Chapter Twenty-Eight

Scheming

"She killed one of the guards!" Leroy shouted at the older gentleman who sat reclining in his desk. His gray hair and wrinkled face did not take away from the look in his brown eyes. He was angry, and it showed. He wore a black evening coat and trousers, white shirt and matching cravat. In one hand he held a glass of brandy and his knuckles were white from where he clutched the glass in his rage. Leroy was pacing back and forth in his own rage as he cursed Christine and her husband.

"You should not have underestimated her," the man, Michael, spat. Leroy's face was livid.

"She is a gawky girl, Father! Was I to know that she was capable of such a thing!" Leroy demanded. Michael threw the brandy glass across the room where it shattered and he stood up, leaning forward on the desk. Leroy took an involuntary step back.

"You know who her mother is! We underestimated her once and you look where that got us!" he screamed. Leroy looked away, knowing it would be wise for him to stay silent. When his father got mad there was no way to predict what he was going to do next. But Christine getting away had not been in their plans. They had planned on using her to get to Erik, but now with her gone Erik had no reason to come to them on their terms. Leroy knew that the man very well come after them and kill them both. They had to stay on their guard if they were going to finish this their way.

"Desslar has a manor here in Rome, we know they will go back there," Leroy said, trying hard to come up with a good plan to make up for his mistake of allowing Christine to get free.

"Yes, and what good will that do us? He has guards everywhere!" Michael growled. Leroy shook his head, an idea forming in his mind.

"No, there might be a way to get in," Leroy murmured. Michael slowly sat back down in his chair, waiting patiently for his son to continue. Leroy had always been a very smart man, he was sure he would figure something out to get to Desslar.

"In two weeks it is all Hallow's Eve...we both know that Desslar always had a freakish obsession with the holiday," Leroy said. Michael shrugged.

"Your point being what?" he demanded, becoming impatient.

"Every year Desslar throws a masked ball...we could easily get in with everyone wearing masks," Leroy said. Michael got up and went to his son, taking his hand and shaking it. Leroy sighed in relief.

"Son, I think that is a brilliant idea!"

"I think you should leave the robe off," Erik murmured. Christine glanced at her husband in the mirror where he was in bed. He was reclining against the headboard, the sheet bunched at his waist so she got a perfect view of his broad chest. She had just slipped the robe on when Erik had made his comment. She shook her head at him. After he had told her his story about him and his mother he had made love to her on the sofa...on the floor and against the wall. Afterwards he had suggested that they move to her room. They had been there for several hours. Christine knew her body would not be able to take anymore for a few days at least.

"I need to talk to Sienna to make sure she is alright," Christine said. She felt bad that she had left Sienna to get used to her new environment on her own.

"Mademoiselle De Luca has your brother to see to her needs," Erik said, climbing out of bed. He wrapped the sheet around his waist and slowly made his way to her.

"I know what you are implying, Erik, and I want you to stop it, my brother is an honorable man, he will not shame Sienna," Christine said. She turned from the mirror and made her way to the door, but not before Erik had managed to grab her arm and push her up against the wall. He undid the pins in her hair that she had just spent the last ten minutes on making sure they would hold her heavy hair up. They clattered to the floor and Christine sighed against his insatiable mouth. When he began to undo her robe however she pushed away from him, shaking her head with a small laugh.

"No more, Erik!" she said, hitting his arm playfully. The look in his eyes told her that he did not like that answer. Christine's cool hand cupped his cheek and her eyes found his.

"My body needs to rest, I am not used to such activities," she said softly, hoping he would understand. She would make love to him again but knew it would end up only being painful to her because she was just to sore. Erik kissed her before pulling away.

"I suppose you are right," he said dejectedly. Christine gave him one last smile before slipping out of the room. Sienna's chambers lay not far from her own and when she reached them she knocked softly on the door. A soft assent greeted her knock and Christine silently made her way into the room. Sienna smiled at her from her place on the floor in front of the roaring fire. Her black locks were loose and Sienna was coming the thick mass as she stared into the flames. Christine went and sat down beside her, not saying anything for a moment.

"I am sorry it has taken me so long to come and see you," Christine apologized. Sienna shook her head.

"That is quite alright, I know you have been spending time with your husband. Besides, Monsieur Daae has been most kind to me," the young Roman girl said softly. A dreamy expression crossed the young girls olive green eyes when she spoke Anthony's name. Christine wondered if Anthony was as taken by this young girl as she was with him. Sienna turned to her, a happy expression on her face.

"Oh, Christine, you are so lucky to live like this!" Sienna said, her voice full of awe. Christine smiled and said nothing.

"Sienna, my husband is taking me back to our home here in Rome, would you like to come with us?" Christine asked. She would like Sienna to come with them because she truly liked the young girl but she wanted her to choose.

"Your husband would not mind?" Sienna asked. She had never talked to the man but he seemed rather frightening to her and she did not want to go if he did not want her.

"If you do not mind leaving your home," Christine said. In truth she had not discussed it with Erik but she would make him agree. She knew his weakness now, her body. If he did not let Sienna come she would not let Erik touch her. It seemed fair to her.

"I have no one, Christine. I would like to stay with you if I would not be imposing," she said. Christine laughed softly.

"In a house as big as this one I am sure no one would be able to impose!" Christine assured her.

"Then I would very much like to go with you," she said, although she was saddened by the fact that she would not see much of Anthony. Christine smiled and hugged her tightly.

"I think of you as a good friend, Sienna," Christine informed her.

"The same with me," the Italian girl answered. A knock on the door interrupted their conversation and both women were surprised to see Anthony come in.

"Oh...pardon the intrusion, ladies," Anthony said, surprised that his sister was there. He had not seen her since earlier and it angered him because he knew all to well what she was doing with her husband. He had hoped to find Sienna alone but obviously that was too much to ask for.

"Sienna, I had hoped that perhaps you would do me the honor of coming with me to supper tonight?" he asked, not quite looking at her. Christine had to hide her small giggle at how boyish her older brother looked. Sienna glanced at Christine who nodded her head urgently. She would not let her friend ruin such an opportunity.

"I would be honored, Monsieur," Sienna said. Anthony's shoulders visibly relaxed and both women noticed.

"Will an hours time suffice?" he wondered.

"I will help her to change," Christine said and Sienna nodded. Anthony gave a small bow and left the room. Both girls erupted in a mass of giggles.

"He looked so nervous!" Christine laughed. Sienna could not even answer.

Paris

The Delauney Manor

December 1859

Erik's small hands covered his ears as he pressed his face into the pillow, trying to block out the sounds of her screams. He had been with the Delauney's for a little over three months and he had found himself blessed to have been given such a wonderful gift. He had come to think of Emma as his older sister because she was always there whenever he needed her. He often had nightmares about different things he had seen in the streets of Paris, the first time he had had such a dream he had woken up to Emma's arms wrapped tightly around him, shushing him back into sleep. Now, whenever he had a nightmare all he had to do was go to Emma's room and knock on her door and she would let him sleep with her and he would not have the nightmares.

Only one thing caused him dread in his new life; when Isaac came home drunk. When this happened he would find Emma where ever she was and he would beat her. Sometimes it would be for mere momentsuntil he passed out or, like now, it would be for a couple hours. Isaac had noticed quickly the sibling relationship Emma and Erik were beginning to share. Emma stood up for him whenever Isaac began to taunt or push Erik around and it always ended up with Emma getting punished. But on nights like this when he came home drunk Isaac would make sure that Erik was present to watch his 'beloved sister' as Isaac called her, get beaten.

But tonight was too much. It had been going on for over an hour and Emma's screams were becoming more pained and tortured. He knew the whole house heard it but no one ever came and did anything. Erik hated all of them because of it. Erik rallied his courage and lifted his head from the bed so he could look at Emma. She was at Isaac's feet and although she still had enough strength to scream her body was limp and lifeless. He kicked and hit her and sometimes used objects near him to hit her as well. In his hands at the moment was the cane he sometimes carried around with him. Erik could see blood and he knew that he could not let this continue, no matter how afraid he was of Isaac and his beatings. Scrambling from the bed Erik ran to Isaac and grabbed his arm.

"Stop! Stop!" he screamed. Isaac flung him off of him easily but Erik persisted and ran to him again. This time when Isaac threw him from him he hit him roughly with the cane. Erik cried out and collapsed beside Emma.

"Stop! Leave him alone!" Emma pleaded. This only caused Isaac to hit her again and Erik picked himself up and barreled into Isaac. This might not have been enough to knock a grown man over in most circumstances, but Isaac was extremely intoxicated and already had trouble standing up. So when Erik, even with his small body, ran into him, it effectively knocked him to the ground. Isaac growled angrily and bodily grabbed Erik and threw him from him. His small body hit the wall and crumpled to the floor. Emma's scream was blood curdling this time. Isaac picked himself up and grabbed his cane, this time heading for Erik. The door opened and Michael came in. He went to his son and took the cane from his hand and grabbed his arm.

"Enough, son, enough," Michael said, not even glancing at his daughter or Erik. Isaac wanted to protest but Michael lead his son from the room. Erik could not believe his eyes. Emma's own father did not care that she was being beaten by her brother. How could that be?

"Emma?" Erik whispered, crawling over to where she was lying, a heap of bruises and blood. She raised a arm weakly and caressed his cheek before her arm fell limply at her side. Erik curled himself up next to her and allowed himself to cry.

"You're a good boy, Erik, and I love you like my brother," she whispered before succumbing to the blackness.

Erik woke up in a cold sweat. That was the second time he had had to relive that moment that day. A few hours prior he had found it in him to tell Christine and he supposed that having had to think about it had caused him to have a nightmare. That had been one of many nights that Isaac had found it in himself to beat Emma. Erik had not understood at the time why Michael had allowed it all to happen, but he did now. Antoinette, Emma's mother, had been unfaithful to him during the first early years of their marriage. And because of this unfaithfulness she had become pregnant with Emma. When Emma had found this out she had cried in Erik's arms. The man she had thought was her father wasn't and that was why he did not care what happened to her. She was not his daughter.

Christine stirred beside him. She had allowed him to stay in her room for the night in Anthony's manor and in the morning they would leave and go to their home. She had told him that Sienna was coming with them and of course he had argued. He knew nothing about the woman and did not want her in his house. His little spit-fire had told him that if he did not allow Sienna to go with them then she would not allow him to touch her! Imagine the nerve of such a statement! Erik had laughed and Christine had become outraged, pounding her tiny fists against him. Their argument had heated up once again but it had only resulted in the two of them nearly launching themselves at one another in frenzied lust. Erik had taken her hard against the wall and in the end agreed to letting Sienna come to their home.

But now as he gazed at her, lying beside him beneath the black sheets, and knowing that she was naked beneath them, Erik felt his body stir in desire. He had had many women in his life but she was the first that he had ever found himself unable to get enough of. Yanking the sheet off of her pale body he turned her onto her back and spread her legs. He touched her center and found her still warm and wet from their previous encounter. It was the only encouragement he needed and he thrust himself hard into her welcoming body.

Christine's eyes fluttered open and she moaned long and loud. Her eyes found his as she wrapped her legs around his waist and met him thrust for thrust. Erik braced his hands on either side of her head and continued his hard rhythm against her. Was it really she, who moved against him just as roughly, that had said that her body needed rest? It seemed like such a ridiculous statement to make now that she was making love with him. He kissed her and Christine's hands tangled themselves hard in his hair. His pounding continued until she screamed her release, the sound echoing in the still of the room. Erik's head fell back as he groaned and released himself inside of her. With his seed he was cleansed of nightmares for the rest of the night.

Caged Bird Timeline

March 29, 1839Gustave Daae was born

October 16, 1843Emma Delauney was born

April 10, 1853Erik Desslar was born

September 1859Erik and Emma meetErik is six and Emma is sixteen

December 24, 1860 Anthony is born

January 1863Delauney Family goes to Persia

December 18, 1863Emma meets Gustave Daae

February 04, 1865Christine Daae was born

Present

August 22, 1885Erik and Christine marry...

October 31, 1885 Hollow's Eve Masked Ball

A/N: I added a few things to the timeline, and I bet you are wondering how Anthony is born before Emma meets his father, you wait and see! please review!