Chapter 16 – Stories to tell.
"So, he is not a ghost? He is real?" Meg asked.
"Yes, Erik is real. You saw him didn't you?" She replied jokingly.
"But what are you doing with him? He is a murderer."
"That can be explained, but that is not the main concern right now." Christine paused for a moment, looking at her friend. "You found a way down here?"
Meg suddenly looked very worried.
How do I explain how I found the passage? Christine will surely go crazy if she knows I was snooping in her room. How do I go about telling her? What can I say?
"Meg?" Christine asked noticing she was thinking.
"I… I, err, I'm not actually sure how. I know it sounds stupid but I can't actually remember." She tried to sound convincing.
Christine opened her mouth but Meg blurted out a question before she had a chance to say what she was going to.
"So what is going on between you and The Phantom? I mean Erik."
Christine smiled. "Do you remember that time, when you came to find me, after a dance rehearsal and you heard me singing? You asked who my tutor was. Well it's Erik."
"So it was him all along. Not an 'Angel of Music' your father sent?"
Christine nodded. "If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have taken the lead in the past two productions."
"How did you end up meeting… well seeing him?" Meg asked her friend curiously.
Christine looked down at Porsche who was sat listening to them, eyes watching intently.
"It was actually thanks to Porsche. I ended up walking down dark passageways and a spiral staircase, and then finally down here." She said, looking up and round, her eyes exploring the cage and the surroundings.
"What happened?"
Well, I heard music playing. I followed Porsche as she got out of the boat and she led me to Erik, who was playing on the piano…"
-
Erik had left the two friends while he went up to find Antoinette. He was furious that little Giry had managed to find her way to his lair, and especially into the oubliette. That was another thing he had hoped to spare Christine, but he had failed in that too.
He hadn't really meant to leave her there as Antoinette, strict as she was, also loved her daughter and would want to make sure she was safe. He knew however that Christine wanted to check her over and make sure she was alright and that her leg was not hurt too badly. Meg had intruded. He needed to guarantee her silence, as he knew she was a gossip and so didn't intend to let her leave very soon.
He then remembered what Daroga had said: 'I couldn't use the mirror because Antoinette's child was skulking around Christine's room.'
She had been prying through Christine's personal belongings, and had managed to find the secret entrance; this thought made him very angry, especially as he had asked Antoinette to have a word with her daughter. He could feel his anger rise.
No, there is no point in having a shouting match with Antoinette, as it will cause problems, and I will surely have to back down.
Erik had learnt not to ever start a fight with Madame Giry. She would always come out on top and was one of those people who never backed down, and was usually right.
Ok, explain the situation calmly, even though I doubt she will overreact.
He looked into her office from the doorway. There was no sign of Madame Giry in there.
He headed to the main hall, where she might be teaching the ballet classes. Again there was no sign of her. He looked carefully, but no, he couldn't see her, just a few of the ballet rats talking.
He grunted. Where could she be? He went to the dining room. Again there was no sign of her there. He went to the dormitories for the younger ballet dancers, nothing.
I don't usually have this much trouble finding her. Where could she be? I've looked almost everywhere. Where haven't I looked that she could be? Ah! The manager's office, but why would she be there?
He swished his cape round and marched briskly to where the manager's office was.
He approached the entrance where he heard three voices; yes, Madame Giry was definitely here.
"Why do you always defend the Phantom? I think Miss Daae has been given enough limelight, why not let Carlotta have a chance." Asked Firmin.
"I do not want anymore accidents like Monsieur Bouquet. But I have not come here to discuss this. I wanted to know if you have seen my daughter. I cannot find her anywhere and no one else has seen her." She sounded very worried.
"No Madame we have seen neither her nor Miss Daae. Maybe they have gone out somewhere." Andre said, trying to sound calm.
"Meg would never leave the Opera house without telling me."
"M... Maybe the Ghost took her." Firmin said, a little worried.
Madame Giry seemed cross at the mention of this. "And for what reason would he take my daughter? It hasn't happened before."
"See, there you go again, defending him."
"No Messieurs, I just think it is an absurd suggestion. I must prepare for this afternoon's class. If you see her will you inform me at once?"
"Yes, of course we will Madame."
"Merci." She gave a small nod and headed out of the door.
Erik headed off after her; she walked in the direction of her office.
She shut the door and turned round to find herself face to face with Erik.
"Madame Giry." Erik said simply.
"Erik, have you seen Meg anywhere? I know Christine is with you, but I can't find her anywhere. I have asked everyone and looked everywhere and I still cannot find her. Please tell me if you have seen her?" She said quickly, she was clearly worried.
"Please Antoinette, calm down. Yes, I have seen Meg. She is in my lair along with Christine." He said calmly.
"What? How? Why is she in your lair?"
"Meg was in Christine's room. She obviously found the secret passage that leads to my lair. She fell through one of the trap doors and you know where that leads."
"The Oubliette?"
"Yes. She is safe. But I cannot allow her to leave because…" Erik started.
"Erik in gods name why not?" She cut in.
"Because she was looking through Christine's belongings and I'm not sure whether she will keep silent about what she has seen." He snapped back angrily. "I thought you said you would talk with her."
"Yes Erik, I have. But I cannot watch her all the time." She answered back. "Please Erik, is she hurt?"
"She cut her leg when she fell, but Christine and I tended to her. I left them in the kitchen. I thought it would be best to fetch you."
"But I need to prepare for…"
"See to it later." He replied, gesturing Madame Giry towards the passageway.
"And by the way, what were you and the managers discussing before you brought up the subject of why you were really there?"
"Oh the new production of Faust, Piangi and Carlotta will not take part if Christine is given the lead this time. The managers want them to stay as they fear it will be impossible to replace them should they leave." Antoinette told him casually.
"I agree with them for Piangi, but Carlotta they can do without." Erik replied, hissing when speaking about Carlotta.
"Yes but it is not that simple with those two."
"I know, they come as a package. If one of them doesn't perform then neither will the other." Erik said sarcastically. "Oh and why do they think you defend me all the time?"
"Because I always remind them to abide by your rules. I think they have suspicions about me Erik. I'm not sure what they suspect, but soon it will come out."
"I won't let them do anything to you, Antoinette. I promise." He smiled.
"I know you wouldn't, but my dear, you don't have to always look out for me." She smiled back at him.
"It doesn't matter what you say. You saved my life all those years ago. I am indebted to you."
"I take it you've told Christine about that part of your life?" She questioned.
"I told her about when my mother first bought me my mask, and when they took me away." He shuddered at the word 'they'.
"I see. How did she take it?" She placed a hand on his arm.
"Well, she responded in a way I didn't believe would happen, but it did something to me, made me feel something different…"
-
"…And that's when we heard you scream." Christine finished.
She had just told Meg most things that had happened previously between her and Erik. However she had not told her anything that Erik had told Christine about his past. She did not think it would be right.
"So where does my mother fit into all of this?" Meg asked.
"I don't know what happened between them. All I know is that they have known each other for a long time. She wouldn't give me a straight answer when I asked her."
"How do you suppose they met?"
"Meg, I have really no idea, I guess Erik has gone to fetch you mother."
"Christine?" Meg paused. "Do you love him?"
This startled Christine, she hadn't actually thought about it. But now the question was there she began to wonder what she truly felt for Erik.
"I have also seen the way he looks at you." She continued, but Christine was too buried in her own thoughts. She hardly noticed that Meg had said anything.
Love him? I don't know what I feel. I do care for him I suppose but I haven't known him long enough to actually love him.
"…Christine?" Meg interrupted.
"I haven't known him long enough, I don't think, Megand why did you ask me?"
"I've seen the way you look when you talk about him. You have this dreamy look." Meg started giggling.
Christine started to turn a very deep shade of pink. "I do not." She replied.
Still giggling Meg pointed. "Then how come you have gone very rosy?"
"I haven't. Have I?"
"Yes, you have."
They both laughed. It had been a while since Christine had had a good old laugh with Meg. She had been preoccupied with everything that had happened.
"So you found a passageway. Where did it start from? There are several." Christine questioned Meg.
"I'm not sure. All I know is that when I was walking down this spiralstaircase I fell down and landed in this shoot, slid down for a while and fell in that cage. I screamed as I fell into it." She said, shuddering.
"I asked where did it start from." Christine said impatiently.
"I don't know. I said before."
"But that is a lie, young Giry." Erik stood in the doorway of the kitchen with Madame Giry.
"MOTHER!" Meg cried and ran towards Madame Giry who grasped her daughter in a tight embrace.
"Meg, what if something bad happened to you?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."
"Erik, what did you mean by 'that is a lie'?" Christine asked curiously.
Erik looked towards Meg who was now free of her mothers embrace; she was looking very awkwardly at Christine.
"I believe you have something to tell Christine. Don't you little Giry?" Erik said softly.
"Well?" Christine said. Meg just looked at the floor.
"Meg please just tell me?" She asked.
"I found the entrance in your room." Meg replied weakly.
"You mean… You were snooping around my room?"
"Yes, I knew something wasn't right. You had disappeared so often. I had to find out. I'm really, really sorry Christine."
Christine was slightly cross at the fact Meg had been through her personal belongings but couldn't help but let these feelings go as Meg was now crying silently.
"Oh Meg, look, its ok, I promise you. But just don't do it again."
The two embraced each other and all was forgotten.
Erik stepped towards Meg and placed both hands on her shoulders. She winced, thinking he was going to harm her.
"Do not fear me Meg. I beg you not to be afraid. Now, as you have found out about me, my home and the fact that Christine is my student. I want you to make Christine, your mother and me a promise. A promise to never ever tell anyone about what you have seen here. It will be your secret, just you and Christine will know. I hope you will forgive this but I know you tend to let your mouth run away with you quite a bit." Meg looked away sheepishly. "Please, I'm not telling you. I'm asking."
"Would you kill me if I did?" She asked.
"I pray it will never come to that." He said softly.
He lifted her chin so she was looking directly into his bright blue eyes.
"Yes, I promise."
Erik smiled and patted her head.
"May I come down here again sometime?" Meg asked.
"Meg!" Antoinette exclaimed.
Erik chuckled. "It's perfectly alright Antoinette. Yes you may. You are very welcome to come sometime soon. However I would appreciate it if you would make these visits very rare, as I do not want to cause any suspicion. You understand?"
"Yes of course, thank you all the same."
Antoinette was very taken back by Erik's way of making sure she would keep silent. She half expected him to threaten Meg. Instead he had asked her in a very grown up manner, almost as if he was her father.
"So may I know how you and my mother know each other?" Meg inquired.
"It's a long story but is best kept until later." Erik replied.
"We must be going now anyway. I'm late for my ballet class." Madame Giry said.
"Antoinette you had best run back, if you don't wish to give your ballet rats something else to talk about." Erik remarked sarcastically.
Antoinette glared at Erik. "It will be hard for me to get back quickly as it is hard enough for me to walk back up those stairs let alone run!" She replied in a half joking manner.
"I have a solution to that." Erik said triumphantly.
"My dear Erik you never cease to amaze me with your solutions to everything." Antoinette replied.
"Come then this way. I must take you both back across the lake."
"Are you not coming with us Christine?" Meg asked.
"No, I wish to stay here a little longer, but I will return soon." She replied.
With that she hugged her best friend and Meg and her mother together with Erik headed out of the door.
Christine sighed and sat down to find she was sitting on something soft and slightly lumpy.
She heard a yelp and a loud meow behind her. She had nearly squashed Porsche by sitting on her.
"Oh Porsche, I'm really sorry. I didn't see you there." With that Christine picked up the cat, sat down and then placed her on her lap. Porsche had obviously forgotten about nearly being flattened as she had curled up in Christine's lap and resumed her snooze.
Christine began to subconsciously stroke the cat. And thought about what Meg had asked her before. Did she love Erik? And did he love her?
I find the more time I spend with him the more I feel for him? But could Meg be right am I in love with him? But I don't know what he feels for me? Should I ask him? But he has got to be a lot older than me. It possibly wouldn't be right, and besides I haven't known him that long, but he really is good looking. I don't care about the scar on his face. He is remarkable, and his music so wonderful. I don't think I have known anyone quite like him.
Her thoughts were cut short by Erik's return.
"That was fast!" She stated.
He smiled at her, and noticed the cat. "Still sleeping huh?"
"Yes, she seems to be." Christine giggled.
"Porsche." He said softly to the cat. Porsche at once was awake. Erik cocked his head to one side, and Porsche immediately jumped out of Christine's lap and plodded out of the door.
"She really does understand you, doesn't she?" Christine asked.
"She is trained almost like a dog." He chuckled. He sat down across the table from her.
"So, do you think Meg will keep her promise? What would you do if she doesn't?"
"I'll cross that bridge when I come to it." He said half sighing.
"That cage…?" Christine began.
I was really hoping you would not ask anymore about it. But I guess it was inevitable.
"The Oubliette?" He corrected her.
"Did you make it?"
"Yes I did. Why do you ask?"
"No reason, I was just curious."
"Shall we move to the library? You like reading don't you?" He changed the subject.
"Yes, I love to read and you have such a large selection. Where did you get them all from?"
"Oh, Antoinette has collected them for me over the years." He said as he and Christine both stood up and headed towards the library.
"My father used to read to me when I was a child, every night, before I would go to bed, he would read me a story or part of one until I had fallen asleep." She smiled.
Should I ask him now?
"Erik, I need to ask you something seriously, and please I want you to tell me the truth, no matter what it is." She asked timidly
Erik looked rather worried by this.
What could she possibly want to ask me? It must be rather serious, but I will tell her the truth.
"Do you promise me?"
"My dear Christine, I will tell you the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I promise you." He replied, worry laced in his voice.
"Do you love me?"
