Chapter 20 B

Into the night

"Christine, go to the tunnel behind my bed." Erik said quietly into her ear when she got down and moved over to him. Her skin tingled at the warmth of his breath on her ear. She slowly backed up and caught the hem of her dress. Panic was rising slowly in her throat as she regained composure and returned to her slow motion backwards to the tunnel.

Erik crouched and moved further to his right trying to glean anything of who he heard coming to his lair. He was angered that they should still have to be sneaking around even in the confines of his old home. It was, he finally decided, to be expected after the tragedy which occurred above them.

Suddenly Erik felt a sharp pain spread out from the top of his head, he began to rise and was instantly transported into blackness instead.

Christine witnessed Erik being knocked out and stifled a scream in her hand as she saw another of the intruders standing to her right. She tried to get to the tunnel before they actually caught sight of her, but it was too late. They saw her and two of them came up to her diminishing figure.

"Well well well, what have we here? Looks like the Opera Ghost had Mademoiselle here for company, you were not mistakin'. A beauty if I might say, she'd fetch a fancy franc or two if we sold her. What is he doin' with such a lovely companion, wha' is this; beauty an' the beast?"

"Mebbe if we just took her and left him a note he would be able to pay us for her. She appears to care for him, look how she reacts to his current state of consciousness. Could be she is worth something to him. If not, we'll sell her and come back for him later."

"Jantue, Helpon, you are so contentious, I know that we want to make the most of this for our profits, but it seems you are forgetting the nobleman that wanted us to look down here periodically. The Vicomte, was that not his title, he wanted to be sure that a girl matching her description didn't come this way. If so, we were to turn her in for gold, remember. Much more valuable than selling her on the black market for a common whore. Though there is no law that does not say we can't have some fun with her ourselves first! As for him, if he gives us problems, we can bill him as an oddity, a freak, and make money off of him, as well. Think big, boys, think big. That is why I am in charge and you aren't!"

"Gothen, the Vicomte is with fever, no? Remember the day that pretty fair haired filly rode up to their house, the brother of that nobleman said he was ill. With our luck he will die and we will be stuck with her."

"Well, if we are, then we will sell her. Now, what are we to do with this problem? He is unconscious for now, but this Opera Ghost won't stay that way forever. He is pretty tall and could be hard to subdue and move. Shouldn't we just kill him?"

With that Christine spoke up, fear being overtaken by panic. "NO, I will go with you without fight if you will only let him be. I won't let you take me alive if you harm him any more than you already have." With that she ran over to Erik and cradled his head in her hands. Kissing him on the face trying to wake him up without words, she could tell when he came to. She came close to his mouth so they could not see him talking to her. He whispered to her some instructions after telling her to pretend to be crying and not acknowledge what he was saying except to squeeze his hand when he was done. She feigned panic and tears while he whispered in her ear softly his plan to get them out of this mess. He told her to go with them for now, he knew who they were and would have her before the day was out.

Gothen decided to grab Christine by the wrist and pull her up to him, he breathed in her face with his dank breath smelling of soured booze. He was getting ready to kiss her when Erik could take it no more. Reaching over in the box that lay near his head he gathered the Punjab lasso and swung around onto his back where he threw the lasso around Gothen's neck. He was so skilled he didn't even get near Christine who was able to pull back just enough to allow him to have the element of surprise. He never got to the rest, they kicked him in the side, he winced in pain and rolled back to his stomach. He knew that he had some other stuff in his box he could use to gain the upper hand, but Jantue and Helpon were on their way out of the lair with Christine, a fourth who was standing guard at the base of the lake came over now to take care of Erik. He never got the chance to grab for more defenses. Nor was Erik conscious long enough to hear the name of the man who came to subdue him.

When Erik woke the next time, he was in a cage, being pulled by horse. There was canvas over the bars, so nobody was able to see him. His mask was missing. He felt anger well up in him as he realized what had happened. This had to be managed forthwith, he hoped that Christine was traveling with him, though he recalled hearing the Vicomte's name and he feared she was in his custody. Somehow he had arranged this little soiree. He had to be sure to thank him for yet another wonderful experience at his expense. Erik began to seriously doubt whether the Vicomte was actually ill. It would seem that he had not given him enough credit for intelligence. The whole plan had to change its dynamics now; he had not placed enough thought into what could happen if they came back to "his" world once again. As Erik started to move to sit up he cringed in pain, he had been kicked so hard he was sure a rib had been broken. Making note of this he began the task of ignoring that pain. There was no time for wallowing, he had to save Christine. Back at the Populaire he had hidden the ring he designed and purchased for Christine so long ago, he wanted to give it to her so he had to get them through this. He had worked so hard and been patient for so long. They would not win, he was going to get them all and every one who was responsible for this would pay.

Mme Giry came to the lair to see if it was true, was Erik still alive? When she got to the lake to cross over to where Erik lived, she saw someone carrying Erik out of the lair. She hid and watched them go deciding that she should follow to see what was going on. She would try to help Erik if he needed it, she knew how good he was at escaping, as well as illusion, he probably could get out of this cage they appeared to be placing him in. If not, then she would have to find someone to help her, she could not go to the Gendarme; they would want to capture Erik for themselves, so they would not help. That would just be more trouble for Erik, and they might be harder to pries him from than these greedy pigs. Mme Giry had to think fast. Then it hit her, the friends her husband corresponded with, they still wrote her to see if she was alright, having promised her husband they would care for her until either the last one of them died or she died. They would have contacts, the men who served with Monsieur Giry in the French foreign legion. They would help. She would have to see where they went if Erik was not able to free himself and then send message to Monsieur du Loche directly. Hopefully there were enough of them left from their active days to help her now.

She watched as they crossed the lake nearly spotting her in her hiding place, she ran out of the tunnel, hiding behind a cage with canvas covering it. Next they went to the cage she was standing so near, as they placed him into it Mme Giry thought poor Erik, it was so very much like the one she had freed him from so long ago. My God how things had come full circle. When the gypsy rounded the cart to leave the area, Mme Giry looked down and saw Erik's mask, she impulsively ran out to the end of the cart and picked it off the ground. Placing it in her hand bag, she resumed her place in the bushes across from the cart.

The large bald gypsy got up on the cart and began to whip the horse to get him to move. He yelled something indiscernible, and was off. Mme Giry's heart lurched at this, that he should survive his own fury set out on Populaire, only to be taken away the same way he found his way here in the first place. She knew, knowing who had abducted him that he was going to be in the gypsy camp outside town. Using all her skills as a dancer, she quietly and lithely followed the cage as it meandered out of the city slowly.

Christine pretended she was unconscious, she was terrified of opening her eyes, she felt these animals would violate her in ways she never imagined before now if she did. God, why did they have to best Erik? Her mind went to him then. She wondered if he was still alive or if they decided to kill him. She began to feel hysteria rise in her throat and she fought each nerve in her body to keep it from becoming a palpable presence in her right now. She needed to get out and find Erik; nobody else was going to help them. Who would really know to even look? This is what it felt like to be truly alone, and Christine remembered it well. Erik had worked so hard to remove that memory of loneliness and isolation from her memory, she was so desolate with need for him, she feared she had lost him forever and could not bear the pain she felt in her soul without him near. She wanted to hum to herself, but there was someone in the wagon with her. She could not tell who it was, as she was blind folded. She was certain she would not want to attract any attention from them though.

Suddenly there was the sharp momentary jab, followed by the feeling of someone cutting and tearing the front of her dress, fairly spitting out the words as he slurred;

"This little filly has a taste for broken and deformed flesh, wonder if her man has the same desire. Maybe we should see. I can ride 'er and ride 'er and when I am done cut her up some. Then we can see what he will give for her. At least we will have broken this high and mighty whore down to where she belongs? What do you think?"

There was no reply. "Jantue, you hear me? Aw, do I gotta get up there to see if you are listening?" Halpon took another swig of that sour alcohol, and he opened the door to the wagon. As he turned to make his way up to the top of the wagon, someone knocked him off. He flew off then, falling ungraciously from the wagon to the rocks below. With a sickening crunch he snapped his miserable neck. The wagon slowed to a halt. It was quiet and Christine grew apprehensive, not sure how but wanting to hide somewhere, she wished the earth would just open up and swallow her. She was so tired of being terrified, and she was in no position to defend herself. Suddenly she heard voices she recognized. It was Erik and Mme Giry. She was afraid to believe that it was not madness deluding her.

Walking up to Erik with relief in her eyes, shining with the realization that he was alive, Mme Giry began; "Erik, I was so afraid for you when I saw them walk out of the lair and the Populaire with you. I didn't have any idea what I was going to do to try to get help for you. Here, I have this for you and wanted to give it to you, when you are ready."

"Giry, is that you? Help me, Christine is in here."

"She is also alive? I am so relieved." The door opened and Mme Giry entered the wagon. It was close inside, but she was able to unbind Christine, take down the blindfold and find a cloth to place on Christine's front, covering her nakedness where Halpon had cut and torn everything aside. Christine was sobbing and shaking like a leaf, in total shock that she should be here, with them.

Halpon had nicked her skin with his knife, and she was bleeding slightly where the sternum began to appear to the touch. Erik entered the wagon, saw this and removed the cloth immediately. Mme Giry was taken aback by the action, though she quickly saw the blood and understood the reason why. When Erik had ministered to the cut and saw to it she would be alright, it seemed he suddenly realized her state of disarray, blushing slightly, he reclaimed the cloth and placed it back where Mme Giry had originally positioned it.

Too late, Mme Giry had figured the lay of the land where these two were concerned. There was no virtue left for her to cling to with him. At least Christine had no physical virtue with him any longer. They knew each other so intimately that he didn't even need to say anything to her, she just allowed him to touch her, closing her eyes and allowing him to do whatever he must. The trust absolute and the relief flowing like a healing salve of its very own. When Erik had silently finished, he seemed to remember that he was in some pain himself, his lip was broken with dried blood on it, he had lost his mask, though when he realized he'd lost it, he remembered that Mme Giry had it in her possession yet. It just was not important before this. He looked up at Mme Giry, tears of relief threatening him and began to reach to her for his mask to put it back over his deformed and rather broken flesh.

Mme Giry grabbed his arm, seeing that he would be in more pain if he covered some of those bruises and cuts right now, she stopped him saying, "It's alright, Erik. You are among people who love and care for you. Don't worry of the mask now, hold your mistress and allow her to heal with you. That is all that is important. I shall drive this wagon back to the Populaire."

Erik said nothing, but he raised his head and smiled at her before looking back at the frightened but still figure he held so tenderly in his arms. She was just letting him hold her, she had no fight left for anything now, and she needed to process what she had heard before, in the lair.

"Christine, I thought that they would rape you or cut you, which they did the latter. They didn't touch you intimately, did they?"

All Christine could do was to shake her head no, she wanted to tell him that they were talking about it, but they didn't do it. If he would not have gotten her free when he did, it may very well have been too late. She finally gave in to the tears which had been threatening for so long. She hated looking so weak, but the simple truth was that she was.

Erik took Christine's tears for a 'nearly raped me', though he didn't know that they were also for the relief that Erik was alive and that her sacrifice had managed to save his life. She was also crying with the relief of feeling that she was not alone in the world, her angel had rescued her once again, so had Mme Giry, just as they both had before.

After the ride back to the lair, Mme Giry helped them out of the wagon. She silently helped them back to the door, and said;

"I shall get you some dinner and bring it to you. It has been a daunting day I daresay. Is there anything else you may favor?"

"Bring Christine some more clothes. Bring some bandages, and salve, I shall fix our Christine right up and she will be just fine. We could not be sure of this were it not for you, Mme Giry. You have rescued both of us once again."

"Get her below, though it is now dusk, it is still light enough for you to be spotted yet. I don't want to have to go around saving you all the time. It is too much for a woman of my stature."

"Ok, we shall see you upon your return. I shall leave the boat on shore for you."

With that the couple began to descend the stairs through the Rue De Scribe door, while Mme Giry went off to gather supplies for these two unlikely survivors.

"Erik, I don't think I can make it down the stairs right now, I am so shaky, I feel I shall fall. Is there a simpler way that is safe right now?"

"I shall carry you. I have a back passageway to the tunnel behind my bed about two flights down from here. I can manage to get you there; you are the heart that beats in my chest, so the weight is most welcome. It was overwhelming and difficult for me when you offered yourself so I may be spared. No one ever did that for me my love and I knew then that I had to save you as soon as I could. There was no living without you my darling. But I already knew that so well. The hope I held was that they didn't know, maybe I could make them think you were held against your will, but when you said that, there was no chance to pretend anything."

"Erik, it sounded like Raoul had hired these gypsies to capture us and further it sounded like they doubted if Raoul was really sick. I fear that by their talk we may have been trapped. We played right into his Raoul's hands. I didn't know how to tell you Erik."

"That is for later, we shall talk of these things later. For now, I want to get you in something comfortable and clean your wound. They are such filthy and unkempt animals that I fear illness if you are not carefully watched. That is in a precarious place, close to your precious heart, my sweet, and I am not going to wait to find the cut breaks it. I know gypsies and they are far more dangerous than you can imagine. Tricks up their sleeves, they could have been ready to kill you with a deadly potion on that knife. Or me, even. They are frightened of me, so I was surprised that they were brave enough to attempt anything with me at all."

As he descended the stairs with Christine in his arms, he was very careful not to hurt her with his movements. He gingerly moved towards the tunnel to his lair. He had created this passageway just for this purpose. He had hoped in some of his more passionate moments, that the day would come that he would seduce her in his bed, he dreamt of it, so he needed to give it a way, if only. Now she was coming that way, it was another dream come true. Bringing her around the bed he gently laid her upon the soft silky sheets, beginning to help her to undress herself the rest of the way. He was so overcome with emotion at her being alive yet that he could not go on. He knelt down and began in a soft moan;

"My God, Christine, I am so sorry that happened. I shall not let it happen again. Never shall I allow anyone to separate us with such violence again. They shall not make it out of the Populaire should they try. We shall leave here as soon as our business here is concluded. Forgive me, please?"

Erik buried his head in the sheets near her hand, he felt so relieved that she was back with him but angry with himself for allowing them to hurt her. He could not deal with the pain in his heart right now. Tears fell silently when he could no longer stop them.

After a few moments of quiet tears, Christine softly fingered his hair at the back of his neck, reveling in the feeling that she was at last safe with her Erik once more. She was powerless to help him through the feelings he had to get through. All she could do was to let him know that she didn't blame him, it was not his fault.

"Come on Erik, we are alright, I am fine, I am with you, and I really do need to get something decent on before Mme Giry returns. Do you think that you can help me, my darling? I will wear one of your shirts, if you have any to spare."

Erik lifted his head and smiled at Christine. "I can manage that, wait here one moment." This was the perfect time to get the ring, they had to make the day worth living. His heart was light when he went to gather these things for his Christine.

While Erik was gone searching for the shirt, Christine undid her clothes the rest of the way and took them off, then she swung to the side of the bed and covered herself with the quilt from the bed. She was shivering, it was cold and Erik had no fires though she swore she saw a small pot bellied stove off to the side. Maybe Erik would be able to light that for her, so that she could feel some warmth begin to seep through her.

When he returned he brought a small box with blue satin on the outside with the beautiful white shirt he had been wearing, although not today as that one was now in tatters. He had a beautiful black velvet robe hanging unclosed over his bare torso. There was a look in his face that Christine had never seen before, serenity and happiness so complete that he caught her breath when she saw him.

"I regret that the shirt is the one I put on yesterday morning, I was unable to find any more clean ones. I hope you do not mind using it for now. Mme Giry will bring you stuff to wear when she returns to us. After she leaves, you don't have to worry what you are in… or out of." He smiled at her when he said that, daring that familiarity was a big step for him after the fraying emotions this day carried. Christine was bursting with love for him, happiness and relief. She could only sigh a deep sigh and stand up on her wobbly legs to give him a hug. When she did so, the quilt dropped a bit, Erik caught it before it was allowed to fall to precarious depths. Christine just chuckled shyly and drew back up to him to finish the hug she was about to give him. He put the shirt on the bed and hugged her back.

"Erik, could we light the pot bellied stove over there, warm this place up a bit? It is so damp and cold I am chilled to the bone."

Backing Christine away slightly he spoke to her with a chuckle in his throat this time. "This is but a prop I could never get to work for me safely. So it sits with broken promises of warmth. Put the shirt on and I shall get you something more to wear. Mme Giry will come with more for you to wear as well. You shall warm up soon enough. Stay in the bed if you are warmer there. "Erik was worried about her getting sick again, so soon after the fever. He paused and thought for a few moments and took Christine in his arms once again. "My dear child, I am so grateful that this day did not end our lives, I could search all eternity and never find another to make me feel a whole being. Thank you." Simple concise, to the point, he had to keep reminding himself he was not dreaming, that was when the thank you came pouring out every time. "If you will sit back down on the bed, I have something to ask you."

"Erik, what is it?" She grew worried at the look on his face, it was so stern and serious, as if he was about to tell her that he was dying or leaving her. She grew slightly alarmed.

"Don't worry my dear, it is not bad. Unless you decline. Then it is the most ill read idea and heartbreaking thing I have ever done."

"Oh, Erik, what do you have to say? I am listening, but only if you are less serious with me. I can't control my heartbeat when you look at me with that intensity. She was once again mistaking his passion and love for anger though it still did strange things to her heart.

"Christine, what I have to say, well, I am not too sure the best way to say it. I have designed and fashioned a ring I would be honored if you would wear. It was designed and created for you. I am … what I am saying is, well, Christine, would you do me the honor of marrying me?" When he choked these words out, fighting the fear that he would face rejection still, even though he knew at the same time that they had talked of this, it was the natural progression of their love; he looked down at his ring box, and opened it, taking out the most intricate and lovely ring Christine had ever seen. 17 of the most beautiful stones ever gazed upon by Christine. The largest being a Garnet of large size lying in a tear drop shape in the center of the ring. The 16 diamonds were arranged some small tear drop shaped, some simply small round cut, to form a wrap around pattern to emulate the stem and leaves of a rose. This ring was masterfully designed to resemble a delicate red rosebud. She was breathless with the beauty of this ring. It surely was designed with love by her Erik.

Christine was breathless when she held out her hand and looked into Erik's eyes. "Oh Erik, Yes, of course I will marry you. It will be the single largest honor of my life to become your wife." With those words between them, Christine reached out once more for Erik, this time the quilt was allowed to fall, their passion held in their lips for some moments. When they drew away, they knew this was all they could do for the moment. They were both sore from their ordeal today and there was no way they could do anything more. They found that embrace healing and satisfying for now.

Slowly Erik brought the shirt up to Christine and placed it chastely over her shoulders. Buttoning each button, he brushed her skin lightly, careful at the breastbone not to touch the sternum and hurt her further. She had bruises all over her ribs and her arms. The wrists held finger shaped bruises from where Halpon had held her. He was grateful she allowed him this view, he needed to know where she hurt and if there were any more cuts or gashes she didn't know of.

When he turned around after ensuring the shirt safely on, Christine placed his collar up to her nose and breathed deeply. Yes this was her security and she was so glad it was the one he had been wearing, as the smell signified her safety forever. He proceeded to the little closet area that had held the Automat and found another dressing jacket of deep red velvet. He brought that out and placed it on her as well. Now she was as regal and beautiful as any queen in her court. He smiled as he saw the flash of the new ring adorning her left hand. His ring, finally on her finger. This was real, this was life, and this was love. Thank God, this was being human. The phantom died at that moment, to be replaced by someone more dangerous by far, a man possessed and wanted. He would do anything for this, and having been the phantom for so long, he had quite a long list of the things he would do for her love.

Mme Giry had witnessed this last scene and realized that she had to get Meg out of the way before they began their campaign to rid themselves of Raoul. She knew Erik, he would not stop until he won. Worse now because he knew he had the child and he would not give up his passion for her. He was inexorably connected to her and Raoul no longer had a choice. She could see that, and consequently her mind began to work things out…

Authors note; I did this two different ways that is what took so long. With the help of Nicki, (Thank you so much for your help, as usual) my on line advisor and confidante . My daughter as well, placed her two cents worth in too, (thanks Amanda, my teen aged confidante;-) so I decided to publish this chapter. I hope that it doesn't disappoint you and that you feel that things have been shaken up a bit. The story needed a clearly defined direction and this was a variation of a situation I felt needed to be in here. After all, Raoul could not get help from the Gendarme, they didn't believe him, so he went to, shall we say less scrupulous individuals to garner information and attempt to get Christine back. Let me know if this works. It makes the remainder a bit more dark, but the happily ever after (?) either way will be sweeter and more dramatic whomever she ends up with, no? Here is where I put my maniacal laugh, no telling where Raoul, Erik and Christine will take you next. I hope you enjoyed it, I shall begin to work on chapter 21 now. Thank you for the reviews and please feel free to leave more, I truly appreciate them, even the ones with critical advice are done so kindly, I am very grateful. Thanks again. Your grateful, blurry eyed writer… Marykate.

I have not decided whether rit would be a good idea to offer to email the original chapter 20 to review and see the other path or not. I feel like you all deserve the chance to see where it might have gone. Let me know if you're curious. Perhaps I shall tweak it a bit more and branch it into another story from this story? Can we do that?LOL…. Thanks. Mary

I updated this today, tried to eliminate some of the run on words that showed up when I downloaded. Didn't know how, it was not in my copy. Sorry for that, hope it is better now. Thanks for your patience. Mary...