A/N: romancebookworm4ever – Thank you once again for your reviews. I am trying to stay ahead of you with my replies. Never fear, Erik is not far away, Germany to be exact. There were a few loose ends to tie up with Christine first, so forgive my lack of Erik in these few chapters. I promise to make it up with almost entirely Erik in the second half of the story. As I said before, I love him too much to abandon him for long, just as you obviously do. Also, yes, I am putting Christine through a lot of pain but I feel she deserves to suffer A LOT for leaving my beloved Erik. I won't give her my treasured hero so easily.
Ch. 12 - Consequences
Christine awoke in a luxurious bedroom. Her head throbbed, and her breathing did not yet feel normal as she struggled to sit up. She could see Raoul speaking in the corner to a man who appeared to be a doctor. She could hear bits and pieces of their conversation, as she lay her head back down on the pillow and closed her heavy eyes. "Simply a result of stress and exhaustion...too much excitement, no doubt...needs her rest...Give her this to help her sleep tonight..." Raoul came to sit at her side, taking her hand gently in his own. Her eyes fluttered open as he spoke her name.
"Christine, my darling, I am sorry. The doctor says you've had too much excitement this evening. Forgive me. I knew you had not been well. I should not have expected so much from you this night." He touched her cheek softly. "The doctor has given you something to help you rest. Sleep well, my love." He leaned down and kissed her forehead.
Christine could feel the soothing effects of the drug on her anguished mind. Slowly, the delicious warmth and drowsiness spread through her body, giving her a feeling of liquid peace. Her mind stilled, and in her dream-like state, she could suddenly see her Angel walking toward her in the darkness. She drank in every detail of him in all his dark majesty, and when he spoke, it was as if her soul had been starving for the sound of his voice. "Christine," he whispered, his gray-blue eyes drowning her in their depths, "I heard you call out for me and I have returned to you." In her mind, she saw him draw towards her, bringing his lips to meet hers in a dazzling kiss that left her breathless. He drew back then, a look of utter love glowing in his eyes. He took her hand in his to kiss it, but then anger and confusion clouded his face as his piercing eyes took in the ring on her finger. He dropped her hand as if it burned him and stepped backward away from her, his face screaming her betrayal. His powerful voice filled with wrath and pain echoed in her mind, though he spoke not a word. "I forgave you, returned to you from the grave, and still you betray me. You have made your choice once and for all, Christine. I am lost to you." He turned and strode away from her, disappearing from sight without looking back.
Christine sat bolt upright. She was drenched in sweat, and her breathing was shallow and quick, like that of a frightened rabbit. It took her a moment to remember where she was, then seeing the extravagant furnishings around her, she remembered she was in the lavish de Chagny mansion, where she would soon be mistress. Rather than delighting her, the thought terrified her.
And her Angel...her eyes closed at the pain of the dream's memory. She was betraying him, betraying herself, betraying Raoul by agreeing to this marriage. She stood and walked to the window, staring forlornly at the snow-covered grounds below. Elsa's words to her that first day in the garden echoed in her mind, "Not only will you succeed in ruining both of these men whom you care for, but you will bring upon your own soul a torture you could never have imagined." Christine stared down at her engagement ring, tears streaming down her cheeks. How right she had been!