René felt his breath quicken as the mysterious man guided him through the hole in the wall. he lead René through the dark passageway as if he were a lady his his arm outstretched and the dark Angel of Music gently guiding him.

The blond youth felt a bit light headed and strange as if he were in a dream. They walked in silence for until they came to some stairs. René was confused when he saw them lead to water. Surely they would drown crossing that! But then the masked man - for he was wearing a white mask on half of his face - pulled a chain and a boat appeared.

René stepped onto it gingerly and nearly fell over, but the angel caught him around the waist and helped him sit. René had never felt desire for anyone, but in his trance he felt a light fluttering in his stomach as his waist had an arm wrapped around it, even if it was only for a second.

He sat gazing at the man. He couldn't tell what he was, a man, an angel, or a devil, but he was entranced. Still René couldn't remove his eyes from the form before him. All thoughts of the opera or Combeferre, or even France had disappeared in his foggy state.

The boat stopped and he was offered a hand which he gladly took.

"Come," the man said in his raspy, but attractive voice. René obeyed and stepped from the boat onto dry land. It seemed to be an island, but so much littered the area. statues and paintings, music and sketches. René looked at the man who had brought him here.

"Where have you taken me?" he asked, still in his haze.

"This is my lair!" the man explained and gestured around. "Do you like it?" He asked and smiled slightly.

"Yes, it's interesting." René agreed and stepped towards a painting. It was a painting of a beautiful angel who appeared to be asleep. "Who is this?" He asked and looked at the masked man.

"It's you." The man replied in a tone René had only heard used on stage. It was seductive. The dark angel took another step towards René and touched his face. René was startled by the gesture, but found he could not move. His breath came quickly as the strange man stroked his cheek and wrapped an arm around his waist again.

"Softly, dearly, music shall caress you. Her 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. Let your mind starts a journey to a strange new world, leave all thoughts of the life you knew before! Let your soul take you where you long to be!" the man paused and pulled away gently. "Only then can you belong to me."

René took in a sharp breath and continued to stare at the man before him. He was a little scared, but more curious than afraid. This was all so foreign to him, and although he would normally run, something prevented him. The man turned him around and wrapped arms around him gently, but strongly.

"Floating, falling, sweet intoxication. Touch me, trust me, savor each sensation." The man ran his hands along René's chest. "Let the dreams begin, let your darker side give in to the power of the music that I write. The power of the music of the night." The man finished. René felt something pressed close to his nose and as he breathed in, he felt his vision fade and soon he collapsed into the arms of the Masked man.

The masked man carried the unconscious youth over to a bed and laid him down gently. He lay there gazing at him for a moment and whispered softly, "you alone can make my soul take flight. Help me make the music of the night." And he ran a hand through the blond curls.


René awoke a while later in a strange bed. His mind had been foggy, but now it began to clear. He looked around and wondered where he was and in who's bed he had spent the night. It seemed very odd to him. Aside from the fact that he had no interest in sex, he was fully clothed.

He sat up and noticed the shape of a man through the certain. SuddenlY, it all came back to him. He was with a strange masked man who had kidnapped him and taken him beneath the opera house.

"Monsieur, why am I here?" he asked. "What do you want from me?"

The masked man turned and looked fondly upon the youth. "Come here, my angel, my Apollo." he requested in his raspy voice, but now it held a layer of sweetness to it. René obeyed and stepped from the certain into the dim light.

The masked man gasped softly and his mouth opened slightly as if he was beholding a masterpiece that a great artist had painted.

"You're so beautiful, René, so young and full of life and light and love. You're so full of innocence and mercy. I have heard you speak of justice and equality and though I don't believe in any of it, your beauty has broken me. I cannot sleep. My dreams are plagued by visions of you." He explained.

René felt an uncomfortable blush creep upon his cheeks and he stepped back slightly.

"you have a look of lust in your eyes, Monsieur, and I wish to leave." He replied a little coldly. He had been taken from Combeferre and his friend must be worried. Besides, that look in the man's eyes made René feel uncomfortable.

the masked man's face darkened and he looked away bitterly. "Does even my angel who speaks so often of equality and mercy and justice despise my presence? Do I disgust you because of my lair? You didnt shrink away from your friend."

"no." René stepped towards the masked man and laid a hand on his shoulder. "it is because I don't know you and because you have taken me by use of a drug."

"you wouldn't have come otherwise. You would have stayed with your friend." the masked man spat, but seemed softer due to René's touch.

"That may be true, but you had no right to drug me and brig me here! Even if I work in an opera house, I still am a human being and I deserve respect!" René shouted angrily. His vicious words were stopped by a finger on his lips.

"Stay with me, my angel. Would you like something to eat?" the man offered softly.

"Yes I would." René agreed. He was rather hungry and he realized he couldn't get back without the man's help.

The man nodded and stood. He walked over to a small table and grabbed some bread and cheese and meet. "Eat," he offered and René took it from his hands.

"won't you eat?" René asked.

"No, that is all I have for now and I want you to have it." The man answered and went over to a blank canvas.

"You have to eat a much as I do. I cannot accept your offer." René said and placed the plate on the table again.

the man paused in the midst of lifting his paintbrush.

"You truly are a remarkable man." He said and looked at René again. "I am your captor and still you refuse to let me starve?"

"it would be wrong." René agreed.

"Then I'll eat with you." The man decided and put the paintbrush down. He walked over to René and sat very near him. René grabbed the plate and sat it between the two, even though he was a little uncomfortable with the lack of distance between them.

They ate in silence, each watching the other as they did so, until all of it was gone. The masked man put the plate on the table and looked at René again.

René had been watching the mask while they ate. he found it intriguing. What did the man look without it? did he wear it to avoid being recognized? If so, why not have a mask for his entire face? he reached forward slowly and watched as the man's breath quickened. René touched the curly hair above the mask and ran his fingers through it gently.

The masked man moaned softly with pleasure and closed his eyes. René felt the slightest bit of pity for him. Had this man never been loved? Never been touched kindly? was he so starved for affection that the smallest and most innocent touch would make moan with desire?

René continued for a bit and heard the man breath his name. finally, René took hold of the mask gently and lifted it from the face. As he pulled it away, he saw red distorted skin as if it was burned. He saw fear in the man's eyes and the man pulled away quickly and clutched his face. He cursed with such pain in his voice that René felt regret.

"see why I hide away now? I am ugly!" The man spat and huddled in a corner.

René stood. "Did someone burn you?" He asked. The man stiffened. René knelt by him and touched his shoulder. "You haven't hurt me and yet you seem to cruel to others. What happened to you? What made you hate everything?"

"Leave me!" the man snarled like an injured dog. "I will take you back now."