"mm.. What happened..?" were the first words that escaped Gwendolyn's lips as she stirred from her slumber. She rubbed her forehead with her fair fingers until a surge of memories went through her mind. 'THAT SON OF A- he literally brought me here! i swear when i get my hands on him, i am going to wring his neck!' she thought, her eyes glowing a pale jade color.

she breathed through her nose to calm down, deciding to figure out where she was first then she can go confront Monsieur Giry. That was then she heard the sound of piano playing which intriged and confused her.. who was that playing? She noticed her heels from before beside the swan-shaped bed she was in and slipped them on.

Gwendolyn followed the sounds of the piano, her hand on her hammering heart. When she got to the next room, she found a feminine figure sitting on the bench from what she could see and quietly walked up behind her. "um.. hello..?" the figure jumped and turned to face her as Gwendolyn noticed she wore a white-half mask.

"Oh! Angel, you are already awake? I am sorry if my playing has awaken you-" she raised her hand to stop her and perched herself beside her, moving a pure ebony lock from her chest which was revealed from her dressing gown. "No, it has not.. um.. Why i don't know your name!" Gwendolyn realized, her beautiful sapphire eyes alight with the pureness of heaven's angels upon that realization. the figure looked away and spoke up in a soft whisper.

"You may call me Erika.. everyone else has called me the mirage of the opera." Erika said to the angel of light as Gwendolyn opened her mouth to introduce herself, but Erika stopped her. "And i already know who you are, Gwendolyn." she added, watching as Gwendolyn closed her lips. the two women were quiet for a full moment until the angel broke it.

"why do you wear a mask? i wish to know the reason." that caused Erika to freeze and place a hand on her mask. "Do not ask about my mask again." She said to the sapphire-eyed maiden as Gwendolyn looked taken aback from how her tone shifted to cold and... frightened..? "Alright, if that is what you want, then i won't force you to take it off. But at some point you will need to show me." she pointed out, watching as Erika looked conflected about what she had said to the little pure ebony haired angel.

"You are right, Gwendolyn.. at some point i will need to show you what lies beyond my mask." she could hear the smile in Gwendolyn's voice as it was the most beautiful sound she had ever heard. "So i am right?" as Erika chuckled. "That you are, mon ange." she had a satisfied smirk upon hearing a flustered squeak escape her angel's lips. "You just can't say such things like that, goodness!" as Gwendolyn had the most beautiful blush on her little face, her cheeks a pure hue of petal pink.

It only existed upon making her more cuter.

"Why are you staring at me like that angel? is it because a beautiful woman is here with you~?" playfully teasing the cute angel as Gwendolyn lightly jabbed her with her fingers. "oh my gods, be quiet!" as Erika laughed, her teasing worked.

Until...

Erika noticed the angel looking at her with kind eyes and caressing her left cheek as she realized her mask must've fell off during their playful little scuffle. "Don't look at me.. please..." as Gwendolyn gently shushed her, placing a finger on her lips. "Erika, you're beautiful even without the mask." those simple words caused Erika to look at the angel in disbelief and cling tightly onto her, making little whimpers she hadn't made since she was a child which turned into muffled sobs upon hearing those words.

"A-angel.. i am not worthy of those words.."

Gwendolyn merely shook her head.

"That's where i disagree, Erika. Everyone deserves kind words.. even you."

the angel then held the sobbing Erika in her arms, gently rocking her back and forth, whispering words of affection to her ears that seemed reserved for her and her alone. "there, there, Erika. Let it all out, it feels good to get that away from your heart, doesn't it?" she whispered quietly to her.

The mirage was loved for the first time in years.. Not even her own mother could give her affection since she was born like this..

Gwendolyn continued comforting her, her soft sapphire gaze closed while humming a song as the grip on her loosened a little bit as she smiled. "there.. all better. If there is anything you want, just ask me, ok?" as Erika looked up at her with the eyes of a child. "Could i have two kisses? one for now and one to save.." Gwendolyn's heart melted on the spot.

"Aw, of course. don't even ask me for kisses as i will give you as many as you want, Ok?"

Gwendolyn kissed her once on the lips and on her forehead as Erika blushed and still clung onto her like a child would to a stuffed animal. "My angel.. you really are one.." as Gwendolyn giggled innocently as She seemed like she would be used to being called an angel.

"I will bring you back to the surface on the condition you come back to me." Gwendolyn nodded and agreed. "Good. Now, close your eyes." She obeyed, closing her eyes. as she could feel herself being guided by her. "Now, open." she opened her eyes, realizing she was back to her dressing room as she looked around.

'Looks like you will not have your neck wringed out today, Giry.' she thought with a small pout on her pretty little lips, the ones the mirage had kissed. Gwendolyn lightly brushed her fingers across her lips and blushed.

Gwendolyn had a feeling in her soul that her heart would be stolen by the Mirage herself.