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? Will he be able to help?

Thanks again for all the wonderful reviews, you guys are all wonderful. I apologize for not updating sooner then I have and I hope you can be patient with me. I promise to have a update at least ever six days if not sooner.

Chapter Four

The night was bitter cold. A bitter wind blew throughout the streets causing a chill to creep down the spines of those who ventured out. A rain fell from the cold, dark sky of Paris making the cobble stones glisten like silver. The homeless huddled in alley ways burning small fires, trying to push away the cold from the harsh night. Lanterns burned low, having been burning for hours. The streets were near deserted expect for the whore's, who had yet been able to pursue a man to pleasure and the drunks.

The click of his shoes echoed as Erik walked down the darken, cold streets. The bitter wind blew, making his cloak whirl around like wings. Whore's smiled seductively at him as he pasted. "Looking for a woman monsieur" one called out. "Come monsieur, let us help sooth your worries" another said. He ignored him and continued to walk. Drunken men staggered on the walkway, a night of hard drinking obvious on their faces. The tavern's were closing; dawn was only an hour away. Erik hurried his pace, he wanted to be home before the sun's first rays peaked over the horizon. With those rays would bring the bakers and workers, waking and heading out for a days of hard, honest labor and he wish to encounter no one.

All he wanted to do was get some air, to feel the rain beat against his back. It was a comfort to him, the rain. It made him feel free and that was something he cherished. Freedom. It was rare thing, freedom. Men all around took it for granted; no one thought about how it could be snatched away at any moment. Erik knew though, he spend the majority of his childhood in a cage. He knew what it was like not knowing if he were to die that day. Some days he would pray for death, when the beaten's were server. He tired to extinguish the memories from his mind of being put on display as if he were a animal; of being laughed and gawk at; of the children's shrill cries at seeing the 'Devil's Child. Yet they remand to torment him.

He would be ever grateful to Madam Giry for rescuing him from the hell he was raised in. She put herself at risk to release him from his cage that he called home. If she were caught helping him, he knew she would of been sent to the streets, the Opera Populaire would have shunned her. Someone must have been looking out for her that day, for she managed the unthinkable; freed him and gave him a new home, the cellars of the Opera Populaire. He gratefully paid for her's and Meg's passage to London, where they both already had jobs waiting for them at the London Opera house.

Many memories tormented him; most of wish he could be rid of forever and others he held on to for dear life. Those memories, his happy memories, were so few that he cherished them beyond anything. They all surrounded one person, his angel, Christine. Christine was his light in the dark. The only woman that he had ever loved. The only woman who had looked at him with passion. How he loved her, his heart ached for her everyday.

Before Erik knew it, he reached the gates to his home and made his way inside. A friendly face greeted him at the door.

"Erik you're home, I was beginning to worry. The sun is about to rise."

"Yes I know, you needn't have to worry. I know how to take care of myself"

"Yes I know that...now come, your supper is in the kitchen. Go eat. Lord knows you could use the nourishment"

Erik removed his cloak and hat, hanging them neatly. He walked to the kitchen but stopped at the doorway. He turned and nodded gratefully and said "Thank-you for supper Nadir and thank-you once again for allowing me to stay in your home" He then continued into the kitchen to enjoy his dinner.

Three weeks had past since Christine took residence in Erik's layer. Three weeks of hard labor it had took her to restore the layer adequate living area. Three weeks she had waited for Erik to return. With each passing day her heart grew heavier with fear, a fear that Erik was not returning.

She salvaged all of his possessions that she could, unfortunately many pieces of furniture now found themself's broken up and placed in the firewood pile. She repaired Erik's organ to the best of her knowledge, only managing to get three octaves working. His violin was thankfully in one piece, she placed in its stand next to the piano. Most of his musical pieces and manuscripts were destroyed by the damp ground. Christine only found a handful that were still readable, some barley at that. The most destroyed area of the house was Erik's workroom. The room was not recognizable at all. All of his paintings and sculptures where burned and ripped. His tables with all his inventions over turned and broken. All of supplies and tools were scattered around the room. It took Christine the better part of the day to clean this room and when she was finished she had nothing to show for it. Nothing had made it through the attack. She felt for Erik, for she knew he would be devastated to find out all his work was destroyed.

The only thing that Christine was glad that was destroyed was Erik's coffin. She despised the coffin and Erik's habit of sleeping in it. It was the first thing she burned in the fireplace. When Erik returned she would simple tell him that the coffin was no longer necessary. He was welcome to sleep next to her. In fact she wanted him to sleep next to her, to hold her. She wanted to sleep curled against his chest and be soothed to sleep by the sound of his beating heart.

While cleaning, Christine found many hidden compartments filled with money and documents. Erik had well over 200,000 francs hidden around his house. She had found his storage cabinets that were stocked with oil for the gas lamps, candles, matches, soaps and cleaning supplies and medicines that she had no idea what they cured.

Food was a problem, much of it had spoiled and rotted. The pantry held nothing at all. A few cans remand but Christine new she would have to venture to the market soon or she would surely starve.

Each night though, after Christine readied for bed, she would sit on the layers edge and stare over the lake. She would sing one of the songs Erik had taught her, hoping that he would some how hear her and return to her. When he didn't come to her, Christine would slowly walked to her room and climb into her beautiful swan shaped bed and cry herself to sleep.

The next morning, Christine ate a small breakfast then dressed warmly. She was heading to the market today to buy supplies. Hopefully she could buy enough to last a few weeks. She found a large basket in the kitchens she could use to carry her parcels home. So Christine packed a small satchel with money and the keys to the house and rowed herself across the lake and the extra boat across the lake to the Rue Scribe entrance, she tethered both boats to the shore. One for herself and the other for Erik, should he return while she was gone. She ensured the gates were locked securely for she pulled the cloak hood around her head and made her way the busy market area.

Renee Lemur stood with two of his comrades next to a shoe stand in the market square. He held in his hands the picture of Christine Daae. He was growing angry and restless. It was harder then he anticipated finding the girl. The Vicomte had insisted that the news of her disappearance stay out of the press. Never had it taken him three weeks to find someone he was hired to hunt down. Lemur wasn't use to being outwitted and the fact that it was a mere woman made it all the more intolerable. People crowded the square, making it hard to see every face that walked by. "Keep a sharp eye lads" he muttered "The girl has to eat, she'll show up sometime"

Lemur had used all his resources. No young lady had bought a train or boat ticket. A lady would dare not travel alone. She would be setting herself up for any desperate man. No word had been reported of missing horses or carriages and his contacts outside of Paris had seen no girl fitting her description traveling the roads. Which left one option, the girl was hiding somewhere in Paris. From the information he gathered from de Chagny, Christine's only friends had moved to England. She had no money and no shelter. She had not seek out work at any brothel or whore house. So the girl would eventually show up at the market square when the hunger got the better of her. Five days on an empty stomach should drive her out of her hiding place and Lemur wanted to be ready to snatch the little vixen. He would show her no mercy on the way to returning her to de Chagny. Not with all the trouble she was giving him in finding her. They stood there for the better part of an hour when one of his comrades nudged him on the arm. "There Renee, by the bread stand" he whispered. Lemur narrowed his eyes to a small girl, holding a large basket. She stood at the moment with her back to him. She conversed shortly with the baker before the baker handed her several loafs of bread. She placed them in her basket and turned to carry on to another table. That was when Lemur saw her face and smiled.

"Very good Vernier, I think we had just found the young Mademoiselle Daae"

Erik sat the desk in his room, sketching. Nadir had supplied him with excellent living courter's. A desk filled with art supplies, a small piano with black manuscript papers. A large balcony that faced the back of the house so he would have his privacy from the anyone who passed by on the streets. Erik had graciously put to use everything but the piano. He had not touched anything musical in almost six months.

Today he was returning to his layer, he needed to gather all his possessions that the mob didn't destroy and all the money and documents of his bank accounts and property he had hidden. He was moving to one of his properties outside of Paris. It was a big house, hidden deep in the country side, surrounded by woods. Before he went though he wanted to gather everything so he didn't have to return to Paris again. There were to many memories in Paris. Christine was in Paris. His heart still ache for her and if he should see her one day on the streets he didn't trust himself not to snatch her away forever.

Erik stopped and stared down at his drawing. He sketched his beloved. It was a very good likeness of her. One of the best he ever drew. "Christine" he whispered gently touching the drawing. A tear coursed down his cheek and he quickly brushed it away, ashamed at letting his emotions getting the better of him. He carefully folded the drawing and placed in his pocket over his heart, the same pocket that held the ring that was meant for her.

Erik made his way downstairs and found Nadir seated in the library. "I'm headed out to the opera house to gather my possessions" he said simply.

"But Erik, its still light out. You just returned home not long ago. Wouldn't you prefer to wait for night"

"No. I want to get this done and over with. Its not something I'm looking forward to"

"Would you like me to come and assist you?"

"No its..." Erik stopped and closed his eyes. He would need to learn to accept help when he knew he needed it

"Yes. If its not bother, please"

Nadir smiled and put his book down.

"Very good my friend, I shall help"

Nadir and Erik drove the carriage to the back of the opera house where the Rue Scribe gates resided. It was deserted of people and prying eyes. Erik stood for a moment and frowned at the ruins of the Opera Populaire. "Lets get this over with" Erik mumbled and unlocked the gates. Nadir frowned at this friend and wordlessly grabbed a lantern and followed his friend through the gates.

Christine walked from table to table buying breads and food to last her for a few weeks. She bought enough lemons to last Erik a while, she knew how much he loved his Russian tea with lemon. She purchased all his favorite foods. For when he got home she wanted to make sure he was well fed.

Erik had enough of everything else stored in the layer to last her for well over a year. The sight of the book shop in the distance lured her off her path. Erik had hundreds of books but still she couldn't help but look inside since other then singing, reading was her passion. She was so set on her destination that she failed to notice three men following her every move. The crowds thinned as she walked down the side walk.

A few feet way from the shop someone roughly grabbed her arm and she felt something jab into her back. "Good morning mademoiselle" a voice whispered in her ear "I've been looking for you" Christine stiffened and dropped her basket. She was pulled into a alley and quickly had her hands bound and was gaged. Two men slammed her back against the wall as the other pressed himself up against her. "There now mademoiselle, do you know who we are?" Lemur whispered, stroking her cheek. Tears streamed down Christine's cheeks, she slowly nodded her head. "Very good cherie, the Vicomte has hired us to find you. You proven to be hard person to find. I do not like that" With no indication he slapped her, causing her head to swing to the left. "No woman makes a fool out of me" he spat in her face. He pulled a knife from his pocket and held it against her throat.

"Now my dear. Before I return you to the Vicomte you must pay for making me work so hard to find you. You, a mere woman, should not get the better of me"

With great ease, Lemur took his knife and sliced Christine left cheek, from temple to ear. Christine cried out into the gage and struggled to get away as the three men laughed. "Come boys" Lemur said to his comrades "Lets return the lady to the Vicomte and collectour money. They dragged her through the alley forgetting the basket Christine carried sitting against the wall next to the bookshop.

Erik and Nadir walked down to the shore in silence. A few feet away from the shore Erik stopped stunned. "What is it Erik" Nadir asked puzzled.

"There's two boats. There are never two boats docked together"

Nadir looked at the boats and frowned.

"Are you sure? I mean, you were in quite a state when you left and it has been six months"

"Yes I'm sure Daroga" Erik said with anger and stormed to the boats. They both boarded one and Erik grabbed the ore and pushed off the shore. "It could of been the mob Erik, or maybe they both drifted to the other side" Nadir said, though they both new that the mob wouldn't secure the boat and the boat couldn't secure itself.

The gates to the layer loomed before them and Erik rowed over to the hidden switch. The gas lamps lite as the gates rose. Erik frown deepened. "This isn't right" he muttered "The oil in those gas lamps should nearly be empty, dried out. There all burning brightly. Someone's refilled them" They made there way with caution to the shore. "This isn't right at all" Erik mumbled looking around his layer "Its clean. The mob had destroyed and tore apart everything. Someone's cleaned up"

"Who had a key to here other then you Erik? No lock was broken"

"The only other person I gave a key to was.."

Erik looked towards the Louis Philippe room for second then broke out in a run towards it. The door knobbed turned easily, unlocked. Erik took a deep breath and pushed the door open. "Christine" he whispered, entering the room. The bed was neatly made, the vanity in neat order but the desk was slightly messy. Erik slowly walked over to it picked up a paper. It looked like a grocery list written in Christine's hand. "Oh God" Erik cried, bringing a gloved hand to his mouth, his eyes filled with tears. "What is it Erik?" Nadir asked entering the room. Erik held up the list "It's...it's a list. Written in Christine's hand. I think...I think she's been living here. But how Nadir? She's suppose to marrying that dame Vicomte. Why would she be here?" Something flashed across Nadir face. Erik almost missed it. Nadir new something but tried to hide it. "What do you know Nadir?" Erik asked, his tears subsiding. Nadir looked down. "Tell me Daroga, what do you know?" Erik demanded, his breathing becoming labored. "Erik calm down" Nadir said soothingly "I don't know much. Just rumors really"

"WHAT DO YOU KNOW!" Erik screamed.

"Rumor had it, that the Vicomte had been in touch with The Guard three weeks ago. I didn't know over what but I think now, seeing the shape of the layer, that it may have been Christine"

Erik closed his eyes and tired to get his breathing under control with no avail.

"Are you telling me that Christine ran away from the Vicomte for whatever reason and he hired The Guard to find her"

"It's a possibility"

"Why would she come here then?"

"I don't know Erik. Maybe she came here in hopes of finding you"

Erik looked up at his friend. Could in be true? That Christine ran here hoping that he, Erik, would be here. Erik walked over to a pillow and picked it up, bringing it to his nose. He could smell her scent, lavender mixed with what he could only describe as Christine. "It is Christine, Nadir" Erik said, his voiced muffled from the pillow "I can smell her. I can smell my sweet angel" Nadir remand silent, watching Erik hug the pillow to his face. Suddenly, Erik dropped the pillow and ran from the room. "Christine" he yelled, running around the house "Christine, cherie, its Erik. Where are you my angel?"

"Erik I don't think she's here"

"Then where is she!"

Nadir walked to the kitchen and looked in the cupboards and pantry. Everything was empty.

"I think she may have gone shopping. There's no food. Does she know where you kept your money Erik?"

"She could have found some while cleaning. She's a clever girl"

"Very well. She's gone to by some food. She should be returning soon. We'll row back to the Rue Scribe and wait for her to come home"

Erik shook his head, fear in his eyes.

"The Guard is hunting for her Nadir. What if they already got her? They'll hurt her"

Nadir walked to the boat to lightly touched the attached lantern. "Its still warm Erik" he said "She left for the market earlier today"

"Then we have to go after her, she's in danger"

"Calm down Erik, we'll go but you must get yourself under control. You'll be no good to here in this state"

Erik nodded impatiently. Both men jump back in the boat and made their way back across the lake. Once back in the carriage Nadir looked at Erik and said "Erik, you must control yourself. For all we know Christine is perfectly safe"

Erik said nothing and just stared out the window. Only when Christine was back in his arms would he get himself under control.

...to be continued...