Chapter 12: What a reunion

Disclaimer: I own none of the lyrics used in this chapter they all belong to the phantom of the opera owners- im just borrowing them…

Erik looked up at the tall house in front of him.

"Can you climb, Camille? I would rather not have to go all the way through the house." She nodded through her trembling

"Yes. I think so." She unceremoniously hoisted her thin skirt up around held it

He turned his head quickly away from her revealed flesh. "Alright…once we are inside, go to Christine and Aimee and tell them to go with you. You must come to where I am. When Raoul and I are finished we shall leave. I highly doubt that they will be in a condition where they are capable of climbing down so you will wait for me."

Camille nodded and trembling she put her foot on the trellis and pulled herself onto it and began to climb.

Christine sang softly to Aimee in a soft voice. She only paused when the lances of pain shot through her body. She stroked Aimee's curls and sang to her…

No more talk of darkness
Forget these wide-eyed fears
I'm here
Nothing can harm you
My words will warm and calm you

Let me be your freedom
Let daylight dry your tears
I'm here
With you, beside you
To guard you and to guide you

Say you love me every waking moment
Turn my head with talk to summertime
Say you need me with you now and always
Promise me that all you say is true
That's all I ask of you

Let me be your shelter
Let me be your light
You're safe
No one will find you
Your fears are far behind you

All I want is freedom
A world with no more night
And you
Always beside me
To hold me and to hide me

Then say you'll share with me one love,
One lifetime
Let me lead you from your solitude
Say you want me
And you need me
Beside you
Anywhere you go, let me go too
That's all I ask of you

Say you'll share with me one love
One lifetime…

She was interrupted by Raoul, standing in the middle of the room holding a knife, who then began to sing

…Say the word and I will follow you
Share each day with me,
Each night, each morning
Say you love me

His eyes had returned to a look that they used to carry- sad, loving and heartbroken. They no longer held the maniac gleam they had held just a day before. He looked like just like he did before she caught him cheating, when their marriage still love and arguments few.

Tears formed in the corners of his eyes and he went over to Christine and Aimee. He knelt down and bent his head in shame when he saw Christine visibly flinch.

"Christine- Aimee must leave… go. Let me release you from this torment." His hand shook on the dagger

Through the haze that enveloped her senses Christine looked at Raoul

"Don't do this…" she cried "not to me… not to aimee."

Raoul shook his head slowly "you must leave me now!"

Camille could feel Erik's breath on her neck as he climbed the trellis quickly. He climbed like a madman and then she understood completely and fully. Erik had been willing to kill for Christine- now he was prepared to be killed for her also. All that Erik wanted was to see her one last time.

Camille continued to climb and soon she was climbing directly beside Erik. Through their movements sometimes their arms would touch. It was on one such occasion that Camille paused and looked at erik and he surprised her by bringing his burning gaze to meet her eyes.

She loved him. Pure love, untainted with lust and desire. Innocent love- untainted with the harsh reality of the world. Passionate, unending love! She smiled as she felt her heart begin to break.

They reached the window sill on the third floor and Camille looked into the terrible room in fear. Christine and a small girl were huddled in a corner and Raoul knelt before them with a knife.

"Oh god Erik! He has a knife!"

Erik was peering in the window in a moment and upon seeing Raoul's erratic behavior he said in a low voice

"Be careful Camille- and remember what I told you. The time has come…" with those words he raised the butt of his sword and brought in smashing into the glass, sending shards flying everywhere.

"Please Raoul- Raoul please don't do this…" she hid her daughters face in her chest as she spoke, her body still racked with pain

The knife in his hand was shaking but he neared it closer to her throat and began to press down slowly when the large window behind him shattered and he heard the voice that haunted his nightmares speaking to him in reality.

"Monsieur- I will have to ask you to step away from the mademoiselles-" he disdained admitting that Christine was married and in fact, a Madame.

Raoul straightened up and whirled around. "The time has come- the time has come to face our fears, to end the past that haunts us here. When 'ere this business here be done- the victors' won- let all be done." He said in a low voice

He rose and drew his sword; almost lazily he put his sword point against Aimee's quivering throat.

"Although I'm sure you already know monsieur- but this little chit is your daughter. And though I would love to see such a joyful reunion- I'm afraid I cannot permit it." With these words he began to press the blade into her innocent and tender flesh.

Erik faced paled as drops of scarlet blood began to appear on Aimee's porcelain neck.

He crossed the room in a bound and struck the sword from Raoul's hand- it caused a small cut to appear across Aimee's throat but it was better than what would have happened. He positioned himself in front of Christine and Aimee and began to walk towards Raoul.

Raoul backed up and deftly grabbed up his sword bringing it up and preparing for the fight that was sure o ensue.

Camille rushed over to Christine and Aimee.

"Come on Christine. Get up! You can get hurt where you are!" she ripped off a piece of her dress and pressed it gently to Aimee's neck

"Hush little one- it's going to be alright…" she looked despairingly at Christine who was staring, unbelieving, at Erik.

"Christine- please!" Camille begged her but Christine just stared at Erik and ignored Camille

Camille couldn't stand it any more; she smartly slapped Christine across the face "GET UP! You selfish girl- you are endangering your life, your daughters life, Eriks life and my life!

At Christine's scream of pain Erik whipped around trying to see what had happened

"CAMILLE!" he shouted "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING- NEVER TOUCH HER LIKE THAT AGAIN!"

When Erik had his back to him Raoul charged and drove his sword into Erik's side.