Chapter 27

Erik was now safely back in the Opera House, however while he was, it seemed that his old room had been taken over by new management. Senior Ubaldo Pianji was reclined on one of the chairs, that groaned in protest as his rather large frame hung over the sides, making quite an unattractive sight to see. It didn't seem to bother the managers however, for they were right there by his side offering praise, food, gifts and anything else they could lay their hands on. Erik grimaced at the sight and went off to find his own luggage, which had been quite unceremoniously dumped just outside the door. He sighed and collected his things as the hallway began get darker as the light from outside dimmed and greeted the coming night.

"Erik, I can help you with those if you would like." Steve offered, but Erik shook his head.

"It's no trouble at all Steve, there's not much to carry, honestly." Erik said to Steve's skeptic look.

"Well you can at least stay in our room."

"I'd rather not…" Began Erik but Steve interrupted quickly.

"It's no problem, we have loads of room and Richard is gone remember? He was moved to the First Chair's Chamber." Erik nodded.

"Do you think Mme. Giry would agree?" Steve's face fell as the two began walking away from the disgusting scene that was now taking place in the Leading Tenor's room.

"No." said Steve with obvious distaste.

"We wouldn't want to upset her. It's fine Steve, I'll find a room." Erik smiled encouragingly at Steve but Steve wasn't paying attention at all, instead his eyes were focused on a running figure who was coming their way.

"Hey Steve! I've been looking for you everywhere, where were you?" heaved and panted a worn out looking Pete. Steve's face broke into a grin at his friend.

"I was out for a walk with Erik." Steve's face all of a sudden took on an energetic look. "And Erik was kissing our Patron!" Steve chuckled.

"Steve!" shouted Erik, making sure no one was around to hear.

"Wow." Said Pete, with his eyes shinning. He clapped Erik on the back heartily and laughed. "Good for you, you dog! Starting high, it's a good thing to do."

"Look, it's not like that…" protested Erik, but neither of them were listening at this point.

"Well Ernie has got a few girls and we were going to go out for a few drinks, would you like to join us?" Steve smiled like a wild man.

"I'd love to Pete. Erik?" They both turned to him.

"I can't, I'm sorry."

"Why not?" asked Pete in an accusatory tone.

"To be honest, I'm not in the mood right now." Sighed Erik, clearly wanting to just be alone to work out a few things.

"Too bad we won't know about his new girl." Said Pete almost with sadness.

"Now Pete, Erik doesn't kiss and tell." Said Steve and they both erupted into laughter. Erik was feeling very annoyed at this point and was thinking that he should just leave, having no reason to stay here and listen to them. He just turned to leave before he heard more of their conversation.

"Plus, we shouldn't tempt him to cheat now that he's courting the Patron!" Pete said and he and Steve turned their backs on Erik laughing. They went down the hall and Erik could hear more laughing as they met up with Ernie and the girls. Erik didn't really care at this point that Mme. Giry would be coming after them sooner or later. As he stormed down the hall in search of another room, he realised that everyone was allowed late as long as they wanted, the day after an opera finished and he became even angrier. Blinded by this rage Erik stumbled upon an empty room and shoved on the door to close it firmly. He was alone here, in the small room and dumped his things on the bed and went over to the small window, which was the only source of fading light. There was a tiny wicker chair that stood next to the window and Erik fell into it, completely exhausted by the day's events. His mind began to wander, he thought of Rachelle and the kiss they shared, he thought of his friends out having a good time without him, and then something in the back of his mind made him think of the Phantomess. As if right on cue, Erik could feel the hairs on his neck stand up and the room became much cooler.

"Why are you upset?" asked that familiar voice and Erik jumped up out of his chair quickly as if he sat on a knife. She had never started a conversation with him before, much less asked him how he was doing. It was odd, and he was unsure how to answer her question, for she never seemed to care what he was feeling.

"I'm not upset, I was just thinking." Erik replied in a shaky voice, looking around the dingy room for a sign of her, but of course saw none.

"What were you thinking about?" she asked and Erik blinked in confusion.

"You can read minds, so you must have known what I was thinking about, is there any need for you to ask?" asked Erik, truly curious at the moment.

"Is there any need for me to do anything?" Erik shook his head in reply and the Phantomess' laugh rang somewhat harshly around the room, making him wince. Silence settled over the two of them and Erik shifted uncomfortably, knowing that her wise and probing eyes were on him at that very moment.

"What have you been doing. You've been very quiet over the past couple of weeks." Erik said trying to start a conversation, but lowered his eyes. "I haven't seen you in a long time."

"I've been in your dreams Erik." She said, "We've seen each other there."

"It's not the same. You seem less real in my dreams as if you weren't really there, and it made me sad." Replied Erik in all honesty.

"Have you missed me?" asked the Phantomess in a strange tone of voice.

"I have." Said Erik quietly.

"Liar!" she hissed and the room began to shake, and Erik was terrified for his life. He looked for an escape and only saw the door and so he bolted for it. He turned the knob frantically, but it was locked. Of course she would have locked it. With wide frightful eyes Erik searched the room and sank down onto the ground.

"No, I'm not lying!" he yelled over the noise, but it didn't do any good, for she did not stop. "I'm not lying!" he pleaded again, but this only seemed to enrage her further and the noise and shaking continued. Erik prayed that someone would hear this and come to his rescue, but in truth he knew that even if someone did hear the commotion, no one would come. No one could beat the Phantomess. "Christine you have to believe me!" he cried in one desperate effort and as quickly as it had all come, everything stopped and remained still. Many moments, that felt like hours to Erik, passed by slowly and Erik could only hear his own shallow breathing. "Christine?" Erik asked tentatively, not wanting her to leave, but hoping secretly that she had.

"Who told you that name?" she asked quietly, and her voice sounded dangerous. Not wanting to incur her wrath again, Erik decided to be truly honest.

"Mme. Giry." Said Erik, holding his breath in anticipation and fear of what was going to come next.

"Very well." She said, admitting to herself that Erik was indeed telling the truth and Erik let out a small breath of relief. More moments of silence passed before Erik spoke up again.

"Christine it was true what I said about missing you all those weeks. Why don't you believe me?" silence followed this question and Erik was afraid that she wasn't going to come back, that somehow he had offended her, but his fears were put to rest.

"I saw you and the Countess de Chagny together." Christine said with pain in her voice, and if Erik could have seen her he would have tried to comfort her. An overwhelming sense of betrayal washed over Erik as this remark set in and he realised what Christine meant. She had seen them kiss, but why would she be sad at that fact? Erik put that to the back of his mind for the moment, Christine needed to be talked to.

"Christine..." began Erik, but Christine interrupted quickly.

"Don't you dare call me that!" Christine spat and Erik took a step backwards in fear. He certainly didn't want her angry again and accepted her request.

"…listen to me, that kiss didn't mean anything. We were just old friends seeing each other for the first time in a long time." Erik fell silent after that and walked over to his bed to sit down upon it.

"Lies." Spat Christine again and Erik jumped up.

"No, I'm telling the truth!" he yelled at nothing.

"Your eyes do not lie Erik Destler!" screamed Christine and a loud crack of lightning sounded and a flash of light filled Erik's room, making him temporarily blind. In his blindness Erik extended his arms in a futile attempt to find the wall.

"Don't leave!" shouted Erik, knowing full well that she was long gone. How could he argue with her? If she had seen them together, then there was no point in arguing the obvious, yes Rachelle and his kiss meant more then he was telling, and Christine had seen right through that.

"I forbid you to see her ever again!" Christine shouted, but if seemed as if she was standing right beside him and hollering in his ear. Erik yelped painfully and covered his ears tightly.

"Why?" he demanded to thin air, taunting fate and her anger.

"She is a distraction to you and to my music. If I am prepared to give up my time with you, then you too will have to give up something as well. All distractions and extra things you do will be cut from you schedule. You will only go to rehearsals and have lessons with me. This is an order Erik Destler, do not test me any more tonight!" Christine's voice echoed threateningly around him and he felt like her voice was squeezing him to death. He struggled to breathe and fought to remain conscious. If this was how she treated her victim's Erik hoped that he would never become one, but at the rate things were going here, he wasn't so sure that the victim path was too far away. "Remember what I have said Erik Destler, or it just might be the last mistake you ever make!" she screamed at the top of her lungs and Erik fell to the floor, her voice cutting through his head painfully. He grasped at it, trying to make the pain subside, but it did little good and eventually he lost consciousness with Christine's maniacal laughter ringing in his ears and a pounding head ache to go with it.

A/N: Hello all my lovely readers and reviewers. I feel like I must explain myslef for the long wait you've had to endure. I have been super busy at school, seeing as its my last year and I need to get my university stuff in order and the more exciting news, I've been offered a part in the Opera: The Mikado.

For those of you who don't know it, it's a Gilbert and Sullivan written comedy light Opera and I hope it will be fun. Due to rehearsals and everything going on, I will try and do the best I can to update as regularly as possible, for I know what it's like to wait in suspense and check your email everyday for an update, but you'll all have to bear with me.

Hoped you liked this chapter, I enjoyed writing it, but in my head it came out a bit differently then the way I wrote it. I'm telling you the characters are taking over. Now don't hate me…Review!