It was august, Phantalmina woke up and looked up to the ceiling. Soon it will be fall and another year has past. This time it felt different for the other years. This time there was 8 banded creatures bound to her, bad wound between her father and her, and another new folder full of her new music.
All this felt taking to much on her. She wished she could have her mother here with her, singing one of her favorite songs and hugging her till she wouldn't feel so bad anymore. That's exactly what she wished to have, a hug. But father will come till November and who knows are things still bad between them. She was still mad at him for tricking her to do the blood-bands without knowing the cost of it.
Phantalmina placed her hand on her mask, checking if it was alright. She didn't want to scared others first thing in the evening. The mask felt and seemed to be fine and its place. Phantalmina looked around before getting up. She soon felt movement on the bed. As if someone was coming closer to her.
"Good evening, little one. How are you feeling today?" It was Mistoffelees. Phantalmina just smiled to the black cat and tried to get up.
"Good evening. Little tired as always." she replied.
"Let me guess, because of the blood-bands? Or is it because of your father?" Mistoffelees asked while getting on her lap. Phantalmina only frowned by that.
"Since when you are as annoying as Tugger?"
"Oh please, I didn't mean it that way." the black cat said and sat formally in front of her having a friendly look in his eyes. "You seem to be little off and I can tell that you are troubled by it."
Phantalmina only looked down. It wasn't something she could easily share. She soon took noticed Mistoffelees pushing his head to her chin.
"You can tell. I have been there when your father needed company, and kept well his lonely secrets, I can hold on yours too."
Phantalmina only placed the black cat little away from her and moved her legs closer so her head rested on her knees.
"It all feel so different now. The blood-bands, the others, me being mad to papa... I'm confuse,...and scared... I wish mama was here." She said sounding sad.
Mistoffelees had a gentle look on him, before he could have said anything more, they both noticed Munkustrap getting on the bed checking on her.
"Is there something wrong?"
"Only the usual." Mistoffelees said smiling to Phantalmina as a sign that he won't tell her thoughts leaving that to her. "Mina just misses her mother, as always." he finishes and push his head on her legs before moving back down. Phantalmina only smiled to the black cat as he jumped off. Munkustrap only turns back to her looking little worried.
"Are you sure you are alright?"
"Yeah,... I... I just wish to have mama here." she answered only that.
Munkustrap looked down to his front-paws.
"Is it because me? When I made you make these?" he asked and lift one paw up to show the gold band around it. Phantalmina tried not to look at him nor the band.
'Why the cats are so accurate?' she frowned inside.
"I don't know. Maybe."
Munkustrap noticed her uneasiness, and moved closer.
"It's alright. It's have been strange summer. But you have us now to look after you. We'll go through this together." the silver-black cat said kingly that it made her smile a little. In fact she took the silver-black cat to her arms and gave one good hug to him. Once letting him go, Phantalmina got up smiling and left Munkustrap straighten up his fur.
-
For mostly, things have returned to the normal. Phantalmina was happy, everyone was happy. And as recalled today was the day when everyone should eat, even Phantalmina. So, as usual she went to the store, having Dusk, Paco and Brutus following little behind. She brought cheeses, milk, crackers, fresh fish, fruits, tea and bugs, for everyone. Even for her. She even stopped to get few important supplies, like matches, candles, new needles and spool of line. One normal busy night for her. No worries, Just her and... her little friends...
Phantalmina didn't want to let that weird mood ruin this night for her. She has finally got over about the blood-band-thing with her friends. Well honestly, not with her dad. She was still mad at him. But otherwise things seemed well. With Ashley, with Munkustrap and Justin. And for everyone else. Things are more then well.
But why things are still like something is missing, or more like forgotten?
A cab drove through Phantalmina before she was about to make her turn to the alley. The cab hold advertisement about "Phantom of the Opera". It was then when Mina realized. She missed her mother, again. No matter what happens or how long time goes, she always feels incomplete without having her near, hearing her singing to her, for real. But there was no way that could ever happen. One of the things she hate about been Phantom. Always living without the main thing you need, and she needed her mother. Except now it feels like she really needed her arms around her. Or at least, maybe her father. Just someone holding her. Taking this cold air away.
Phantalmina felt a flapping wings and noticed Dusk coming on her shoudlder.
"Is something wrong?" he asked.
Phantalmina shock her head to get rid of that missing feeling. She didn't needed it. She got her friends with her.
"Nothing. I'm alright." she replied smiling to the little bat and turned to the alley where Paco and Brutus waited her.
It didn't took long till they returned to the theater. Phantalmina was soon placing the milk and cheeses on the plate and boiling the water for her tea. Soon everyone was eating and being happy. Phantalmina had couple crackers with cheese with her tea. It almost seemed little weird, or should it bee said troubled to see her mostly eating only tea and some snacks. Well, it's one of the things telling she wasn't normal, that she was a Phantom. Phantalmina didn't let it trouble herself by that. It made it easy for not carry so much stuff. She didn't need much of anything. It felt...
...strong and powerless...
She froze for a moment in her place for those words. Forgetting her cup was empty and trying to drink again. Good thing no one noticed her sudden pause. But it felt so,...
"Excuse me... I need some air." Phantalmina said and got up from her place heading to the roof.
"Mina?"
"Did you just where...?"
Her little friends could only watch her leave the stage. Except two of them. Justin and Dusk did put notice her sudden freeze and now, seeing her leave they decided to follow her.
Once standing on the roof, Phantalmina took a deep breath. It felt nothing. Like there was no wind, no air. She needed to clear her mind. So many things rushing on and over, it was scary. She didn't want start to cry, they will know. They would get worried and she doesn't know how or what to tell. Phantalmina cover her face with her hands and tried to breath again, she needed to calm down... calm down...
Phantalmina felt like opening her eyes and saw herself as 3 years old her in her dark room. That how she lived her first years. Locked away, in a dark room so her mother's husband won't find her and hurt her. She recalled arms around her and that beautiful voice singing.
I shall show you the miracles of the world
and tell you what's wrong and which is right
repeat the rules
and hope that in you turn, you'll know where and when and how these rules can be broke.
There was no dough. It was her mother singing and holding her. She lift her up to her arms moved close to the window.
I often wondered for your tomorrow
it awaits somewhere around the corner
I'm afraid sometimes, about worries that come, but I know where and when and how they are washed by your smile.
She saw her mother smile at her, and she started to spin around the room her little angel in her arms.
you are beautiful, tender and innocent
you are beautiful, strong and powerless
you belong to me, even though only moments we can have
and I will be yours, I will be yours as long as I can
Phantalmina snapt back the present in the real world. Having track of that memory helpt a lot. She started to continue the song remembering how her mother sang it.(without noticing that Justin and Dusk were there behind her watching.)
I promise to take things serious and try to see thing how you would
repeat your rules
and in eventually I promise to always, always and always I'll have your side
Phantalmina didn't put notice but while singing tip of her fingers and tap of her shoes created faint lines that look like music scores, dancing around with her song. Justin and Dusk could see them and they could swear they heard music from that song.
you are beautiful, tender and innocent
you are beautiful, strong and powerless
you belong to me, even though only moments we can have
and I will be yours, I will be yours as long as I can
Phantalmina had her eyes closed and she danced a little. Feeling her worries are finally letting her bee. She didn't put any notice on the moving score dancing with her. But for Justin and Dusk that Magical-score moved to close to them as if it was about to crab them whole.
I thank you for the teary eyes you are beautiful, tender and innocent
sleepless nights
the greatest moments when you made me what I really am
You are... beautiful...
The magical-score covered both of them totally and it started to change and swift their form crowing and covering their bodies. Phantalmina (who has no clue what's going on, her back turned on them) only kept singing that song till the end.
you are beautiful, tender and innocent you are beautiful, tender and innocent
you are beautiful, strong and powerless
you belong to me, even though only moments we can have
you are beautiful, strong and powerless
you belong to me, even though only moments we can have
Phantalmina was about to turn around and open her eyes...
and I will be yours, I will be yours as long as I...
A gasp escape her mouth. She couldn't believe what she was looking at. A tall brown rat, size of a adult man with almost the same sized bat. They looked like Justin and Dusk, but they... they were tall... and they were wearing clothes. The rat that looked like Justin had blue tunic with white sleeves and good brown long trousers and dark shoes. The bat had dark blue tunic without the sleeves. His collar mane covering his lower neck, and dark pants reaching to his knee. His feet with claws were bare to see. Only common thing they had were the golden bracelets on their arms. They both seemed to bee amazed of their form as she was.
"Wow. What just...?" Phantalmina recognized that voice of the large bat that just spoke. It was Dusk! But then that rat is... Justin!?
"But- but... How...I...? " Phantalmina tried to ask but it felt so hard.
Seeing them like this. Close to the same size as her father. She thought she could almost faint by all this but she couldn't close her mind for a moment like this. Only her legs gave up and she ended up sitting down. Of course Justin and Dusk act quickly seeing her slipping down on the ground. For moment they tried to catch her before hitting the roof-floor. But once taking notice she now sat there with surprised face still on, they back it up little.
"Hey,... It's okay. It's still us. I swear."
"Okay? You... you are big!" Phantalmina let out.
Before anything else was said, Munkustrap and Ashley came to the roof.
"What happen...?"
"What's going... on?"
They both went silent once seeing Justin and Dusk, big and with clothes.
"What brought you two here?"
It took awhile till Munkustrap snaps back to answer.
"Oh,... we heard your voice coming from the roof and..."
"Wow there. You heard? Her? All the way down to the stage? How is that possible?" Justin asked trying to adjust to his new height.
"Actually, we bats can." Dusk tried to explain. (even tough he wasn't sure what's going on) "Munkus probably followed Ashley to here."
"Yeah, no. I really heard it." Munkustrap clarified. "And not just me and Ashley. Demeter, Isabella, Jemima and Luna too."
Hearing this Phantalmina went still.
"Wait. That's all who wear blood-bands." Dusk took noted.
They all turned to look at Phantalmina who was now more scared.
"Hey, hey Mina. Don't be afraid. We are not mad at you." Justin said calmly and gently, he knelled down close to her hoping she may calm down. Phantalmina didn't seemed to response. Justin placed his hand on her shoulder to reassure her. But once she felt big warm hand on her, something click. She lift her face and they could notice tears coming from her eyes. Her face didn't seem sad nor scared, it seemed more like she was missing something and she just got first glimpse of it.
"Mina?"
It seemed Phantalmina was about to cry for real. Her eyes were getting more wet and full of tears. It didn't took long till she did. She pressed her head to Justin's chest and cried out loud.
Of course it drove others attention to Justin, who wasn't sure what to do. Let her cry or try to calm her down, the most weird thing for him was how Munkustrap, Dusk and Ashley looked at him. It almost looked like he did something bad. Hopefully not.
Ashley flew to Phantalmina and landed on her other shoulder. She was still crying, but it soon sounded she was slowly calming down. It was revealing to notice that. Justin and others noticed that too. He placed his arms around her. At first she trembled a little in his arms, but soon it seemed like she was calm and quiet. Ashley, who was on her shoulder could notice her face calming down and relaxing, like how she used to do when she falls to peaceful sleep.
"Um... What just happen?" Dusk tried to ask. Been big made it little difficult to see how Phantalmina was. Munkustrap moved closer between Justin and Phantalmina to have better look. Once he place his head under Justin's arm and looked at Phantalmina, her face looked peaceful, as if she was finally having the long hard night over, finally able to rest and …..
"Heavenside layer, of course!" Munkustrap let out, but not too loud.
"What? Is she okay." Dusk asked
Justin and Ashley also looked at the silver-black cat, they wanted to know.
"Friends, when Phantalmina ever gets a hug or any of that stuff?"
They thought about it for awhile.
"When her father comes here, obviously." Dusk answered.
"And after that?"
"Well,..."
They were still and quiet for awhile thinking about it. It was then when Justin figured it out. This was the first time, first time any of them were able to hug Mina, for real. She always had give them hugs, but they haven't been able to do it for her. A young child like her needs someone close to hold her and keep her warm and safe. Her mother is gone and she misses her every day. And her father,... he hardly is there when she needs him. Only once or twice a year. And now... this is the first time she is hugged by those who she has been look after.
"I understand." Justin let out.
He hugged her little more tightly and he could feel a smile coming up from her. Ashley and Munkustrap actually were able to see it. Dusk also started to understand what Munkustrap meant, seeing how Justin hugged her again. Justin turned to look at Dusk. He smiled and nudge his head to Dusk so he might come closer too. Dusk moved to the others and knelled down. He hesitated a little, but then placed one of his wings around Mina. It almost cover all her back, and it felt nice to finally give Phantalmina something she has longed for every year.
They were like that couple of minutes, it was happy to see Phantalmina smiling again, and well this time for a long time. Of course it soon came time to come back reality, Munkustrap needed to ask one thing.
"So, um... how did you turned... like that?"
That surely made Justin and Dusk looked each other before they turned to look at Phantalmina who now had a worried face hearing that question.
"Maybe we should move down. I think this might be something everyone needs to hear, and I don't think Phantalmina likes to handle it twice."