The plot thickens…and this story is going a direction I hadn't planned…I think the Phantom is taking over my keyboard…
My eyes closed, and as I was just drifting into a dark, dreamless slumber a terrifying shriek snapped me back to the world.
I stumbled out of the music room, only to bump into Margarite in the hall. "Pardon, Monsieur Erik," she gasped as I grappled to keep my mask on.
"Margarite, is Christine alright?" I managed to sputter.
"Yes, yes, she is alright, a little high strung right now," she replied, hurrying down the corridor. I shook my head and decided to see for myself.
Christine had locked herself in our bathroom I soon discovered. "Whatever is the matter, my love?"
"Go away! I do not want you to see," she sobbed.
I bit my tongue. I was not in the mood for this after being awakened from a moment's respite. When she did not offer to open the door, I simply forced it.
Christine stood in the middle of the room in only her chemise, her wedding dress pooled at her feet. I was shocked to say the least, that dress had been packed away for some time. "What is going on in here?"
She put her head down, sniffling like a child lost in a wood. "I wanted to be the Phantom's bride at the masquerade, but I cannot get the dress on anymore!" This statement warranted a fresh bout of tears, and I held her while shaking my head at confusion of it all.
"I'm sure Margarite can fix it and make it work for you. Surely it is not anything to be so distraught about!" My response was apparently unwelcome, and she pushed away from me.
"You don't understand. Look!" She straightened her stance and suddenly I could clearly see the outline of her growing abdomen. It was the first time I truly had been able to see. If building a nursery had not been enough to drive reality into my unwilling mind, seeing my wife so obviously carrying a child certainly was.
"Did this just happen?" I marveled. "So quickly?"
She stopped crying for a moment to laugh softly. "It's been a few months, but yes, this is the first time I could see the baby. I can't hide it any longer."
"You will be the Phantom's bride," I whispered to her suddenly, my voice husky with overwhelming desire. My need to possess her overpowered all of my senses. "That child should be mine," I growled in her ear, my mouth reaching for her neck.
She tried to pull away from my fierce grip. "Erik, this child is yours, remember? We promised."
"No, it's not mine, but I will make it so." I pulled her tighter, annoyed that she was trying to leave my grasp.
"Erik, you are frightening me talking like this," she whimpered.
This was not going as I intended. Christine was resisting me now, but I knew my music could bring her back into my arms. Oh the joy of being able to use the hypnotic sound of my voice to my whim!
Ever so deftly I soothed her with my song, her eyes closing in unspoken delight. I loved to watch my voice envelope her like a silken cloak, her defenses dropping completely. As I picked up her complacent form and carried her into the bedroom I remembered the night I first carried her to my lair. How I wanted her then! All those months of watching her, shadowing her, needing to possess her…to think of how easily I could have taken her then.
I was entranced by the scent of her, a combination of roses and lavender. Breathing in her fragrance, I kissed her with fierce possession. Every part of her was mine, and I meant to claim each and every one of them. I held nothing back as I tore off her chemise and threw my clothing to the floor.
Her breasts in all their glory called to me, their swollen heaviness begging for my touch. I grabbed them roughly, feeling their new shape, then lowered my mouth and created a path down to her abdomen. Finding the swelling of her pregnancy, I leaned up and prepared to sheath myself in her.
"You belong to me alone," I commanded her and joined her body. Her eyes snapped out of their reverie, but I was overcome with reckless abandon as I thrust every moment of anger, jealousy and rage into the object of my desire.
"Say that you are mine," I urged her as I looked into her fearful face. She whispered her response, and I plunged my way to a staggering climax unlike any other I had experienced.
When my head cleared, my throbbing erection only a memory, I suddenly noticed the blood on the sheets and my wife, who sobbed softly into her pillow. I slipped into the bathroom quietly and proceeded to vomit.