Christene sighed. Pirouettes had never been so hard. "Straighter backs ladies you are swans not dinosaurs" Christene and Alyssa exchanged looks. Two weeks had flown by and they were rehearsing for the last time together. "Christene Alyssa pirouette" Christene sighed and pirouetted across the stage Alyssa paralleling her. They were in perfect time and, unbeknownst to them, breathtaking. "Bravo! Bravo! Ok ladies, you may go" Christene and Alyssa laughed their way back to Christene's suite. "Ladies? Lord! What is this the nineteenth century?"
Christene's laugh died as she saw the necklace. It was simple. A silver chain dangled a charm encompassing angel wings tangled around a musical note. It was draped over a red rose. "Oh my god this is so very beautiful", she fingered the charm delicately. "Oh Alyssa who could have left this?" Alyssa looked away , she knew just who. " Is it signed?" "Silly how could a necklace be signed?" "oh yeah um, urmmmmm" "Christene clasped it to her breast. I know I'll wear it the night of the performance….have they cast." She screwed up her mouth "Raoul?" Alyssa sighed, "It's between two men now. One will be chosen tomorrow."
Christene lay on her bed, holding the rose to her cheek. Mmmmmmm the soft, silky petals caressed her cheek like a lover's kiss. She sighed. Lulled by the warmth of the room and the softness of the bed, Christene drifted into sleep.
There was no mist to herald his arrival, no ominous music to betray his presence. He slipped silently to the bed and looked down at the girl. She was Christene in looks but not in charm. She was more, mature, yes mature but was she beyond the years of belief? He sat on the bed next to her and sang a song, one that the child's grandmother had inspired:
"Angel of light,
Angel of innocence,
Calling me from my darkest dreams,
The truth remains,
No angel could love a demon,
Not even if he tried to be heaven,
Not even if he cried"
Christene stirred in her sleep and the man fled with the grace of a cat to the mirror and hid behind that lusterous window. That was too close. Twice before she had stirred and once he thought she had seen him! He was not ready. He wasn't sure. The girl had talent, but could she see beyond the monster to the angel caged inside?