Angel Of Love

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in The Phantom Of The Opera on which this little story is based. My only creation is Louisa. Might I also add that this tale is based on the movie and not the book, it just didn’t have it’s own category in the Movies section! Please review as we writers depend on you to let us know whether we are doing a good job or not – fragile creatures that we are! :-)

ANGEL OF LOVE

Louisa sighed as she finally finished tidying the diva’s dressing room. She irritably tucked a dark curl back into her cap as it yet again escaped from its restraints. She looked around the room one last time to make sure it was all in order then paused for a moment as she caught her reflection in the long mirror at the back of the room.
Glancing towards the door she knew Carlotta was away out on the town for the night and Madame Giry wouldn’t miss her for ages yet if at all. She pulled her cap off letting her hair fall free, the raven waves falling down to her waist as she ran her fingers through it in an attempt to make some order of it. With a grimace she gave up. Her hair was thick and unruly and no matter what she did it always seemed to have a life of it’s own, escaping from pins and caps to frame her face.
Removing the apron she was wearing to keep her plain green dress clean, she swayed slightly so the skirts swished against her legs. Raising her arms she spun and danced around the room, her steps sure and graceful. Her dress couldn’t completely hide the strong lithe curves of her body as it strained in places as she moved.
With a final pirouette she leant back against the mirror, her breath coming in short gasps as she smiled with the tingling in her body that her exertions caused.
Slowly she became aware of a cold draught blowing gently against her neck and, frowning, she turned around to face the mirror. Placing her hands against the surface she pushed slightly but nothing happened. Puzzled she ran her fingers along the edges until she came to the left side of the mirror where she could feel the draught play across her palm. Probing with her fingers she almost cried out when the mirror moved slightly but then with growing excitement she applied more pressure and the mirror slid open to reveal a dark tunnel behind it.
Indecision struck her then and she turned towards the door trying to decide whether she should explore this hidden secret or not. Louisa was an adventurous soul and her curiosity won out and she stepped through the opening after first taking a small candelabra for light.
The tunnel seemed to go on for ages until it came to a long stone stairway, which she quickly descended. At the bottom she came to a large expanse of water like a small river and was disconcerted to see there seemed to be no way past it.
She stared at the water thinking when she became aware of music playing and strained her ears to listen. The music was definitely coming from somewhere ahead and she silently cursed the water that stopped her passage. Just as she turned away with a defeated sigh a small passageway caught her eye and she entered it, growing more excited when the music began to get louder and the glow of candlelight began to fill the small passage from up ahead.
Finally the passageway ended and she stepped into an immense cavern awash with the light of dozens of candles placed all around its walls. She looked around in wonder at the furniture and other objects that obviously made up someone’s home. But who would live shut away from the world like this?
Looking towards the source of the music she could see an organ against the far wall and she gasped when she saw the man who sat in front of it. He was naked from the waist up and she watched mesmerized as the muscles on his back undulated beneath the skin as he moved. His dark hair was swept back from his face, which she couldn’t see from where she stood no matter how she craned her neck.
Although she was positive she made no sound abruptly the music stopped and the pianist spun around on his seat to pin her with his fiery gaze.
She gasped when she saw the white mask that covered half his face and she knew whose home she had blundered into.
“Who are you?” the Phantom demanded with a roar, “How dare you violate my sanctuary!”