I'm back again. Have you ever had that problem when poeple don't read your stories and it gives you the feeling that you might be bad at these things? I've been having that feeling a lot for some time. My anime storied though are usually pretty good though. But I want to get into my Phantom spirit!
Angel to an Angel
The Day was long, but the night seemed endless to an angel far from home. Sophia walked over to her bed and stared out the window to the wintry scenery overflowing Paris. A tear fell from her eye as she thought of her home being at war. She opened up a black case and took out a golden ocarina, which she had received for her twelfth birthday. The people of her home were told to learn an instrument to one day learn to bring the seasons about on Earth. At first, she wanted to play the violin, but her father bought her a flute instead. So she chose the ocarina instead. Her music was like a breath of fresh air. Everyone wanted to listen to her play. Those who have been sad or angry couldn't help but smile at the sounds she would make. But nothing would compare to her singing. She tied her hair into a braided bun and took out her instrument.
"Time to practice this wretched thing." She would say every time. As she played, the entire opera house was filled with a glorious sound made only by an angel of spring. She started dancing along with the tune she was playing. Music was how the angels would pray to bring a happy season ahead. She prayed the strongest however. A chill went down her spine. "What was that?" She quickly put the ocarina away. She stuck it under her bed and jumped under her blankets. "What is this cold feeling?"
As the morning sun began to pour through the windows of the Opera Populaire, Sophia was the first to rise. It was a daily routine of hers. She would wake up earlier so the day feels longer. Yet the day felt short with the winter season. She looked out the window and smiled at the shining sun.
"Good morning sunshine." She said gleefully. She walked over to the dresser and opened it up. She had bought so many dresses the day before since she did not know how long she was to stay in Paris. She took out a bright red dress and placed it on a nearby chair. She took out her instrument. She started to play, but the music seemed sad. She was praying for the safety of her kingdom, her family, her friends, and that the kingdoms would not plummet into chaos. There was a knock on her door.
"Mademoiselle Sophia. Christine wishes to see you." Someone said.
"Very well. I'll be out in a moment." She put her ocarina away and got changed into her new dress. She walked out the door and started for the lobby. Christine was waiting for her on the east stairs. "Good morning Christine."
"Good morning Sophia." She said. "You wouldn't mind spending the day with Raoul and I would you?"
"That's awfully kind of you, but I believe that rehearsal for the next opera is going to start soon." She bowed her head. "I'm sorry."
"Don't worry. You won't miss very much. We'll have you back in no time." A bright smile appeared on her face and her icy-blue eyes started to shine.
"Then I'd be delighted to join you." She walked down the rest of the stairs and they started for the door. But as they reached the last step, they found a note with a seal shaped like a red skull.
"Oh no." Christine started shaking. Sophia picked up the letter and stared at it for a moment.
"Do you know who it is from?" She asked curiously.
"I'm afraid so." She said. "This note came from the Phantom. The man you were warned about yesterday." She looked at the skull seal and moved it to get to the slip of paper inside.
"I have returned once more,
I will have my angel of music once more
and I will stop at nothing to get her
back. Let this be a warning to you
all.
-O.G."
She started feeling scared. She could feel herself tremble. Christine took the note from her and read it over to herself. Sophia began to hum a tune to herself. Christine looked at her as she did so.
"That is beautiful." She said.
"It was a lullaby my mother use to sing to me when I was little." She explained. "Every night, she would play her violin and sing this song to me."
"Your mother played the violin?" Christine asked.
"Yes. She was quite good at it too." She held her hands to her heart. "I wanted to learn to play the violin too, to keep her memories with me. But father told me to forget my mother and learn the ocarina instead. It still produces a heavenly sound."
"Why would your father want you to forget your mother?" She asked.
"Because, one night, she left the kingdom with another man." She said. "I've never seen her since. But I still remember the song she would sing to me."
"Would you sing it for me now?" Christine asked. She nodded.
(Lullaby)
the snow in the air
to sing me a lullaby
my winter, come hither to me
the dark nights to come
so, kiss me for good-bye
the grace of the godland is near to you
show me the flowers invisible
sing me the hymns inaudible
the wind is my voice
the moon is my heart
come find me, I'm on every hills and fields
I'm here... ever your near...
(sing for your love, gone so far in the past)
(pray for the world, that you may rest in peace)
the snow in the air
to sing me a lullaby
the angel of rebirth is here
so let all your pain
sleep within the husha-by
the grace of the godland
grace of the godland
grace of the godland is near...
so close to you
The two of them were filled with goose bumps as she sang the last note.
"Beautiful."
"My mother always told me 'one day, you'll find your voice and sing this song to your children. But you must first sing to the one you love.' She always loved music." She smiled. "Why don't we go now?"
"Of course. Raoul is waiting for us to come out." They raced to the door. The Phantom stepped out from behind a support beam.
"This girl…" He whispered. "Her voice."
They stopped for lunch at one of the finest restaurants in Paris. But, of course, Christine and Raoul wanted to know more about Sophia's home.
"You live in a kingdom of eternal spring?" Raoul asked.
"Yes." She answered. "It became rather boring for me. Endless warm weather and flowers, it wears you out when you've spent too long in it." She sighed. "Well, enough about me. Christine, you've yet to tell me your relationship with this 'Phantom' you keep telling me about." Raoul touched Christine's hand.
"He was my teacher." She said. "I thought he was the angel my father had sent to protect me." Sophia touched Christine's other hand.
"I'm so sorry." She said in a heart-warming tone.
"You don't have to be." She said. "He was apparently in love with me. He might still be. He tried to keep me in the darkness within the catacombs of the opera house one year ago."
"How terrifying." She said.
"He also killed many innocent people too." Raoul said.
"But, why does he stay in the darkness all by himself?" Her curiosity once more made her ask such questions.
"Because of his face." Christine said. "He would usually wear a mask to cover it. But I did see it before." A cold fear came into Sophia's heart. Never had she ever heard of such things on Earth. "Never try to see his face. He'll try to keep you in the darkness." She nodded. For the rest of the time, they were silent. When they returned that night, the rehearsal was far from over. Carlotta was having a hard time trying to reach the right note.
"No, no! You need to hit the high 'G'." Mousier Reyer said hitting the key on the piano again.
"What seems to be the problem?" Sophia asked walking up to the distressed conductor.
"We have to be ready for the opera tomorrow night, but it seems that La Carlotta cannot make the notes."
"I was able to do it before." She said.
"Could it be the Phantom?" Asked Meg Giry.
"We can't tell for sure." Reyer said.
"I will not be singing tomorrow!" She said. "That masked fiend has done this to me before. I cannot go on!" And with one swift motion, she left them all alone.
"This is terrible!" Reyer said. "This part is for two female leads. Who can take her place?" Sophia had an idea.
"Could you play the note?" Sophia asked. He played the note on the piano and she started humming it. "It doesn't seem so hard to hit." She said. She took some music from off the top of the piano and started looking it over. "Take it from measure six." He played and she sang. Everyone watched in awe as she sang. Though she had not heard this music before, she was able to hit every note without hesitation. As the music stopped, everyone clapped.
"How did you learn to sing like that?" Meg asked.
"I never had one lesson." She said.
"You're brilliant my dear!" Reyer said in excitement. "But can you memorize this opera before tomorrow night?" An assuring look appeared on her face.
"Of course I can." She said giving a thumbs up. "You can count on me. I'll memorize this so I can even say it a thousand times over without fail!" Though she had such strong confidence, it did not last long. "What was I thinking? I can't memorize this in one night!" She fell backwards on her bed, threw the music to the side, and placed her pillow over her face. "I'm such a fool." She suddenly heard a violin. It was playing her lullaby. She shot up and looked around the room. "Mother?"
"You cannot give in so soon." The voice said.
"Where are you speaking from?" She asked, noticing she was the only one in the room.
"I speak from heaven child." He said.
"An angel? What kind?"
"An angel of music." He said. Since Christine forgot to mention that the Phantom was supposed to be her angel of music, she had no thoughts of him being the Phantom.
"This is strange. I never learned of music angels back home. Only the angels of the seasons."
"You cannot give up on those who depend on your performance tomorrow." He said. "Now, begin your practice."
"But, how can I learn this all before tomorrow night?" She asked.
"I will aid you in this." He said. "But you must promise me one thing. Tell no one of my meeting you."
"I promise." She said. "You have my word as an angel of the spring kingdom." He started playing the music to the opera and she sang the words that came to her part. She never felt such a rush I her singing before.
The next morning, she did not wake up when the sun peaked through her window. She was too tired from staying up all night. Everyone who came to her room noticed this and let her be. She was dreaming of her home, still being at war with the Western kingdom. She feared the fate of her home. Being sent to the world of humans and leaving everyone behind. It willed her with guilt. But she could hear music. It started to fill her mind and all her worried went away. She was under the spell of the violin she heard the night before.
"Sophie…" She heard the voice of her mother. "Sophie. You mustn't blame yourself for all that happens. I left so you may live a life of freedom. You need to spread your wings and grow." Her blue eyes opened up and a single tear fell down the side of her face.
"How long… was I asleep?" She looked out her window and saw that the sun was almost setting. "Oh goodness! I slept for the entire day!" The door opened behind her and she screamed.
"It's only me." She turned to see Meg standing in the doorway. "You better hurry. We're getting ready for the performance."
"Alright. I'll be right there." She said. Meg placed her costume on the chair by the door and left. "I better hurry." She walked over to the chair and picked up her costume. She quickly changed then ran out the door. As she ran down the seemingly endless hallway, she heard something fall in back of her. She tried to turn and see but she felt two hands on both sides of her face keeping her from looking.
"There is no need for you to look my dear." The voice said. She knew who it could me.
"Angel?" She tried to look, but he kept her from turning.
"In time, not now." She stopped trying to see. "I will be watching your performance tonight. You will succeed in your work. You'll become the new star."
"But how can you say that?" She asked. "What if it's not for certain?"
"Everyone who has heard your voice said that you were wonderful." He told her. "You can captivate everyone with your words." He let her go. She turned her head but he was gone. She felt someone grab her shoulder and she jerked around to find Madame Giry.
"This way." She said in a stern voice. Sophia let out a sigh of relief and followed the ballet mistress. As she and Christine took their places on the stage, she took in a deep breath.
"Is something wrong?" Christine asked.
"No, I'm just nervous." She said. "If only my parents could see me now." Christine put one hand on her shoulder.
"I'm sure they would be very proud of you Sophia." This put a smile on her face and her eyes started shining. As the curtain came up all her fears and worried melted away. She could see her home in her mind. As she sang, she could see the bright smiles on everyone's faces again. She felt happier than she ever did before. But when she glanced up to box five, she saw a dark figure wearing a white mask. She napped out of her fantasy just in time for the curtain to come down. Everyone cheered and threw flowers onto the stage as everyone came out to take their bows. She looked up into the box again, but there was no one there.
I must have imagined it. She thought. Later that evening, there was a giant party being thrown for this success. But Sophia wanted to hear this angel of music again. She went to the chapel in the opera house and played her ocarina. She played the old folk song of her kingdom. It had the feeling of spring in every note. She waited for the hypnotic sound of the violin to join her, but she was playing alone. As the song ended, she felt sad in her heart.
"Did he not come?" She wondered.
"Nonsense child." She perked up at the sound of his voice.
"You came?" She asked
"As I promised." He said kindly. "I apologize for not playing with you. I wanted to hear the beautiful sound that you make alone." Her face turned red.
"Thank you." She said.
"I will play with you next time." He said.
"That would make me very happy." She took her instrument again and started playing her lullaby. After a little while, she heard the sound of the violin. As the music stopped, she started to laugh. Someone walked into the small room and found her.
"There you are." She turned her head and saw Meg and Christine. "We've been looking for you."
"Did I worry you? I'm sorry." She stood up and bowed her head.
"Don't worry. Be couldn't help but hear a strange music." Christine said.
"That must be this." She held out her small instrument. She played a few notes and smiled.
"Yes, that's what we heard." Meg said.
"Did you like it?" She asked.
"Yes." They said. Sophia walked over to them and they started back to the party. The Phantom appeared from the shadows.
"Dearest angel. Your music is the most beautiful I have ever been fortunate to hear." He started thinking of Christine. His anger began to well up inside him. He still wanted his revenge on what she had done one year ago, but he did not want Sophia to live in fear of him. After all, he was able to become an angel to this child. She was spring to his wintry soul.
The next morning, Sophia was able to wake up like her old self. She felt light on her feet, as she got ready for the day. She never had this feeling before. She could not tell what it was at all. As she walked through the lobby, she heard a large knock on the main doors. When she went to answer it, she was greeted with a pink and white rose.
"Princess Sophia, I have found you at last." She recognized that voice. She wished that it could have been anyone but this person.
"Marco." She said glumly. Behind him, she saw Christine and Raoul stepping out of their carriage. She ran past her fiancé and to her friends. "Good morning Christine. Good morning Raoul." She said cheerfully.
"Good morning Sophia." Christine said.
"You are up early this morning." Raoul said jokingly. "Yesterday you seemed like you weren't going to wake up." She laughed.
"I was up all night practicing of course." They looked at the strange man in back of her.
"Who is that?" Marco walked over to them and bowed.
"My name is Marco. I happen to be Sophia's fiancé." Sophia crossed her arms.
"I rejected you." She said. "You have more of an inflated ego than my father."
As you can see, Sophia really hates her fiance. He's a pompus fool in her eyes. She seems to have eyes for Erik for the moment. Though she didn't meet him face to face just yet, she start's to feel something for him. Can you guess? Well, I've got to get going! Byebye!