This chapter was longer, but I needed to keep with the cliffhanger theme...teehee!

I'll post the rest later today...

-Nico


"I had rather hoped that you would come," Raoul said, pulling Christine to his body with one hand and drawing his sword with the other. "And now my wish comes true; you have truly made my night."

"Free her," Erik growled lowly.

"Erik, no…" Christine said, pulling at Raoul's arm, which was like lead across her body.

Raoul laughed.

"Your lover makes a passionate plea," Raoul remarked.

"Please Erik, it's useless," Christine said, ignoring Christine.

Erik moved closer to the pair, his steps elegant even at the peak of rage.

"Stop there," Raoul commanded, holding the sword dangerously close to the vein throbbing at Christine's neck. He kept his eyes on Erik as he moved Christine's thick hair from her ear. "Tell him," he commanded her. "Tell him your choice."

Christine raised her eyes to meet Erik's.

Tears fell from her dark eyes.

"I'm going with Raoul," she whispered, telling Erik something he already knew.

"No, you are not," Erik replied.

Raoul pressed the tip of his sword to Christine's neck with more pressure, causing several ruby drops of blood to eek out over the blade. "Tell him you love me," Raoul insisted, his voice becoming more urgent. "Tell him!"

"I…I…" Christine stammered, dizzy from pain and the danger of the moment. She kept her eyes locked with Erik's. "I love…"

"Silence!" Erik shouted, causing both Raoul and Christine to jump slightly.

Moving too quickly for Raoul to react, Erik advanced on him, his own sword finding Raoul's throat. "Free. Her." Erik repeated, his eyes glowing an unnatural red.

Raoul swallowed, causing Erik's blade to bounce against his Adam's apple.

"I am going to kill you," Erik announced through clenched teeth. "She does not love you. She will never love you."

Raoul smiled again. "But she loves Madeline," he said cryptically.

Erik pressed his blade further into the delicate skin covering Raoul's neck.

"You may kill me, Monsieur, but don't you think I was intelligent enough to realize you would appear?" Raoul asked.

Erik remained still.

"If I die, so will Madeline," he said, his lips curving into a smile once more. "And so will the Giry girl. It has been arranged."

"Erik," Christine squeaked nervously.

"Where are they?" Erik demanded.

Raoul merely laughed again. "How foolish do you think I am, Erik?" He spat the name. "I would die before I gave you their whereabouts."

"They are at his estate," Christine piped up, wincing as Raoul applied more pressure to the sword at her neck.

"Or so I would have your once-wife believe," Raoul said quickly, responding to Erik's glare. "You will not find them without me, Monsieur."

Erik remained frozen. He should have remained in hiding. Of course Raoul would have expected him to appear…he had all but sent an invitation.

He wanted Erik to witness her choice, just as he had when Christine left him in his lair.

Raoul smirked, watching as realization poured over Erik.

Erik lowered his sword.

Raoul mimicked his actions.

"It appears I have bested you once again," Raoul said, almost sounding as if he pitied the masked man standing before him.

"But you have yet to best me," came a strong female voice.

Erik turned to see Madame Giry standing at the roof entrance.

She looked like a warrior from a fable.

Her black skirts swirled around her lithe frame.

Her hair was loose about her face.

A silk, sheer scarf billowed out behind her.

And a shiny revolver glinting in the moonlight was in her unwavering hand.