Flames danced silently in the fireplace of the De CHagny manor, not even their glow could sear away the tension which lay like a thick blanket over the room.
Raoul looked down upon his bride, his mouth begining to foam. "We should have killed the vile beast, my love...we should have killed him!" He raved and yelled as he paced
across the room. Christine sat rigidly in her chair, an envelope with remnants of red wax lay in her lap. "...but Erik didn't..." she began...but Raoul cut her off quickly. "You
give the beast a name...he is unworthy of such!" the vicomte yelled, slamming his fist on the mantle to emphasize his point. Christine remaineddocile and continued on. 'but
Raoul...he meant no harm...he loved me...he never wanted to hurt either of us...but" Raoul cut her off again "Never meant harm?...Christine...he tried to kill me...He dropped
a chandalier...he killed Piangi and Buquet!...never meant harm? Absurd!" Christine waited a moment and then continued again, hopefully uninterrupted. "He...mereky didn't
know how to show his love...he thought he was protecting me...I admit he did go overboard...but must I remind you...you tried to kill him as well?"
The fire blazed in Raoul's eyes. 'I tried to kill the beast because he tried to slay us...it was for both our sakes!"...a hush fell over the room. Christine smirked softly. "In
other words you tried to kill him for the same reasons he killed." she said proudly, though her voice was still held back. Raoul let out a loud growl "Never classify me alongside
that hideous creature!" he said in a voice that was painfully familiar to both of them. Christine let out a soft giggle and quickly stopped herself. "Who were you calling a beast,
Raoul?" He could hardly hold back a laugh, his face trying to remain as serious as possible. "Christine please...this is a dire matter" He took the letter from her and read it
aloud, spite in his voice. "My dearest Christine and good vicomte, it has truly been too long...but the memories of a few months ago still lie fresh within my wandering mind.
This is just a note, my dears, to tell you that I have returned for what is rightfully mine...Vicomte...have all your post-mortum affairs in orderif you have any intent on stopping
me... Good sir...keep your hand at the level of your eyes. And my dearest Christine soon enough we shall be together again...soon enough. Until the my friends...I remain
your humble servant, Erik." Raoul tossed the letter quickly into the fire. The crackling of the ashes sounded familiar "Christine" they called "Christine"
Raoul began to break down, he walked slowly over to his wife's side. "Christine...I love you and I can't allow you to go through this again. I can't let you put up with
this monster again." tears streamed slowly down his face, he fell to his knees and rested his head on her lap. She stroked his hair lightly, "Raoul...I know you think you're
doing what's best for me...so maybe for once i should do what's best for you." she said softly, a slight sigh in her voice. Raoul leapt to his feet with a start. "My love... you
cannot be serious!...Without you I would surely die...I would die!" he fumed. A slight chuckle was heard in the room and the words "as would I" drifted in gently.The pair
dismissed it as a gust of wind and raoul walked to the balcony to close the doors. Two glowing orbs caught his sight, a pair of eyes in the dark. Raoul quickly drew his
revolver and fired at it...a his was heard and the eyes disappeared. He started back to the center of the room, a tremble in his steps.
"Christine," he said anxiety obvious in his now high-toned voice. "It's late...we'll discuss this more in the morning..you go to bed..i'll join you soon my love." She
rose from her chair, a look of confusion on her face. Christine walked to his side, kissed his cheek and left without a word. Raoul waited until he could no longer hear her
foot steps in the distance. "Vile Beast!" he shouted, his right hand resting near his eye. He left the room silently and walked up the staircase.
