Once again I must thank you all of you who have taken the time to read, review and follow this story. To those of you who have reviewed but do not have an account and thus I am unable to reply personally, I just want you to know that your words of support have brought a smile to my face.
In fact all your reviews mean a great deal to me and I'm truly humbled. We have only just begun this crazy adventure, so I hope you will stick around for the ride. ;)
I own nothing… Except Thomas and Suzanna! Oh crap…I own Vincent and Randolph too…..Damn. Why didn't anyone remind me?
"I'm gaining on you! I told you, you cannot….." Suzanna was only a few feet away from catching up to Christine and Midnight. She could hear her friend laughing and when she shook her head with a grin, she happened to look over her shoulder and let out a moan. "Oh, good grief!"
Christine stayed focused. It was just like Suzanna to try and distract her so she could claim victory. "It won't work." She kept her eyes in front of her and continued her lead.
Suzanna abruptly stopped and was now in clear line of vision to see Raoul charging towards them. "Christine, I'm serious. It appears we have a tag along." She pointed off into the distance.
"Who is it?" Christine tried to squint her eyes to make out the figure but wasn't sure who it was until he came closer. Raoul. "What do you suppose he wants?"
Suzanna turned her head to face Christine. "Probably a fee for riding through his precious estate. Out of the two brothers I was hoping we'd run into, he wasn't the one."
Christine wanted to respond with words of comfort to her but when Raoul approached them, she kept silent. She hadn't seen him since that night at the restaurant, where she saw him attack Phillip and say hurtful things about her best friend. The worst part was the way he looked at her once he left the scene without a trace of remorse for being discovered. Moreover, the look he gave her as if she was just common trash because he didn't take her as a person of interest. What changed? Why should he take time to seek the two of them out now? Then it dawned on her.
My make over…..I certainly looked different back then. Since that night, I've grown and with Suzanna's help I've taken to accentuating my features but it wasn't for the likes of him….What a shallow person indeed.
"My dear mademoiselle. Please, allow me to introduce myself." He ignored Suzanna as he dismounted his horse and walked towards Christine.
"Uh, good day to you too, Fop! Christine, this is Phillip's younger brother, Raoul."
Raoul casted his eyes toward Suzanna and smiled obligatory. "Suzanna. I didn't see you there."
She rolled her eyes. "Pity, I couldn't say the same for you. You always gave off such a….." She sniffed the air. "Distinct smell."
He wanted to tear into her but he kept his temper in check. Instead he focused on Christine. "My lady, I am the Vicomte de Changy. You may call me Raoul."
Suzanna placed her index finger in her mouth and pretended to be sick. Christine saw her and fought the urge to laugh. Instead she looked him straight the eyes, wondering if he remembered her now. When he still seemed to be waiting for her to address him, she simply smiled and said, "Thank you, monsieur but we have already met."
Raoul appeared stunned. Met? How? When? No, impossible. I would have remembered that face. "My enchantress, I'm afraid you must be mistaken. I have been at sea for a very long time and I know I would have remember a face such as yours. Unless, perhaps we met in a dream?" He smiled and offered his hand to help her off her horse but Christine remained as she was.
"Raoul, could you possibly be any more ridiculous?" Suzanna was dismounting and was about to give Raoul a piece of her mind for barging in on them, when Christine spoke.
"No, monsieur. We did meet. Yet you didn't seem to think the acquaintance was worth your time."
Raoul was now embarrassed. "I…I'm sorry for my ignorance, mademoiselle. I make no excuses other than perhaps I was blind that day. Let us start over. To show you my sincerity, I offer a peace offering." He pulled the red scarf out of his pocket. "I'm afraid you dropped this. I am happy to be your servant and return it to your grateful hands."
Suzanna could not stop laughing. "What a complete phony! Raoul, can you just leave before you make an even bigger fool of yourself? Although, I am thinking that would be a challenge, even for you."
Raoul was quickly becoming enraged. He was at a loss as to why Christine wasn't falling for his charm and Suzanna's meddling comments were causing him to lose face. "Would you please be kind enough to allow Christine to answer? She is able to speak for herself, is she not?"
"My, such a temper." She climbed back on her horse and backed away a little, showing both of them she would watch in silence.
Raoul turned back to Christine and smiled at her. "Such a lovely name, Christine. Allow me to return this. It must be of sentimental value, no? Young, promising ladies always carry around a token to remind them of a happy place or event. I'd love to hear the story some day, when you have more ….Free time." Away from that meddling brat.
"Monsieur…"
"Raoul, please. After all, we know each other, don't we?" He laughed but was put off when he noticed her stern face. He then gestured with the red scarf that caused Midnight to stir and made Christine jump up on her saddle in surprise.
Suzanna was about to step in when she heard Christine's voice take a sharp tone.
"No, monsieur we do not know one another. We met once and I saw a deplorable display of who you really are. I will not call you by your first name and I trust you can respect my wishes to not use mine. Mlle. Daae will be fine, and I will refer to you as Vicomte. As for this scarf, I'm sorry for your trouble but I discarded that raggedy old thing because it upset my horse and caused her distress from her previous owners. As you can see, it agitates her to have it come near. I ask that you keep it away from her and stay away from me as well. Good day, Vicomte." She then signaled for Midnight to take off but not before she addressed Suzanna. "I think it is clear that I beat you."
Raoul stood in silence as he watched her go. He had never been spoken to like that from anyone and he certainly did not find it acceptable now. He threw the scarf on the ground.
"Well Raoul, it appears you were right."
He turned around in frustration."What are you talking about?"
"It seems Christine can speak for herself just fine." Suzanna smiled sweetly and rode away.
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Christine felt very good about herself as she walked inside the McCarthy estate. Suzanna had to attend rehearsals for her show, so she opted to go and finally meet with Cassie alone. She was a bit hesitant but after putting a Vicomte in his place, she could surely handle her adoptive mother when it came to discussing her angel, couldn't she? She took her riding gloves off and immediately heard Cassie's voice call her name.
"Christine, is that you?"
"Yes, Cassie. Suzanna and I were riding and since she had to go to the theatre, I thought it would give us time for a chat." She walked in and saw her drinking tea as she marked her book.
"Come and sit down. Would you like some tea?"
She nodded and accepted the cup as she sat next to Cassie. "What are you reading?" She tried to glance at the title.
Cassie grinned. "It's something from Thomas' library. He has such an eclectic collection. Yet I am having a very hard time imagining him reading this." She smiled again.
It was obvious to Christine that the woman missed the man terribly. It was strange and yet comforting how they seemed to have much in common when it came to the men in their lives. Both Thomas and Erik were away and both ladies tried to fill up their days with little reminders of the other. Thus it appeared as if they both were prisoners of time. Maybe it wouldn't be such an uncomfortable conversation after all?
"Cassie…"
"Yes, dear?"
"Are you scared about….Are you worried about having to return to Vincent?"
Cassie sighed deeply and then inched closer toward Christine. "Darling, I have already made up my mind to return to him."
"What? Why? You don't love him. I thought you and Thomas were….. I thought…."
Cassie placed a hand on Christine's. "I made my choice long ago. My choice comes with responsibilities and consequences. I need to meet with Vincent so we can discuss a few matters but once those are settled, I will return to him."
Christine stood up. "Why? He almost killed you. I don't understand why you feel you are obligated to him simply because you made a mistake. You have every legal right to claim your freedom. Why would you purposely separate yourself from the man you love?" She'll never understand about Erik.
"Christine, sit down."
She looked at her seriously and although she rarely had to take an authoritative tone with Christine, when she did the young woman sat back down next to her without question.
"I didn't want to have to tell you this but as you know, I'm your mother and due to the adoption, Vincent is your….."
"He most certainly is not my father. My father died years ago and no one can ever take his place."
"Sweetheart, listen to me. I know you love your father dearly and want to honor his memory. I also know Vincent could never hold a candle to him but in the eyes of the law, he is your legal father." She saw Christine shake her head again and she squeezed her hand. "If I were to divorce, he would still be your father. Frankly, dear I am not sure what he would do but I will not risk him having sole claim on you and your upbringing. This way, the decision will have to be ours, namely mine. That is my condition."
Christine looked at her in confusion and then reality hit her. "You're staying with him because of me?"
"No, darling not because of you…..For you. Now I know you might think that…."
"No! Please, Cassie don't. We can fight this. I'm 15, I'm not a child. I can marry, I can…."
"Christine, I am well aware that you are no longer a little girl. I'm sorry I didn't have you as my own for very long. That part pains me but in my heart, you will always be my little girl. It is my job to protect you, regardless of age. And while you can marry, you are not yet married and I'm afraid Vincent could make your life rather difficult if he chose to."
"I…."
"I don't think he would consider an older, music professor an acceptable suitor, my dear."
Christine's eyes widen. "Then you know?"
Cassie smirked. "Well, I am not sure if he has proposed but from the way the two of you sang to one another during your audition, I would be blind or stupid to think it wasn't a matter of time."
"Cassie, Erik and I…. We…..Nothing has ever happened that would be considered inappropriate. He is a wonderful man and ….Dear God, No! I can't be the cause your unhappiness. Besides Erik has never…."
"Hush. You are my happiness and I have a feeling that Erik, because of him being….What did you say, wonderful? He may want to wait until you are a bit older. I am afraid I know this story all too well."
Christine then saw another similarity between her Erik and Thomas. Thomas shunned his feelings years ago for fear he was not acceptable and now she feared Erik might do the same. "Cassie, if Erik learns this is why you are staying with Vincent, he will not approve and neither do I. We can fight this together. Why must you sacrifice yourself for me? Think of Thomas, he will be destroyed."
"We have talked about this over and over again. He understands." Cassie didn't feel it was necessary to reveal how she and Thomas planned on resolving some of their pain. "Besides, this allows time for everyone."
"Time? Why would you want more time? Time is our enemy, not our friend."
"Christine, if I am responsible for you, then you have no fear about when and whom you shall marry. I will let your heart decide the matter. Yet, I do feel you should wait a few more years."
"Years? But why? Are you thinking that I will change my mind about Erik? You saw with your own eyes how much we care for one another."
"Yes, I have no doubt. But if it is real, then time will make it stronger. You need to finish your schooling and with your new role in the theatre, it may lead to other roles in your future. You can't be married so soon and give that up."
Christine shook her head. "That is where you are wrong. Erik would never let me give up performing. It is in our souls. It's part of the reason why I fell in love with him."
"Time, will also help convince Erik that he is a suitable choice." She dared Christine to challenge her on her thoughts and when the girl couldn't answer, Cassie responded. "Once he is sure, nothing will stop him. Take it from someone who knows."
"You are making all these decisions for me based on your past. Cassie, forgive me but your decisions have not been the best. How am I to trust them now?"
"Has Erik discussed his feelings? Have you two discussed your audition?"
Christine murmured a soft "No."
"This allows you the freedom to make your choice and give you time to either explore these feelings or dismiss them."
"But if you had worked harder years ago on Thomas, you and he would have been married for 10 years by now."
"Yes, and I am not telling you to deny your feeling or not encourage Erik's but I was older than you and I had my education. There is no rush and if what you feel is true then it will last. My love for Thomas is as strong as ever."
"10 years too late. Denying love is not natural, regardless of how honorable it might be."
"Who said anything about denying love? I will never deny my love for Thomas again. We have so few opportunities to be happy in this life, Christine. I may have to steal mine but I want more for you. Returning to Vincent ensures it."
Opportunities…. How she hated the word. Erik kept telling her how she had so many opportunities to explore and how he would never stand in her way."I don't know what I should say or feel. I can't be the reason that you and Susana's grandfather are unhappy. Suzanna will be fit to be tied. She will never comprehend your going back to Vincent. Please, don't do this. We can talk to Erik. He can help. I know he can."
"Not this time, my dear. You are my prime motivation but in the eyes of the law, Vincent would take everything. He'd never let me be free. At least this way, I still hold some bargaining power."
"Cass….." Suddenly calling her Cassie wasn't enough. She had felt love for this woman for a long time and yet she never felt so compelled to tell her. "Mama, I love you."
Hearing those words together like that for the first time in her life made Cassie realize it was all worth it. Every sacrifice and struggle, everything she ever tried to do in order to become a mother had not been in vain. Christine had filled her heart with complete joy.
"Come here, darling. Your mama loves you too and that is what is going to get us through this." She pulled her into her arms and embraced her child.
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With Erik still being away, Christine decided to spend the night with Cassie and let her mind take in everything she had been told. Regardless of this situation, she knew she needed to tell Erik everything. She needed to tell him of Cassie's decision and she needed to tell him how she felt. She was sacred on so many levels. She feared for Cassie's safety but she also feared for her own.
Would she need to move back with Cassie? Would she have to leave her angel? Would telling Erik her feelings force her to have to leave anyway? Society might prohibit their leaving together. Yet what if he didn't want her around anymore? What if everyone had been wrong and he didn't love her the way she loved him? Could that even be an option now that Cassie had made such a sacrifice for Christine's future happiness? If that happiness was Erik, would it all be for nothing if he didn't want it too?
As she was contemplating all her thoughts she began to brush her hair, getting lost in the strokes when all of a sudden she heard her bedroom door lock.
"Cassie?"
She stood up and went to the door and turned the knob. It was stuck…..Or was it locked from the outside? She pounded on the door.
"Hello? Cassie?" She yanked on the doorknob with all her might but still nothing. Someone had locked her inside. The question is who and why.
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Cassie had gone outside to walk around the garden. She hadn't heard Christine's door pounding to warn her that something was wrong. She had just opened the veranda's door and entered the room when she felt two arms swing her around and saw a thin knife pressed up against her neck.
"Not one word, my dear." Vincent kept the knife close to her neck, while using his free hand to place his finger up to his mouth. "Happy to see me?" He laughed and dragged her into the parlor.
"Vincent, what are you doing here? We are supposed to meet in a neutral territory."
"Whatever for, Cassie? My word, you look beautiful. I am sorry for the knife but one can't be too careful. I came here to start anew. You and I love each other and we were happy before all those outsiders came and ruined things. We don't need any of them anymore, dear. We just need us. So, I've come to take you home."
She swallowed hard. What of her conditions? She also couldn't leave Thomas like that? He wasn't back from his trip. She had to see him once more and convince herself they would have another meeting. Hope was all she could cling to now. She couldn't let Vincent take that away too. "Vincent, I agree to come back to you and be your wife but…."
He grinned for ear to ear. "You won't regret it, love I swear it." He bent down at her feet and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Come, let's leave now." The knife was still visible.
She didn't move. "Vincent, what about Christine?"
His face fell. "Christine? Why would you bring up an outsider's name now? It's just us. You and me."
"She's my daughter, Vincent."
He then remembered how that foul monster had threatened him to stay away or he would suffer for it. "She is your responsibility, Cassie. I will not interfere. I love you and all I care about is getting a real chance to make you happy. Everyone else doesn't understand. They need to stay away and let me love you."
"So you agree I can raise her as I see fit? I have your word?"
He nodded his head. "All I care about is you and getting back to the way things were before. As long as you are happy, I am happy. Yet the minute anyone comes between my ability to make you happy…." He pulled the knife up closer as if he were taunting her with it. "No one is safe. Even if they think it is for your own good."
"Okay, Vincent. I'll return home to you. I just need a few days….."
"A few days? No! Right now. Tonight!"
"Vincent, please. You must allow me some time to get my things together and…."
"We can send for your things. They are just things. Who cares? Cassie, you are my lady. I will treat you as such and in time, you will see I am worthy to be your husband. But… We must leave tonight."
"Vincent, you can't just take me like this as a thief in the night. We should meet with the attorney and ….."
"Cassie…." He raised the knife to her back. "Why do that? They don't care about you or me! They are trying to come between us and interfere with my being able to make you happy. They will bring up the past. I only want to focus on the future!" He moved the knife up and down along her back. Each time he got agitated, he would press the cold metal closer to her unprotected skin.
"You are my wife. In the eyes of your God, the law and deep within your heart." He then pointed the knife at her heart. "Everyone who might try to threaten that fact, including your precious geriatric, is gone. There is no one to stop us, Cassie. Unless, you are telling me you wish to deny me the right to make you happy?"
She shook her head but could not bring her eyes to face him. He moved towards her and placed his hand on her chin. He slowly went to kiss her but when she resisted he stopped himself. "I know I am not worthy just yet. But you watch. I will be. I'll be patient until I've proven myself, my darling. When I do, you will receive me with open arms. You remember how it once was? We will have that again."
He pressed her against him and held her tightly, ignored the tears that went down her face as he jerked her out of the house and into the waiting carriage.