Chapter Twenty
The Swordfight
The clanging of steel and bumping of bodies seemed endless to Maria. She watched in horror as the two skilled men went at each other for blood. She had screamed for them to stop, but they had paid her no heed.
She watched as Erik advanced on Raoul again. Raoul fell on a huge, dead, tree limb. Erik brought his sword down and narrowly missed Raoul's head. Maria looked away in shock. She turned back to them when the graveyard was silent.
Erik and Raoul were standing face to face, waiting. Both men were sweating despite the cold day. Out of nowhere Raoul charged Erik; Erik was ready and dodged. They started all over again. Erik spun around, sending his cloak out like a demon's wings. The trick blinded Raoul. Raoul stepped back as Erik's sword sliced his arm.
"AHH!" Raoul yelled as he fell against a grave, staining the white snow.
"No," Maria yelled out.
Raoul let the pain pass and jumped to his feet. He pushed forward with a dangerous wrath. Erik kept blocking, but he wasn't holding his ground.
Maria felt her heard pounding in her chest. She watched as Erik moved. The horse that Raoul had ridden was standing close to the men. She went to scream when the horse moved. She ran down the stairs and grabbed its reins. She then turned back to Erik and Raoul.
Erik was getting tired. The sword felt so heavy in his grip. Raoul was fighting the last war of a desperate man and was very dangerous. Erik tried to advance; however, Raoul would not allow him. He had underestimated young viscount.
Unexpectedly Raoul pushed against Erik's sword arm. He forced him to the ground. Maria watched and started toward them.
Raoul panted as he stood over the defeated Phantom. He immediately kicked the sword from Erik's hand and watched as the groped for it. He raised his sword when Maria grabbed his arm.
"No Raoul!" She screamed as she tried to pull his arm down.
"Get off, Maria," Raoul growled as he knocked her to the ground.
Maria landed on the snowy ground with a loud thump. She felt pain shot through her body. She sat up as Raoul brought his sword back up in a striking stance.
Raoul stared at the Phantom with great satisfaction. Erik glared back at him, never allowing him to see his fear.
"Go back to Hell, where you belong," Raoul said as he brought the sword down.
"NO!" Maria screamed as she struggled to get to her feet.
Erik kicked Raoul in the back of the leg. The young man was caught off guard and fell. The sword landed next to Erik. He jumped to his feet, moving with the speed of a cat, and grabbed the sword. He held it at Raoul's throat.
"For someone with such manners you don't know how to treat Maria," Erik sneered.
Raoul stared at the point of his sword. He could see Maria in the snow a few feet away. She had a look of horror and sadness on her sweet face. Raoul closed his eyes, waiting for the blow that would bring his death.
Erik raised the sword. He smiled at the thought of ending it all right then. Then he slung the blade into a nearby grave stone. The blade broke easily. Raoul opened his eyes in shock.
"Get up," Erik ordered.
Raoul obeyed. His knees were shaky, and he feared that he might fall.
"Now get out of here," Erik snapped.
Raoul walked over to he horse as Erik helped Maria to her feet. The half-masked man pulled Maria to him. She simply rested her head on his chest and let out an exhausted breath. Raoul swore at the scene as he mounted. He brought the horse over to them.
"This isn't over, Phantom," Raoul warned.
Erik glared at the little peacock. He finally rode off. Erik then turned back to Maria.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
Maria nodded against him.
"That was very brave of you."
"I wasn't going to let him kill you anymore than I was going to let you kill him."
Erik smiled. "May I walk you to Caesar?"
Maria nodded and took his arm. Her heart still felt like it was in her throat. She walked to the gate and stopped.
"Erik," she said softly.
He turned to her and saw the fear was still in her eyes. "What's wrong, my love?"
"Don't come to the show," she said quickly. "He'll kill you."
"Maria, I will come to that show. I would rather die watching you sing than live a thousand years."
"You stupid fool!" Maria yelled. "I don't want you to die. Don't you see I love you?"
Erik seemed at a loss for words. He knew that Maria loved him, but to hear her say it was different. He knew that it was real and true.
"I love you too," he finally managed to say.
Maria smiled. "Then don't come. After the show I'll come to you."
Erik nodded. "I will stay away."
Maria hugged Erik tightly in thanks. He bent down and places a gentle kiss on her lips. After they stopped he placed her atop Caesar's back.
"I'll be right behind you," he said.
She nodded and turned the horse back toward the city.
The sun was sitting when Maria finished grooming Caesar. She walked inside and noticed a small crowd gathered around Raoul and the managers. She thought about making her presence known and then stopped. It was better to listen and not be seen.
"No," Raoul was saying. "We play his game and perform his work, but we hold the ace."
"How so?" Andre asked.
"If Maria sings he's certain to attend."
"We'll be certain the doors are barred, and the police are here," Firmin put in.
"And that they are armed." Raoul reminded him.
The men all smiled as they saw the plan come together.
"The curtain falls, his reign will end!" The men said with malicious smiles.
Maria held her breath and disappeared from the room. She prayed that Erik would keep his word. The men were no longer playing games. They were going to get rid of the Phantom once and for all.
