A/N: This story is rated M, so if this kind of thing is not your bag of pretzels, please do not read. It is based on the 2004 Phantom of the Opera movie, so if you have not seen it (and I highly recommend that you do, if you like musicals, of course), you will not understand this story. The Erik from Susan Kay's 'Phantom' is also referenced. This is written from Raoul's POV. Takes place a few months after the dungeon scene. Caution: Contains rape.
Beneath a Moonless Sky
Raoul looked at his new wife sleeping peacefully beside him, and resigned himself to another sleepless night. He turned restlessly.
I need to know… I have to know… to know if he is still alive...a body was never recovered…
These feelings had only increased as the days turned into weeks, weeks into months.
If only I could tell you Christine… speak to you of my true feelings, of my true passions… I have lived this lie for far too long, and I cannot hold back my inner demons… Christine, you are beautiful to me… but I do not love you.
Raoul slowly slid away from Christine's sleeping form. He moved silently to the edge of the bed and put his head in his hands. He rubbed his wrists over his eyes, desperately trying to erase the thoughts raging through his mind.
He turned back to look at Christine. It is not too late- I should be back before morning. No one will miss me.
Dressing quickly, he rushed to the stables and saddled his favorite horse. The incredible sense of urgency that rose in him was familiar, and he spurred his horse, wanting to reach his destination as quickly as possible. There was no moon, but the horse was familiar with the path, and Raoul trusted him to follow it.
Christine was not the only one to be enchanted by your voice…when I first heard you, I was frightened, but intrigued…
Raoul urged his horse to go faster. The hot summer air made him sweat, but he was not bothered by it. He knew that where he was going would cool him instantly.
In the Opera House, the graveyard, and Don Juan…I ached when I heard you sing… but you only had eyes for Christine…. I found myself hating her…
The Opera Populaire- once a beautiful building, the crowned jewel of Paris, now a burned out shell, still reeking of wet and burned wood. Even in the moonless night, Raoul easily found the small window he and Christine had escaped through during the blazing inferno. A different fire burned in him tonight, and, as with all the other times he had come, his stomach twisted in a way that made him both nervous and excited.
I bested you in the graveyard, but I did not mean to hurt you…. I would not have struck you down…
The burning desire only increased as Raoul hurried down the stairs and seemingly endless tunnels to the shore of an ice cold lake. He felt his way to where he knew the small boat would be. With trembling fingers, he lit the tiny candle inside of a small lantern on the boat's bow. He squinted at the sudden light, but did not hesitate as he rowed across the lake. As he stepped onto the shore, and an intense wave of memory washed over him.
So much happened here….
Raoul took the small lantern and held it up so he could see the ransacked cavern. As he always did, he began a slow walk through it, occasionally stopping to pick up pieces of broken glass and porcelain, torn sheets of music, book pages ripped from their covers . He would place these items near the only piece of furniture that had been left untouched- a beautiful swan bed, its curtains and coverings flawless save for a fine layer of dust that lay upon them.
He gazed at the bed longingly. I wish you were here… one day you will meet me here…one day I will hear your voice again…
"My dear Vicomte, you flatter me," came a deep, musical voice just over his shoulder.
Raoul flinched mightily and dropped the lantern. It shattered, and darkness descended. He could not move.
"You have come here many times," the Phantom said derisively. "Will you return often to celebrate your triumph over me?"
Ice cold hands fell on Raoul's shoulders, pulling him backwards. He collided with the Phantom's body and felt hot breath on his neck. "Or are you seeking something else?"
Raoul shook involuntarily. That voice… that beautiful voice…
"Your body betrays you, Vicomte," The Phantom whispered in his ear.
Raoul turned and saw Erik's yellow cat eyes glaring down at him. He reached out and felt for The Phantom's arm. Finally finding it, he pushed his cold hand down into his trousers.
"Ah, I see," The Phantom said, mocking him. Raoul could hear the disdain in his voice. "Not happy with your bride, are you, so you come seeking Erik, The Phantom, the lowliest of men!"
Erik… his name is Erik…at last, I know…
Erik removed his hand and brought it to Raoul's waist. With a quick jerk he pulled Raoul's trousers down and took his throbbing desire in his cold hands. His fingers probed him roughly. Raoul gasped and grabbed hold of Erik's wrists, silently begging him to continue.
Erik pulled his hands away and pushed Raoul through the bed curtain. Raoul put his hands out in front of him, groping blindly for what was in front of him. His midsection collided with the bed frame, bending him over it. Erik held him there and removed his own trousers, pressing his silky need against Raoul's naked backside. "You have never had to beg for anything in your life, have you," Erik hissed. "I want you to beg me."
Raoul struggled against Erik's strong arms in vain. Erik brushed his fingers over Raoul's opening, gently probing him. Raoul's muscles clenched, and he gave a sigh of pleasure.
Erik bent over him. "I can please you in ways you have never imagined," he said seductively. "But you have to beg me."
Erik ran a cold hand down Raoul's spine, causing him to shiver. "Beg me," he whispered.
Erik moved himself closer to Raoul's opening, teasing him. "Beg me!"
Raoul clenched his hands to the bed frame and finally gasped out, "Yes… please, Erik…"
Erik raked his fingernails across Raoul's back, causing him to arch his back and hiss in pain. " 'Please Erik' " he mocked. "And what am I promised in return? You took everything from me! I owe you nothing."
Raoul pushed himself back against Erik's need. "Please Erik… I am in agony…"
Erik stepped back from him. "No."
A cold void descended on Raoul. He rose and reached out, searching the darkness desperately for Erik.
"You asked me to beg," he cried, "I am begging!"
"And the dear Vicomte always gets what he wants," Erik snarled. "You have hid your feelings well. At one point you were ready to kill me."
"You know better than anyone that you must lie to protect yourself!" Raoul cried. "My whole life has been a lie-"
"That must be difficult for you." Erik sounded furious.
Raoul staggered towards Erik's voice, nearly tripping over the trousers at his feet. "I can buy you a comfortable place to live," he said desperately. "Your every need will be provided for-"
"You cannot buy me!" Erik thundered. "I am not a possession!"
"I- I need you, Erik," Raoul said, his voice breaking. "Just this once… then you will never see me again."
When Erik did not answer, Raoul cried out, "I am begging you, Erik… please…"
Suddenly Raoul felt Erik's hot breath above him. He grabbed Raoul's shirt. "Kneel." He pushed Raoul to his knees. "Take me into your mouth."
Raoul complied eagerly, holding tightly to Erik's thighs as he caressed and teased his silky and throbbing need. When he heard Erik groan and gasp above him, Raoul increased his ministrations, gently nipping with his teeth and sucking his smooth skin. When Erik gave a final gasp and released, Raoul swallowed, relishing the taste of him. He again took Erik's need into his hands, caressing him until he felt it swell.
Erik took hold of Raoul's shoulders and pulled him up. He again pushed Raoul towards the bed. Raoul tripped over his trousers and grunted with pain as he again collided with the bed frame. Erik's strong arms bent him over it and held him there. "Enjoying yourself, are you Vicomte?" Erik whispered harshly.
An intense pain Raoul had never before felt stabbed through him as Erik slid mercilessly inside him. Raoul screamed in agony and struggled against him, but Erik held him firmly. Raoul's own desperate need burst from him, dripping down his legs and onto the floor. Erik grabbed a handful of Raoul's hair and twisted it in his fingers.
"Is this not what you wanted?" Erik growled. "Is this not what you begged for?"
Erik moved against him viciously, seeming to be encouraged by Raoul's desperate screams. Raoul writhed and twisted, but was not able to break Erik's hold. The pain did not lessen as Erik finished and withdrew from him. Raoul collapsed onto the floor, gasping and sobbing.
A bright light stabbed through the darkness as Erik lit a candle. Raoul looked at him through tear filled eyes- his mask had fallen off, and though Erik was the source of his pain, Raoul thought him beautiful. Erik caught him staring, and glared back at him, his cat-like eyes flashing. He put the candle on the ground, pulled his trousers up around his exposed flesh, then quickly replaced his mask. He placed the candle in a broken lantern and hung it on the bow of the boat. Erik then returned to Raoul and stood over him, nudging him with his boot. "You have received what you came for. Now leave me."
Raoul groaned painfully as he tried to rise. His muscles failed him and he collapsed again, crying out as he hit the floor.
Erik stared down at him, a smirk on his face. "You disgust me."
He took Raoul's arm and lifted him, then put his arm around Raoul's waist and dragged him roughly to the boat. Raoul collapsed against it, gasping painfully, tears continuing to stream down and drip from his face. Raoul looked at Erik standing above him like a beautiful avenging angel, wanting to burn his image into his memory. He reached for his leg.
"I told you to leave, you stupid, worthless, naïve shell of a man!" Erik shouted.
Raoul turned back to the boat and as he struggled to pull up his trousers, he noticed for the first time that they were soaked with the blood running down his legs. Too agonized to think on it, he climbed painfully into the boat and began to row away. Raoul turned back to see Erik fade into the darkness.
Oh God, what have I done?