(A/N: IMPORTANT! Wow, um, I think there's been a mistake here… I've never, ever read the Phantom of Manhattan, and I wasn't even aware that there was a Jacques in it… I assure you that MY Jacques is NOT that one, because he is most certainly not evil Sorry for the confusion!
Also, to the disappointment of some ((casts a dark look at Ravenmyst)) I am NOT going to quit this one, I will NOT take it down, and I do NOT appreciate getting reviews telling me to so that I can spend more time on Crimson Rose. Believe me, it won't happen. If this wasn't stopping me from updating CR, something else would take its place.
Oh, as (yet another) note/reminder: This story is E/C! I know that in this chapter Christine is really flirty with Raoul, but she has a crush on him… this is before she meets Erik, after all.
Chapter Four: Never Depend on Others…
Carmelita ran all of the way back to her home that afternoon, where she fainted dead away on the floor as soon as the door was shut behind her. She didn't return for the performance that night.
xxxxx
Christine's mind was so far away that during her Dance class, she kept tripping and running into people. She couldn't stop thinking back to the incident that afternoon. Who would be so cruel as to kill a harmless dog?
Finally, Madame Giry swung her stick around and banged it on the floor. "Christine! Pay attention!"
Christine blushed and pushed the events of that afternoon to the back of her mind. There were more important things than this "Phantom." After all, he didn't have anything to do with her…
Or so she thought.
xxxxx
Erik paced the office in front of the man he had hired to frighten Carmelita in his name. "You idiot!" he seethed. "You fool! I hired you to scare Carmelita, not to kill innocent pets!"
The man sulked slightly. "Well, it worked. That's all that matters, isn't it?"
"No, that's not all that matters. That animal never did anything to you!" Erik told the man through gritted teeth.
The man, whose name was Clarke, crossed his arms. "Well, Carmelita never did anything to you, did she?"
There was a pause. "That's different."
"How so?" Clarke demanded.
"You just don't kill innocent animals! Besides that, I haven't killed Carmelita." There was a pause, then he added, "…yet."
"Well sorry. I didn't realize you were going to have a hissy fit about a stupid dog."
Erik whirled around and kicked the chair Clarke was sitting on, sending both chair and man tumbling to the ground.
"Get out!" he yelled.
The man paled considerably, and scrambled to his feet. "What about my money?"
"Damn your money! Get out!"
"But I—"
"If you seriously expect me to pay you after that, you're very mistaken." Erik hissed, "If you don't get the job done right, you don't get paid."
"That's not—"
Erik grabbed a revolver that sat on his desk in a case and aimed at the man. "I'll give you until the count of three… one…two…"
The man fled.
Erik smirked and dropped the revolver carelessly back onto his desk. It wasn't even loaded.
Mariette stormed in a moment later. "You killed her dog?" she exclaimed, "I knew you were relentless, Erik, but I didn't think you were heartless. How could you murder a helpless dog? I don't believe—"
"Mariette! I've been here the entire time. How could I have gone and done that when I was here talking to Jacques? I'm talented, yes, but I can't be in two places at once!"
"But then who—" Mariette stopped, confused.
Erik sighed. "I hired someone to scare Carmelita, but it was never my intention to kill her dog. I fired the man who did it."
Mariette frowned disapprovingly. "You never should have hired anyone to do that in the first place…still, though, I'm pleased to know that you didn't do it, at least. It certainly didn't sound like something you would do, but I must confess I had my doubts. I don't know what's gotten into you lately—what next, Erik?"
Erik shook his head and ran a hand through his hair. "Mariette, if I was planning something else, I probably wouldn't tell anyone…least of all, you. Now, leave me. I have work to do."
"What kind of—" Mariette began persistently, but Erik gently pushed her out of the door and shut it, locking it behind her.
xxxxx
That night, Christine found time to practice for her recital again. At first, she had debated on going back to the little abandoned church. She decided against it, however… something about the place gave her shivers.
She was still trying to think of a place to go when, to her surprise, there was a knock on the door of her apartment. Christine moved the papers off of her lap and stood, cautiously answering the door. She became a whole lot less formal, however, when she realized it was Raoul.
"Raoul! You decided to come by!" Christine's heart fluttered.
Raoul stepped into the apartment, smiling brilliantly. He bowed, and handed her a bouquet of flowers.
Christine blushed and delicately took them from him. "Why Raoul… thank you…I…"
"No need for thanks…I just saw them on the way here, and they were so pretty they reminded me of you. I just had to get them for you."
Christine's blush deepened. "O-oh…"
"What are you working on?" He asked, moving passed her and looking at the table that was covered with papers. He reached down and uncovered a piece of artwork. "This is really good!"
Christine raised an eyebrow, trying to bite back a laugh. "Thanks… my cousin drew that for me when she was four."
There was a small pause. "Oh…" Raoul quickly tried to cover up, "Yes, well, that's really good for a four-year-old…"
Christine nodded. "Of course… She has a very unique type of scribble."
Was it just her, or was Raoul starting to blush?
"R-right…that's it… um, so, what are you doing tonight, Christine?"
"I have to practice for my recital, only I'm having problems finding a place to practice at. I can't here, or the people next to us would complain."
Raoul's face lit up with a smile. "Why don't you come over to my place? No one would be able to hear you there except me, and I haven't been able to hear you sing for a while."
Christine looked up at him hopefully. "You wouldn't mind?"
"Of course I wouldn't mind! In fact, I'd enjoy that. I can drive you over now."
Christine smiled. "Thank you! I won't be too long, really, I just have to practice sometime, or my recital is going to be a disaster."
"Your singing could never be a disaster." Raoul put in smoothly.
She grinned. "That's what you think. One moment, let me get my things." Christine shuffled through the pile of junk on the table, and fished out her recital papers. Then she quickly scratched out a note to Meg. "Okay, I'm ready, then."
Raoul offered her his arm, and then escorted her to the car.
(A/N: I have so much fun making fun of Raoul… sorry for you Raoul-lovers! I just don't like him … Anyway, thank you for reading, and please review!)
—Hilary
