Raoul groaned, his head was pounding. He reached up to cradle his head in his hands, but he couldn't move his arms. Startled, he looked wildly around. He remembered fighting the Phantom and seeing his enemy coming towards him and then nothing. Suddenly he realized that he was not lying on the ground. he was tied to one of the larger gravestones.

Raoul craned his neck, looking down at himself. Something was around his neck too! He leaned back against the cold stone, taking stock of his situation. He had a horrible headache, his arms were tied behind him, his ankles were also bound, there was some sort of noose around his neck and there were strange sounds coming from his left.

Curious, Raoul turned his head wincing slightly at the movement. He saw a large dark lump writhing on the ground. At first he thought it was some ferocious beast that was going to tear him apart, but when it made no move toward him Raoul relaxed. A loud moan made him start, then shut his eyes in pain. It wasn't just his head this time, the moan and the shape's odd movements could mean only one thing. It was Erik and Christine - together under his dark cloak!

Raoul could do nothing but await the Phantom's pleasure. He couldn't help but hope that the man would finish quickly, his head was swimming and the cold was seeping into his bones. The vile act seemed to take forever and Raoul was just about try and slip back into unconsciousness when he heard a soft exclamation then a contented sigh. Raoul heard a rustle of cloth and turned his head away, he couldn't bear to watch. He stared fixedly at the snow, doing his best to pretend that he was anywhere but where he was.

Erik's voice brought him out of his reverie. "Ah, so you have rejoined us at last, monsieur."

Raoul continued to stare at the snow.

"I hope Christine and I did not disturb you. You were unconscious for a long time, monsieur. We had to do something while we were waiting." The man stepped into Raoul's field of view, his black shoes defiling the white snow.

For a moment Raoul considered spitting on the spotless shoes, but decided against it. There was no telling what Erik would do if pushed and since Raoul was at his mercy he wasn't going to try his luck. Erik reached forward and forced Raoul to look at him.

"How is your head? I'm afraid I hit you rather hard." Erik was studying him closely, making Raoul want to squirm.

When he could stand it no longer, Raoul jerked his head away and instantly regretted it. He gritted his teeth, trying not to moan at the pain. "I'm fine, thank you."

"Are you, monsieur?" Erik reached forward again, this time touching the lump at the back of Raoul's head. Raoul hissed in pain and jerked away again. "Yes, you're perfectly fine, I think."

Christine walked over to stand beside Erik. "Stop tormenting him, Erik."

"I'm only just beginning, my dear."

"Please, just leave him alone. Let's go back to the opera, I'm getting cold." Christine took Erik's arm, trying to lure him away. She didn't look at Raoul.

"Not yet, go and wait in the carriage if you want." Erik's gaze remained riveted on Raoul. "Monsieur de Chagny and I have some unfinished business here."

"Please hurry, Erik." Christine turned and walked away. Raoul watched her with some trepidation, he had hoped Christine would help him. Erik watched her fade away among the gravestones. When she was out of sight he turned back to his victim.

"Now monsieur, about your head. You said it was fine?" He pressed the lump again, this time Raoul was ready and didn't react. "Yes, no harm done there then."

"Then release me. Christine is waiting for you." Raoul spat the words out.

"Oh no, not yet. You haven't caught your breath yet." Erik grinned, making his face look like a skull beneath his mask.

"What do y-" Raoul was puzzled, until the fist hit his stomach. Raoul gasped and retched, dull pain radiating through his body.

"You see, it would be rude of me to let you go now."

"I don't care," Raoul gritted. "Let me go."

"But I care, I'm not ready to let you go yet." The next blow was even worse, leaving Raoul completely winded. He tried to fill his lungs and couldn't.

Raoul's eyes bulged as he sucked at the air, panicking as his need for air grew. Blackness crept into the edge of his vision. Just when it seemed he couldn't remain conscious any longer the ache in his chest began to ease and Raoul found he could breath again. Through it all Erik stood, watching his victim impassively.

"Very well, monsieur." Raoul could barely whisper the words. "I am your guest."

Erik grinned like the devil himself at Raoul's announcement. "Very good! You are learning, monsieur. Now for your next lesson."

Raoul braced himself, waiting for another blow. It never came. Erik drew his sword and studied it as though he had never laid eyes on it before in his life.

"For a guest you are not very respectful to your host, monsieur. I shall have to teach you some manners." His bright eyes flashed at Raoul through the mask. "For a start you shall call me 'my lord'."

Raoul snorted, the Phantom was obviously insane. The flat of the sword blade came down on Raoul's thigh. Raoul grunted in pain, the blow stung dreadfully.

"What was that?" Erik cocked his head. "What did you say, boy?"

Raoul clenched his jaw, he was not going to give in to this madman's demands. Another stinging blow, cold steel striking cold flesh with sharp pain.

"Answer me, boy! What did you say?" Erik's voice was rising. Raoul hoped the sound would reach Christine so she could come rescue him.

"I said mad man!" Raoul taunted, hoping that Erik wouldn't start using his blade as it was meant to be used. Two more stinging blows and Raoul felt welts rising on his legs. "Coward!"

Slap! CRACK! More blows, more welts. Raoul didn't know how much more he could stand. "Bastard!"

He sensed the change immediately. Erik froze, sword raised for another blow. "Bastard? Just because my family has not sat on the same patch of dirt for centuries I am a bastard?"

Raoul said nothing, hoping his silence would be less deadly than speaking. It didn't work. Blows fell like rain, falling on every part of Raoul's vulnerable body.

"You are no better than me, Monsieur le Viscomte de Chagny!" Erik was almost shouting now. "I am your better! Your Lord!"

Raoul tried to avoid the blows but the ropes held him too tight. He heard a new noise above Erik's shouts and the snap-slap of the stinging sword. It was someone crying, saying something, but what was it?

Then he realized that the voice was his. "No! No more! Please, stop! Please my lord, I beg you! Stop!"

Then another voice joined in. "Erik! What are you doing? Stop, please! You're hurting him, Erik!"

The frenzied blows stopped. Erik leaned on his sword, panting for breath. "Be quiet, Christine! I was merely teaching Monsieur de Chagny some manners. I think he has learned his lesson now. Return to the carriage."

Christine stood mute, eyes glimmering with unshed tears as she stared at Raoul sagging against his bonds. Shaking her head she backed up until a gravestone impeded her progress. She slid to the ground, her voluminous skirts shielding her from the frozen ground.

For a moment Erik glared at her. When he saw she had no intention of leaving he turned back to Raoul. "Now, monsieur, where were we? Ah yes, the nobility."