A/N: I do not own the Phantom of the Opera or any of the characters in it.
New year's resolution: Be more kind to Erik.
Sigh, I'm going to need a new resolution…
Katerina sighed and nodded, "This will do."
The estate agent that had scared the daylights out of her and Christine nodded. He was a portly man and somewhat clumsy.
Christine was on the other side of the sitting room glancing out the window into the small yard below.
"You said it comes fully furnished?" Katerina asked as the gentleman quickly nodded.
"I'll have the papers drawn up but you can start moving in this afternoon."
He seemed somewhat intimidated by her. She smiled, couldn't imagine why. Most likely because she nearly made his ears bleed for knocking over the tea trolley in the foyer. It wasn't his fault but it had scared her as much as it had Christine. Not that Katerina would ever tell.
She looked around the two bedroom flat. It was modest but it would work for their purposes. It was also away from any main streets so Erik would be pleased with that.
"What do you think Christine?"
The woman looked up at her, "I-Its fine. I don't see a problem with it."
"You and your husband can still change your mind about staying the entire season."
Christine swallowed and then smiled sweetly, "I shall not want to miss any of your opera's Madame. Of course we shall stay."
Katerina smiled and bowed her head. Sweet girl, she was rubbing off on her.
It was almost dusk by the time the pair returned to the theater. The flat had been rented and all of Christine's and Raoul's things left there. All that remained was to gather the men and hopefully they could find some peace for a bit.
As Katerina found out that was not going to be.
Raoul was cursing in French when she reached her office. He was also soaked to the bone.
"I know the damned man has a sword somewhere!"
"Raoul! What happened?" Christine asked with wide eyes.
"We ran into a trap, he took Erik."
"Oh no," Katerina breathed, "Where?"
"Somewhere in the tunnels, I couldn't tell you, I'd have to take you."
"Which you will do, quickly."
She saw Raoul hesitate, "I would not have you…"
"I will be going into those tunnels whether you accompany me or not Vicomte. Understand this now and we will have less of an argument later on."
He looked at her again. Then he nodded, "Christine…"
"I'm coming too! I'm not going to let you go alone."
Katerina banged on the side of a bookcase and pulled on the door that opened.
"By god woman, just how many of those are there?"
"They're everywhere, not just tunnels, hiding places as well."
Katerina pulled two swords out of the door and tossed one to Raoul. The other she quickly belted around her waist.
"You know how to fence?" he asked in disbelief.
Katerina drew her sword and held it up so that he could see her initials gleaming on the hilt.
"Erik taught me."
His head ached and the smell of blood filled the air with a sharp tang. He blinked and tried to move but his shoulder came into contact with something. Something that made the entire space around him clink. He was jammed in a very uncomfortable sitting position, his legs smashed against his body. He moved again and heard the clanks and rattles.
Suddenly horror crept into his hear. Erik opened his eyes and saw the bars of the cage come into view. In a sudden frantic motion he slammed against the bars in front of him and found them as cold and unforgiving as ever. Sense retuned to him for an instant before he realized that his mask was gone. He reached up and flinched, there was a gash above his right eye. The mask must have shattered when… He could see a shadow walking in slow circles around the cage.
Erik turned as the figured disappeared behind him and then the lash struck him like fire. He must have cried out because he heard the shadow make a tutting noise as the lash stung again. It had slipped easily through the bars without making a noise. The memories began to surface as the burning kiss of the whip seared itself into his back.
The laughing… The music… The fetid smell…
Erik slammed himself against the bars again and felt the whip crack into the bars, inches from his face. He tried to scramble back but found himself crashing into the other side of the cage. Reason began slipping from him as he fought to cover his face and avoid the lash. He was making noises, but not quite words. He tried to shove himself away from the whip but every time he moved he would bang into the bars and the lash would find him.
After what seemed an eternity the lash stopped. Erik panted as his mind twisted with sickness. No, no, no please… No, no…
Suddenly he found the lash around his throat and it yanked him roughly to the bars of the cage. Erik struggled and heard a whimper cut through the air. Was that him crying out?
An almost kind, sympathetic voice cut through the air,
"Terribly sorry Monsieur, the cage must have seemed so much bigger when you were a child."
Christine held the torch up as they walked. All three of them were silent. Raoul had explained what had happed. How the figure had attack Erik and then dragged him down the hall grinning like a demon. Raoul had fallen into the water but found another way out. Christine swallowed trying to wet her dry throat; it had to have happened hours ago.
Katerina had gone pale and she hadn't said a word since they had left her office. Raoul was shivering, Christine took a deep breath. She knew that Erik could already be dead. Would he be the first of them? Was that how it was going to happen? They were going to be dragged off one by one? Who would be the last?
Suddenly she stopped and tried to stop shuddering.
She felt gentle hands on her face, "Christine, you can always go back."
Raoul's comforting blue eyes locked with her brown ones and she slowly shook her head and smiled,
"We are past the point of no return."
He smiled down at her and she heard Katerina clear her throat.
"As much as I hate to ruin your moment, does anyone else hear that?"
Christine blinked as she heard the trailing sound, "It sounds like music."
Katerina took the lead and frowned, "It's coming from one of the lower tunnels, the ones that lead to the mirror room."
"The mirror room?" Christine had heard of it from Raoul.
Katerina nodded swiftly, "It used to be the torture chamber."
Katerina walked quickly and quietly. Just like Erik had taught her. He had taught her so much, if he was… No, she banished the thought from her mind. He couldn't be dead. If his heart were to cease beating so would hers.
The music was getting louder now. It was jarringly loud, the kind of organ music one would hear at a carnival. Katerina moved down the corridor with the pair trailing behind her. Christine's soft torch lit up the passage and Katerina stopped and pointed down. The three stepped carefully over the trip wire, taking care to lift skirts and keep balance.
Gingerly Katerina pushed the door open a crack. The music doubled in volume and the movement dizzied her for and instant. Bright glaring color swirled through the room, made worse by the mirrors that surrounded the room. Katerina blinked, covered lamps, they were hanging from the ceiling and swinging back and forth with a wild motion. Someone had just spun them, someone was there. After a moment she could make out a dark shape in the center of the room. A tall square shadow that turned into a cage the more she stared at it and then she saw the huddled figure that it contained.
Erik…
Raoul recognized the cage and took a step forward but Katerina stopped him.
"Trap," she hissed.
A gloved hand shot through the doorway and grasped her collar.
"Right you are."
"Katerina!"
Then she was gone and Raoul charged into the room. The colors subdued him for and instant before he heard a grunt and Katerina cry out. Raoul slammed his sword into one of the lamps and it came crashing down. There was a moment of pure light before it burned out.
A tall man was dragging Katerina away, her hair had come loose and he had gotten her sword from her. Raoul could see blood on his face and the black mask he wore was slightly off center.
Raoul brought the rest of the lamps down in quick succession until he found himself face to face with this new phantom. The man gave a quick barking laugh as he yanked Katerina up by her hair.
"Drop your sword Vicomte or I will slit her where she stands."
The blades glinted in the half light and Raoul saw Christine's terrified face as she held the torch near the cage in the center of the room.
Raoul nodded and tossed the sword.
Right at Katerina's feet.
In a flash of movement Katerina was free and the phantom held a mass of black hair. Raoul watched her slam the blade into the man's wrist and sink the tip into his shoulder.
He cried out as his weapon tumbled to the ground and he backhanded her so she lost her balance.
Raoul dodged forward and slammed his shoulder into the man's chest. Together they tumbled backwards into a mirror and Raoul felt it shatter behind his back. The man was trying to get a grip on his throat but Raoul was still damp and that was making it harder. The man fought like an animal, Raoul could hear guttural noises as Raoul's fist caught the man in the jaw.
The pair twisted into another mirror and he heard a scream from one of the women. The man had his hands around Raoul's throat. His icy vise-like grip sapped the strength from Raoul and he blinked for an instant.
Suddenly they were moving again as something seemed to have knocked the man off balance.
"Christine, do it now!"
Raoul saw a flash of flame as Katerina's voice cut through the chamber. There she was, his pretty little wife, swinging the torch with all her strength.
It caught the man in the face and Raoul saw his black mask crack under the blow as he tumbled backwards out into the hallway.
He saw the back of Katerina's cloak as she slammed her sword down.
---
Then, very suddenly, it was silent.
---
"Is anyone dead?" Katerina's dry voice broke the quiet.
"I-I'm not," Christine's shaky voice filled the chamber as Raoul sat up and coughed.
He looked out into the hallway and saw Katerina standing before a gaping hole in the floor. So she had hit the trip wire. Her dark hair hung, unfashionably short, around her jaw. After a moment she let the sword she was carrying drop to the ground and she ran to the cage.
Katerina yanked the pin from the lock and pulled the door to the cage open. Erik was curled into a ball in one of the corners. She could see bloodied slashes in his shirt and bruises on his hands. As Christine stepped up next to her she could see that he was rocking back and forth, ever so slightly, his large hands splayed over his face.
"Erik…"
Katerina gently reached out and he flinched at her touch. It broke her heart. How did this man know to do this to him? How on earth did he know to put Erik in a cage?
"Please my love," she whispered gently, "It is Katerina, please trust me."
Long moments past before she noticed that he had stopped rocking. Katerina gently brushed the back of his bruised hand and bit her lip to hold back tears.
"Erik, please, we must go from here."
Haltingly he peered at her before dropping his left hand. His right hand he kept firmly over his face. Katerina blinked, his mask was gone. All she could see between his fingers was blood.
Katerina swallowed, "We need to get him out of here."
Raoul nodded and together they pulled Erik out of the cage despite the sudden whimpers he made when they touched him. Katerina pulled off her cloak and wrapped it around his shoulders quickly pulling the hood over his face.
"Can you carry…?"
Her question was cut short as Raoul scooped up his burden in one smooth motion.
"Just lead the way."
Katerina nodded, "You take him to the carriage behind the theater, Christine and I will join you momentarily. Answer no questions, you are a Vicomte, you should be used to that."
She slammed her fist into a stone and a door opened before them.
"Move quickly, I don't know how much time we have before that monster gets out of the sewers."
Christine ran after Katerina as she slammed quickly up the stairs and into her office. Christine watched her yank a dark cloak off a peg and messily throw it on, covering her hair with the hood.
"Christine, please go out into the dormitories and look for a small boy, Giovanni, I need him."
She nodded and fled back down the stairs. The theater was still in motion like everyday and Christine finally found the child sitting on the stage watching some of the dancers twitter about.
His eyes widened when he saw her but he followed her back without a word.
Katerina had been packing, throwing clothes and things into a bag. Giovanni blinked in confusion as he entered.
"Madame?"
"Ah, good, Gio. Something has come up. I fear that I will have to close the theater."
"What has happened Madame?"
Katerina sighed and crouched down in front of Giovanni, "Another phantom is in the theater."
Christine was shocked as to how she could be so frank with the child.
"Does he mean harm?"
Katerina closed her eyes and nodded, "Yes Gio, it is very dangerous now. He has…" her voice trailed off for an instant, "he has injured Master Durand."
The boy's eyes flew open wide with shock.
"I need you to make sure everyone leaves the theater. You too, I will return in a bit, but I need to make sure everyone is safe. Can you do that for me?"
Christine smiled as the boy nodded strongly, "Of course Madame."
"Good boy, now go summon everyone to the stage."
The speech was short and hurried. Christine watched from back stage as Katerina told the crew of her husband's sudden turn for the worst and how she quickly had to return to Marseilles. She stated that since there would be no one to manage the theater it would have to close for a little bit. She would not tolerate it be left open to tourists and the media.
Christine watched the crew nod and murmur among themselves. Katerina was crouched in front of Giovanni again, making sure he understood everything. Then the woman was sweeping past her, grabbing bags as they hurried for the door to the stables.
He growled in the damp. As if those whores thought that they could be rid of him that easily! Now he was angry, now there wouldn't be any more play time. Not anymore…
Dear Buddha, please send me a beta reader…