Chapter Twenty Two

Christine slowly opened her eyes, knowing immediately that something was wrong. She turned her head to look at Erik, finding him still asleep. She wondered why he did not feel it...it gave her the chills. He must have been in a very deep sleep and she did not like the idea of waking him the one time he was at peace.

Slipping out of the bed she pulled a robe over her chemise, wrapping her arms around her waist as she slowly slipped out of the room, with one final look at Erik before she went. Everything was silent in the manor and Christine looked around, wondering what it was that was so wrong.

Making her way slowly down the corridor she continuously looked behind her, fearing someone or something might come for her from behind. She had always been afraid of the dark and in such a big home it seemed even darker to her for some reason.

All of the servants were sleeping and Christine suddenly wanted very much to go back to Erik, knowing he could protect her if anything were to happen. She turned to go back when she heard it. It was faint and yet it seemed to pierce her mind.

The dying scream of a man...

Christine turned and ran, needing to go back to Erik before whatever had got that man got her. A hand grasped hers firmly and the other hand clamped over her mouth. She tried to scream and struggle but was held firmly in place.

"Shh, Mademoiselle, it is only I," Rupert assured her. When she finally calmed down he let her go. She turned to look at him, rather livid at being frightened so.

"You scared the life out of me!" she whispered furiously. He apologized and looked around, a hand going to his sword at his side.

"Mademoiselle, you must come with me, I need to hide you," he said urgently. She was about to ask him why when she heard shouts from the first floor and the clash of metal.

"Oh, God, it might be to late," Rupert whispered. Christine listened and heard the shouts and she knew his voice anywhere...Philippe.

"Are there not guards?" Christine demanded, beginning to panic at the thought of Philippe, he sent chills down her spine.

"Not any more, it would appear. Come, Mademoiselle, I must get you to safety," he said. Christine had already begun to run down the hall, needing to go to Erik. He had been in such a deep sleep, what if he had not woken up yet?

"Mademoiselle!" Rupert whispered furiously, running after her. The noises from Philippe's men were getting louder. Rupert managed to grab her arm again and detain her.

"Let me go, I must go to Erik!" she cried. Before either of them could react Christine was being pulled against a warm and hard chest. The feel of Erik was enough to make her collapse against him. He held her to him tightly, his body nearly shaking with emotion.

"I am here, Christine," he whispered.

"Erik, Philippe..." she said. Erik's eyes were expressionless and hard.

"It will end tonight, Christine, one way or the other," he said. Christine felt a feeling of dread creep into her stomach. Before she could say anything he was leading her down the hallway on urgent footsteps. She asked not where he was taking her as Rupert slowly made his way behind them.

He led her to the library and they quickly went inside. Erik lit a single candle and gave it to Rupert to hold. He led Christine toward one of the shelves against the wall. He turned to her and framed her face in his hands.

"You know my feelings for you, Christine, they will not change, even if I do not make it out of here alive tonight," he whispered. Christine shook her head and pressed her hand to his mouth.

"No, do not speak that way!" she pleaded, tears coming to her eyes. He smiled gently.

"I will never let anything happen to you. If I die tonight I want you to leave here without being seen and leave Paris, start a new life," he instructed.

"Erik!" she whispered, not able to stand his dreadful words. His hand reached out in the semi darkness and Christine heard a click before the bookshelf slid open to reveal a room richly furnished. She turned to him, a look of wonder on her face.

"You must stay in here unless I come for you. When this shuts you can move a book from inside and see into this room," he said. How was she going to be able to sit in this room when Erik was fighting for his life?

"My lord," Rupert warned, hearing noises from outside the room. Erik nodded and turned back to the woman in front of him.

"I love you, Christine, do not ever forget that," he whispered.

"I love you, too," she whispered. He leaned forward and caught her mouth in a passionate kiss. Christine's hands clutched onto his shoulders, not wishing to ever let him go. He pulled away when he too heard the noises and gently pushed Christine into the hidden room. She grabbed his hand and it slowly slid from his as he pulled away, sliding the bookshelf closed before she could say another word.

Stumbling around the dark room Christine managed to find and light a candle. She moved the book Erik had indicated and a small opening came before her eyes so she could see into the library. Erik and Rupert had already gone. Christine angrily pushed down her sobs and told herself that Erik was going to be alright. He had to be.

All she could hear were shouts and screaming and she wished desperately that she knew what was going on...

Hours went by and Christine sat there, her tears beginning to dry on her cheeks. She wished she had made love to Erik earlier that night, shown him just how much she loved him. She felt like she had not shown it as much as she would have liked.

"Stop that, Christine, he loves you and he knows how you feel," she whispered. She heard a banging and frantically looked through the secret bookcase into the library, which suddenly illuminated with candles and men walked in...Philippe's men.

Christine pressed her hand to her mouth as the men slowly dragged Erik's limp body into the room between them. There was no sign of Rupert anywhere and Christine could only imagine where he was and what had happened to him.

Blood gushed from Erik's mouth and his mask was no longer on his face. Christine could feel the silent tears on her lashes and desperately wanted to go to him, but knew if she were hurt Erik would just give up. Philippe came in and the men threw Erik at his feet. He kicked him roughly in the side and Erik groaned softly.

"Leave me!" Philippe instructed his men. Christine could hear the venom that laced his voice. The men left so it was only Philippe and Erik in the room. Philippe slowly circled Erik, a grim smile on his face as he looked down at the Black Wolf.

"Finally, Erik. You do not know how long I have waited for you to be so helpless," he hissed. As Christine watched he began to rain blows with his feet all over Erik's defenseless body.

"Where is your whore? Tucked her away somewhere so she would not get hurt?" he growled. When he began to kick Erik in the neck and head Christine pushed the switch that would move the bookcase, not being able to stand there and do nothing as Philippe killed the love of her life.

Erik's eyes opened painfully as he looked at her, dread crossing the brilliant colors of his eyes. Philippe smirked in pleasure.

"Ah, just the woman I wanted to see..."