Counterpoint:

The journey to the girls dressing room was a long and uncomfortable one. The halls and the innards of the theatre were a buzz with activity. It almost seemed like the spectacle had never ended. Or had it never begun. The energy and the gaiety was louder and more ferocious then it have been on stage. It all continued once the curtains had closed. A secret world of drama unfolded withing. It was not make believe in any sense it was the life and the soul that became present in the more intimate parts of the opera house.

Music filled the spaces occupied by the cast and crew. Singing and dancing continued deep within the great theatre. Little ballerinas ran this way and that as their teachers and mentors tried to control the excitement. The ballet room, in the opera house was the social gathering spot for the girls and the gentleman and yet it was still nothing compared to the excitement within. The great curtains of the house were like arms pulling back the music and the dance to itself. It held all the magic close to its proverbial bosom and hid it away from the eyes of mortals. This spectacle was only for the eyes of the most elite. People that were not involved in the workings of the theatre were not welcome in this a place of magic and celebration.

The lights never faded from within and as a beacon of light and magic, in itself, Gabriella spread her joy and her freedom with the unseeing eyes. It was by her grace and beauty that the drama lived. She was the heart and soul, though she had only been present for very few weeks, and yet when she would leave them, a part of the theatre would die away. A chapter in the great story of the Opera Popular will have ended with this great angel that had descended upon the humble building of stone and wood. But for now, she was their queen and everyone and anyone wanted to be near her radiance. The knew little to nothing about the pain that she suffered and the fear that she would one day returned to the arms of the devil himself.

But it was within this place that magic resided. Thing, that could never happen in the outside world, were alive and well within the protection of this space of make believe. Men and women were angels and demons and for real they felt it. The animals and the dancers shared a common domain without the fear of being hunted or stalked. And yet a dark shadow was cast within the beautiful divas eyes. It was not a shadow of the mask, but of a face of evil and horror. It was not the phantom bring fear but hope. For it was the Phantom's kingdom and the Phantom who would save it. His name and his acts were now the guide and the rules to the workers and the performers of this building. If a performance went smoothly it only meant that the spirits and the souls, that once resided within, were pleased. One day this beauty, so much a woman and not yet released from her childhood, would become of one the many souls that guarded this magical place. It was evident in the joy and splendour that she brought to the performances.

She swept through the crowd before Matthew's eyes. He could not get close enough to her, people were always steps ahead of him. His presence wasn't wanted within the secret realm of the opera. He was not among the dancers or the singers. He had no experience with the stage or the strings. And yet, had they known really who he was, he would have been feared and worshipped. This lack of control worried him. It made him question his roll in the grander scheme of things. Would he be able to control the situation as the Phantom? There was no doubt in his mind that he could. It was that ghost that was the universe of the drama. If the Phantom was pleased then the world was at peace. The Phantom had to be pleased tonight. The performance was magnificent. Gabriella was the epitome of perfection on stage. And yet, the Phantom was angry, he had not been pleased with the manager, the evil man that kept the angel caged. It was the manager who was like a circus master keeping the secrets locked away and tortured. The injustice of captivity. But the Phantom had freed her. She was able to be with the people and they were able to praise her as she walked among them now. There was not fear in the tone of her voice at this very moment. It was a time of joy for her. Matthew could do nothing but watch and hear the voice of the Phantom within his mind. The Phantom was pleased to see her in his kingdom, the very angels he wished to have inhabit it.

Finally she, the angel among the mortals, had spotted him in the great crowd. He seemed lost and worried in her eyes. Was her Phantom displeased or was it simply to harsh for him to be like this in the openness with the people. He was unprotected, mask less, in the midst of the crowd who feared him and yet they were unaware of his presence. His eyes wondered, frantic almost, around the bright flashes of costumes and light. It was a world he only watched from above. From the safety of the shadows and yet here he was in the middle of the crowd jostling him around. Worry crossed his face. This made Gabriella uneasy, was he doubting everything that he had promised her? Were things falling apart in his mind. The idea had crossed his face as he watched the people around him. As he tried to move through them and was only stopped with jeers and shoves.

Sadness fell over her and like a summer storm rolling in from the east, it put out the bright lights and the happiness of the magical world. Quiet began to settle and the theatre seemed to retreat within itself to rest. The Ballerinas suddenly fell under control, the tutors led the young ladies and men off to practice. The music died down to the soft hum of a solo violinist within the darkness somewhere. It was like the theatre had sighed to itself and pulled back its secrets knowing a mortal was within.

Matthew watched as the crowd parted for her. The solo violinist played a melancholy tune as she left the magic for the real world once again. Her decision was made, she would give up immortality to be with him. He could not help but smile at her as she came toward him. Joy sparked in her eyes again as a smile covered her face, a loving and gentle smile. Finally, before he could stop himself, she had fallen into his arms and their lips met.

Time seemed to stop. The touch and the feel was more gentle than any gentleness that either of them had ever felt before. Gabriella was amazed that any man could feel this way to her and yet in his eyes was the trust and the familiarness of a long aged friendship and a love once lost. One love, that at this moment, never seemed to have ended. This her childhood sweetheart, from back in a time of joy and innocence was now a love and a protector she had longed for.

But more than a friendship had blossomed, within only weeks. Gabriella was filled with love and fear. Love for this man and this man alone. This beautiful soul that held her so safely in his arms. A Man that had always been gentle and had never given her any reason to doubt that there was good. A man who, with one kiss, professed how much he was in love with her and how much he would do to keep her safe and filled with joy so long as she was within his reach. But the fear was there as well, for how long would she be able to stay within his arms. A fear that everything would be in vain and that the angel would soon be torn away back to her captivity and the horrors that remained within the eyes of her master. It was doubt, but not in the Phantom. It was more the doubt of everyone underestimating the terrible mind and overwhelming power of Monsieur Fauxvoix.

"I must say good night to you and fair well, my darling," Matthew whispered into her ear.

"Must you," she questioned dreamily as she rested in his arms.

"Yes," he sighed, "you will not see me again until that faithful night when plans are put into motion. It approaches quickly and there is still much to do. To plan and to prepare," he said as he held her tightly.

"Then walk with me back to my room. Let me stay as long in your arms as can be permitted as my heart will break to let you go and my arms will long to hold you again," she whispered sadly.

"I can grant you this last wish," he smiled and held her close as they travelled through the dark halls.

The dressing room was still cluttered. Boxes were lined up neatly but more and more flowers had arrived from admirers from all over Paris. It was one way to camouflage the deception that was going on within. Things were hidden behind flowers, near the mirror to make the flight into the darkness along with Gabriella. The sweet perfume of the flowers drifted from the open door, a door that was never closed anymore. Upon entering, the room looked smaller than it had before. Though it was tidy, there were far to many thing arranged around the room. Cards and letters from fans and well wishers nearly covered the vanity mirror now. Flowers in giant vases lined the walls and some even sat along the edges of the sofa and the bed. The boxes that were piled neatly near the mirror looked out of place and they needed to go.

"Is everything that you have left packed?" Matthew asked as he looked to the boxes next to his mirror.

"Yes everything that I hold dear to me. The remainders of a life I once knew are in a few of the boxes and the rest are things that were gifts from my friends here who have tried so much to protect me. I will miss the kindness of my keepers and yet they wish to see me fly away more than anyone in the world," Gabriella said lovingly as she looked on the boxes that remained, "my life in a few cardboard boxes. Everything else is only material it can be replaced," she added as she motioned to many things still remaining in the room, "I have instructed to a few people that are remaining in Paris when I am gone that my things are to go to charity to help people of lesser fortune than myself," she smiled.

"It is rumoured that you do this often in your travels," Matthew said as he looked around at the elegance of the room.

"Every where I go," She giggled, "I can't take it with me, so why not let other enjoy them as I have."

"A kind and noble heart,"he said as he hugged her, "I see that all is in order. I must now, bid you adieu," he added and kissed her again as the short french nurse entered the room un phased by the display of affection between the two young lovers.

"Must you leave so soon, it isn't yet midnight," Gabriella asked her eyes near tears.

"Yes, he must leave," Maria piped in finally.

"Maria what do you mean," Gabriella cried as she watched Maria try to usher Matthew out the door.

"Word has come to us from Fauxvoix. He is furious with all the developments in Paris. He wants you out of here as soon as the curtain falls in two nights time," Maria said handing a telegram to Matthew, "there is no time to loose, your deadline is set Monsieur," she said as she looked fearfully into Matthew's eyes.

"Yes, there is much to be done," Matthew said hastily, "I must go my love. I have much to do even before the clock strikes midnight. Please try and get some rest tonight, by morning your things will be safe and I will have made most of the arrangements by then. Before the curtain falls in two nights time, you will be free as the angels," he kissed her once more and hastened toward the mirror. Pushing it to one side and pulling the boxes through with him he turned back to the room, "I bid you ladies fair well, and place with you this warning. Beware the mad man who grasp is so tight, secrecy is our only hope now," and with that he disappeared through the mirror.