The Battle

The mob appeared a the looming doors of the great castle, carrying the heavy log, prepared to break down the doors and infiltrate the castle. Raoul dismounted the horse and allowed it to dash away from the crowd with a nervous snort.

"Remember!" he called as the drew back to log, "you can take anything you find, but that creature is mine!"

The mob gave a shout and slammed the log into the door, causing the wood to creak and the locks and hinges to strain. They drew back again and again, ramming the log into the door until a loud crack echoed throughout the still courtyard as the lock broke and the wood splintered. With one more lunge the door burst open, exposing the empty main hall of the castle.

The mob dropped the log and the sound echoed throughout the seemingly empty castle. Everyone craned their necks and looked around, attempting to find any sign of an inhabitant. The castle was dark and an ominous air hung around them, causing them to become nervous and clutch their would-be weapons tighter, as if afraid that something would come out of the shadows to kill them.

"Spread out," Raoul said quietly, feeling the same tension, "we have to find the monster. Just stay in groups."

Several of the men nodded and formed into small groups to search the castle. Raoul nodded and took a deep breath before going off by himself, keeping his eyes open for any sign of life.


Antoinette hung in the doorway as the sound of the door breaking echoed through the castle, followed by the sound of the log being dropped, "Sire, they've entered the castle. We have to do something."

"Do we?" he asked bitterly.

"Sire, we know their intentions. We have to do something, we have to protect the castle."

Erik sighed, the sound rattling in his chest, "Then do something."

"Very well then, we will," she said, turning and leaving the doorway. She had no intentions of allowing the castle to fall that easily.


Raoul decided to go up the main stairs, footsteps echoing in the stone halls. Gargoyles loomed over him, staring down with blank stone eyes, leering at him with large stone fangs. He swallowed and jumped at anything that could be another person. Shadows, creaks, the flicker of a torch in the wall.

He carefully pushed open several doors and, with a torch he took from a bracket, peered into the dark rooms. Most of them were dust covered and empty. A few of them seemed to be clean and he recognized one of the rooms that had been Christine's bedroom. With a low growl he closed the door and continued until he came to a door open a crack. A cool breeze came from behind it and Raoul carefully pulled open the door to reveal a dark room.

The room was cold and it took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. He looked around, holding the torch up so the light reached as far as it could. His eyes finally focussed on a shadow located outside of a broken glass door that lead to what looked like a balcony. Raoul carefully moved forward to get a better look and he gave a cruel smile when he saw the man standing on the balcony.

"So, you're the one who kept her here?" Raoul asked, stepping onto the balcony and grabbing Erik roughly by a skeletal arm and wrenching him around, "well, I surely don't see a reason that she would want to stay with you."

"Leave me alone," Erik muttered, feebly trying to pull his arm away.

"I don't think so. Do you have any idea how much worry you caused her father and I?" Raoul snarled, grasping the arm more tightly, "do you have any idea how worried we were? I love her you know? You deserve to die, you're a horrible monster."

He threw Erik away, sending him crashing into the railing of the balcony. Erik coughed as the wind was knock out of him and crumpled to the ground.

"What? You aren't even going to fight back?" Raoul laughed, kicking him gently in the ribs. Erik grunted but did not bother to get up and retaliate, "fine, this will be easy then."


Christine spurred the horse forward, wind whipping past her face and drawing tears from her eyes. She could see the castle ahead and felt her heart well inside her. It had felt as if she would never see the building again, it felt as if she might be too late and as she approached she saw Raoul on one of the balconies, looming over Erik, ready to strike.

"No!" she shouted, reigning in the horse, "No, Raoul, please stop!"

At the sound of her voice Raoul faltered and Erik lunged forward from the ground and knocked the weapon on out Raoul's hand. The young man gave a startled cry and Christine gave a gasp and a sigh of relief.


"Christine!" Erik gasped, looking over the edge of the balcony in surprise.

"Raoul gave a frustrated cry and lunged at Erik again. With lightning quick reflexes Erik jumped aside and vaulted over the balcony, landing on the rooftop bellow. Raoul grunted and followed him, landing and falling as Erik sped along the side, looking from side to side for a place to hide. He finally found one behind one of the many gargoyles that lined the roof.

"You can't hide from me!" Raoul shouted, looking around frantically, "come out and fight me! Were you in love with her? How amusing, why would she ever love you? You're a monster who kept her locked away in this cursed castle!"

Erik gave an angry growl and lunged out from behind the gargoyle, catching Raoul by surprise and throwing him off balance. Raoul gave a frightened gasp and scrambled back to his feet.

"Hit a sore spot, did I?" he asked

Erik squinted at him and reached into the folds of his cloak, gloved fingers wrapping around the familiar catgut hidden within. A smirk formed on lips and he shot the lasso out, the noose closing around the boy's neck.


Christine dismounted and ran into the castle and ran for the stairs, taking them two at a time as she made her way up to the West Wing. Her heart hammered in her chest when she ran into Meg.

"Meg!"

"Christine! Oh, Christine, I thought I'd never see you again," Meg gasped, quickly hugging her friend.

"Where is everyone?" Christine gasped, "the mob?"

"Oh, Maman and I have taken care of that," she said hurriedly, "don't worry, we're all fine."

"Erik," Christine gasped, "oh, Meg I have to go."

Meg nodded and Christine hurried up the Erik's room, flinging open the door and rushing over to the balcony. She launched herself towards the railing and gasped when she saw the scene below. Erik had a noose tightened around Raoul's neck and her old friend was gasping and clawing at his throat.


"Please," Raoul choked, "stop, I'll do anything, just stop."

Erik allowed the anger to die away and slowly loosened the noose, allowing Raoul to collapse onto the roof and gasp for air, "Get out," Erik growled, "that is all I ask."

"Alright," Raoul coughed, "I'll go, I'll go."

Erik nodded and dropped the end of the noose to the ground. Exhaustion took over for his body for a moment and he turned and looked up at the sound of his name.