Title: Betrayal of Trust

Category: EC w/ Raoul bashing

Rating: M

Summary: Raoul's not the man Christine thought him to be. What happens when Erik finds out? Can he help his angel before its to late?

Thank-you to everyone who sent the kind reviews, they surly give inspiration to continue writing :)

Chapter Three

The sun was just beginning to rise when Raoul awoke on the floor of his fiancee's bedroom. He blink a few times, trying to figure out where he was. He sat up slowly, groaning at the pain in his head. He brought his fingers to his forehead and winced as they met with a wound. Pulling his fingers away, he saw the dry blood. The Vicomte closed his eyes, willing the ache in his head to go away so he could remember how he ended up on the floor with a head wound. His mind was a scattered puzzle and he was having trouble placing the pieces together. "Christine!" he yelled. He received no response.

"Christine, answer me this minute!"

When he still didn't receive a response, Raoul careful got to his knees and hoisted himself onto the bed. His eyes scanned the room. A chair was turned over, the closet doors open, the vanity table completely empty, Christine's night rob thrown carelessly on the ground. The memories of what occurred came flying back. Christine had disobeyed him again. He had been informed by the maid that she had been singing in the library when he distinctly told her not to. Her singing had been absolutely forbidden.

He came to her room to teach her a lesson. To put her in her place. That's when the little vixen pushed him, causing him to fall and bang his head off the floor. Raoul winced as he felt a sharp pain at the thought of how he acquired the wound. "Little wench" Raoul muttered to himself. She would pay for this, he thought, oh yes, she would pay dearly once he found her. Slowly Raoul stood, grabbing the bed posted when a wave of dizziness over came him. He waited a moment for the dizziness to past before he started to examine the room. Her closet was free of her satchels and some dress's. Even that run down old bag she insisted on keeping, that was filled with stupid little trinkets that she claimed were important. No jewelry was missing, all her expensive neckless and rings remand in their place in the mahogany jewelry box. Her vanity was cleared of all the brushes, combs and the ribbons that she constantly wore.

It didn't take him long at all to figure out that she ran away. 'Foolish girl' he thought. Where was she to go? She had no money, he wouldn't allow her to have any. The Giry's where miles away, across the English Channel, in London. She had no way of getting there. Her precious Opera House was pretty much condemned. He himself had ensured that every entrance was boarded up or blocked in case she got the silly idea of escaping there. He smirked to himself. She was probably there now, searching frantically for a way in. He was sure if he sent a carriage, they would find her sitting on the opera house steps crying, head held in defeat. Yes that's what he would do. Jean, his driver, would be arriving soon. Raoul would have Jean take him to the Opera House to collect his fiancee. Once home she would tend to the wound she gave him and then he would teach her the lesson that she was to obey him. The punishment he was going to give her last night would be carried out, follow by a beating. "That should put her in her place" he muttered again to himself then made his way to his room to ready himself for his carriage ride claim Christine.

A cold wind blew around across the lake making the boat rock unsteady. Christine rowed for what seemed like hours. Her arms ache, her legs shook from the cold. Pitch blackness surrounded her. The lantern only showed a foot around her. Christine was scared that she was rowing the wrong way, for surly she should be seeing the lights of the house by now. "Please Lord" she whispered "Help me find the way". As an answer to her prayers the lowered gates to Erik's layer came into view. Christine gave a cry of relief at the sight. "Erik?" she cried out hopefully "Erik, its Christine, are you there?" Silence was her only answer.

"Erik please, if your there answer me"

Christine waited with bated breath for a answer but none came. Tears prickled her eyes as she feared the worst. What if he was lying dead inside? She didn't know if she couldn't handle finding the body of her beloved angel. The only man, other then her father, that she truly loved. Christine rowed herself to the familiar rock that hid the lever that would raise the gates enough for her to pass through. Fumbling for the switch, her clumsy fingers finally found it. The gates rose with a loud groan and a few gas lamps automatically lite up, a invention of Erik's that he was quite proud of.

"You see Christine, I managed to rig it so that when the gates open, the gas lamps will lite on there own. It was just a matterofhavelevers and switches in proper places" Erik said proudly as he rowed them through the water. Christine was always amazed when she saw this on her visits down here.

"That's brilliant Erik" Christine said smiling up at him "I will always be in marvel of your inventions" If she wasn't mistaken, Christine would say she saw a slight blush in Erik's exposed cheek. "Thank-you my dear" Erik whispered "It brings me joy that I have pleased you somehow"

"Erik you must know that you please me everyday with just the honor of your company and teachings"

Erik starred down at her, a look of wonder in his eyes. She continued to smile up at him, happiness shining in her eyes. A blush once again came to Erik's cheek as he turned away.

Christine smiled at the memory and wiped a tear away from her cheek. It was one of the happier moments with him. He was just like a child when he would show her all his inventions. The look in his eyes when she praised him about them was one she would never forget. It was a look of happiness. The same look he would get when she would sing for him. It was a look that she regretted she didn't see more often.

Christine rowed herself to the shore and tethered the boat to the small dock next to the boat that Erik usually used to take her back and forth. Taking the lantern and satchels with her, she made her way up to the entrance of Erik's layer. Her stopped when she entered. With what little light she had she could see the catastrophe of the layer. The mob had shown no mercy. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she made her way from room to room of broken glass and debris. All of Erik's precious possessions scattered the floor, most of which look broken. "Erik" Christine called out as she made her way through the house looking for him but Erik was no where to be found. At last she came upon her old room that Erik had prepared for her. Turning the doorknob she found the room securely locked. Christine placed the lantern on the ground and dug through her satchel until she came upon a ivory key. It was the key to the Louis Philippe room, her room. Taking a deep breath, Christine unlocked the door and pushed it open. "Erik" she whispered and stepped into the room. Her hand search for the switch on the wall that would like the gas lamps. Finding it, she slowly turned it. One gas lamp lite reveling the room to her. It was complete untouched by and mob and to disappointed and relieve completely empty. Christine fell to her knees in tears. She dreaded finding Erik dead inside and then was disappointed at not finding him sitting at her beautiful oak desk, that he had built himself.

Christine stayed there for minutes, crying, undecided of what do to. Then it came to her. She would stay here at the house for there was a possibility of Erik returning at anytime. 'Perhaps he is just out running errands' she thought to herself. Yes, yes that had to be it. Erik was out running errands; he would be back at any time. Christine said this to herself over and over, trying to convince herself. She wasn't prepared to expect the alternative.

To kept herself busy, Christine retrieved oil from Erik's storage cupboard and refilled all the gas lamps around the house. Once of the lamps were lite, she saw the full extend of the damage Erik's house was in. It made her want to cry again but she forced the tears back and started process of cleaning and repairing the house. She anticipated her reunion with Erik. He would be shocked at first, to see her. She would smile hopefully up at him, offering him her most sincere apologies for abandoning him, and beg him to forgive her and take her under his wing once again. She new Erik would be unsure for a moment, he never gave his trust easily but she would try and put his mind at ease with a kiss. To most a kiss was something simple, an everyday action that you gave without thought but to Erik a kiss was a powerful thing. A kiss meant devotion, love and acceptance. When a you kissed someone you loved, you were in a sense giving them half your soul, for you where only complete when you were with that person. To Christine, Erik already had half her soul. She had given it to him that night, five months ago, when they shared there first and only kiss and ever since then she felt half empty. She would no longer though. Once Erik returned they would be reunited and both there souls would be complete.

The carriage pulled up to the Opera Populaire. Raoul climb out and scanned the steps frowning. Christine was no where to be seen. "Wait here for me Jean, I'm going to have a look around" Raoul said to his driver then started his trek around the opera house. He found no broken boards or even small gaps that Christine could fit her small frame through. The stables were still covered in debree and there was no way she could move the heavy rock to get inside. He walked past he Rue Scribe glancing through the bars. All was dark inside, and from his inspections when his family first became patrons, it was just water and brick, nothing more, nothing less. There wasn't even an entrance from the outside.

Raoul circled the opera house twice, finding nothing out of place. His mood grew darker as he climb back into his waiting carriage and order the driver back to the mansion. "Where the hell have you gotten too Christine" he mumbled. Perhaps she was back at the mansion, waiting for him but he doubted it. She was hiding somewhere. Hiding from him.

When he arrived back at the mansion, Christine was neither there or heard from. It left Raoul with only one choice. Sitting at the desk in his study he wrote a short letter. Then handed it to his waiting valet. The valet look down at the address then fearfully back up at Raoul. "Monsieur are...are you sure that this is the correct address?" Raoul glanced at the address on the envelope then back at the valet.

"Yes that's correct. Is there a problem?"

The valet shook his head quickly.

"No, no monsieur...not at all"

"Then quick now, I need a speed reply"

"As you wish monsieur"

The valet pocketed the letter then hurried out of the house and straddled his horse. Frowning he nudge the horse forward. He felt deep remorse for the person whom the letter was about. He had a sickening feeling that it was about the sweet Christine, the young girl who was the most kindest mistress that the house has ever seen. He urged the horse faster as he made his way to deliver the letter to the people only known as The Guard.

Raoul stood in his study next to the fire place starring into the fire when his butler informed him of he had a visitor. "Who is it?" Raoul inquired.

"Renee Lemur monsieur"

"Show him in"

The butler showed Renee Lemur to the lounge and quickly left. "So de Chagny" Lemur began, helping himself to some brandy "You've called upon me".

"Yes" Raoul replied looking away from the fire "I need The Guard's assistance in a matter that I want kept private"

"I figured as much Chagny, who do you need hunted down this time? Another poor bloke of didn't shine your shoes to your expectations?"

Raoul stayed silent, starring angrily at Lemur as the man seated himself on the couch with the bottle of brandy in one hand and a glass in another. Fighting to keep his temper in check Raoul sat opposite Lemur in a chair and put a hishead in his hands.

"My fiancee. She's gone missing, ran away if you will. I want her found and brought back to me as soon as possible. Use all force necessary, she will not come easy"

Lemur chuckled in his seat. "Raoul, Raoul" he laughed "When are you going to learn how to keep your woman in check"

"I want her found!" Raoul yelled "She and I have a lot to discuss"

"Well, to find such a young lady and to make sure no serious harm is going to come when apprehending her, its going to cost you"

"I don't care what it cost. I want her back in my home. Now"

"10 000 francs now. Twenty more when we bring her to you"

Raoul starred hard at the man, he would not be made a fool of. "Very well" Raoul muttered.

"Wonderful"

Lemur smiled at Raoul then drank the last of the brandy in one swig. "Shall we get things moving?" Lemur suggested, standing. Raoul stood and walk to his desk, he took out a money bag and tossed it to Lemur. "There's 15 000 there, I want her found as soon as possible" he seethed.

"And a picture of the young lass"

Raoul opened his desk drawer and pulled out a small photograph. He handed it to Lemur who looked down at the photo and smirked. "Pretty thing" Lemur commented "No wonder you want a creature like this back. Warms your bed quite well I imagine"

"Just bring her back to me"

Lemur pocketed the picture and money. "Very well Monsieur de Chagny, you shall be hearing from me and my men in a short while" he gave Raoul a small bow "Good evening to you. I'll show myself out" Raoul waited until Lemur left the room before reclaiming his place at he fire place. "You made me do it Christine" he whispered to the fire "Now lets see how you like the consequences of your actions"

...to be continued...and I promise Erik will be in the next chapter