Persian robes playing the cymbals. Spontaneously, the music box begins to play, waking Elsa from her sleep.

An awakening Elsa looked at her surroundings. Noticing the music box, she turns to run her fingers over the musical object. She felt the rough surface of the object, its carvings and indents. It played a delightful tune that Elsa was more than happy to listen too. In fact, she wished to hear it every morning.

Looking away from the box, she attempted to remember what happened before she fainted. Foggy images came into her mind, as she tried to make them out, she observed she was in a velvet bed. She noted the softness of the quilt and pillow and how they were the colour of royal blue. Her favourite colour.

'I remember there was mist, swirling mist upon a vast, glassy lake', she reminded herself as she lifted herself from the covers she was consumed by. Standing on her two feet, she noted how she was still wearing her cream nightgown from yesterday night. Slightly embarrassed with her attire, she tried to overlook it.

'There were candles all around, and on the lake, there was a boat, and in the boat, there was a man', she spoke within her mind as she had managed to lift the curtain. She had come to the entrance of the huge cave, looking over the left she noticed the man who had taken her. Her Angel.

Noticing her presence, he turns to glance at her. Realising she was coming closer, he turned away and composed himself. He expected for her to fume about the way he had touched her, but she merely stayed silent. He could feel her stare at him with malice, but if only he knew that she was staring at him with curiosity he wouldn't feel so distressed.

Reaching him, Elsa stood behind him. Not caring that she was too close to what a lady should be. Feeling him lean into her body, she smiled whilst reaching her hand out. She placed her warm hands on his masked face, rubbing her thumb against the white surface. Realising her hands were on his face, he closed his eyes and savoured the moment.

"Who was that shape in the shadows? Whose is the face in the mask?" She questioned out loud, still tracing her fingers over the firm mask. She contemplated about removing the mask, but she realised how rude it would be. She could never forgive herself if her Angel grew mad at her. Besides, she would not wish for someone to strip away her own mask either.

Sliding her fingers over the edge of the mask, the Phantom turned his face away, afraid she may rip his mask away. He stood up from his seat and moved away from Elsa. Making sure that Elsa was unable to take away the comfort of his mask. He did not desire her to see his face yet. He knew what her reaction would be.

"Stranger than you dreamt it, can you even dare to look or bear to think of me," turning, he gazes at Elsa who watched him carefully. Elsa knew that her Angel did not want an answered. He was simply thinking out loud.

"This loathsome gargoyle, who burns in hell but secretly yearns for heaven, secretly." He affirmed while he moved once again. He dared not to glance at Elsa again, as she had sympathetic eyes. Sympathy was something he wasn't accustomed to and he accepted that it should remain that way. He believed he deserved this fate. He, apparently, deserved to be feared over his unusual features.

Elsa, hearing her angels thought about himself, desired to comfort him. So much so that she could barely restrain herself from running towards him. She hated the thought of which her Angel thought of himself, as, to her, they were simply not true. Not at all.

"But, Elsa, fear can turn to love," The Phantom made its way towards the model of Elsa. He observed her attire of white and then looking away towards the real Elsa. She still had sympathetic eyes.

"You'll learn to see, to find the man behind the monster. This repulsive carcass, who seems a beast, but secretly dreams of beauty, secretly," He stated yet again, which caused Elsa to build even more sympathy for her Angel. His back was now turned away from her, he was still afraid of her eyes. Her eyes of sympathy.

Strolling towards him, she urged him to turn. Placing her hand delicately upon his uncovered cheek, her eyes examined his face. The Phantom enjoyed her touch and closed his eyes, relishing the moment. Moderately, Elsa leant up and placed a delicate kiss upon his masked cheek. The Phantoms eyes shot open, realising what she had just done. He glanced down at her as she stared up at him. Her hand was still upon his cheek, but the Phantom soon took her hand into his own and placed a kiss upon it. He searched through her eyes, he could not detect fear within them merely sympathy. If only he knew that they contained happiness too.

"Come, we must return, those two fools who run my theatre will be missing you," her Angel referred, breaking the beloved moment that had transpired. Breaking the closeness they had become.