I'm having a horrendous week...I'm so glad I have you guys reviewing to cheer me up!
Enjoy!
Nico
"At least take the gag out of her mouth," Raoul said, his hands clutching the seats of the limo he was sharing with Carlotta and the bound Christine, whose eyes were covered by a silk blindfold.
Carlotta harrumphed. "I'm touched by your concern for her," she said coldly.
The three sat in silence, save the quiet sobs racking Christine's body.
Raoul sighed and leaned across the limo, pulling the gag from his wife's mouth.
Christine took a much-needed deep breath. "Whoever you are, I assure you that you are making a big mistake," she said, her voice wavering.
"Be quiet," Carlotta barked.
"Who are you?" Christine demanded loudly. "I recognize your voice!"
Carlotta smiled suddenly, leaning forward and moving her hand to Christine's blindfold.
"What are you doing?" Raoul hissed. "She'll see us!"
"Let her see," Carlotta said. "We will be certain she won't be speaking to anyone anyway."
She pulled the blindfold roughly.
Christine blinked rapidly.
"Emily!" She exclaimed, fear creeping in her voice. She looked to the man sitting next to her. "Edwin," she identified him. "What is going on?"
Edwin placed his heads in his hands, ignoring her question.
"What do you want with me?" Christine asked, looking pointedly at Emily, feeling vulnerable with her hands tied behind her back.
Carlotta leaned back, crossing her long legs demurely. "What do you think," she said, looking down at Raoul's bowed head. "Should we keep her in suspense?"
Raoul lifted his head, looking at Carlotta. "Please," he whispered. "Don't do this."
"Who are you to say what I should and should not do?" She spat venomously. "You have failed me," she told him. "And now I have been forced to take matters into my own hands."
Christine watched the exchange intently.
There was something about this pair…
Something incredibly familiar…
"Who are you," Christine asked, her eyes narrowed.
Carlotta smiled. "Do you not recognize your husband?" She drawled slowly.
Christine blanched.
Raoul looked up at her, his eyes glazing with an emotion she could not identify.
"What?" Christine whispered.
Carlotta laughed evilly. "Perhaps you are in need of reintroduction," she said, her voice carrying an air of importance. "Christine Daae," Carlotta addressed her by her real name, causing Christine's insides to tighten. "Allow me to present Monsieur Raoul DeChagny."
Christine placed her hands to her mouth, tears immediately falling from her eyes. "It cannot be," she breathed. "It cannot be!"
"Why should it not be?" Carlotta asked, primping her skirts. "You think you and that thing you have been sleeping beside are the only ones who have been given a second chance?"
Christine's breath hitched on a sob. "Raoul?" She asked, looking at him.
Raoul lowered his head again. "It is me, Christine," he admitted softly.
"What is going on?" Christine asked.
"Don't speak to him!" Carlotta shrieked, raising a hand menacingly. "You had your chance with him…now it's my turn."
"What are you talking about?" Christine asked, unable to take her eyes from Raoul. "This cannot be true! The two of you don't even look like Raoul and Carlotta!"
"Appearance is a minor detail," Carlotta waived a hand. "To be able to fuck that disgusting man, you must agree with that."
Christine felt rage bubble in her stomach. "You will not speak of him as such," she declared lowly.
Carlotta laughed. "I told you, Raoul! She loves him! And you were stupid enough to believe she would want to return to you." She laughed harder.
"Shut up, Carlotta," Raoul grumbled.
"Aw, precious," Carlotta purred, snuggling up beside Raoul, all the while staring at Christine. "Don't be jealous. I do believe you were better to be rid of her."
Christine watched as Carlotta draped a long leg over Raoul's lap.
It was obvious she had him under her complete control.
"If the two of you are happy to be rid of me, then why is it I am sitting in this limo?" Christine asked.
Carlotta stopped running kisses down Raoul's neck and looked over at her. "Tell me, Christine," she said, pulling away from Raoul and leaning in closer to Christine. "When you held Nicholas in your arms for the first time, did you not see a hint of who he really was?"
Christine's heart lurched as she listened to the woman's words.
"Did you not recognize his features? Did you not look into his eyes and see they were the same color as his fathers?" Carlotta smiled slowly.
"What is she talking about, Raoul?" Christine asked, still looking at Carlotta. Carlotta grasped a lock of Christine's hair roughly and pulled her a bit closer, causing Christine to gasp and struggle.
"You see, while you chose to use this gift to reconcile with that evil monster that murdered my Piangi, I have been working to ensure I am paid what I am owed," Carlotta hissed in Christine's face. "I lost everything to your dreams…" She paused, running a long-nailed finger down Christine's cheek menacingly. "Even my son."
Tears spilled down Christine's face. "It's not true," she whispered.
Carlotta pulled away slightly and placed a possessive hand on Raoul's knee. "You are absolutely correct," Carlotta said. "I meant to say our son."
Raoul's eyes met Christine's.
"Is what she is saying true, Raoul?" Christine sobbed. "Was Nicholas your son? With her?"
Raoul nodded miserably.
"Oh my God," Christine sobbed, feeling as if her heart was breaking. "My life…it was a lie…"
"Don't say that, Christine," Raoul said quietly. Carlotta shot him a disapproving look.
"Your life?" Carlotta repeated. "What about mine?"
"You were sleeping with her?" Christine asked Raoul, sounding hurt.
"Well, I wouldn't exactly say we were sleeping." Carlotta said spitefully.
"What do you need with me?" Christine asked, sounding hollow.
Carlotta sighed. "Well, I can't exactly claim back all the years I lost, wasting my time playing second fiddle to you," she said. "So, Raoul and I have discovered a different avenue of compensation."
Realization dawned on Christine. "Erik's money," she whispered.
"Such a clever thing!" Carlotta exclaimed sarcastically.
"Erik would never agree to pay either of you anything," Christine said vehemently.
"Are you certain, Christine?" Carlotta asked. "I would hope that your life would be worth something as inconsequential as money."
"I would not permit him to pay you a dime," Christine said, anger replacing her fear.
Carlotta laughed. "Then I will have ensure you are not in the position to permit."
Christine watched in horror as Carlotta reached into her purse…
And pulled out a small, shiny pistol.
