Chapter three: Mr. Erik Chagney


"Christine?" I awoke with a start to see a man standing over me in the early morning light. I gasped and sat up. "Christine, it's me from Raoul." he said stepping back a little. "I'm sorry to wake you up. But it's almost day and this room needs Some… decorating."

"Oh." I sat up and he respectfully turned his back to me. I smiled at that. I got into my mother's pink robe. "I'm decent, somewhat."

He chuckled and turned back, "ok, I ripped up your party dress somewhat so it looks like we had a fight."

I looked around the room and saw he'd strewn furniture over the room. Papers were everywhere. I hated cleaning up messes, but this one I'd clean up with relief.

"What part in the room needs to be decorated?" I asked. "It's a mess!"

"The bed." He explained jumping on it and knocking some of the pillows off. I watched as he took a knife out of his boot and cut his hand!

"Raoul!" I dashed forward.

He squeezed his fist and some blood dripped out on the sheets. "Get that pitcher." He said.

I obeyed but stared at him. He then put his hand in the pitcher with a hiss. The water turned crimson. "Raoul."

"It'll look like you washed the blood off the sheets. Then, we have to make you up somewhat." He said taking my hand and placing it on his face. He made me scratch him so hard.

I yanked my hand away, "Your face!"

"Will be fine!" he assured me taking the knife and making a thin slice on his cheek. The blood dripped down and he wiped it off. "Christine," he said. "I'm going to have to hit your cheek."

I stiffened and closed my eye, "I understand."

My skin stung as he hit me. He immediately apologized, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." I opened my eyes as he held the knife under my eye. "Don't move."

I had frozen. He did a thin slice under my eye and a little blood dribbled down. He closed the knife and I swiped at the blood. "Have you done this before?" I asked.

"No." he explained. "My brother is a genius. He's showed me a lot of things. Have you any siblings?"

I shook my head, "No."

He cleared his throat and had the decency to look embarrassed. "This will be uncomfortable." He said. "I'll have to….make it look as if we were….you know."

I nodded, "You have my permission. Just, don't enjoy it too much."

He laughed, his laugh sending tingles down my spine. "I'll try not to."

I closed my eyes as he kissed my neck, only to have them fly open when he bit me. "Raoul?"

"The mark won't last long." He said. "I promise."

"I," the words were never finished for Raoul kissed me, hard. I was sure my lips were going to be bruised. He bit on my lower lip a little, causing it to bleed. I winced as his teeth maintained pressure on my lip. Pleasure, filled me and I gave into the kiss slightly.

He broke the kiss and apologized again, "I'm sorry."

I flushed, ashamed for my apparent wantonness. "Are you going to apologize for every cut and mark?" I didn't want him to know, but I was enjoying his attention, somewhat.

He nodded. "Yes. Christine, I don't enjoy this. If it were just kissing, I would. But I'd rather it be you were a more willing participant."

"I don't quite trust you Raoul." I said. "For all I know, you'd could be doing this for your own pleasure."

"Then why didn't I take you last night?" He challenged me. "Or this morning?"

"Like you said, you'd rather I be more willing."

"You haven't hit me or anything yet. Why?" I stared at him. He waited for me to answer, but I couldn't. "Or could it be, that you trust me more than you care to admit?"

I couldn't answer him. How did he know me so well? It was impossible. I dropped my gaze and couldn't look him in the eye. "You can help." He said quietly, taking my wrists in a painful grasp. I gasped. "I'm sorry. But I must make them look somewhat red."

"Did your brother teach this to you?"

"No." he said. "But a girl did try and claim he forced himself on her. He pointed out numerous things about her appearance that night. Her wrists were smooth, unmarked. And her face was spotless. True her clothes were torn, but in all the wrong places. Turned out her parents needed my money and my brother was the best candidate since no one other than family has seen him so his character would be questionable."

"What exactly is your brother?"

His face sobered, "Christine, he's deformed. He wears a mask and spends most of his time indoors. He's read thousand of books and has a huge library. So he's extremely knowledgeable. He'll know how to get you out of here."

"If he can't?"

"Then I'll run away with you."

"Don't tease!"

"I wasn't."

I trembled under his gaze. He was silent as we pinched my arms and shoulders. Raoul left some more bite impressions on my neck and shoulders. He continued apologizing profusely throughout the whole ordeal. All too soon, the hour neared. Raoul put on his rumpled coat, mussed his hair and stashed his tie in his pocket. My heart ached to see him go, for I knew when he left, life wasn't as safe anymore.

"I shall return soon." He said, as if sensing my fears. "I promise." I closed my eyes, memorizing the sounds of his voice for when I needed it. I felt his lips on mine and my eyes flew open. Raoul cleared his throat and backed off. "Your….lip swelling was dying, down."

I shook my head. "You are a dreadful liar."

A dreadful pounding at the door caused me to jump. "Chagney! Your brother is here."

He groaned. "Great. Just what I need. He'll probably hit me." He trotted down the stairs and I followed him down. "Coming." He growled stuffing his shirt halfway into his pant. He stopped and turned to me. "Bare a shoulder." He hissed.

I nodded and arranged my nightdress. I called my emotions together and even managed to squeeze out a few tears.

Raoul unlocked the door and I saw a tall, dark, masked man stood there with Gerald. Gerald looked uneasy standing next to Raoul's brother. Erik, I think his name was, his face hardened as he took one look at me. "Raoul de Chagney!" He roared angrily and I jumped, the fury in his voice rocked the room. "What's gotten into you?"

Raoul laughed uneasily, sensing his brother's anger. "It's just a little fun."

"Yeah." Gerald said. "He paid for her!"

"Two, thousand pounds." Raoul said. "She was just as you promised. God, I love an untried girl, especially when she's struggling."

"You…bastard swine." Erik suddenly punched Gerald in the jaw flattening him to the floor! "Selling this child!"

I stared as Erik walks up to me and scooped me into his arms. "What?" I stammered. I gazed into those stormy eyes and my heart froze in my chest. Dear God in heaven, I thought Raoul was handsome! Erik was so handsome that I almost fainted. His mask made him even more intriguing.

"I'm getting you to a doctor." He said gently to me.

"No way!" Gerald roared. "She's mine! I own her fair and square!"

"I suggest you stay on the floor monsieur," Erik growled and Gerald froze. "otherwise, I will take you down again and you will not get up this time." He shouted at Raoul. "Make sure the carriage is ready! Go! I shall have you horsewhipped when I get home!"

Raoul jumped like a frightened boy and practically ran down the stairs. I was just as intimidated by this man as I was a Gerald. He moved swiftly down the hall, his black cloak billowing around him.

"My apologies, mademoiselle," he said. "I'll do whatever I can to take care of you."

I couldn't say a word. I was stunned. I was actually leaving this place! I drew my robe around me tighter. Raoul opened the carriage door for me and his brother set me on the seat next to him.

"Driver, home!" he barked slamming the door and with a lurch we were off. Instantly, Erik gripped the front of Raoul's shirt. "Alright, brother, start explaining fast!"

I gripped his arm. "Please, he didn't hurt me."

"I know that!" He snapped. "He did a good job….for a beginner."

"Oh," Raoul shook Erik's hand off him. "stop it. First things first." He smoothed his hair, "Erik this is Christine Daae."

He ignored my offered hand and scowled at his brother. "So? What was going on up there that you had to make it look like you'd taken advantage of her."

"Gerald, was holding her prisoner." Raoul explained. "So, I paid 2,000 francs for her for the night. I mapped out the layout to her room and I also made a wax mold of the key for you to duplicate."

He handed Erik the mold and I stared at him. "Are you insane?" Erik growled. "Christine Daae happens to Mr. Bartlett's whore."

"I am not!" I said at the exact same time that Raoul shouted, "she is not!" I blushed and dropped my gaze.

"She's a virgin." Raoul said.

"Really?" Erik arched a brow. "How would you know that?"

"Erik, I have my ways," he said. "I certainly wouldn't disgrace the family name by marrying any woman who'd have a romp with any man."

"Women have tongues like snakes." Erik groused.

I stiffened and glared at him. I switched carriage seats and sat next to Raoul, my disdain for the man was growing. "Christine isn't a liar," Raoul said squeezing my hand. "Besides, I'm going to marry her!"

I gasped and my face went scarlet.

"Impossible!" Erik trumpeted. "As you said, Bartlett owns her. I only got her out for a few days. You can't run because they'll find you. Finish the fling with her and let her go. Mother and father won't approve of her," he glared at me. "You're not from noble birth, are you?" I shook my head. "I thought not. Her reputation isn't good. She may be pretty on the outside but you should consider your position."

"I have," Raoul said squeezing my hand. "And I've decided it's going to be right beside her." He held my hand tightly. "I'm not letting her go Erik."

Erik groaned and sat back. "Fine. I'll help you, only to make you happy. If there's anything I can't stand it's listening to you play the piano."

I perked up. "You play?"

"I play," Erik said. "Raoul…..tinkers."

"I'm afraid so," Raoul said. "I play to relax. Erik is a musical genius."

"Really?" I asked. "Is there's anything he's not a genius with?"

Raoul glanced sideways at his brother before saying. "Women."

Erik kicked him and Raoul laughed as Erik spat something in what I presumed to be Italian at him.

"What?" I asked.

"Censored." Raoul said. "He insults me in every language he knows and I believe that's about twenty languages."

"Are you two always like this?" I asked. "So argumentative?"

"Erik's moody, I'm charming." He said. "I'm handsome, Erik's mysterious."

"Hideous." Erik said.

"Mysterious." Raoul corrected. "He's clever, I'm somewhat….well I'm not as clever."

I added with a laugh. "And you're both crazy!"