A/N: Once again, thank you to all who have been reading and reviewing. I hope that I have conveyed all the feelings in this chapter adequately. Enjoy! ~J

Chapter 10 – The Calm Before the Storm

Erik rushed past Christine, Nadir in his arms. Darius, who for the most part remained unscathed, trailed along behind them.

"Bring me some water!" he barked at her as he kicked open the door to her old room. "And some blankets!"

He placed Nadir on the empty bed and propped him up with the pillows.

"You look terrible old man," he said grimly.

"I still look better than you," Nadir chuckled and then winced at the pain the action caused.

"I think we can add broken ribs to your list of injuries," he said as Christine walked through the door, balancing the wash basin on top of the blankets. She set them down on the floor next to Erik and backed up against the wall to stay out of his way.

Erik dabbed at the blood around Nadir's mouth and nose. The laughter in his eyes died as he asked, "Who did this to you?"

Nadir pushed Erik's hand away and wet his split lips. "The men who murdered the Vicomte." He took a breath. "They want Christine."

Christine whimpered and pressed herself harder against the wall. Erik stood up and pulled her into a protective embrace. She threw her arms around his waist and buried her face in his chest.

"You know I would never let anything happen to you," he said smoothing her hair with one hand. He could feel her nod, but her grip didn't loosen.

"They have given you twenty-four hours," Nadir said. He struggled to sit up and gestured for Darius to come closer. "G-give him the letter."

Darius stuck his hand in his pocket, pulled out and crumpled piece of paper and handed it to Erik.

You have twenty-four hours to get the deeds to the

Changy's land plus 300,000 francs. If you

do not hand over what I'm demanding, I will be forced

to inform the proper authorities that you murdered

your beloved fiance for money in order to run off

with your lover. Meet me at the abandoned church

ten miles south of Paris tomorrow at midnight.

Erik threw the paper down in disgust. "He just signed his own death warrant!" he spat.

Nadir coughed and flopped back down to the pillows. "He-he," he rasped, "could be trouble. He w-was asking about you."

"Don't speak," Erik told him quietly, releasing Christine to bring the wet cloth to his forehead.

"N-no Erik. He is cunning. You must surprise him."

Erik's hand dropped to his side as he contemplated. Slowly, he got up and walked back over to Christine. He lifted her chin and looked unsteadily into her eyes.

"I will make this all go away," he began. "You will never have to live in fear of them again. But to do that, I need your help."

She met his gaze, tears filling her vision. He gently kissed them away as they fell down her cheeks.

"Are you brave enough to meet him again?" She looked down. "Look at me," he whispered. "I will be with you the entire time. But I need you to distract them long enough for me to strike. Can you do this?"

She searched his face. Even through the mask she could sense his devotion and determination. And in that moment she knew that Erik would not let any harm come to her. She trusted him completely.

"Yes, Erik."

"Good," he replied, holding her tight to him.

"I-if I may Sir," Darius cut in, "suggest that I be allowed to tend to my master now."

"Nonsense." Erik stated. "You are both guests in my home. You need to rest as well."

"With all due respect," he said evenly, "what I need is to fulfill my duty."

Sensing that Darius would not budge on the subject, Erik simply replied, "As you wish." Taking Christine by the hand he lead her from the room. "Please don't hesitate to ask if there is anything you need. Good night, Daroga."

He shut the door softly. "Come Christine, it's late and you have been up far too long."

She watched as he doused all the candles in the living room and then followed as he took her by the hand and lead her through the inky blackness to his bedroom.

She heard the soft moan of the hinges as the door was eased closed. When Erik's hand left hers, her heart tightened in her chest with apprehension. Naturally she assumed that he was lighting the lamp on the bedside table, but she grew nervous when everything around her remained dark. Wrapping her arms around herself she glanced around in a futile effort to find him.

"I can't stop thinking about earlier," his voice whispered softly in her ear.

Reaching around from behind, he laced his arms around her and brought his face down so that she could feel the cool leather of his mask against her cheek. She breathed in deeply, inhaling his manly scent of soap and spices.

His fingers crept to the knot of her sash and deftly started to work it loose. Christine rolled her head back and rested it on his shoulder. She raised her hand and entwined her fingers in his thick hair as he trailed the back of his hand down her neck to her shoulders. A warm sensation rushed through her and settled in the pit of her stomach as he eased the robe off them and let it fall on the floor.

He scooped her up in one motion and with two long strides he reached the bed. The blood was pounding so hard in his ears he was sure she could hear it. No doubt she could feel the thumping of his heart as well. He set her down gently and sat beside her. For a moment he did nothing, keeping absolutely still. And it was an agonizing moment for Christine, who was lightheaded with emotion.

A match was struck, and in the flash of light she could see the barely contained desire burning in his eyes. He leaned down and the winking light grew brighter as the wick of the lamp took the flame from the match. He stared at her, as if trying to memorize every detail of her face, giving Christine the distinct feeling that he was afraid it would all turn out to be a dream. After all, how many nights had she lay awake in bed longing for the same thing?

She sat up straight and focused her dark brown eyes into his smokey amber ones. "I already wear your ring, Erik. I have no intention of taking it off."

For a dizzying moment his world faltered and time stood still. What did she say? Erik barely had time to register her words before her lips met his own. Her passion was like a well spring and he crossed the burning desert of despair and drank eagerly from her cup.

A rush of cold air met his face as Christine lifted his mask away. It had the same effect as a slap, bringing him out of ecstasy and back down to reality.

"N-no!" he whispered, taking hold of her shoulders, adeptly putting distance between them. "Not this way."

Christine's brow wrinkled in confusion, the beginnings of rejection settling across her features.

"I have spent the better part of my life waiting for this moment," he began shakily, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. "But I cannot take from you what is not yet rightfully mine."

Replacing his mask, he stood up and placed a more chaste kiss on her lips.

"Good night, my love. I shall be right outside should you need anything."

When he was gone, Christine exhaled heavily and slid down the headboard to the pillow. She put her hands on her forehead, trying to calm her nerves and still her beating heart. She fell asleep with the memory of his kiss lingering on her lips.

XXXXXXXX

Erik woke and sat up with a groan. He was getting too old to be sleeping on the ground. What little sleep he did require would be better spent in a bed. But it had been the safest choice. He knew that if he had stayed with Christine any longer he would have lost the last shred of his control. As much as he wanted too...as much as he could imagine taking her right there and willing, he could not bring himself to do anything that might tip the balance of their newly formed relationship. Above all, he did not want to be the cause of any regrets.

Standing up, he stretched languidly and rubbed the kinks from his neck and back. An ominous feeling settled over him. In mere hours Christine would be faced with perhaps the most difficult challenge of her life. He hated to put her in that situation, but he knew of no other way to lure those despicable men to him.

His cat-like eyes already accustomed to the perpetual darkness, he lit a candle and tiptoed to his room. He opened the door slowly and peeked in. The room was still dark. Padding softly over to her he lifted the candle so that it shone over her sleeping form. The dull light was kind to her, its glow cascading over her body. For a long moment Erik just watched her sleep, reveling in the candid glimpse of her with her guard down.

She stirred suddenly and he hastily retreated, not wanting to be caught spying on her.

He returned to the hallway and walked over to what would now become Nadir's room. Knocking, he put his ear to the door, listening to see if its occupants had risen. He heard scuffling from within and then the door was flung open.

Darius stood before him, looking very much like he'd had the same "restful" night as Erik. His hair was disheveled and dark rings circled tired eyes. Erik mused lightly that at least he had a mask to hide the after effects of his fatigue. Darius stepped aside, allowing him to enter.

Nadir looked oddly small tucked against the pillows. Darius had managed to wrap his left arm in a makeshift sling. He was awake, but initially it was hard to tell because his eyes were so swollen. Erik felt a sting of regret. Never had he imagined that Nadir would get pulled into the fray. But then again, he had obviously underestimated the greedy tenacity of those thugs.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Nadir asked, rousing Erik from his thoughts.

"I honestly see no other way," he replied sighing. "I can't exactly drop them off on the authorities' doorstep. This is the only way."

"I understand," Nadir said in a sympathetic tone. "But how does Christine feel about all this?"

Erik leaned against the wall and folded his arms across his chest. "She is trying her best to be brave, even though I know she's terrified. I only hope she can forgive me for killing those bastards."

"You must tread carefully Erik," Nadir said seriously. "Although I agree with you that this is the best course of action, try to remember that she is a fragile soul, and she will need constant support and companionship when this is all over."

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "I think that is something I can handle," he chuckled.

"Yes," Nadir said with a knowing look." It seems that you two have been getting on nicely. I hope that once all this is done both of you can find the happiness you so desperately need."

Erik opened his mouth to speak, but Nadir interrupted him.

"Now, I have Darius to take care of me. You go look after Christine."

Erik shot him a grateful look, his eyes speaking volumes when his tongue failed.

XXXXXXXX

Christine was in the living room when he returned. He smiled when he seen she had put the robe back on, and it grew bigger as he remembered it hitting the floor. But his amusement faded when Christine turned around and he seen the look of misery on her face. He chewed his lip and thought for an awful moment that perhaps she had taken his resistance the night before as rejection.

He took a cautious step toward her.

"Good morning Christine," he said softly. "I hope you slept well."

A bit of the gloominess receded as she replied with a twinkle in her eyes, "Well enough."

Mentally he let out the breath he'd been holding. Encircling her in his arms he tried to sooth her nerves.

"I know this is difficult for you. Not only are you in fear for your life, but you're going to come face to face with the killer of your young man."

She nodded, tears brimming as she look guiltily away. This action was not lost on Erik. Rather, he'd expected it.

He skillfully directed her to the chair and eased her down. Kneeling before her he gathered her hands in his and looked at her with a serious expression.

"It is a well known fact that I have not exactly behaved in a civilized manner when it comes to this subject, and for that I am deeply sorry. But I cannot deny you your feelings for him. You would grieve just the same for a friend or a brother. Regardless of what you may have felt towards him in the end, he was still your friend. Grieve for him, Christine. It's all right."

She felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She let the tears come, her whole body shaking with her sobs. Erik rubbed his hand up and down her back while whispering consoling words until her crying subsided. He wiped the tears from her cheeks.

"Would you like me to play for you?" he asked.

XXXXXXXX

A short time later Erik had saddled Cesar up and he and Christine were on their way to the abandoned church. He had a strange feeling of foreboding as he held Christine tightly. She seemed to feel it too, since she comfortably settled against him while they rode.

It wasn't long before they reached the road that lead to the church. Daniel and his henchmen were no where to be seen. Nonetheless, choosing to err on the safe side he pulled the horse up short and helped Christine dismount. She would have to walk the remaining distance so as to appear alone.

"Remember Christine," he warned. "I will be hiding in the shadows. But no matter what happens, do not call for me or say my name."

She nodded and started down the path leading through the cemetery to the church.

"Christine," he called back.

She turned around.

"I love you," he said as he spurred the horse into a gallop.

*Lets out a breath* There you have it. A bit of fluff and more foreshadowing. R&R! ~J