I'm so glad that I'm loved! I've gotten so many reviews, 40 as of now! (For all chapters) Unfortunately, I can't keep up with personally thanking reviewers anymore. Sorry!
If you have any ideas for a chapter five title, tell me! I'll give an imaginary Erik action figure to the person who comes up with the best title!
And, I realized that I told Saber that Nadir would be in chapter five, but he wasn't. Originally he was going to be, but I changed the plot of the chapter around, so yeah…
I am SO SORRY that I originally had posted all the other chapters in addition to this one… it was a mistake, I didn't mean to. Sorry!
Now, here's the fic!
Christine walked slowly down the street. The pain in her chest had faded to a dull ache, but she did not wish to aggravate it any further.
She felt numb, uncaring. If a gaping chasm opened up in front of her, she'd probably just walk around it.
That was why, when she heard a familiar voice calling her name, she did not turn around. She kept walking.
"Christine, wait!" Erik called.
She sighed. Fine! She thought. Just fine. I'll let him talk to me; I don't care if Raoul's man sees us. I am way past caring about these things.
She stopped walking, and let him catch up to her.
When he did, they were silent for a moment. Then, he said. "I know about your husband."
Christine furrowed her eyebrows, which was considered utterly unacceptable for an aristocrat and was probably something she hadn't done in a year.
"What's that supposed to mean?" her tone was a quiet tribute to the energy she lacked.
If he noticed her weak disposition, he did not mention it. "I know what he does to you." Erik's voice was hard and bitter, and his eyes were filled with hate. But she did not want to back away from the hate in his eyes, as frightening as it might be. She knew he would never hurt her, because he cared… because he loved her.
"Erik…" she didn't know what to say, or think. "Raoul… he's different. He… he frightens me." She confessed in a whisper. "He gets so angry, and then he just lashes out…" she realized that she was dangerously close to crying.
"Christine…" his voice was full of emotion. "I'm sorry. I didn't know before, but if I had, I would have protected you… I would have kept you safe."
She sniffed. "I know." She looked into his eyes, and read the sheer emotion they contained. That finished her. Christine threw her arms around Erik, and burst into tears.
Then the pain from her chest hit her. A sharp, biting pain that made her feel as if someone had stabbed her in the ribs.
"Christine?" Erik asked, concerned. "What is it? Are you alright?"
His voice seemed to echo, and she felt dizzy. She swayed, and fainted in Erik's arms.
When she awoke, she was laying in a soft bed, with a black lace curtain drawn around her. She could easily see through the curtain, and she wondered what its purpose was. She had never understood it.
Never? Yes, of course. She had been here before.
She was at Erik's house on the lake.
With that realization, Christine attempted to move into a sitting position, but a sharp pain in her ribs stopped her. She cried out.
"Christine?" Erik was at her side in an instant, pulling back the curtain and helping her to sit up. He had been sitting in an armchair on the other side of the room. "Are you alright?"
"I- I'll be fine." She got out around the pain.
A couple of deep breaths later, the pain had once again faded.
"How long have I been out?" she asked.
"About an hour." He replied.
Her eyes widened. "I have to go!" she cried, attempting to get out of the bed. "I need to get home… If I'm late, Raoul will be furious." She finished quietly.
He stopped her. "Christine, you aren't going anywhere until you tell me what is going on."
"What's to tell?"
"You can start by telling me why you fainted back there."
"I think I broke a rib or two.' She explained. "When I started to cry, it hurt."
"What happened?" Erik asked.
"I- I fell down the stairs." She said quickly. Hastily constructed excuses were nearly automatic to her by now.
He sighed. "Christine… you don't need to lie to me."
She turned away from him, ashamed of her own weakness.
"It was your husband, wasn't it?" he asked.
She turned to face him, tears welling up in her eyes. "Yes." She whispered. "It was."
He closed his eyes for a moment. "Christine," he said. "I can help you."
"What could you possibly do?" she was angry now. She wouldn't be drawn in by his promises. "There's no way out for us now…" Madeline had said, and she was right. Erik couldn't save her.
"It would be unorthodox for the dragon to rescue the damsel from the knight in shining armor, I suppose." He said seriously.
"You- you eavesdropped!" she stammered. She was shocked, and hurt. How dare he? She thought. That was supposed to have been a private conversation!
"How was I supposed to find out what was wrong with you?" he asked.
"You weren't!" she exclaimed. "You were supposed to mind your own business like everyone else!"
She rose from the bed, and this time he made no move to stop her. "Thank you for your concern, and your hospitality.' She told him stiffly. "But I'll do just fine on my own." She began to walk in the direction of the door.
"If you were doing 'just fine', your ribs would be intact."
She didn't turn around, but she stopped walking.
"Please. Let me help you."
She turned to look at him. "No, Erik." She said firmly. "I can learn to live this life."
"You shouldn't have to!" he exclaimed. "Christine, you deserve so much better than that Vicomte. You deserve a man who will love and cherish you."
"Who?" she asked him. "You?"
He hesitated, but his face betrayed his thoughts.
"Erik. It's over. Let it go." She said gently. She once again turned around, and she had almost reached the door, when-
"I know what it's like!" he cried.
She stopped. "What?"
"To be controlled. If you do something wrong, they hurt you. They hurt you so badly- until you wish for death. But you know they'll never kill you. Because you're valuable."
She stared at him. Had he read her mind?
"I've lived that life- it's hell. It's a hell you shouldn't have to experience." He told her.
It was all clear to her now. She could leave Raoul- Erik would help her. She had a way out. She could escape- it would be into darkness, but-
At what cost? She thought. Yes, what would he want in payment for rescuing me? My hand in marriage?
"So you're offering to help me get away from Raoul. Then what? You carry me off into the sunset?" she was angry with him again. "I chose Raoul for a reason, Erik!"
He jerked back, as if she had slapped him in the face. Immediately she regretted her words. She went to him.
"Erik, I'm sorry, I didn't mean that. I didn't mean to hurt you."
He looked at her with pain in his eyes.
"Erik…" she put her hand on his arm, and quickly drew her breath in. There seemed to be an electrical current between them when they made contact.
She looked into his eyes. "Oh, Erik."
With that, she stepped closer to him, and leaned up to meet his lips with hers…
ducks please don't hurt me! I know it's an evil cliffie, but… well, um… ok, I have no explanation for the cliffie… um… chapter counts on fingers seven? Should be here before the end of the week, so… yeah.
Now, GO REVIEW:D
