My sincerest apologizes for my absence to you all. I was injured and unable to type let alone do much else. I am fine now and waaay behind. Again, my apologizes.

Just so we are clear: This chapter picks up where Erik left Cossette standing at the de Chagny Estate. I thought you might want to know how Cossette is fairing...

Chapter 25

A New Hell

Cossette clutched the ring tightly as she watched Erik disappear down the dirt road. Silent tears creep down her cheeks. Her father's voice sounded again, but her eyes were transfixed on the bend where Erik faded away.

A hand fell on her shoulder, which caused her to turn around so abruptly that she almost lost her footing. She was met with an out of breath Raoul who narrowed his eyes once he saw her tearstained face. She had been unaware of his presence.

"Cossette, where have--who was--what are you…" Raoul paused to catch his breath.

Cossettediscreetly tucked the ring into a fold of her cloak before wiping her tears away on the back of her sleeve. She stared at her father not sure of what to say nor of an explanation. What was she to say? Papa, I have been living with your old nemesis for the past few weeks. You remember; the man who tried to kill you and win mother's heart? Oh, and by the way: he asked me to marry him. That would go over well.

Instead, she pulled her cloak around herself and observed her father. He looked different since the last time she had seen him; his long golden brown hair was a graying mess that was partially plastered to his forehead, his usual neat attire looked as though he had worn it for a week, and he was an ill color which looked sickly. She assumed it was from the alcohol.

After finally catching his breath Raoul spoke. "Where have you been?"

"Not now, papa." She fought back any comment that might set him off. "Let's get you inside before you catch cold," she managed.

He nodded solemnly.

***

Raoul beckoned for Cossette to follow him into the den which she did obediently. The room was exactly the way it was when she left. The room was completely spotless and neat unlike the appearance of the one she called "papa". It was empty except for one maid who was busy dusting the mantle.

"Elise," Raoul pointed at the maid who looked at him then at Cossette and her eyes widened. "Out." The maid flashed a worried smile at Cossette then she made herself scarce.

Raoul threw himself down on the sofa and stared at his daughter who had not moved but stood under the archway. "Will you not join your father?" he asked. Cossette slowly stepped into the den and seated herself in an armchair across from him. "Sit here," he said gesturing to the empty seat beside him on the sofa.

Cossette reluctantly moved to please him. She almost gagged on his stench as she seated herself. He had neglected to take care of himself in her absence. She restrained herself from pulling her cloak to her face. Instead, she limited her intake of air.

Raoul turned toward his daughter and studied her for a moment. Cossette watched as his eyes went from her face to her shaking hands and then back to her eyes. "A father has right to the knowledge of where his only daughter has been in her absence," he said bitterly.

She nodded.

"So due tell me." Cossette opened her mouth to speak, but he held up a hand stopping her. "Or maybe tell me who you where with?"

Cossette stared at him. "A friend," she said with contempt.

Raoul snorted in disgust. "You think of me as blind?"

"No, papa."

"You think I didn't see that you were with a man?"

"He's a friend, papa," she replied. Defending Erik was harder than she thought.

"A man cannot be just a friend to a woman who isn't married, dear Cossette."

"He--"

"I saw you with him," he interrupted. Sudden anger blazed in the Comte's once beautiful blue eyes.

Cossette looked away.

"I saw you in his arms."

Tears began to fall down her cheeks.

"I saw the way you looked at him," he continued. "The way you looked upon him--"

"Stop!" she yelled and stood up. "Stop it!"

Raoul stared at her in disbelief.

"Do not speak on things you don't know," she barked at him. She went to walk away, but Raoul's grubby hand caught her arm. She turned and glared at him. He stood and his grip tightened on her arm.

"You love him," he accused.

Cossette glared at her father and tried to pull from his grasp, but could not. "Let go of me," she threatened through her teeth.

"Oh, I will, Cossette, but first you will tell me where you were and who the bloody hell you were with." A sick smile creased the Comte's lips.

"The hell I will," she retorted. She fell to the floor with a shrill cry after Raoul struck her. She stared up at him in disbelief as tears brewed in her eyes. She laid a hand on the side of her face where a bruise was forming.

He stood over her rubbing the back of his hand. "Do not use vulgarity in my presence." She watched him as he sat back down. "Let's start with where you were…now, come and sit here."

Cossette did as she was told, that old fear of her father resurfaced. She rubbed her cheek and watched her father as he toyed with a button on the cuff of his jacket.

"Now, where have you been?" he asked.

"Not far," she answered quietly.

"No, no, dear. Where have you been?" His eyes flashed warning.

"Just outside of Paris."

"Ahhh…" He paused and rubbed his chin. "Now…the difficult part; who was so kind as to give you house?"

She was hesitant to answer. She did not want to betray Erik, but she feared her father. Either way she did not have much of a choice. "His name is Erik," she said weakly.

"Erik…hmmm…and what is Monsieur Erik's surname?"

Cossette paused. How could she not know Erik's surname? She had spent so much time with him and yet she did not know his full name! "I do not know…"

"Really? You weren't a whore now were you?" The cruelty in the voice of the once former innocent and caring Vicomte both offended and frightened her.

"I'm sorry, papa. I just don't know." She buried her face in her hands.

"Tell me about Monsieur Erik."

"There isn't much to tell," she replied. She kept her face hidden.

"Evidently, there is more than you wish to tell. I saw the manner he held you in his arms. Now, I suggest you tell me. I will find out either way," he said venomously.

"There was a bad storm and I--"

"Yes," he stroked his chin, "I do recall that storm the night you ran off."

She looked at him and wondered where the man of her childhood had gone. "Papa, what has happened to you?"

"Nothing that concerns you," he hissed. "No tell me about Monsieur."

"Papa, please. He's just a kind stranger who took me in," she pleaded. She absently fidgeted with the ring in her hands as she stared at her father.

He scoffed. "Lying will not suffice."

"I'm not--"

"What is that?" he interrupted. He leaned forward, but Cossette closed her hand and clutched it against her bosom. "Cossette, show papa what you have there."

She shook her head. "It's nothing, papa"

"If it's nothing show me."

She looked at him helplessly and reluctantly revealed the ring to him.

A inhuman groan escaped Raoul's lips as he nearly fainted. He rubbed his eyes and looked from the ring to Cossette and stared incredulously. He recognized the ring his daughter was holding as the engagement ring he had given Christine those many years ago.

"Have you no idea of what you've done?" he bellowed. He stood and paced to the other side of the room.

"Papa?" she questioned.

"It can't be. No, no, no…Not him." Raoul turned and looked back at his daughter. "Why must he continue to torture me?"

"Papa, this isn't what you think."

"Oh, it isn't?" He turned from her again and covered his eyes. "He couldn't stop with Christine. No, he had to take you away, too."

"Papa?"

"He drove her to her death, you know," he spat. "He killed--murdered her."

Cossette jumped up and came within inches of her father's face. Hot tears burned down her cheeks. "Don't speak of him that way. He didn't kill her," she shrieked. "You did."

Thanks for reading and stuff. I'm really sorry, everyone!

Happy Day,

EOL