WOW! I can't believe I'm finally able to update! Ft. Lauderdale was a blast, and I'm finally tan (that'll last about 2 days). Now I'm back at Michigan State and it snowed today . But it's March Madness! Woo hoo!

Chapter Fourteen

Christine awoke from the next morning from her sleep, disappointed to discover she was still in Raoul's home. Suddenly the events of the night before rushed into her mind, and there was nothing she could do to stop them.

"Erik was killed."

How could this be true? Erik was her Angel, the only thing that mattered anymore. He was her salvation from the loss of her father; her deliverance from a life of solidarity.

But there she lay, still, still in the wedding gown she had worn the previous day. She didn't trust herself there. It was only a few month's ago that she and Raoul were on the roof top of the Opera Populaire professing their undying devotion to one another. But things had dramatically changed in her heart. Erik began to emerge as a man, not only her Angel of Music. A new light was cast upon him, and suddenly only his touch could satisfy her needs. Christine couldn't explain her sudden turn of emotions, but she knew Raoul would demand justification.

Not to say that Raoul no longer held any sentiment in her heart. He always did, and always would; which was why Christine wanted to leave his house immediately. She knew she was a frail and impressionable girl. If she stayed with Raoul long enough, with out any hope of seeing Erik again, they both knew she would probably succumb and marry the Vicomte.

Learning of Erik's death had only made Christine feel more hopeless. At least before she could hope that her Angel would rescue her, and they would be married as planned. But now, emptiness had built inside her. No one would be coming to save her. If she were to do anything, it would have to be on her own. Her Angel was where he belonged. And now it was up to her to see to it that she returned to the Opera to continue the one thing Erik cared most for: her singing.

Christine forced herself to rise out of bed, and washed her face in the basin. Drying it with a towel, she walked over to closet and peered inside. It was filled with dozens of gowns, all fitted to her size. She grabbed one, not caring what color it was, or what it looked like. She gently unlaced the wedding dress, being sure not to tear it. When it was off, she lovingly folded it, and placed it under her pillow.

Her eyes caught her wrists, and she noticed they were still bruised from the night she and Raoul had kissed. Was that really only two days ago? Christine had been through so much, it felt as though that had happened weeks ago. As she stared at the bruises, she didn't know how she could want to go back to him. Look what he had done to her! Who's to say he wouldn't do it again? Was she insane? Here was a devastatingly handsome Vicomte, offering her the world, and she had the nerve to refuse? But there was one thing Raoul could never give Christine, no matter how much he tried: passion. Without passion, Christine's fire would burn out; Passion for life, passion for loving each other, passion for music. Erik was the only one who could keep her flame burning and growing in her. And it didn't seem to matter how much she resisted, or told herself she was in love with Raoul, in her heart she knew she would always belong to her Angel, whether he were dead or alive.

She walked down the stairs into the dinning room. A stunning breakfast had been laid out, and at the end of the table sat the Vicomte.

"Why, hello darling! How are you feeling this morning?"

"I'm fine.", she timidly replied. She knew she had to leave this house before this day was up. Being alone with Raoul was torturous on her mind. She sat at the opposite end of the table and began to eat the sumptuous food.

"I'm afraid I have to go into the city today. But I'll try to make it back before supper.", he said as he walked to her and planted a kiss on her forehead. Christine hadn't forgotten what it was like to kiss Raoul, and when she closed her eyes, she could have sworn she was back on the roof top of the opera. Taking her closed eyes as a cue, his lips traveled down to meet with hers. He ever so gently enveloped his lips with hers, only for a few moments. He then smiled and left the house satisfied.

Christine opened her eyes to an empty room, disgusted with herself. How could she have allowed him to kiss her, with Erik dead for only a day? One thing did ease her mind however: when Raoul kissed her, she had no desire to kiss him back. Had it been Erik kissing her, her tongue would immediately start intertwining with his, allowing their souls to melt in as one. But with Raoul, nothing sparked within her, and she had no desire for the kiss to continue.

After she heard Raoul's carriage pull away, she immediately shot out of her seat and flew to the back door. She was leaving this place now. Even if Erik were gone for ever, there was nothing for her here. Perhaps she would return to the opera house. Or travel somewhere else, such as London or even perhaps America. But this wasn't the place for her. She knew it.

She ran back up the stairs and grabbed the wedding dress. Scurrying out of the door, she heard a voice behind her.

"Miss! Miss Daae! I'm afraid you can't leave, mademoiselle."

She turned to see Captain De'Lancrque.

"Are you always watching me sir? Can't I go for a walk with out you trying to stop me?"

"I am sorry Miss, I didn't mean to intrude. It's just that I have strict orders that you are to stay in the house. I'm sure when Vicomte returns home for the evening he will be glad to take you on a walk of the grounds. They are beautiful if I do say so myself."

"I'm sure they are. Please Captain, you know I've had a very stressful few days. I just need to walk and be by myself. I'm sure you understand."

"Well", he slowly said, "I suppose it would be alright, only for a little while however."

"Thank you." , she said, satisfied.

So Christine walked away from the mansion, away from the life she had planned on months before; away from security. Where she was walking to she didn't know, but in her heart, she knew she was doing the right thing.

xXxXxXxXx

Erik knew where Christine was. It was obvious the Vicomte was the brainchild behind the elaborate plan. No doubt he had brought Christine to his home. After Erik had taken care of his captors, he quickly stopped back at the opera house, to only ask Madame Giry where the Vicomte lived. After she unwillingly gave him directions, Erik made his way towards the house on a horse borrowed from the opera house. He galloped faster and faster, not wanting to wait another second until Christine was in his arms.

Fog surrounded Erik from all directions leaving him only about a mile of eyesight in front of him. He thought he saw a figure begin to emerge from the mists. It was small and dark, with a melancholy stature. He pulled on the reigns of the animal, forcing him to slow down. He squeezed his eyes shut, refusing to believe what he was seeing. Floating from the clouds was Christine, her head down, clutching the wedding dress he had given her days before.

He pulled drastically on the reigns, halting the horse to a sudden stop. Leaping off the horse he shouted.

"Christine! Christine, is that you?", he said as he ran towards the girl.

Christine stopped walking, still staring at the ground. It couldn't be. He was gone; dead. Erik was dead. But within moments her Angel was wrapping his arms around her, tackling her to the ground.

"Erik? How can this be? Raoul said…he told me…that...", Christine's voice wandered off, as she collapsed in his arms.

"It's alright, we're together now. Never mind what he said. Sssshhh. I'm here, see? It's all going to be alright now."

"I can't believe he would do that to me; to put me through that." She took her weight off of Erik and looked into his eyes, "I can't tell you how I felt when he told me those horrid things! I didn't know what to do, but I knew I couldn't stay there. So…so after he left this morning, I just started walking. I didn't know where I was going, but I thought I would never see you again….your eyes….your face."

"That will never happen, my love!", he said as he pulled her into his body, and harshly kissed her on the top of her hair.

"Never", he whispered.

Aaawww. Aren't they just adorable? I haven't read a review in a few weeks (which is my fault because it took me forever and a day to update), but I really miss them!