Title: Betrayal of Trust

Rating: M

Category: EC w/ Raoul bashing

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 the reviews. I'm working on the spelling and grammar so I hope its better in these later chapters.

Chapter Six

Raoul paced in front of the fire in his study, a glass of brandy in one hand. Christine had angered him in the past but never had he felt this livid. He wanted to go down to the basement and give her another beating but even he knew she wouldn't be able to survive that tonight. There was a slight chance she wouldn't even survive the night. If he was sober, Raoul might of been slightly concerned, but in his drunken state he couldn't care less. He would general be upset, one always was when they lost a precious possession, but possessions could be replaced with newer ones. He chuckled at this thought and drained his glass only to refill it moments later.

Raoul supposed that he should go check on Christine, she had been down there for over ten hours, and as the day drew to a close the basement became an ice box. Draining another glass of brandy, Raoul tossed the glass on the table and flopped down in a chair closing his eyes. He was breathing heavily, trying to keep his anger in check. Christine had paid for her disobedience for tonight, tomorrow would be another day. As much as he entertained the thought, he didn't want Christine to die. He did hold love for her some where. She was his. He had risk his life to rescue her, to make her his. He didn't want all his hard work to go to waste in just six months. No. Christine owed him a life time of gratitude for what he had done. "Just go get her and put her to bed" he whispered to himself. Yes, that was what he would do. He'd put her to bed and tomorrow they would continue their discussion on where her place was. Christine was a clever girl, she'd learn fast.

With a groan Raoul forced himself out of the chair and stumbled out of his study. The halls where dark, only a few gas lamps were lite. Raoul squinted his eyes, trying to make out shapes in the dark. The alcohol in his system was making this hard. Holding on to the wall for support, Raoul slowly made his way towards the basement door. He shivered as he walked passed a window and saw a snow beginning to fall. After a few stumbles the basement door finally came into few. Raoul was fifteen feet away from it when the sound of shattering glass behind him made him jump. Turning around he sawglass scattered on the floor, the window he had just past was broken into hundreds of pieces.

A man walked through the broken window, his boots making the glass on the floor break even more when his weight was applied to it. His cloak whirled around him as the cold winter air blew in, caring with it snow, that danced around the man. He was tall and well built, on his head he wore a large fedora. Another man closely followed, shorter then the first and lanky.

"Who are you?" Raoul demanded angrily "How dare you break into my house. Get out" Raoul's hand searched for the dagger he wore at his waist. The dagger he began to wear everyday after the opera house incident. His fumbling hand finally found it and he held it out in front of himself. "Put that thing away boy before you hurt yourself" said the shorter of the two in a accent that Raoul could not place. "Get out of my house" Raoul demanded again. "We've come to collect something that no longer belongs to you Vicomte and to pay you the same respect as you paid her" said the taller man in voice Raoul recognized all to easily. "You!" Raoul sneered, his lip turning up in disgust "Get out of my house before I place this dagger in your back, you filthy monster" The taller of the two man lifted his head allowing the moonlight to glitter off his white porcelain mask. "No, I'm afraid it is you Vicomte who will be the only one with a dagger in his back at the end of this night. Now where is Christine?" Erik asked brandishing his Punjab lasso.

Christine curled herself into a corner hours ago. The cold air assaulted her, chilling her to the bones. Her thin undergarments were no match for the elements in the basement. A terrible pain flooded her chest each time she took a breath. 'My ribs' she thought. She new Raoul must have broken at least two of her ribs when he kicked her down the stairs. Along with the pain the coursed through her entire body made Christine prayed for the unconsciousness that was just beyond her reach. She new that once she fell asleep that chances were she would not wake up. That was way she willed sleep so, with sleep she would be with Erik forever. He was waiting for her, she new it. They would take that journey to the next life together and spend eternity in each others arms. Sleep would not come to her though for some reason. Death refused to take her. "Please" she whispered "Just let me go" After a few moments the tears began to fall down her cheeks again. Why couldn't she be reunited with her angel? Why was she damned to remain on this earth with Raoul? "Erik" she whispered "I love you, I'm sorry I never said the words to you"

Many times she had come close to professing her love for him but for reasons beyond her she never did. One time stood out clearly in her mind.

It was after rehearsal. Christine and Meg remand behind to practice on the ballet solo that they would share in the upcoming opera The Magic Flute."How have you been lately Christine? You've had this strange smile on your face for a while now" Meg asked as they both twirled around in perfect unison. "Have I?" Christine asked, puzzled.

"Yes, it's like someone turned out a light of happiness inside of you"

Christine blushed as they she did a pas se chat, which Meg mimic adding a move of her own which Christine mimic which ended in move of them doing another twirl in unison. "There she is, my little muffin" one the trumpet players from the orchestra said walking one the stage. Meg giggled and ran into his arms. "Oh Frederic" she sighed and kissed him. Christine smiled and turned away, allowing the couple privacy.

"Let us go my little muffin and have a late supper"

Meg nodded and turned to Christine. "You don't mind do you Christine?" she asked gathering her things.

"Of course not, go and have a lovely time"

Meg giggled and ran into Frederic's arms, kissing him again before the two went backstage leaving Christine alone on the empty stage. Christine sat down and sighed. Stretching her legs out in front of her, she leaned back on her elbows in thought. Sometimes she wished she could have the kind of relationship Meg had with Frederic. She didn't feel that happy though when Raoul was around. Of course she cared for Raoul deeply, he was her dearest friend but her heart didn't pound when she was with him. She didn't have those girlish feelings when she saw him. Erik though, was an entirely different question.

She had been going to his home for five months now. In the time between each visit her heart would pound rapidly in anticipation. There was nothing she looked more forward to then spending time with him. Granted that most of her visits to his home were for her singing lessons, but once or twice a week she would visit just to spend time with him. Those visits were her favorites.

"What is my angel thinking about?"

Erik's voiced startled Christine out of her thoughts. She jump to her feet smiling up at him. "Erik what are you doing here?" she asked puzzled, secretly admiring him in his expensive black suit "You never come out on the stage". "It is late my dear, everyone has either left or retired to the living courter's. The stage is ours alone" Erik answered her as he walked towards her. He fingered one of the blue roses that circled the top of her hair then followed one of ribbons that flowed down her back, it was part of her hair piece that belonged to her costume. A blue and white dress that puffed out at her waist to her knees. "You look beautiful" he remarked letting his hand fall away from her silky brown locks. Christine blushed once again and looked down. "Thank-you" she whispered shyly.

"May I have this dance?"

Christine looked up and saw him offering her his hand.

"But there is no music"

"The music is in our heads cherie" he whispered, holding out his hand still. Christine put her small hand in his. Erik pulled her two him and took her waist. Christine nervously put her hand on his shoulder and allowed Erik to swirl her around the stage in the loveliest dance she ever experience. It was as if she weighed nothing when he would lift her and twirl her around in the air. When he brought her down on the last lift, there bodies pressed together, Christine's arms rested on his shoulders, his on her waist. They stared deeply in to each others eyes, there faces mere inches apart. Slowly Christine tilted her head, willing him to kiss her with his full lips. She watched as he lowered his face to hers. She felt his breath on her lips when suddenly there was loud crash followed by laughter coming from backstage. Erik's head jerk up, his eyes narrowing angrily. The drunken stage hands were wondering about. "Come my dear" Erik said letting her go "Let me escort you to your room. You need rest" Disappointed, Christine quickly gathered her things and followed Erik wordlessly.

The sound of breaking glass upstairs drew her from her thoughts. Christine whimpered with fear. What did Raoul have in store for her now? She wish he would just leave her to die. She was after all a gutter rat, according to him. Let the gutter rat stay in the basement where it belonged, eventually dying. No she had an feeling that she would not be dying in this basement. tonight. Raoul was yelling at someone, telling them to get out. Maybe one of the servants returned early to check on things. She didn't care anymore. Christine closed her eyes tightly and pulled her knees to her chest. Just let Raoul come and get whatever he had in store for her over with.

"Where is Christine, Vicomte?" Erik asked darkly as he slowly started to advance towards Raoul. Raoul slowly back away, holding the dagger tightly in his hand. "I will never tell you where she is. She is mine monster. Mine!" Raoul screamed. Erik smirked. He could see the fear in the boys eyes. "Either you tell me where Christine is or you'll meet the end of my lasso and I'll find her myself" Erik said calmly. "Never. I rather see her dead then with you" Raoul seethed and made a dash for the basement door. Erik tossed the noose end of his lasso, catching Raoul around the neck. With a small tug the noose tighten, pulling Raoul on his back. Raoul dropped the dagger, his hands going to the rope, trying to loosening it. Erik walked up to Raoul and looked down at him.

"Say good-bye to your life Vicomte"

Erik gathered the rope, ready to give it one final tug that would snap Raoul's neck ending his life. A hand on his shoulder stopped Erik. Nadir looked at him with a frown. "No Erik" Nadir said "No killing. Do you think Mademoiselle Daae would want you to do this?" "No" Erik said, his grip on the rope loosening "Christine wouldn't want that"

"Give me the rope Erik. I'll keep the Vicomte at bay while you search the house"

Erik looked down at Raoul angrily. Raoul was still struggling to loosen the rope. An internal battle went on inside Erik's head. A part of him wanted to kill the Vicomte on the spot, to be rid of the man forever. Another part though, told him how Christine wouldn't want this, she would just want him to leave the Vicomte be. Erik closed his eyes for a moment then handed Nadir the rope. Nadir smiled at his friend. "Go find your angel Erik" he whispered. Erik nodded and ran towards the grand staircase to start his search upstairs.

"Christine" Erik yelled going from room to room.

"Christine its Erik. Angel if you can here me, call my name"

The upstairs remand silent. There was no sign that Christine had been in any room. Erik hurried down the stairs to continue his search. "Christine" he continued to yell, running around the house. When his search turned up empty. Erik hurried over the Nadir and Raoul. He knelt down in front of Raoul and grabbed him around the neck. "Where is Christine?" Erik screamed in the Vicomte face. Raoul smirked and shook his head. "I'll never tell you" Raoul wheezed. Erik grabbed the dagger that laid on the floor where Raoul dropped it and held it to the Vicomte neck. "Tell me where she is or I swear to God I'll slit your throat" Erik whispered darkly. Raoul heard the seriousness in Erik voice and winced as he felt the blade press into his skin. He wouldn't die at the hand of this monster. "She's where all gutter rats belong" Raoul said smirking.

"Don't play with me boy" Erik yelled "Where is she!" That was when he heard the faint voice of his beloved Christine call his name.

Yelling coming from upstairs caused Christine to open her eyes. She recognized Raoul angry voice quite easily but the other voice she could barley hear sounded familiar. Silence fell for a few moments before she heard the sound she thought she never hear again. Erik calling out to her. "Erik" she whispered. He came for her. He came to take her away. "Erik" she cried a little more loudly and began to drag herself painfully across the cold basement floor to the stairs all the while calling out to her angel. Christine collapsed at the foot of the stairs, having no energy to go further. "Erik" she cried one final time before she laid her head on one of the bottom stairs crying. The door an the top of the stairs opened slowly. The moonlight revealing the person Christine thought she never see again. Her angel. Her Erik.

Erik turned his head towards the sound of Christine's voice. A door was inches away. A door that could only lead to a basement. Raoul's words flooded Erik's mind 'She's where all gutter rats belong'. Erik roughly pushed Raoul away and walked to the door. The door was locked. Erik easily picked it and open the door slowly. Crumpled at the bottom of the stairs was Christine. He hurried down to her and carefully turned her into his arms. Tears sprung to his eyes as he saw the shape she was in. That Vicomte was going to die. Erik removed his cloak and wrapped Christine up in it. "Christine" he whispered cupping her cheek. Her eyes were barely open. "I was told you were dead" she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "No my dear, I'm alive and I'm going to take you home" Erik whispered. Christine winced and whimpered as Erik stood and secured her in his arms. Erik froze. "What is it Christine?" he asked frantically. "I think I have...some broken ribs" she winced, her eyes closed, her face etched in pain. He gently kissed her on the cheek. "Rest my dear. Once home I'll patch you up" he whispered and started his accent up the stairs. Christine gripped his shirt. "Erik, there's something I need to tell you" she whispered.

"What my dear"

Christine opened her eyes and look up into Erik's. Gently she stroked his unmasked cheek. "I love you Erik. I've loved you forever" she confessed, tears streamed down her cheeks. Erik stop midway up the stairs. He looked down at her in wonder. Her words touched his heart, causing his own tears to flow freely. "Oh Christine" Erik cried "I love you, I love you so my angel" He took her hand and gently kissed her knuckles then placed a soft kiss on her lips. "Come my love, lets go home" he whispered and walked up the rest of the stairs.

Erik stopped in shock when he reached the top. Raoul was no where to be seen. Nadir was lying on the ground, blood pooled around him, a note stabbed to his chest. Erik placed Christine in a near by chair then hurried over to his friend. "Erik I'm sorry" Nadir whispered, blood rolling down his chin from his mouth "The Vicomte ...I didn't expect.."

"It is alright my friend. Do not worry yourself"

"Christine...is she alright Erik?"

Nadir coughed and more blood sputtered out of his mouth. Erik knew this was bad. "With some care she will be fine as will you my friend" Erik said removing the dagger and applying pressure to the wound.

Christine silently stumbled over to the two men and knelt next to Erik. "Aww...mademoiselle Daae. It is a pleasure to finally meet you" Nadir mumbled smiling painfully at Christine. "As it is you monsieur. Thank-you for helping Erik rescue me" she whispered coarsely, tears in her eyes.

"It was nothing mademoiselle. Erik take the young lady home and patch her up. Make sure you bind her ribs, by the sound of her she has a some fractured ones"

"Of course my friend"

"Remember Erik, not all answers to problems come at the end of your lasso or a dagger. Look at what you have in front of you and cherish it"

Then Nadir took his last breath. Erik removed his hands when his friends eyes closed for a final time. "I'm sorry Erik" Christine whispered placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. Erik wiped the blood on his hands off on his suit jacket then pick up on the note that was stabbed to Nadir's chest. It read 'this is not over monster, she is mine RD'. Erik crumpled the paper then stuffed it in his pocket. He turned to Christine and smiled sadly. "Lets go my love. The police will be here shortly" he said and scooped her up and brought her to the waiting carriage.

...to be continued...