A/N: ighty then all. I decided that I am going to do the part where our beloved couple are apart in Erik's perspective. It may change somewhere down the road, but I don't know how long I am going to be able to keep them apart. It depends on how wrapped up in the search I get. If you don't like it then I am deeply sorry, but I beg you not to stop reading. Erik will find Meg within a few chapters. I PROMISE!
Thank you, to all of my reviewers! I love you all!
Now on with the story!
Erik awoke with a groan; every inch of him ached with every breath he took. He opened his eyes slowly surprised at the sight that met him. He was not in his coffin, or even his lair. Erik was in the opera house, outside of his sanctuary! Erik sat up quickly with a gasp. Pain shot through his ribs with vengeance, every single breath caused pain. Memories of what happened not to long ago flooded his brain. Meg! Erik's eyes widened as he stood slowly, creaking because he was so stiff. Running his tongue over his lips, Erik tasted blood and his hand went to his face. His face felt as if it was one large bruise. His left eye was swollen, his lip had been bleeding, and so had his nose which thankfully wasn't broken. A thick grey fog filled Erik's head allowing one thought to run through it: I must find Meg. Erik kept thinking it over and over as he looked around for his mask, which had been knocked off in the brawl. I am lucky they didn't kill me. They probably thought that they would go to Hell for killing the Devil's own child.
A searing pain shot through Erik's head as he stumbled into his lair and into his medicine cabinet. He withdrew a small purple vial and downed half of it in one gulp. Within a few moments the pain in his head had subsided to a bearable level and Erik found his way into his stash of bandages and bindings. Gingerly, he took off his shirt (A/N: --swoon-- ) and wrapped the binding around his ribcage as tightly as he could. Erik found a green bottle and loosened the stopper to take a smaller drink of the medication than he did for his head. As soon as most of the pain subsided, Erik picked up the tattered remains of his once pure white shirt, which was now bloodstained and dirty, and went into his coffin room to change his clothes. Where he was going, he could no show up dressed like a beggar. Erik didn't even know if he would be welcomed at all…
A large white house loomed in the distance. Large evergreen trees splashed the sloping hill, oblivious to the cold the biting wind held. Large windows looked out on cold slabs of grey stone that led up to the house. Erik staggered up to the door, his breathing labored. Through the door he could hear a joyous tune played on a piano accompanied by a very familiar voice. He could hear his angel singing. Erik could feel himself falling into the trance like state her voice had put him in so very often. Taking a deep breath, Erik shook himself and rapped urgently on the door. The singing stopped and the door to the big white house opened, in the doorway stood Vicomtess Christine DeChangy. Her brown tresses were piled atop her head in an elegant fashion and small rubies glistened about her pale neck. As her deep brown eyes registered who the broken man leaning in on her doorframe was, all the color drained out of her formerly rosy cheeks.
"Meg has been captured." Erik said hoping she wouldn't call for the fop.
"What?" she gasped, her hand flew up to her throat.
"Meg. Has. Been. Kidnapped." Erik said slowly.
"Oh my," Christine's eye rolled back in her head, and just as she fell forward, Raoul rounded the corner.
"You bastard!" Raoul yelled, running forward to snatch Christine away from a very surprised Erik. Christine's eyes fluttered open and stared up at Raoul for a moment before snapping onto Erik.
"Oh my God… Oh my God!" Christine's shock turned into hysterics. "Oh my God. Oh Raoul!" She clung to Raoul's waist in desperation.
"What the hell have you done?" Raoul shouted over Christine's sobs.
"I, Monsieur, have done nothing. Mademoiselle Meg Giry has been abducted." Erik hissed. "Do not, Monsieur Vicomte, in the future accuse me of anything not based of hard evidence." Shock and shame washed over Raoul's face as he stroked the curly top of his wife's head. "I would rather cut off my fingers, but I need to ask your help." Each word seemed to pain Erik as he said them.
"Who?" Raoul managed to choke out.
"I am not sure, a man with blonde hair and blue eyes. He was a bit husky I guess and he impersonated a man of the police force." Erik leaned against the door in pain. "He frightened Meg and when I tried to protect her, he wrenched her out of my arms and about seven men attacked me. And if you don't mind, I am still in pain." Raoul nodded stiffly, wary of letting this man into his home. Christine sniffled and straightened, she led the way into their parlor and gestured for Erik to sit, which he did wincing.
"I believe I know the man you are speaking of." Raoul said gravely as he walked into the room. "His name is Jacques Christou. He has been found quite often with a small band of men and one or two degraded, afraid looking women. Usually they board ships New York bound. The women are never seen again." The last sentence drew cries of dismay from both Erik and Christine.
"When does the next ship leave?" Erik stood up quickly causing his ribs to twinge.
"Tomorrow I believe. Why?"
"I am not losing Meg. I have lost many things in my life," he shot Christine a glare, "But I shall not lose Meg to a band of outlaws." Erik began to walk out of the room.
"Erik," a small voice reached his ears. Shudders ran down his spine at the pleading tone in Christine's voice.
"I cannot lose anyone else I love Christine." And with that Erik walked out of the room.
"How do you propose you get on this ship?" Raoul asked walking after Erik with Christine on his heels.
"I'm not sure. And why are you trying to stop me?" He wheeled around on the couple viciously. "Do you ever want to see Meg again?"
"We just don't want to see you killed." Christine whispered and glanced up at her husband. "I don't anyway. Just be careful, I would come with you but I cannot make the trip safely." She added the last part as an after thought, her hand resting on her stomach. As Erik looked closer, he could make out a small bump on her stomach. He nodded in understanding, however much it made him sick.
"Best wishes to your child, I would not ask you to come with me. Nor do I want you to." Erik walked out the door and turned around for a moment. "Good day." With a small nod and a swish of his cape he vanished into thin air.