Hey people, yet another chapter…hope you all enjoy!
Disclaimer: I Own nothing more than this plot, and my fiendish brain. (although I am fervently willing to sell either.)
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As one of the back exits of the Opera Popular was opened Raoul De Chagny growled to himself angrily. That damned Ballet rat probably knew where Christine was! And wherever she was he would guarantee that the Phantom would be close by! He kicked a trashcan that centered in the alleyway he now stood in. What was he to do now? He had to find Christine before that primitive ballet acquaintance of hers told her about their 'little meeting'. And surly she would believe every word that foolhardy girl told her!
He cursed himself out loud ignoring the stares that he received from the people passing him from the street. Suddenly however he witnessed a carriage passing by and brilliantly came up with an scheme. He rushed of to the stables as fast as he legs would carry him, only hopping that he would find a reliable resource there.
"Excuse me sir!" He exclaimed when he approached an outdoor member of staff near the stable who was preoccupied with wiping the grease from his fingers. "I wonder if I may have a moment of your time?"
"Of course sir." Said the man only being helpful because he noticed the clothes of nobility the man wore and the fine manner in which he kept himself.
"I was looking for my sister but it appears that she went to run some errands...you see she didn't know I was arriving today and I wanted to surprise her." He said clasping his hands together innocently and giving the man a counterfeit smile
"Well I might of seen her sir, we have quite a few Opera folks coming in and out of here all the time."
"Yes well," Began the Viscount clearly annoyed with the man's lousy grammar and overall lack of knowledge. "She's a brunette, about this high-," He said with a gesture of his hand.
"Ah yeah we had one like that come through a while ago! Oddest thing happened too..." He said with a crinkle of his brow.
"Well what?" Said the wide-eyed Viscount obviously fervent to hear the tale.
"Well, one of my older drivers- Charlie ya see was about to drive her but he came back in a few minutes later saying something about someone stealing his wagon-"
"What was her destination? Do you know?" He said clearly not caring that he was cutting the man off.
"Um...yeah I think so...lets see..." Mumbled the man evidently in deep thought.
"Well?"
"Ah yeah that's right the cemetery-" The man didn't even have time to finish before the well dressed stranger ran passed him and for what appeared to be his own horse. He ascended him quickly and he and the animal were soon out of sight.
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He knew it was deceitful.
He knew she wouldn't approve.
Yet he did it anyway.
The many rags and shredded garment that he used as a disguise was a adequate enough of a cover-up that she didn't even notice the change in the driver's facade or the fact that he kept stealing an occasional glance in her direction every so often.
Erik had decided that this was the perfect way to get her unaccompanied for an exchange. While in the Opera House any prying ears could invade their discussion anytime they so chose to. (As proved the aforementioned evening.) But this way Erik would have Christine all to himself, (whether she was aware of it or not). He would leave her be for a short time while she tended to her father's memorial but before he allowed her to leave she would speak with him about the previous night's events.
He felt he owed her an explanation, some kind of excuse that could fix everything, an apology of some sort that she could easily accept and their tribulations would cease...yet he had no notion as to what he would say to her when he did at long last did have her to himself. The concept of not knowing what to say or do, infuriated him beyond rationalization but in an anomalous way it was somewhat appealing and at the very least exhilarating and innovative. Then again the power that Christine Daae had over him could force him to feel a hundred new emotions...and he was sure if he did...he wouldn't be capable of controlling them either.
And something about him wanted her to know that. Wanted her to know that she was the only woman in the world that made him feel vulnerable with the simply touch of her hand, who heightened his soul with her laugher...who made him feel anything at all.
He stopped the carriage at her request and proceeded to let her get out of it before rounding the corner. His eyes while preoccupied with the direction of the horses never left her form as she slowly and sadly trailed towards her father's tombstone.
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Christine held on tightly to the flowers she intended to give to her father. As she glanced up towards the statues of angels an saints above her a sincere feeling of unhappiness swept over her. The sentiment was a familiar one lately... And she felt herself ready to cry under the thumb of the winter air, but held back the ache in her soul by marching forward tenaciously and mumbling morbid prayers under her breath.
It wasn't long before she reached the headstone where her father's now late body lied. She had only hoped that he had found the serenity in death that she so dreadfully yearned for now. She choked back a sob as she leaned forward to rest on her knees. Only a moment passed before she finally allowed the horrors of the recent days flow through her… and salty tears could soon be tasted with those memories and conflictions. She called out in anguish craving the father she so greatly missed to guide her and direct her in her time of hardship.
"Oh father I miss you so." She said through a sniffle.
"I wish you could be here to show me the way in these bewildering hours..." Her cries were presently cut off by a distinct sound of movement behind her.
Christine rose quickly and wiped her eyes, eager to see where the inexplicable clamor had derive from.
'Damn!' he thought as he hid behind the wing of a very large granite angel. He should have known better than to shuffle to feet! Normally he could have reside hidden behind the massive statue for longer than necessary if need be but the sound of Christine's desolate sobs made him lose all track of consciousness thought he had left and as a result he faltered over his feet slightly...
"Hello?" She called out softly. "Is anyone there?"
Unable to hide from her face any longer Erik sighed in shame and appeared from behind the colossal statue. He was rewarded by a gasp of surprise quickly followed by a look of anger and betrayal.
"Yes it is I." He said more mockingly that he meant to.
"How dare you intrude on my father's gravesite!" She began, clearly furious at the thought. "You have no right to be here!" She screamed.
"I know." He stated somberly braving to take a step closer to her.
"Don't you dare approach me Erik!" She whispered hardheartedly without even looking at him.
"I must speak with you!" He stressed.
"I have nothing to say Erik. Now leave me to my grief for I desire to be left alone…" Shortly after saying this she dropped to her knees once more, unaware that Erik had gone nowhere she began to cry once more.
He moved quickly and inaudibly until he was nothing more than a shadow upon her petite physique. A moment passed in inferior silence neither knowing what to say...or therefore how to say it.
Erik finally knelt by her side, surprised when she didn't push him away he felt confident enough to continue. "I refuse to allow you to weep alone in the cold Christine." He affirmed simply. "You...you may hate me all you wish...but please don't allow yourself to suffer alone like this."
Christine felt her soul shake with the heartfelt words that he spoke so openly. And without thinking she looked up at him and rested her eyes on his face covered in uncertainty and worries and finally allowed herself to fall upon his shoulder and cry.
The sudden action astounded Erik to say the least but he responded quickly as he wrapped his arms adoringly around her frame and smoothed a gloved hand through her unruly hair. Christine who was beside herself with emotion simply allowed him to console her silently as she leaned against him further and buried her tear-ridden face against his inviting chest.
The tender moment of silence was recoiled by the offshore sound of a horses neigh. Christine and Erik each looked up in the direction of the noise. Christine remained startled and confused on the ground while Erik arose quickly and reached for his sword.
"Erik-?"
He shushed her with a simple wave of his hand and just as Christine was about to protest the Viscount de Chagny himself rode up to the scene.
Erik approached him readily and before the Viscount had a moment to properly dismounted he had kicked the legs out from underneath him.
Raoul called out briefly but withdrew his sword swiftly and rose to meet the Phantom's deadly gaze.
"You will not take her from me." He whispered violently.
"We shall see about that." Declared the Viscount as he lunged forward in an effort to pierce his adversary.
By this time Christine had risen from her place on the earth and began following the ferocious procession had already begun fighting throughout the cemetery.
Each man had taken his turn at swiping at the other. At one point the Viscount had even caused Erik to drop his guard and almost his weapon. Erik mused at how well the boy had been trained…he had to give him that much...but still he knew he was better and continued to show so by crossing his weapon and finally puncturing his rival in the face with the tip of his blade.
The gasp of Christine could be heard nearby as she called out for them to stop. Her pleas fell on deaf ears, for although the Viscount stopped briefly to observe the small wound on his cheek he merely smiled viciously and continued forward puncturing the Phantom with the blade of his sword as promised.
Erik called out in a slight notion of pain as the blood began seeping from his shoulder blade. The favor was soon rewarded when Erik lunged forward and stabbed Raoul in the flesh of his forearm causing him enough soreness that he had to let his defense down. Erik took advantage of the short moment to reward the Viscount with an elbow to the eye.
"Stop!" Christine called out; close enough now that either sword could easily puncture her. Both men not wishing to harm her locked eyes briefly before doing as she asked and stopping their fighting.
"This is enough from both of you! Now stop this foolishness and quit acting as though you each have a trophy of some kind to gain! This is ridiculous and I will have nothing more to do with it!" With that she stormed off leaving two baffled men in her wake.
"Christine Wait!" Called out the Viscount.
Erik himself was also frustrated with this idiocy. The outlandish Viscount would more than likely be killed by his hand...but it would not be done in front of Christine. And whether she realized it or not this ignorant boy was not right in his mind and therefore dangerous to her. He would not allow this fop to fixate over her any longer.
Therefore as the boy began to run after Christine, Erik tossed the blade of his sword so the silver handle rested outward and he firmly hit the Viscount with the blunt object and it only took one blow before he landed on the ground unconscious.
The sound him falling to the ground distracted Christine and she turned to face the subject of the noise.
"Erik! Now how was that called for?" She called out firmly. He rushed to her in a haste.
"That," he said gesturing to the unconscious Viscount "Is precisely what I wished to speak with you about."
She nodded with understanding and allowed him to pull her off to the awaiting carriage so they might return to the Opera Populaire before Raoul awoke and realized that he had indeed been defeated.
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Well there you go everybody! The moment you've all been waiting for (and not very patiently I might add) But anyway, you may have noticed how I added Christine's attempts to actually stop the fight...I don't know something in that scene in the movie just didn't make me think much of her...so this time I wrote her up a backbone! You like? Hate? Please review and let me know what your thinking!