Christine gazed up at the stained glass windows of Notre Dame cathedral as she sat in Mass with Raoul and the children. She had grown up going to mass in this cathedral, for her father had always brought her here. The sun streamed in through the windows, happily shining on everyone inside. But it did not cheer up Christine today, for today was the anniversary of her father, Gustav Daae's death. She gazed at all the ornate paintings and decorations of the Lord, silently asking him why her father had to have been taken from her. How she often wished that he was there to offer her love and advice, to see how she had grown up, to see her sing, and most of all to see her family. She especially needed him now, that Erik had returned. Erik had come and reawakened the nightmare of so many years ago. He had brought back all the traumatic memories for both she and Raoul. She felt so afraid that Erik would attempt to take she and Marie away from everything they loved. This thought terrified her so, feeling much like she felt before the performance of Don Juan. A slight shiver ran across her body as the memories rushed back into her mind. Raoul seemed to notice this, and put a warm hand over hers. She looked over at her family and smiled, the fear and uncertainty of the recent events ebbing away ever so slightly. But she could not help imagining her father sitting there with them. She gazed at the altar and the cross, and siliently wondered why her father had to be gone. Why did she and her family have to go through this ordeal with Erik? Why did Erik have this deformity? If he didn't he would have never entered their lives, and none of this would have happened. She looked over at Raoul with worry in her eyes as she gazed at the scar on his neck from the Phantom's sword. She was so worried for her beloved Raoul, so afraid that Erik would come after his life once more. How she wished that Erik could simply have been satisfied with being her teacher, and could have let her live her life, perhaps having been happy that his student had found love. But this was clearly not the case. She sighed, trying to regain her composure. She glanced over at Marie Claire, wishing that Marie's first experiences at the Opera could have been free of this ordeal. How badly she had wished for that, that Marie simply could have enjoyed this, enjoyed her singing. Her thougts drifted to the next gala, in which both she and Marie were starring, inocently hoping against hope that Erik would not pull a trick.
As Marie Claire sat next to her mother in Mass, she could tell that Christine was deep in thought. She was very concerned about her mother, for she had not been herself over the past few months. She seemed always on the alert, always worried, always quiet. She was not her normal, sunny, sweet, talkative, on the go self. She seemed reluctant to sing around the house lately as she nearly always did. Erik's return had clearly brought back memories that her mother didn't want to think about. And though Marie Claire's engagement to Arthur certainly brightened her skies, the Phantom's last words to her kept echoing in her mind.
"My plan will follow through, you can't escape your fate!" he had yelled after her.
She shook her dark curls, trying to get the image and the words out of her thoughts. Her eyes moved slowly around the cathedral, taking in the beauty of it all, wondering if Erik had ever seen such beauty, or if he ever really wished to venture out of the opera house and live in the world again. But she was jerked out of her reviere by the sound of music playing. She jumped up, realizing that the closing hymn was playing, and that Mass was over. Raoul looked over at her curiously, obviously wondering why she had been so startled.
"Are you alright Marie Claire, sweetie?" he asked, a chuckle in his tone.
Marie laughed softly.
"I'm fine Papa, I was just thinking, thats all." she responded.
Raoul put his arm around her comfortingly, as if he knew what she was thinking about. Marie looked into her father's kind, concerned, face and her stomach churned. She couldn't help but think of that night when her beloved papa had almost been killed right in front of her. She couldn't imagine life without him. She smiled faintly at him, trying to reassure him that she was alright. How she hoped that Erik would give up and let them be. But she knew that that was terribly unlikely, and her young soul filled with dread.
As the family walked toward their carriage on the bright, sunny, Parisian streets, greeting all they saw, no one would have guessed that anything was bothering them. Raoul had his arm around Marie, his hand in Christine's, and Felix on his shoulders. But if you looked into Raoul's eyes you could easily see the worry and pain that was there. He knew in his heart and soul that the Phantom was up to something. The event after the masquerade and all the events over the past few months had been enough to show his desperation. Raoul had worked long and hard over the years to try and forgive Erik for what he had done, because Raoul didn't want to harbor the pain and anger in his heart forever. He had tried so hard to understand the man. But now, after Erik had returned, Raoul was having a difficult time, partly because of what Erik had done to him, but mostly for what he had done to Christine and Marie Claire. Seeing them so anxious and worried and frightened hurt Raoul much more than the strangling hold of the Phantom's noose or the gleaming blade of his sword. He had tried to avoid getting in another confrontation with the Phantom as he had done before, not wanting to worry Christine and Marie even more. But now he knew, as they seemed to, that this was inevitable. A fight between the two was unavoidable. Erik was angry, there was no denying that. And there was no denying that something was about to happen, he could feel it in the air, in the tenseness of the atmosphere. He gazed at his beloved Christine, wishing that she didn't have to go through this again. He gazed at his sweet Marie Claire, wishing that she had never had to go through this. He gazed at Felix, the innocent little boy who had no idea what was going on, and Raoul hoped he wouldn't have to for a long time. How he wished that this had never happened, and that his family could just live happily in peace, but that was not the case, not until this confrontation was over. But Raoul swore to protect his family, now matter what it took. When the time came that Erik would confront them once more, as he knew it would, Raoul would protect his family no matter what. He would do anything to protect them, willingly risking his life for his family, the family that was more dear to him than anything. And though he was filled with worry, there was no point in dwelling on it until something happened. He smiled slightly as he thought of the surprise that he had planned for his family today. He cleared his throat and turned to speak.
"Well everyone, I have a surprise for you today. It seems that perhaps we should have a little fun today. So I planned a picnic in the park for us." he said, grinning.
Marie's and Christine's faces lit up, and Felix danced around gleefully. Marie and Christine looked at each other for a moment, both knowing that Raoul was trying to take their minds off of Erik's plans, and they were grateful for it. Christine also knew from the look on her husband's face that he was trying to cheer her up, considering that today was the anniversary of her father's death. She, her father, and Raoul had often enjoyed picnics in the attic at the house by the sea, and Raoul was trying make up for those days that were gone by having this picnic. When she looked in his eyes she knew she was right.
"Mother, Father, Phillipe, Meg, Lizzie, and Arthur are waiting for us. Lets go." he said as Felix began to run towards the park, his laugh floating through the air. Marie ran after him, so as he wouldn't get hurt. Raoul and Christine looked at each other and laughed, as they watched the two. They took each others hand and ran after their children, the breeze blowing through their hair, and the fear that lie ahead in their hearts.
About two hours later, everyone was very full and very tired. As the de Chagnys were getting ready to leave, Marie Claire bid goodbye to Arthur. Arthur took her hand and held it to his face tenderly.
"Marie, are you sure you're alright?" he asked, "I know that you're worried about what Erik might do tommorow night."
Marie sighed and nodded as she squeezed his hand and looked into his handsome, kind, face. She was terrfied that Erik would try and hurt Arthur. She didn't know what she would do if anything happened to him.
"Yes," she confessed, "I am very worried, and perhaps even a little frightened. But I'm not going to let it affect my performance. What will come will come, and there's nothing I can do to stop that." she said, with a determined, but shaky voice.
Arthur hugged her tightly and sighed.
"You're right. I'm just concerned. I hate to think what he might be up to."
"So am I." said Marie, as she kissed him goodbye.
The couple hugged one more time before Marie Claire left with her family. But as Arthur was turning to go, he heard a twig crack behind him. He whipped around to see exactly who he was expecting. The Phantom.
"Good afternoon Monsieur, I was just on my way home." said Arthur, politley, trying to keep the anger out of his voice.
"I just thought I would warn you young Monsieur Page', that you had best watch your back. I'll give you one last chance to give up your engagement to Marie Claire. Then perhaps I'll let you off." he said, his voice sounding silky and persuasive.
Arthur turned to Erik, anger in his heart and tears in his eyes.
"No! I won't. I love Marie, and there is nothing you can do to try and convince me to give her up. Goodbye Erik." said Arthur his voice rising as he jumped on his bay horse and rode off. Erik glared after him.
"Alright," he breathed quietly to the empty park, "You have just sealed you doom, boy."
Erik walked slowly out of the park, crushing everything under his feet in fury. He was growing tired of this game, the joke wearing thin. He had never felt this angry. It felt as though the fires of hell were burning in his heart. Arthur, and the Vicomte were getting in the way of what Erik wanted, and what he wanted was Marie and Christine. If the two of them sang his music, it would be the most beautiful music ever written.The point of no return was coming, and it was coming, at tommorow night's gala. Erik was determined to get what he wanted, and would go to any lengths to get it.
A/N: This chapter just kind of delved in to the main character's thoughts before the climatic chapters. I just thought it would be good to see what they were all thinking. I promise to update soon, since I don't want to leave you hanging. Its going to be intense, but don't worry, no one dies in any of my fics, I love the characters to much. Please read and review!
