Hello readers!

Hey, I'm going camping for the first time this weekend! :) I'm happy, and incredibly nervous and stressed...whatever. lol

I truly thought last chapter would get more reviews since it was the great come back of the Red Death...but I will put it on the summer's account...Hope this chapter will be more to your liking. :)

Okay, Enjoy! :)

Kaya

Chapter 38

Christine remained near Catherine as they returned to the manor. They did not stay at the ball after the Red Death made its appearance. There was no more fun to have. The viscountess took her young friend to her bedroom and stayed with her until she fell asleep. Catherine cried a lot and was exhausted so it did not take her very long.

Once Madame Giry knew her niece was perfectly safe, or as safe as she could be, she returned home. As she walked down the empty streets, she clearly felt a presence behind her, one she knew all too well. She pushed an invisible strand of hair from her face, subtly keeping her hand at the lever of her eyes…just in case.

She walked faster as she reached the Avenue des Peupliers and could not help a sigh of relief when the yellow door to her small house came in sight. She found the place terribly dark and cold when she entered, but it had been this way even since her niece left. Yet, tonight it seemed to weight heavily on her spirit. Closing the door and locking it behind her, Madame Giry felt goose bumps rising on the back of her neck. He was here…

-"WHY?!" The Phantom yelled, his voice echoing in the entire house. "Why did you give her to the German duke?"

-"After what you did tonight, Erik, I no longer doubt my decision of placing her under the vicomte's protection." She answered as firmly as she could, trying not to show how truly scared she was. "You have hurt her to no end tonight…"

-"You and that stupid little vicomte are the ones to blame!" He hissed. "I loved her, Liz. She was everything to me and you took her away from me to give her to that arrogant duke who only sees the beauty of her face and not the beauty of her heart and soul."

-"Catherine deserves more than words. She deserves happiness. She deserves freedom. You have no right to want to take her down with you, away from daylight and fresh air. Think about her!"

-"I DO THINK ABOUT HER!" He yelled and Madame Giry could hear pain entwines with his anger. "It kills me to know her in another man's arms. Don't you understand that she id my soulmate, my everything?"

-"Erik, try to think about this reasonably…"

-"Reasonable? You want me to be reasonable?" He laughed humorlessly. "Reason does not go well with love."

-"It is for her own good." Madame Giry continued, trying to sound convincing

-"You know it is not true. I no longer trust you, Elizabeth Giry and don't EVER set foot in my home again. You are no longer welcome!"

The old ballet mistress heard the swooshing of the Phantom's cloak, signaling to her that he had departed. A shiver tan up her spine and for the first time in a long while, since the Christine episode, she was truly frightened about what he might do. She had to protect her niece, now maybe more than ever.

Catherine woke up somewhere during the night. She saw that Christine was still there, fast asleep in the armchair by the window, her hands resting protectively against her swollen belly. Rising up, Catherine put on a robe and left the room as noiselessly as she could, carefully closing the door behind her. She almost let out a squeal when she found Friedrich dozing in a chair beside the door.

Silently, not even breathing, Catherine walked on her tiptoes to the stairs and climbed them down, heading to the back door to the veranda. She was able to breathe when she reached her goal without anyone noticing and she opened the kitchen door leading outside. The air was not as cold as she thought it would be. It was December already, but the temperature was comfortable.

Folding her arms about herself, Catherine looked up at the night sky, stargazing for the first time in a while. A sob escaped her lips as the beauty surrounding her reminded her of Erik. Not that it was very surprising, everything had a tendency to remind her of him. What he did at the ball came back into her mind. She could not hate him for it, he was just as confused as she was, but it hurt her, terribly.

Catherine was brought out of her sad thoughts when she heard the door opening behind her. Turning, she saw Friedrich come out, breathless. He approached the young woman, looking around in alert. He seemed nervous, a hand resting on his sword handle, yet she could tell he was relieved to have found her.

-"You scared me when I could not find you, petite fleur." He said, trying to calm himself down. "Your aunt just sent us a message."

-"In the middle of the night?" Catherine frowned and he nodded

-"She asked me to take you away from here, someplace safer."

-"I am not in danger." She declared confidently. "And I won't follow you."

-"You will come with me." He said again, a bit more firmly. "It is for your own good."

-"You might detain the right to marry me, Friedrich, but you have no right over my heart and I decide to stay here. I won't obey to orders, I'm not your wife."

-"Not my wife yet." He frowned, frustrated

The duke approached her even closer and he looked so angry that she thought he might hit her. Before Catherine even had time to gasp, Reinhardt lifted her off the ground and put her light body on his shoulder, heading back to the door. She struggled, but he was way too strong. He kept repeating that everything would be alright, that he would protect her. Yet, perched up there, Catherine could not quite believe his words.

A shadow suddenly came out of nowhere, passing over them and landing not far behind them. The duke was so surprised, he dropped Catherine and she landed with a loud thud on the wooden floor of the veranda. She was stunned for a short moment but when she finally looked up she saw Friedrich, face to face with none other than the Phantom. He was not wearing his skull mask as he had earlier that evening, but a black one, covering most of his face save for his lips and chin.

Both men withdrew their swords and Catherine crawled away from them as far as she could, only stopping when she met the manor's wall. The sound of steel clashing was deafening as the rivals began fighting. She could easily tell that the duke was no match against the Phantom. Though more experienced from the look of it, Erik was stronger than him and faster also. He fought with all of his rage and passion.

The fight lasted until Reinhardt's foot slipped on the thin layer of snow covering the end of the veranda. He fell down heavily and the Phantom pointed his sword at him, ready to give the last blow. Catherine rose from the wooden floor as fast as she could, not minding the pain caused by her fall and hugged Erik's arm, keeping him from killing the duke.

-"Please, Please!" She begged, tears filling her tired eyes. "I will come with you, if it is your wish, but I'm begging you, no more anger, no more hatred."

The Phantom looked at her questioningly, panting from the fight. He lowered his swords then put it back into its sheath. Catherine sighed with relief and nodded to herself. She was making the right decision this time, or so she hoped. Looking down at the duke, she saw disbelief drawn on his face and desperation also. She needed to explain him, so she knelt by his side, again ignoring she was in pain.

-"Don't do this, Catherine, for pity sake." The duke whimpered

-"My life here never was as I wanted it to be." She declared kindly. "And though I consider you a good friend, it was never my wish to marry you. You deserve a wife who will love you with all that she is. Understand, Friedrich, it was my decision. I chose to give my heart to this man a long time ago…"

-"Don't leave me, ma petite fleur. " He murmured, sounding broken

Closing her eyes for a brief instant, Catherine rose up, returning to the Phantom's side. His eyes of steel never left her and now they were wide as she neared him. The young woman looked back at the duke, who was still on the ground, one last time and gave him the kindest smile.

-"Please, would you tell my aunt and monsieur le vicomte that I finally followed my heart. I don't want anyone to come after us. I won't come back, I don't want to. Please, tell them that."

-"Catherine, no." Reinhardt tried once more but she ignored him, turning back to the Phantom

-"I'm ready." She said softly to the masked man

The Phantom did not hesitate. He opened his cloak and she entered its warmth without hesitation, which surprised him slightly. He lifted her up easily and she naturally folded her arms around his neck, laying her head on his shoulder. They crossed the garden at a rapid pace, until they arrived where he would usually leave his horse when he used to secretly visit her. He put her on the horse's back and after he had made sure no one was following them, he climbed up behind her.

Once again, he folded his cloak around Catherine so she would not be cold and laced an arm about her waist, securing her against him. Tiredness soon took over her and before she could help herself, the young woman laid her heavy and sleepy head onto her Erik's chest and dozed off from exhaustion caused by such an overwhelming night.