Chapter 24

All but Christine had gathered in the church. Claude entered from Father Ignacio's study after escorting Christine there and she now awaited her cue. In all of the times she had waited in the wings for her cue to walk on stage, not once had she been this nervous. Antoinette would stand for Christine as witness and Claude for Erik. Phillipe, Jacques and Raoul had been invited and now sat in the front pew. Finally, their wait would be over. They would be wed. Only Death could part them now.

Raoul had told Antoinette he would be there, but had not looked at Christine when he'd answered. She was surprised he had agreed at all, but his feelings for Antoinette became more obvious with each passing hour. She hoped he would be entranced enough with Antoinette to sit through the ceremony. He was still her friend; she considered him to be that at least and her last link to the memories she held of her father. Regardless of what had happened between them, she wanted him there. Memories of other times rushed through her head. Her mother, who she barely remembered, her father, who passed soon after, days on the beach, stories with a childhood friend. Then the opera house and Mme Giry, the angelic voice that she heard one night, in her deepest despair, pulling her back from a darkness so black, it threatened to swallow her whole. Memories of operas and parties and all of the other things that went on at the opera house, of singing lessons and that same voice, whispering in her mind as she slept. Of a single red rose, a token of love. Now, with no rose, she held the closest she had as her wedding flowers, the red bow from the box which had contained the dress she now wore. The dress she thought never to see again. The dress she'd worn as she followed the man she loved, her newfound realizations and desire torn away with each rend in the fabric. But they hadn't been torn from her. They had been mended and were beautiful, just as the dress was, just as their love was. Christine heard the priest softly announce her. Placing her hand on the door, she said goodbye to the little girl she had been and hello to the woman she knew, with Erik, she could be.

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The commander had hobbled his horse and used the cover of darkness to enter the town.

He'd gone to the stable first and found all three carriages and their teams bedded down for the night. Lights could be seen at the inn, but looking in the window showed him nothing but an empty great room. There were no lights at all on the second story which meant no one was there. The only other lights visible came from the stained glass windows of the little church at the end of town. Moving as quietly as possible, he made his way in the shadows to the only other building that showed any life in it.

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Erik watched as she entered the church from the priest's study. His mouth already dry, he found she stole his breath as well. Though few candles glowed he saw she was as beautiful as he knew she would be. As she slowly made her way toward him, he had but one thought. Christine. No past rose up to haunt this moment, no cruelties, no chains, no regrets. His heart and eyes saw only her

"I pledge my life to you, my love to you, my every breathing moment. And when my life is done, I'll love you still and always. You are the heart that beats within me, Christine. I love you."

He held her hand in his as he gave himself to her, watched her face alight with love as she listened to each word as he spoke them. No other man's thoughts could ever tell her what this moment meant to him and so, he had asked Father Ignacio if he could pen a few of his own. Now he had said them, never to take them back or tear them away. The words lay between them, a promise of a lifetime of love, honor and joy. He would cherish her always. He reached into his vest pocket, taking out the ring she had returned to him one ill-fated night, when she had pledged her love to him though he'd not understood the gesture at the time. As he slipped it on her finger he heard a short intake of breath, but it wasn't Christine. They both turned to the sound, only to see Raoul, eyes fixed on the ring that had once symbolized his own love for her, face pale and devoid of emotion. Suddenly, he rose from the pew and walked out of the church, the door banging shut behind him.

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Dupree found the commander's horse and had hobbled his alongside it. He made his way slowly into town but could catch no sight of the commander. Not knowing which way to go, he came into town at the far end, near the church. He was almost upon it when he heard the boom of a heavy door closing and footsteps crossing the entryway. Crouching low, he remained still, waiting for the next sound. What he heard were footsteps crunching in the gravel close to him. He had nowhere to hide, his only cover the darkness and his immobility. He saw someone approach and recognized the Vicomte. But there was a look of despair on the Vicomte's face. He looked neither right nor left, only straight ahead. Passing within striking distance of Dupree, who held his breath in anticipation of being seen, the Vicomte strode past, disappearing into a small stand of trees. Dupree counted to five before he exhaled. He knew, as insane as the commander appeared, the Vicomte would never have been allowed to escape his attention. That meant the commander wasn't in the church yet and something else occupied the Vicomte's mind. As quietly as he could, he rose on his feet again and made his way to the church. He knew that something was going on in the church by the Vicomte's demeanor but he feared for those still inside should the commander appear. Near enough to the corner now for a clear view of the front doors, he watched astonished as the commander swung the heavy door open and stepped inside the church, pistol drawn.

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Raoul leaned his forehead against the tree, his weight sagging against it. He had gone to the service for Antoinette, not for Christine. That and curiosity drove him to torture himself. He would have managed quite well with Antoinette by his side, someone who wanted him. But seeing the ring with which he had sworn his love to Christine was too much to bear. Unable to stand that final blow, he knew he had to escape. His mind a mass of twisting thoughts and emotions, he gave himself over to them at last, his rage belittling not for his defeat but for the loss of someone he loved as a friend but who he had pushed away with his bitterness and hate. At last he turned leaning his back against the tree seeing everything clearly for the first time in months.

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Christine stood under Erik's intense gaze as the priest spoke the last words of the ceremony uniting them at last, as one; the final words that would declare their heart's desire to all who heard. Her heart swelled with love as Erik's lips pressed over her own, sealing their vows with an exquisite kiss. The room melted away as he deepened the kiss, drawing her into his soul. A noise sounded faint in her ears, breaking the spell. They broke apart, Christine's first thought was that Raoul had found forgiveness in his heart and had returned. What she saw made her scream in terror. All eyes turned to the back of the church where the commander of the Paris police stood, pistol drawn, an insane smile stretched across his face. Claude still stood by Erik, as Erik moved fluidly in front of Christine to shield her from the commander's glare. Jacques and Phillipe has risen from their seats but were on the same side of the church as Erik leaving the priest and Antoinette unshielded. Father Ignacio stepped forward, toward the commander, but froze at the look he saw in the man's eyes.

"Father, I think you would be safest if you returned to your study." Erik's eyes bored into the commander's as he spoke quietly to the priest in an attempt to draw the attention away from the others in the room.

"No, Father. I think you should not— and him;" the commander said as he brandished his gun toward Claude, "you will join the two other 'gentlemen' here in the front row please. And you, Mlle, will stand next to me."

Antoinette looked to Erik who hesitated a moment, then nodded at her. Her face paled but she did as requested. When she was an arm's length from the commander, his hand whipped out, closing around her forearm with such force it made her cry out. She struggled in an attempt to get lose, but his grip only tightened further, his fingers digging into her soft flesh. Erik took a step forward, but the commander brought the pistol to bear.

"I would suggest you not move again." The statement was icy cold and Erik knew the commander would not hesitate to pull the trigger.

"It would seem, Monsieur Opera Ghost, that I now hold the upper hand. You do realize that my delivery of you to the courts of Paris means my acceptance into the king's Sureté, do you not? However, I think I shall take you back dead. Oh, but what thought would you have of me? If I remember correctly, you threatened to kill me! Monster that you are, I was surprised that you did not. Why is that, Monsieur Phantom? Why did you not kill me when you had the chance?"

Erik had been watching the commander closely for any sign of weakness that he could exploit, and had seen many. The only thing stopping him was the fact that the pistol never wavered, nor did the man's hand ease its grip on Antoinette's arm. Erik's fear for her safety and Christine's overwhelmed him but his anger rose with the commander's every utterance. Remaining as outwardly calm as possible, he decided to play the commander's game in an attempt to draw the man's fury down on him alone. Assuming an air of indifference, he sized the commander up and down.

"Commander, I must say, I found you unworthy and a waste of my time to kill before, as I do now. However, if you should insist, I'm sure something can be arranged." Erik took a step. The commander's face burned red with his anger and for one second, the gun wavered. But he regained control of it. He moved toward Erik, dragging Antoinette in the process. She grabbed a pew with her free arm trying to halt her progress, but her strength could not match his. Erik took another step forward while the commander pulled at her.

"Let her go, Commander. It's me you came for, no one else but me. Let her go."

"Ah, but sir, what fun would I have in letting her go?" Slowly, the commander pulled Antoinette in front of himself, bringing the pistol to her temple.

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Dupree had heard enough. Though he could see nothing but shadows from his place in front of one of the windows, the glass did little to stop any sound within. The commander intended to shoot the man in cold blood. The commander still spoke as he raced from the church, back to the stand of trees Raoul had entered earlier.

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Raoul's eyes shot open as Dupree burst into the area where he still leaned against the tree in thought. Dupree's face showed white in the moonlight. Having no time to react save to stand erect, he opened his mouth to speak but Dupree cut off his words.

"Monsieur Vicomte. You must come quickly. The commander— he has entered the church and now holds all inside at gunpoint."

Raoul's face blanched at the thought of Antoinette in trouble. "What do you mean gunpoint? The commander is in the church? You have a gun, why did you not stop him? You left them all to that man's control?"

Dupree looked sick as he answered. "Oui, monsieur, I have a gun. But to use it against an officer is a hanging offense, whether it is justified or not. And I am no marksman. I could easily miss and someone would die in there. Please, monsieur. The commander has lost his mind. He is convinced taking the Opera Ghost back will earn him a huge promotion. He doesn't care who dies in the process." Dupree grasped Raoul's jacket, pulling him toward the church. Raoul's first thought was why this man deigned to touch him. But as he listened to Dupree, he realized how serious the situation must be to force the man to seek him. Dragged along, he wondered what chance he stood unarmed to help.

"All right, give me your pistol. You go back to the window. I'll go around to the back door. I need five minutes. After that, you must draw his attention. Now, go." Raoul turned on his heel and crept to the back of the church. As Dupree returned to the window a scream rang out from the church.

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Christine had been trying to see what was happening but it was difficult to see around Erik. When he moved forward several steps, it gave her a first hand look. She watched as the commander's gun came up to Antoinette's face. Christine screamed out her fear for her friend. "No! Don't hurt her!" She tried to get around Erik but he pushed her back behind him, pressing her back with one arm but never taking his eyes off the gun.

"I shan't hurt her, Madame, as long as all of you co-operate."

The priest began to walk toward the commander, his hands out, palms up in supplication. "Commander, this is a house of God. Surely you understand the offer of sanctuary to all who enter, saint and sinner alike. You can not mean to shoot this man in the church."

All eyes were now on the commander as he considered the priest's words.

"You are right, Father. I should not shoot him in here. I do not wish to offend— God, unlike him," at this, the commander once again glared at Erik, "who offends with his every breath. You did not think I knew did you, Monsieur Opera Ghost? I heard the stories after the fire, why you hid behind a mask." He paused as if in thought. Suddenly smiling, he adopted a conversational demeanor. "I shall give you what you desire, Monsieur, your life for theirs, if you meet my terms. I am sure there are those in this church who have never looked upon your face. Perhaps all of them? Remove the mask, in front of God and the others, and I will allow them to live."

Erik had always taken great care that Antoinette should never see his face bare. Neither Jacques, Phillip nor the priest had seen him either. He knew the reaction he would receive from them. But the one that would hurt most of all would be Antoinette's. She'd thought him her saving angel. Now what would she think? Slowly, he raised his right hand, when Christine broke free of his grasp. Coming around him, she grabbed his arm in a grip that surprised him with the strength of it.

"No. Erik, no." He lowered his arm as she turned on the commander. "This is my husband, Commander. I will not allow him to do that." She looked back to Erik, the depth of her love clear in her eyes. "I will not let him remove it." She took a deep breath, and smiling at him said, "I will remove it." Erik could only stand frozen as Christine raised her hands to the mask. He felt her fingers as she slipped them under the edge and pulled it away with a gentle tug. "I love you, Erik. I love you." Still unable to move from her gaze, she put her arms around his neck and kissed the marred skin, whispering over and over those same three words, "I love you".

No one uttered a word. No gasps, no screams, filled his ears. When Erik looked to them, he saw nothing in their expressions but compassion and understanding. He realized then, that they knew the man behind the mask after all. Looking to the commander again, he saw the hate and disgust in the man's eyes. But a bargain was a bargain after all.

"Commander, you have seen what you asked. Now, I shall accompany you out of the church. Let Antoinette and the others go. Those are the terms you offered."

A nasty smirk crossed the commander's face as he released Antoinette, shoving her toward the priest. "Take her. I have what I came for." Erik watched as the priest guided Antoinette back to Claude, her temple bleeding where the gun had broken the skin. He nodded to Phillipe who came forward, taking Christine by the arm in an attempt to take her to the pew.

"No, Erik! No! You can't do this. I won't let you do this. I'm going with you. I can't live without you, I can't…" She sobbed now, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Christine, you must. You will. I have an— agreement to honor, and I will. Now, go with Phillipe. You will be all right."

She clung to him as Phillipe took her hands, removing them from Erik and leading her to the pew. Once there, Antoinette wrapped her arms around Christine, pulling her down to the seat.

"Come here, Opera Ghost. We will leave the church together I think, with my pistol in your side. I wouldn't want anyone thinking suddenly that they can be a hero after all." He pointed the gun at the women as Erik approached making sure there would be no false moves. When he was close enough, he shoved the gun in Erik's side and turned, pushing Erik toward the front door. When they reached the door, the commander ordered Erik to open it. Both men walked through and the door banged shut behind them.

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Dupree had no idea how much time had passed. He had been too caught up in the events inside the church. He could see the shadow, one man, then two, then one again as it grew and split apart behind the window. He knew the commander meant to shoot the man in the back once they had gone through the door. Afraid that any diversion he created may cause that to happen immediately, he watched the shadow reach the door, then disappear as the door banged shut. He raced to the front of the church, hoping the Vicomte was inside and heard what had transpired.

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Erik paced forward from the commander. He heard Christine crying behind him and his only regret was that he would never again hold her in his arms, never grow old with her, never touch his lips to hers again. For one brief moment, his rage blazed within him. But just as quickly as it had flared, he tamped it down, knowing if he were to act on it in the church, any of the others might sustain harm. Reaching the door, he opened it as instructed passing through with the commander's gun still digging into his side. The last thing he heard before the door banged shut was his wife's sobs.

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Raoul heard only bits and pieces of the events in the church. The solid study door shut out most of the sound. He knew the door would have to be open before he would hear Dupree's diversion. He prayed the priest took good care of the church as he turned the door's handle, and his prayers were answered as it made no noise. Cracking the door gave him a partial view of the front of the church. He could not see the commander, but saw Antoinette with the other men, her temple bleeding with a nasty bruise. His temper flared with the sight of her hurt. Then he saw Phillipe lead Christine to her, heard Erik say something about a bargain. Erik moved forward and the commander came into view. Raoul saw the gun shoved into Erik's side as the two approached the front doors. He got a good look at the pistol. A Chamelot DelVigne, the same as he held in his hand. Six shots. God, please let me be perfect with only one. As the door opened and the two men passed through, Raoul entered the church.

Antoinette caught the movement from the corner as the door shut on the two men. "Raoul! Mon Dieu, Raoul. You must help him, please." She left Christine and ran to him, throwing her arms around him. He wrapped one arm around her as he looked to the others.

"What did Erik mean, a bargain?"

"Oh Raoul," she cried, "He gave his life for ours."

With that, Raoul loosed Antoinette and rushed to the doors, hoping he was in time.

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Dupree had no idea how to stop the horror unfolding in front of him. The commander ordered the man forward across the steps of the church. When the man reached the middle of the street, the commander ordered him to stop not to turn around. Dupree knew the commander meant to shoot this man in the back. Whatever the man had done, Dupree could not let that happen. He heard the commander speak and, picking up a large rock, beat on the side of the church. In slow motion, he watched the commander turn his way, the gun turning with him.

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Erik stopped in the middle of the street as instructed. He knew the commander meant to kill him this way, in the back, the coward's way, and it infuriated him. He prayed that God had forgiven him enough to offer one chance to change his fate as the commander spoke.

"Well, Opera Ghost. I shall have my prize. I want to thank you for being so co-operative. You will understand I'm sure, why I have no desire to look upon your face again. How that woman could kiss it I simply don't understand."

The commander's last statement drove Erik's fury beyond his control. As he turned to face the commander, he had one desire; to break the man in half. He barely heard the commotion at the side of the church as the commander turned and the door of the church burst open behind him.

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Raoul plunged through the door, gun at the ready, the scene before him appearing surreal in the moonlight. He heard the pounding, watched Erik, eyes glowing red in the night as he turned on the commander, who was himself, turning toward the noise. Raoul shouted at the commander who continued to turn toward him now, gun coming with him. Raoul held his breath to steady the gun and pulled the trigger as two shots rang out almost simultaneously.

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