HOLA! :-) Thank you so much for the reviews guys, keep 'em coming! And I am glad that you figured out that Lucien is based on Erik; Ella is based on Christine; and Raif is based on Raoul! Though for the record, they are still my own characters, so please do not expect every aspect to be the same. For example, a key characteristic that differs is Lucien's appearance- he is perfectly handsome and not deformed, as I did not wish to copy the entire concept of Phantom! However, it should be clear that he is based on Erik; as well as the similarities between Raif and Raoul and Ella and Christine. But now that kerfuffle is out of the way, here is the next chapter, which is from Ella's perspective. This should be a good chapter- it is Lucien and Ella's "accidental" meeting for the first time! As always, please read, review and enjoy this instalment! xoxox
Ella's POV
It was such a lovely, sunny day. The golden sunrays deliberately radiated through my window; a pleasant yet profuse temptation. With a happy sigh, I changed into a light, pretty green dress, ready to venture outside and embrace the warm sunshine. Remembering my father, I called out:
"Papa!"
My response was silence.
"Papa!" I called again.
Again I received nothing but silence.
I shook my head in amusement, and began descending down the stairs to my father's office.
"Papa? Are you there? Or have you been stolen away by the fairies again!" I laughed, as my dishevelled father retreated out of his office, running a hand through his greying hair.
"I'm afraid your last assumption was correct, I was indeed away with the fairies!" he chuckled.
"Oh papa, yet another attractive quality I've inherited from you!" I replied, giggling unintentionally.
"Everyone always calls me Ella the Enthralled; Ella the Enchanted; Ella the Astounded! The list goes on…"
"Ah, my little Ella, such a dreamy girl," smiled my father, "Never taking life too seriously… although of course, that is the best way to be! Always maintain such endearing innocence, my darling."
He cupped my cheek, and I kissed his finger, still sustaining my role of a sweet, charming daughter.
"Of course I will Papa! Though surely a trip to town will not affect my innocence…?"
I am a grown woman of twenty years old, yet I still like to humour my father, giving him a sense of security as a dominating parent.
I know that he will always say yes, but this never stops me from asking his permission to leave the house!
An amused smile graced my father's lips, and his brown eyes twinkled.
"Of course you may go to town my dear, only make sure that you do not get completely lost in your own world! There are some treacherous people about who may take advantage of your sweet innocence!"
"Yes Papa!" I airily replied, already making my way to the door.
"Stay safe now sweet-heart…"
"Yes Papa!"
"…and don't talk to strangers!"
"Yes Papa! I promise! And I will be back by six-o'clock…"
The door shut, and I breathed a sigh of relief.
Finally, I was free.
I loved my Papa of course, but there is nothing greater than being outside in summer. The mild breeze gently caressed my face, as I shut my eyes with the sheer bliss of it.
As I walked further into town, the skies seemed to clear, and became an even more intense and beautiful shade of blue. I positively revelled in the warm, golden blanket of sunshine, which made me feel so.. so indescribably alive!
I then began to feel detached from the general hustle and bustle of the town square; and I was absorbed by the familiar feeling of being safely enveloped my own world.
It was the sunshine that did it. For I soon became so immersed by the warm, happy feeling of the sun that I did not even concentrate on where I was walking.
The sudden collision between me and a stranger snapped me back to reality.
"Ouch!" was all I heard from the stranger, as a high-pitched "Oh!" escaped from my lips. My bag was knocked in the process, and my purse flew out. I quickly bent down and hurriedly picked it up, knowing that I was blushing furiously. I did not dare look up, and assumed that the stranger had continued on their way.
However, the offer of a hand surprised me, and I took it hesitantly, as I slowly got to my feet.
"Please forgive me Miss; I did not see you there! Although it is difficult to believe that I could have simply passed by such an astonishing beauty…" a smooth, attractive voice purred.
I looked up to see the owner of such a beautiful voice, only to gasp out loud.
He was the most handsome man I had ever seen.
He was not handsome in an obvious, pretty way, but more so in a manner that was irresistibly masculine.
His tall, lean frame was also visibly toned and muscular. Smooth tanned skin accentuated his chiselled jaw, high cheek-bones, and perfect facial features. Tousled ebony hair hung over his eyes… such striking green eyes. His face and body may have been all well-formed muscle and high cheekbones, yet his eyes were soft and hauntingly beautiful; two exquisitely-coloured pools of emerald green. His lips were also soft, and looked extremely enticing…
"Miss? Are you alright?" That hypnotizing voice brought me straight back to my senses.
He was looking at me with a bemused expression on his face, and I, oh god, I was staring at him with my mouth hanging slightly open.
I immediately blushed profusely and looked away in embarrassment.
He put a hand on my shoulder, and I immediately relaxed from his touch. I turned to him and smiled, regaining my composure.
"I am quite alright thank you Sir. I do apologize for being so naïve; not even concentrating on where I was going! How silly of me!" I proclaimed, my eyes never once leaving his face.
I tried not to stare, but he was so darn attractive.
I always assumed that if I had a preferred type of men, it would be prettily- handsome blondes with wide smiles, like Raif. But now… now I think that if I were to have a type, it would most definitely involve tousled black hair, high cheekbones, and emerald eyes.
Those eyes were gazing at me intently, as he graced me with the sound of his velvety voice again.
"Naivety and innocence is often a most charming characteristic," he said, unknowingly mirroring the words of my dearest father. "Do not apologize for something which I only find simply adorable!" he finished with a devilish grin.
His smile almost made me melt on the spot.
"Mmmm.." I dumbly replied, gazing into his gorgeous green eyes with the most stupid smirk on my face. Silence hung in the air, without its usual accompaniment of awkwardness. He was still looking at me, with an expression that was a cross between sheer joy and something else that I couldn't quite decipher. In an attempt to break the silence, I exclaimed:
"Goodness, look at the time! My father will be expecting me home soon!"
This was a lie. But for some reason I felt as if I had to escape from the uncomfortably intense feelings that this stranger aroused in me.
It was not a feeling I was accustomed to, not even when I was with dearest Raif, whom I know so well.
It both excited and scared me, yet the fear especially gnawed away at the back of my mind. I turned to walk away, yet that silky voice stopped me in my tracks.
"You are leaving… so soon? Please stay a little longer; if you are weary, we can rest on that bench over there!" he said, gesturing to a beautifully carved wooden bench.
I smiled in response, unable to resist.
Am pretty excited about the continuation of this story; I really enjoyed writing the dialogue that Lucien and Ella shared. I shall be rotating the perspectives of each chapter, so the next chapter will be from Lucien's POV, so we can see what he makes of his first meeting with Ella! Hope you enjoyed it, but please let me know what you think regardless! A new review always brightens my day, so please grace me with your opinion, and any preferences or advice for future chapters! I want to know what you think, or what you would prefer to see as the story continues. Thanks so much for reading! xoxox