Touché, Vicomte

He was enraged. How dare he! And what was wrong with her?

Raoul seethed as he surveyed the scene he stumbled upon. A monster and an angel in a wedding gown, peacefully standing close to each other, with a look in their eyes that was very deep. Raoul couldn't tell specifically what it was from his position, but his angered state of mind distorted it into a look of love.

"You demon!" he exclaimed, banging his fist somewhat painfully against the bars separating him from his beautiful Christine. "What have you done to her!"

XXXXX

Erik whirled, startled by the sound and filled with jealousy at the voice which went with it. That horrid, overblown fop had invaded his domain and the greeted him with an insult! "But how could I expect anything else?" Erik thought sadly. The only person who had ever respected him at all was Christine, but now that her knight in dripping clothes was here to rescue her, it was highly doubtful she would be favorably disposed toward Erik at all, if her demeanor could even have been titled so previously.

Why did she have to make things so hard? He only wanted to offer her a life of beauty and music, but then she had to go and break his heart with tears for her precious Vicomte. "Oh Christine¼ " His heart cried out for her, though it was never to be satisfied. No. He wouldn't let himself think like that. There had to be a way.

XXXXX

Christine turned and gasped at the sound of Raoul's voice. "Raoul!" What was he doing here? Did he think to "rescue" her from Erik? Ha! Erik would never hurt her, he never had, aside from an overly strong grip on her arm several minutes ago. But that was unintentional. "Go now, Raoul, please, you must leave!" she begged him. He would only make things difficult and provoke Erik, two things that didn't need doing.

XXXXX

Erik came out of his reverie at the sound of his dear Christine's voice crying our to Raoul. "No doubt she's glad to see him," Erik thought resentfully, "fearful for his life though she be." Then he moved toward the gate lever and pushed it forward.

XXXXX

"Christine, are you alright?" Raoul called out. "Has that spawn of the devil hurt you?"

"No, Raoul, of course he hasn't, now go!" Christine was starting to get exasperated with Raoul's hero complex.

"My love, I can't leave you here in this dungeon with a monster!" he cried as the bars began to rise. "Don't fear for my safety, it is the demon's which is in danger!"

XXXXX

Erik didn't like this exchange one bit. The infernal boy slandered him incessantly, all the while acting as though Erik didn't exist. And all his implications! "That I would ever willing hurt an angel." He was indignant.

"Monsieur le Vicomte, how good of you to join us. I do hope my hearing isn't going, I am far too young for such a thing, but I could have sworn you just said I am in danger--from yourself, as a matter of fact. Is this some sort of joke?"

"No," Raoul interjected in a deadly cool manner.

"You are a young boy, Vicomte. Don't throw so much of your life away. You might regret it." Erik knew it probably wasn't the best course of action, but he couldn't resist taunting that insolent fop.

"You would do well to remember, Phantom, that I had you at my mercy--or rather, Christine's, for I had none--in the cemetery not long ago." Raoul was full of rage at the thought of the Phantom escaping, and was eager to finish what he had begun.

"Ah¼ yes, I do recall something about you backing me up against a long and then pushing me enough that I fell backwards over it. But that is not considered defeat, its only cheating in the real world. But you wouldn't know, would you, never having fought for real?" Erik's temper was boiling; he was nearly ready to explode. He only contained himself so as not to make Christine hate him more and push her to Raoul's side.

"Enough with this war of words, Phantom, let us begin that you may at last fit the title of Opera Ghost!"

Erik nodded, pulling back on the lever of the portcullis and drawing put his Punjab lasso. "Brave words for a coward such as yourself, but if you insist¼ " Erik looked him hard in the eye.

Raoul drew his sword bravely, glancing at Christine with a debonair smile. "I do."

Erik hardened himself so as not to think of Christine. "Touché, Vicomte."