Guardian Angels

A Phantom Of The Opera Fanfiction


Disclaimer: I do NOT own Phantom. It belongs to Mr. Gaston Leroux originally and the music to Mr. Andrew Lloyd Webber :)


Author's Note: This is my first Phantom fanfic ever so it'll get better as it goes on! :) Please enjoy and review!


Chapter One

Phantom's POV

From the inside of my smashed-in mirror I could hear the dead silence of my lair, the voices of my pursuers having faded into the night. I heaved a heavy breath and crept out warily, the sound of shattered glass crunching underfoot. As I looked out into my lair, the glassy lake sparkled in the candlelight before me as silence surrounded me, the solitary Phantom of the Opera.

It was nothing out of the ordinary, since everyone I had ever known had shown me no compassion or love.

Except for Christine Daaé.

At the mention of her name, my heart fluttered and I felt all the happiness in the world.

There was only one problem. She loved another man.

I could understand this after the way I had treated her in the past.

Damn you, you prissy prima donna vicomte. I snarled in my head. Christine Daaé is MY angel! And she will be mine once more, one way or another!

Then I had a thought, a most brilliant thought to make my way up to Christine's dressing room, to the two-way mirror from which I had watched Christine for years, coaching her and perfecting her voice that would eventually make her a star.

As I stood in the mirror, watching the lonely dressing room, I could see Christine sitting at her vanity, brushing her long, curly locks of brown hair. I felt a hot blush settle across my face and under my mask as I gazed lovingly at her, mesmerized the sight of her. She flicked a match against the box and lit a candle, putting her hands together to pray, most likely for her father who had passed away so many years before.


Christine's POV

I only stared into the mirror at my reflection, wondering why I was doing this.

I was leaving the Opera House with Raoul, my fiance, and my dressing room was completely stripped of its former contents for everything I had ever owned was packed away, boxes placed all over the room, ready for me to take as Raoul and I prepared to go away from this place forever. And yet, I didn't want to go with him. Not at all. Part of me told me to stay but the other told me that going with Raoul would prevent my life from being threatened ever again. I had once faced a dilemma similar to this only that time I had been forced to perform in the stage production of Don Juan Triumphant, to be used as bait for Raoul and the occupants of the Opera Populaire to catch the ever-elusive 'Phantom of The Opera'.

But even this was different. I wanted to stay.

I found myself wanting to face the Phantom alone this time and see if he and I couldn't come to an understanding of some sort.

I scolded myself mentally, knowing that that had been a foolish thought.

The man was a ruthless killer, a savage at heart... and yet he had allowed Raoul and I to go free. That had been when his true heart had been revealed to the world, showing to me and my fiance that he, the Phantom of the Opera, was indeed human as well somewhere deep down inside. I thought about how he'd captivated me in more ways than one. I couldn't believe this was the same man, this angel, whom I first had heard in my dreams and while I was alone at age seven. He'd taught me to sing and helped me become the chorus girl I was today.

In the first few moments of actually seeing him for the first time in my life, the first time I had seen my 'Angel of Music' in the mirror of my dressing room, he had taken my spirit hostage with his smooth, hypnotizing voice. Though I was still free from him physically, having escaped from his lair with Raoul only a few hours ago, in my mind I was not.

My every thought since the last time I'd seen the Phantom had been about him... and I couldn't stop them.

I wished he would return to me despite all we had been through, despite all that he had done to me, Raoul, and the occupants of the opera house. But I would not, for I knew I had shattered his already broken heart by escaping from his lair with Raoul. He probably was miles away by now, on the run from the life he had known for a long time. But there was not one place in all of France, nor the world, I knew, that he would be safe like he had been here.

I finished my prayer for my father and sat back at my vanity, feeling like something stronger than what I had with Raoul come over me; indeed it had, because all my thoughts were still of the Phantom and what had happened the night of our final confrontation. I remembered the look within his pleading brown eyes as soon as my lips had left his in an attempt to save Raoul's life. Those same lonely, longing eyes had pierced my soul once before, when I had first met the man; only this time when I thought of them, I felt a hot blush settle over my face, a feeling I had never had toward such a pitiful creature before.

Then the door opened and in came a man.

I didn't bother to look back for I was too tired from the excursions the night before down into the Phantom's lair beneath the prestigious opera house where I had become a beloved star, an overnight star.

"Christine..." Said a man's voice, causing my pulse to shoot through the roof for he had scared me. "Are you ready to go?"

I turned to my childhood sweetheart, Raoul, with tears streaming down my face.

"Darling, why are you crying?" He asked me, genuine concern sparkling in his eyes.

How I wanted to throw up at the sound of him.

"I can't go, Raoul. I can't leave this place." I managed.

"What are you talking about? Why?" Raoul asked me, approaching me.

By this time, my heart was aching for what reason I didn't know and I looked to him, his eyes catching mine in an intent gaze.

I shook my head, allowing more tears to flow down my face; I didn't know what I was crying about or whom for but my heartache was too unbearable to speak. He then took me in a hug and held me to him, making me all the more uncomfortable; I pushed him away and turned back to my vanity. I didn't understand this. I didn't love him anymore. The strangest feeling came over me, stronger than the power the Phantom had ever had over me, as I thought about the time I had kissed the Phantom in my greatest attempt to save Raoul.

I had this undeniable urge to see the Phantom again.

He'd had a more profound effect on me than I had realized. In that instance when the Phantom's lips had met mine, I must have fallen in love with him, previously having only kissing him through pity and compassion toward him. I had fallen in love with the man who'd inspired my voice, the same person who had killed so many people, and who had terrified me so greatly. I got up from my vanity and away from Raoul.

"I can't do this, Raoul." I said to him.

"What are you talking about?"

"Something happened while we were down there in the Phantom's lair."

"What? What happened?"

"Nothing- nothing that you need to know! I need to see my angel again." I said. "I need to talk to him. I need to tell him the truth!"

"What truth?" Raoul asked. By now I could tell his heart was breaking. "Come on, Christine. Forget him. He's gone. But I'm here... and I always will be."

"No, Raoul." I told him firmly.

He was taken aback, fear in his eyes.

"But... you promised me-"

"Now I'm breaking that promise. Leave me alone!"

"Christine! What are you saying?" Raoul roughly took me by the shoulders. "You and I are engaged! We love each other!"

Then I turned to Raoul and looked at him in disgust for the first time in my entire life.

"I'm not so sure about that anymore, Raoul! Not with the way you're acting!"

"But... he's a hideous monster! You even said it yourself!"

"I said no such thing! And another thing- beauty is only skin deep, Raoul. It's what's in the soul that it truly matters! Only now did I realize that applies to you too!"

"What about me? What about our promise? What about all that we said?"

"I don't love you!" She said. "I love the Phantom! When I was with him did I realize where my loyalties lie!"

"You can't do this to me, Christine! I'm going to give you everything you've ever dreamed of!"


Phantom's POV

My eyes shot open and I leapt backwards in shock at the mention of those words, my heart racing with excitement and terror at the same time. I couldn't believe my ears. Surely, I thought, my angel couldn't have said that about me, a man who had inflicted so much pain and agony on her. But I had heard it from her lips; it was a most extraordinary feeling.

She was in love with me! Me! Of all people!

As I continued to watch Christine and the vicomte through the mirror of the dressing room, I noticed that the vicomte had gotten extremely close to Christine and was speaking to her in a rough manner, causing my anger to flare violently. I could hear Christine protesting him helplessly and the vicomte growing increasingly more angry as the moments wore on. I then began to worry about my angel's safety and watched as she resisted him more and more; by this time, Raoul was yelling and Christine was cornered up against the mirror, the vicomte's motions frightening even me for a few seconds. I could hear his voice clearly now.

"Tell me, Christine! Tell me you don't love him! Tell me you love me!" He snarled at her.

"No! Stay away from me!"

By now, I could barely control my anger, watching from the shadows as he threatened her and caused her to shrink into a sobbing mess on the floor. This I could not bear to watch anymore and I watched as Christine leaped away from the vicomte and across the room to the door, trying her best to get away from the man threatening her so. A growl crossed my vocal cords and I flung myself to the mirror, standing there like a ghost as I had been perceived many times before. I could see Raoul moving toward her, yelling at her even more now and causing her to cry even harder.

"Ignorant fool! Foolish pretty boy! Unhand the girl!" I cast my voice into the room, listening to it echo in the chamber behind the mirror.

Raoul stopped before Christine and whipped around to face the mirror; I ducked out of the mirror and into the black shadows, not willing to let him see me at all.

"I know it's you there!" He shouted, seeing nothing. "Show yourself, you hideous abomination! Come out of the shadows and fight me like a real man!"

"Your words are useless, slave of fashion!" I snapped at him. "Unhand the girl or a disaster beyond your imagination will occur."

"You'll have to fight me for her!"

"Phantom! Help me!" Christine called to me.

That was a request I could not refuse as it sounded so helpless, lost, and hurt.

It was now no matter to me if I had hurt and frightened Christine in the past! I had to save her and protect her at any cost, even to the sacrifice of my own safety. I leapt into full view in the mirror and caused the vicomte to gasp; he then turned away from me with an angry look on his face. I heard Christine scream in terror and Raoul picked her up off of her feet, flinging her over his shoulder and he disappeared out the door of the dressing room.

I quickly disappeared into the shadows, determined to save my angel.

I found myself stalking around in the rafters above the stage, wondering where the vicomte could have taken Christine. I carefully watched over the stage, surprised to know that it hadn't been damaged all that badly by the fire started from the chandelier, except for the orchestra pit and the first ten rows of the crimson velvet chairs which were all black and charred from the fire from the night before.

Then my attention snapped to where I heard voices beyond the stage.

Then I watched as Raoul began dragging Christine behind him across the floor of the great theatre like a rag doll, leaving her crying and struggling to get away. He was still yelling at her, attracting all kinds of attention from the usual people who lolled around the theatre. I watched from above, as any proper angel should, as he grabbed her viciously by the wrists and continued barking into her face as though she were just a piece of garbage.

I blinked, regretfully remembering when I had dragged her into my lair in the same fashion.

Then I shook the thought from my mind.

I had known what it was like to be treated like something lower than dirt. I shared in Christine's pain, knowing what insults could do to the mind and soul. I felt the incredible urge to kill the young man aggressively handling my protege as though she was merely a possession, something to be thrown around at one's leisure.

But I knew I could not kill him, for I was already wanted for carrying out so many murders in my past.

Insolent boy! My mind screamed. Abusive excuse for a man, you shall not harm my angel anymore!

Consumed by uncontrollable rage, I took one of the nearest ropes and climbed up onto the railing of the swaying wooden walkway, prepared to swing down and enter the scene as if I had been appearing in a play on my cue; grasping the rope tightly in my black gloved hands, I leapt and soared like a magnificent bird of prey down onto center stage, knocking Raoul in the head with my foot. I then landed near Christine and picked her gently up off the floor, holding her in my arms as I drew my sword.

A choir of gasps erupted around me and I spotted Raoul, who was busy picking himself up off the floor from a small pool of blood, a result of where I had kicked him in the jaw. Among the astonished people standing before me on the stage were Madame Giry and her daughter Meg, my managers, the messieurs Firmin and Andre, Carlotta Giudicelli, and the maestro. They all kept their eyes locked on me, the shock still overwhelming them. But this wasn't the first time they all had ever seen me.

I then turned my attention to Christine, whom I held tightly in my arms now.

"Christine..." I whispered to the young woman who was shaking violently.

"You came to save me, Phantom." She whispered back to me, taking the side of my face that was covered by my mask into her soft touch.

"You'll be all right." I said to her, allowing her to lay her head on my shoulder. "Your angel will protect you."

Suddenly, I saw Raoul pull himself up off of the stage and began charging toward me, a sword pointed in my direction.

I quickly carried Christine to Madame Giry, trusting her to guard her temporarily and lunged at the foolish vicomte. He tried outsmarting me by taking a swipe at my face with his sword as I wasn't looking but I instinctively hurled my sword toward his, the metallic clash ringing through the opera house. I then pushed him away with my hand and he fell on his back to the stage. I leapt at him, my foot placed on his chest and I held my sword high over his head.

"No! Phantom!" Christine called to me.

I looked back to her briefly, remembering the day in the cemetery when Raoul had spared my life at his lover's request.

My debt was to be repaid indeed and I felt myself sheathe my sword.

I stepped back from him and turned away, shocking even myself.

Then I was greeted by a weak Christine running toward me and colliding with me in a tight hug; I then wrapped my arms around her. She sobbed as I held her and I stroked her head of long brown hair gently, trying to calm her down as best I could. I sensed Raoul coming toward me once again, using only his bare hands to fight me, but, as always, I was entirely too quick for him. I leapt in front of Christine who Madame Giry soon led back over into the area where everyone else was congregated.

I was so concerned for Christine's safety, I had let my guard down and left myself vulnerable to the foolish man trying to kill me in an attempt to win back the girl who would never love him again. His fist met my cheek in a brutal punch, the one opposite to the one my mask covered and I felt myself fall toward the floor; I'd expected to land in a hard thud to the ground but I realized that I only kept falling, since nothing there to stop me. I was falling through the trap door that had been used for a scene in Don Juan Triumphant, my own opera, and down into the depths below the Opera Populaire.

"NO!" I heard a young voice scream from above.

I closed my eyes, hoping that this was only a dream as I fell further and further, more rapidly into the abysmal darkness until I felt the collision of my back and the stone floor. I groaned, awaiting my death for surely, I knew, that I would die from taking such a fall. I was going to hell, even more of one than in which I'd already lived, for sure. I closed my eyes and awaited my death.


Author's Note: I tweaked it a little bit from the original. I worked really hard to keep the characters true to the movie, except when I turned their attitudes around to fit the story. I worked really hard on this, so please review! I'd love to hear what you all thought! :)