Chapter Twenty Seven

"You know, I never asked you where you disappeared to the last few weeks," Raoul said. Christine looked up from the book she was reading with a feeling of dread in her heart. She should have known this question would be coming. Raoul was far to inquisitive for her peace of mind.

"What?" she whispered, desperately trying to come up with some excuse that would satisfy them all. She could not tell them about Erik, she knew how they felt about the Black Wolf and she did not want to hear there cruel words.

"You disappeared shortly after I met you for the first time, where did you go?" Raoul clarified.

"I was with a friend..." she answered, knowing that was not a very good answer. Meg giggled.

"A 'friend', Christine?" she asked suggestively. Christine knew what Meg was thinking and blushed, not answering. Meg laughed.

"Good for you, Christine!" Raoul said. Christine said nothing. Let them think what they wished. As long as it kept Erik safe she did not mind at all. Suddenly the thought of Erik was to much for her to bear and she wanted to be alone.

"I think I am going to go lie down," she said standing. The two nodded and watched her go in silence. Christine sighed in relief when her head rested against the fluff of her pillow. She should not care what Erik was doing at that moment or if he was alright. It should not matter! Not after what he had done to her! But the truth of the matter was...she did care, all to much.

She prayed every night that he was alright and happy, he had to be happy. She knew that most of his life had been miserable and no matter what he had done to her she wanted him to find joy in life. She was just drifting off to sleep when she heard Meg scream and several curses from Raoul. She sat up in bed before she could get to her feet her door was thrown open.

"Oh, God," she whispered, feeling faint.

"I am not God, Christine," Erik snapped. She could not answer, all she could do was sit there and stare at him, thanking God that he was alright. There was still faint bruising on his good cheek and neck but his mask was still in place and he was alive, that was all that mattered.

"What are you doing here?" she whispered.

"I came to get you and take you home," he replied. Home. Is that really what she thought his manor was? Home? Perhaps when she had been with him and he had told her he loved her, then it had felt like home, not any more.

"You have a lot of nerve coming here," she whispered, angry at him for coming now, when she had been trying so hard to get him from her mind.

"We will talk about this later, not here," he said. Christine said nothing and did not move. Erik muttered under his breath and went to where her bag was lying, beginning to stuff things into it. This snapped Christine to reality. She scrambled off the bed and grabbed his arm, forcing him to let go of her things. She swallowed the lump in her throat at touching him after so long.

"You are waisting your time, and mine. I am not going with you!" she said.

"Yes, you are," Erik said simply. From the noises in the other room she knew his men were with him, and if he so wished they could easily take her by force.

"Leave, Erik, now," she demanded, knowing she was going to break down if he did not.

"You are coming with me!"

"No, I am not!" she cried, hating the tears that came to her eyes. Erik's hand grabbed her wrist cruelly.

"You are mine, Christine. You will do what I say," he growled dangerously.

"You gave up any right you had to me that night I told you I loved you and you could not find it in yourself to answer!" she sobbed. Erik's grip tightened.

"I told you we will talk about this when we leave here," he said.

"And I told you I am not going anywhere with you!" she cried.

"I am not going to argue with you right now, Christine," he snapped. Christine slapped him, she could not help it, even when he groaned softly in pain from his still tender bruises. He let go of her and Christine stumbled to the bed, her tears now coursing in two twin streams down her face. Erik was holding his face in disbelief as he looked at her.

"A month! A whole month Erik and you never came for me!" she sobbed.

"Christine...I-"

"No! Just...just leave me alone!" she sobbed, burying her face in her pillow. God, she loved him so much but she could not stand the mixed emotions she was always getting from him. One moment she thought he cared for her and the next she did not! It was all to much! She wanted to be with him and she hated him for that. After everything he had done she still needed him more then she would ever admit.

She felt his hand on her arm and she closed her eyes tightly, willing everything away. He pushed the curls wet from her tears away from her face.

"Please, love...stop crying," he pleaded. He wiped the tears that continued to fall with gentle fingertips, which caused Christine to cry harder.

"I know I messed everything up, Christine, but I want to talk to you about it," he whispered. When he was so pleading and miserable how was she supposed to say no to him? She was so weak when it came to him.

"Erik-"

He pressed a finger to her lips.

"Please, lets talk about it when we get back to the manor, Christine...please," he whispered. She nodded. Erik sighed in relief and picked her up into his arms, cradling her against his chest. She buried her face against his warm chest as he walked them out of the room. She could hear Meg and Raoul whispering to eachother and told herself she would write them a letter explaining everything when she had the chance.

Christine shivered when Erik stepped outside, realizing she was only wearing a thin chemise. Erik pulled her closer and climbed into the waiting carriage. He settled her onto his lap and Christine was so tired she immediately fell asleep in exhaustion.

xXx

Erik's breathing was shallow because it was taking everything he had not to weep. His angel was asleep in his arms but he could still feel her slap even now. He had deserved it and that was what hurt. He had hurt her and he would never be able to forgive himself for that. He knew he had waited to long to come and get her but it had taken that long for him to work up the courage to come and get her.

Her tears were still moist on his fingertips. If only she knew how much it had killed him everyday she was not there. When she had left he had realized that he could not live without her. Erik knew he had let foolish pride get in the way of his feelings for her and he was willing to do anything to make it up to her. He just prayed it was not to late.

xXx

Jacque cursed under his breath when he saw the wolf go into the cottage and bring Christine out shortly after. He should have acted sooner! Now he was going to have to find a way into the manor so he could kill her. The rewards for doing this were well worth it, she would be dead before the week was out.