Ok, here we go again…Erik is getting all stalky now….gunna find out what is what! Now for the record I did look on a map of Paris and am basing all the streets on actual names, so if you go to a map you can see where they are in relation to the Opera House. Now I only had a current map so who knows if the street names changed since Phantom time, but hey….I just don't care that much. Ha ha But it was fun deciding where they lived and where they went and stuff. It will let YOU track the Phantom's movements! Stalk him for a change! Ha ha.
Hope you enjoy reading this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Go NADIR!
Chapter 36
When Christine stepped outside the Opera House she was dismayed to see that it was raining. This would make it even harder to get home on time, for there wouldn't be a Hansom- cab to be had on all the streets of Paris. She wished she had thought to bring an umbrella with her when she left this morning, but at the time rain had not been threatening. Well there was nothing for it then, except to hurry and hope she didn't get drenched on her way.
Erik had been overwhelmed with doubt and feelings of jealousy over the possibility that Christine may actually have another man in her life and could not rest until he found out! He thought back to the last few days and how after each session she would excuse herself hurriedly to depart for home. Was someone waiting for her there? Was she spending her evenings wrapped in the arms of another man while he spent his lonely nights alone dreaming of her? The idea sickened him and he had to know for sure.
He had thought of employing Nadir's help in this matter but knew he wouldn't see the Persian until tomorrow morning and that was far too late. So donning his cape and a wide brimmed hat that could be pulled down over his mask he ventured out into the city for the first time in almost a year.
It was not difficult to follower her since she was moving rather slowly, trying to keep under cover of awnings and nearby trees as she tried to avoid the rain. He hung back, keeping to empty alleyways or deserted streets as well, quite thankful that there were very few people on the street because of the in climate weather. And those who had ventured out either had their heads bowed or hidden under their umbrellas as they hurried along.
He followed her down the boulevard Haussmann and then north up the Rue Chauchat before at last coming to a small apartment building in the less than savory area on the Rue de Provence. Was this where Christine lived? He was angered at the poverty that surrounded her home and vagrants who littered the streets. His Christine deserved to live in luxury, not in this squalor! He watched as she headed across the street towards her building when he suddenly heard her name being shouted.
"Christine!" A man called as he came near to her, offering to share his umbrella with her to shield her from the rain. "Please tell me you did not walk home in this terrible rain! You will catch your death, my dear." The gentleman told her, placing his arm around her as he guided the soaked girl to the door. "Come, let us get inside and get you warmed up."
Erik had to hold himself back from striding across the street and ripping the man's arm from its socket! How dare he touch her! How dare he put his unworthy hands upon his wife! His face grew hot with anger and his fists balled in rage over what he was seeing. This cannot be! Not his Christine, not his love. She had found another…she had become another man's woman!? Oh the pain and misery he felt at that moment rivaled that of when he had thought her dead. Actually he preferred that feeling to this, for when he believed her dead at least he didn't have to imagine her being unfaithful to him! He stood as still as death, forced to watch this contemptible man place his hand upon the small of her back as he guided her inside out of the rain. The man must die!
Erik stood there in the rain for a long time after they had disappeared into the building, the moisture from the sky now mingling with the tears on his face until he could no longer tell them apart. The man had been of medium build and quite a bit shorter than himself and walked with a jovial gait. While his brownish blond hair and his pleasant looking face had made Erik hate him all the more. He was the exact opposite of Erik in every way, the only thing they had in common was Christine!
Erik would have stayed there all night if it had not been for the beggars that soon saw him standing there and began to walk towards him in hopes of receiving some money. He turned and strode down the street, knowing if anyone approached him at that moment it would probably be the last mistake they ever made!
Christine accepted Andrew's arm as he helped her up the stairs to her apartment, the two of them discussing he and Marie's plans for the evening. When they opened the door and stepped inside both Marie and Charles looked up from the table where they had been drawing pictures.
"You two are soaked!" Marie laughed, coming over to kiss her husband before taking Christine's cloak and laying it over a chair to dry.
"I hope this weather does not put a damper on your plans tonight." Christine said as she shook some of the water from the hem of her dress.
"We will not let it." Andrew told her, pulling his wife closer for another kiss. "Tonight is all about celebration and no spots of rain can ruin that."
Christine looked at the two young lovers and her mind instantly flashed back to thoughts of Erik. What she wouldn't give to be held in his arms just one last time.
"Well, I am home now and you two should be heading out if you do not wish to miss your reservations. The cafés will be crowded tonight for sure." She told them as they bid their farewells and went back to their own apartment.
"Mama, come look what I drew for you!" Charles called, still sitting on his knees in a kitchen chair as he leaned over the table.
"What did you make for me this time?" She asked, coming over to stand behind him as she peered down.
"It is a picture of papa! See he is riding his horse César across the desert." Charles explained as he pointed to the picture.
Christine never ceased to be impressed with her son and his abilities. Even at such a young age he was already more talented than most artists she had seen selling their paintings on the street. He had captured Erik almost to a tee, from his strong physique, his dark hair and cape and of course his identifying white mask. He had even done justice to César, the animal actually looking like a horse and not some oddly shaped cow that other children may have drawn. It was almost like looking at a tintype of Erik himself.
"You did marvelous, Charles!" Christine said, reaching down to plant a kiss on the top of his head. "May I keep this one on my table by my bed to help me dream of your father at night?" She asked. Not that she needed any inspiration to do so, but it would be nice to look at as she fell asleep.
"Yes! I made it for you." He told her, picking up the picture and handing it to her with a smile. "I like drawing pictures of papa, and I know it makes you smile when I do."
"Yes, your father could always make me smile." She nodded, lost in a memory. "Just like you can always make me smile as well. You take after your father in that way."
This information made Charles beam with pride and he climbed down to wrap his arms around her waist and give her a big hug.
"How about we have a bite to eat and then I would like to run an errand if the rain will let up for us. Would you like to go on an outing with me?" She asked.
"Oh yes, Mama!" Charles seemed very excited about this.
Erik had wandered for a long time through the streets, not caring about the rain or the odd looks he got for being completely soaked. The fact that a seemingly fine gentleman chose to walk around in the pouring rain was of more interest to those who passed him than any thought of noticing that he wore a mask. After a while he found himself at the door of Nadir's flat on the Rue La Fayette and after standing there for a few minutes, he at last raised his hand to knock.
Darius opened the door and gave a slight gasp of shock to see who it was before him. He quickly stepped aside and reached for his cloak but Erik walked past him and right into the parlor, without even a nod in greeting.
"Erik!" Nadir said in surprise as he rose from his chair and put down the book he had been reading. "You are drenched! And you are out during the day…what has happened?"
"I lost her, Nadir….I lost Christine!" Erik wailed suddenly overcome with grief as he slumped down into a chair beside the fireplace and dropped his head in his hands.
Nadir stood there for a few moments, not quite sure what to make of his friend or his cryptic words. He had misread his words before, and with Erik nothing was every what it seemed, so he felt he must probe further.
"What do you mean 'you lost her'? Is she physically missing and you have been out searching for her?" He asked. "Or do you mean you have said something horrible and now she hates you?" Nadir was going to bet on the last statement, for he was all too aware of Erik's damnable temper and after all he had told him he planned to voice his displeasure over her actions concerning Jamal.
"I have lost her to…to another man!" Erik sobbed, not taking his face out of his hands.
"You what?!" Now Nadir was in shock! "Christine is involved with another man? Are you sure?"
"I saw them together myself. I followed her home today because she was acting very secretive and I saw her with him…he put his arm around her…he touched her! They are living together in some horrid little apartment on the Rue de Provence!" Erik stood up so fast that Nadir had to jump back to avoid being knocked over. "She is with another man, Nadir! She is probably sleeping with him every night…letting him kiss her…allowing him to…to…!" Unable to finish his sentence Erik let out a strangled cry and grabbed a small table nearby. Effortlessly overturning it in his fury, not caring as the dishes and knick-knacks went crashing to the floor. "Another man has stolen my wife!"
"Erik…please…" Nadir began, trying to placate his distraught friend.
"Please what? Calm down? Curb my temper? You try and do so when your whole life is crashing down around your ears, Daroga! At least your wife had the decency to die faithful to you…mine has not offered me the same courtesy! I will not be made a cuckold, Nadir…I will not play the fool!"
"Erik, sit down and shut the hell up!" Nadir hollered at his masked friend, causing him to round on him with a mixture of shock and rage. No one dared speak to the Opera Ghost like that! And yet he found himself sinking back into the chair obediently. "Now just listen to yourself. Are you actually wishing that she had died faithful to you four years ago? You are truly wishing for Christine'sdeath?! Allah man, I would trade places with you in a heartbeat if I could, for I would put up with anything, even the disgrace of my wife with another man just to know she was alive and well on this earth! I would be willing to overlook any slight, any form of infidelity for the slimmest chance to win Rookheeya back!" Nadir leaned in closely and gave Erik a look that he was sure his friend had never seen on his face before. "And I swear that if you ever bring up my marriage or my wife in an insulting manner like that again I will forget our friendship and do you great bodily harm over the offense!"
Erik sat and stared at Nadir as he raged on; every word out of his mouth was like a slap to his face, a knife to his heart…for they were all true.
"You have been given a second chance, a miracle no less, and yet you go around playing the ghost and hiding yourself from her. Why shouldn't she find another man? You are certainly not giving her any reason to do otherwise. To her you are dead, so in her mind she is free to be with whomever she chooses and unless you are going to be man enough to step up and claim what is yours…you do not have a leg to stand on. So quit yelling and destroying my house and decide what you wish to so about it."
"I want her back!" Erik said, without having to even think about it. "I don't care what she has done…who she has been with. I want her back!"
"Fine, then we shall have no more talk of her being lost forever. You must concentrate on gaining her trust and winning her back, be kind…do you understand? Do not do anything rash and you might stand a chance. She loved you once, given some time and the knowledge that you are still alive, she could very well do so again. In the meantime, I will see what I can find out about this man of hers and then we can formulate a plan…one that does not revolve around his untimely demise! I hope we understand one another on this point, Erik."
Erik gave a reluctant nod of his head, turning his face away from Nadir so he would hopefully not see the look of disappointment over this prohibition.
Nadir let out a sigh of relief as a satisfied smile spread over his lips. Yelling at Erik had felt very good…quite refreshing in fact! Why had he not done this a long time ago? Because he would have most likely killed you, he thought to himself with a slight shiver of fear…and for all you know he still might!
Christine took the time to write a long overdue letter before she and Charles left the apartments and ventured out in the drizzling rain and headed to a small shopping district where she could drop it in the post. It had been a letter to Leyla. Once Jamal had told her that her friend was now the mother of the next Shah she had a sudden desire to reconnect and find out how all of this had transpired. She had thought of writing her many times but out of fear of the letter falling into the hands of the Shah or Shaheen, she had kept silent. But now…now the winds of change had reached Persia and apparently for the better! She begged Leyla for news on Erik's death and of what had befallen Nadir. She had recalled how long she had hoped for him to come find her like he had promised, but after almost a year had passed without a word, she had given up hope of ever seeing the kind Persian again.
As she dropped the letter in the slot she silently prayed it would reach its destination and the hands of her dear friend. Once that was done she felt a sense of relief and knew she could do nothing more than wait for a reply back.
The two men spent the rest of the evening talking and by the time Erik had drank half of Nadir's bottle of wine night had fallen at last and he felt it was safe to venture out without being seen. But Erik was still restless; his hands still ached to find their way around that man's neck, that man who was probably just now climbing into bed beside his Christine! Little did that sod realizing that less than a mile away another man wished to spill his blood. He knew he could not return to the Opera House just yet…he needed to blow off some steam, and he knew just the way to find some satisfaction.
"Nadir, were you able to find out where Jamal is staying in Paris?"
"Yes, I followed him back to his hotel, he is staying in the…." Nadir began but seeing the look in Erik's eyes he stopped suddenly, his voice becoming distrustful. "Why do you need to know right now…you are not thinking of going there are you?"
"I only wish to speak with him." Erik said, which was mostly true. He only planned on frightening the man, perhaps instilling the fear of the Angel of Doom in him once more so he would not dare to seek out Christine again. However, if the man put up a fight or attacked him with some weapon during this conversation …well, he could not be condemned for merely defending himself could he?
"I think we both know that is a lie." Nadir said with a heavy sigh and a shake of the head. "Just remember this, if you kill the prince, Christine will hear of it and become very suspicious. She may even be called in for questioning over the matter since she is now known to have a previous history with the man… is that what you want?"
Erik once again was forced to shake his head and give in to the Daroga's wisdom on the matter, damn him!
"Fine, I will simply scare the man and leave him untouched…does this satisfy your insufferable sense of justice?" Erik barked, upset that he felt he was once more leashed by his friend with a conscience. What a tedious thing it must be, having to suffer with morals and scruples.
"Yes, it does." Nadir told him. "And with your oath given, I now feel I am able to inform you that he is in the presidential suite at the Grand Hotel Lafayette on Rue Buffault. Just remember…you are only to frighten him! And make sure you don't frighten him to death either… you can have that effect at times."
Erik nodded, a cynical grin touching his lips as he he took his now dry cloak from Darius as he headed for the door. But before he left he stopped and glanced back at his friend, a sad and regretful tone in his voice.
"I…I am sorry for what I said about Rookheeya…I never meant to insult your wife or the love you two shared. I forget sometimes that you too have suffered the loss of happiness. Please forgive me, Nadir." Erik told him, not able to make eye contact with the Daroga.
Nadir didn't know what to say. Erik was offering him a sincere apology and he was not sure how to handle it. So in the end he just said…
"Thank you." And left it at that.
Jamal was dreaming, and it was not a pleasant dream either…in fact it was a full blown nightmare! He was reliving his battle with the Angel of Doom and this time instead of showing mercy…Erik had slit his throat! Jamal sat up in bed with a cry, his hand grasping at his neck in terror as he felt the sweat pouring down his face and chest. It was only a dream, he assured himself…it was only a dream. Or was it?
A flash of lightening lit up the room and next to the balcony doors he saw the shape of a man, standing there with a dark cape billowing around him. But it was the glowing amber eyes surrounded by a stark white mask that made him crawl backwards in his bed until he hit the headboard with a loud thud.
"What…what do you want?" Jamal asked, his voice cracking in fear.
"Come now, Prince…I only wish to talk." He told him, slipping back into the Persian language with ease. Might as well begin with the pretense he had given Nadir. "I was simply curious as to why you did not heed my warning four years ago about never going near Christine Daae again. Did it perhaps slip your mind…or are you just that dense?"
"I…I didn't seek her out…she found me! I had no idea that she was at the Opera House…I was told that she had died in Persia! How was I to know she yet lived. I swear I would never have gone there if I had known…please you must believe me!" The man begged, his eyes darting around the room as if searching for something.
"Looking for this?" Erik asked calmly, pulling a sword from beneath is cloak. He held it up as he proceeded to examine the blade, the polished metal reflecting the next bolt of lightning that shot through the sky, followed by a low rumble as the thunder came after it. "I thought it best to remove the temptation since I recall your fascination for cutting things…one of them being me."
"Do you mean to kill me now? To finish the job you started years ago? I always knew that I was living on borrowed time…that your claim of mercy was a lie and that you would never let an enemy of yours live." Jamal's words were a mixture of fear and desperation and Erik found he rather enjoyed the terror he was now instilling in this man.
"I had considered killing you while you slept just now…that would have been merciful. However, I find it much more satisfying to watch the fear rise in my victims eyes, just before they go dark and death overtakes them. I would certainly feel cheated if I did not get to experience that pleasure with you, Prince." Erik said with a shake of his head.
"My death will not come without the threat of vengeance. I am a diplomat in this country…political retribution will follow!"
"You think I care for politics? That I fear some sort of reprisal? I am the Angel of Doom…I care for nothing." Erik corrected him, his voice still cold and even.
"You…you care for her…for Christine." Jamal said, playing the last hand dealt to him.
At the mention of her name Erik practically flew across the room, pinning the terrified man to the headboard with the blade of the sword pressed dangerously against his neck. One more once of pressure and it would slice skin, one quick slice and it would sever his jugular and he would bleed out in minutes. All he had to do was give in to the hate…the rage…the pleasure. But he didn't…he held himself in check.
"Do not every mention Christine again! Your foul mouth is not worthy to even speak her name." Erik growled.
"If…if you kill me she will be the one to suffer…you said so yourself last time. My death will cause her more harm to her than any amount of satisfaction it may give you. My life is not worth that…is it?"
Erik grew angry! How dare this man use logic on him, he had enough of that from Nadir, he certainly did not want to hear more from this pompous Prince!
"I will give you twenty four hours to leave France and never return. I will be back here tomorrow night and if I find you still here, I will not hesitate to kill you regardless of how it might affect Christine." Erik pulled the sword away from his throat and threw it at the wall. They both watched as it stuck a few inches into the soft wood, the blade swaying back and forth in a vibrating motion. "I will expect to find you have not lingered long, however I must admit that part of me hopes you do." And with that said and amid yet another flash of lighting and accompanying thunder clap, he was gone, leaving Jamal alone in his dark hotel room once more.
Less than an hour later Erik watched from a deserted alleyway across the street as Jamal loaded his cases and belongings into a cab and ordered the coachman to take him to the docks immediately. Erik had known it would not be long before the Prince took his leave…the man was nothing but a sniveling coward!
The next afternoon Erik sat behind the mirror and waited. He was almost sick to his stomach over the prospect of seeing her again today. Would he see her differently? Would he now see another man's hands on her creamy flesh every time he looked at her? Would he still even want her once he saw her again? The moment she entered the dressing room he knew the answer…he wanted her more than ever!
"Good afternoon, Monsieur Phantom." She greeted as she stepped inside, never doubting for a moment that he was there, even if she couldn't see him. "What shall we work on today?"
It was silent in her dressing room and she tipped her head as if straining to detect his presence, but there was nothing.
From behind the mirror, Erik was doing his best to remember Nadir's words. Do not do anything rash…gain her trust…be kind. And while he knew this would be the wisest course, he found he could not contain the hurt welling up in his chest now that she stood directly before him.
"Opera Ghost?" She called again in to the silence.
"Why would you try and deceive me like that, Christine?" Erik spoke at last, unable to keep his voice calm and his words betrayed his anguish. "I know your dirty little secret, Miss Daae, for last night I followed you home and I saw you with…him!"
Christine's hand flew to her mouth as she tried to stifle her cry of fear. He knew! He knew about Charles! Had he truly been watching when they went out to mail her letter?
"And just when were you going to tell me about this…this indiscretion of yours?" Erik persisted.
"I…I had hoped it would never come up." She told him, unable to lie about the existence of her child any longer. "I had hoped it would not make a difference."
"How could you believe that it wouldn't? Did you think I wouldn't find out? That I wouldn't care?" Erik's anger was returning, and not matter how many times Nadir's words of warning echoed in his ears he couldn't help himself. "A name…I want his name!" Erik demanded suddenly. He needed a label to place on the object of his hatred.
"No…I…" She stammered, not wanting to reveal the name of her beloved child to a man who obviously detested his very existence.
"His name!" Erik bellowed, not to be denied.
"Charles…his name is Charles." Christine cried, covering her face with her hands in shame.
Charles…the name hung in the air like a plague. Erik repeated it several times to himself and each time the name grew more bitter on his tongue.
"And was there even an offer of marriage surrounding your situation? Yet since you apparently retained your maiden name, I must conclude that you did not take him up on any such offer and now must confess your immoralities?"
"It was not like that at all!" Christine shouted, angry and hurt by his cruel implications. "You do not know me; you do not know what I have been through in my life! How can you sit in judgment of me when you apparently have sinned so greatly yourself that you are condemned to haunt an Opera House for all eternity…for that is what you claim to be…the Opera Ghost!"
"I am not the one on trial here, Miss Daae. And I find myself more than qualified to stand as judge and jury in this case. I asked you a question…was there an offer of marriage and if so why do you continue using your maiden name?"
"I…it was…complicated. There were extenuating circumstances and a legal marriage was not obtainable at the time." She confessed, not sure what to say. How could she explain that her marriage to Erik had been contingent on them staying in Persia, that when she left she could no longer claim to be his wife because of no binding certificate or the giving of his last name. It was all so…complicated!
Damn! Damn it all to hell… was the bastard somehow unable to freely offer her his fidelity and he was now forcing her to live in sin?
"What are you going to do? Will you tell the managers?" Christine asked with tears springing to her eyes.
"I have not decided what I am going to do just yet. A lot of that depends on what you might be willing to do to rectify the situation." Erik told her, desperate for her to capitulate to his upcoming demands.
"Rectify the situation…I do not understand what you mean." She told him in a perplexed voice.
"You cannot become a world famous opera singer while fettered in this manner, your voice and performance will suffer greatly because of your divided loyalties. You must therefore take steps to free yourself. I am willing to overlook this… agreeable to keep this little dalliance from the managers if…if you will consent to sever all ties with this…Charles." He said the name with all the contempt in the world.
"What?!" Christine gasped in complete horror. Had he just requested that she abandon her child? That she choose between her son and her career? He was a mad man! Completely insane! "You want me to…to leave Charles?"
"That is what I said, is it not." Erik told her in no uncertain terms. "Do you agree?"
"Not for the wide world!" She responded in a disbelieving tone, using the same words her beloved Erik had once said to her about the prospect of him showing her his face. "I will never part from him and nothing you or anyone else can say will ever make me! I love him with all my heart and soul, something an unfeeling and cold-blooded scoundrel such as yourself is apparently incapable of feeling. When I left Persia I was utterly alone, without a friend in the world and it was Charles who saved me. I had wanted to die, to see my own life come to an end because going on seemed unbearable. My life would have ended before I got off that ship in Russia, either by my own hand or from grief, but Charles pulled me back to the land of the living. Do what you wish, tell the managers, tell all of Paris of my…what did you call it, my dalliance…I don't care! I will never give up Charles and no one can make me!" Christine had had enough and she was not going to stay around one moment longer and hear her life and her child maligned that way. She grabbed her cloak and stormed towards the door.
Every word was killing Erik! He had hoped she would agree without any hesitation to give up her lover for her career and the chance to sing center stage, but no…he had been a fool. Christine was no harlot or tart willing to cling to some man simply in order to survive; she apparently had very deep and true feelings for this man. By demanding she do this he was losing her, driving her away. Nadir was right, having her in his life in any fashion was worth the pain of knowing she loved another. He couldn't lose her again! So before she could turn the handle on the door the lock clicked in place, trapping her inside.
"Let me out, you cannot keep me here!" Christine cried, yanking on the handle with all her might, but it would not budge. "I will not stay and listen to you degrade me like this. You know nothing of me or Charles and yet you wish to keep me here to torment me further?" She turned her back to the door and leaned against it as she buried her head in her hands and sunk down to the floor in tears. "Just let me go."
Erik had to take a few deep breaths before he could continue; his emotions were far too close to the service in order to speak. When at last he felt that he could manage, his tone had grown soft.
"I apologize…I was… out of line." He confessed, wishing for nothing more in this world that to see her smile once more. "I was unaware of the bond the two of you shared. You say he was your savior after leaving Persia? Your reason for going on?" He reluctantly gave this man his silent gratitude for the role he played in keeping her alive during that time…so that she might one day return to him, her husband. "If you can forget what I just proposed, forgive my rash words, then I agree to keep your secret and continue to train and repair your voice. Nothing will have changed…including my high opinion of you, Christine."
Christine didn't know what to say. In the space of thirty seconds his whole demeaned hand changed, transforming him from the omnipotent and demanding Opera Ghost back into her Phantom tutor. What should she do? What could she do? She could not regain her voice without his help and without her voice she could not continue to support her child or fulfill her promise to Erik. She needed him as much as he apparently needed her. Could this symbiotic relationship continue in the light of what had just happened? After what he had just outrageously demanded?
"You will not ask me to give up Charles again?" She questioned, wanting to make sure.
"I will never mention him again…and I would appreciate it if you never did either." Erik was not sure if he could handle the idea of this lover of hers being thrown up in his face on a continual basis. He may still love her beyond compare, but he could do without the daily dose of torment…he had enough of that already. "We will go back strictly to a teacher and student relationship. Will you accept my terms?"
Christine hesitated once more, but with the realization that she had no choice in the matter she finally answered him.
"I will." She said, standing up and wiping her eyes. "I know that the managers would turn me out if they knew of this. Therefor I thank you for your discretion."
"I do not deserve your thanks." And neither did he want her pity…only her love! "I think it would be best if we skipped the lessons for today. I will see you tomorrow, Christine."
"Very well, if you think it best." She nodded, she was not sure she could have sung now anyway. "Until tomorrow then." She quietly left the room without even a backwards glance.
Erik crumbled to the floor behind the mirror in defeat. He had played his hand and lost. He would have to do more if he wished to rid this Charles from his beloved's life. He would need help…he would need Nadir. That all wise, all knowing Daroga was about to be put to good use! Erik was not giving up, he would bide his time, gain Christine's trust and somehow drive a wedge between her and her lover. She would belong to him again even if he had to do something very rash…even if he had to steal her away and keep her prisoner down in his underground lair. He would never let her go!
Sooooo?
How did you like his misunderstanding?
How about his taking out his frustrations on Jamal?
Nadir's little tirade?
Erik turning all scary there?
Please do not worry, I promise a happy ending is coming up!