A/N: Hey guys, thanks for being so patient. Here's chapter 9, hope you like it!
Chapter 9
Mme. Giry's grip on his shoulders seem to tighten as she half dragged half pushed him through the dark corridors lit only by torchlight. Erik had a strong feeling of deja vu since only a day ago, he was being led in the dark to something he did not know, and only a day later it was happening again. His mind reeled, as the torches seemed to flare up in greeting at the two of them. The soft glow illuminated Mme. Giry's features, which Erik found himself staring at. They were certainly stern looking, a mask to cover her true emotions, Erik thought. The black clothing she wore helped her to blend into the darkness of the walls and if her face had been covered as well he would certainly loose her in the inky blackness. They hastily made their way down the stone stairs, which all looked the same, however Mme. Giry seemed to know exactly where she was going. The silence was complete except for the occasional murmurs behind the doors, which they flew past, the popping of the flames in the torches, and their own footsteps. They slowed down quickly as they approached the door where Erik was staying with Richard, Steve, Pete and Ernie.
"If any of them are not in here, I'll kill them." Mme. Giry muttered under her breath. If Erik hadn't known Mme. Giry's manner, he could have sworn that she was kidding.
He knew she wasn't.
Mme. Giry rapt on the door twice quickly and pushed it open. Erik could hear scurried footsteps and hushed whispers as the door swung open. Mme. Giry strode in with her head held high and an unreadable expression on her face. Erik followed quietly behind her. He breathed a sigh of relief to see Steve, Pete and Ernie sitting around the table they had been playing cards at the day that Erik had arrived. He was glad that they had obeyed Mme. Giry's wishes. He knew they had known her longer then him, but she was very threatening to him in the short time that he had known her. She glanced around the room and searched it quickly for something. When she didn't find what she was looking for, without turning around, she addressed Erik quietly. He listened hard so as to not miss anything.
"Which bed is yours?" Her stern voice broke the silence of the room.
"The far one on the right Mme." She nodded but did not move.
"Collect your things and we'll be on our way." Erik swallowed and moved out from behind her and made his way over towards his bed. Dropping down to his knees, he reached for his things, which were currently residing under the bed. He pulled out the flagon, the cloak and the violin and bow, he had finished the bread long ago. He wrapped the cloak around the violin and flagon and tied it off to make it easier to carry. He returned to his standing position and left the side of the bed and made his way back to the side of Mme. Giry. She peered down at him, almost in disgust, and motioned towards his bundle of things. "Is that all you brought?" She asked. Erik nodded afraid to speak another word, lest it anger Mme. Giry more then she already seemed to be. She nodded, clearly uninterested and returned her gaze towards the three people still sitting around the table. They stared back at her, but one by one they dropped their gaze to the floor. Erik wondered briefly if he would ever survive his time here under her command as a singer and dancer. Mme. Giry turned again on her heel and grasped his arm painfully, which made his fingers throb again. Erik threw a glance back at the three friends he knew he was leaving.
"Where is Richard?" He mouthed silently. Before Erik disappeared out the door, he could just catch a glimpse of what Steve said back.
"First Chair's Chamber." Erik nodded and waved and Mme. Giry headed out the door and closed it behind them, shutting him off from his friends.
It was a struggle for Erik to keep up, with one arm in the iron-like grasp of Mme. Giry, and the other arm clutching the bundle of the few possessions he owned. He head swam with so many thoughts that he was sure his head would explode at any minute. As soon as he thought that, he suppressed a laugh picturing what Mme. Giry would do and how she would react if she had to deal with his head exploding. In addition to this thought, Erik wondered vaguely why Richard told the managers to make him a singer in the chorus line. It was much more then he could ever hope for, he adored singing, perhaps even more then playing the violin. Erik knew better though, Richard hadn't put him into the chorus line for him, no somehow, putting Erik in the chorus line would benefit Richard somehow. Erik couldn't think why Richard would possibly waste a wish on him. Ever. How could it benefit Richard? Well, thought Erik, I would be away from Richard, Richard would be happy with that, but so was he. The reason had to be something that made Erik miserable and Richard very happy. Not a single thought came to Erik's mind, so instead he had to settle with not knowing what Richard was up to, which made Erik very frustrated. It didn't seem long before Erik and Mme. Giry had arrived at another door, this one however was not on the floor below, in fact it was on the floor above the main floor. So, Erik thought, the orchestra men are below, and the actors, singers and dancers are above, makes sense.
"New arrival." Announced Mme. Giry as she opened the door and pulled Erik inside with her. Are any of these doors locked? Thought Erik. He didn't have much time to dwell on the thought however, because an odd sight met Erik's eyes and Mme. Giry stopped short and her nails dug painfully into his arms.
"Oh…er…Mme. Giry…" trailed off a man sheepishly, who was sprawled out on the floor, surrounded by many ballet girls, who had stopped in mid giggle as Mme. Giry entered the room. Erik spotted another man who was standing up before them and wearing a ridiculous costume with an elaborate mask covering his face. He had obviously been dancing or something because he was panting quite hard even though he was trying to stop his body heaving. The room wasn't much larger then the one he had been previously roomed in, but it was much more furnished, and looked to be better taken care of then the orchestra dormitories were. First of all there was a fire place, with crackling flames was against one wall, and two bedside tables stood beside each holding a huge vase packed with flowers. There were four beds positioned in the corners, but from the look of things, only two were being occupied, and Erik guessed it was the man in the costume and the man on the floor who were living here. Erik saw her eyes narrow and he wondered how much more misbehaviour she could endure before she snapped. The rest of the room seemed to notice and the ballet girls got up shakily and curtsied to Mme. Giry before hurrying out of the door and far away from her. Erik could have sworn as they passed that she whispered to them.
"Getting out of here would be a very good idea." She hissed quietly. That seemed to quicken their pace and before Erik could blink, only the two men were left in the room. The man on the floor brushed himself off and stood up, trying to help the other man to get off his costume. When they succeeded, Mme. Giry let out her breath and pushed Erik forward.
"To what do we own the…er…pleasure of your company Mme.?" said the man without costume with almost forced pleasant tone. Mme. Giry, noting this, smiled briefly at the both of them and they seemed to shift uncomfortably, and Erik was reminded of himself.
"As I believed I announced Erik is a new arrival." She nodded at Erik, "I expect that you will make him feel comfortable." Erik smiled to himself. He wasn't sure how they would make him feel comfortable when they themselves seemed to be the farthest thing from comfortable anyone could get. Both men nodded quickly, so as to keep Mme. Giry from becoming more livid with them. "Now." She said as she left Erik's side and began to walk over to the two men inspecting the room quite thoroughly as she went. When she reached the side of the man in costume she grabbed a handful of the cloth in her hand and continued, "What were you all doing in here?" Erik felt sorry for the two men, he could see the terror in their faces and knew what it was like because she had faced him the same way that she now faced them. It was when she almost caught him eavesdropping and he had been terrified so he could relate to the two men who stood before her angry, questioning, gaze.
"It really wasn't what you thought Mme." protested the man in costume.
"Oh?" replied Mme. Giry as she pulled the fabric closer towards herself. "And what did I think it was?"
"We were just…well I would have thought you thought we were talking about the Opera Ghostess."
"I see… and you were really doing what?"
"Playing a bit of charades Mme." he nodded, "Not about her though!" he added quickly.
"And not about me or the managers I presume?"
"No Mme. not at all!" he stammered.
"Just having some harmless fun were you?" He nodded very quickly this time, very eager to get her away from him.
"Yes Mme. just harmless fun, that's all it was."
"True, true." Added the man beside him and Mme. Giry turned her gaze on him, and Erik noted that he now wished he had just kept silent.
"And the ballet girls were here partaking in that harmless fun Gregory?"
"Yes Mme."
"Nothing else?"
"No Mme." She nodded slowly and her eyes left him and she surveyed them both.
"I see, well you both had better make sure that you or any other ballet girls do not have anymore harmless fun up here or I shall have to take action."
"Yes Mme." they both said in frightened unison. She turned and headed for the door, and Erik saw them take a huge sigh of relief. She opened the door and stepped outside, her black cloak swirling around her and she disappeared and shut the door. The men passed a hand over their eyes and both sank down onto separate beds. After a few moments, they both glanced up and Erik and gave two slight smiles.
"Welcome Erik, to a performer's world."
A/N: Ah…Mme. Giry, I thank you for your character…I love writing her…-giggle- she's so strict! I just love it when she bosses people around. Keep reading and reviewing!
