XVI
Christine stared at the ceiling of the dormitory, wondering what time it was. She couldn't sleep, not altogether unsurprising considering the day, but it was annoying. She hadn't been able to sleep for the past few days, instead lying in bed wide awake, remembering things she would rather forget. The few times she did drift off her dreams had been filled with dark music and a man's touch.
Once bleak sunlight filtered through the transom window she finally got out of bed. And crept across the room, not wanting to wake any of the others who were sleeping. She needed peace of mind, and it seemed to her like the only place to get that would be at the cemetery, visiting her father's grave.
Raoul was sleeping in a chair by the door, and she was particularly careful slipping past him. She needed to do this alone, without her self appointed guardian with her. Still, she thought it very kind of him to want to protect her so.
She slowly made her way to the stables, waking one of the stable hands as she entered. He sighed heavily and blinked at her a few times before murmuring, "Where to, mademoiselle?"
"The cemetery," she replied, handing him a small purse.
As the man got the horses ready she went to the empty costume department and found a black dress, veil and cloak. She got dressed quickly, and was about to leave when a vase of dark red roses caught her eye.
Erik sighed heavily as he wandered through the empty theatre. Dawn was a good time to think, and he found himself doing a considerable amount of it when he caught sight of Christine sneaking from the dormitories. He followed her at a distance, sticking to the shadows. Once he heard where she wanted to go the perfect idea formed in his mind.
This was the perfect opportunity to get her back. So he hung back and waiting as the bleary eyed stable hand hitched up the horses. When he was almost done Erik picked up one of the many whips and drove it into the back of the man's skull. He collapsed immediately and Erik dragged him away, placing him on a bench, where it looked like he was merely asleep.
Before Christine returned he finished hitching the horses and swathed himself in his black cloak before climbing into the driver's seat. With any luck she would not recognize him.
Christine flung a black cloak over her shoulders and went back to the stable, the carriage was already ready, and the driver, swathed in a black cloak was sitting and ready.
"To my father's grave," she instructed, climbing into the carriage and making herself comfortable.
The carriage made good time, trotting and cantering across the cobblestones of the city, and the leafy dirt road that lead up to the cemetery. As it jostled along, Christine found herself thinking of the past year, and all the events that had led up to this. A light rain started to fall and she drew her cloak up against the chill.
"Thank you," she said, once the carriage had come to a stop. The man merely nodded before flicking the reins, and leaving her to her thoughts.
Erik watched as Christine started to make her way through the cemetery, he drove the horses a little further, just out of sight, before climbing down himself and making his way to the mausoleum where her father was buried.
Once he reached the large stone structure he dodged around the back of it and began to look for a way to set his plan in action. With a little effort he managed to climb to the top and position himself comfortably, while still remaining well hidden. Everything seemed to rest on this now.
"Little Lotte thought of everything and nothing…her father promised her that he would send her the Angel of Music…her father promised her…her father promised her…" Christine whispered, staring at all of the tomb stones and stone angels that surrounded her. She began to sign to herself.
It was strange, but the last time she had been to the cemetery seemed so long ago. She could barely even remember it. She remembered the funeral, of course, but only as a blur of blank faces and murmured words of comfort.
She blinked back a few tears of her own as she approached the mausoleum and knelt before it, placing the roses on the ground in front of her. She was about to open her mouth to speak, when a familiar voice drifted towards her.
"Wandering child… so lost… so helpless yearning for my guidance."
"Angel…or father…friend…or Phantom? Who is there staring?"
"Have you forgotten you Angel?" he sang, voice becoming more and more hypnotic.
"Angel… oh, speak…what endless longings echo in this whisper?"
"Too long you've wandered in winter…far from my fathering gaze."
"Wildly my mind beats again you…" Christine sang, finding herself drawn up the steps.
"You resist," he sang, "yet the soul obeys! Angel of Music! You denied me… turning from true beauty…Angel of Music! Do not shun me…Come to your strange Angel!"
Christine could feel her heart tripping as his own voice overlapped hers, drowning out her own song to him, "Angel of Music! I denied you…turning from true beauty…Angel of Music! My protector. Come to me, strange angel…"
Erik could feel excitement rise in his breast as she began to creep forward and he continued to beckon her, using all the power his voice could hold.
"I am your Angel of Music…Come to me Angel of Music," he sang, "I am your Angel of music…come to me Angel of Music…"
His last words were drowned out as hoof beats pounded against the ground and the voice of the young vicomte could be heard as he flung himself off his horse, "Christine wait! Whatever you may believe, this man…this thing…is not your father!"
Erik gave a great cry of rage and leapt from the top of the mausoleum, flinging his cloak out of his face and drawing his sword. How dare he call him that. How dare he call him a thing, as if he were not even human.
He could hear the blood roaring in his ears as their swords first collided. He wanted him dead! He wanted that cursed boy out of the picture for good. He had no right to call him that!
Christine watched in horror as the two men fought, swords glinting menacingly in the fog. Raoul was trained well, she knew that, but against the Phantom's terrible rage he seemed to have little chance. Not only that, but the other man was trickier, not following the rules of a fair fight.
She gasped when Raoul nearly tumbled into a tombstone, or when he was shoulder checked by the man in the black cloak. He was brave, but that couldn't compare, and she couldn't help but scream when the Phantom pushed Raoul back and slashed his shoulder.
Blood became evident on the white shirt, but Raoul ignored it, parrying the Phantom's blows and gradually forcing him back. Their swords crossed, and Raoul forced the Phantom's to the ground, stepping on it and kicking it away.
The ghost fell backwards and Raoul raised his swords, ready to run his through.
"No!" Christine cried, suddenly terrified that Raoul would do it, would kill her Angel, "Raoul…no…Not like this."
He seemed to have second thoughts, but sheathed his sword and went back over to where the grey stallion was pacing nervously. With the aid of a tomb he mounted and helped Christine onto the horse.
She looked back to see the other man staring at her, slowly pushing himself up from the ground, then she turned around as Raoul urged the horse into a steady canter, taking them both away from the cemetery.
"Are you alright?" Raoul asked quietly, his tone almost annoyed.
"I'm fine," she replied softly, "your arm-"
"Its nothing, I'll have it dressed back at the theatre."
Erik glared at their retreating backs. She had stopped him…why? Why would she do that? He had been bested, he had been ready to die, ready to have his miserable life ended right there, and she had snatched away that opportunity. He had stolen his only chance at love, and she had left him to suffer through that pain.
He dragged himself up fro m the ground and took a deep breath, "Now let it be war upon you both!" he snarled.
Then he swirled his cape, spraying the wet from it before picking up his sword and sheathing it. Blood red rose petals decorated the ground, and he kicked at them before stalking off to find the carriage he had left, praying that it was till there and that he would not have to walk home.
A/N: Ooh,I am getting quicker with the updates, no? Please if you are reading tell me what you think of the story, I need some sort of idea. I, personally really liked the way this chapter turned out, how about you? So drop a reviewand speak your mind.