Chapter 2

Disclaimer: I don't own POTO or any of Andrew Lloyd Webber's songs that are used. (They may be slightly different, but I don't want to get sued, so, yay disclaimer!)

Matthew politely pushed his way through the crowd. He walked down the dim-lit corridor to the doorway to the Chapel. When he walks in, Charles is lighting a candle for his mother. The small candle lit up the tiny picture of a very attractive young woman. As Charles is praying, he hears his Angels beautiful soprano voice.

"Brava, brava, bravarissima..."

Matthew walks over and puts his hand on Charles. "Charles... Charles..."

"Charles..." sang the voice.

"Charles, you were amazing! Who's this strange tutor who taught you?"

Charles looked up at Matthew. "Matt, when your mother brought me here to live, after my mother died, whenever I would come down here to light a candle for her, a voice from above would sing. And in my dreams, she was always there. You see, when my mother lay dying, she told I would be protected by an Angel, and Angel of Music."

"Charles, do you think the spirit of your mother is coaching you?"

"Who else, Matt, who else?

"Mother once spoke of an angel, I used to dream she'd appear

Now, as I sing, I can sense her, and I know she's here

Here in this room she calls me softly, somewhere inside hiding

Somehow, I know, she's always with me, she-the unseen genius."

"Charles, you must have been dreaming. Stories like this can't be true

Charles, you're talking in riddles and it's not like you."

Charles stood up and began to walk out of the Chapel in a trance. Matt followed behind him quickly.

"Angel of Music! Guide and guardian! Grant to me your glory!"

"Who is this angel?"

"Angel of Music! Hide no longer! Secret and strange angel..."

As Charles and Matt walk toward the dressing rooms, they did not notice the beady eyes of Joseph Buquet watching them, amused. He walked away to find some chorus girls to leer at. What he didn't notice was a pair of burning blue eyes staring at him through the dark. Dirty pervert, Belle nearly screamed out loud. I may be a monster , but I'm still a woman! I'll make him pay for his lecherous behavior. Belle may her way back to her lair for the big night.

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"No, no!" Madame Giry ushered Charles into the dressing room. "Sorry for the feminine décor. All the male star dressing rooms are...under construction." She led him over to a chair. She then hands him a red rose with a black ribbon tied upon the stem. "You did very well. She is very pleased with you." As Madame Giry walked out the door, a beautiful young women with flowing blackish-brown hair brushed past her. "Viscountess, tis a pleasure Mademoiselle."

"Thank you Madame. I do wish to mention the great quality of this opera's ballet."

Madame Giry curtsied. "That is a great compliment, thank you Viscountess." And with that she walked out, leaving the Viscountess alone with Charles. He turned to look at this young lady and gasped.

She smiled. "Hello, Charles, remember me?"

"Oh Rachel, it is you."

"I heard you singing and I remember thinking,

'Can it be? Can it be Charles?

Long ago, it seems so long ago, how young and innocent we had been,

He may not remember me, but I remember him.' You sang like an angel." She sat down in a chair beside him and hugged him.

"Rachel, remember those stories mother told of Little Lotte. 'What I love best, Lotte said, is when I'm asleep in my bed, and the angel of music sings songs in my head, the angel of music sings songs in my head. Mother said, 'When I'm in heaven child, I will send the Angel of Music to you.' Well, mother is dead, Rachel, and I have been visited by the Angel of Music."

"No doubt of it. And now we go to supper!" Rachel stood up and walked to the door.

Charles frowned."No, Rachel, the Angel of Music is very strict!"

She turned to look at him and giggled.

"I shan't keep you up late! You must change, I'll order my carriage. Two minutes, Charles." Rachel opened the door, walked out and closed it behind her.

Charles called after her, "Rachel! No , wait!" He sighed as he stood up. She never listened when we were younger either. He went and changed into normal clothes. He didn't hear the key being removed from the key-hole outside the door. Charles went to open the door but found it was locked.

The soprano voice echoed through the whole room. "Insolent girl! This slave of fashion, basking in your glory! Ignorant woman! This sweet, young suitor, sharing in my triumph!"

Charles looked around. "Angel! I hear you! Speak-I listen...stay by my side, guide me!

Angel, my soul was weak-forgive me...Enter at last, Mistress!"

His Angel sang,"Flattering boy, you shall know me, see why in shadow I hide!"

Charles turned to look at the floor-length mirror.

The Angel continued,"Look at your face in the mirror-I am there inside!"

As Charles looked closer, a mask came into view. He began to walk toward it in an entranced state.

"Angel of Music! Guide and guardian! Grant to me your glory!

Angel of Music, hide no longer! Come to me, strange angel..."

Outside the door, Rachel tried to open it. Suddenly she heard a woman's voice. She banged on the door. "Charles, open the door!" She listened closer. "Whose is that voice...? Who is that in there...?"

Charles walked to the mirror in a hypnotic state as a small, gloved hand reached out to him.

The voice sang softly, "I am your Angel of Music...Come to me Angel of Music..."

Belle grabbed Charles' hand and led him into the mirror. "Come, my Angel." She smiled as he obediently came into the tunnel.

Was it okay? I'm trying to follow the movie but make it different at the same time. If you have any ideas about what I should do, tell me! My plans I already have aren't set in stone yet. :) Read&Review!