Chapter Forty-One

Devil's Domain

A/N: Hello all! I first want to say that I truly appreciate all of the wonderful reviews you all have left over the coarse of this story! You are all wonderful! This story has become so much a part of me it is amazing! Often times I wish I could go back and erase the mistakes I made without thinking but of course life is not fair! This story is turning out to be longer than I had ever expected and we have a while to go yet. I am not sure if I want to continue or make part 2...maybe you all could let me know what you think! Thanks again! DonJuanTriumphs

Christine knew that her scream was loud enough, but she prayed that Erik heard it. She had seen nothing of him yet and she hoped he was there, because she had just gotten herself into a lot of trouble. Leroy's face showed his surprise seeing her standing there. He shoved himself off of Sienna and immediately rushed after Christine. Christine knew she could not run, if she ran then she would be leaving Sienna in danger. If she could distract Leroy long enough for Erik to get to them that everything would be alright.

She screamed again, this time more loudly than before, and managed to dodge Leroy's grasp. She knew Leroy was unaware of Erik's presence in the home, but he might figure it out, seeing that Christine had suddenly appeared out of no where. This time when he lunged for her he managed to snag her around the hair and yank her back against him. Sienna screamed this time and Christine knew they were making enough noise to wake all of Rome. Leroy grabbed her chin roughly in his hands and forced her to meet his gaze.

"So nice of you to join us love," he hissed.

Christine watched in horror as he slammed the door and locked it before roughly grabbing her wrist in his bruising grip. Christine knew she was had to be only a month pregnant but her motherly instinct to protect the small being growing inside of her was just as strong. She lashed out at him and managed to hit him roughly in the face.

He growled and grabbed her beautiful chocolate locks and roughly dragged her toward the bed. Sienna, who was normally a very timid girl, rushed at Leroy and began pounding on him with her fists. The back of his hand connected with her cheek and she crumpled to the floor.

"Wait your turn, trollop, you're next," he growled, tossing Christine onto the bed. He found the beautiful French woman far more tempting than the Italian at the moment, but of course he would have both of them in time. He admitted that he was quite surprised Christine had come alone looking for Sienna but then she had always been a foolish girl, if she was anything like her mother.

"You're disgusting!" Christine spat when he pinned her to the bed. He grinned. It was hilarious that she thought he cared what she thought of him. He was doing this because it was a way to get at Erik. Imagine the masked man's face when he found out his perfect little wife had been used by his worst enemy. He would give anything to see that look. But of course it was not a hard job...Christine was beautiful. She was generous in both breast and hips and her face and thick hair also pleased him greatly.

"And you...you're gorgeous," he muttered.

"I'm your niece!" Christine cried, disgusted by the Delauney family and their incestuous feelings for other members of their family.

"Not true. I never claimed your mother as my sister."

"It does not change the fact that you are blood, one in the same!" Christine cried, struggling against him. How could he, his brother, and his father, all have such feelings towards a woman as gentle and kind as her mother? It did not make any sense to her. What kind of men were they to hurt her like they had?

She would die if he touched her like he planned on doing. She had known only one passion, and that was what Erik had given her. She had known only one man's touch, and that, too, was Erik's. She was pregnant with Erik's baby, and she refused to let this man touch her so intimately. Knowing Erik had to be somewhere she screamed again.

Leroy pushed a cruel hand against her mouth to silence her screams. Christine retaliated by biting down hard on the tender flesh of his hand. He growled and slapped her, causing Christine to flinch when she felt blood fill her mouth. He grabbed her hair and forced her head back so he could whisper into her ear.

"Your demon of a husband will no longer wish to touch you once I have had you...again and again," he hissed.

"You are wrong there. He will take great delight in killing you for laying a hand on me in the first place," Christine growled. She knew Erik would never take it lightly when something of his was hurt, and he believed that she belonged to him. Christine was his wife, but that also worked the other way. Erik was hers, he was her husband and they belonged to each other.

"But what a way to die, Cherie, in an angels embrace..." he murmured, putting his disgusting mouth on the flesh above the swell of her breasts.

"Your lust will blind you... just like it blinded your brother!" she spat. Leroy's face contorted angrily and he slapped her cruelly.

"Don't you dare speak about my brother!" he hissed.

"How can you defend such a disgusting pig?" she demanded, knowing it was going to mean her own punishment but unable to remain quiet. His slap hurt worse than the first and she could already feel the bruise that was beginning to appear.

"My brother was a good man-"

"'A good man'?" Christine managed to laugh. Leroy's hands dug cruelly into the flesh of her shoulders as he pinned her down.

"Shut up," he growled, his tone raising.

"He was such a good man that he forced my mother to sleep with not only him, but all of his friends!" Christine cried, the injustice done to her mother needing to be voiced.

"Your mother was a slut; she deserved everything that happened to her!" Leroy spat.

"And your brother deserved to die for touching her!" Christine sobbed, angry at herself for allowing the tears to flow. This time he hit her several times and Christine felt near unconsciousness. Sienna had edged her way towards the door, knowing that if she could get out of the room she would be able to find Anthony and Erik. Christine finally noticed her.

"Run!" Christine screamed to her friend. Leroy let the Italian trollop go, he was determined to make Christine suffer for the things she had said about his brother, may he rest in peace.

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Christine could not be in the manor. He had told her that she had to stay behind, for her sake and the baby. But then he heard the scream again and it left little doubt that his wife was here and in danger. He fled down the hall, towards the sound of her cries. He had always known that Christine was a stubborn woman but he would have never believed that she would put herself in so much danger. Leroy and Michael could kill her without a thought simply to spite him.

Had she known what it would do to him to find out that she had deliberately disobeyed him? If she was hurt he knew he would blame himself, not her. As her husband it was his responsibility to protect her, even when she was being completely impossible. He truly loved that side of her but at the moment he would have given anything to make sure that she was alright. Anything at all.

"Erik!" Anthony shouted. Erik turned his head, but did not stop running. Both Anthony and Raoul rushed to keep up with him, them, too, having heard Christine's screams. Another scream joined the second two and Anthony recognized it this time. Sienna!

"Oh, God," he whispered to himself. His pace quickened considerably. Erik blamed himself for leaving Sienna alone while he went to find Anthony. But then again, he had not thought that Christine would show up, and he could only imagine what was going on in that room that would cause her to scream. It was only a matter of time before they were caught and he needed to make sure they were ready to fight.

He was suddenly glad that he had allowed both men to come because now that Christine was in danger he was glad he had people who would help him...it had felt like a long time since he had had someone there to help in the same cause. He was not alone anymore, thanks to his Christine. He owed her more than he would ever be able to repay but he was willing to spend a lifetime making everything up to her.

"Your pistol?" Erik demanded. Anthony reached into his coat and pulled the weapon out, Raoul quickly doing the same. Erik would not need one; he found he was rather good with his hands...

They were stopped short when Sienna came running towards them her cheek showing the beginnings of a bruise and her tears rushing down her face. She ran right into Anthony's arms and wrapped them around her in relief. He thanked God for giving her back to him. With her kidnapping he had realized how much he truly did love her.

It was foolish to feel so much for her so soon but he could not hide his emotions and he did not even want to. Her body was shaking with the force of her sobs but Anthony took her chin in his hand and forced her to meet his gaze, demanding that she tell him what was happening. She was only able to utter one word.

"Christine."