AN: Hello, my lovely readers. Sorry for not updating. I have been traveling.

xxx

Eloise awoke, nor fully aware of her location. She blinked a few times and attempted to clear the sleep from her eyes. She was unable to bring her hands to her eyes to do this, however, for someone had his arm wrapped around her.

She quickly remembered all that had transpired in the short time since she had come to France. She knew she was in a room-a honeymoon suite-with Raoul de Chagny sleeping soundly besides her, his snoring loud in her left ear.

The young woman had no way of knowing what time it was, though she guessed early morning as a thin stream of light was able to make its way through a crack in the curtains. If that was the case, it would be best for them to get going. There was no telling what the gypsy camp would put the Phantom through, and they only had limited time to save Christine from a terrible fate. Her only option was to start squirming beneath Raoul's arm and try and rouse him.

Something shifting about and a nagging voice slowly stirred Raoul from his slumber. He wasn't fully awake yet, and therefore didn't remember all that was going on. He merely thought it was Christine, attempting to wake him for something-food, perhaps, or to be asked to see some play or something.

"Go back to sleep, love," he coaxed, hugging his "wife" closer and cuddling his face into her hair. He stopped, though. Something was decidedly wrong. This woman smelled different and felt different in his arms. He pulled away from her to look down on the annoyed face of Eloise.

"Good morning, 'dear'," Eloise joked while finally pulling herself away from him to stand up. She stretched and headed toward the bathroom. "We should be going," she called. "We don't have all that long to rescue Christine and Erik."

Raoul merely grunted and forced himself out of the warm bed. He was not a morning person. He was anything but cheerful in the early hours, and the mention of the Opera Ghost certainly did not help his mood any. He remained in this mood as the woman and he left the hotel and continued on their journey to the gypsy camp. With luck, they would arrive within a few days.

xxx

The pair had stopped after some hours of traveling to break for food. Raoul had insisted upon stopping, despite Eloise's protests. She had traveled through this small town they were stopped in previously. It was anything but safe. The town was known as dangerous to men and women alike. Men would often be murdered; women raped. And, given Raoul's looks and family name, it would not take them long to get in trouble.

Raoul had, finally, allowed Eloise to work some of her gypsy magic and create a disguise for him and her out of some clothing and with the use of some makeup. It seemed rather odd to her that Raoul happened to be carrying a lady's makeup, but she had not questioned it.

The disguises were simple enough. Eloise had changed into a simple black dress so as not to attract attention. She'd tied her hair back as well. She looked the part of the common town person. No one would give her special attention, or so she hoped. Raoul was dressed in all black, and the cheapest clothing that he had-though that was not saying much. She had used the makeup to contour his face to give him the impression of an older gentleman. Of the murders one would hear about, it was rare for an old man to be killed who was perhaps traveling with his plain daughter-or so Eloise hoped.

Eloise and Raoul now sat in a small tavern. It was a bustle of activity-people from throughout Europe who had made this town their home flocked here. It was a true hive of scum and villainy.

And it was perfect. This was the best place to hear what was going on in the town. Perhaps Raoul had made the right choice in wanting to come here. Eloise had managed to spot someone who clearly followed the gypsy ways, though he was not someone she recognized. She had chosen to sit at a table beside his, her back to him. She could listen in and learn everything she needed.

"So," Raoul said, trying to make small talk while waiting on their food, "you've been here?"

"Not to this place," Eloise replied, still trying to listen to the table behind her. She hadn't told Raoul anything. The fop would likely ruin the plan. He wasn't very good at subtly. "I passed through the town on my travels. I told you about it already."

A shot rang out as someone was gunned down. The waiting pair turned in time to see a man dressed in all green flop down on the table, dead. The man sitting across from him, dressed in a white shirt with black vest and black pants, holstered his weapon and walked away from the table. He tossed the head bar tender a small sack of money commenting, "Sorry for the mess."

Raoul's eyes were wide, and he was further stunned as everyone else went about their business. "Isn't someone going to do something about that?" he whispered harshly, finally realizing that perhaps the woman was not over reacting about this town.

"No," Eloise answered, with a small laugh. "Guns are uncivilized, but so it this town. Just keep your head down, and try not to act….well, like yourself."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Raoul countered, his voice rising slightly. A few odd looks made him quiet down, though he fixed the woman with a sour look.

Eloise rolled her eyes. "Don't act like the prissy, rich boy. Act more….I don't know, moody. Brooding." A thought came to her, and she had to laugh shortly. "Act like Erik!" That only made the sour look on his face became worse. She would have gone on the joke further if the men behind her hadn't changed their topic to something most interesting.

"Haven't you seen Markus's new toy yet?" the first man commented, his tone gay from perhaps a little too much beer. "The Devil's Child has returned!"

"How would I see it?" the second man slurred, his tone sounding annoyed. "Markus is all the way out in scenic nowhere in Deutschland."

"No he's noooot," replied the first, laughing slightly. "I know something you don't know!"

"Well, tell me!" demanded the second man while banging his fist loudly on the table.

"He's here nooow," the first answered, his voice going up in octaves as he talked. "He's just outside the city, and he has the Devil with him! Oh, and the Devil has a laadddyyy friend! Hee hee."

The second man took a minute to process the information. "I'm going to go see it," he commented as he stood up and stumbled away from the table. He managed to trip and spill his drink all over the man in black sitting at the table beside him.

"Oh no! Uncle!" Eloise calling out, pretending to be concerned and try and cover up her laughter.

The drunken man looked at the man in black. "You look boring. Come with me and we'll see the Devil Child." He pulled Raoul forcefully to his feet. Even in this drunk state, the much larger man was easily able to overpower the noble. He offered his other free hand to Eloise. "Come on, lady."

It would seem that the two would be reaching their goal much earlier than expected as they were pulled along by the random drunk man. Somewhere in the background an odd group made a deal to travel to an odd place to save a princess in distress….

xxx

AN: It's a shorter chapter. I'm sorry. Who caught the Star Wars references? Ha ha