Chapter Twenty Three

"Christine..." her name was broken and filled with pain as Erik moaned. She tried to go to him but Philippe grabbed her by the hair, slamming her roughly into the wall, pressing himself against her so she could not move or struggle. Being pinned down by a man had her as near to panic as she could get.

Erik made a futile attempt to stand up but he could hardly even move before collapsing in pain. Philippe turned his head slightly to look at Erik, a smirk on his face.

"Where is the legendary Black Wolf now?" he hissed before turning to face Christine once more. "This is what you fell in love with? This pathetic excuse for a man?"

"Bastard," Christine managed. Philippe grinned. His hand came up and lightly caressed her cheek, causing Christine to flinch and turn her head away.

"I have waited ages for this day, lovely," he whispered, his voice full of pleasure and satisfication. He was finally getting everything he wanted. Pushing Christine away from him Philippe walked to his worst enemy, a grin never leaving his mouth.

Christine cried out when he kicked Erik in the face. She rushed at him, managing to strike him in the face before the back of his hand connected with her cheek, throwing her to the ground with the force of the blow.

"Stay out of this, bitch!" Philippe snapped, turning back to Erik.

"Look at you. How can you even call yourself a man? Have you seen your reflection?" he asked mockingly.

"Have you seen yours? What lies beneath your visage is a monster-"

"Speak out one more time, bitch, and you will regret it!" Philippe yelled hitting her once more. Blood filled Christine's mouth and her tears were almost blinding her.

"My father loved you more than me, his own son. I was everything you were not and yet he favored you!" Philippe cried. Christine could see the look of total madness that was coming over his face and realized how dire their situation really was. Erik could only lie there and listen to Philippe rant and occasionally kick him for emphasis.

"I always told myself that there would be a way to get to you in time. It took years, but your weakness came, just like I knew it would," he said, his eyes turning to Christine. She tried to scramble back but he grabbed her hair, forcing her to stand on her feet. Pushing her back against the wall he pressed himself against her, making sure Erik could see everything even in his half concious state.

Philippe's hand closed over her throat and Christine closed her eyes, willing all of this to go away.

"She is everything you are not. Compassionate and innocent...and yet not so innocent at all," he murmured, grinning nastily at her.

"Pig!" Christine spat, causing him to slam her head against the wall. Erik was trying desperately to get his body to move and yet nothing seemed to be working.

"I thought about how to use her once I had her in my grasp and you under my control, Erik. Death is too simple and quick...there are other ways to make you both suffer..." he murmured, his hand sliding up her thigh. A shiver of disgust ran down Christine's spine. They both turned to see Erik struggling to get to them, to take Christine away from Philippe's hands.

Philippe ignored him, knowing that Erik could do nothing but watch helplessly. Philippe's eyes met Christine's, and he ignored the hate he saw in her blue depths.

"You are a beautiful woman, Christine. I failed to notice until recently," he stated, his hand bunching the fabric of her chemise up toward her thighs.

"Has he fucked you yet?" he snickered. Christine closed her eyes and willed thoughts away from that moment. She knew that Erik would not last if she did not get him help and now Philippe threatened to rape her.

"I did not think so...always was a coward," he said with disgust.

"It is called respect," Christine whispered. Philippe scoffed.

"That respect is something I hold for neither of you. If I had been Erik I would have had you under me with thighs spread the day you arrived. But now is my chance I suppose..." he murmured. Christine whimpered in fear when his hand cupped her breast.

"You...will...die...for...touching...her," Erik gasped, every word strained and painful. Christine hated the pain she heard in his voice. He could not die!

"Oh, and I suppose it is you, Mighty Wolf, that plans on killing me? You cannot even protect your woman!" he taunted. When Christine felt cool air on her bare thighs she knew she had to do something, refusing to let this happen, and in front of Erik! It would kill him to see that!

Philippe was close enough to her face for her to lean forward, her teeth sinking into his shoulder viciously before he had time to move back. He grunted in pain and his grasp on her momentarily wavered. Christine used the oppertunity to ram her knee into his groin, causing him to double over in pain.

She ran from him, knowing that she needed to find something to defend herself or she would be no use to herself or Erik.

"Christine!" Erik gasped, his weak and trembling arm managing to point to a certain shelf of books. Christine did not question him but ran to that shelf, throwing the books to the ground so she came upon a dagger. Philippe was barely able to stand at that moment and he grinned through his pain when he saw the dagger she held.

"Smart little slut, are you not? But it will prove to be a foolish choice," he said. Christine said nothing, hand clasped around the dagger hilt, which shook slightly in her grasp. He began to stalk toward her, grinning that evil grin.

"What are you going to do, Christine? Kill me? Can you do that?" he wondered. Christine knew that she might not be able to in any normal situation but tonight was different, tonight she was fighting for her life and Erik's.

"You have more courage then I would have thought, I give you that much," he said.

"Your opinion of me means nothing," she replied. Philippe turned to look at Erik, who was watching everything helplessly.

"She is a smart little bitch, perhaps your taste is not completely lacking," Philippe said. Erik did not reply. Before Christine was ready he had lunged at her and Christine took a step back, dagger still in front of her. Philippe took a step back, laughing out loud.

"Pathetic, if you wish to kill me, try," he said. Christine did not move, watching him wearily. She had to act, there was no way she could just stand there and wait for him to make the first move. She turned tear filled eyes to Erik, who was using what remaining strength he had to look at her.

"I love you, Erik...forgive me..." she whispered, turning and lunging at Philippe, dagger pointed at his heart.