Angel's Lament

A/N: Sorry for the delay, I ended up rewriting this a lot! And a small bit of Erik. (Grin)

Note: The Baron mentioned here is Godfrey's (and Irene and Nell's) employer. And no one flame me on how Irene learned to sing, you guys are phans and, honestly, that is VERY close to how Christine learns from Erik. And it's CND canon.

Chapter Two-Little Lotte

"Christine, do you believe?" Meg Giry, Movieverse Phantom

Nell

I will not go into description of the gala performance, as such things are better heard than I write. Also, to be frank, as a former Temple typist, my need for accuracy would force me to ask Irene for the proper terms, something that would be more struggle than it's worth.

After the gala, however, Irene marched me over to the dressing room of Miss Christine Daaë. The Baron de Rothschild cornered Godfrey. Why do I have the feeling that he will be leaving soon?

"We must see this young woman to get to the bottom of this." Was all she said.

"Irene, you are acting like this is an actual mystery, not just an over-excitable diva throwing a toddler's fit!"

"Perhaps it is, Nell." Irene's eyes, normally such a warm brown as to seem golden, were now a flinty dark brown. Oh, dear. She knocked on the young singer's door.

"Come in," called the slightly raspy voice behind the door. Irene opened the door.

"Hello, Miss Daaë. I am Irene Adler-Norton, I daresay the managers have told you I may have to talk to you."

"Yes, they have," the young woman said softly, looking nervous. I smiled reassuringly.

"I was wondering who your teacher was," She asked quietly, an intent look upon her face. I had to admit to curiosity on as to why Irene chose to ask that curiosity.

Then Irene's past came back to me. The maestro, a teacher who believed that Irene's best interests were at heart, had hypnotized her to forget a devastating event that had silenced her voice. It had the side effect of blurring the memories of most of her childhood, and allowed him to train her in an amazing amount of time.

If Irene believed this to be the case in Miss Daaë, I had little doubt that her teacher would be facing grave consequences.

"My teacher is the Angel of Music."

Oh, my. I am a parson's daughter, and religious by nature, but even I drew the line at angelic visitation. Irene's theory, or what I believed to be Irene's theory, was more plausible.

"My dear Miss Daaë, surely, you don't believe…" Irene began.

"I do. If you would please leave. Now." The soprano said quietly. To my surprise, Irene nodded.

"Goodbye."

I turned to look at the young woman before I left. Stagehands were moving some piece of scenery, or some such thing, and the room was cast into shadows.

I do not believe I imagined the two gold stars in the mirror.

As surprises seem to enjoy coming in a bunch, I pointed at a figure walking towards the doorway.

"Irene, is Sarah Bernhardt walking around in her painting clothes again?"

Irene's musical laugh rang out. "Well, Nell, I doubt it, as the Divine Sarah is a red head, and rather slimmer. And, I believe, taller.

"Irene, Sarah and yourself are the only women I know who would go out in such clothes for a lark, and you are right next to me."

"No that is the Vicomte de Chagny, if I'm not mistaken."

"Oh." I really must get around to lecturing Irene on her habit of rhyming names.

A/N: (Smile) It's a little longer… REVIEW!