Chapter 24

"Sit down Erik." Mme. Giry said somewhat kindly, and Erik obeyed without question, sitting down on a soft purple covered sofa. Mme. Giry locked the door from inside and made her way over to the windows, in order to shut the curtains, throwing the room into half darkness, very uncommon for the time of day that it was.

"Mme. Giry, I wasn't doing what you think."

"I see, so the fact that I've seen you eavesdrop twice now is merely a coincidence?"

"No…I…" Erik fell silent, unsure of how to answer her question, but Mme. Giry shook her head, heaved a tiny sigh and turned around to face him.

"She's rubbed off on you I see. She likes to pry into other people's business."

"That was my business back there! It was about my position in the Opera coming up." Mme. Giry rolled her eyes and crossed the room to her vanity table where she perched on the small stool before it. She surveyed Erik through her black eyes and gave him a tired look.

"Be that as is may Erik," she said in matter-of-factly tone, "it is not your place to talk about such things."

"But the Phantomess wants me to perform. She wrote it in those letters." Mme. Giry sighed and held out her hand.

"That reminds me, hand it over Erik." Erik looked confused for a moment, and then it dawned on him and he removed the crumbled up letter from his pocket and handed it over to Mme. Giry.

"Do you miss anything?" Erik asked aloud.

"Not much my child." She said softly, a strange look coming into her eyes, and she stared off into the distance. Erik decided very quickly, that he'd take advantage of her state of mind to try and find out who the Phantomess really was. He had a sneaking suspicion that Mme. Giry knew more about the Opera Ghostess then she was letting on, and Erik, being the brave man that he was, ventured forth into uncharted waters.

"You learned from the best, didn't you?"

"That I did." She said with love in her voice.

"What's her name?"

"Christine." As soon as she said this Mme. Giry snapped out of her revere and her hands flew to her mouth with utter horror coming into her eyes. "Oh God." She said in shock. Erik grinned, happy to have got the information, but as soon as he saw Mme. Giry leap up, he wished he had reconsidered what he had just done. "Erik Deslter!" she screamed. The smile vanished from his face as he saw her stride towards him, anger leaping and twisting in her eyes like flames. He drew himself up on the couch, cringing away from Mme. Giry, but it did no good. "Have you any idea what your foolishness has just cost you and me?" she said quite loudly. Erik shook his head, and Mme. Giry raised her hand poised to strike Erik's cheek, but in an instant or two lowered it regretfully.

"Mme. is it really so bad that I want to find out about her?" The anger was still there in her eyes threatening to spill out like hot lava.

"Of course it's natural, everyone wants to know." She spat and turned away from him.

"Then tell me Mme. please." Pleaded Erik to her back.

"No. I can't, I don't know anything about her." Erik eyed her with suspicion.

"That's not true Mme. Giry, and you know it."

"Erik, believe me when I say I know nothing other then her name." Mme. Giry walked over to a stool under the vanity table and pulled it out further, in order to sit on it. She settled down on top of it and regarded Erik, her face once more a stony mask.

"Mme. Giry you obviously knew her well before you and her came to the Opera House…"

"Erik, I thought we had closed this subject off. I do not wish to discuss it further."

"You said her name."

"Whose name?

"Christine's. The Phantomess." Mme. Giry shook her head.

"That is the name of my old ballet mistress, who taught me here, when I was studying to be a ballerina. Don't jump to conclusions Erik."

"Why would you react like that when I asked then?"

"…It is a past, which I'd rather forget. I am glad it is behind me."

"What did it cost us?"

"Excuse me?" Mme. Giry blinked, thrown off by the question.

"You said, my foolishness cost us something. What was it Mme.?" Mme. Giry stood up and crossed the floor once more, Erik was glad to see that the anger had left her eyes for the time being.

"Yes. Since you've got me worked up, and landed yourself on my bad side, you might not be so lucky with leading roles Erik Destler. In fact I might even get your understudy to replace you, and send you to the chorus line." Erik snorted in response to her obvious lie.

"Christine wouldn't allow it." Said Erik her name for a third time. It felt odd on his tongue, but the name seemed to fit her. At least some part of this mysterious woman was solved, and that was much better then nothing.

"Erik, I've told you that was the name of my old ballet mistress." Said Mme. Giry with exasperation in her voice.

"And I don't believe you. In fact, you've made me even more curious, why would you try so hard to keep Christine's identity secret?"

"Erik!" she said, louder then she intended. "For the final time, that's not her name!"

"Fine." Mumbled Erik, knowing defeat when he saw it. "But I don't believe one single word you've said."

"Ah I see. Then it will be a big shock when I tell the managers to replace you with Senior Pianji." Said Mme. Giry sourly.

"You, Mme., are not that stupid. You would never risk going against the word of the Phantomess. If she wants me to sing, then I sing." Mme. Giry shook her head.

"Actors." She muttered under her breath, "they're all the same." Erik grinned to himself, almost satisfied with his detective work, and settled into the back of the couch. Mme. Giry checked the old clock on her wall, passed down through her family for quite sometime and sighed. "Erik, tea time is in a few minutes. Might I suggest going to the hall and getting something to eat, before evening rehearsals."

"All right Mme." said Erik standing up, and crossing in front of her to reach the door. Mme. Giry opened the door and Erik walked out and headed towards the front hall, where a few people were milling around, talking, smoking, or patting their stomachs waiting for food. Mme. Giry pursed her lips at the retreating back of Erik Destler, unsure of what to make of him, and then closed the door again, for she knew what was going to come.

Or more precisely: who.

"Christine?" whispered Mme.Giry, locking her door, to avoid interruptions, but mostly to keep the privacy of the Opera Ghostess.

"My, by this time, I would have thought you wouldn't even have to ask." Said the hauntingly beautiful voice of the Opera Ghostess, now informally known as Christine. It filled the room, but managed to keep soft so as to keep nosy people away from the room.

"The mangers got your letters. However, I'm not sure how much good it did, they seem bent on putting Senior Pianji in for…Erik." A melodious laugh followed this statement.

"You hesitate to say him name. Does this mean he has been the first person to crawl under your impenetrable exterior?" Mme. Giry shifted quietly, uncomfortable that she had seen that scene, however she knew that Christine always saw everything.

"Have you been teaching him a thing or two?" A thoughtful silence followed Mme. Giry's voice.

"No, that was his own talent shinning through. I do, however know about the managers. This is my Opera House after all Mme., I know it inside and out."

"Of course you do. What shall I tell the mangers?"

"I'll handle that myself."

"Christine…" said Mme. in a warning tone and waggled her finger at nothing, but knowing that Christine was watching her. "Don't get involved. Something always terrible happens when you get involved."

"Only when I'm upset."

"Or angry." Mme. Giry completed the sentence.

"Of which I am neither. So there is no reason to fear anything. Nothing bad will happen."

"Somehow, I seriously doubt that Christine."

"Doubt all you want Mme. But I am telling the truth."

"Can I honestly accept the word from someone with a history such as yourself?" Mme. Giry knew she was treading on dangerous ground the moment she said it, but she had said it for the greater good.

"I guess I don't have your support in this then." Said Christine heavily after a few quiet moments.

"Christine, you know I support you. Well, in most things you do I support you. Now listen, maybe if I have a talk with the managers we can figure something out. I honestly do not care for your harassing others."

"I doubt, Mme., that will have much effect. M. Firmin and M. Andre have heads thicker than organ pipes."

"Christine, please." Said Mme. Giry, with frustration in her voice.

"Oh, all right. They're not that stupid. But for the message to really get through, this is a good plan. Plus the place is due for a good threatening."

"You mean the letters weren't enough?"

"No, they were too subtle for the brilliant minds of the managers." Hissed Christine sarcastically.

"Christine." Said Mme. Giry more forcefully this time. Arguing with Christine head to head was the only way, Mme. Giry found, that would get her to listen to reason. "Now, about Erik." Mme. Giry changed the subject.

"What about Erik?" asked Christine suspiciously.

"Why do you have such an interest in this one?"

"He has potential, I like to encourage those who have talent." Mme. Giry began to cough violently. Christine, obviously missing the sarcasm said, "a little early to be getting the cold Mme."

"Christine, since when have you ever wanted to help anyone other then yourself?" There was a long silence before any sound was heard.

"He's different." Christine announced.

"In what way?" asked Mme. Giry, but her question was met with silence. "Christine?" she called out, but for nothing, Christine had left and gone somewhere else to haunt her domain.

A/N: Okay, everyone. Sorry for not updating earlier, but I've been out of town the past week, and will be again for the next week, so I hope this will tide you all over until I update in the future. Keep R&R everyone, I love you all so much!