Angel of Spring Chapter 3: Past betrayal Inside the Heart, a phantom of the opera fanfic

Here's the next chapter folks. It might be too good, but I'm trying the best I can. There will be songs in some of the chapters as you might have noticed, but please just bare with me on these things, 'kay?

Disclaimer: I don't own the Phantom of the Opera, nor have I met him before. But if I ever did, then THAT WOULD BEE FREAKIN' SWEET!

Past Betrayal / Inside the Heart

For the next few days, Marco had spent every day at the Opera Populaire. He never left Sophia's side. This was causing her so much stress just because he was there. He would be everywhere she went. She tried dozens of times to avoid him but it never did her any use. It was also hard for her during rehearsal. He would always pull her away saying he had to tell her something, but would only say how pretty she was.

"That's enough Marco." Sophia said. "I can't take it anymore."

"Princess? Is something wrong?" He asked.

"Yeah something's wrong!" She yelled. "You're being a royal pain! Why can't you just leave me alone for once?"

"I was told by your father to watch over you until the war was over." He explained.

"I don't care what my father says!" She screamed. "Just leave me alone!" She stormed back to the stage where everyone was waiting for her. They were giving her surprised looks. "You heard what we were saying?"

"You were shouting it out." Meg said.

"Do you not like your fiancé?" Christine asked.

"No way." She answered. "He's so full of himself. I can understand why father chose him. They're so much alike." She sighed.

"Why don't we continue rehearsal tomorrow?" Reyer said. Everyone agreed on this.

"Will you join us again today?" Christine asked. "Raoul and I would like it if you came back out with us."

"No, I just want some time alone." She walked to the very front of the stage and sat down.

"If you insist." For the moment, the stage was quiet and empty. Sophia pulled out her ocarina and started playing the folksong from her home. As she continued to play, the lights started going out. She stopped. She heard something hit the floor behind her.

"It is only me." It was him. She wanted to look, but she didn't want to look at the same time. "I'm sorry for my recent absence. But that man that has arrived not too long ago is always with you."

"I tell him to leave me be." She said. "But he can't seem to understand." She heard his footsteps move closer to her.

"That song you were playing, what was it?"

"It's an old folk song from my kingdom." She said.

"Do you know the words?" He asked.

"Yes." She answered.

"Will you sing it for me?" He knelt down in back of her. She smiled.

"Alright." She put her ocarina away. Erik took his violin and started playing the song.

(Fake Wings)

Shine bright morning light
Now in the air the spring is coming
Sweet blowing wind

Ringing down the hills and valleys

Keep your eyes on me

Now we're on the edge of hell

Dear my love sweet morning light

Wait for me you've gone much farther

Too far…

Shine bright morning light
Now in the air the spring is coming
Sweet blowing wind

Ringing down the hills and valleys

Keep your eyes on me

Now we're on the edge of hell

Dear my love sweet morning light

Wait for me you've gone much farther

Too far…

As the music stopped, she felt a sort of peace in her mind. Though she couldn't see the one that has been with her since her arrival, she felt a sense of security with him around.

"If you don't mind me asking," She said. "Who exactly are you?"

"I told you, I'm an angel." He said.

"But, who are you as a person?" She asked.

"You'll find out soon enough." He said. But Sophia's curiosity was too much for her. She wanted to know now. But she also wanted to keep his identity a secret. She just moved her head slightly but stopped.

"But, why can't it be now?" She asked.

"Please be patient." He said. He placed one hand on her cheek. "Trust me." She sighed.

"I'll wait." He started walk away. She took her ocarina and started playing her lullaby. She remembered everything her mother had ever told her since she was young.

"Music is a magical feeling Sophie." She said playing her violin. "Nothing can compare to the sweet sounds of music."

"Is that why we pray to the seasons with music?" Said a little five year old Sophia.

"That's right my dear." Her mother put down her violin and stroked the hair on her daughter's head.

"Have you seen all the seasons' mama?" She asked.

"I have dear one." She answered. "The beauty of all the seasons in the world." She started playing the lullaby. "Did you know there are angels living on Earth?" She looked up in astonishment.

"No, I did not."

"They are special angels." She explained. "Angels of music."

"Angels of music?" She repeated.

"Yes. They are different from us though. They have a special way of weaving their music in people's souls. They can use music I many different ways."

"Amazing." Her little blue eyes were sparkling with delight.

"My dear, promise me one thing."

"What do you wish?" She asked.

"When you meet your true love, make sure to sing this song to him."

"What is love?" Her mother laughed.

"Love is a special feeling that you share with another person." She said.

"Like with you and Papa?"

"Papa and I were in an arranged marriage." She said glumly. "We barely knew each other. Our parents decided our marriage since we were very young."

"So, you weren't in love?" She asked.

"That's right. But I want you to find someone that will make you happy the rest of your life." She took her small hands into hers. "I want your happiness to be eternal."

"…My happiness to be eternal?" Sophia said. "Then why did you leave me?"

"You! How could you have done this?" Sophia was walking down the steps still half asleep. She heard her father screaming. "What gave you this idea?" When she came to the throne room, she saw her mother, father, and a strange man. This man had snowy white wings.

"I never loved you and you never loved me." Her mother said. "I will be living my own life. I don't want to stay here anymore."

"What about Sophia?!" He shouted. "You're going to abandon her? Where's the sense in leaving behind your precious daughter?"

"If I choose to leave, that is what I will do." She said coldly. "Sophie will understand when she's older. I've found love. She will too." Tears started streaming down her face. "I have faith that she will find the one she loves without you." She turned and they left. Sophia ran back upstairs and started crying into her bed sheets.

"Mama is leaving!" She didn't sleep at all that night. All she did was cry.

She banged her fist against the ground. Looking back on the past, it hurt her too much. After all that had happened, she can't stand these memories anymore. Her mother said that she would always be at her side. But she lied when she left the kingdom never to return.

"Is something wrong my dear?" She turned her head and saw Marco standing a few feet away.

"Go away." She said. "I want to be alone."

"I can't do that." He said. "It would be rude to leave a Princess all by herself."

"And it's annoying to always be right in front of her every waking moment!" She screamed. She got up and walked off. She went to her room and locked the door. "If only it was possible to find my true love." She sat in her chair and stared at the ceiling. "I don't even know what love is supposed to feel like." Though she didn't know what it was, she was feeling it right now. She just doesn't accept this foreign feeling in her heart.

The next day was just about no different than the others. Marco kept bothering her and she could barely make it through rehearsal. She was just about ready to condemn his soul.

"Sophia?" Christine and Meg asked Sophia to join them in a private rehearsal with just the three of them. "You never told us too many details about your mother."

"She was the most beautiful woman anyone had ever seen." She said. "But she always believed in love. Since we don't relatively have love in our world, love is kind of a legend." She started leaning back and touched her hands to the floor. "She always told me storied of love when I was a child. Especially when my wings were growing in."

"Your wings?" They looked at her with confused faces.

"It's a really painful process." She said. "Angels grow their wings when they're about five years old. First they feel slight back pain more around their shoulder blades. Next there are two swollen spots where the wings would come out. After that, they develop a fever. But then when the wings come in, the sharp edges of the wings pierce through the skin and start breaking through."

"That does sound painful." Meg said.

"But you get use to having wings after about two or three days. Your fever goes away after about a day." She kicked her feet up and jumped into a hand stand. "You can sort of fly with them, but it's really hard." She carefully placed her feet back on the floor. "We also don't wear halos either. They mess up our hair." Everyone started laughing.

"I was wondering that." Christine said.

"But I'm actually happy in a strange way that my mother left with someone." Sophia said. "She found someone she loved. I'm mad for her leaving, but I'm happy that she discovered love."

"Do you think you'll find love?" Christine asked.

"Well, if it's possible for humans, then I'm sure it must be possible for me." She looked out the window and watched as the snow fell from the clouds in the sky. "I wonder how my kingdom is holding out…"

"Princess!" Someone called out from behind the door. "Are you in there?" She quickly found a place to hide as the door swung open. "Is Sophia here?"

"No." They both said.

"If you see her, tell her I'm looking for her." He closed the door and they were alone again.

"That was close." Sophia crawled out of her hiding spot.

"Maybe we should be preparing for New Years." Christine said.

"New Years?" Sophia never celebrated New Years back home.

"It's when we celebrate the year that has passed and welcome the year that is to come." Christine said. The door swung open and Raoul walked in.

"There you are." He said walking over to Christine. "I heard that you were doing a private rehearsal, but I wasn't told where."

"I'm sorry." She said. "But we couldn't let Marco find Sophia. We're already behind."

"Well, no need to worry about it." He said. "The New Year's party is coming in a few days isn't it?"

"Yes. We just hope nothing goes wrong." Meg said looking back on the Masquerade when the Phantom arrived.

"Why? What happened?"

"It was the Phantom." Raoul said. That's all the information she needed. Just hearing the word made her shiver. Yet she didn't know that it was the Phantom that was speaking to her when she was all alone.

"Tonight, I might do something strange." Sophia said. "I can feel the souls of my people crying out my name. I need to let it out." They said nothing. "It might be during the opera tonight."

"Do you know what it is?" Christine asked.

"I'm not quite sure." She said. "But be prepared."

That night, the opera was ready to get started. Christine and Meg were worried about what Sophia had warned them about. What exactly was she going to do to let out the calls of her people? As the curtain rose, they felt the tension build up. But that didn't stop them from performing. So far, there was nothing wrong. Maybe she wasn't going to release the cries. She went on with the same bright smile as always. During intermission, she went to her room for a moment to switch costumes.

"There is something troubling you." She jumped a little when she heard the voice of her angel.

"I can hear the cries of my people." She said sadly. "They're calling out to me."

"Calling out for you?" He repeated.

"Yes. But I'm afraid to let all that emotion out. It could happen during the show."

"Then do so." He said. "Let all that emotion out."

"But, what if I ruin the show?" She asked.

"No one could hate you." He said. "Even if it was during the show, no one would mind. But beware the Phantom in the shadows."

"I understand." She said instantly. When she was fully in costume, she left her room with his words still in her mind. As the next act started, see could feel the build up get even more painful. Then, when she had a small glimpse of box five, there was a shadow. She stopped in her tracks. Everyone stopped.

"Are you alright?" Meg asked. A strange music started to play. Sophia's mood changed. She walked to the front of the stage and began to sing.

(I Need a Hero)

Where have all good men gone
And where are all the gods?
Where's the street-wise Hercules
To fight the rising odds?

Isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steed?
Late at night I toss and turn and dream of what I need

I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night
He's gotta be strong
And he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light
He's gotta be sure
And it's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life

Somewhere after midnight
In my wildest fantasy
Somewhere just beyond my reach
There's someone reaching back for me

Racing on the thunder and rising with the heat
It's gonna take a superman to sweep me off my feet

Up Where the mountains meet the heavens above
Out where the lightning splits the sea
I would swear that there's someone somewhere
Watching me
Through the wind and the chill and the rain
And the storm and the flood
I can feel his approach
Like a fire in my blood

As the music stopped, everyone was in shock and awe. Sophia fainted. All the cries of her people were set free from her mind. The amount that came out was too strong for her. Erik stared down at the little angel and smiled.

"I'll make sure to tell her soon." He turned to the door of the box and left. They closed the curtain and everyone crowded around her. Madame Giry hit her cane against the floor and everyone disbursed. She looked down at her and sighed.

"We'll have to stop here." She said. "There's no way she can go on." Marco ran on stage and knelt down next to her.

"Princess! Say something!" But she was still sleeping. In her mind, she could hear nothing. The voices were gone. Now she was to wait for the day she'd find out her angel's identity.

Be afraid... be very afraid. I have no idea of what though. Sorry for getting you mixed up. Anyways, There's a song that my friend turned me on to and it might appear in the next chapter. Be ready for what might happen peoples. byebye!