A/N: I have worked hard to restore all the chapters and have even added a few. When I went back through I found a few out of chronological order and some with repeated information. I hope I have caught all of those errors but if not let me know.
I want to thank all those who have reviewed and all those who have read so far. I appreciate each and every review. I only received three for this last chapter which disappointed me but I still decided to post a chapter. If you are reading I invite you to comment by leaving me a review. Reviews are necessary for writters, good or bad. Please do take a moment to do so at the end of this chapter.
Chapter fifty-four
Journey Through Darkness
Raoul saw Nadir and Hayden striding quickly out of a doorway just off the grand foyer. Coming just behind them was a woman Raoul knew must be Coralee Anne Richards, Captain Richard's mother.
This woman looked far too young to be anyone's mother. She was not the most beautiful woman Raoul had ever seen. She was certainly the most striking looking one though. She was tall for a woman. Watching her walk toward him Raoul thought she glided across the floor rather than walked.
He skirts rustled with hers steps. Her hands gripped her skirts on either side showing just a hint of an attractively slim ankle. A blond halo of hair surrounded her head with a few tendrils brushing her neck and shoulders flirtatiously.
Her welcoming smile warmed Raoul just looking at her. Lord help men everywhere if she decided to use her womanly charms. No man could resist was Raoul's guess and he had not even heard her speak as of yet.
When she was within a few feet of Raoul she held her hands out to him in welcome. Raoul did not even have a chance to think before his hands had stretched out toward the woman in front of him. She grabbed both of his hands smiling at him warmly.
"Ah let me see," she stood back from Raoul with their joined hands stretched out the side as she looked him over very thoroughly before she continued, "You are Raoul correct?" The woman's voice could have been coated in honey it was so sweet of tone and tenor.
"Indeed Madame." Raoul's voice sounded raspy and coarse to his own ears. He hoped they did not mistake his dry throat as signs of drunkenness.
Coralee looked around his broad shoulders. "Where are the rest of my guests? I was told there would be six guests coming. Nothing untoward happened did it? Please tell me everyone is alright. Moon Shadow, she is well?"
"Actually Madame there are seven of us. Katherine rescued a little girl. The others are waiting for my signal. We could not chance the fort telegraphing ahead in case Andrew's duplicity was discovered. We had to be sure. We felt it better to risk one rather than all of us. Besides I was the most presentable of the bunch." Raoul smiled charmingly at the woman.
"Raoul where are the others? Did everyone...is everyone well?" Nadir had been beside himself all day. What with having to fight off Coralee's subtle charms he was fit to be tied. The woman was a menace with not one clue how volatile she was to the male of the species. Or perhaps she had known for so long that now it was second nature to charm every man she met. She did it without guile or malice. She genuinely liked all men. Women he imagined would despise her just for her beauty alone.
"Katherine has been shot. Matthew did the best he could in the short time we had to tend to her. As you can imagine we had to keep moving for fear of capture. For the moment she is doing fairly well but we need to have a doctor see to her as soon as possible."
Nadir and Hayden were shocked by Raoul's news but were given little time to do anything other than have a private moment to worry about her condition.
Coralee lost her sweet helpless "butter would not melt in her mouth" countenance. She took control with efficiency. She was a formidable woman once she had the bit firmly between her teeth.
"Raoul please bring the rest of the party in. Jeffrey please be sure that vacant servant's room just off the kitchen is prepared for the injured woman. I suppose it will have to do. It will be much easier to have her down her as she recuperates."
"Nadir go into the room just off the kitchen pantry. You will find clean dressings for Katherine's injuries as well a bottle of medicine. I dare say the poor woman could use a dose of laudanum to ease her pain temporarily. There is a brown bottle with peroxide and a tin of boric acid. Please bring those. Also bring the big white basin you will find in there as well and fill it with warm water."
"Hayden please go to Allison's room and ask her to give you a clean nightdress, towels and sheets. Tell her there is no need to bother leaving her bed for the night. Once she has gathered what we need, she may return to her bed. We have plenty of hands to do what needs to be done."
Coralee commanded those around her like a general would command his troops. She was efficient and no nonsense. No one thought to question her authority.
Raoul stepped out onto the front porch. When he reached the top of the steps he let out a shrill whistle, his eyes trained on the spot where he knew the others were waiting just at the top of the hill amidst the trees.
After only a few seconds he saw dark shadows beginning to emerge from the concealing trees. If he did not know who those shadows were he could have mistaken them for ghostly specters.
Before Erik and the others had reached the house Coralee was at his side. The woman gripped Raoul's arm nervously. For all her calm outward appearance Coralee was nervous about meeting this paragon her son had told her he intended to make his wife.
Soon the riders reached the porch. Erik handed Katherine down into Raoul's waiting arms reluctantly. As soon as he had assured himself Katherine was safely in Raoul's arms Erik dismounted. When both feet were on solid ground he took Katherine back into his waiting arms.
Coralee looked over her houseguests matching names to the descriptions Hayden and Nadir had given her. The man who held the injured woman was undoubtedly Erik Fontaine. The tree trunk of a man just beside Mr. Fontaine just dismounting his horse could be none other than Darius. The tall muscular man without any shirt had to be Katherine's brother, Matthew. The woman still sitting stiffly in the saddle she deduced was Moon Shadow. She saw the other Indian fellow sitting just as stiffly as Moon Shadow. This must be the great chief Raging Bear.
Coralee gathered her wits as well as her manners as she waived everyone up to the porch. With a graceful gesture of her hand and a soft melodious voice she said, "Please don't stand on ceremony. Please come inside."
Turning to Erik she said, "You are Mr. Fontaine?"
Erik simply grunted his assent.
"Please come this way. Oh good Nadir you have returned. Please show our guests to the downstairs facilities so they may freshen up then take then to the dining room. Please tell Mrs. Wilkins to cut some ham, cheese and bread. Well I suppose just tell her to place whatever she thinks will be needed on the sideboard in the dining room. Everyone can then help themselves. These people are bound to be hungry."
Once Coralee had settled Katherine in the bed she had left her in the capable hands of her own personal maid Mary. She persuaded a reluctant Erik to wash up then get something to eat while Mary bathed and dressed Katherine in the fresh gown.
Erik did not quite know how he ended up at the table with the others but in a matter of minutes when the woman named Coralee had told him to go freshen up and then eat he had done just that. It had been his intention to refuse so he could stay with Katherine.
Once he had washed up his stomach had loudly proclaimed it needed nourishment. He had to confess it was the better choice to feed his body rather than pass out from lack of nourishment perhaps during a time Katherine needed him the most.
Erik had turned around in the bathroom only to stop short. The leg grabber was back. How the hell had she managed to sneak up on him. He scowled fiercely at her hoping to frighten her away. She merely gave him a big toothy grin then latched onto his pant leg. This fascination she had for Erik's legs was the reason he called her the leg grabber. No matter how frightening he tried to appear she would not leave Erik in peace. The only thing that had kept her out of Katherine's sickroom had been Moon Shadow entertaining her.
They were just finishing there makeshift meal when the doctor arrived. Erik had stood to follow the gray-haired gentleman down the hall. Coralee had stayed him with just a touch on is arm. The other occupants at the table marveled to see Erik so compliant.
Coralee invited the men to retire to the front porch to smoke if they wished. Brandy would be sent out in just a few minutes.
Coralee seeing the lost look on Moon Shadows face gently asked her to stay with her so they could talk. Coralee told her that a room had been prepared for her with some clothing. She could bath then join Coralee in her sitting room. A maid would come for her in half an hours time. While Coralee took Moon Shadow upstairs the men went out to the front porch.
Erik wanted only to go down that hall to see what was happening to Katherine. He did not want to sit out here making small talk. Hell he did not want to talk at all.
Raoul took the seat next to Erik. He thought this might be a good time to speak about the past and clear the air somewhat so that they were not at each other's throats all the time. Raoul did not see Christine as bone of contention between them but Erik was not privy to what had transpired between Christine and him all those years Erik had not been in Christine's life.
Raoul thought with all that had happened and the way Erik reacted to Katherine's injuries it would seem to indicate Erik himself had placed his affections somewhere else.
Once seated down beside Erik Raoul lit a cigar. He offered the case to Erik. Erik did not smoke as a rule but one he thought would not do any serious damage. He needed something to occupy himself with until that damn doctor came out and gave them some news about Katherine.
Raoul cleared his throat in preparation to speaking to Erik. Glancing around he saw Nadir and Darius deep in conversation casting quick glances back in their direction. It did not take a genius to surmise they were contemplating whether or not he and Erik would be able to sit this close to one another without one or both of them sustaining injuries or worse.
Raoul took a deep puff then blew out the smoke clearing his throat once again. How should he begin?
"God damn it just say what the fuck is on your mind. This hem hawing is irritating. Either spit it out or swallow it and choke. I have too much on my mind to worry about what you consider to be important." Erik glanced around quickly. Ever since he had come out of Katherine's room that little leg grabber had been following him like a second shadow. All he needed was for her to repeat one of Erik's less than proper curses.
"Well actually Erik, I thought we might clear the air a bit. Due to recent circumstances I feel we should get things out in the open and discuss them."
Erik leaned casually against the arm of the wicker chair as he twisted to meet Raoul's eyes. He raised his brows in question. Realizing that Raoul might not be able to see his face he asked, "And what might these things be that we need to air out and discuss?"
"Christine." Raoul waited for Erik to bellow like a bull or grab him around the throat or both. What Erik actually did surprised the hell out of Raoul. Due to recent events it shouldn't have but it did.
"I have no interest in Christine other than as a performer in an establishment I have an interest in. Erik couldn't quite make himself say theatre nor did he wish to call it an opera house as he knew Katherine objected to that term. He settled on establishment.
"Erik I am glad to hear that. For your sake as well as mine. You may think I got the prize all those years ago but what I won was a three year descent into my own personal hell. I would not normally be revealing such intimate details as I am about to impart, but I do think you deserve to know the truth of things so that you may understand that the great prize you thought you gifted me was alas not so wonderful in the end."
Erik stood and turned his chair toward Raoul. If the damn fool insisted they have this little tête-à-tête then he would damn well not get a crick in his neck while he listened. Since Raoul had said not all had been a bed of roses Erik's ears had pricked up with interest. For all his years of suffering he was glad to know Raoul may have suffered some slight measure of what had befallen on him three years ago.
Raoul sighed then continued, "Once Christine and I made it back to my home outside Paris things did not go as smoothly as I had hoped. Christine was not as eager to marry me as I would have liked. My father finally forced our union. He wanted no more scandal. If not for his interference we would not have married I think. Christine would have soon left me to pursue you physically as she did mentally."
"When you passed Christine to me you kept a part of her heart and mind. I won't go into all the humiliating details for I find I have no wish to stroke your ego to that level. Suffice it to say Christine was unfaithful to me many times in her mind with you and actually unfaithful to me with many men, the most damning being my best friend Michael."
"Christine searched for her damn Angel of Music in the arms of other men. I knew I could never make her happy. Honestly I began to wonder what had drawn me to Christine again. I think perhaps it was memories of how things had been when we were children. How happy we had been. Her father had always wanted us to be together. That was his dream. I do believe that had some small part in Christine allowing herself to allow me to court her while she was at the opera house."
"The last of my tolerance and understanding drained away when I learned of her affairs as well as her obsession with you. I won't tell you all the humiliating ways I had this forced on me. Suffice it to say you got your revenge without even having to be present or make any effort."
"Once we decided to come to America things began to change for me. I did not want to hang on to a love that was never going to make me happy. Holding on made us both miserable. In our misery we had neglected Meg. That is another sore point between Christine and me. She knew of Meg's plight yet did nothing to help her. I am not completely innocent by any means and will not spare myself anything. I had made a promise to Antoinette to protect her daughter and I failed miserably. I allowed my own miserable state of mind to distract me from my duties."
"Meg was attacked by three men in her apartment. Once I learned of her dangerous position I sent for her. It was too late to prevent all the horrible things she had to endure but I did finally honor my promise to Antoinette to protect her daughter."
"Just so you know the men that harmed Meg are no longer breathing. They met with terrible accidents while awaiting release from jail. Horrible things happen sometimes while one is being held prisoner. Sometimes it is fatal."
Raoul was silent a moment reliving those weeks over once more in his mind. He could still not find even a small part of regret for his part in the demise of those men.
"So you see Erik, my perfect life with Christine that you envisioned me living all these years was just that, imagination, a fantasy."
"I do not wish to give the impression that Christine did all this with the intention of harming anyone. I think Christine still has many issues from her own past that make it hard for her to settle on any one choice with any degree of certainty. Christine's mind is, well to be kind she is somewhat vague sometimes, off in some private, secret world of her own."
"I have made my peace with Christine. I will be seeking a divorce once we return. I have at last met someone who I can trust only loves me. I want that with someone. I do not want to have to wonder when we are together if she is replacing me in her mind with someone else when in intimate moments." Raoul thought his ego had taken enough of a beating. He would go inside and lick his wounds in private.
Erik looked closely at Raoul trying to see if what he thought he heard was not some figment of his own mind. Raoul looked as if he spoke the truth. Erik could not help the jolt of pleasure that shot through him knowing that at times Christine may have fantasized that she bedded him, Erik, instead of her husband Raoul. He should thank the boy for his generosity but at the moment he could not. Perhaps some day in the far off future he might be able to but not yet.
"Well now that I have spilled my guts and handed you the means to humiliate me I think I will take a bottle of some alcoholic beverage to my room and drink myself into oblivion."
Erik silently watched as Raoul stood, snagged a bottle of brandy along with a glass then entered the house. Erik's mind was churning. Why did he not feel more glee in the knowledge that Raoul's life with Christine, that he had imagined to be perfect for so long, was a sham, a figment of his imagination. Why did it not fill him with joyful justification to know Raoul's life had been almost as miserable as he himself had been? All Erik felt was…well he was not exactly sure what he felt. If Raoul had told him this only a few months ago he might have jumped for joy.
It did give Erik some little pleasure to know not all was the perfect harmonious life Erik had envisioned for Raoul and Christine.
Erik had known for a long time that Christine's mental health was not stable. She had been almost as unstable as he himself had been all those years ago. Erik's own manipulation of Christine had not helped and for that he did have regret.
Erik could only wonder how his life would have been if Christine had found him before he had met Katherine. He suspected he may have been attracted to Katherine regardless of whether he was with Christine or not. Whether or not he would have acted on that attraction he could not say. A similar situation had not arisen so he could compare his reactions. Eventually he did realize that even though he loved Katherine with every fiber there would be women who would attract his body. Erik was equally certain he would never act on that attraction.
Erik's introspection was interrupted by the doctor's exit from the house. The man put his hands in his pockets then fidgeted for an overly long time it seemed to Erik. Why did the man simply not give them news of Katherine? Why must he torture them? Erik was tempted to use some violence on the man to pry loose the information he wanted.
Erik knew he had to remain outwardly calm even if on the inside his emotions were a boiling cauldron ready to boil over. For Katherine's sake he would conduct himself in a gentlemanly fashion even if his Phantom persona wanted to strangle the man with his Punjamb until his tongue hung out.
The doctor not knowing his life was in danger began to clean his glasses before he started to speak. "Well the patient is doing as well as can be expected. She is in a coma at the moment. She lost a lot of blood and infection had set in. The next few hours are critical. Each hour she lives is an hour her body has time to recover. With each passage of time her chances increase for recovery. I dare not estimate her chances for recovery other than to say they are slim. She will need the strength and prayers of her loved ones to help pull her through. She did ask for a gentleman before she lapsed into unconsciousness. Might there be an Erik present?"
Dr. Stephen Davidson was somewhat taken aback by Erik's appearance when he surged to his feet. Stephen quickly disguised his curiosity to see the man in the mask who stood before him.
"So you are Erik? Katherine did ask to see you. She seemed quite agitated when I would not allow you in while I examined her. You may go in now but try not to disturb her too much. Hold her hand and speak to her softly."
Erik gritted his teeth. Did the man think he was ignorant? Did he think he would go into Katherine's sickroom shouting while dancing a jig? Just because Erik looked less than gentlemanly at the moment that did not make him a misbehaving lout.
Foregoing telling the good doctor exactly what he could do with his opinions and suggestions Erik strode past him to find his way to Katherine's room.
Erik walked down the hall to the room where he had left Katherine earlier. He had wanted to stay and was still not quite sure what magic that woman, Coralee, had worked on him to get him out of that room without so much as touching him in anything other than a gentle hand if she touched him at all. He was uncertain if she had even made physical contact with him.
Without knocking Erik entered the room. He did not even acknowledge the woman who had been sitting in the chair beside Katherine. She stood and left the room quickly once Erik was in the room.
Erik had no time or concerns if he had frightened the woman. Katherine had all of his thoughts at this moment.
Sitting down beside the bed Erik vowed he would give his soul back to the devil if he would grant Katherine life. On reflection he thought perhaps he would not go that far as Katherine held the belief that one would meet all those they loved in the afterlife. She would not be too happy to know he had bartered his soul after only just having regained it so recently.
Erik held Katherine's hand in his willing her with his mind, heart and soul to fight with every bit of fierceness she possessed to fight to live.
Over the next few days Erik refused to leave Katherine to bath or eat. If his body did not demand relief once in a while he would not have left her at all.
Katherine was in her own lost world. She was traveling the road of life and death. It was for her to choose which path she would take. Her decision would affect all those around her not the least of which was Erik.
