A/N: I know this chapter is a little short, but I have been subbing and working at my other job in the evening this whole week and I did not have much time to add more to it. But I think its fine the way it is. And thank you for those of you who checked out Love Never Dies! I'm glad you liked it! Don't forget to review!

Disclaimer: The song in the beginning is called "Home Again" from the musical The Scarlet Pimpernel by Frank Wildhorn. It's a very lovely song and Linda Eder is amazing.

Chapter 35

The night is cool
The wind is high
A wave of light
Breaks through the sky
I watch the light
And wonder when
This wind will sweep
Me home again

I would be warm
If I were there
In golden fields
And easy air
I close my eyes
And now and then
My weary heart
Moves home again

Let my heart fly!
Help me break free!
Sweet night, fill me with light!
Bring me home again!

I will hold on
I will get through
I will not die
Away from you
I don't know how
I don't know when
But I will see
My home again

Hold on til then -
Oh, wait for me!
I will be free

Never had those words rang so true in her heart. It was torture not to be close to him, but each passing second was bringing her closer to him and she had to hold on to that fact. It was becoming difficult to hide her real feelings, knowing how close they were, and trying not to show her joy. Yet, she had to maintain her façade and make the men continue to believe she was going to help them bring Erik down.

Then… then she will make her escape and be free.

And home again…

She held out the last note very softly and almost didn't notice she had an audience.

"Ahem."

Christine glanced up to see Raoul holding a bag of Taco Bell in his hands and a soft drink in the other.

"I brought food. Peace offering." He gave her a boyish grin, his old self showing through. It was contagious and she grinned right back and accepted it.

"Thanks." Christine walked around to set the food on the trunk of the car so she could eat it.

"You're welcome." He watched her and suggested, "Do you want to go over to those umbrella tables?" This particular rest stop had a food court and tables to sit outside.

Christine shook her head. "I'm good right here." Then bit her into taco.

Neither spoke for a couple of minutes, except when Christine offered to share some of her nachos with him. Raoul turned the offer down, after scarfing down his burrito and two tacos on his way over to her, he wasn't hungry. Yet, there was the unspoken tension between them and it all had to do with her switching sides again.

Their relationship and friendship was already stretched out so far as it was and it wouldn't take much for that single strand to break. But despite everything, both secretly wanted to keep that strand in place. It was the only thing that kept them sane.

When Christine finished eating, she stuffed her wrappers in the empty bag and sipped on her drink. Very softly, Raoul said:

"That song you were singing… it was beautiful."

"A musical I heard some time back," she replied offhandedly. "I never understood the meaning of the lyrics until now."

"Yeah. But I wasn't referring to the song so much as it was your voice. You always sing like an angel. Like you're not exactly from here, but somewhere else. Somewhere unearthly."

"What?" It wasn't she expected him to say.

"I know I don't compliment you enough. I mean, compliment on your singing. But it's true. Your voice is unnatural and it was one of the first things that drew me to you. If it wasn't for you, then I don't know where I would be. You saved my life."

"I did?" Christine asked, her brow rose in surprise. "I didn't know that."

"Yeah," he answered a little sheepishly and nervous. "I know I never told you this, but before I met you… I was in a bad place. A little girl had been murdered because of her father and I knew it was him, but I didn't have the evidence to arrest him and by the time we did… it was too late. She was dead and I couldn't save her. I wanted to quit the force after that. How could someone do something so evil such as selling their own child? I lost faith in men and it wasn't until I saw you that I knew I couldn't quit. That I shouldn't because there were other people out there who need me and quitting wasn't going to help them. Not now, not then."

"Raoul…" Christine said, partly in warning and partly in fear. She didn't like where this was leading to. "Don't do this."

"You have to know Christine," he fought. "I love you. I will always love you. I was a jackass before and more so than anything else, and I hate myself for the last few days, but I don't regret it since you are here with me. You may think this is over, but not for me. Not even close."

Finding the courage he never had before until now, Raoul took out the ring from his pocket and held it out for to see. Her breath hitched at the diamond… after all, who wouldn't at the sight? She shakily looked back at him and saw his determination.

"I was going to propose that night," he explained. That night could only mean their anniversary night. "God knows how I wished things didn't turn out the way they did, but I needed you to know so you know my intentions. I'm not proposing right now. I don't want an answer. At least… not for a while. And I swear, I will do a better job than right now, but you had to know how I feel about our relationship. I still have hope we can work it out because this is it for me. You are my forever. So please… think about it."

Raoul put the ring back, but he wasn't expecting to find rage in her blue eyes.

"How dare you?" Christine growled. "Did you think that this would change anything? Raoul, you broke my heart. Unintentional or not. You broke my heart and it's going to take a lot more than an 'explanation' to even consider getting married to you now."

"I know!" he snapped back. "Look, Christine, I know this is my fault. And I want to correct it. But listen! Our relationship wasn't a waste to me and you mean the world to me. I want to be with you! I don't care about anything else! It's only you."

"Yes, well, maybe it's not the same for me anymore," she mumbled.

Raoul heard her anyways and clenched and unclenched his fists. "Of course, how could I forget?" he said. "Erik. You love him, even though he's a murderer and not to mention a monster."

"There is more to Erik than that. I'm not going to argue you on the murderer part… but I am helping you. And when this is over, I'm living my life and you are not in it Raoul."

Raoul swore and took a couple steps away from her and the car, then whipped around on his feet. "Helping? Cut the crap Christine. I know you are only 'helping' so you can go back to him."

"No—"

"Don't deny it Christine. I'm not an idiot. At first, I was really pissed and that you truly didn't care at all what happens. But then I realized something. Even if we do stop him, you will love him no matter what and to Hell with my feelings and wishes. You forget that there is someone else who cares about you! Someone who is very much alive and standing in front of you! If this was another human, then I would be upset, but I would have gotten over it. Why? Because you wouldn't be at risk! I don't want to go living and then one day get the call that your body was found. I won't stop blaming myself if that was the case. Because I would know I could have stopped it.

"But you don't see it that way. You think he could change. Face it Christine. This is not a vampire story with a happy ending. Sometimes they are bloodthirsty eating machines, nothing else. Think about that."

Raoul stormed past her and got into the car. It was her cue to get in too and she saw Nadir in the distance approaching them. So she got into the backseat.

xxXXxx

"If my calculations are right, we should be there in a day or two," Nadir told them. Christine blinked in shock and then realized something.

"Meg's wedding is in two days!"

The men looked at her and neither one did not know how to react.

"Well…" Nadir started. "That's unfortunate. But we don't have time to go back to the city for a wedding. Besides, your friend is under the creature's influence and she will stay at his side."

"Oh God!" she groaned. If Meg doesn't know what is happening, then she will be upset and devastated if she knew the truth that her wedding was missed because of a vampire controlling her. And what of Artie? Was he under Erik's influence too? If not, the poor man would be heartbroken if he thought his bride was skipping the altar when it was not her choice!

"It will work out. Eventually it will," Raoul said. Then he was back to his silent treatment.

After an hour, Christine had to go to the bathroom. The pop hit her so suddenly and to Nadir's annoyance, he pulled off at the next rest stop. She broke out running to get inside.

Raoul's stomach grumbled and thought a snack wouldn't hurt. Nadir thought it was a good idea so both men walked to the second building where there were snack, pop, and coffee machines. They each got a small feast of junk food and a couple of water bottles before heading back to the car.

Christine would have been back, but when they got closer she was nowhere to be seen. Trying not to panic, they looked around to see where she was when Raoul spotted a sign that read, "Scenic Trail- this way" and an arrow that pointed up to the trail.

"Fuck," he muttered, dropping his food and drink and sprinted off in that direction. Nadir saw him go and rolled his eyes. "Allah, I'm getting too old for this."

He set his stuff on the back of the car and followed behind.

xxXXxx

Christine was all too grateful that the burning sensation was gone. She washed her hands and walked out of the restroom. She saw the men were at the food machines and then the sign for the scenic trail. As much as she would have liked to stretch her legs, she knew they would get too upset and suspicious if she disappeared. So she turned towards the car when a knife was suddenly pressed against her throat.

"Don't make a sound," the person behind her whispered. "We're going for a little walk."

So Christine found herself taking that scenic trail after all, but she wasn't enjoying the sights or the fresh air as her attacker was pushing her up the slight incline and out of sight of the rest stop. She hoped the men saw her or noticed she was missing.

The person refused her to look behind so Christine couldn't see their face, but the voice had been female. Eventually, they stopped at the top of the hill where it over looked the expressway down below. Christine gulped at the sight and was finally whirled around so she could take a look at her kidnapper.

Her jaw dropped when it was Carlotta.

"CHRISTINE!"

The singer's heart jumped when she heard Raoul's voice and was sending a praise of thanks that they came in the nick of time. She didn't want to know why Carlotta was here or why she had a knife. Obviously, she meant to do harm.

The thundering footsteps indicated that Raoul and Nadir were close so Carlotta quickly jerked Christine's arm around her so she could press the knife to her throat again. This time she was pressing on her jugular when they came into sight.

The shocked look on their faces said it all.

"Take another step and I'll kill her," Carlotta warned, her Italian accent coming out thick.

Raoul had his hands up so she could see them. Panting, he said, "See? No weapons. Now, let's take it easy and talk this out. Okay Carlotta?"

"Don't move!" The woman growled. "I swear to God I will kill her!"

Raoul and Nadir froze like she said. "We're not moving," Raoul told her. The police officer in him taking over with a cool calmness. "Now, let's talk, all right? You don't want to kill Christine. You're not that person."

"No? I beg to differ. You see… he can't see me because of her. So, she has to go."

"Who can't see you?" Raoul asked, although he had a feeling of "who" it was. It seemed Buquet and Meg was not the only victims of Erik's compulsion.

"My Master…" Carlotta replied dreamily.

Nadir let out a curse under his breath while Christine's eyes widened.

"Erik," the singer whispered and winced when the blade pressed closer.

"Don't say his name!" Carlotta demanded. "You are not worthy of him!"

Christine let out a tiny whimper, which made everyone else nervous. Raoul licked his lips and continued on, especially since he found the weak spot. "Carlotta, listen. It's all right. Christine is not with him anymore. She left him. Your Master is free."

The Italian woman glared. "No she didn't. You took her and kept her from him. But she is a betrayer! She could have left! She had plenty of chances to go back to him, but she didn't. She threw his love for her back at him! I have been watching, following. She claims to love him, but she doesn't really and he doesn't believe that."

Nadir took a tiny step forward, his hand reaching behind his back for a small gun he kept. "You're right. She could have fought back and left us to go back to him. She isn't worthy after all. But you are."

Carlotta nodded vigorously. "Yes I am! I am worthy! But he doesn't want me… unless I prove it. I need to prove my loyalty is to only him. And that means, this little bitch has to go."

"Killing me won't win him over," Christine choked out. "Erik will never—"

"Shut up!" Carlotta snapped. The tip pushed further and a small line of red appeared. "I'm sick and tired of you beating me all the time! This is my turn to shine! I will win! I will—"

Carlotta's voice cut off suddenly as the knife dropped to the ground and her hands flew to scratch her throat. No longer holding her, Christine ran away from her and into Raoul's arms. She turned to watch as the other woman began to argue with herself.

"No! Stop this! You have to understand why… I love you… I had to! I did this all for you!"

Carlotta was walking backwards towards the ledge when her hand gripped her throat, squeezing tightly.

"No!" she gasped, her voice becoming faint. "Don't! Please…"

All three watched in horror as Carlotta flew back as if she was pushed.

She was gone.

TBC…

I'm thinking of doing a sequel of sorts, but it will be more of a collection of vignettes surrounding before, during, and after The Blood's Desire. Thoughts?