Chapter Seventeen:

Michelle awoke the neck morning feeling very sore and very fulfilled. After brushing the sleep from her eyes, she remembered that they had finally collapsed on a chaise sofa in the parlor. She looked upwards to see her husband sleeping with a very satisfied look on his face.

She giggled softly which woke him up. "What is my wife giggling about?"

"You look so satisfied."

"I am angel. Too satisfied." He said as he gently stroked her hair. "You are so beautiful angel."

Michelle sat up revealing her naked body. "We better go get dressed."

He raised and eyebrow, "Why angel?"

"I have practice today."

Erik laughed softly then pulled her back against his chest. "I already spoke with Madame Giry."

She raised an eyebrow at him. "You spoke with her? When?"

"Earlier. Before we had our round of sex last night."

"Are you sure she didn't mind?"

"Why would she mind angel? We got married yesterday. She was too happy to hear that I have a wife."

"She knows?"

"Of course. I've kept her informed of our relationship." Erik answered then gently kissed her forehead. "Angel, she is the only one who knows and I trust her."

"I trust Madame Giry too. I didn't know you had talked to her about me." She kissed his lips softly then said, "Whatever you think is best."

"I love you angel."

"Love you too Erik."

xxxx

Several days later Michelle was walking towards her old bedroom when she felt someone grab her and pull her into her bedroom. "Who is he!"

"Leave me alone Armand. You have no business here."

He secretly locked the door behind him and replied, "I have every right to be here. You cannot stay with this man. He's dangerous."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "No. You're dangerous. You are trying to take me away from my husband and I will not let you."

"You're married!"

"Yes." She said proudly then showed him her engagement ring and wedding band. "He's a wonderful husband. If you knew him you would agree."

"Hardly."

"You're jealous. You've been jealous of him. Armand, I love him. I loved him since I met him. Why can't you accept it?"

"Because you were promised to me." He replied softly.

"There was no promise! I have the right to decide who I want to marry."

"That was how I understood it and since that is how I understood it," he grabbed the edge of her tutu and pulled her against him, "I intend to have what was promised." He forced her to the bed and began to rip at her garments. Ripping a long piece of cloth from her tutu, he used it to bind her hands.

"Get off me bastard!" Michelle squirmed furiously as he straddled her hips and continued to rip at her garments. "Stop, God stop it! Erik! Erik! Help!"

"Shut up!" He shouted at her then grabbed a fallen piece of cloth and gagged her with it. Tears streamed down her face as she couldn't believe what was happening.

xxxx

Erik hummed lightly as he walked up to his wife's old bedroom. She used it as a rouse, however, she really slept with him in their home. As he got closer he heard soft muffled noises and sounds of stifled sobs. As he came upon the mirror he looked through to see his wife and a man. He growled and retrieved the punjab lasso from his side.

He then pushed the mirror panel aside and went through. Erik angrily hefted the intruder off his wife and wrapped the lasso around his neck. "Monsieur, you have been in my good graces too long. You over step your boundaries when coming to my wife. How dare you touch my wife!"

His grip on the lasso tightened and started to cause the man in his grasp to choke. "No Erik! No! You musn't!"

"Why musn't I!" He snarled at her.

"Because I don't want you to have any more blood on your hands!" Michelle cried out as tears fell down her cheeks.

He glanced at his wife back to the choking intruder and released him after unlocking the door and pushing him out of the bedroom. After relocking the door and putting the lasso on her makeup table he untied her hands and pulled her on his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck and softly sobbed against his neck. "Angel please stop crying. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap. I was scared."

"Erik please calm down. I love you." She said as he wound a hand in her hair.

He pressed soft kisses along her neck and jaw. "I was so angry. You should have let me dispose of him angel."

"It's not worth bloodying your hands more."

He gripped her waist tightly then said, "You're worth everything." He pushed her back a bit to assess what damage had been done. Her costume had rips and tears in the material and her breasts were nearly visible. He growled softly at the thought of another man touching his wife.

Erik stood up and went to her dresser and handed her a nightgown. He then turned around and ripped her costume down the middle. She gasped in surprise. "Erik!"

He smiled at her then gently kissed her lips. "It's already ripped angel. You might as well discard it."

"This is one thing Monsieur Opera Ghost that you will have to be punished for."

He ticked an eyebrow upwards. "Punished? And how will Madame Opera Ghost punish her husband?"

After putting on her nightgown she smiled at him and said, "You don't need to know monsieur." She then sat on the bed and watched him sit with her.

He smiled but then became serious. "I am going to escort you myself angel. I can't trust the opera house to protect you. You were almost raped."

"Erik, I don't know what to do."

"I don't want you to interfere next time angel. The next time I find him near you I will kill him."

She gasped then said, "Erik no. No more blood!"

Erik pressed her into the mattress and growled softly in her ear. "You have a choice angel. Me or him. Who do you wish to be with?"

Tears ran down her cheeks as she replied, "You don't even have to ask me that. You know I always choose you."

"Am I not your husband? Am I not the man that married you?"

"Of course you are."

"Then you will let me do what I need to do to protect you." He told her then gently wiped away her tears. "I'm sorry angel. I didn't mean to snap. I love you."

She gently wrapped her arms around his neck and said softly, "I love you too Erik."

A/N:

Another chapter and I will be busy this week, next week, and the week after. So I will try to add another chapter next weekend. Please review! I love the reviews. Also that lets me know if I am doing well. Thanks for the reviews so far.

Your obedient author,

Pyrite