Ange`s Chapter 2

Flight


Christine and Erik slowly made their way to the house, Erik making his way to the stable and Christine going inside immediately. She looked around, two bedrooms. Both with beds and dressers of clothes. Baffled she went into the kitchen to find food and utensils and china.

She did not hear the figure coming up behind her. She gasped when hands wrapped around her, one covering her mouth preventing her from screaming and the other close to her throat, a dagger was in the hand, slowly pressing in to the delicate flesh.

"Who are you?"

She did not struggle and he removed his hand. "My name is Christine Daae`, my fiancé owns this property."

He laughed coldly. "No, I own this property. Your fiancé the one who abandoned it?"

"He may not be living here but..."

"Well the house was empty, I'm paying to take care of it, so I own it. Now kindly leave or I'll kill you and you'll never see your wedding day."

"Perhaps you should discuss that with him..."

His grip tightened. "Listen mamselle, I ain't got time for you or your boy toy. Now get the hell outta my house or..." He paused and removed the knife. "No... I have a better use for you." He said, continuing to escort her from behind. She found herself at the front door which his hand locked and then she was tossed into a bedroom, that door also locked. He turned and faced her.

He was younger than Erik, maybe the same age as Raoul. He also wasn't bad in the looks department. She recognized his accent as an American one, from the southern area by his use of the word 'ain't'. He chuckled as she looked him over and then made his way to her, coming behind and then kissing her shoulder. She cringed at the touch but said nothing in fear. He began to whisper perverse things in French, his of which, was poor. She felt him remove her dress from her shoulders and the farther down, kissing bare skin. His attention now on her breasts she reached over on the night stand, grabbing a vase then shattering it on his head.

She pulled her clothes on best as she could and ran for the door, unlocking it then bursting into the living area, unlocking the front door and running to the stables. Erik was bringing out a second horse.

"Cherie, what is it?" He asked, seeing the tears on her face. "He.. Living here... Says he owns.. Tried to... kissing... no clothes." She gasped out, her face buried in his chest.

In fury Erik gently pushed her back. "He tried to take you against your will?"

She nodded still sobbing.

"Mademoiselle, I truly thought you were liking it!" The sound of a gun being loaded caught the couple's ears and they turned to see him aiming a shotgun, he reached to pull the trigger and Erik grabbed her throwing her on a horse and getting on the other they took off, shots echoed behind them.

Christine thinking they were safe suddenly gasped in pain, her foothold on the horse loosening and she fell to the ground. She did her best to keep her head from hitting.

"CHRISTINE!" Erik cried stopping his mare and running back to her. She had been shot in the back of her shoulder and had the wind knocked out of her when she hit the ground.

"Erik, help me... Er..ik." She reached out and he took her close, setting her in the front of the horse and then mounting behind her. He scooped her up and grabbed the reins of the other horse, tying them together he set them off, going into a gallop knowing she needed to be attended to.


Christine awoke and everything was bright, or so it seemed. She tried to sit up but a fierce pain in her shoulder told her it was not wise. She groaned and laid back, staring at the ceiling. The room had darkened a bit since her eyes got used to the light. She tried to remember what had happened. She remembered leaving the opera with Erik, then going to a house, yes in the country. But someone, an American man, claimed to own it, and they ran from him because he had a gun and then pain and blackness... Yes, she must have been shot.

"I see you are awake," Erik's voice calmly said. "How do you feel?"

He sat down near her and took her hand. "My shoulder hurts but other than that I'm fine, mon Cherie. What happened?"

Erik sighed. "The man occupying my house shot you while you were riding the horse. I got you here as quickly as possible and have been treating you for several days now. I was afraid I'd lose you." He kissed her hand.

She shifted and he helped her sit up. "Where are we?"

He smiled. "I discovered this place several months ago. Apparently, it was a distant relative's home, a relative of yours, your father, was to receive it when this person died, but he died before they did, and so it was left. I've spoken with someone and since you are Charles daughter, you are permitted to occupy the residence."

She looked around. The room they were in alone was huge. "Master bedroom?" She asked.

He laughed. "Goodness no! This is the smallest one!"

Her eyes widened. "S-smallest? Were these relatives rich?"

He smiled. "Quite, politicians, I daresay."

She thought for a moment. "Who was that man?"

"In the cottage?"

"Yes," She said more softly.

"An American laze. He didn't buy that property, he's bumming it. But since he is paying all of the bills, I cannot take it from him, but he must pay me rent since I own the property. I spoke to the authorities about the shooting and he will have to pay a fine as well as your medical expenses." He looked thoughtfully at her.

She sighed. "I'll be alright?"

He nodded. "Fine, we just need to let the wound heal."

She smiled and leaned back closing her eyes. "Erik?"

"Yes my pet?"

"When are we going to get married?"

He laughed. "Married?"

"Well, yes. I thought you wanted to marry me after all that fuss that night!"

"Oh then I did to keep you from Raoul but..."

"Good monsieur you are not toying with my affections, are you?"

He chuckled. "Non, but I'd like to let you heal and get us settled before we spend the money we have on that. I need to find a position, you must return to the Opera."

She sighed, she did miss singing. "You will still help me?" she asked.

"Of course, love. Why would I stop? I will help you to my dying moment." He touched her cheek and she turned her head to receive the caress.

She smiled. "Thank you, my Angel."

"You're welcome, Christine."


Christine's shoulder slowly healed and Erik found a job working as a music teacher in a nearby school. Christine soon returned to the Opera to be warmly greeted by a desperate Andre` and Firmin. Meg also showed her a strange respect once she heard of her shoulder and how Erik had sat at her bedside day and night until she awoke except for confrontations about the house they now occupied and the house that was his. She constantly reminded Christine of how lucky she was.

But she knew that. Madame Giry often stopped to talk with her, she also knew of Erik and Christine's developing relationship, and like her daughter was extremely supportive of them.

Christine flourished her shoulder now fully healed and her career back on track. Erik also had fun with his work, his elementary school students very understanding of the predicament of his face and often bringing him masks for special occasions, ones of different shape and sometimes different color( not too bright though). He often spoke of how talented they all were and that their perception was amazing for their likes.

The topic of marriage was not brought up until six months after the first time, this time by Erik, suggesting several different places and themes. To Christine's surprise he came home late but with a small yet lovely engagement ring.

The next spring they were wed in a small church near the Seine. His class of course attended along with Madame and Meg Giry. The couple went to Marseilles for the honeymoon, often spending most of the peaceful week by the Côte d'Azur. Christine found that the more time she spent near the water with him the more inspired to write a song she was. Although she had thought of lyrics in her head she had never really written anything.

The result of her study of her husbands work when they returned was simple, but enchanting. She called it Ange`, thinking it only appropriate that her first song to be about an angel when her whole life she had been expecting one.

Soon after their return, however, Erik was coming home in fouler moods. He told her that there was a new student, who constantly criticized his writing and teaching methods and told him he was foolish to wear a mask. Erik tried to explain about his face, but the boy refused to believe him.

One evening he returned home silent, not even looking at her. His face was red and when he removed the mask the look of frustration nearly frightened her.

"Erik, love... Are you all right?"

"I'm fine." He bitterly snapped. She uneasily left him in the living room, going to check on dinner.

They ate in silence tonight, and his usual kiss and compliment on the food never came. Hurt she went upstairs to read for a bit and she didn't bother to look up when he came upstairs in a storm.

"Christine have you seen my notations?" He asked harshly.

"No, Erik I have not." She said, continuing to read as he stood in silence. She finally looked up in nervousness, realizing he was staring at her.

"You're sure?"

"Yes, darling why would I have?"

"Well you may have set them down somewhere when you wrote your stupid song."

She stared at him in disbelief. She had not once criticized his writing, or called it something bad. She had never once took anger out on him and she realized that was what he was doing. "Perhaps you left it in some book in your stupid study." She growled, returning her attention to the book as calmly as possible.

"Perhaps if you weren't so lazy you would know where it is."

She threw down the book as she stood. "You know Erik, I've had about enough of you tonight! I'm sorry if your day was bad, but that is no reason to insult me and take it all out on me. They are your notations and I should not have to keep track of them for you, I am your wife not your slave." He looked at her, unmoved. "I will gladly help you find them, since it has to be either one or the other of us, but I won't have you treating me this way!"

His eyes softened a bit. He then turned and left the room. She followed him into the study and began looking through several books and she finally found them under one.

He quietly thanked her and kissed her cheek apologetically.

"Darling, please tell me what is wrong..." She took him into the bedroom, sitting him down and taking his hand.

He closed his eyes. "Oh, Christine..."


Oooo, cliffie! R and r and see what happens!!!!!

Forgive any OOCness, I'm out of character myself today!