Buffy stood there, shivering. The Angel stalked off to his organ. Buffy's voice rose as she sang:
"The tears I might have shed
for your dark fate . . .
Grow cold, and turn to tears
of HATE!!!"
Buffy ripped off the wedding veil, and threw it to the ground. All three of them began to sing at once. The Angel spoke of their romance, Xander spoke of freeing her, and Buffy was confused..
Xander
"Buffy, forgive.
Please forgive m!
I did it all for you
and all for nothing!"
Buffy
"Farewell my fallen idol and false friend.
One by one I've watched illusions shatter!"
Angel
"Too late for turning back.
Too late for prayer and useless pity."
Xander
"Say you love him
and my life is over!"
Angel
"Past all hope of cries for help.
No point in fighting,
for either way you choose
you cannot win!"
Xander
"Either way you choose
he has to win!"
Angel
"So do you end your days with me?
Or do you send him to his grave?"
Xander
"Why make her lie to you
to save me?"
Buffy
"Angel of Music . . ."
Angel
"Past the Point of No Return . . ."
Xander
"Please say no, Buffy!"
Buffy
" . . . why this torment?"
Angel
" . . . the final threshold."
Xander
"Don't throw your life away for me!"
Buffy
"When will you see reason?"
Angel
"His life is now a prize
that you must earn!"
Xander (starting to slip away)
"I fought so hard to free you . . ."
Buffy
"Angel of Music . . ."
Angel
"You've past the point of no return."
Buffy
" . . . you deceived me.
I gave my mind blindly."
The Angel stared hard at Buffy. "You try my patience. Make your choice!" Xander's eyes were closing, and his face was a light shade of blue. Buffy's eyes were watering. She stood up, and walked right up to the Angel. Her lips were so close to his.
Buffy
"Pitiful creature of darkness.
What kind of life have you known?
God gave me courage to show you
that you're not alone!"
Buffy kissed the Angel fiercely. Xander turned his head, horrified and wondering. The embrace lasted a long time. Once Buffy ended the kiss, the Angel looked at her in amazement. He took a lighted candle, and severed the thin line that held the Punjab Lasso. Xander fell to the ground, gasping for precious air. Buffy hurried to his side and helped him up. The mob was close now. Their yells echoed in the dark hallway. The Angel stare blankly into space. He addressed Xander, but didn't look at him.
Angel
"Take her . . forget me . . forget all of this.
Leave me alone . . . forget all you've seen.
Go now . . don't let them find you!
That the boat- leave me here- go now, don't wait.
Just take her and go . . . before it's too late!
Go . . ."
The fire from the mobs' torches glowed dimly, but visibly in the dark. They sang a hateful song:
Mob
"Revenge for Buquet!
Revenge for Piangi!
Kill the monster!
This creature must never go free!"
Angel
"GO!! GO NOW AND LEAVE ME!!!"
Xander and Buffy ran to the boat and rowed off. The Angel slumped to the ground next to his music box. It started up magically. He looked at it, softly playing:
Angel
"Masquerade . . .
Paper faces on parade . .
Masquerade.
Hide your face so the world
will never find you . . ."
He stopped when he heard gentle footsteps behind him. He stood up and turned. Buffy was there, in her wedding gown. She pulled the ring off of her finger, and handed it to the Angel. He took her hand, and they were about to kiss when the Angel stopped her. He looked into her eyes, and said, "Buffy, I love you." Buffy smiled at him, kissed is hand, and ran back to the boat. The Angel turned away. "I love you . . ." he whispered into air. He picked up the crumpled wedding veil, and held it to his face. The soft silk felt good.
In the distance, the Angel heard Buffy and Xander singing together. He waved good-bye to them.
Buffy
"Say you'll share with me
One love, one lifetime.
Say the word and I will follow you."
Xander
"Share each day with me
Each night,
each morning . . ."
Angel
"You alone can make my song
take flight . . .
It's over now,
The Music of the Night!"
He staggered over to his throne near the organ. He sat down, crying. He saw the mob climbing down the gate to get in. Slowly, the Angel pulled his cloak over his head. He sighed deeply. Willow, disguised as a man, slipped under the gate. She looked around in wonder at the lair. Such a beautiful home! When she saw a mound under the cloak, she gently whipped the cloak off. There was no one there! All that was left of the Angel of the Opera was his mask. Willow held it up, and it shone in the candle light. No one knew where the Angel went after that. He was never seen again . . .
THE END
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