Hi! Thank you all for the reviews! I got a lot of good feedback, and I appreciate you guys not tearing me down for what happened in the last chapter. Just let it be known that I am also an E/C shipper, so I feel your pain... That doesn't stop me from making Erik's life horrible, though...

Muhahahaha!

Anyhoo... the good stuff has officially begun! Enjoy!

XxXxX

"Erik, must you go?" Amarie whined as she flopped onto Erik's bed. Erik was busy packing a few things for his trip.

"I told you, Amie, I'm going to a friend's wedding. I'll only be gone a few days."

Amarie sighed as she fingered the quilt on the bed. "I'll be lonely without you here."

Erik sat down beside her and ran his fingers through her hair. "It will not be long. I promise. I'll be back before you know it."

"But, Erik!" Amarie protested. "What if something happens and you never come back?"

Erik sighed. Amarie was experiencing some extreme separation anxiety. Erik's fingers strayed to the ring he had on a chain around his neck. It was the ring he was going to give to Christine… when he married her. It really didn't look like that was a possible future anymore. Slowly, Erik removed the ring, chain and all, from around his neck. He held it out to Amarie.

"Here," he said. "You hang onto this. Just until I return. That way you know I'll be coming back… I'll come back to get this from you when I'm ready…"

Amarie hung the gold chain around her neck. "Don't worry, Erik. I'll keep it safe."

Erik gave her a shoulder-hug, then stood up with his small bag of clothes and started for the doorway.

"I'll see you in a few days," Erik called over his shoulder. Then he was gone from her sight.

XxXxX

Raoul waited for Erik in a carriage outside the theatre. When he saw Erik's dark figure appear in the doorway, he jumped down from the carriage and made his way over to him.

"Are you ready?" Raoul asked.

Erik nodded slightly. Raoul eyed the canvas bag slung over Erik's shoulder.

"Are you sure that's all you're going to need?"

"I am a man of few needs," Erik replied bluntly.

Raoul shrugged and took the bag from him, putting it into the back of the carriage. Raoul turned and looked at Erik. The poor man. He looked like he was about to go to his best friend's funeral. He just looked so miserable.

"Can you blame him?" a voice in the back of Raoul's mind whispered. "Wouldn't you be miserable if you lost a girl like Christine?" Raoul sighed. He couldn't even imagine the depths of Erik's sorrow. If only the world had shown more kindness to the poor wretch…

"Have you eaten recently?" Raoul asked.

Erik responded by shaking his head.

"We have a long journey ahead of us. Why don't you and I have some supper first? Surely you would known of any good restaurants in this part of town?"

Erik raised an eyebrow. "Well, there is a nice little place just down the street…"

XxXxX

Supper was pleasant enough, Erik supposed. The food was palatable. Raoul and Erik even managed to have a civilized conversation, although Erik did not really care much about what Raoul had to say about government leaders or Queen Victoria. Erik had never really had much interest in politics. Likewise, Raoul failed to appreciate the finer points of Swedish music or anything about Beethoven's childhood. Oh well. Raoul had been kind enough to avoid areas of sensitive subject matter, A.K.A. Christine. The man had every right to gloat, but he didn't take advantage of it.

"Well," Erik thought. "At least he is kind enough not to twist the knife any further."

At the conclusion of dinner, Raoul and Erik began to walk the few blocks back to the theatre where the carriage was still waiting. Unfortunately, Raoul began talking about politics again, and Erik's brain simply could take no more of it. Could the man be more boring? So, just to make things interesting, Erik decided to change the subject completely.

"So, Vicomte, what is it about Christine that has you so entranced?" he asked casually, as though he were asking Raoul what he thought of the weather, or something of the like.

Raoul stumbled over his words. "Uh… well, er… uh…"

"In all seriousness, what is it about her that makes you love her so? I mean, surely a childhood summer spent together does not mean so much that one would risk one's life to get the girl back? I could have killed you, you know."

"Yes," Raoul muttered. "That did dawn on me when you had a rope around my neck."

"So… was it worth it? Is she worth it? Really, why did she catch your eye? Was it because I taught her how to sing so well? Is it because she is beautiful? When you look at that vulnerable frame, do you simply wish to take her and have her and-"

"Erik!" Raoul interrupted him."Please, can we talk about something else?"

"Tell me… Why are you so obsessed with her?"

"Why are you so obsessed with her?" Raoul shot back.

Erik remained unshaken. "A man in my position does not usually have that many women to choose from."

Raoul shook his head. "I love her. I told you before… When I was at your mercy in your lair, and you could have ended my life with a simple tug on that rope, what did I do? Did I cry and beg for mercy? No! I told you that I loved her, and that I was willing to die if she could go free. It matters not to me what Christine looks like, or the size of her talent. I love her for what she is! Can you say the same?"

For once in his life, Erik was rendered speechless. "Christine is the only woman who ever showed me any kindness," he said finally. "Good God! If someone, for the first time in your life, treated you like a man and not a monster, wouldn't you love her as well?"

Raoul sighed heavily. "I promise you… this is my solemn vow… I will take care of her."

"That will be a comforting thought on a cold evening…"

"Must you be so difficult?"

"I told you I'd come to this wedding of yours and… give her away… Now honestly, if I were trying to be difficult, would I agree to such a request?"

"I understand you must be sorrowful. In fact, were I in your position, I'd very dearly like to end my life should the only woman I ever loved leave me for another man! Believe me, Erik, I understand! You let her go! I can't help but admire you for that!"

For the second time that night, Erik was speechless. "You… you admire me?"

"You are twice the man of any of the noblemen I have ever been associated with!"

Erik was certain he must be dreaming. Surely this wasn't… no, this was indeed a complement coming from the very lips of the Vicomte de Chagney himself! Somehow, Erik's jealousy and hatred for this man evaporated and gave way to… well, a certain admiration. Christine, he knew, would be safe with this man. He would take care of her and give her everything she could ever want. It pained Erik that he could not offer Christine the same, but perhaps that was for the best. No demon deserved an angel…

But he wasn't a demon anymore, was he? No. He was a man. A man who had finally buried the hatchet with his old rival.

"I… Vicomte, I don't know what to say…"

"For once, nor do I!" Raoul laughed.

Erik paused. "You're not going to hug me, are you?" he asked.

"Uh… no, I... believe this is where we share a… friendly handshake…"

Erik slowlyput out a hand and feltthe Vicomte grasp it, giving it a firm shake… perhaps this wedding would turn out to be a joyous affair after all...

Then Erik froze as the hair on the back of his neck stood up. He tensed up, not moving at all, his ears open and listening. Something wasn't right…

"Erik? What's the matter?"

"Shhh…" Erik held a finger to his lips. "Something's wrong…"

"What is it?"

"Something isn't right…"

"Erik, are you playing a trick on me? Because if you are…"

"Shut up!" Erik snapped. "There's something-"

Erik's heart rate doubled as he felt the cold barrel of a pistol jab against the back of his neck. Someone grabbed him roughly from behind.

"Hand over the money, or I'll blow his head off!" a rough voice threatened.

"Please, Monsieur," Raoul was forcing calm into his voice. "Don't harm him. Here… this is everything I have…" Erik felt the mugger reach past him to take the money from Raoul. Erik took the opportunity to turn his head and sink his teeth into the man's arm.

The mugger screamed and Erik threw his elbow into the man's stomach, knocking the air out of him. Erik turned and kicked the man in the knees, forcing him to the ground.

"Only a coward attacks a blind man!" Erik spat, giving him a sharp kick to the ribs.

"You fools! Get out here!" the mugger screamed. Erik broke into a cold sweat when he heard multiple footsteps advancing towards them across the pavement. The man had backup.

"A smart thief?" Erik muttered to himself. "Who would have guessed?" Then there was the ominous click of a pistol cocking.

"Erik, get down!" Raoul screamed, tackling Erik to the pavement. There was a gunshot, and Raoul let out painful cry.

"You fool! Look what you've done!" one of the men bellowed. "You were just supposed to get the money from him!"

"What was I supposed to do? The wretch bit me!"

"We've gotta get out of here!"

"What about the other one?"

"Never mind him! He's a blind wretch anyway! Get going! Get going!"

There was the sound of the thieves' retreating footsteps. Then all was silent.

"Vicomte?" Erik spoke to the heavy mass on top of him. "Vicomte? Are you alright?"

Raoul did not answer.

"Vicomte?" Erik reached up to touch him. He drew his hand back quickly when his hands touched something wet and sticky on Raoul's chest. He lifted it to his face and smelt the bitter-coppery smell of blood.

"Vicomte! You are hurt! Vicomte!" Erik struggled out from beneath Raoul's limp body, taking the wounded man into his arms. "Vicomte! Raoul? Please! Please, don't! She needs you! Christine needs you!"

Raoul moaned slightly. "Er-Erik…?"

"Raoul? You will be fine! I will get help! Please!" Erik raised his head to the night sky. "HELP ME!" he screamed. "PLEASE, SOMEBODY HELP!"

"Erik…" Raoul gasped. "T-take… care of… Christine…"

XxXxX

Betcha didn't see that one comin' did you? I know I didn't update yesterday, so I'll update again later today to make up for yesterday, alrighty?

Don't you just love how the blind guy beats everyone up?