CHAPTER 28

Raoul basked in the sunshine as he surveyed the guests arriving for his wedding to Christine. The scene looked glorious, everyone had made such an effort but then he and Christine were well loved.

Taking a deep breath, Raoul gathered his thoughts in his head.

His wedding day, today was his wedding day!

He felt like doing somersaults on the grass and throwing his arms around everybody for sheer joy. How he had longed for Christine to be his wife, ever since he had seen her singing 'Think of Me' in the Opera Populaire.

A shudder shot down his spine as thoughts of the Opera Populaire started to engulf his mind.

"Oh no" he chuckled to himself "Not today. I will not let that monster poison my happy thoughts today"

"Ah there you are" Andre patted Raoul on the back "Talking to yourself?"

"Oh, Andre, Firman" Raoul greeted the two men heartily, grateful that they had interrupted his thoughts "You could say that, I was just reminding myself how lucky I am"

"Oh of course, very lucky indeed" Firman grinned and nudged Raoul "She is a beauty after all"

"Yes" Raoul smiled "She has beauty like no other, and a voice from the heavens"

"Well I suppose we can hardly be surprised that the Phantom wanted her so…….."

Firman was instantly stopped with a shove from Andre. Realising why his friend had been quick to stop his speech, Firman quickly stammered

"Well, I mean that…."

"What he means…." Andre interrupted "Is that, well, erm…"

"I know what he meant" Raoul sighed "And he is right, the Phantom did want her badly. Very badly"

"Yes, the damage reflected that" Andre rolled his eyes

"I suppose we should just all be thankful that he is dead and gone" Firman stated seriously "And he can cause us no more sorrow"

"Dead?" Raoul frowned, momentarily forgetting what he & Christine had told everyone after that fateful night at the Opera Populaire

"Oh yes, he won't trouble us where he's gone" Raoul quickly lied, wishing it was true.

"All in the past" Andre dismissed with his hand

"Yes" Raoul was keen to change the subject "What have you two gentlemen been up to since………since that night?"

"Well, after the whole incident, interest in the Opera Populaire soared," Firman explained "and suddenly Andre & myself were being hounded by the papers. They wanted to know everything. Everything, from what the Phantom used to eat, how old he was, even what underwear he wore"

"And what did you tell them?" Raoul frowned "I wasn't aware that you knew much of him"

"We told them everything they asked us" Andre smiled

"The odd extension of the truth here and there" Firman winked "Of course, we would have made next to nothing if we had told them exactly what we do know"

"We have made a fortune" Andre pompously smirked "Which means that we can start putting money into raising the Opera Populaire back out of the ruins"

"You are going to rebuild it?" Raoul wasn't sure if that was wise with the Phantom still dwelling underneath the Opera Populaire.

Panic started to shoot through his mind as he realised the implications that the re-opening of the Opera Populaire might have on his marriage to Christine. What if she wanted to return to the Opera Populaire? She had missed singing so much, he could see it her eyes so what if she went back there. Back to her dressing room, where the Phantom had first beckoned her into his lair from the mirror. And what if he took her away again. No! Oh no, he couldn't go through that again.

"So…. when do you think you will be re-opening the Opera Populaire?" He asked nervously

"Oh, it will take a long time" Firman shook his head sombrely "The beast totally ruined the stage area, many dressing rooms and most of the props and sets. Most of the building will have to be completely restored"

"Could take anything up to 5 years" Andre sighed "We must ensure every structure is safe"

"Five years!" Raoul laughed, relieved "Well, it is a good job that I have ensured a place in London for Christine then"

"London?" Andre & Firman spoke in unison

"Yes, Madame Giry and Meg are also going there" Raoul explained "She hasn't brought the subject up much but I can tell in her eyes that she longs to sing again"

"It is her calling to do so" Firman nodded

"I don't really want to leave Paris, its my life but if that's what it takes to make my wife happy, then so be it"

"Ah but she isn't your wife yet" Andre chuckled

"Yes, we still have time to convince her to stay and await the re-opening of the Opera Populaire" Firman beamed

"I don't think she could wait that long" Raoul spoke happily "She needs to sing again soon. She doesn't know we are going yet but I think she will be thrilled"

"I'm sure she will be" Andre looked towards the altar and noted how rapidly the seats in front of it were filling "Come Firman, lets leave the man to think"

"Good luck!" Firman heartily patted Raoul on the back and followed Andre towards the seats.

Raoul smiled as he imagined Christine's face when he told her about London. She would be so happy and all thoughts of the Phantom would be banished from her mind. Finally, he would be able to get her away from him forever, and that was one of the most important reasons why he had contacted the shipping company and ordered that they book them on the earliest ship to London after the wedding. Of course, he had made sure that he would be provided with the most luxurious cabin for their journey and that they would be served with the finest food. Two days, was all they had left in wonderful Paris before they set sail for London.

He stepped back and looked up at the sprawling Chateau. God, he would miss this place but he needed to get Christine out of Paris and away from HIM. Of course, he wouldn't sell the chateau until they had decided that they definitely wanted to stay in London but the thought of leaving it forever made his heart ache. He loved the Chateau and he loved Paris but it had been a case of which he loved more, and that had to be Christine. Whatever happened, her happiness was of paramount importance.

His smile started to fade as soon as he saw Madame Giry walking towards him with a strained expression on her face

"Monsieur, I need to speak to you!"

"What's happened?" Raoul walked Madame Giry inside the Chateau and led her into his dining hall.

He could tell from her face that whatever news she had to tell him, it was big. Dread engulfed his mind as he wondered what could have possibly happened.

Madame Giry, not knowing what else to do in a situation like this, quickly poured Raoul a glass of wine, made him sit down and handed it to him

"Madame Giry, for pity's sake, what has happened?" Raoul pushed the glass aside and looked up at Madame Giry who was pacing up and down, clasping her hands together.

"Madame Giry!" Raoul, angered at her hesitation, got up and grabbed her by the shoulders "Damn you! Tell me what has happened"

"Let me go monsieur!" Madame Giry shook herself free "Please calm yourself"

"Well what the hell has happened?" Raoul swore in a rare state of hysteria

"Its….Its Christine" Madame Giry sighed and looked away "She has gone"

"Gone?" Raoul whispered

"Y…yes, we went to wake her up this morning and, she wasn't there"

"And how long ago was this?" Raoul was breathing hard "How long have you kept this from me?"

"Just an hour" Madame Giry quickly pointed out "We wanted to see if she would come back before we worried you"

"An hour!" Raoul bellowed "You have let me think everything is fine for over an hour!"

"We thought she would return" Madame Giry shook her head "It is most unlike her to do something like this"

"She's with him isn't she!" Raoul could feel anger surging through his body

"Monsieur….I don't…"

"Stop playing these games and tell me the truth!" Raoul picked up the glass of wine and threw it into the wall.

Outside the door, Meg had been listening intently to everything that was being said. At the sound of breaking glass, she quickly ran outside and grabbed the nearest male wedding guest she could find. She swiftly ushered him outside the Dining Hall and told him to ensure her mother's safety in case Raoul hurt her in his anger. She simply had to go and warn Christine that Raoul knew where she was and that he would soon be tearing down to the Opera Populaire to claim her. In the state Raoul was, there was no telling what he would do and although she greatly disliked the Phantom for disrupting everyone's lives so much, she didn't want to see him come to any harm, knowing how much he obviously meant to her mother and Christine.

She found a horse in the stables and quickly mounted it and rode out of the Chateau's grounds and made her way to the Opera Populaire.

In the Dining Hall, Raoul continued to lose his patience with Madame Giry.

"Tell me, is she with him or not?"

"Please Monsieur, the truth is that I don't know for sure" Madame Giry put her hand to her chest, wheezing in panic at Raoul's outburst

"She can't be with him" Raoul's anger turned to despair as he slumped back into his chair "Why would she be with him today? Of all days, why today?"

Madame Giry felt her heart return to its normal pace as she saw his anger fade. Carefully, she sat in the chair next to him.

"Please, stay calm as I tell you this" Madame Giry whispered solemnly "Christine and Erik, the Phantom have a great hold on each other, to the point that none of us will ever understand"

"Then why was……..is she marrying me?" Raoul let the tears fall as he thought of Christine alone with the Phantom

"I cannot comment on Christine's reasons for her actions" Madame Giry shook her head "Only she could know the secrets that lie within her heart"

Suddenly, Raoul gasped, and grabbed Madame Giry's arm so hard it hurt.

"You said yourself that it is most unlike her to do something like this" wide eyed, he pleaded with Madame Giry for reassurance

"Yes, that is true. Whatever she is doing, I thought she would have come and told you of her decision"

Dropping her arm to the table, he got up and paced the room wildly.

"Then it must be his doing!" Raoul shouted, as if he had just solved the problems of the world "She hasn't gone to him willingly, he has taken her. Against her will"

"No! I don't think…." Madame Giry began

"Yes, that makes sense" Raoul walked to the door "Why else would she go?"

Madame Giry watched as he burst through the doors and out of the room, only to re-emerge a few seconds later brandishing a sword.

"Raoul no!" Panicking, Madame Giry got up and ran towards him "Don't do anything you will regret"

"This is something I should have done when I had the chance all those months ago but Christine stopped me" Raoul fastened his belt and put the sword in its sheath "But not today, she won't stop me today. The only one who is going to regret this day will be HIM"