Chapter Eighteen

Guardian Angel...Protect Me...From Yourself

"An angel walks beside me,
I feel him everyday,
he helps me through life's ups and downs,
and whatever comes my way.
He guides me down the road of life,
and lights the darkest roads,
he picks me up and carries me,
when I can not bear the load..."

Christine gently pushed a lock of hair away from Erik's face as she sang softly to him. This song was something her mother often sang to her when she was a small little girl. She had always imagined that the 'angel' spoken of in the poem would be a man who fell in love with her. The lines were saying all she wished Erik could do for her. He had been unconscious for several days thanks to his argument with Raoul and she was worried about him.

"He helps to ease the pain I feel,
he mends my spirit, too,
he holds my hand, and shelters me,
and gives me courage and strength, too.
He speaks to me with words of love,
and he listens to my pleas,
he was sent here from the lord above,
to guide and comfort me..."

Surely God had had a purpose in sending Erik to her? Did He not work in mysterious ways? But she could not explain what purpose there had been in having the two of them wed. They were so completely opposite from one another. She could hardly have a conversation with him without arguing. What had God been thinking putting them together.

"I know he's always watching,
though his form I can not see,
its a peace I feel deep in my heart,
that leads me to believe.
An angel walks beside me,
I feel blessed everyday,
that the presence of this angel,
will never go away..."

"Emma..."

Christine's eyes snapped to Erik's face when he softly spoke her mother's name. She felt a lump form in her throat at the thought of her mother. Had Erik truly loved her like a brother? If so then why had her mother never mentioned him? Surely if they had shared a close relationship wouldn't her mother have wanted them to be introduced? Or had something happened between them and they had stopped talking?

"No...Erik, it is Christine," she said softly, caressing his cheek. Erik's brow knitted into a grimace.

"Christine..." he said, his voice sounding hoarse and raw. She softly sang the song to him again, holding his hand softly in her own. She hoped he got better soon because whoever wished them dead might find out that Erik is vulnerable to a threat and they might take that opportunity.

"Christine?"

She turned to see Raoul standing in the doorway, a worried expression on his handsome face. She sighed. She truly did not wish to discuss anything with him but knew that he was only trying to help her in any way that he knew how.

"Yes, Raoul?" she whispered, not leaving Erik's side.

"Might I speak to you alone?" he wondered. She nodded. Christine glanced at Erik once more before reluctantly getting up to follow Raoul out of the room. He led her to the room that he was sharing with Anthony while they stayed at the inn and she was glad her brother was not around. She was sure whatever Raoul wanted to talk to her about was something only the two of them should hear. He set her down on the bed and sat next to her. He was quiet for quite some time, gathering his thoughts. Christine let him think, hoping that whatever he had to say would not change their relationship in any way.

"Christine, I know it is my fault that Erik is only getting worse and I am sorry," he said very softly. She turned to look at him in surprise, having not expected him to apologize for the argument.

"That is alright, Raoul. Erik is a strong man, I am sure he is going to be fine," she said, needing to believe it herself. Raoul said nothing for a moment.

"You must understand why I am here," he whispered brokenly. Christine swallowed, knowing that one of their hearts was going to be broken.

"Why is that, Raoul?" Christine asked, not wanting to make any assumptions. He turned to her and took her hands in his. Christine swallowed when he slowly brought his gaze to hers. She could see his feelings for her in his eyes and she almost looked away.

"I know I have no right saying this now...but I love you, Christine," he whispered. Christine closed her eyes and turned away.

"I had always hoped that perhaps you would be able to feel the same," he whispered, his voice sounding hurt and alone.

"Raoul, I am a married woman," Christine said gently. Raoul's eyes flashed and his hands tightened.

"You do not love him," he said, knowing it to be true. Christine did not argue. She did not love Erik, but she felt something for him.

"I know. But perhaps in time I will," she said. Raoul looked away, staring out the window across from him. He had so many thoughts whirling in his mind and there was a great pain in his heart.

"Do you believe in soul mates, Christine?" he asked. Christine nodded slowly, afraid she knew where this was going.

"Then how do you know that you are not mine? How will we ever know? What if there is a woman out there waiting for Erik?" he asked. Christine's mind was filled with images of Natasha and she did not like it. Raoul was right in a sense. How would she know that they were not meant to be if they had never given themselves a chance.

"What do you think you would feel if you were touched by your soul mate?" Christine asked. Raoul thought about if for a moment, knowing his answer might decide what would happen that night.

"Like no one else could ever do. As if they knew you better then anyone ever would, they'd make you feel desires unlike anyone ever had before," Raoul said. Christine knew those feelings. She had them whenever Erik kissed her or touched her. Did that mean they were soul mates? Perhaps Raoul was her soul mate and she simply needed to have that feeling to know it for certain. Perhaps if she kissed him she would be able to see if there was any feelings between them or if they were simply better off being friends.

"Raoul," Christine whispered. He turned to her, surprised slightly by the tone of her voice. She looked beautiful to him, her wild curls framing her face. Lush, red lips were slightly parted, nearly begging him to kiss her. But he would not do anything that would make Christine uncomfortable. Perhaps that was why he was so surprised when Christine leaned forward and kissed him.

xXx

She spoke of angels. Angels who would be able to give her everything she could ever need. He was no angel. Perhaps it would have been more fitting to hear her sing of demons. That was what she had tied herself to. A demon with the shortest temper and the blackest moods.

He had heard that heavenly voice before, but from a totally different woman. A woman who had taken him in when no one else had wanted him. His guardian angel. His beloved Emma. He had softly called her name because he wished she would forgive him for all the sins he had ever committed. She was in his dreams often, telling him that his lifestyle was going to end up leaving him alone and loveless in life. Something he did not want.

But he was not alone. Christine whispered to him, thinking him unconscious. She told him it was not his Emma, but his Christine. Christine...his little spit-fire, a woman who had her own hidden fire that he seen numerous times and refused to ever see banked. He did not have Emma, but he had Christine. Even if he did not have her love.

He heard Chagny come into the room and ask to speak to his wife alone. They were both foolish to believe that he was not aware of their conversation. He had told that handsome fop that he did not want him anywhere near Christine and here he came, sneaking in the middle of the night, hoping to steal a moment of his angels time while the demon lay resting.

But the angel consented and crept from the demons lair.

The door closed and Erik opened his eyes to find the room empty. A low, ominous growl erupted from his throat. How dare Christine sneak off with Chagny. He would not have her with the fop because he was all to aware that they were close to developing a relationship. Over his dead body.

Struggling into a sitting position his protesting body demanded that he lay back down. He would not let that happen. He needed to get to Christine, something telling him that he was not going to like what they were doing.

He made his way slowly to the room he knew Raoul and Anthony were sharing, hoping that the sick feeling in his stomach was just an overreacting imagination. He opened the door and the sight that greeted him caused a dark red haze to block out all rational thinking.

xXx

It happened so quickly Christine almost was not sure it had really happened. She had been kissing Raoul when the door had burst open and an animal like growl had erupted into the room. The young pair had pulled apart to see Erik standing there, a murderous look on his face.

He charged at them so quickly Raoul could not back up fast enough. Erik's fist connected hard with Raoul's face and the young man fell back, his head hitting the wall behind him with a sickening crack. Christine screamed when Erik's fist connected again and again with Raoul's undefensive body.

"Stop, Erik!" she pleaded. She gasped when the back of his hand connected with her cheek, tossing her to the ground like a rag doll. She felt blood fill her mouth but ignored it, knowing Erik's rage was blocking out any rational thought and knowing that he could easily kill Raoul. She threw herself at him, knocking him off balance and allowing Raoul's body to fall limply to the floor. They landed on the floor, Erik's body pinned beneath her much smaller frame. He growled and pinned her beneath him, holding her arms roughly on either side of her head. He looked ready to hit her again and she turned her head to the side, her cheek pressing against the cold hard floor. Several tears made their way onto her alabaster skin and she swallowed.

Erik cursed her several times before standing and pulling her roughly with him. He began tugging her with him out of the room and no matter how much she struggled he was far to strong. She pleaded with him to stop and she called his name numerous times, hoping he would come out of the daze he seemed to be in. He ignored her and when they reached their room he threw her upon the bed so roughly she cried out.

Once more his hand connected with her face and she crumpled onto the bed, a sobbing mess. Erik advanced on her again but his body seemed to have given out on him. He collapsed on the floor, becoming very still and very silent. The only sound that filled the room was Christine's quiet sobs.

A/N: The poem at the beginning of the chapter is not mine and I take no credit for it, just thought it fit well with the chapter and it reminded me of something Christine would say in the original story setting about her Angel of Music.