Chapter 25

Under pressure.

Raoul was desperately trying to find a safe place to go with Meg. He thought about going back to the Opera house and hiding in the lair. That didn't seem to be a good idea; they would go there to look for them first. They knew that was where his thoughts were right now. So, he began to guide the horse out of town as quickly as he could manage. Then he thought of the place by the sea that he first met Christine at. He felt that would be a good location; there were caves and great places to hide out with Meg if the house was being searched, as well as having a grand house to stay in when they were safe.

Madame Giry was finished purchasing more food for Erik and Christine, heading to the Rue with her package when she heard Gina calling her in a frantic voice.

"Gina, what is going on? Why are you running through the streets shouting like a gutter snipe?"

"Madame, forgive me, the Vicomte deChagny is at the home with Meg presently, demanding answers with regards to Christine and the Phantom's disappearance. I was instructed by Meg to bring you home post haste. Meg and I are worried about the Vicomte's present state of health. He appears to have lost his mind with grief and illness over Christine; we are unsure how to handle his questions at this time. We fear he may try to do something rash if we don't contain him. He is weak and does not seem ready for this query yet."

"Maybe, Gina, I should go to the house and you should send for the doctor then instead of just coming back with me, no?"

"That was what Meg and I thought too, however, the Vicomte discouraged that, said that nobody must know he is there. Something has happened, we can't tell what, something, Madame."

"Then we need to notify the Gendarme, they need to be made aware of the situation and put on alert in case he tries something untoward. In that vein, I fear that it must be you to go and summon the Gendarme, my dear. Will you please?"

"Oui, Madame." With that Gina was gone, feeling an increasing sense of dread at what was going on. What had Mme Giry been doing, anyway? She assumed that she was getting supper for them, as she had a package from the bakery, though it seemed to be rather early for her to be gathering that. No time to worry further now, the dread over the situation grew as she neared the Gendarme. She had a since of trepidation that she could not shake no matter what. She wished that, for Meg's safety, she would have had her with her.

Gina walked towards the Gendarmerie, her mind reeling with all that was happening and the sense of foreboding she was experiencing over Raoul's present rate of decline. He was such a young and good looking monsieur to be experiencing such ill health. It seemed he was not as robust as he appeared all those months ago when Christine was alive and they were betrothed. Gina felt sorry for him, he had endured heartbreak at the hands of someone else whom also loved his betrothed and it was enough to make anyone insane, really. Pity it could not have a happy ending, she knew of Meg's infatuation for monsieur Vicomte and she could have made him happy.

Gina's thoughts were disturbed by some commotion in the Gendarmerie, it seemed to be a minor skirmish, then she recognized Phillippe' Comte de Chagny inside discussing rather heatedly something that appeared to have occurred at his home earlier in the day. Realization hit Gina as she listened from the doorway; Raoul had knocked Phillippe out and managed to leave with a buggy while he was unconscious. He was having him placed in the Toussin Asylum today; somehow Raoul processed this information and had attacked Phillippe. Now things were making sense, but the danger was significantly more than she had even felt at first. He was so dangerous he was not above hurting his own brother, this was bad. She knew she would have to wait too long with the Comte in there now, so she decided that she had better get home for now, come back when they were rid of Raoul, let them know where he had gone. It never crossed her mind that he may be more than the three of them could handle in his current state.

Gina began to run to the house, fear gripping her of what she might find when she arrived. As she entered the yard, she noticed the buggy was gone. The relief was obvious on her face when she realized that Raoul must be gone. She slowed her pace and relief was on her face when she entered the house. There, in the parlor, she found Mme Giry standing in a room with broken pottery from her water pitcher and basin on the floor, her face white and her lips tightly pierced.

"Where are the Gendarme? Why did you not do as I said and get the Gendarme?"

"I am sorry Madame, I heard the Comte de Chagny in there with them at the Gendarmerie and I felt that it would take longer to wait then it would to go home and help you and Meg get rid of theVicomte, Raoul then tell them where he was headed. How foolish of me, I am sorry Madame. Shall I go back now?" Gina curtsied and looked around for Meg, not seeing her she queried; "Where is Meg?"

"You little fool, Meg is gone, with Raoul, and there are signs of struggle. He obviously was not as weak as you thought! We have no time to mess with the Gendarme, they are too sluggish and easily fooled, we must have help from more practical places, I must go I shall return shortly, you clean up this mess and pack me some fresh clothes for Meg. I am sure she shall need them when I find her. Don't ever make the mistake of disobeying my orders again, or you shall find yourself on the streets my dear Gina. I do not speak without reason; life has taught me that is folly. Learn this well it shall serve you wisely."

With that Madame Giry was off, she had to get to Erik, he would help her find Meg and end this once and for all.

Erik was gathering up his music and some other things he really thought he would like to bring with him into his new life with Christine. He had written a special song for her that he wanted to put words to before now though the words would not come, he was bursting with words for her now and he just had to weed out the ones that would not work. Earlier today, when Christine was snooping through the things Erik had brought down to the lair for her, she found a necklace he had made to match the beautiful ring he had given her. It was small garnets and diamonds mounted on the chain to the center falling to her cleavage, where he had a very intricate rose created using gold and garnets and emeralds to create the most beautiful rose bud. Long cuts were used to fashion the stones as the petals of the rose, teardrop cuts for the emerald leaves. Gold for the stem with a large diamond at the bottom of the stem, shaped like a heart. The beautiful rose bud was blooming from a heart full of love for the owner of the necklace. She was awestruck when she happened upon it, she came to him with tears in her eyes and the box opened, he explained that he thought it would be better if she found it herself and put it on her. She had a particular glow these days that was not there before, between the struggle of the last year and the illness of the last six weeks, she had looked peaked before this. Not anymore, she was happy and the glow she radiated illuminated the whole lair as never before, he swore he was in the company of one of God's most favored beings when he looked upon his love. He wondered if he was really responsible for this change in Christine, though he knew not how all he could ever truly cause was pain and suffering, he reveled in the fact that he could cause such intense happiness and contentment in one he loved beyond all reason. They truly had the magic they so desired all of their lives and though they still had to overcome Raoul's meddlesome ways, they were content in the knowledge that they had each other and they would make it through this to the life they had promised to each other.

When Erik had put the necklace on his angel, she turned to him; he simply stared at her, his eyes bewildered at her beauty. She began to feel uncomfortable with this look on his face, she knew she was simple and he stared at her as if she was the greatest work of art he had beheld in his life. Him who created beauty with his pen that she had never found equal elsewhere. Looking upon her as if she were otherworldly, it was difficult to meet that gaze steadily. Her knees began to grow weak, Erik sensing this came to her and gathered her in his arms, taking her to the bed.

"Are you ok my dear?" Erik's concern registered on his face, she saw that and smiled,

"Yes, Erik, I am fine, it is just that your emotions are so intense that sometimes of late I find them making me weak kneed, silly, I know."

"I am not a doctor, though I know you were ill a short time ago, are you sure there is not a physical reason for this, while your color is beautiful, you are tired often, and you seem of delicate disposition of late, are you still ill from the fever?"

"Erik, I find that I am late, and think perhaps I am with child now."

There was no preparing Erik for that one; he was totally speechless when those words came from her mouth. He sat down on the foot of the bed, gazing at her as if she would disappear and never be heard from again. He held her ankle as it was the only thing he was near to grab at these words. She was lost in the look in his eyes, such gratitude and longing. He didn't know what to say to her, except that he adored her and would move the heavens and the earth for her. The vows of marriage had no more hold than the vows they had already made to each other, so deep was their bond, so blessed their union already. The idea that they needed to have a Priest say they were married seemed almost laughable, he surely could not bond them more than these words uttered by Christine, this miracle given them by God, could have. Erik smiled at her, his eyes clouding with tears falling slowly down his beloved cheeks, the emotions unbearable, all he could manage to say was a very husky "Thank you, Christine. I never…" then he broke off and looked down at the ankle he was grasping onto, he was totally overcome with the feelings of joy and disbelief that Christine and him, who was disfigured so horribly, could make something so cherished and loved already. He slowly moved up the bed and tenderly kissed her on the lips, salt from his tears evident in his loving kiss. He was so careful, so as not to hurt her at all. The kiss was as gossamer wings caressing her lightly upon the lips and cheeks. Then he pulled away and made a vow, to add to the many he had already made to her; "Christine, I meant what I said in Merde. I shall protect you and our progeny with my life, this I vow to you, my darling. You shall be the most revered and treasured wife in the world and our child shall be equally treasured. I love you, Christine."

Just then there was yelling in the passageway leading to the lake, it was Madame Giry, she sounded frantic and worried, Erik jumped off the bed, rushing to the base of the lake to meet her. Christine rose from the bed slowly, ensuring that her legs were ready to stand. She finally joined the two who were talking softly by the lake.

One look at Madame Giry's face and she knew something serious had happened. "What is it, what has happened?"

Erik looked at Christine as if trying to decide how to proceed. Would it be more than Christine could bear at this time, should he down play it? No, he decided to just tell her, she needed to know, her and Meg were so close that he could not withhold this information from her;"Christine, Meg is missing, she was abducted by Raoul, there was a skirmish and she is gone now. Mme Giry has asked me to help her find Meg. I must help her, I don't know how this might end, he is looking for you yet, and is still in the early stages of recovery from his fever."

Erik sensed her growing pale and grasped her elbow to steady her.Christine could not believe what she was hearing; the image she always held of Raoul did not prepare her for one of him abducting Meg. This didn't work in her mind; she never would have believed this of Raoul. Somewhere deep inside she felt remorse at having so effectively ruined an honorable man. She never considered this, somehow when they were talking of driving him mad. How naïve she had been. She needed to sit down. Erik helped her to sit on his bench just a short way up the bank from the lake. She sat there pondering what had been said. This was too much for her to take at this time. Then she came to enough to be able to talk at last. "Erik, Mme Giry, I must go with you to end this peacefully. I have to talk to Raoul and try to help him to understand. I never thought he would really go mad like this, I figured he would get angry and perhaps have a difficult time moving on, but I expected him to move on from insanity not to wallow and fall into it. This is so beyond what I naively thought. I am so ashamed of how simple I thought this all could really be." Christine buried her head in her hands racked with emotion; Erik came to her side quickly and held her to him.

"Christine, you can not come with me to find Raoul, we must keep him away from you. It would be folly to allow him to see you and know you are real at this time. He would take you and your life would be in danger. Not to mention other things we are not willing to risk."

Christine looked at Erik with swollen eyes, tears still falling from them; it broke Erik's heart that she could still be this passionate over that spoiled brat when she was carrying his child. Erik had to fight the anger welling up inside of him. He stood up and faced Christine, his eyes dark with emotion;

"You grieve mightily for one who claims to care neither of him nor his welfare."

"Erik, what are you implying, surely you don't believe that there are any lingering ideas of romance in my mind of Raoul. You fill every corner of my heart, Erik, you and our…"

Christine trailed off when Erik looked at her with narrow eyes telling her without words not to utter the next sentence. Christine recovered her composure and continued then, much quieter;

"Our future together, whatever that may bring, it is ours, not Raoul's and mine, and I won't have you try to read anything of that into my feelings for Raoul. He was a childhood friend, crush if you will, but he is not my passion and not my future." Christine could see Erik expel a breath he had indeed been holding since he accused her of protesting too much. He was relieved and it showed across his face. He felt shame at being reduced to jealous lover in but a moment's time. He must control that side of him he thought to himself.

This whole exchange was not lost to Mme. Giry however; she was shrewd and had a good picture of what they were not saying. She replied to Christine; "I think given the current circumstances we may want to keep you away from our dear Vicomte for the time being. No use sacrificing innocent lives for this mess we created ourselves. Erik, I have to admit that I was trying, when I first found the Vicomte to be interested in Christine, to encourage a union between the two. I remembered the promise I made to dear Monsieur Daae before he passed away, to take care of his beloved Christine, see to it she had the finest she could have. I felt that the Vicomte would be a good way to ensure she would always have that. I knew, Erik, of your love for her; however I was clouded by title and wealth above love and devotion. I knew that the Vicomte had that, but not as passionate as you, Erik. I am sorry that I forced things to a vein that was not the natural and right vein for our darling Christine. I now fear that I am paying for trying to manipulate Christine's fate with the one thing I have great passion for, my poor Meg."

Erik looked at Madame Giry as if seeing her for the first time; he didn't know what to say to this, as the whole possibility of Mme Giry helping anyone other than him never occurred to him before. He was blinded by this and didn't know what to think of this development. Deciding that the information was moot at this point, he put it aside and said; "Where do you presume they may have gone, are there any clues and is the Gendarme in the search, too?"

"I don't know, Erik, there were no clues, and the Gendarme may very well be looking for Raoul too, but not for kidnapping as I decided we would gather the men my husband charged with my welfare and you to retrieve her more effectively and without reports and jurisdiction restraints. I don't want anything to happen to her, Erik, she is all I have left, the Populaire is not even there for me anymore, all my memories and my past is gone, and if she is gone now as well, I fear there will be no reason for me anymore." Mme Giry said with a tear in her eye, the cold restraint she held herself under melting away somewhat under the scrutiny of her dear friend and confidante.

"I know, I know where he would go with Meg, he can't stay in town safely, and it would be ludicrous to try that for any time here, so the next best place, one that only I would think of, would be the cottages by the lake where we met so long ago. There were caves and numerous places to hide. They were cottages; there would not be anyone there for the season yet, still too early in spring. Oh Erik, I am certain, that is where he would go. We have to go and find Meg." Christine was passionate in her desire to go and help with this situation. Erik had to stop her foolish notions once again, he knew this time that she was feeling responsible for Meg and had to put things right in her mind before she could find her happiness complete.

He came up to her and held her hand in his, kneeling in front of her, he looked her in the eyes; "Christine, my darling, I know that you love Meg as a sister, I know too that you feel that you wasted Raoul's life by allowing him to think there was a future with him, but, dear, you are very vulnerable, and I cannot risk your safety for them right now. You must stay with Madame Giry, or down here where you are safe, I must go and find Meg and this cannot be done safely enough for me to allow you, my dear heart, to come with me. You shall be there when Meg is returned home, to help her then. Please don't be sad, understand the many reasons why you must not come with us."

Christine was very distraught over this, wanting to be with them and help them to find Meg, she felt that all of this was her fault and she had no right being safe when so many she cared about were in peril. This was more than she could bear, she lost consciousness without warning, Erik, being right there, was able to catch her as she melted to the ground from the bench she was sitting upon.

Erik laid her gently on the ground cradling her head from the rocks. He felt her forehead, it was cool and clammy, she was just weak from lack of food, surely. Looking at Madame Giry, he decided that he must tell her what was causing all this commotion with Christine. He simply looked at her to speak and she nodded her head. "I know, Erik, she is with child, no?"

"Oui, that she is, and I didn't want to tell you and mock your uncertainty where Meg was concerned. Out of respect for you, dear Gigi, I didn't want to be smug." Erik carried Christine to the swan bed once more then he returned to Mme Giry's side to resume their exchange.

"Erik, you are many things, but I cannot say that smug has ever been one of them. You are far too emotional and considerate to ever be smug. You are a gentleman, whatever your past crimes, and you shall always be a gentleman. You treat Christine as no man has ever treated their wife, you are souls of the same fabric it is obvious I was a fool to encourage anything other than the two of you. God shall bless your union many times over I feel, for you are a good man despite mankind's hatred of you, my dear Erik."

"I have done many unsavory things and they will arrest me if they happen across me, you must be certain that the Gendarme will not encounter me, or I am not going to be able to go and save Meg."

"I shall see to it that my husband's friends do not allow the Gendarme to follow on the same path you go, they will be able to effectively lead the Gendarme away from you. One more thing you must realize before we go about making plans, I intend to be right there with you looking for my daughter. I won't stay behind and let you go and face the dangers of which you will no doubt face, alone. Erik, Christine would never forgive us if I let anything happen to you."

"Gigi, how did things all get so complicated, when you brought this beautiful angel to me she was so simply desolate, I had to help her, I knew how she felt. The love grew from the time spent keeping her from falling into despair. She was so shy and her voice so squeaky when I first heard her, then I sang to her to lull her from her tears, the Ave Maria, she began to sing with me, and I heard the voice I never dreamed could come from one so young and tiny. It was large, filled with love and so undisciplined. It was then that I knew that I had to tutor her and teach her to control that voice and call it up whenever she sang. I felt that God was giving me a gift for all of the pain and suffering I had thus far endured. I was so grateful, then that spoiled Vicomte came around and tried to claim her. It was more than I could bear, I had to stop this. I lost my mind for love of her. Now I pay the price by seeing all the others involved in my life suffer so greatly for my love. I am sorry for the selfish way I behave. Forgive me Gigi. Please?"

"Erik, you know it is done already, though I won't get so theatrical over it all. This was how it was meant to go and we must face that fact and change the outcome to our favor, it will take planning and work but we shall defeat this. It will come to a bright end, Meg shall survive, all shall be well. It is as it should be, your family fighting for you, not against you. Not indifferent, for you, Erik. You do deserve this, I am not sorry for what has transpired, only that it was Meg and not me that Raoul took. He would never have made it had he done that."

Erik was sure that Raoul was not fool enough not to know that fact was true. Though he could not have believed that anything positive would come of kidnapping Meg, either. Now it was time to plan their next move and contact Mme Giry's husband's friends. The hunt was on, God help Raoul if Erik was the one to find him first.