Rekindling the Music of the Night
By: K.C. Vaillancourt
Disclaimer - You know the drill…I do not own anything associated with The Phantom of the Opera and have no affiliation with ALW, Leroux, or Kay. All publicly recognizable characters, settings, and songs are the property of their respective owners. No profit is being made from this story and no copyright infringement is intended. This is purely for my enjoyment and the enjoyment of others.
Just as a quick warning I do edit all my work before I post and have people read my work but there still may be some grammar mistakes. I apologize for them in advance.
Author Note – Thank you so much to all who have taken the time to read, review, follow, or favorite my Phanfic. You guys are what keeps me writing this story and your continued support means more than I can say.
Life hasn't been easy the past couple months so to have writing as my outlet to relieve the stress and anxiety along with your positive reaction to this work has been wonderful.
I'm sorry for how long it's taken me to update. This was another difficult chapter to write and it took me a little while to figure out how I wanted it to go. Plus the plot bunnies I mentioned.
As always life gets in the way as well. I will try to get the next chapters up quicker but with it being summer it could still take a little longer between updates.
I also wanted to clear one thing up. DetectiveoftheOpera mentioned in a review of my last chapter that Erik had some kind of superhuman ability. It was not my intention to give Erik any kind of superhuman strength at all. He is a human being like you and me but he is watching his love and now the mother of his child being taken away. He had an adrenaline rush take over and was finally able to free one of his hands. (I did research it before I wrote it. Feats of abnormal strength can happen in dangerous situations even after intense trauma.) He's not Bruce Banner and isn't going to hulk out or anything. He's simply fueled by his desire to save Christine.
Warning – Once again this chapter does contain violence. I still tried to keep it from getting too graphic and if it is something that makes you uncomfortable feel free to skip over these parts. Also I try to right action as best I can but am still learning so I'm sorry if the action isn't as exciting to read as it looks in my head.
I know I left the last chapter as a bit of a cliffhanger as to who arrived but I will warn you upfront without naming who they are that one of them will be OOC. I did do research on the character but there isn't a lot out there. I really can't say much more without spoiling the chapter.
The last thing I ask is that you suspend disbelief as far as animal instincts in real life. This is a work of fiction after all and while I am trying to keep it as realistic as possible I know I have taken some liberties at certain parts. I leave it to you as to whether you like it or not.
Hopefully I didn't give it away but as you know by now I like to warn you.
Now on with the story!
Trying to Reason with Madmen
"Erik!" Christine screamed looking back at him pulling at the ropes around her wrists while at the same time kicking at Raoul with all she had. Anton, Vincent and Victor walked over to help Raoul control her.
"Christine, I promise you, they won't get far." Erik yelled and pulled feeling a surge of strength radiate through him. He grit his teeth giving it all he had and finally one of his hands came free. He immediately began to work on freeing the other. He could feel the adrenaline coursing through his veins pushing him forward but he knew it wouldn't last long.
Christine tried to fight off all four men but her strength was quickly failing her body screaming in agony after everything she was forced to endure. She closed her eyes and tears streamed down her cheeks as she felt Raoul's left arm around her waist dragging her toward the door. Her eyes shot open when she felt herself being pulled backward through the air toward the wall. Everyone in the room froze where they stood when the door was kicked open and two familiar faces stood in the doorway. "Meg." Christine said barely above a whisper as she looked at the woman that used to think of her as a sister.
Raoul swallowed hard tightening his grip on Christine's waist as he looked at the man standing next to her. "Philippe?"
Meg Giry walked into the room accompanied by Raoul's older brother Comte Philippe De Chagny. Philippe was a good-looking man in his early forties. It would be easy for someone to mistake the older man for his younger brother if it wasn't for his 6'4" height. He narrowed his cold sky blue eyes as he surveyed the sight before him and shook his head. Mademoiselle Giry had told him what Raoul had done but not until this very moment did he truly understand just how far his brother had fallen. Words failed him, all he could do was stare at Raoul and the terrified woman forced to be at his side.
Meg looked at Christine and through her tears saw terror in her eyes that she couldn't remember ever seeing before. She gave her a slight smile to try and reassure her that everything would be ok. Her gaze shifted to Raoul. "You should get yourself more competent look outs. The two fools you had outside were easier to take out than school children." She said with a smile unable to stop herself. She was about to continue when she saw the sun's light reflect on a double edged dagger in his right hand pointed at Christine's back. Where's Erik? She wondered and held back a sigh when she saw him out of the corner of her eye. She forced herself not to look directly at him but she thought she saw the hint of a smile cross his lips.
Along with Raoul the other three men in the room had their eyes fixed on Meg and Philippe ignoring Erik completely. They must assume I'm helpless and too wounded to be a threat. He thought and used the unfolding scene as a distraction to continue to free himself so he could try to get to Christine who was blocked from his view at the moment.
Raoul continued to stare at his older brother unsure of what to say. He noticed Meg about to take a step toward him and moved the dagger at Christine's back to her throat. "Make one move toward me Little Giry and I promise you I will slit her throat." He looked at Philippe. "What are you doing here, and with her no less?"
"I could ask you the same question about the woman you are forcing to stay by your side while you threaten her life." Philippe responded. "I came across Mademoiselle Giry in Bordeaux a few weeks ago. She immediately told me Christine left you along with the events that followed including the murder of her mother. Word had already reached me about Madame Giry's death and who was wanted for the crime. In fact before I saw her the Surete in Bordeaux questioned me as to your whereabouts. I chastised them for believing such ridiculous accusations and after speaking with Mademoiselle Giry I still didn't fully believe what she told me until now. I never thought you could be capable of such atrocities."
"As always you pass judgement on me before I get to defend myself." Raoul ranted. "As if you've never made errors in judgement or put a woman in her place." He was still in shock over their arrival and trying to figure out how they were going to get away. Meg and Philippe were outnumbered but he knew his brother's skill with a blade. Meg was a wild card and together he was unsure of what they were capable of.
"Are you so far gone you don't see the scene around you? What other conclusion can I make? I will admit I have made mistakes and reminded women on my arm of their place when we were alone but nothing I have done comes close to what I have been told or what I see here." Philippe said keeping his tone even. "The torture your wife endured during your marriage. Madame Giry's murder. The blood spilled in this room. This is not who mother and father raised you to be, you are a De Chagny! You have a responsibility to live up to the name of our ancestors with honor." He looked at Anton and fought against his urge to draw his sword and kill him where he stood. "But, I guess it was only a matter of time before something like this happened when you insisted that you be friends with Anton Boucher, the proud butcher of Paris." He took a breath. "I was not at all surprised to hear of your involvement. It is not bad enough you defiled your own families name but you felt the need to do the same to ours as well. You are nothing more than a poison. I would go as far as to guess you are the puppeteer of this crew whether they know it or not. Raoul would never commit murder or do anything else he did without a little push. You were it, the little devil on his shoulder. Ever since he was a teenager you have always been in his ear, molding him, trying to make him more like you no matter how much I tried to keep you away. You've twisted his mind into thinking the only way to be a man is to be you. That the only way to get what you want is beat people into submission leaving them bloodied, scarred, broken, or dead."
"Some people, mostly women, need a bit more training then others." Anton said matter of factly. "Besides, someone had to step forward and keep Raoul from becoming the spoiled wimp you were turning him into."
"So he could end up like all your other protégés? They are all dead or in jail!" Philippe said fighting to keep his voice calm. He looked back to Raoul. "I've known you since the day you were born. You are my brother I know you do not want this madness to continue." Raoul remained silent trying to keep his expression blank. Philippe continued. "How do you see this ending? Did you think you would whisk Christine away from France and you would be free? Where were you going to go?" Then it dawned on him and he couldn't hold back a laugh. "Of course, Danielle and Cosette, you were going to go to our sisters for help. Hoping they would hide you until you figured out your next move." He sighed shaking his head. "Somehow I knew when you told me you and Christine were to marry it would come to this. That is why I advised you to let her go when I felt she was having second thoughts about your wed…"
"I love her!" Raoul yelled holding Christine tighter to him. She forced herself to stop trembling when she felt the cold edge of the dagger come closer to her throat.
"You love her so much that you're willing to slit her throat." Meg said. "You don't love Christine. You didn't then and you certainly don't now. I doubt you know what love is."
"You're wrong Meg. He did…" Christine whispered forcing herself to stay upright when all her body wanted to do was collapse to the floor.
"I would like to be the one to deal with my brother." Philippe interjected.
"Be my guest." Meg said rolling her eyes. Even now he's just as arrogant as his brother. She thought. There is only one way this is going to end. At that thought she stole a quick glance at Erik. She held back a gasp and stopped herself from running to him when she saw him free his other hand only to collapse to the floor. Relief washed over her when she saw him slowly push himself up.
Erik hoped he hadn't drawn attention to himself when he fell. He pushed all his pain and weakness aside as he sat up. Good. He thought. Everyone was still focused on Meg and the Comte. From where he was on the floor he saw Christine in Raoul's grasp and then caught Meg's eye. She followed his gaze to the small knife by his feet but then thankfully looked away not wanting to give him away. He took the knife and as silently as he could cut his legs free. He could feel the adrenaline that fueled him earlier waning and his eyes were growing heavy but he refused to let it overtake him. He clutched the small knife in his hand and after making it look like his legs were still bound he positioned himself back to how he was when he collapsed, waiting for the opportune moment to strike.
"This doesn't have to get any worse. On the day of your wedding do you remember what I told you?" Philippe asked.
"That she was in love with someone else and if I married her it would end in disaster." Raoul replied.
"I think I can safely say I was correct in my assessment." Philippe said. "I do not think it was ever this phantom that was obsessed with Christine to the point of madness as you claimed. It was you. From the opera house to now you have been the driving force of this twisted triangle. You pushed your way into her life. I saw it when you brought her to the mansion for the first time, she was simply putting on a show for you."
"There's one problem with your assessment Philippe. You were never there!" Raoul screamed shaking Christine causing the dagger to bite into her neck and blood began to trail down her neck. "After you agreed the family would be the patrons of the opera house you were barely around. You have no idea what they have done to me."
"What about what you have done to them and the Giry's?" Philippe countered. "Perhaps in some twisted way Anton is correct, you were coddled and spoiled. You always got what you wanted and as you've become a man it has only gotten worse. You wanted Christine so you took her, all of this is because of you."
"That's not entirely true." Christine whispered. "I know in his heart Raoul cared for me once and you're right, I was in love with someone else only I was too cowardly to tell him. Raoul doesn't deserve to carry all the weight of what has transpired these past years. In some way we all played a part in where we are now."
"That may be true Miss Daae but his obsession with you has torn him apart and made him a monster. I barely see a trace of the brother I knew." Philippe said and sighed. "I didn't want it to come to this but one way or another this will come to an end, today. I have seen to that. The local Surete will be here any moment. I suggest before they arrive you let your hostages go so they can be tended to. Then all of you can face justice like men for the crimes you've committed."
Raoul was taken a back at this revelation and his heart began to race. He knew if word ever got to Philippe about what he'd done and they crossed paths it would be over. He swallowed the lump forming is his throat. With the Surete coming Philippe was right, it was over.
Anton saw Raoul give Philippe a nod as he lowered the blade from Christine's throat. He was known for keeping calm in almost any situation but felt himself losing that calm demeanor when he saw Raoul was going to give them all up. He dropped the whip in his hand and walked up to Raoul before he could release Christine. "I knew you were too weak to see this through to the end you selfish son of a bitch. Since the beginning I've been the man with the plan while you sit back and lick your wounds. Now like the wimp you are you're ready to back down. After all Vincent, Victor, and I have done for you. The sacrifices we've made. The lives we left behind all so you could get revenge on Erik and take possession of your precious Christine. You're going to repay us by letting the Surete take us in like common thugs." Raoul remained where he stood with Christine in his grasp silent after Anton's tirade. He turned to Philippe drawing his rapier. Victor and Vincent followed his lead. "I don't know about your brother but we'll die before we see the inside of a prison."
"So be it." Philippe said as all three men advanced toward Meg and Philippe. They drew rapiers of their own and Philippe glanced at Meg. "Like with the men outside you are once again correct about how this would play out Mademoiselle."
Raoul pulled Christine back further toward the wall as the clang of metal upon metal echoed through the room. She watched as Meg and Philippe stood back to back fighting off the three men. They fought together like her and, Erik. She looked over at him and her eyes widened when she saw him crumpled on the floor. She stared at him and silently thanked god when she saw his chest rising and falling, he was still alive. Raoul was distracted by the fight in front of them and she could feel his grip on her loosen. She pulled away and began to make a dash for Erik when she felt him catch her wrist and pull her back so she was facing him. "It's over Raoul." She said trying to pull away. "Let me go."
"I've lost everything, I'm not going to lose the only thing I have left." He said coming back to his senses. Meg and Philippe were engaged with Anton, Vincent, and Victor while Erik laid in a heap on the floor. It was the perfect time to slip away. He looked back at Christine and saw her eyes widen when she felt the tip of the dagger at her abdomen. "Here's what's going to happen. You're going to walk out of here with me and not make a sound or…" He pushed the dagger a bit further so it nicked her skin and knew she understood.
Christine closed her eyes holding back tears and nodded her head. She took one last look at Erik. Please find us. She thought to herself and walked, leaning heavily on Raoul, out of the room unnoticed.
Meg and Phillippe continued to fight back to back as they fought off their attackers. Meg saw Erik on the floor while she blocked a thrust from Anton's sword who was getting a bit too close to Erik for her liking. She got an idea. "Must be aggravating that a woman can fight as well if not better than you." Her words proved to be the distraction she needed and she took a small blade out of her belt stabbing Anton in the side. He yelled out as the blade pierced his abdomen and he stumbled back away from Erik.
"I can handle these two." Philippe assured her as he ducked a swipe from Victor and jumped to the side dueling with the two men while Meg faced off with Anton.
He pulled the knife dripping with his blood out of his side and let it fall to the floor as he glared at Meg ignoring his wound. "You're going to pay for that."
"As I see it I am due for payback twice. Unless you've forgotten that I knocked you unconscious back in Paris." She laughed. "I can only imagine what people are saying. Anton Boucher bested by a female. I'm sure tales are being told in taverns across France. I can almost hear the ringing of their laughter. You're nothing more than a joke."
If it was possible Anton was certain steam was erupting from his ears. He pointed his rapier at Meg. "I am going to beat you within an inch of your life, again. You will be grateful to me when I kill you little girl."
"I haven't been a little girl for a quite some time and whatever was left of the sweet girl you think you know died when you murdered my mother." Meg said. Without another word she swung her rapier and sparks flew as Anton's clashed with hers. They traded trusts and swings neither getting the best of the other. Meg felt Anton's rapier graze her side but she didn't let it deter her from blocking his next trust. She could tell he was becoming more and more enraged at her ability to match him. He was losing focus and Meg was able to slash him in the thigh following up with a second to his chest.
Erik opened his eyes hearing the ringing of metal upon metal. He had tried to fight it but his weakness took over and he passed out. He pushed himself up looking around feeling disoriented. He saw a man he didn't recognize at first dueling alone with Victor and Vincent. He starred at the man and it came to him, he was the Comte De Chagny. Erik saw a few rips in his clothing and oozing blood from various cuts but he seemed to be holding his own. He watched as Victor maneuvered himself over to the wall and took a riding crop ready to strike the Comte down. Erik saw the discarded bullwhip on the floor and instinct took over. He stood up and cracked the whip. Victor tried to scream as it wrapped around his neck like a snake. Erik pulled him back toward him and tightened the leather around his neck.
"You." Victor said gasping. "It's not…"
"Possible." Erik finished for him as he tighten the whip further relishing in the sound of his breathes coming in gasps.
"Please…" Victor pleaded as he struggled for air. "We…were…only…"
"I would save what little air you have left if I were you." Erik hissed. "I warned you all that standing behind the Vicomte would cost you your lives. I hope you've made your peace with god and are ready to burn in hell for what you've done because no one crosses the phantom of the opera and lives to tell of it." Before Victor could say anymore Erik pulled the whip as tight as he could. It was music to his ears as he listened to Victor suffocate coughing trying to breath. It wasn't long before his body went limp as he took his last breath and fell dead at his killer's feet. Erik took a deep breath satisfied in getting some measure of revenge but he was far from done.
Vincent's eyes widened when he saw his brother's lifeless body fall to the ground but had no time to react blocking a swing from the Comte. Philippe gave a small nod of thanks to Erik and continued to engage his opponent. Erik wanted Vincent next but as he took a step he fell to one knee breathing heavily trying to regather his strength. He saw Meg out of the corner of his eye. Sweat was pouring off her as she fought Anton her thirst for revenge clear in her eyes.
While the others were fighting inside. Raoul was hauling Christine out of the house toward what he assumed was his brother's carriage. "Raoul please I can barely walk." She pleaded stumbling passed the two corpses laying on the ground. Raoul remained silent ignoring her. Christine tried to think quickly at how to escape but the pain coursing through her body was clouding her mind. She heard a neigh in the distance and looked back her eyes locking with Arturo's who had been meandering around the small enclosure with Cesar. To her surprise he reared up on his hind legs and began to gallop toward them breaking through the rickety wooden fence with Cesar behind him.
Raoul stopped looking behind him when he heard the sound of hooves. He gasped when he saw the two stallions galloping toward them with no intention of stopping. Without meaning to he let go of Christine who stumbled backwards trying to get away from him and fell to the ground tripping over one of the bodies. She looked up in time to see Arturo slow down and rear up hitting Raoul in the sternum with one of his hooves.
He was thrown back a few feet landing hard on the ground gasping for air. Cesar and Arturo trotted over. Raoul looked up at the two stallions standing over him. They both snorted and seemed satisfied with themselves. Raoul took in slow breaths. I'll be damned if I'm going to be stopped by two stupid animals he thought. He tried to sit up and nearly screamed when he felt the intense pain in his chest. His head throbbed from hitting the ground and the world began to spin. He laid back down taking shallow painful breaths as the stallions slowly circled around him. He looked up at them in disbelief. After everyone he had evaded and everything he had been through, these two horses were the ones to be his downfall.
Christine starred at Cesar and Arturo her mouth agape. She had been around horses a lot in her life and never heard of one's acting like they had. They saved her and the baby from Raoul. The baby she thought placing a hand on her stomach. She looked back toward the house. "Erik." She whispered and tried to get up but fell back down. She took a deep breath determined and forced herself onto her hands and knees crawling toward the front door.
Inside Anton and Meg continued to clash swords. Meg could feel her strength waning and knew Anton could see it. He thrusted his sword and when Meg tried to block it he changed tactics stabbing her in the thigh. She fell to one knee in front of him. Anton smiled raising his sword. He wanted to take his time with her but with the Surete coming he decided to finish her and move on to Philippe. "I am going to enjoy…" He dropped his sword when he felt the searing pain in his back and turned around. He saw Erik on one knee with a grin on his face and the leather bullwhip in his hand. He followed up quickly and with a flick of his wrist Erik threw the small knife he had been holding through the air. His grin turned into a smile as he heard Anton grunt when it sunk into his shoulder. He was about to speak when he felt Meg's rapier being plunged into his back and looked down as the blade erupted from his abdomen covered in his crimson red blood. He fell to his knees and that's when the lasso landed around his neck.
Meg limped toward Anton tightening the lasso laughing as he pulled at the rope. "Fighting is futile." Meg whispered in his ear. "I learned from the best. There is no escape for you unless you had kept your hand at the level of your eye." She listened as he gasped for breath. "Is that what she sounded like when strangled her? Oh how I wish I could take the time to inflict the true pain you deserve but your death will have to do." She pulled the knot of the lasso as hard as she could. Anton continued to try to fight his lungs burning as they fought for air and blood soaking the floor from the rapier in his abdomen. He felt his arms getting weaker falling to his sides. His life slipped away and he slumped to the floor, Anton Boucher, was dead. Meg let go of the rope starring at his body a tear escaping her eye. For you mother. She thought.
Then Meg and Erik heard a scream. They turned around and saw Vincent clutching his chest blood pouring from Philippe's fatal stab wound. He fell to the floor bright red blood dripping from his mouth as he coughed and blood began to pool on the floor. Meg turned away as he died and limped toward Erik who was still on one knee starring at Anton's corpse. She took a piece of his tattered shirt and gritting her teeth tied it as tight as she could around the wound on her thigh. She spotted Erik's wig and mask. Picking them up she closed the gap between them and placed a hand on his shoulder. He looked up at her and she handed him the items in her hand knowing that even though Philippe had already seen him he would still want to cover his deformity.
After he fixed his mask and was sure it was secure he looked up at Meg. "Thank you."
Meg nodded her head helping Erik to his feet as best she could. "You're welcome. I'm just glad we got here in…" It was then that both of them realized who was missing from the room. "Christine." They said in unison.
"Raoul must have used the fight as cover." Meg said.
"They couldn't have gotten far." Erik whispered and began to walk out of the room trying not to rely too much on Meg for strength. They got to the front door and stopped when they saw a shadow darkening the doorway.
Christine had been able to get to her feet but was fading fast. Her vision was clouded and tried to grasp the door frame with her bound hands. She missed and fell forward.
Erik knew it was her and lunged forward to catch her. He slid on his knees ignoring any discomfort he felt and caught her in his arms. He cradled her in his arms as he brushed the chocolate curls out of her face and resisted the urge to hold her tighter to him afraid he would hurt her further. He closed his eyes, part of him wondered if this was all a dream, a figment of his mind. He would open his eyes to find himself still tied to the ceiling while Raoul slipped away with Christine.
"Erik?" Christine whispered pulling him out of his thoughts.
He opened his eyes at the sound her voice. "I'm here." He assured her and noticed the rope tied around her wrists.
Once her arms were free she immediately wrapped them around his waist burying her head into his bare chest letting her tears fall freely as Erik held her closer caressing her hair letting his own tears fall now that the horror they were put through was over. He couldn't resist and held her tighter but stopped when he felt her flinch. "I'm sorry."
"It's ok." Christine said but then felt the mangled flesh on his back and loosened her grip. "Are you alright?" She asked lifting her head to look at him and noticed some of her hair was sticking to the wound on his chest. She pulled her hair away hoping she didn't cause further injury in her need to hold him close.
"I'll be fine." Erik said but could tell she wasn't convinced. "In my life I have been through worse than what those fools did. I'm more concerned about you." He paused. "And the baby." They both heard the gasps of Meg and Philippe but ignored them. "How did you escape?"
Christine couldn't help but chuckle. "Look outside."
Erik grinned when he saw Cesar and Arturo circling Raoul as he laid on the ground holding a hand to his chest. "That's my boys." He whispered.
"When Arturo saw Raoul trying to take me away he broke through the enclosure and attacked him." She looked back at Erik. "Why would he do that?"
Erik starred at their horses. "It's possible that like Cesar and I. You and Arturo have formed a deep bond. When he saw you in distress he felt the instinct to protect you." He gently pulled her closer. "I will forever be eternally grateful he did. I don't know what I would have done if I lost you or our child."
Christine's eye's filled with more tears. "I'm so sorry. I wanted to tell you before but…"
He put a finger to her lips remembering their conversation before they had entered the house. He thought something felt off about her when he brought up the subject of children. "I understand why you wanted to wait. It's ok."
"Even when things were at their most hopeless and Raoul was trying to leave with me I never lost faith that you would find us." Christine told him.
Erik's face became serious. "I was talking about earlier. Raoul was ready to kill you when he found out you were carrying our child. If Anton hadn't…"
"Erik, please." Christine interrupted. "I know we'll both be haunted for a time by what happened here. We can't let what didn't happen do the same. We're here with you, in your arms, where we belong." She smiled up at Erik trying to keep the tears pooling in her eyes at bay. They began to close the gap between each other ignoring any pain they felt. When their lips met the events of the last day, the house they were in, the people around them, the pain they felt all melted away as they let themselves get lost in their kiss.
Author Note – I know I distorted the De Chagny background a bit in this chapter. As most of you know I am going mostly by the events of the movie. I have a feeling I have mixed the books, musical, and film at this point. In the movie and musical Raoul's parents are mentioned as being happy to donate to the arts but they are never seen.
Actually this is incorrect since in the original story his parents are long since deceased and it's only his siblings along with an aunt that is still living. For the purposes of this story I want to clarify his parents are dead and the aunt is in parts unknown. Even though I am going from the movie I am also borrowing a character or two from the book. I know from the little I read about him I wrote Philippe a bit OOC but I hope you liked it.
As far as Raoul's injury from Arturo goes it is possible to be kicked by a horse in the sternum or other places and not be seriously injured. You will be bruised and it will take a while to heal but it's possible. It was one of the items that took a while to research which was another delay in getting this chapter up. I hope you enjoyed it.