Chapter Seventeen

Boundaries Broken

Her face was the first thing he saw when he slowly opened his eyes. Worried blue eyes and tight curls were the sight that greeted him, and for a moment Erik believed that he was staring at an angel. Surely no human could possess such beauty. But the pain in his chest told him that he was certainly not in heaven, and Christine was not an angel, although she resembled one greatly.

"About time," Christine grumbled, not wanting to tell him how glad she was that he had just opened his eyes. Erik muttered something under his breath and shifted, groaning in immense pain.

"Don't move!" Christine demanded.

"Thank you, I realize that," he grumbled. He did not want to ask her what happened because he already knew. Kenneth had bested him and he would never forgive himself because of it. He glanced at Christine, wondering if he would be able to know what had happened to Kenneth by the look in her eyes. That was when he noticed the bruising and he remembered the words Douglas had told him in the middle of his pain, 'Madam Desslar is screaming'. He felt a painful squeezing in his chest as he automatically thought the worst. His hand hesitantly reached out and touched one of the various bruises, causing her to wince.

"Christine..." he murmured. She smiled and shook her head, knowing what was bothering him. She was fine. She did not want him to worry about anything because he had enough to deal with. She refused to complain when nothing major had really happened to her.

"He is gone, Erik, there is no need to mention anything," she said. Erik's lips twitched with his need to say something but he managed to suppress it. If Kenneth had not been dead he would have been soon, no one touched what was his and lived with it. They both turned when the door opened and Raoul came in, an emotionless expression on his face. Christine sighed, hoping the two men did not get in an argument. Erik's features hardened slightly at the man's appearance but he said nothing, which Christine was grateful for.

"What is it, Raoul?" Christine asked, slightly curious. She had hoped that Erik would not be disturbed until he was better.

"I need to talk to Monsieur Desslar...in private," de Chagny said. Christine stared at her good friend for a long time, wondering what he had to tell Erik that she could not be present. She glanced at Erik; he too was studying the young man.

"Very well, Christine, leave us," Erik said, surprising the other two people in the room. She would have argued but knew Erik was in no condition to argue back so she quietly left the room, a murmured thank you from Raoul.

Erik studied the man he thought of as a rival for several long moments. Once more he looked impeccable and it made Erik angry. He knew the man's looks and charm was what attracted Christine to him and he did not like it. He also did not like the fact that Raoul obviously cared for Christine far more then he should and the man needed to realize that Christine was already taken.

"What do you want, Chagny?" Erik asked. Raoul kept a safe distance from him, hoping an argument would not erupt from this conversation. Taking a deep breath to collect himself Raoul slowly began.

"There are several things I need to discuss with you that involve Christine," he said. Erik nearly growled. How had he known that this little fop was going to mention Christine?

"Remember your place," Erik warned.

"I know my place, I am Christine's long time friend and I have every right to worry about her welfare," Raoul said, rallying his courage. Erik pushed himself into a sitting position, ignoring the way his body screamed in pain.

"Indeed, but there is nothing to worry about concerning her welfare," Erik snapped. Raoul's eyes flashed at this man's impertinence.

"As you believe, but her brother and I saved her from being raped," Raoul growled. Erik became very still. What? Kenneth had...

"What?" he whispered, very softly and very dangerously. Raoul knew he was treading in dangerous water.

"She was not...raped. But she was beaten, as the bruises confirm. You say I should not be concerned for her welfare and yet you were not there to protect her," Raoul said. Erik felt a dark shadow pass over his heart. This man was right. He had failed his duty as a husband. What would have happened if Anthony and Raoul had not been there to help her? She would have been forced to give up her innocence. Something that was only hers to give. The thought made him angry and he wished he could give Kenneth the pain of a thousand slow deaths.

"I made a mistake in underestimating Rousseau, it will never happen again with anyone," Erik said. Raoul was not so easily convinced. He cared to much about Christine to simply push the matter aside.

"I do not believe you," Raoul said, which caused a scowl to crease Erik's face.

"I do not care," Erik snapped. Who did this man think he was talking to him like this? He needed to remember his place.

"You should, because if we so wish it Anthony and I will take her away from you," Raoul threatened. Erik stood up, even though he could feel his wound open from the stitches and blood begin to run. He felt light headed but he refused to back down.

"I could kill you for talking to me in such a way!" he growled, advancing on the young man. Raoul backed up immediately until he felt his back being pressed up against the door.

"No one-and understand me when I say this, Chagny-no one will take Christine away from! She belongs to me!" he hissed. Raoul swallowed but tilted his chin.

"If she decides that she does not want to be with you, what then?" Raoul challenged. Erik's smile was grim and sarcastic.

"She has no choice! I am her husband, her father agreed to this marriage and she will be bound to me until the day she dies!" Erik growled.

"Which might be sooner then necessary seeing as you cannot protect her!" Raoul snapped. The crack of Erik's fist connecting with Raoul's jaw echoed in the quiet room and Raoul slumped to his knees, his head reeling. Erik felt nauseous but swallowed and stood still, even when perspiration began to bead on his brow.

"Erik, what is-Raoul!" Christine gasped, opening the door when she heard something slump against the door. Raoul was on his knees, cradling his jaw, where blood poured from his mouth. Erik, my some miracle, was standing but she could see the blood staining his bandage. She crouched down next to Raoul and took his hand, looking up at her husband with an accusing stare. She knew exactly what had happened to her friend and she was angry.

"Are you alright, Raoul?" Christine asked, anxious. The handsome man nodded and Erik's scowl deepened, he really should have hit him harder.

"I am fine," he grumbled, standing up with Christine's help. He glanced at Erik but said nothing. His reaction to his words just confirmed Raoul's thoughts, he did not deserve Christine.

"Are you sure you are fine?" Christine asked when Raoul winced in obvious pain.

"Yes...perhaps I could talk to you later?" he suggested.

"She will be detained," Erik snapped. Christine glanced at him but ignored him. She nodded at Raoul.

"Of course, go and get something for your jaw, alright?" Christine suggested. Raoul simply nodded and with a final glance at Erik, left the room. Christine whirled on her husband.

"What happened?" she demanded. Erik did not reply but turned and slowly made his way back to bed, his energy completely spent. Blood had begun to make its way from the bandage that was not completely soaked and blood stained his skin as he lay down. Christine went to him and slowly removed the bandage. She muttered several things under her breath when she saw that his stitches had snapped.

"I wish you were not injured right now," Christine informed him.

"Really, why is that?" Erik asked.

"Because I would give anything to smack you upside the head!" Christine sighed. Erik hid his smirk.

"Why did you hit Raoul?" she asked as she cleaned the wound. Erik was slipping back into unconsciousness because of overexertion and Christine could tell. But she wanted him to answer her first.

"Let it suffice that he needs to learn when to keep his mouth shut," Erik replied. Christine shook his head, knowing that Raoul was not the only one that should keep his mouth shut at times.

xXx

Erik woke up several times during the next couple of days but it was only for brief periods of time. But each time Christine was always there. Several times he had woken to hear her singing softly, in a voice he had not known she possessed. The sound of her voice was soothing and it calmed him and he always managed to slip back into sleep, even when guilt plagued him about not being able to help Christine when she had been in trouble.