4. Progress

The Phantom, Mr. Gold/Rumplestilzkin

Over the next several months, we practiced, sometimes for hours on end. I expected the girl to complain, especially when I pushed her to hit notes that she normally would not be able to hit. To my surprise, Belle was quite complacent, and worked very hard to do all that I asked from her.

Despite myself, I began to fall for the girl, and deep down, I wondered if there was any way she felt the same about me. Sure, from time to time when I was lifted to heaven by her beautiful voice, she called out to me, fearing I had left her for good, but was her panic out of her feelings for me, or natural concern?

Every time I made myself known, the beauty's lips with curl into a sweet smile, her eyes closed happily, as if she was picturing me, and how I looked. If she knew what I looked like, she would run screaming away from me.

I ran a hand over my masked face, nervously checking to make sure it was secure. I stood behind the wall in my usual position, watching as Belle brushed her hair and worked on her singing. "Hear the drums! Hannibal comes!" she belted out La Regina's part perfectly, holding the final note out for eight beats. I closed my eyes in ecstasy, my presence unknown at this late hour of the night.

I saw Belle sigh as she looked herself in the mirror. "Father, I don't know what to do," she spoke aloud. "It's been a wonderful couple of months. My teacher… I don't know his name… He is so kind! He pushes me to be my best, to perform my best. Even Monsieur Glass has noted I have come a long way."

I snorted. If only that sniveling Sydney could take a leaf out of Belle's book.

"It's just that… I have these feelings, father. They confuse me, and I just don't know what to do! I get this… feeling every time I sing with my teacher. I don't ever want it to go away. I just wish I knew what this feeling was…"

My heart constricted. Maybe she was starting to feel something for me. I knew I had to take our little arrangement a step further, and there was no time like the present.

Belle

These past few months have been absolutely wonderful. My teacher has taught me so much, pushed me to be the best that I can be, and I feel confident in my singing abilities now. But, my mysterious teacher would never reveal himself to me. He was nothing but a voice, a beautiful, deep, brogue that set my heart a flutter, and warm sensation throughout my body.

I prayed to my father, wondering what this feeling was. It was new, foreign. For someone I've never seen before, I longed for him when he was gone, was happier when he was with me, and I've even had dreams about the mysterious voice. Always, he would be singing to me in my dreams, and just when I open the door to see who he was, I wake up. It was the most frustrating, and an often reoccurring dream.

I brushed my hair, and decided to work on my singing. "Hear the drums! Hannibal comes!" I sighed, looking into my mirror back at myself. I hit the notes perfectly, truly showing the genius behind my teacher. I began to talk aloud to my father, unable to handle my emotions. "Father, I don't know what to do… It's been a wonderful couple of months. My teacher… I don't know his name… He is so kind! He pushes me to be my best, to perform my best. Even Monsieur Glass has noted I have come a long way. It's just that… I have these feelings, father. They confuse me, and I just don't know what to do! I get this… feeling every time I sing with my teacher. I don't ever want it to go away. I just wish I knew what this feeling was…"

I closed my eyes and put my hands on either side of my temples. "Brava, brava, bravissima!" sang a haunting, beautiful, familiar voice. My eyes shot open, and I looked around the room.

"Angel, I hear you," I said, with a slight blush to my cheeks. He had been listening to my singing as well as my prayer to my father, and it made me feel uncomfortable. "Speak, I listen. Stay by my side and guide me."

"Flattering child," said the brogue. "It is time. You shall know me, and see why in the shadows I hide. Look at your beautiful face in the mirror. I am there…"

I stared, and slowly but surely, the image of a very tall and slender man dressed in all black with a cape and a white half mask appeared. My eyes widened in amazement and wonderment. "Angel of Music, guide and guardian, grant to me your glory!" I sang. "Angel of Music, hide no longer! Come to me, strange Angel!"

Slowly, he walked towards me, and put a black gloved hand on my cheek, turning me to face him. "Come, Belle," said the brogue accented man. "Your Angel is going to take you to your proper home. A place where you can truly be taught the art of music, and where you can finally be cared for and appreciated like you deserve."

My eyes widened in surprise, and, not knowing what to do or say next, he held out his hand. "Take my hand, my angel, and I will lead you there. I promise, nothing will harm you as long as you are with me." I gently put my hand in his, and he led me through a secret passage in my wall.