"Death--the last sleep?

No, it is the final awakening..."

Chapter Eight

Death's Tango

Christine stared in horror as Erik pulled out his sword. A flashback of that day in the cemetary immediately coming to mind. If she did not do something one of them would be killed. She feared that would be Raoul, Erik looked more then ready to plunge his sword into Raoul's heart. She refused to see either of them hurt. She grabbed Raoul's arm, hoping to detain him from charging Erik.

"Raoul, please, this is surely a death wish! He could kill you!" Christine said, trying to make him see reason. He should never have come here in the first place. Raoul turned to her.

"I will not let this monster dig his claws any further into you, Christine! It has to end!" he cried.

"Yes, it has to end," Erik agreed, advancing on Raoul. Anita grabbed Christine's arm and tried to pull her away from the danger.

"Mademoiselle! Please! You will get hurt if you do not move!" Anita cried. Christine shrugged the woman off of her and tried once more to grab Raoul but the sound of metal clashing with metal confirmed her belief that it was to late. Death's tango had already begun. Raoul was a skilled swordsmen but she feared that Erik's blind rage might win out between the two.

Raoul lunged for Erik's side and Erik moved out of the way in time to thrust at Raoul. Raoul stumbled back but managed to regain his balance enough to fend him off. If one of the got hurt Christine would never be able to forgive herself!

"Did you think she would really chose you? She only went with you to save my life!" Raoul taunted, desperately hoping that his words would cause Erik to falter, for he himself was feeling his strength waining under the phantom's heavy blows.

"Raoul!" Christine pleaded. He knew nothing and yet she feared his words would cause Erik to lose concentration. But Raoul was not finished.

"You knew, Phantom, that from the very beginnng she would never love you. No beauty could ever love the beast!" he cried. Erik growled in anger and lunged, his sword slicing into Raoul's arm. Christine cried out with Raoul as he stumbled back, blood beginning to form on his immaculate white shirt. Erik takes the oppertunity of Raoul's sudden wound to try and strike him again, but Raoul blocks him with a firm hand, ignoring the blood on his sleeve.

"How does it make you feel, phantom, to know that you are holding a young and beautiful woman against her will, knowing that deep down she hates you for what you are, a monster!" he snickered. Christine watched in disbelieving horror as Erik's hand faltered, his gaze looking for Christine, as if to confirm Raoul's words. Raoul takes his chance and Christine's scream erupts into the cold air.

"Erik!" she sobbed, watching her daring phantom collapse to the floor, clutching onto his shoulder in absolute pain. Raoul dropped his sword and went to Christine while his enemy lay in cold blood at their feet.

"Come, Christine, he cannot stop us!" Raoul said, taking her hand. Christine becomes angry and shoves him away.

"I do not want to go with you, Raoul!" she screamed at him. His face mirrored his confusion.

"What?"

"I chose him! Can you not accept that?" she demanded.

"Christine-"

"Go, Raoul!" she screamed.

"I will come back for you," he promised. Christine was not listening, she had already run to Erik's side. Raoul climbed into his carriage, promising himself that he would get her out of there. She did not know what she was saying, if he had to he would take her away by force.

xXx

"Christine..."

"Shhh, Erik, do not use what strenght you have," she whispered, bathing the left side of his face with cool water. He shifted slightly and groaned. His skin was an angry red color, the result of the fever he was getting. She had removed his shirt in order to get to the wound and the candlelight reflected the sweat that coated his skin. With Anita's help they had cleaned and stitched the wound Raoul had given him and now Christine was only trying to keep him cool.

"You should have left with him," he whispered. Christine sighed deeply.

"Erik, I find that we have already had this discussion," she said softly.

"What conversation is that?" he wondered.

"The one where I tell you over and over again that I chose you. It is not my fault you fail to believe me," she said, suddenly very tiered. She felt as if she had been running for a long time and just wanted to lay down and rest. It was hard for her to deal with all of this.

"Christine-"

"Just rest, Erik, I will come back and make sure you are alright," she whispered, getting up and leaving the room. She needed Erik to realize soon that she could not take much more. Did he want her with him or not?

xXx

Erik watched Christine leave and sighed, turning his head to stare out the window. When he had seen her with Raoul today in front of his home, a rage unlike anything he had ever felt before in his life had consumed him. He had felt as if she were his woman and Raoul had no right being anywhere near her. But of course she was not his...he had made sure of that when he had denied marrying her. But what if he did marry her? She would be his. He would be able to protect her and Raoul would never be able to take her away from him.

But he feared her hatred. He feared that she would hate him forever if he made her his wife. Wife. Such a strong word, a binding word. She would be his forever, until death parted them. Would she truly accept such a thing. The more he thought about it the more the idea appealed to him. But he could not just demand her hand, no, he had to make is something she would always remember. She deserved that, much more then that if he was completely honest.

And a ring, she would need a ring. But not just any ring, a beautiful ring that she would be proud to wear on her finger. Raoul's words from earlier, however, rang in his mind. He knew Raoul said them only to make him lose concentration, but what if they were true.

Could he make her love him? Was he strong enough to try? He decided he had been waiting long enough. He would never know if he did not try. He would try, if she refused him he would let her go back to her precious Vicomte.