Blonde Angel
Part 7

Meg had done what the Phantom of the Opera had told her to do. She didn't know if he had any other name yet, but maybe he would tell her? Meg wished he would. Maybe if she was lucky… though she was so young and he was obviously at least 15 or 20 years older than her. Christine was her age though, so it shouldn't be that much different she thought. Though he did not tell Christine things either, did he? In fact she asked Christine the next day, if her Angel of Music had visited her lately, and Christine had said it wasn't any of Meg's business. And then she went to see Raoul again. Meg had an idea that she knew what that meant.

Tonight she was on her way deep down below the opera house again. With her she had a small basket, containing some apples, bread, butter and she had even stolen a bottle of wine from the managers while they were busy talking to her mother. And now she would go and see him, her Phantom. She smiled when she thought that, but then thought it over again. Really she thought no one knew him as she did, by now. No one else but her had been to his lair. She didn't know Christine had been there, after all. And now she stood on the bank with her lamp, waiting for him to appear again. This was the 6th day in a row she'd been down here. And it made her think of the day before – if the Phantom needed provisions, that might mean he had not eaten for days now. Good thing he had Meg then, right? She'd take care of him.

Finally the light of the boat came into her vision, and she tried to not beam too much when he came closer. He stopped the boat by the bank and held out a hand to her. He'd not spoken yet. Meg let him help her into the boat and then she sat down by his feet, and let him sail them both to his lair. Here he stepped out of the boat first and helped her once more.

"Here's your food." Meg told him and handed him the basket. He looked under the cloth and nodded, and then he actually smiled at her.

"Thank you." He replied and took the basket up to place it next to his organ. The place looked like half a mess. She even figured he might have tidied up a bit before she came, but it didn't look like much. And now she looked more closely at him, the way he talked and the look on his face… he looked tired, didn't he? Meg followed him up the organ where he'd sat down and looked at some notes. She looked at it curiously.

"What are you working on? You must be busy with it, if you forget to get food for yourself." She said to him, hoping that he might tell her what was going on. Because as she told him the other night, she did worry. The Phantom looked at her.

"It's going to be a surprise." The Phantom told her, and then he looked her over and looked at the notes again. "You could help me with it. I have a few things finished…" He got up from his stool and suddenly seemed very busy as he moved around, lifting other pieces of paper with notes and text on them. Then he suddenly stopped, "Can you read, Meg?"

"Yes." She said, looking at him moving around. "Do you really want me to help you with you're…" She looked at the notes by the organ, "Opera? You're writing an opera?" She looked at him again and he nodded though he now stood still and only looked on the paper in his hand. Then he walked over to her with it, and sat down again.

"I'll play the melody for you first, without you singing. And then I want to hear you sing it. I need to know if the notes match." The Phantom told her, and Meg nodded and looked the paper in her hand over. It was a song for the opera he was working on. She read it through a few times and then she nodded, she'd understood and knew the lyrics. He began playing. Meg had to focus to not get lost in his music and actually sing the piece. It seemed to start in the middle of a sentence, but perhaps it was meant to be like that?

"No thoughts within her head but thoughts of joy… no dreams within her heart but dreams of love." It was a very short piece, and he looked at her afterwards, as if he was thinking.

"It sounds good, but you must reach a higher note. Try again." He asked her, and they tried it again. And again. And again. She thought that one more time, and she'd have to ask for some of that wine he brought, but the Phantom stopped and looked at her, "It's fine, I don't expect you to sing it better than that." He said to her, and Meg nodded and put the paper down. He really still didn't think she could sing it any better? He did tell her he could not teach her more, she did remember that. But she felt disappointed. "Tell me what is on your mind." He asked suddenly, waking her from her thoughts. Apparently her face had showed the disappointment too.

"I'm sorry, I just… I don't know what I can do to satisfy you more." She said to him and placed the paper on the organ. Meg wasn't looking at his face or eyes right now, but mostly at the floor. Her fine ballerina shoes. His fancy black polished boots.

"You wish to satisfy me? Why?" He asked, and she could feel his eyes on her. Meg bit her lip, feeling slightly nervous and uncomfortable now.

"Yes... I just... do." She finally replied, but her tone was quiet. The Phantom rose, and she looked after him as he walked down to the boat. He wasn't sure what to think about this, Meg helping him, Meg being worried about him. Meg wishing to satisfy him. Few things pleased him. Music did, and Christine's voice. Art, true art, pleased him. Beautiful things. Everything that he was not. He stopped by the boat and waved at her. Meg nodded, she understood. Time to go.

As always, the trip back to the bank was quiet. Meg had her own thoughts and he had his. She didn't like his silence, she could never figure out what went on in his mind. Maybe because half his face was always covered. It was hard to tell emotions from it, and she always felt so enchanted when she looked into his eyes. They reached the bank, and she stepped out. Meg turned after a few steps, thinking it was goodbye for now. But he'd stepped out of the boat too, and she looked up at him.

"I will ask two things of you, Meg." The Phantom told her, and she nodded, "In two days, I'd like it if you brought me more to eat." He explained, and Meg nodded, she'd do that. He nodded to, understanding that she understood. Meg inhaled a breath. What was the other thing? "The other thing… is much more personal." He stepped closer to her; put his fingers under her chin again. She was forced to look up at his eyes, but she did not dare to speak. "I wish for you to kiss me."