I know I said I'd update soon but both fanfiction and my computer weren't exactly cooperating; that and I got jump started on another idea that I might post soon (as soon as I get something more substantial written on it.) Another shortish chapter this time but there's plenty of action and it just seemed the most logical breaking point.
Warning: Mildly malevolent Raoul in this chapter (not very bad but still there). If you are offended by the likes of such, I can redirect you to my other story where he is the dutiful spouse and sweet as always.
Last time: (with the song that can never be finished, for some reason or another)
"Lead me, save me from my solitude. Say you want me with you here beside you." He raised his voice dramatically. "Anywhere you go, let me go to! Christine, that's all I ask of―"
Erik never had a chance to finish his song as a rope whizzed through the air and settled gracefully around his neck.
Now, Chapter the Next:
With a rough yank, he was pulled away from Christine and he fell backwards. With imperial celerity, he ripped the cord from his throat and stood to face his attackers, ready to fight for himself and for Christine. Placing himself between her and the others on the roof, he watched carefully as the policemen continued to join their companions on the veranda. With a twist of his hand and a short display of legerdemain, he produced a dagger, threatening the hunters. The steel glinted in the moonlight and he glanced back at Christine, her eyes wide with surprise, before resuming his glare.
"I thought I was the master of the lasso," he stated, cold and mocking, still unblinking in the face of his opponents. "I see no pressing need to kill any of you. Let us leave in peace."
Ropes soared in the air. Erik slashed what he could before one loop caught his wrist and flung the knife from his grasp as the officer pulled the rope taunt. Soon, his arms where pinned to his sides and his breathing grew shallow with the force pressing on his lungs. He stood there, bound with the ropes at all different angles, as a cloud eclipsed the moon's glow.
"Excellent job, men." Erik jerked his head toward the voice. The fop. Sure enough, Raoul sifted through the crowd and stood before him now. "You've just captured the infamous Phantom of the Opera." He lowered his voice, his next words were for Erik's ears alone: "You've degraded me at every turn. You," venom dripped from his voice, "You've challenged my decisions and dictated how my opera house was to be run, you've humiliated me time and time again, but worst of all you've taken my fiancée. Christine is mine, you blackguard, humbug, creature, monster!" Raoul struck the defenseless man with all the strength he could muster, plunging his fist to Erik's gut.
Erik grunted and sank to one knee as Christine ran over with a strangled cry. She placed her hands on his shoulders and he straightened regally, though his mask was slightly askew. Christine reached up and pushed the mask back into place, to save him further degradation, before walking toward Raoul with the full intent to slap the smug grin from his face.
"And thanks is in order to you, my dear Christine. We couldn't have caught him without you leading him here. Capitol job."
She froze in her steps as she gasped and raised a hand to her mouth in horror.
"And I've been meaning to return this to you, my love." He placed his ring forcefully on her finger, ignoring the one she already wore, and kissed her cheek.
Immediately she turned to Erik; tears filled his eyes as he met hers. He looked away, clamping his eyes shut and clenching his teeth in unmistakable pain. He recalled bitterly that once he thought he understood pain, knew its worst form, but this was more, a wrenching force that constricted and shattered his very core. Tears spilled down his face and he made no effort to repress the sobs that racked his frame. So close. He'd come so close to finding joy in life, but now it was gone.
Christine could only watch as Erik broke, fractured, before her. Because of her. She ran toward him but he recoiled from her touch. He glanced at her, all the hurt in his eyes wrung her heartstrings as tears rolled down her cheeks, unheeded and unimpeded. There was a question in his endlessly blue eyes: Why?
She had to make him understand and she reached for him again, "Erik, I―"
He sat back, scraping as far as he could away from her, shaking his head as he grimaced and he continued to weep. Christine could bear no more and she turned her face away. She met Raoul's eyes with the same question: Why?
He made no attempt to answer her. "Come, Christine. This chill cannot be good for your health." He attempted to usher her inside but she shied away from his hand. She covered her eyes and left the dreadful scene.
Raoul watched her go, sorry to have pained her if not sorry for Erik's capture. He refocused his attention on the Phantom. He had won, it was over…but there was one thing he'd always wondered. Tentatively, he reached for Erik's mask.
Erik switched from wallowing in pain and self-pity to a vicious cornered animal. He snarled in his distaste toward the Vicomte, struggling and thrashing against his bonds. Had he only but strangled him earlier…but that didn't seem to matter now, he just wanted to hurt him, maim him, somehow. Through his spontaneous violent strain against his bonds, a few surprised officers dropped their ropes. Erik thrust his shoulder into the Vicomte, praying to send him over the railing for what he had done.
He got his wish.
Raoul toppled over the edge and Erik earned several cruel thwacks from the policemen's clubs. Blood tricked from his eyebrow and he felt the beginning of several new bruises but physical pain was nothing of real importance to him anymore.
"Help!"
Much to his chagrin, Erik realized that Raoul had not fallen to his death but had managed to cling to the edge. Erik curled up defensively, nursing his pain and knowing Raoul would retaliate once the policemen managed to pull him back over the side.
Christine was the image of cold, indifferent strength until her door closed quietly behind her and she collapsed into a helpless pile of tears. It had been a wondrous evening only to have her nightmares become reality. She had never seen this wrathful side of Raoul before, and she had never seen Erik so vulnerable or any man so broken. She wanted to hold him to her until his tears stopped but he shrank back from her touch now. This betrayal, though she never dreamed Raoul would do such a thing, was horrid, especially when the Vicomte had dared credit her with any part of it. Erik thought I was a part of this. Her tears started anew until her head throbbed. She looked around her, symbols of Erik and the past few days were scattered about the room.
Raoul would come to see her soon, she was sure of it. Her face hardened as she made her decision. Hastily gathering all she could, she tripped the mechanism and climbed behind the mirror, praying her memory would not fail her.
Author's ramblings: Thank you again to everyone who's reviewed. Much love.
What's to come: Raoul thoughts, Madame Giry's resolve, and... well, you'll just have to wait and see. Eh, what can you do about it? spank me and take away my birthday:)
Really hope you enjoy the story, I like writing it. Let me know what you think!
