Chapter Four::
She came to stand beside him and dropped to her knees at his side, her mind empty but of thoughts of him. Her voice shook with sorrow and nerves as she let her heart speak what her mind dared not.
"Pitiful creature of darkness, what kind of life have you known, God give me consent to show you, you are not alone!"
She held his face in her hand and kissed him, tasting his tears on his lips. A brief moment passed before she pulled away, a slight smile on her now flushed face; she searched his eyes, normally confident and proud, now filled with wonder and surprise. Her gaze wandered back and forth from his longing eyes to his lips before she finally could resist no more. As her lips captured his once more, time seemed to slow to a crawl. One of Erik's arms circled her waist, pulling her closer and the other hand snaked through her chocolate curls to the back of her neck, deepening the kiss; he held her tight and she reveled in the closeness, feeling safe in his strong embrace. Christine wrapped her arms around his neck, losing herself in the taste of him; God forgive her, but it felt so right…the way her body molded to his, the way his arms fit around her, the way her heart pounded against her chest, and the way the earth spun beneath her…oh, how she longed for this feeling to never end.
Need for air drove them apart, but they continued to hold each other close, her eyes remained closed for a few seconds more before they fluttered open to meet his, and on his face she saw pure love and fragile hope.
"Erik, I…"
The sound of thundering hooves brought reality crashing down upon them before she could finish. With the stealth and grace of a large cat, Erik quickly rose to his feet and gently helped Christine to hers and positioned himself protectively in front of her as Raoul came into view.
"Christine! Christine! Whatever you believe, this man, this thing, is not your father!" He shouted as he slid off the rather winded stallion. He drew his sword as he rushed towards her, his every movement challenging the man before him. "Let her go you monster!"
A low, menacing growl escaped from the Phantom as he too unsheathed his sword, just in time to block Raoul's blow.
Christine watched in muted horror as the two men fought, her breath catching in her throat each time their blades collided. They fought their way around countless headstones and lifeless trees, trading offensive and defensive strikes; the sound of metal against metal pervading the air. Raoul cried out in pain as Erik's sword slashed his arm and he fell against some poor soul's tomb, before pushing himself back to his feet. Christine followed as the moved through the cemetery, not wishing to see what may happen but too frightened to look away. She had tried many times to find her voice and beg for this to end but when she opened her mouth to speak, no words came forth; so she prayed silently for…
Erik was on the ground, his weapon kicked away, and Raoul stood above him, ready to plunge his sword into his heart…
"No Raoul!"
Her voice, desperate and terrified, cut through the heavy silence and both men turned to look at the woman who so consumed them.
"No…don't do this." She pleaded, tears once more coursing down her face. Raoul looked down at Erik, contempt and hatred contorting his perfect face, 'I should finish this now' he thought briefly to himself, before replacing his sword in its sheath, 'Christine would never forgive me.' He backed away slowly, never breaking eye contact,until he was standing beside his horse.
Christine slowly walked towards her Angel, needing to know that he was unharmed, when an arm around encircled her waist and unceremoniously pulled her onto a horse. Still in shock, Christine found resistance impossible and only watched in tears as her Angel faded into the distance.
She sat on the cold, stone floor of the tiny chapel, holding herself as she rocked back and forth. How had everything gone so wrong? What was she doing? Nothing was making any sense! Her entire body shook violently, draining her of any energy she may have had.
Footsteps on the stairwell drew her from her personal hell and her heart skipped a beat in anticipation, but just as quickly fell, as she looked up to meet Raoul's ocean blue eyes.
"Raoul, I'm frightened, don't make me do this. Don't put me through this ordeal by fire, it scares me…" She had not moved from the floor and her gaze soon returned to her father's portrait. How could he expect her to be okay with this? How could he use her in such a way?
"Christine, Christine don't think that I don't care, but every hope and every prayer rests on you now" he sang softly, trying to calm her fears. He walked closer and put a hand on her shoulder, ignoring how she flinched at his touch. "I promise you that I will keep you safe, Little Lotte, but if we don't do this now, this monster…he kills without a thought, he murders all that's good and as long as he lives he will haunt us 'til we're dead."
Anger boiled inside her at his words and she jumped to her feet, spun to face him, and struck him hard in the face.
"How dare you! He is no monster! Do not ever speak of him like that, you don't know him! How dare you!"
Raoul looked up in surprise, her sudden outburst had caught him off guard, but, he supposed that it was warranted. A cool, and eerily calm smile twisted his lips as he rubbed his face, which shockingly still stung, and he closed the distance between them and brought his face mere inches from hers.
"All you need do is perform, Little Lotte…I'll take it from there." He cooed in her ear as ran his hand through her hair.
She pulled away enough to study his eyes, unsure why she felt so uneasy, but needing reassurance.
"Do you promise you won't hurt him?" Her stomach churned at the thought of anyone causing him pain and it made her physically ill to think she would play a hand in this pain. Raoul cupped her chin in his large, cold and clammy hand and stroked her cheek softly, and when he spoke, his voice was low and soothing.
"I promise Lotte. When he comes to watch you perform his opera, we will simply arrest him and take him away, where he will await a fair trial just like anyone else. You have my word."
Christine smiled sweetly as he pulled her into a quick hug before he left her to compose herself in private. When the echo of his boot steps had vanished, she once more collapsed to the floor, enjoying the cool of the stone on her heated skin. Raoul's words had been meant to comfort her, and had she not been looking at him, he might have been successful…but she had seen his eyes. His eyes, the sweet, bright, ocean blue orbs that she once loved, now dark, gray…hatred and anger churning like the stormy sea. He had no intention of keeping his word. He was planning on killing her Angel and she was the bait.
"Twisted every way, what answer can I give?Am I to risk my life to win the chance to live? Can I betray the man who inspires my voice? Do I have any choice?I know I can't refuse, and yet I wish I could…" she sang softly, trying desperately to understand what she must do. "Oh God, if I agree, what horrors wait for me? In this, the Phantom's opera?" She closed her eyes against the confusion and pain as a silent tear slid down her alabaster skin.
