Thanks for the reviews!
Kagome1514- that's so sweet that you almost cried! It makes me happy! Im glad you like it!
mysterio- in my world- Raoul is just a loser and I don't like him one bit- that's why he is so hate-able in my story! Thanks for the review
Ally N. S.- ya he did get rid of Camille for now but she will be back- sorry! She is an important character
LuvinLivnReadn- Camille is coming back but you might not like her as much when she comes back… in this chapter haha lol!
Thanks again to everybody for the sweet reviews! And don't worry- Raoul is gonna get it good!
Disclaimer: I don't own any part of the phantom- but I do own the soundtrack (so good!) and I own the rights to Camille Duproix and this story!
Chapter 7: Hunted
"What is it Christine?" Erik asked again
She turned her haunted eyes to his face. And asked him in a low terrified voice…
"You won't hurt me if I tell you? He swore he would kill me if I ever told… don't let him hurt me. Please Erik!"
"I would never hurt you Christine. And I won't let him hurt you either."
She took a deep breath and said slowly, "I have a daughter Erik. She is three years old. Her name is Aimee."
Erik stepped back suddenly "you have a child with him? You left her with him?"
"Erik- stop wait- please let me finish."
"Well… hurry up about it." He answered snappishly
"She is three years old. She is so beautiful- she has milky skin and dark chocolate curls. But her eyes- her eyes are like globes of green, gold and blue. It is a very unique eye color. She does not resemble Raoul in the slightest. Erik- Aimee is your daughter."
Erik's face lost all remaining color "I… I have a daughter? We have a child?"
She reached up to touch his face with her hand "every day… every day I was reminded of you."
He turned his face slightly to receive her touch "Christine- I must see her! She is my daughter. I have to have her here."
Christine paled "I can't go back there to get her. I can't- he will kill me!"
"Damnit Christine! We will be lucky if he hasn't already killed her!" Erik shouted at her
Something inside Christine snapped. She wouldn't take abuse from any man after what she had been through- especially not from Erik! (Authors note: I got bored of having her be so scared all the time)
She stood up forcefully and pushed him in the chest "STOP TALKING TO ME LIKE THAT! I'm so sick of people thinking they can treat me like this. Honestly, sometimes you are no better than Raoul!"
Erik was taken aback by her sudden actions- so different from the cowering girl of a few minutes before.
"Christine-"he began weakly
"STOP!" she held up her hand "it was clearly a mistake to come here and an even bigger mistake to tell you about Aimee. Do you honestly think I would put my child in danger if I had a choice?" she shouted
Erik was embarrassed but he wouldn't stand for Christine shouting at him- although he did like it better than seeing her in her previous broken state.
He drew her forcefully into his body and wrapped his arms around her "Hush Christine. Forgive me. I was wrong to say what I did." He rubbed his hand gently along her back
"Oh Erik. I forgive you. I only hope and pray that he hasn't harmed her." She buried her face in his broad, tan chest
"I will kill him is he has harmed a hair on her head. I may kill him anyway for what he did to you, my love."
His hand stroked her damp curls…
Raoul strode forcefully through the corridors to Christine's dressing room. As he prepared to go into her room, he almost tripped over a girl that was sitting against the door of Christine's dressing room.
"What the hell…" he muttered
Camille rose languidly to her feet- her svelte body clearly visible through her tight dress
"Good evening monsieur. And pray tell what you are doing here so late?" she asked in her lilting voice
Raoul was entranced by her sensual voice and delightful attire
"I'm looking for my … uh… someone…" he said dismissively "and you are…?"
Camille flashed him a coy smile "I am Camille Duproix. If you are here for information about your wife… I have some and I believe we can strike a bargain."
Raoul took in the woman at a glance- her cocky self assured stance, her abundance of raven tresses and the shocking green eyes set in golden skinned face.
He smirked "I suppose we could discuss a deal…" he offered her his arm which she took and followed him as he led her out into the moonlight
"Hope about we discuss this at my home?" he said in a low tone
"That sounds fine." She answered
The carriage began to roll slowly back to the de changy manor carrying a mysterious and vengeful woman and a wealthy and vengeful man…
Raoul entered the grand foyer of his home and lead Camille quickly to his room.
"We will not be disturbed here."
She snorted "oh gee- I wonder why?" she tapped her finger with a long supple finger, in mock confusion
Raoul laughed but it was a cold sound
"Tell me what you know of my wife."
She responded without missing a beat "tell me what you will give me in reward for my information."
"I am a rich man and a very capable lover… what more could you desire."
She inclined her head slightly to acknowledge his point but her soul screamed 'I desire love!'
"I suppose you have a point monsieur." She answered
"SO… tell me of my wife."
"I want my payment first." She said coolly
Raoul smirked and began to move languidly towards her, unbuttoning his shirt as he went. When he was standing over him trying to unzip his pants Camille put a cold finger to his chest and pushed him away.
"I don't desire you as a lover- sir. That would only be for your pleasure- not mine." (Authors note: ooooh- dissss!)
He stepped back surprised by her words
She rubbed two of her fingers together and said…
"I meant my monetary payment." she looked up at him expectantly
He growled angrily…
"You will learn that I am not a man to be put off!" he hissed in her ear as he grabbed her neck roughly
"And you will learn not to screw with me!" she hissed back bringing her knee hard into his crotch
His grip around her neck loosened and when he could stand the pain he looked up at her with slight respect in his eyes.
"Not many would dare to do what you just did…"
"I am my own person monsieur, I am me. Nobody else is me- therefore you cannot expect me to behave in the same manners as others.
He nodded
"Uh-huh. Ive noticed." He pulled a thick wad of bills from her pocket and handed them to Camille
She idly flipped through the bills and nodded slightly- "this will do… for now."
"I am in contact with a man named Erik. He wears a white mask on one side of his face and he is a very mysterious charact----"
Raoul interrupted her "I know who he is- get on with it.
She eyed him coldly and made to rise and leave but his rushed apology convinced her to stay
"Anyway- he is a very mysterious character. I was going with him to his home tonight when he revealed his character of being the mysterious phantom of the opera. We went inside the opera house and went to a dressing room. He was leading me to a mirror when he tripped on something lying on the floor."
She paused to catch her breath and rolled her eyes when she caught Raoul's impatient glare.
She ignored it and continued at her own pace
"There was a girl lying on the ground. She was all beat up and she was a mess. She called out please- begging 'Raoul' I believe his name was- to stop hurting her. It can be induced that she was raped and beaten… by her… husband." Here she glared accusingly at Raoul
And he glared back daring he to actually accuse him.
She continued "Erik got all tense and told me to leave and go back to the club- he would come for me when he was ready. So I left but waited outside the door. Judging by the conversation they used to be lovers- perhaps still are. Then the room went silent. The girl had been sobbing and screaming before. After there had been no noise in the room for several minutes I went into the room but no one was there- they were gone. So i went back outside and sat by the door waiting for them to come back. And then you stepped on me in your rush to get inside- how very kind of you. So your wife is inside the opera house... somewhere."
She sighed glad to be relating her story. She held out her hand for the rest of the money and rose preparing to leave.
Raoul laughed "You think I am just going to pay you and let you walk out of here- knowing my name and all about my life?"
"Yes." She answered simply
"Hmm… I think not." He clapped his hands and three strong men appeared in the door "Take Camille to the west wing- to the fire room. Do not let her out of your sight and do whatever it takes to her in order to keep her restrained."
They were on her before she even had a chance to fight back…
Erik cradled Christine's head in his arms
"Tell me about Aimee."
"She sings like an angel and she has your temper and also your sweetness. She looks like me but has your eyes. I just wish she was here. I hope she will be okay. Oh Erik- how am I ever going to see her again?"
He looked sad but answered "we will find a way."
His words rang through the lair and Christine sighed and nodded before falling asleep in his arms…
"We will find a way…"
I hope you like it! Please read and review!