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Chapter 14

The rest of the trip went on smoothly for Erik and Christine, though secretly Erik was growing more and more terrified of returning to Paris and Christine was growing more and more tired no Raoul. It was the day of their docking in, the trip had finally come to end much to their delight and displeasure.

Raoul had become much more forward with Christine, only to be rejected harder each time. His patients and his time had run to make Christine his fiancee, but he was not about to let her go. He had been forming a plan in his mind that he knew Christine would not be able to say "no" to and then she would be his.

"Christine, I hope you are packed we dock in ten minutes and I must speak with you before we do!" Raoul shouted through the door of her cabin. He had already been waiting fifteen minutes outside of her door, but she refused to let him in saying that she was not fully clothed yet.

"Raoul please I am almost finished!" Christine said breathlessly as she tried to finish dressing herself.

It was much harder without anyone to help her. Erik had left sometime early that morning, to where she had no clue. She just hoped that he would get off of the ship without any problems, but of course it was Erik. If anyone could go undetected it was him, as for Christine she was having increasing trouble concealing her growing womb under her gowns. She finally got all of her dressings on and hurried to let a very frustrated Raoul in. He stood there looking like a pouting child rather than an impatient man.

"Christine what on Earth took you so long?" He looked around at her room which was spotless with her bags neatly stacked on and around her bed.

"I told you I wasn't finished dressing. I'm completely packed though and ready to go." She walked over to the night stand to get her small clutch, sweetly smiling at Raoul as she passed him.

"Christine before we go, I must ask something of you." Raoul reached out to grab her arm as she started for the door. Her stare grew colder and he instantly let go.

"What is it Raoul?" Christine's voice sounded greatly annoyed.

"I must ask you to come to meet my brother tonight before you return home. I know it has been a long trip, but my brother has been dying to meet you and I must insist that you come."

"Raoul I am tired and really don't . . . "

"Christine I cannot refuse his demand and neither can you. I am sorry if this is a great inconvenience for you, but I greatly appreciate it."

Christine sighed heavily and began walking again to the door.

The dock was as busy as it was when they had first boarded the ship. People were everywhere rushing to get where they need to go. People swirled around Christine pushing passed her making her dizzy. Suddenly she felt a pair of eyes watching her in the distance. She froze under their gaze knowing exactly whose eyes were watching her.

"The ring will find its way into your life and you will know then child, oh you will know then what you truly seek and what path your heart truly wants to take. But beware, Christine, that beauty does not stain your eyes and your heart."

The old woman's voice was ringing her Christine's mind as if she was standing beside her.

"What is it my dear? Won't you come to see me?"

"Stop leave me alone." Christine muttered aloud, shutting her eyes.

The old woman's voice continued, "But you are in danger my child. I must tell you something."

"No I refuse just leave me alone!" Christine knew that people around her could probably hear her talking to what seemed like herself. The voice stopped inside her head. She slowly opened her eyes seeing nothing, but confused looks on peoples' faces as they hurried by her. She let out a heavy sigh realizing that she had been holding her breath. Christine turned to go find Raoul only to come face to face with the burning red eyes. She screamed jumping back from the old woman's glare frantically looking for Raoul to run to.

"Hush child! You must listen and listen hard for the sake of you and your child!" The old woman pointed a boney shriveled up finger at Christine's mid-section.

"How do you know I am pregnant and how do you know my name?" Christine cried out. She was practically screaming, but this time no one seemed to notice. No one seemed to know her ir the old woman were even there.

"I know a great many things child and therefore you must listen to what I tell you. The man you are traveling with wishes to have you as his whether you feel the same way or not. You should not go with him to his home tonight, he may try something."

At first Christine thought she was talking about Erik, but clearly it was Raoul she was warning her about.

"Raoul would never do anything to me."

"He will when he finds outs about your other love..."

"What do you want from me? Why are you doing this?" Christine had had enough. The old woman knew way to much.

"I can only tell you this child, evil as looked upon you and will not let go until it has what it wants. You must be always on your guard or else it will catch you wi..."

"Christine who are you talking to?" It was Erik ducking in-between the people in the crowd. He was dressed in all black with a long black cape and a black hat, his usual going out outfit.

"Oh thank God, Erik this woman claims that..." but Christine stopped suddenly realizing that the she was gone. "Didn't you see me talking to an old woman just now?"

"No I can't say that I did. I saw you and you looked like you were lost or confused about something. I figured you had been separate from the boy, so I came to tell you he is waiting for you by the carriage.

"Erik I swear there was someone here! I was just talking to her and she knew that I was pregnant and about you and she told me not to go with Raoul." She looked up at him helplessly, pleading for him to suddenly be able to see the old man.

"Where are you going with Raoul? I thought he was taking you back to the opera house."

"Oh well he will, but he says that I have to come to his brother's estate for dinner tonight. He said I didn't have a choice, that his brother insisted upon it." Christine forgot that she never told Erik about her plans with Raoul. She saw the anger rise in his eyes, but he held it back possibly for her sake or maybe more for his own.

"Well then you had better go so you can get it over with." He said after a moment to regain his control. He gently kissed her cheek and led her half way to where Raoul stood waiting for her before disappearing into the busy crowd.

"After you mademoiselle." Raoul said sweetly opening the door for her and helping her into the carriage.

"Merci beaucoup."