a/n: well, I'm glad to see some people like this story. I shall thank the people who have reviewed:
inkie pinkie: here's the more... and there's more after this!
wolfegurl006: thank you, Im glad you like it, my dear animeian
Yan: yes, you were the first to review, which I thank you deeply for! Thank you so much!
and now to the story!
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I wake up feeling an instant cold sensation. I look behind me and see that Raoul is no longer here.
I quickly sit up, ignoring the pain, and look back to exactly where he had been.
I see a single piece of folded paper. I look at it and see that it is his handwriting, but he seems to have been rushed:
Angel of Music,
I have left you, in a rush which I find unfair, but I have only just remembered that I am expected to be at a fair party tonight, that is being held in honor of the success of the latest opera. I'm sure you know of the success and you might already know of the party. If that is the case then you also know that, as the patron now, I shall be expected to be there. It is currently two in the afternoon, according to your clock and the party starts at six. I needed to go home and change, for this party is definitely different: it's a masquerade. I will be waiting for you to escort me on the roof. Please come, you know where I'll be.
Raoul
I smile. He wants me to escort him?
But what would Christine think?
"What do I care?" I voice my thought aloud.
I manage to get up with minimal pain and walk to my washroom. I look at the bandages and see that they are blood soaked. I then look promptly to the clock on the wall: five o' clock. The masquerade is in an hour. I have to hurry.
I swiftly remove the bandages and replace them with fresh ones. Looking into the mirror I just now realize that I am still without my mask. I don't mind either, which scares me slightly.
I move quickly to wash my hair a bit, and try to tame it slightly from the past 24 hours.
Then I walk into my wardrobe, headed for a single outfit: it's a black suit, with blood red lining on the inside, meant to show when you roll the sleeves. I have a specific mask that goes with this: it consists of a black cover, like my one for Don Juan Triumphant but this one has a bright red rose over the right eye.
I throw on the outfit and examine it in the mirror, then look to the clock again: five fifteen.
I move to the rock ledge, completely forgetting the boat, and take the fastest route I know to the roof.
I open the trap door that I made myself and find myself concealed in the shadows of the night. I look about to see Raoul, sitting on the back of the gargoyle with the wings, looking incredibly small and lonely.
I call out to him, "What single thought could an angel be having when an angel asks a ghost to a dance? Is it now a rule that angels must be accompanied by their opposites?"
I see a smile slimly appear on his face, "Only if and when the ghost admits that he loves the angel as the angel loves him."
I walk into the moonlight, "You know I do."
He stands up and I can now see his outfit in full: he's wearing a blood red suit with lining to match and a red mask with a black stripe down the left eye.
He sees my shocked expression and looks down to the suit, "I thought you would like it."
I smile, "I love it."
He steps closer, bringing a closed hand from behind his back out for me to take, as is expected of an escort. I move to take his hand, but when it opens I stop in my tracks. He is holding a rose, with the stem cut off, right in the middle of his hand.
I look from it to him and then back.
He blushes, "I love you."
I don't respond. Instead I pull him towards me, my hand on the back of his neck, and kiss him. He kisses me back, and, dropping the rose, he moves his hand to my back, pulling himself closer and getting rid of any space that had remained between our bodies.
We break, both smiling at the other.
"We should go, they'll be expecting me," I feel his fingers entwine with mine.
He leads me through the regular door and down through the long hallways. He's very fast, but I know that I'm faster, and I pull ahead of him at points.
When we reach the doors to the main room we both stop and stare at the doors, as if expecting them to come alive and devour us at any moment.
I hold out my arm and he places his hand in the bend.
He breathes deep, "Ready or not…"
"…Here we come," I thrust the door open.
Instantly we are hit by the fast pace rhythm of the music, and I find it hard not to find people I know, masquerade or not. I see Carlotta, Andre, Firmin, Madame Giry and Meg Giry. This year alone with these people has been more than I can handle; I can pick them out even with their faces hidden behind masks!
Raoul moves a little closer, clearly overwhelmed and anxious. I start to smell his cologne and it's too much. I hold my composure though, grasping his hand and squeezing it gently.
He walks toward the managers, who are easy to spot since they are not wearing masks. They seem frightened at first by Raoul's outfit. When Raoul removes his mask they all sigh.
"Good god! I had feared that the Phantom was back to ruin another masquerade!" Firmin exclaims.
I tense and Andre makes things worse, "It's a good thing he isn't, I'm not in the mood for more of his annoyance."
I feel Raoul squeeze my hand, trying to shake me back into my senses. It works.
"Monsieur, who is your escort here?" Firmin turns to his cheery annoying self again.
I move forward and shake his hand, "A very good friend of our viscount here."
Andre moves forward, "A true pleasure, Monsieur…?"
"Erik," I respond, "Just Erik, if you will."
The managers smile and I see Madame Giry shoot a glance over at me, "May I have a word in private with you, Erik?"
I nod and turn to the managers again, "A pleasure meeting you both."
They nod and I turn away with Madame Giry as we weave through the maze that the dancers have created.
When we reach the hallway she turns to me and smiles slyly.
I laugh a little, "What?"
"I saw you two on the roof," she shrugs.
I blush, "I shall never trust that I am alone up there again."
"I simply meant to get some air," she apologizes.
"I can see why you mean to," there is a hint of menace in my voice.
She nods, "I have told them many times to hold their tongues, but they never listen, feeling that they are well out of your radar."
We fall silent and she continues, "I think that this is good, for both of you."
My smile fades completely.
"I really wanted to ask you about Monsieur Vicomte's limp," I had almost forgotten.
"It wasn't automatic, him and I. There was blood spilt, on both sides," I move my hand to the gash on my chest, and she nods in understanding.
"My best wishes to the recovery of you both," she places a hand on my arm and smiles.
"Thank you Madame," with those words I turn and go back to the party.
When I nearly reach Raoul I see that he is alone again. I smile, creeping up behind him and grabbing his shoulders.
He jumps, crying out in surprise slightly, but I move to whisper in his ear, "My dear angel, may I have this dance?"
He relaxes and turns his face to me, "Only if you promise never to do that again."
I grin and he turns in my arms to face me.
I move closer to him, putting on hand on his shoulder and offering the other to him. He takes my hand on his other hand moves to my waist, pulling me even closer to him.
Suddenly my head has been lifted to heaven as we spin across the room. I love this! The intoxication, the feeling of delight, it is all so strong. I feel myself start to smile as I see his face twist into the largest smile I have ever seen.
When we stop we are over by a wall. He looks at me with so much love and I yearn to feel his lips on mine again. I lean in, kissing him, and we lose ourselves in this one moment.
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a/n: please review!
