XXII

Erik slipped through the passage; he could already hear Christine's voice drifting through the air. She was early then, maybe rehearsals had been cut short due to the performance the night before. Without a sound he made his way to the small alcove in the wall of the chapel and silently moved the stone, giving him a full view of the chapel bellow.

Christine sat cross-legged on the floor of the chapel and waited. She was early for her lesson and had already prayed for her father. Now there was nothing to do but wait, as she did so she sang her scales and the beginning of an aria her Angel had taught her.

"Very good my dear," Erik praised as he entered.

"Angel," she smiled, "you're here."

"Of course I am here."

"Were you watching last night? Did you see me dance Angel, did you?"

"Of course I did, didn't I tell you that I would?"

"Yes, I didn't mean to doubt you but…I wasn't nervous. I danced for you."

"Did you my dear?" Erik asked, amazed by what she had said, "I am very touched, and you danced beautifully."

"Did you really think so Angel?"

"Yes my dear, you will be in many more operas, believe me."

"That would be wonderful! How do you know Angel?"

"Because my dear, you have talent and it will not be wasted."

"Madame said that they are choosing those to dance in the next opera, I hope Meg and I are chosen. Wouldn't that be wonderful Angel? It was so amazing to be on the stage, with everyone watching, I loved it…though I think I would be frightened if I were alone."

"It would be wonderful," he agreed, "would you like to start the lesson now Christine?"

"Oh…alright."

"Today though, I will sing for you," Erik informed her, "since you performed so wonderfully last night, would you like that?"

Christine nearly bubbled with excitement. She loved it when her Angel sang for her; his voice was so beautiful, "Yes, I'd like that very much Angel."

"Very well Christine, I will sing for you."


Antoinette knocked on the office door and Monsieur Lefevre called for her to enter. When he saw her his face dropped slightly and Antoinette knew that the expected her to have a new note. That morning the Opera Ghost had informed them of his thoughts on the performance and the new diva; there had been very few compliments.

"Do not fear Monsieur Lefevre, I am just here to inform you of my choice for the ballets."

"Oh, thank you Madame Giry, I was afraid that perhaps our friend had forgotten something in his first note."

"Not at all, after all I thought he made his views quite clear."

"Yes…he is good at that," he said, "well who have you chosen."

"Here," she replied, handing him the paper.

"I hope the ghost approves," he grumbled, "well it looks good to me. Thank you Madame Giry."

"Have a good day Monsieur Lefevre, will you be at the performance tonight?"

"I have not decided yet. Good day Madame Giry."

Antoinette left the office to inform the dancers of her decisions. Tomorrow Erik would no doubt have some changes for her to make, he always did, and the poor girls that were replaced would cry or get angry. Once someone even left the theatre because of it, but that was the way of the opera house. Everyone complied with the demands of an unseen madman.

"Madame!" Christine called.

"Oh, yes Christine, what is it?"

"Have you decided who is in the ballet yet?" she asked eagerly.

"I was just going to the dormitory to announce that."

"Oh, are Meg and I going to be in the ballet Madame?"

"You will have to wait and see, come with me dear."

Antoinette entered the dormitory and the girls all quieted down and sat on there beds. Christine quickly sat down beside Meg on her bed and the two exchanged a quick whisper and anxious looks. They were very eager to be in the next performance.

"I have decided on the dancers in the next performance," Antoinette began, "and I hope that no one will be disappointed in the selections."

She announced the names of the dancers and waited for the excitement and congratulations to subside. Meg and Christine had nearly squealed with delight when their names had been announced.

"You will all be expected to be at rehearsal tomorrow morning. You will hear the music and then we will begin practises. Lights out is in two hours."

"Oh Meg we're in!" Christine bubbled, "Can you believe it?"

"I know!" Meg said and hugged her friend tightly.

"Of course you two are in," Adelle said angrily, brushing her black bangs away from her face.

"What do you mean?" Christine asked.

"Isn't it obvious? You're Madame's daughter," she said, pocking Meg, "and you, Christine, are practically her daughter also. She was your dear father's lover after all."

"That's a lie!" Meg argued, "We got in because we're good dancers, that's all."

"Yeah, I'm sure," Adelle snapped, "you're relations have nothing to do with it."

"You're in the ballet to," Christine said, "so why are you so angry?"

"I had to work hard to get in, unlike you two."

"Shut up!" Meg shouted, jumping off the bed, "we got in because we have talent, unlike some people!"

With that the little blonde stomped out of the room, Christine followed her. She could feel tears burning her eyes and didn't want to cry in front of the other girls. Her and Meg had worked just as hard if not harder to get into the ballet.

"Christine don't cry," Meg, said when she saw her friend.

"I'm not," she whimpered.

"Don't listen to her Christine, it isn't true. We got in because we're good, not because of maman.

"I know that," Christine said, wiping her eyes, "I think I'm just tired."

"I know, why don't we go to the kitchen?" Meg suggested, "we could get a small snack and then it would be lights out when we got back and we wouldn't have to listen to that stupid Adelle."

"That's a good idea."


Erik was surprised when Christine stomped into the chapel and threw her Pointe shoes at the wall. She was normally a very gentle girl and he had never seen her angry before. He knew that the rehearsals had not been going well with the new prima donna, but he hadn't imagined them going so badly.

"Is something wrong Christine?" he asked.

"No!" she replied quickly, "well…"

"You can tell me Christine."

"Its Adelle," Christine blurted out, "she's being so mean to me and Meg. She says we aren't good dancers and has been making fun of us. She tripped Meg in the hall today and she scraped her knee!"

"Really?"

"Yes…she says that we only got into the ballet because Madame is Meg's maman and I'm her friend."

"Do not worry my little angel," he soothed, "you know better than that, don't you?"

"Well…yes I guess so."

"Then there is nothing to worry about. Ignore Adelle, if you would like we can cancel lessons for today."

"No, I want to sing Angel."

"Very well then."


Erik decided to attend rehearsals the next day and found himself watching from backstage. There were many hidden alcoves and halls so he had very little fear of being seen. It was through watching that he learned why rehearsals had been going so slowly, La Carlotta was constantly complaining about one thing or another.

"Girls!" Antoinette shouted, "listen to the music."

Erik chuckled as the dancers tried to stay in step. It was increasingly difficult with Carlotta complaining loudly off stage. When they finally gave up and sat off to the side Erik saw what Christine had been telling him about.

"Ouch!" Meg exclaimed, as the black haired girl appeared to have tripped on her foot.

"Oh, I didn't see you there."

"You could at least apologize," Christine said softly.

As Adelle turned on her Erik swept away from his hiding space and made his way to Box Five, from there he had a perfect view of the stage. The Opera Ghost had not made an appearance in a very long time, perhaps it was time again. After all, even if it had not been his little angel, the way the older girl treated them annoyed him.

By the time he made it to the box the dancers were on stage again. The line with Adelle was going off just as the line with Christine and Meg came on. As they did so Adelle stretched her leg out and tripped Christine.

"Stop!"

The entire stage froze as his voice echoed through the auditorium. Several of the dancers paled and he could see Antoinette searching for the source of his voice.

"It the Phantom of the Opera," Meg gasped.

"Oh shut your mouth you little brat," Adelle snapped.

"Perhaps you should shut you mouth," Erik retorted sharply, this caused the dancers to all step away from her, "I have been watching this pandemonium that you call a rehearsal and I am disgusted!"

"Please sir I-"

"Silence!"

"Christine are you alright?" Meg asked, helping her friend stand, "are you hurt?"

"I'm fine Meg," she said, gingerly putting weight on her foot, "it only hurts a bit."

"You," Meg snapped glaring at Adelle.

"It was an accident," Adelle snarked.

"If any more of these 'accidents' occur to either Meg Giry or Christine Daae you, my dear, can be certain that you will have an accident of your own," Erik threatened, "watch your step mademoiselle, you have made an enemy I am sure you do not want."

His last words echoed through the theatre and then it fell quiet. After a moment a small murmur erupted on the stage. Adelle had gone terribly pale and both Christine and Meg were slightly red in the face.

"Come my dears," Antoinette said hurriedly, "Meg help Christine to the dormitory and I will get some ice for her ankle. Can you walk on it Christine?"

"Yes Madame, I don't think its hurt."

"We will make certain first," she said, "the rest of you, rehearsal is over for the day. Go to the practise room and I will meet you there. We will go over the dances again."

"Go, go, all of you!" Monsieur Reyer said nervously, "Rehearsals will resume again tomorrow."

Erik smiled as he exited the box; the ability to throw one's voice was remarkably helpful at times. He had certainly frightened the young ballerina, however she had more cause to be afraid then she knew. If any harm had come to Christine he would make sure that the girl would never dance in the theatre, or any theatre, again.