A/N: VERY IMPORTANT! This is the chapter where the rating jumps from T to M. Cause: Violence. If you are underage (not that I hope it'll keep you out, all of you 12-13-14-15 years old people!) do not read! So, lets skip from KayErik to LerouxErik. Don't you just love it when he is jealous and angry at the same time? :D


Chapter 11

To you, my dear

Erik was heading to the royal chamber. Everything, which had to be done that day, was completed. Hell, he even went down to the kitchens - giving a heart attack to the cooks with it - and asked if he could help. The whole day only added to the infamous idea that the king was not entirely good in the head.

He couldn't care less about it though. If he had to choose between working himself to death and snapping Raoul's neck, he knew which one would cause him more joy.

He opened the door to his and Christine's bedroom, expecting to find his wife inside. To his surprise, it was empty. Someone had made the bed while they were away. Everything looked as if nothing had happened; only a bottle of wine and two glasses indicated that somebody had actually come in the room. Erik blessed the generous soul who brought the drink inside. It was exactly what he needed.

He poured some of the blood-red liquid into one of the crystal glasses and stood beside the window. The dreadful place, where his wife had met her lover, was not in his sight thankfully. Right now, everything was quiet and peaceful. If there was anything better than a little solitude and a glass of fine wine, then he wasn't interested in knowing. This… was enough for him.

Involuntarily his thoughts wandered to the little problems he had to face. They seemed to increase as the days went by. If only he knew a way to stop them. Maybe he really overreacted… just a little.

'That's an understatement' he laughed at himself bitterly, although he had no idea how he could let things out of control so soon.

He let his emotions take the best of him, a fact that hadn't happened since he was a child. He always had been proud of his self-control and now this girl, Christine, could undo him in a second. One tiny smile on those full lips, a flash of those beautiful green eyes…

He smirked faintly as he smelled the wine. She was either very brave or awfully foolish. Grown up men tried to avoid contact with him, if it was possible. And yet, there was this girl who went after him even when he could have strangled her with the red clouds of fury covering his mind.

He had to admit that her endurance amazed him. She was supposed to run… Wasn't it what most people did after meeting him? On a level it even annoyed him. He had got so used to awaking fright in people that… That he almost forgot how he used to long for a simple, quiet life.

One thing was always clear, had he been born in a common family he would have been killed before he could cry for the first time. Monsters weren't welcomed anywhere. However, blue-blooded monsters were perfect for the cruel ways of ruling. He never had to bother what his people think about him. It was clear that they knew him to be a freak. In his first years as a king, he tried to be helpful and generous; to make men understand that being different was not something they had to turn down. These tries ended in failures.

He may have made a little progress in developing the cities, but the people in the countryside were unyielding. The old superstitions wouldn't be defeated and he had to accept this.

Therefore, in the end, he just let them talk behind his back and tried to ignore the cruel remarks. He was nothing more than a masked freak with power.

"Certainly not one for the crown" he laughed bitterly at his own sentimental weakness and raised the glass.

Before his tongue could taste the wine, a loud crash was heard. Erik placed down the glass on the table and turned to the door. Muffled noises came from the other side. Usually Cerberus sounded like that when he tried to get inside. But this time human voices were mixed with the scratching.

"No! Let me go! I have to talk to His Majesty! I must!"

Erik opened the door only to find Madeleine struggling between two women. They were trying to pull her away from the door but the little devil fought with all her power.

"Release her!"

The order worked as always, and the little girl almost fell to the floor as her arms were freed. One of the women tried to explain the situation.

"I'm very sorry, your Majesty, we couldn't make her calm down. She said she needed to talk to you but of course…" she was cut off when Erik made a dismissing move with his hand and bent down to the child's level.

"What's the matter, Madeleine?"

"I saw… I saw that… that man…"

She was struggling for every word because the running and the hard physical effort got the best of her. The poor girl was visibly shaking. Erik picked her up and carried her inside the room. The two maids just stared at him in disbelief.

"Calm down."

Erik placed Madeleine on the soft pillows of the sofa, and for a second she forgot everything. She was in the… in the royal bedroom. Everything seemed so extravagant and expensive. The paintings, the furniture, even the colors. Soft-looking Persian rugs were covering the floor and there she was sitting, in her dirty clothes and…

She spotted her roses. They were placed right on the night table; the deep red shade matched the room's golds and browns. She felt proud of herself for a second. Then her task came to her mind and she looked upon the king.

He was towering over her, but this actually calmed her. Her gaze wandered a little more and settled on the wine in alarm.

"Have you drunk any, Your Majesty?" she asked with panic in her voice.

Erik was caught off guard. That was the last thing he expected. Since when did he have to inform little girls about his drinking habits?

"No, I haven't. Why?"

"I… I saw that man!" she was getting excited again and her speech sped up. "He talked to a dark man… and he said that one drop was enough for a nasty illness! Then that man said that your Queen is silly and she treats him as a helpless child… they were talking about waiting for his brother and…"

"Slow down, child!" Erik ordered, his voice snapped, but he had already drawn a conclusion from the things Madeleine had babbled.

She stopped and looked up with fear in her eyes.

"I'm… I'm sorry…"

"Who went out to meet this man?"

"That… that injured French. They say he has been with your wife and…"

Erik silenced her with a glance. Although it wasn't his intention to frighten the girl, he still couldn't handle that fact.

"You say he met a man who gave him…"

"I didn't see it clearly. But I know it shined and they were talking about drops… I can only guess, Your Majesty" her voice was timid and quiet now. Madeleine didn't even look up anymore. Her shoes seemed to keep her interest.

"What did they say?"

"That one drop was enough to make someone ill. They wanted to get a man drunk… I only thought that… I'm sorry if I'm just… babbling, Sir."

"Don't stop it here" he bent down. He needed all of his self-control to force calmness on himself. Those bastards… "Don't be afraid, tell me everything. It's very important, Madeleine."

"I… One of them said that your wife is just a silly girl who treats him as a helpless child. Then they agreed to meet around the border in half a day…"

Erik closed his eyes. If his theory was proved right, then he wouldn't have much time.

"He also said it wasn't hard to get them against each other…" the girl whispered.

Them. The word was the last Erik expected. Could she be a part of this? Could she really help them? Help them kill him… after all she did... she went to that man when he asked and she fall in his arms as soon as they got close to each other. Could she…

"Thank you, child" he nodded as he straightened out. "Go home now; I'll reward you as soon as I arrange few things. Now I have more pressing matters to handle."

Madeleine quickly slid off of the sofa and darted toward the door. She turned in the last minute.

"Was I helpful, Your Majesty?"

"More than you can imagine" Erik said without turning. He was looking at the glass of wine he had been ready to drink. "On your way out, please send some servants in."

"Yes, Sir" she nodded and ran out.

Erik's eyes flashed when he heard the door close behind her and his grip on the glass tightened. His hand smashed the crystal and the little glass pieces cut his bare skin, leaving the wine and blood flowing down his arm. Erik groaned and quickly wiped everything off. He didn't mind the pain, but getting a little of that liquid into his system wasn't a good idea. A little red spot appeared on the bed sheet. Once he was ready he just waited.

Warm blood trickled down his arm from the cuts and he got mesmerized by the feeling. The wounds throbbed in the same beat with his heart. A heart that was full of murderous plans right now.

As soon as the door opened, he turned but only saw a tired Christine coming in. She was walking around the castle all day, hoping to get rid of her guards but to no avail. Once she saw the blood and the cuts she was beside him within a heartbeat.

"What happened? I'll call a doctor and…"

"You'll come with me!" Erik pulled his arm out of her hands. "We are going to pay a little visit to your lover."

Christine looked at him with wide eyes. The whole scene was so sudden and… morbid. He stood completely still with a bloody hand and calmness… the bad form of calmness, forced and ice-cold.

"Your Majesty?"

Erik opened the door to the servants. Christine couldn't hear his orders but one of the servants soon turned and walked away and then another followed. The third maid just nodded slowly and soon she disappeared too.

Erik stormed to the other side of the room and took hold of the wine's bottle and the remained glass.

"Take my hand."

"Is it an order?" Christine asked back.

"Yes!"

She slowly walked closer and reached for his good hand, but it was holding the bottle and the glass. His injured palm waited for hers.

"Come on, dear, won't you take my hand?"

The young girl swallowed. What had happened to him? Holding back her nausea, she reached his blood soaked fingers and put her hand on top of them. With a grin he laced his fingers with hers, while making sure that she felt that famous "blue blood".

"Come, I don't want us to be late."

Erik opened the door and let the girl go out first. They soon met the first servant Erik had talked to. The poor man raised two more glasses and a silver tray. The king put the bottle and everything on it and took hold of it gracefully. Every time Christine tried to let go of his hand he squeezed harder. There was no way to escape, she was trapped, and they both knew it.

XXXXX

Raoul almost jumped as the door opened behind his back.

He was putting some clothes in a hastily made bag. It was nothing more than some sheets pinned together. He dropped some bandages beside the spare jacket he had stolen from a chair and looked over everything again. It seemed ready. This was the moment when the door opened.

"Already leaving?"

The man closed his eyes. That was a problem he hadn't counted.

'That bastard was supposed to be dead by now!'

He turned slowly to see a death pale Christine and… Erik. The man placed the tray on the little coffee table. Raoul recognized the wine immediately. He had no doubts.

"Why, dear Raoul, you look as if you've seen a ghost" a sadistic smirk appeared on his face. "But you haven't… has he, my dear?"

Christine shook her head quickly. Her trembling only increased when Erik pulled her hand up to his lips and kissed her fingers almost gently. Still she could feel his teeth push against her skin.

"Wha… In what do I owe the honor of your visit, Your Majesty?" Raoul asked, his voice shaking.

This only heightened Erik's amusement. As long as he was entertained, he wouldn't start beating the living daylight out of this man.

"No need for any formalities, you already know my wife quite well. Call me Erik, please."

Some hurried nods were the reaction to his words and the king began to pour the wine into the three glasses. Two blue eyes were fixed on the bottle. Raoul was on the edge of panic. He didn't want to… or did he?

"So, Raoul…"

Christine shivered. She never thought that so much hatred could exist in one man's voice.

"Where did you come from?"

"Pa-paris…" he mumbled.

"You can remember now, interesting" Erik raised a glass and hold it out for him. "One very beautiful city. Tell me, have you ever met your ruler?"

"I've seen him once."

"Is that so?" Erik nodded and waited for him to take his glass. "You know, when you are offered a drink, especially from a king, you have to accept it."

"Thank you" he whispered faintly.

"Good. Christine, my dear."

The girl took her own glass and simply held it. There was no way that this could end well.

"I'd like to propose a toast to this beauty, who has obviously turned both of our lives upside down. To you, my dear."

Raoul only stared at him and didn't move. Erik began to feel annoyed.

"You know it's terribly rude not to drink to a lady's health."

"I just… Maybe you…"

"Let me make it clear" the masked man released his wife. "Either you drink it yourself, or I'll force it down your throat."

The younger man trembled and nodded. He wasn't left with much of a choice. The rich aroma of the wine filled his senses as he raised the glass to his mouth and swallowed every single drop.

He didn't feel, but he imagined the burning as the liquid rolled into his stomach. The delicate crystal-dust, he had added to the wine, scratched his insides tearing his flesh open… Unconsciously he walked to the bed on shaking legs and dropped down.

"Raoul?" Christine asked slowly. He seemed sick.

"Don't you think he is pale?" Erik asked as he took the girl's glass and went to the man. "Here, I'm sure the wine will bring the color back to your cheeks."

Raoul felt like he was on a spinning wheel. The heat was beginning to become unbearable and his stomach started throbbing. It wasn't overly painful yet, but uncomfortable enough.

"No…" he whispered. "Please don't…"

"It was an order" Erik said darkly and pushed the glass in his hand.

Raoul moaned and finished that dose. When he drank Erik's too, he almost collapsed. Christine was terrified as she watched his body shaking.

"Erik… Erik what are you doing?"

Her husband could hear the hysteria in her voice, but he was too caught up with the man's torment. Raoul's handsome face looked like it was melting.

"That's for your plan" he whispered. "And there was something else… Ah yes, I remember."

He pulled the man up without any effort and hit him in the stomach. A bubbling rattle erupted from the man's throat and Erik dropped him back in disgust. Red liquid covered his shoulder.

"As much as it's nauseating, it is so much worthing it. That's for touching my wife."

"Erik, what the hell are you doing?!" Christine screamed.

"Scream as loud as you can. No one will come here, I made sure."

Christine trembled as her eyes turned to the man on the bed. Raoul was panting hard and tried to say something. However, out of his lips came nothing more than meaningless coughing.

"Erik please... do something!"

"No" he said and began to unbutton his ruined shirt. "I'm finished here."

"Erik!" she screamed and threw her body on the door. "Somebody please!"

"Louder, Christine. They won't come if you are not real in your role" he said dryly.

"Please, somebody!" Christine hit the door as hard as she could. Pure terror took over her mind as she screamed for help.

Few minutes later she fell down beside the door and sobbed violently. There was no way out, she was locked up with her husband who tortured a man.

"You are a sick bastard" she sobbed. "Let me go!"

"Not that your little hysterics are not amusing, but it's pointless now. He is already dead."

Christine's breathing stopped the minute the words left his mouth. No... he had to be lying. Raoul couldn't be dead.

Slowly she raised her head just to see the horrific sight. The man was lying on his side, blood dripping down the corner of his mouth. All Christine could do was to open and close her mouth, without any words coming out. She looked like a fish... a very sick fish.

"No, darling, you really don't want to waste your tears on that bastard" Erik pushed hismelf from the wall he had been leaning to. "Do you have any idea what has just happened here?"

"You killed him..." she sobbed. "You killed him!"

"Quite the contrary!" Erik hissed. "It was his wine put in our room. I almost drank it, Christine! He wanted to kill me!"

Her eyes widened as she looked at Erik. Those yellow eyes were piercing through her soul.

"But maybe it's not such a surprise to you. You knew he wanted to do this."

She realised it that moment... Erik thought she was part of the plan.

"No!" she protested as Erik grabbed her and pulled her up. "No, I had no idea about this! I swear!"

"Prove it, Christine! Prove he didn't let you in his little plan yesterday when I wasn't there anymore!"

"He didn't! Erik, you are hurting me!" the grip on her wrist only tightened. "I promise, I had no idea!"

"Where is the proof Christine? How the Hell did he get out of his room this time if you didn't help him?!" he was shouting at her.

"I have no idea. I swear I didn't know... Your are not my favourite person right now, but I could never hurt you! I swear."

"That means nothing to me."

"Please... we only walked back to the palace and he... he kissed me... that's what happened that night! You must believe me!"

But Erik's mind turned off after the "he kissed me" part. His wife let another man...

Christine almost lost her ballance when Erik let go of her. Thankfully the door kept her on her feet.

"Go to our room" Erik commanded, raising the key. "Go to our room and get ready for the bed."

"You believe me?" she asked, her voice shaking. The tears were gleaming on her face.

"No."

The girl bit her lower lip and nodded. She didn't expect him to do so. But right then, she was ready to kill herself if that was what he wanted. After turning quickly, she opened the door but Erik's last words echoed in her ears.

"And don't bother with your nightgown. You will not need it tonight."