Chapter 11: Christine Daaé

The shortcut that Erik led Meg down ended in the middle of the corridor leading to the ballerina's dormitory. It was poorly lit and the light that did shine cast monstrous shadows upon the walls and floorboards, she whirled back around in a flurry of blue satin to where Erik had stood but was accosted by stained wallpaper and flickering shadows. Placing a hand upon the wall she whispered, "Thank you Erik." Just as she was about to turn around and hurry back to the dormitory, a sharp voice startled her, "Marguerite Giry!"

Meg winced, took a deep breath and turned around, "Hello Mama."

Julienne Giry stood in the middle of the corridor, her right hand clenched tightly around the top of her cane while her left hand lay upon the shoulder of a small hooded figure. She raised an eyebrow at the sight of Meg in her new dress but said nothing.

"I have been looking for you Marguerite."

"I-I'm sorry mama I-"Meg stammered.

Julienne stopped her with a raised hand, "We shall discuss this matter later."

Meg bowed her head, "Yes mama."

"Now, Marguerite, I want to introduce you to a new member of our company." She placed her hand on the hooded figure's shoulder again and gave it a gentle push. "This is Christine Daaé."

The girl shuffled forward slowly, her eyes focused solely on her feet, her hands hidden within the folds of her cloak. When she was a few feet from Meg she lifted her head slowly until their eyes met and reluctantly lowered her hood down. A pale face with large almond eyes was revealed, and long curly hair cascaded down the young girl's shoulders. "It's-it's a p-pleasure to meet you." She whispered.

Meg's smile bloomed into a grin, "I have a feeling you will enjoy your life here."

The corner of Christine's mouth lifted up into an almost smile at Meg's enthusiasm. Julienne's eyes shifted from watching the girls when she heard a loud thump come from the wall next to her.

"Calm yourself Erik." She hissed to the air round her, "Jealousy is not an emotion to entertain."

Her shoulders slumped when she heard no more thumps against the wall but she did not want to take chances. "Marguerite, why don't we show Christine where the dormitories are?"

Placing a hand on Christine's shoulder she pushed the girl's forward to where squeals of delight and high pitched voices shrieked of laughter could be heard.

Erik raked a hand through his hair in frustration as he sunk down to a crouch, leaning heavily against the hidden doorway in the wall. "Meg," he whispered to the silent corridor, "don't leave me."

He closed his eyes as his fist clenched in anger, he had only known Meg for a short time and here was this snippet of a girl, trying to take away his friend. 'Friend', the word felt foreign to him, it didn't even feel right as he whispered the word into the room around him.

No, Meg would not leave him like her mother did, she would remain his friend. She would remain only his, this Christine Daae would be of no importance.

"This is where you'll sleep from now on." Meg chattered excitedly patting the newly mad bed next to hers. "You'll get a big trunk to lock your things in, but," Meg leaned forward to whisper in Christine's ear, "you can keep your important things in my mama's room like I do."

Christine nodded looking down at the red scarf she held clenched between her hands.

"Have you ever danced before?" Meg questioned, smoothing out a few wrinkles that were beginning to form in the skirt of her dress.

Christine blushed and shook her head slowly, "No, but when my Papa was alive I would sing while he played the violin."

"You sing!" Meg exclaimed, clapping her hands excitedly, "How wonderful! Maybe when you're older you can apprentice under Carlotta, she's our new Prima Donna."

An older girl overheard Meg's suggestion and laughed, "That will never happen! Carlotta would rather eat a cockroach than take an apprentice."

"Carlotta hasn't heard Christine sing, she might consider it after she does." Meg countered.

The girl tossed her long braid over her shoulder and huffed, "I was just telling you the truth."

Meg watched the girl's retreating figure and then turned back to Christine who looked as if she was about to cry. "Don't listen to her." Meg got up and sat next to Christine, placing an arm around her shoulders, "She's just jealous because she's always wanted to be a singer but she's not very good at it. The manager told her she sounded like," Meg glanced around, "a toad!"

Christine smiled and Meg giggled, leaning forward she crossed her eyes and began to croak. Both girls were laughing loudly by the time they realized that Julienne stood in front of them, tapping her cane impatiently. Their laughter died quickly and they sat ramrod straight on the bed, hands folded neatly in their laps.

"Madame." Christine whispered.

Meg looked up and smiled, "Mama."

"Christine you asked me to show you the chapel we have, did you not?"

Christine bowed her head, "Yes, I did Madame."

Julienne nodded, "Good I will show you where it is now." She gave Meg a stern look, "Marguerite I still have matters to discuss with you. Go to my rooms and wait for me there."

Meg nodded solemnly, "Yes mama."

*Insert line break here*

Meg looked up from where she was stretching on the floor in her mother's room. She could see Erik standing silently in the shadows, "Hello Erik." She greeted, bending down from the waist across her legs to reach her toes.

"Meg," he slipped out from the shadows and Meg looked up, surprised to find him in only his shirtsleeves. "I see you've gained a new acquaintance."

"Oh, yes." Meg grinned, "Her name's Christine Daaé! She has a bed right next to mine, and did you know? She sings."

Erik's face darkened at Meg's happy chatter, "I see."

She looked up and frowned at the expression he wore and scrambled upwards to her feet, "Erik? What's wrong?" she reached out to lay her hand upon his shoulder but he stepped backwards.

"You're going to leave me just like your mother did."

"How can you say that Erik?" Meg shook her head vigorously, "I won't leave you, you are my friend."

"B-but what about that Daaé girl? You've been very friendly with her."

"Because Erik, she's my friend too." She stood on the tips of her toes and laid a hand on his shoulder, "It is possible to have more than one friend."

He glanced at the small hand on his shoulder and at the girl who stood on her tip toes to place it there and gave a hesitant smile. Meg rocked back down on her heels again and glanced worriedly at the door. "You should go now Erik, I have a feeling that mama isn't happy with either of us."

Erik's eyes widened as his lips pressed tightly together, "I've already had my weekly lecture."

"Then I suggest you go." Meg hissed pushing him towards the door. He couldn't help but smile when he felt her small hands at his back.

Julienne arrived moments after Erik disappeared into the shadows; she pressed a few fingers to her temple as she sat down on her favorite chair. Meg crossed her legs and sat before her mother, her eyes focused on the hair she had entangled around her fingers in worry.

"Marguerite," Julienne sighed as she leaned forward to stroke the top of her daughters head. "I am glad that you and Christine have been getting along but there are a few… rules I wish for you to follow."

Meg looked up from her fingers, her blue eyes troubled, "Rules mama?"

"Rules." Julienne repeated, "I know that Erik is your friend and that he dotes on you." She paused to look down at Meg's dress.

Meg blushed and carefully smoothed the silk beneath her fingertips.

"But," Julienne continued, her voice sharp, drawing Meg's attention back to her, "You must keep your friendship a secret for obvious reasons, even from Christine."

"Even from Christi-"

Julienne cut her off swiftly, "Even from Christine. If Erik was found he would face dire consequences, you would never see him again. You do not want that do you?"

"No!" Meg cried wide eyed, "I won't tell anyone. Not a soul."

Julienne smiled as she rocked forward and brushed away a stray lock of hair that fell against Meg's cheek. "Now, explain to me how you received that new dress and why your hair is slightly damp."

Meg flushed as she began to stammer through her story of how she had persuaded Erik to teach her how to swim.

A/N: Let me apologize for taking such a long time to upload this chapter, real life got in the way with the adoption of a new puppy, family drama and belated spring cleaning. Thank you to all of my readers for your support, your reviews urging me to update truly did encourage me to squeeze some time in for the writing of this story. I hope this chapter lives up to your expectations!

With the addition of Christine to the story I have to add a caution that I may spell her name wrong since I'm used to spelling Christine without the "h" so forgive me if I slip and overlook it.

Thank you again to all of my readers and reviewers!