Chapter 8: Phantom's Love and Officer's Greed
Meg and Christine arrived, both entered the house without haste and Meg looked at Christine. Christine nodded and walked with her friend and they entered the sitting room.
" Gentlemen, Madame," Christine said
Erik turned around and saw Meg standing there, he set his drink down and walked to her. Meg looked at Erik and then hugged him with tears in her eyes.
" Oh, Erik," she whispered, " How I've missed you so much."
Erik embraced her and kissed her head, Christine wrapped her arms around Raoul as the two lovers embraced each other.
" Meg, my sweet Meg," Erik whispered
Madame Giry smiled a little and watched the Phantom and the ballerina embrace each other.
" Meg, Erik we should head to the church quickly," Christine said, " We don't want to waste another minuet."
They nodded and Erik looked at Meg, he pulled out two wedding bands for them. They got into the carriage and Raoul escorted them there with a servant. Madame Giry and Christine followed behind them. They went to a small church on the edge of town, where a priest waited for them. Erik and Meg stood before the alter and their witness watched them vow to each other their eternal love. Christine looked at Raoul and grabbed his hand and Madame Giry watched her daughter finally chose a husband that she loved.
" I now pronounced you husband and wife," the priest said
Erik kissed Meg with such love and tenderness, that there was nothing that could break them.
Rousseau and several of his men came to the estate and demanded to be let in.
" I am here to speak to the Vicomte de Chagny," Rousseau said
" I'm sorry sir, but he is not here, he and his wife are at a ceremony for Madame's dead father," the servant said
" Lies, now where is he?" Rousseau growled
" I told you sir," she said
Rousseau slapped the servant and pushed his way through.
" Search the house, they will be under house arrest if they're here," Rousseau said, " The rest of you will search the town and don't ignore churches."
Rousseau's men went off just as they were ordered too and Rousseau stood outside.
Erik and Meg signed their license together. Christine and Raoul sighed it as witnesses and then congratulated them. Erik looked at Meg and lifted her chin up and he kissed her.
" You, our baby and I are going to live a happy and wealthy life," Erik said, " Just as you said that day six months ago."
Meg smiled and wrapped her arms around him. The doors opened and they turned to see armed men.
" Vicomte de Chagny and Madame de Chagny," they said
" What do you want?" Raoul asked
" Your both under arrest for kidnapping Captain Rousseau's wife and unborn child," the second said
" Kidnapping?" Christine questioned
" Captain Rousseau's unborn child?" Erik questioned standing beside Christine
" How nice to see you alive Comte de Champney, I'm sure you will be executed this time around," the second said
Erik drew his blade and Christine put her arm in front of Erik.
" How did we kidnap her? Do you have evidence that we did?" Christine questioned
Erik sheathed his blade and walked back to Meg. Meg grabbed Erik's hand as she looked at Christine and Raoul standing up to the authorities.
" Where is your captain?" Raoul asked
" He's at your estate Vicomte, waiting to arrest you himself," the second said
" Then let him try," Raoul said
Raoul and Christine turned around and the men looked at them.
" Let's go," Raoul said
They took the back way and went back to the estate, where Captain Rousseau stood waiting for all of them.
" Vicomte, how nice to see you," he said
" Get off my land now," Raoul said
" It's not your land if your are arrested is it?" Rousseau asked
" And what is your explanation for this arrest?" Raoul replied
Rousseau saw Erik and Meg get out and Rousseau pushed past Raoul, he grabbed Meg by her wrist and pulled her.
" My darling you are well I see," Rousseau said
" Let me go!" Meg cried
Erik drew his blade and Rousseau looked at Erik as two of his men grabbed him.
" This woman is married to me," Rousseau growled, " and the child is mine too."
" Erik," Meg pleaded
" Your marriage isn't legal," Erik said
Rousseau looked at Erik and narrowed his eyes at him. There was pure anger in Rousseau's eyes. Meg looked at Erik as he pushed the two men away from him.
" A false marriage is a very big offense Rousseau," Erik said, " Especially when she's married."
Erik lifted his left hand and Meg lifted hers and Rousseau narrowed his eyes.
" You little Whore!" he shouted
Rousseau slapped Meg and pulled his pistol and fired at Erik. Erik got out of the way and Raoul drew his blade and stood in front of Christine and Madame Giry.
" Erik, Erik, I spared your life," Rousseau said, " Now, I'm going to kill you with my own hands."
" Your going to kill a Phantom?" Erik questioned, " But you realize that a phantom is already dead."
Erik cut one of the horses free and jumped onto the horse. Rousseau fired and hit Erik in his leg, but Erik continued. Rousseau looked at his men and told them to keep an eye out on everyone. He jumped on a horse and took off after Erik, with anger fueling his speed.
Erik rode into the forest and jumped off the horse and made his way through the dark forest. Rousseau saw a horse running off and thought it was Erik, he jumped fallen tree trunks to catch up. Erik looked at his leg and put pressure, thinking if Rousseau found him, he would be unable to fight him. He saw the horses vanish and took off running towards the estate.
Rousseau caught up to the horse and growled at it.
" Damn you Erik!" he shouted
He turned around and went after him the opposite of the horse ,he was furious now. He desired blood shed and saw someone running. He hit the horse in his sides and picked up speed. He pulled his pistol out and prepared to fire. As he got closer he fired a shot, but missed as the horse reared. His pistol flew out of his hands and Erik turned around. He continued to run and then saw Rousseau running by foot. Erik stopped and drew his blade and removed his dress coat.
" You've fallen behind Rousseau," he called
" You're a dead man!" Rousseau shouted
" I believe we've been through this Rousseau," Erik said
Rousseau drew his blade and ran at Erik, both locked blades with each other.
" Tell me Erik, didn't I tell you to stay away from Meg Giry?" Rousseau questioned
" I thought that was just was a suggestion, not an order," Erik said throwing Rousseau back
Erik slashed Rousseau's ascot off and Rousseau charged at him.
" Come now, is that all you have?" Erik questioned
Rousseau slashed at Erik and he protected his face with his arm. Erik looked at Rousseau and kicked him in the stomach.
" Your arm, it's useless," Rousseau said
Erik rolled up his sleeve revealing a metal arm band on it. Rousseau slashed at Erik in rage and Erik cut a few buttons off his uniform.
" Your not thinking Captain," Erik said, " Perhaps it's your raising blood pressure."
Rousseau charged at him and Erik blocked his blade. Rousseau kicked Erik in his gut and pushed him towards a sharp branch. The branch stabbed Erik in the shoulder and Erik growled in pain.
" How do you like that!" Rousseau shouted
Erik pulled away from the branch and swung his blade at Rousseau. Rousseau slashed at Erik's face, but Erik shielded his face with his arm.
" You think that piece of scrap will protect you?" Rousseau questioned, " Do you think that you will be loved if you are beat up?"
" I will be loved beyond the grave," Erik said
Erik slashed his blade at Rousseau, blood dripped down his arm as Rousseau ran towards him.
" Death to you Erik!" Rousseau shouted
Erik looked at Rousseau and did not move as Rousseau came at him. Rousseau pulled his blade back and came at Erik. Erik lifted his blade as Rousseau's blade came down to slash at him. Erik blacked Rousseau's direct attack, but fell back. Rousseau fell to the side and Erik pulled a dagger and threw it at Rousseau. Rousseau felt the dagger sink into his shoulder.
" Death to you Rousseau," Erik breathed
" It is obvious that our skills are matched in the art of swordsmanship," Rousseau said, " But you will not win this."
Erik stuck his blade into the ground and removed his vest. He rolled up his shirt sleeves and Rousseau did the same. Both men were serious about fighting, there was not mercy in their eyes. Erik and Rousseau came at each other with full force, their blades sang out a sharp, painful sound. Erik slid his blade across Rousseau's and created a spark with it, Rousseau kicked Erik in his wounded leg. Erik stumbled back and fell to the damp ground, losing his grip on his blade.
" Now Comte de Champney, Victory is mine!" he exclaimed
Rousseau forced the blade downward and Erik rolled and picked up his blade, then stab Rousseau in his chest. Rousseau pulled away and Erik stood up and grabbed Rousseau by his neck.
" Leave my wife alone," Erik said, " I have chosen to spare your life because I don't need a guilty conscious when there is a child on the way."
Erik grabbed Rousseau's blade and walked off leaving him there.
" Phantom you will regret the day you lived!" Rousseau shouted
" I don't," Erik said, " I have my wife to thank for saving me."
Erik walked off and whistled for the horse to come to him. He climbed up and rode back.
" Phantom!" Rousseau shouted, " Beware!"
Erik returned, his shirt covered in blood and his leg in extreme pain. He got off the horse and Meg ran to him.
" Your captain is wounded you might want to tend to his wounds and get off the Vicomte's lands before all of you get a taste of the blade that tasted your captain's flesh," Erik said
The men took off to go look for their captain. He wrapped his arms around Meg and looked everyone else
" Raoul, go get a doctor," Christine said
Meg fell into his embrace and began to cry .
" Is he dead?" she asked
" No," he said, " Though he won't be holding a high position."
Meg smiled and kissed Erik, she touched his wounded shoulder. Erik winced and Meg looked at him.
" Erik, your hurt badly," she said
" Raoul went to get a doctor," Christine said, " Come inside and rest Erik."
Meg walked with Erik inside and Christine laid out something comfortable for Erik to lay on. Meg knelt down and looked at him as she held his hand.
" It's like that time," Erik whispered
Meg smiled and leaned over and kissed him.
" Yes," she whispered, " Now we don't have to worry about relying on strangers. We are in good company."
A hour later Raoul returned and the doctor followed behind the Vicomte. The doctor asked Meg and everyone else to leave. Meg looked at the shut doors and her mother came to her.
" Don't worry Meg," her mother said, " He is a strong man."
" Do you wish to know how I decided that Erik was who I wished to spend my life with?" Meg asked
Christine looked at her friend and said, " I wish tohear this."
" I got captured by some gypsies and Erik came in time before they would lay a hand on me. He told them that they could not have me, that I was his. Erik fought to bravely against them, but then I was caught again and they made him chose to set me free or keep me and turn him in. Either way he would lose, I told him not to let them fool him and I would take his place. He told them he would take my place and they agreed. Erik took me in his arms and told me would return to me at night when they were asleep. He put me on the stallion and did not let me talk him out of it. He was dragged off before my eyes and I knew he was in trouble," Meg said, " I rescued him that night and we escaped and he confessed his love to me."
Christine looked at Meg, she smiled and knew Erik had truly changed. He had sacrificed himself for another. Christine hugged her friend and grabbed her hands.
" Erik has found his safety," she said, " He's found his angel. There will be only happiness."
The doctor walked out and wiped his hands on a cloth then nodded.
" He's very much alive and will live," the doctor said, " Mademoiselle, he is very much a stubborn man that will not die by death's hands alone."
Meg smiled and then went into the room and knelt down beside to Erik. She grabbed his hands and looked at him. His shoulder was bandaged and Erik grabbed her hands.
" My beloved Meg," he whispered, " How could I have lived without your love?"
Erik sat up carefully and embraced her in his arms, careful of his wound.
" I was so scared Erik, that you were dead," she whispered, " But I can see that you're not that easy to kill."
Erik kissed her head and just held her in his arms, Christine and Madame Giry looked at them and smiled.
That evening Meg and Erik returned to his estate. As they entered the estate, Erik lit a few candles and looked around.
" We're back," he called
The servants didn't answer and Erik lit several candle opera's and handed one to Meg. He touched the side and felt the pistol at his side.
" It's too quiet Erik," she said
" They're not asleep," he said, " They wouldn't be this early."
Suddenly, a blade was thrown at Erik and Meg. Erik pulled her down as he felt the blade skin his face.
" Welcome home Comte de Champney, I've been waiting for you," a voice said
A candle Opera was lit and Erik saw Rousseau's face.
" Surprised to see me Erik?" Rousseau asked, " Well, good cause I'm not surprised to see you."
Erik stood in front of Meg and looked at Rousseau.
" Meg, I'm sorry you couldn't love me…I would have given you everything," he said, " and I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to leave you husbandless."
Rousseau pulled a pistol and fired a shot, Erik pulled his and fired a shot at Rousseau. Erik's bullet hit Rousseau in chest and Rousseau's bullet struck Erik skinning his arm.
" Today we finish this," Erik said
He pulled the dagger out the wall and threw it at him. He pulled Meg to him know that it would finally be over. Rousseau felt a quick pain and then fell, Erik breathed deep.
" You lose," Erik said, " Death claims you first."
Erik held Meg in his arms as she cried, relieved it was over. He kissed her head saw the servants walking out.
" Sir, your alright," the servants said
" Yes, go get the authorities and tell them we had someone break in," Erik said
" Yes, Monsieur," one said
Meg looked at him and she kissed him.
" Welcome home Meg," Erik said