Erik and Christine: Loves Secret (A Phantom of the Opera Story)

Chapter 7

One week later in the Girl's House. Madame Giry is sitting in her chair in her bedroom, looking at a candle and thinking back at what she said to Erik before he left. "Oh my dear friend. I hope you will write to us soon. Meg and I miss you so much. I hope you are finding whatever you are looking for."

At the same time, Meg is wandering around the hallway, walking towards her mother's bedroom. "I wonder what mother is up to," she said silently. As soon as Meg hears her mother talking, she looks down and silently says, "Oh mother." Meg quietly opens the door.

"I miss you," Madame Giry whispers. "Hello Mother," Meg says silently as she kneels down and sits next to her. Madame Giry looks down and takes Megs hands. "Hi darling. What are you doing here?"

"Well, I don't have to do anything today. So I came by to see you after I saw the reconstruction plans for the Opera House." Madame Giry smiles and then looks away. "Mother. I miss him too. He always had a way of brightening the mood when someone is down."

"Yes. He was very good at that wasn't he?" She asked. "Yes. He was mother," Meg replies.

"Anyway. Meg, as you were walking around and coming back did you try to talk to Christine today? I tried yesterday and they would not let me see her," she asked. Meg let's go of her mother hands. "No. I also tried to get to her and they wouldn't let me." Madame Giry shakes her head. "I wonder what has gotten into Raoul. He allows her to have music one minute. Then the next..."

"Excuse me Madame," said Gabriel Daae. Madame Giry and Meg turn and see Christine's Uncle, Gabriel Daae (tall, brown hair, and in his early forties) at the doorframe. "Why Gabriel? What a pleasant surprise!" Madame Giry says as she stands up and walks towards Gabriel. Meg walks behind her mother.

"Monsieur Daae! What are you doing here?" Meg asks. Gabriel smiles and walks towards Madame Giry and Meg. "Well can't an old friend come to say hello?" He asks. "Of course, but we didn't expect to see you so soon. The wedding isn't for another couple of months." Madame Giry replies.

"I know. But I wanted to see my lovely niece early and give her wedding present to her," Gabriel replies back. Madame Girl looks at Gabriel and walks around him. "Oh Gabriel...There's something..."

"Oh, I forgot to tell you. You have another guest in the house," Gabriel says as he walks towards the fireplace.

"What? Who?" She asks.

"I've never seen him before and he's defiantly a different man than I've ever seen. Especially for someone wearing a mask." Both Giry's turn towards each other and then back at Gabriel. They are shocked to realize to know who Gabriel is talking about. They say at the same time, "A MASK!"

In the library, Erik turns on the phonograph to play "La donna è mobile". At the same time, Meg, Madame Giry, and Gabriel Daae head towards the library. "Erik is definitely here because this is one of his favorite pieces," Meg whispers. "I can't believe she still has this piece. Now I feel like I'm at home," Erik whispers.

Madame Girl, Meg, and Gabriel enter the library. Madame Giry and Meg smile. "Erik!" Madame Giry says. Erik turns around and says, "Hello Madame. Missed me?" Madame Giry and Meg walk up towards him and hug him. "Oh Erik! It is so good to see you! And I knew it was you once you began to play your favorite piece."

"Well it is my favorite and I knew I just had to play it."

"It is so good to see you. How are you? What was it like? Where did you go?" Meg asked. Madame Giry faces Meg and gives her a stern look. "Meg." Erik walks arounds a desk and says, "No, I don't mind talking about it."

"Oh yes I remember the stories you told me," Gabriel implied. Madame Giry turned faced Gabriel and asked, "Wait. Gabriel, I thought you said you didn't know who he was?" Gabriel walked towards a bookself and leans against it. "Well, I actually met him as I was making my way here. Erik Destler correct?" Gabriel replies.

"You are correct Monsieur Daae. And you are Christine's Uncle," Erik says. "You are correct," Gabriel replies.

"Anyway, tell us. Please tell us everything," Meg implies with a hesitant tone in her voice. Erik sits down and says, "Alright, Meg."

An hour later.

"That sounds quite an adventure," said Meg. "Yes it does," said Madame Giry. "Yes, it was an amazing and astonishing experience. I can't wait to do it again one day," Erik expressed with a sigh. Meg looked at Erik with a smile and asks, "Wait, are you staying for a long time?"

"For now. I've come back because I've missed you all while I traveled," said Erik. Gabriel walks towards the beverages that the maids brought in and has a sip. "I would too if I traveled all across France," Gabriel implies. Madame Giry looks at Gabriel and says, "Oh Gabriel, quit teasing."

"Oh Erik. We've missed you so much," said Meg. "As have I. Now please, tell me. How is everything here while I've been gone? Has Christine asked about me? How is she? Do you hear from her?" Erik asks.

Meg looked away for a moment and then looked back at Erik. Madame Giry looks down. Erik notices that there is something that he doesn't know about. Erik asks, "Meg? Madame?" Gabriel notices it too and asks "Madaline? What is it?"

Meg turns to her mother and says, "Mother. Please. They need to know." Erik looks at them with concern. Madame Giry turns to her daughter and says, "Meg. Will you please leave us? I'll tell them." Meg grabs her mothers hands and implies, "No mother please let me..."

"Meg please," Madame giry says with a tone in her voice. Meg looks down and back at her mother. Gabriel walks towards Meg and touches her shoulder. "Please Meg. It will be alright." Meg stands up and walks out of the room.

"Alright Madaline please, tell us what's going on?" Gabriel asks. "Everything has been fine but..." Madame Giry says with a soft tone and doesn't look at Erik and at Gabriel. "But what?" Gabriel asks. Madame Giry stands up and walks towards the fireplace and replies, "Christine was alright after you left Erik. She was still a lil' upset that you left Erik but accepted it. But a week after you left, something happened."

Erik turns his head away quickly and thinks 'Oh no. What could have happened to my Christine?'

"Raoul saw that Christine was playing the piano and went insane. He told her that she couldn't play and sing anymore."

'Just like Isabelle said!' Erik said as he realized that Isabelle told him what could happen as soon as a couple gets married. 'Some of the main stars for example, here in Boudreaux would get married, but never perform again because of their husbands. That was almost how it was for me.' Isabelle implies with an echo in Erik's head.

"When she refused, he began to do things to her. I don't know what but I would imagine terrible things. But I do know is when he asked her to stop one more time, she refused. So he took her to her bedroom...and he locked her in there for an entire night."

Gabriel is shocked. "What?"

"He locked Christine in her bedroom!" Erik stands up and says as he's horrified to what had happened to his Christine. "Yes. And what I've heard from one of the servants at the mansion is he ordered that anything music wise had to leave and be taken to her father's house," Madame Giry implies. Gabriel puts his hand on his head, sits down and says, "No wonder all the music sheets and the piano came to the mansion."

Erik turns to Gabriel and asks, "Wait. The mansion is still there?" Gabriel leans over, looks at Erik and says, "Yes. When he died, his will said that I owned the house so now me and my daughter and son-in-law live there. Madaline, do you know why Raoul is acting this way?" Madame Giry looks at Gabriel and replies, "No Gabriel. I honestly do not know.

Erik looks away and thinks 'Oh my Christine. What has he done to you?'