I know it was cruel to torture you with the knowledge that something bad is gonna happen, sooooooooooo here is is!

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17. Dungeons of Black Despair

In the silence of the night, I rested in Erik's embrace, sated and spent from a passionate release. Every now and then he would chastely kiss my cheek or whisper words of lovewhile resting his hand over my womb, knowing that though it was not obvious, life was still residing there. After the initial shock of finding out about my pregnancy, Erik had increasingly shown excitement about our baby and in addition, the elixir had greatly helped to relieve my morning sickness so life just couldn't seem to get any better. And not only did I have a loving husband and baby on the way, there was something else to look forward to.

It was only about two weeks until Christmas and this year, I was really looking forward to it.Erik and I would share our first Christmas together and I couldn't wait. I could just imagine sitting by the fire, gazing at an ornamented tree, listening to Erik sing carols better than the finest in the heavenly choir. Infact, we already had begun decorating. Two days after I revealed my pregnancy,Erik had brought home a small tree and boughs of holly. Though the tree only had a small star at the top, the holly had been placed around the organ, bed, and even on the boat, giving the lair a much more festive look.

The third day after my revelation, Erik decided on going Christmas shopping.

"But I thought you hated going out in public."

"I do," he replied, "but lately I've been in a very good mood. Besides, I actually have something to celebrate this Christmas and I need to get you a gift."

After bundling up, Erik and I returned to the surface. Evidence of the Christmas spirit was everywhere. Carolers sang on the corners, children gazed into decorated windows of toy shops full of wonders, and a light snow fallwas falling. I felt Erik's grip on my hand tighten and I looked up at him.

"You don't have to do this."

"I know, but I want to. As long as I've got you with me, I can make it."

And so we set off at a leisurly pace, occassionally stopping in front of shop windows to look inside. While crossing a street, a small troupe of carolers began to sing "Silent Night".

"Ugh, one of the tenors is off key," Erik scowled.

"Not everyone can sing as well as you can darling," I giggled.

We continued our walk until we came across a small jewelry shop.

"I want to take a quick look inside this shop. Wait here, I'll only take a minute," Erik said before stepping inside.

I definitely liked the sound of this. I could only imagine what kind of surprise I would get on Christmas morning. As I waited outside, an old woman selling roses caught my attention. She looked worn and tired and her clothes were ragged. I took pity on her, remembering what street life was like. Buying a few roses would probably give her a warm meal.

"How much are your roses?" I asked.

"Two francs each," she replied.

"I'll take six." The look of surprise and delight on her face warmed my heart. I reached into my coin purse, pulling out the money which she graciously accepted.

"God bless you dear. Joyeux Noel!"

I smiled at her and clutched my buquet of roses, taking delight in their sweet scent. As I turned around to go back to the jewelry shop, I bumped into a passerby and caused them to drop some of their belonging's.

"Stupid girl," I thought I heard her mutter.

Still, I bent over and handed over her coin purse, but when I looked at her face, my blood froze and I knew that I had just made a terrible mistake.

"You!" Madame Bourais hissed in a murderous growl. The old hag was livid with anger. Immediately shepushed me behind a cart.

"Erik!" I cried, trying to pull away, but she held on firm and in a flash, a revolver was painfully digging into my side and I remained perfectly still.

"Listen you little bitch, you're not going anywhere. You're going to make up for the profits I lost and if you even think about struggling, I'm going to shoot you dead."

I could have cared less about how many bullets it would take to kill me. They would have to drag me back there by my dead body because there was no way that I would return to the whorehouse alive! But I had no choice. I was carryingErik's baby, something more precious to me than life itself. I could not allow what we had created to die because of my own selfishness. It was my duty as a mother to sacrifice what I could for my child, and I would do whatever it took to ensure its survival.

Obediently I allowed Bourais to lead me away, back to the place on this earth that I dreaded above all others. I stole one last glance of the street and I caught one last glimpse of Erik with a worried look on his face, searching through the crowds to find me. Though I tried to squeeze it back, a bitter, cold tear trickled down my cheek. 'Oh my love, I only wish you knew where to find me.' I wanted so badly to break lose and cry out my husband's name as loud as I could, but it was a chance I could not afford to take. I could not risk that bullet. With a new bitter hatred possessing me, I continued to follow, trying to satisfy my rage with delightful thoughts of ways to kill her as painfully as possible.

I could feel my insides squirm as we entered the slums. Oh God, just seeing this place again made me want to die. I felt like I was walking into Hell itself. It scared me and angered me. I did not belong here! I was a married woman and I had ceased being a whore a long time ago! Being thrown back in here was like throwing me into a pit full of demons. I tried to struggle, but a painful jab from the pistol reminded me that surredering was the only choice. It was not long before my former residence, the very heart of Paris' little Hell stood before me and the sight of it instilled a fear and coldness so deep that it made death terribly tempting. Bourais led me up long flights of stairs, past my old room, to the very top of the building. Dread consumed me. I had heard about the attic before. It was a prison, where the old heartless bitch locked up any girl who crossed or disobeyedher, givingthem littlefood and water while bringing up some of the worst, disgustingbastards possible.She unlocked the numerous locks before opening the door and throwing me inside, making me hit the floor hard.

"This time you aren't escaping, you little tramp," she growled, and with that, I was locked in.

I remained there for a moment on the hard, cold floor, allowing every negative emotion I felt to seep like venom into my viens. I hated, no loathed that woman with every ounce of my being.

Without even thinking I charged at the door, pounding on the door with all of my might. My mind was so possessed with thoughts of escaping and killing that woman that it numbed the pain my fists felt with each blow. But the harder I punched, the more I realized that I could not break the door down and slowly the effects of the adrenaline died out. I winced as I felt a stinging, throbbing pain take over and I looked with horror upon what I had done. My hands were now raw and red, with small flecks of wood imbedded in them. Defeatedly, I sank back to the ground, cradling my sore hands to my breast. Tears of the most bitter hatred I ever knew began to fall. Reality finally sunk in. There was no way out. Bourais had won, I had lost. Erik would not be here to save me tonight and there was a chance that I might never escape this prison. I sob wracked my throat. I was so alone. I had reached a point beyond nothing, and there was nothing I could do to rise up. I could only wait for the first of what might be countless nights of cruel torture andunending sadness. I could only wait for the darkest of all nights to come.

Sorry if this chapter wasn't as intense as I hope that it would be. I hope you guys still liked it though. please review!