Sorry for the delay...
Hope you guys like this!
Rememer...NICO LOVES TWO THINGS (when it comes to writing)...CLIFFHANGERS AND PLOT TWISTS!
Thanks for the SPLENDID reviews! YOU GUYS ROCK!
-Nico
For several moments, no one spoke.
No one moved.
Madame Giry moved slowly, her shoes echoing across the stone of the rooftop.
At the sight of Madame Giry and the revolver in her hand, Raoul had quickly grasped Christine again, holding her fast against his body.
"Madame, you were unfortunately absent when I so carefully detailed the conditions that bring us here," Raoul said lowly. "If you value the life of your daughter and the daughter of these two, you will stop where you are."
Madame Giry raised an eyebrow. "Usually, Monsieur, the person on your end of the gun is not in quite the position to allow conditions."
She continued her procession until she was an arm's length from Raoul, her steady hand aiming the gun directly at Raoul's head.
"He will kill them," Christine whimpered, pulling at the strong arm locked across her chest.
"No, he will not," Madame Giry replied, her eyes locking with Christine's.
For several seconds the women communicated with just a glare.
"You will release Christine," Madame Giry commanded. When Raoul made no movement, she cocked the gun. "Now," she added menacingly.
"You know not what you do, Madame," Raoul said, slowly releasing Christine who ran directly into Erik's arms.
"Don't I?" Madame Giry replied, circling her target slowly.
"You may have the weapon, but I have the upper hand," Raoul continued, fear visible in his eyes as they darted from Madame Giry to Erik and Christine. "I will have great satisfaction in knowing your daughters died horrific, painful deaths."
Madame Giry scoffed. "I believe that some of the most poetic phrases have been uttered just before death," she said cryptically. "As usual, your words fall short."
Like lightning, Madame Giry pulled her ivory balancing cane from its place at her waist. Before Raoul could react, the can whipped across the back of his legs, bringing him to his knees with a grunt of pain.
He made a movement to counter attack, but found the tip of Erik's blade at his throat once more.
"Whore," Raoul spat.
The curse was met with a heavy, gloved blow.
Erik wiped the man's blood off of his leather clad hands on the back of Raoul's dark duster.
Madame Giry tsked. "Such hate lies within your soul," she said to Raoul, sounding almost empathetic. "It is a hate that seeks to destroy any beauty surrounding you."
Raoul's eyes flashed as he raised his bloody head to hers. "Beauty?" He rasped, looking up at Erik. "I see no beauty around me. Just monstrous mistakes and complete ugliness that begs to be destroyed."
"Raoul," Christine said softly, moving closer to the man. He looked up at her, nothing but hate in the pools of his irises. 'There was a time I pitied you," she said quietly. "There was a time I shed tears for you, prayed you would find happiness."
She rose to her feet, glaring down at him.
"But now, when I think of you, I shall always remember the darkness that consumed your heart." She continued. "Loving someone means compromising your every delight for that person."
Christine looked at Erik, who was listening to her words while holding the sword against Raoul's pulse.
"I dare say you never experienced that type of love, Raoul," Christine said, looking at her husband. "And somehow, I doubt you ever will."
"Love comes to those who are deserving," Erik said softly, causing everyone to look at him. "Love comes even to those who have wronged, to those whose past decisions should have condemned, or cursed."
He stared at Christine for a long moment.
Tears were brimming on her eyes.
"I lived in darkness you could not begin to comprehend," Erik continued, his voice becoming louder. "I've suffered more; I've caused more to suffer.
"All at once, the sunlight appeared in my night in the form of an angel…an angel I dared only dream about touching, loving,"
He looked back down at Raoul.
"And I loved her," Erik said quietly. "I love her still. And whatever Gods there be saw fit to reward me, to compensate me for the horrible childhood, the years of torture…the endless nights that drifted into the eternal blackness of midnight."
"Erik," Christine breathed, his words painfully resurfacing memories she had fought so long to suppress.
"My reward was her love," Erik continued. "My compensation was her companionship. My heaven is her existence."
Raoul licked at the blood on his lip. "How very lyrical," he said spitefully. "I do hope you find comfort in your words as you weep over the grave of your child."
Erik's arm tensed.
For a moment, Christine watched in horror as she anticipated the sword piercing the tender flesh at the base of Raoul's throat.
"You may kill me," Raoul said, eerily calm. "But the blood you spill is that of two innocents."
Erik's face twisted in fury; in control.
How easy it would be to kill this man…to plunge the sword into his neck with a roar of triumph.
"Erik, no," Christine whimpered from somewhere behind him. "You cannot do it," she added.
Raoul smiled.
"You are correct, Christine," Madame Giry said suddenly.
She cocked the gun once more.
"Erik cannot do it," the older woman continued. "However, I can."
And without warning, she pulled the trigger.
