Disclaimer: Idon'townanythingonthispagebutmyownideas-so basically almost everything but the characters.
A/N: PG-13 for some partial blood. This is back to when Christine enters the 'abandoned lair'. Another thing, because it was a head wound Erik is bleeding profusely but he isn't hurt that badly. It's his rib that needs the most attention. And I do understand that Christine may be a little out of character for this chapter…sorry! And sorry I couldn't post this sooner, I was grounded from the computer.
A.K. Anonymous: Yes, I guess Raoul is mean. I think he's more of the extremely jealous type and besides…he was a tad bit tipsy. I'm glad you like it! Yey! A gold star. –Pins it on my shirt-
Phantom of the Past: Hmm, I think I named the story this because of the song Christine sang in the first chapter…I might have to change the title, but thanks! I didn't know this was a brilliant attempt… Yes, I shall try to make that more apparent in the next chapters.
Alexa-Raoul- Yes, it does sound quite disgusting coming from one's mouth. All I can is that the fop got what he deserved. Poor Erik! I'm glad you like it. –Squeals-
Angel-of-Music1331: It's amazing! Wheee! I will try to keep myself ungrounded so I can update often. Please keep reading!
Chapter Eight
First Steps and Last Goodbyes
Christine nearly tripped over a metal rod as she walked to the water's edge to see if Erik's boat was still docked. It was. Picking up the metal, Christine held it lightly in her hands. A closer examination revealed that there were smears of blood near the top. Christine hastily dropped the rod, becoming more and more frantic as she walked towards the silent organ. There was blood on the once pristine white keys. Breathing deeply to keep herself from fainting, she followed the trail of glossy crimson liquid until she reached Erik's study; her heart nearly beat out of her chest as she slowly opened the creaking door.
Christine screamed as the Erik's bloodied body greeted her. Erik's chest rose with the rhythm of his faint breath. Her eyes traveled to yet another form hidden in the shadows. It was Raoul, his neck bent in a grotesque position, Erik's signature rope still cutting into his discolored neck. Another scream left her trembling lips as she turned away, unable to look any longer.
Erik stirred, his eyes fluttered open. "Christine…" He moaned. His head lolled to the side as he spoke, his eyes were wide and afraid.
Christine bent down to her Angel, her hands and white dress were quickly tinted red. "I'm here," she crooned, "what happened?"
Erik opened his mouth; blood trickled from the corner of his lips. "He attacked me." He said faintly.
Christine tore the bottom of her dress free and pressed it against Erik's head, the blood quickly soaking the scrap of fabric.
The tears flowed freely from her wide eyes as she gently removed Erik's bloodied cloak and shirt. As she stared at his bare torso, her fingers danced over the mottled bruises that were forming on his chest. "I shouldn't have left you to go out today."
"It's not your fault." Erik countered. He was completely conscious now yet his eyes remained glassy and unfocused. His stomach trembled under her whisper light touch.
"Can you walk?"
"I think so." Erik hated this, being so weak in Christine's presence. It was supposed to be the other way around.
Christine helped support Erik as he stood and began the slow and painful walk towards his bathroom.
-
"I will not allow you to sleep in that coffin," she shuddered at the thought of her Angel in a coffin. "No man should. You shall sleep on the left side and I on the right."
There was nothing for Erik to do but cooperate. As they lay in bed together Christine leaned up on her elbows and glanced at Erik. His eyes were closed. "What are we going to do about Raoul?" She questioned, her voice low, as if her dead husband lying in Erik's study might overhear her.
Erik groaned and opened his emerald green eyes. "Christine, I had no choice but to kill him, he was going to kill me and I couldn't let that happen. I need to stay alive for you." His voice wavered as tears rolled onto Christine's hair.
"Oh Erik, look what he did to you, that's all I care about – you. Raoul, he is a part of my past. I just don't want him," she too choked up, "in your study. Nor do I want anyone finding out about the black deed that had to be done." She gave an involuntary shiver as her mind flashed back to him dead on Erik's floor. She didn't dare tell him how she had run so feverishly away from Raoul just hours before, or how she had an intense longing to run into the blood stained study and embrace Raoul's cold body and weep 'till there were no more tears left to cry.
"It will be taken care of before you wake tomorrow morn'." Erik promised fiercely.
As Christine laid her head on the soft pillow Erik began to sing.
"In your arms I still feel the way you want me when you hold me. I can still hear the words you whispered when you told me: I can stay right here forever in your arms…"
Before he had uttered another word Christine had fallen asleep; a gentle smile graced her full lips.
-
Sometime during the night as Christine was peacefully sleeping, Erik slipped silently from their bed and with lead steps walked to his study. The room stunk of death – a metallic copper smell contaminated the entire room. Erik bent over Raoul's stiff body and, ignoring the sharp flame of pain that shot up his side, picked the man up.
Raoul. Just his name was enough to send Erik spiraling out of control. He hated Raoul with such an intense passion it was nearly unbearable. Holding his body in his arms brought back memories of so very long ago, memories that had plagued his dreams for years…
"Let me be your shelter. Let me be your light. You're safe, no one will find you. Your fears are far behind you…" Raoul, that arrogant bastard, had dared to kiss Christine as if she had belonged to him, had dared to sway her from her Angel with silly words of love. And it had worked, which had infuriated Erik even more.
"Say you love him and my life is over." Even in the face of death Raoul was impossibility charming. As the lasso had cut into his pretty neck he had begged with Christine to let him die, as if life without her would hardly be life at all. Erik still wished he had seen the look on Raoul's flawless face as Christine had kissed him with such fiery passion, more than she had undoubtedly had ever kissed Raoul with.
"Say the word and I will follow you." Christine had never looked back once as Raoul rowed her away from Erik, he could still hear the shaky beginnings of her song, could still feel the ring she had given back to him cut into his palm as Erik made fists so tight that his knuckles turned the color of the moon…
With a small shake of his head, Erik deposited Raoul's body in the gondola, took up the row, and began to move silently through the dark watery tunnels.
The flames quickly enveloped Raoul's body, emitting the putrid stench of burning flesh as they licked higher and higher. As they finally died down, Erik smothered the golden embers with a tattered blanket. With one last look, Erik disappeared through the mirror and into the dark shadows that danced on the walls of his hidden hallways.
