Chapter Forty-Six

The Hand That's Dealt

One week later...

"Christine?"

Raoul peered into her chambers and was relieved to find her up. This was the first time he had been allowed to get up and as soon as the doctor had told him it was alright he had immediately come here. He had heard Anthony's outburst a week prior and could only thank the man for bringing Christine back into the world of the living, although she was anything but alright, even now. She ate, and managed to sleep a few hours every night, but seeing her husband murdered still would leave her forever changed.

"Raoul," she said simply, without emotion, without anything really. She spoke to no one it seemed, and she stayed in her rooms without coming out. He was surprised she had even said his name. He came in and sat down on the bed beside her. She stared ahead of her, not really looking at anything, but needing something to keep her mind occupied.

"Would you like to talk about it?" he whispered, knowing he was taking a big chance that she would not slip into her world of madness once more. But Christine looked at him in surprise. He wished to talk about what had happened? No one as of yet had asked if she would like to discuss what had happened. After her brief insanity everyone tried to give her her distance. But here was this kind man, who obviously still cared for her, and he wanted to talk to her about what had happened. Could she do that? Just thinking about Erik and she was close to another breakdown.

"Why?" she whispered. Raoul was taken back by the simple question and the amount of pain in that one word. Why? He did not know why. If he could go back in time he would have it be him who was shot and killed and Erik only wounded. Erik was needed on this earth far more than Raoul ever would be and he would do anything to see Christine smile again.

"Christine-"

"Why did he leave me here?" she interrupted. Once more he did not know what to say. Maybe he had been getting way over his head with this conversation, but he had started it and now he had to finish it, even when he knew Christine looked ready to cry.

"I-I just-I just want to feel his arms around me again...I just want to hear his voice," she whispered, tears escaping her eyes. Raoul leaned towards her and wrapped his arms around her. Christine collapsed against him, desperately needing to be held and she allowed the tears to flow freely.

"I want him to see our baby..." she cried softly. Raoul stroked her hair and pulled her closer. Christine had pleaded with Erik not to go there because deep down she had known that something was bound to happen to him. That was why she had followed him...and because of her he was dead. She should have never left the house that night. If she would have listened to Erik he would still be alive and Christine would not want to die...she blamed herself...it was all her fault.

"It is all my fault..." Christine whispered. Raoul immediately shook his head. He would not let her think that.

"No, Christine, do not say that!" Raoul insisted. Christine pushed away from him, not going to be swayed from her course of thinking. Because of her foolish actions her baby would never know his father. Would never know the kind of man who was willing to die for his family. What if she was not a good enough parent? She could not raise a baby on her own!

"I should have stayed home when he told me!" she sobbed.

"If you had not followed us Sienna would have been raped or worse!" Raoul said, needing her to see reason. Christine said nothing, once more collapsing into his arms and crying. What could he say to make her feel better? Nothing, he could not bring Erik back no matter how much he wished he could. So he held her and let her cry, wishing he could do something more and knowing he could not.

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Sienna could no longer take Anthony's cold shoulder. He had not talked to her since the incident and she could not last much longer. She had realized how much she loved him and it hurt her that he did not want to even speak with her. That was why she was storming towards his chambers in the early evening light. She swung the doors open and Anthony cursed under his breath, yanking his trousers on. Sienna looked away quickly.

Just her luck she would walk in while he was changing. He cleared his throat and she raised her eyes to his, but found herself stopping when she realized that he was not wearing a shirt...and he was extremely handsome with his bronzed skin and the barely leashed muscle that seemed to tighten with every movement he made. Curse the man for being so handsome, it was hard to have a serious conversation when you had a half naked god in front of you! He said nothing to her, only raised an eyebrow, wondering what she wanted.

He had forgotten exactly how stunning she was to look at. She looked gorgeous this evening, with her hair loose and falling down her back. Sienna did not know what to say to him...that she was angry he no longer wanted anything to do with her? What did she expect really? Anthony was a handsome man, she was sure that he had had countless scores of woman that he took to his bed for the evening and then they were gone in the morning. But that was what did not make sense to her...Anthony was not like that at all and she had not even slept with him yet. She knew he had to feel something for her...the kiss they had shared told her that...she could not be imagining it. She couldn't be.

"Is there something you needed, Sienna?" he asked, his voice emotionless. Sienna looked down at the floor for a moment, trying to desperately think of something to say to him. She wanted to tell him to put on a shirt but knew under the circumstances that it was not really the right thing to say. How would she be able to tell him how much she had needed him over the last few days? She had desperately needed someone to hold her and knew that he had needed someone too, why did he have to turn away from her? Anthony watched in surprise as Sienna slowly walked over to him, her eyes on the floor. When she was mere inches from him she laid her hand on his bare chest. His breath caught slightly at the feel of her touching him and she slowly brought her gaze to his. He said nothing as he looked at her. He had missed her over the last few days and he had known it was his fault that he was not with her.

"Sienna..."

He managed to murmur her name before she reached up and kissed him. Both her palms were lying flat on his chest and his arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her close as he tongue slowly ravaged her mouth. God his feelings for this woman were ridiculous and yet he had needed her so badly and had been too stubborn to tell her. He gently brought her to his bed and laid them down so they were side by side, Sienna cradled in his arm as he kissed her. He just wanted to kiss her, nothing more. He had far too much respect for her and himself to do anything when they were not married. Her soft fingertips touched his face and trailed down the perfect features. He pulled away and rested his forehead against hers.

"I am always here if you need anything, Anthony," Sienna whispered. God, to hold her after everything that had happened seemed like a great burden had been lifted from his shoulders just from being near her.

"Just let me hold you...please," he whispered. She nodded, knowing that he had had a lot to deal with recently. But nothing could have prepared her for when he broke down and began to sob. She knew everything that had happened had finally caught up with him. She pulled him close and kissed away his tears and allowed him to cry in her arms...

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Nadir stared at the parchment in front of him. This could not be happening...could not be! The letter he had sent a week prior had finally received a response...but not the one he had wanted. He could only stare at the letter in front of him, sometimes glancing at Erik's still form. The letter he had sent had somehow been intercepted...

Khan,

I curse you for helping Desslar in his escape...I thought I had killed the bastard. But once more he proves far too strong for his own good. He had a hand in both of my son's deaths and for that I wish him an eternity in hell. But the more I thought about the more I knew that death was too easy for a man such as himself, for surely the devil would embrace him. So I knew that the thing closest to death was to keep him away from the one person who means anything to him. Lovely Christine. She thinks he is dead and she almost killed herself with grief, stupid trollop. But my sources tell me that her brother managed to talk some sense into her and she is slowly recovering, but of course she had nightmares about see her beloved murdered. My sources also tell me she almost lost the bastard growing inside her, what a pity she had not. So I write to tell you that I have men all over the Chagny manor, and several inside sources, and all of them have been given orders to kill Christine and the baby if Erik so much as writes her a letter. Servants inside the Chagny estate are easily had and several of them are under my orders. If Christine is so much as hinted at that Erik is still alive, they will kill her...and I am sure he does not want that. I hope you both rot in hell.

M. Delauney