how are you guys? Hope you have had a great weekend! I'm excited because I get to see my little cousin soon (I never get to see him because of family problems) And I love him so much and he's the coolest two year old ever. Anyway, onwards!

r&r

xXx

No one moves, breathes. The men are speaking without talking. I can't even discern where I am anymore. A dull throb is spreading like a cancer throughout my bones. I'm going to be sick.

Someone's arm is around my waist, pulling me towards the large doors leading back inside. I can't stop looking at Joseph's body lying crumpled on the floor.

"Christine." He is acting like he is concerned.

"No." It's a quiet, calm command. "You don't get to touch me." I wrench myself from his grip and scramble as far away as I can from him. "I don't touch murderers."

"Christine, see reason." He says, his hands splayed outwards in a gesture of innocence. "I did it for you."

I can feel the air suffocating my lungs as I heave a shaky breath in. "You would kill someone for- for me?"

His eyes darken, "I would do anything for you, Christine."

"I can't believe-" I cut off; I'm choking. I collapse to the floor, images of my homeland calling to me; ripped in half by Joseph Buquet's pale, sweaty face staring at me, his life sucked away from him and it starts all over again.

I can't breathe I can't breathe. I can't breathe. I can't breathe. I can't-

"Christine, I need you to take deep breaths," I feel cold hands slither along the column of my neck.

"Don't kill me," I manage to gasp out. I am a fish out of water.

"Good god, I would never-" he breaks off. But my chest is vibrating with sobs and I can't hold it in any more. I feel my hands go up around Erik's neck and he scoops me up, holding me close to his chest.

"I want you to copy my movements, ok?" I feel him place my hand to his chest, taking deliberate long breaths. Slowly but surely, my chest begins to copy his and I'm nearly breathing properly again.

"Raoul," I say and I feel his arms stiffen, then drop me onto a plush couch that sucks me down, nearly folding me in half. "Why did you beat Raoul up?" I ask; did this man have any good traits?

"You can blame my father for that," he says, raising a hand to lips, tracing their outline. "He thought he was leading you astray as he caught both of you outside the hall having a romantic rendezvous."

I feel my cheeks burning and lean forward, using my hair as a barrier between us. "How did you know?" I ask weakly through my hair.

"I'm not stupid, Christine. If anything, I'm quite clever. But you don't know that, do you? Because," he is angry, shouting at me and I'm lost in his eyes, "because you don't give a shit, Christine. You're so infatuated with that little boy, you don't even seem to realise that I'm here too."

I am angry now; rage seeping from my eyes turning my view black. "How dare you," I seeth, "how dare you come along and accuse me of not paying attention to you. You know, Erik you've hit the nail on he head because truthfully, I really don't give a shit. Why should I? You have blackmailed me into coming here, getting engaged to you - still waiting for that ring, though, and you expect me to hang onto your every word like a puppy with its master? Is it wrong for me to love Raoul when he is the only one who treats me like I'm a human?"

"Love?" I hear him laugh, "is that what you think your pathetic infatuation with the boy is?" He laughs again. But it's an angry, crazed laugh. "You know, Christine, I've figured out your problem. You wish to be wrapped in cotton wool and be told everything is alright. But it isn't," his hand suddenly points to the door we walked in through, "I have just had to kill one of my men under my fathers orders. And don't get me wrong, I love to watch the life drain from my victims, but he died for nothing! I'm not here to tell you that everything is going to be ok, you stupid little girl. I'm here to keep up false pretences by marrying you and doing my father proud."

"I hate you." I say with as much conviction as I can. My anger had ebbed like a balloon slowly being let out.

"You don't," he has moved closer to me. "If you hated me," his breath is fanning my face; crisp and cool. "you wouldn't let me do this."

I am about to ask what he means, but then he's kissing me and I'm kissing him back and I don't know what demonic plague has took over me, but I'm kissing him back and he's so beautiful and he's kissing me. His lips move to my neck, biting the skin there; leaving his mark. I've moulded myself into his body, while he returns to my lips, desperation, anger and something else hidden in his eyes.

"Stop," I manage to say against his lips, "we shouldn't do this, not with Raoul and all."

He laughs again, gently; almost sadly. "We're engaged, Christine. You make it sound like we're having an affair, not the other way round."

I don't know what to say back so I whisper, "sorry," it's the best I can come up with.

"Go to bed, Christine. It's been a long day for all of us." I nod, suddenly near tears and turn to leave. "Oh and tomorrow, my father is coming over with his wife, I'll see to it that you have something extra special for tomorrow." I nod again.

"Goodnight, Erik."

"Goodnight, Christine."