Thank you so much reviewers. In abject appreciation I must take a moment for some individual thank you's. (I never thought I would get 40 reviews) Anyway: big thanks to starnat, LostSchizophrenic, MissxA, OrpheliaRose, CountessAlana, cl, and sbkar. Note to sbkar-Erik did ask about Christine, but if you have ever woke from sedation you tend to be out of it, which is how I decided to write it. I appreciate your questions
And now on we go………
The softness of the violin's delicate melody made Christine feel as if she was floating in a cloud. Opening her eyes, she smiled as she looked at her father. He moved with a grace that shouldn't have belonged to someone with so large a frame, but his long fingers caressed the strings with exquisite care and love. Christine hugged her arms around her knees, swaying in time as Gustav Daae continued to play. She had heard the tune a hundred times, but could never tire of such simplistic beauty. Sitting on the soft rug in front of the warm fire added to her contentment.
The music gradually overtook Christine, so much so that she almost didn't hear her father speaking to her. Looking up she was startled to see her father, now gaunt and pale as he was on his deathbed.
"I am sorry Papa, I didn't hear you."
He smiled at her, his daughter with her head so often in the clouds. "Child I was telling you that it is time for me to go."
Christine's smile fell. "No Papa. You can't leave. Not again…let me go too."
"No, my dearest child. You can't go with me."
"But I will be alone….please."
"You are not alone Christine. Remember the angel I promised?"
"You sent him? Truly?"
" There are those who can do greater things than I." He looked sadly at his daughter. "I miss you Christine."
"Papa I don't understand. My Angel isn't real. What am I supposed to do?"
"Believe." Violin in hand, Gustave Daae walked into the shadows.
"Wait..please wait. Don't go!" Christine tried to run after her father, but her legs refused to move. Giving up, she sank to her knees sobbing. "Please … don't leave…me. Not again….not again."
Coldness descended upon her, a cruel wind whipping her hair. Christine looked around but could see no remnant of the hearth from moments before. "P..p..papa?" she whispered. "Angel?" She stood on shaky legs, rubbing her arms to ward the chill away.
Turning in a slow circle Christine finally saw a tiny candlelight in the distance. As she walked towards it, music returned to her ears, but this time it was the timbre of a pipe organ being played. After an eternity Christine reached a heavy door, freestanding without a frame. It was opened a crack, and from this small opening the sliver of light and music pulsated out.
The door had no hinges and yet it creaked as Christine pushed it open. She was back in Erik's home, but there had been no door there. Had there? She tried to clear the fuzziness from her head as she walked around. Someone else had been here, the candelabras were turned over or smashed. The model of the opera house was now a pile of ash, and a loud crunch underneath her foot announced broken glass on the floor.
"Angel?" Even the whisper sounded abnormally loud to Christine's ears, seeming to echo off the stone walls. There was no audible answer, only the continuing soft drone of the organ. Deciding to use the sound as her guide, Christine stepped in the direction of the music. Two steps later she stumbled, hitting the ascending stone steps with her knees. The lack of pain surprised her as she gathered herself and carefully tread up the steps. The lone candle was now clearly visible on the side of the pipe organ. And there, the solitary figure playing it…
"Angel!" Feeling that she would explode from her sudden happiness, Christine rushed to him. Her hand reached out to caress the unmasked cheek, and upon her touch he turned.
"Christine…"
The blood poured as his head rolled to the floor. Sightless eyes looked up at her as Christine stood frozen in horror. An uncontrolled, sadistic laugh jerked her attention back up to where Raoul now stood, bloody sword in hand. He gave an aristocratic bow.
"For you my dear."
Christine's wide open eyes did not comprehend the instructions that the physician's assistant was shouting at her. She opened her mouth to scream but no sound came out. Arms and body flailed, not comprehending pain. She still saw the headless body of her angel.
"No!" her voice finally hissed.
"Someone get the doctor in here!"
The cry of the assistant brought the door open immediately.
"Monsieur, what is.." Meg was cut off.
"Mam'selle the doctor quickly!" She ran out as he turned back to Christine, shouting louder in an attempt to break through to her. "Mam'selle Daae, please be still!"
He was holding her arms in an attempt to slow her thrashing when the doctor entered. "What in the name of God?" He opened his bag and quickly filled a syringe, and moved to Christine's arm. "Try to hold her still." he ordered his assistant.
"Christine!" Raoul burst into the room as the doctor inserted the needle into her arm. She looked at him with wild fearful eyes.
"My… Angel …is…" her eyes rolled back in her head as her body quieted.
Raoul took one of her hands in his as the physician moved to check the surgical wound. "What on earthhappened here? One minute she's resting and then this?"
"Hand me the suture, Pierre." The physician motioned to his assistant. "She has pulled several stitches with all that thrashing." Taking the materials in hand, he began to resuture as needed. Raoul paled at the sight of the needle being pulled through the white flesh of Christine's neck.
"Monsieur le Vicomte, it could be several things that caused this episode, from an allergic reaction to delusions from the stress. I was not in here when it began, but I will say this, sir. Whatever the reason for the episode, we do not need a repeat performance." He tied a knot as he finished the last suture. "I know you wished to move Mademoiselle Daae to a safer location, but at this time it would be ill advised. If she were to turn and rip to many sutures she could bleed to death, or the tissues around her airway could swell and cut off…"
"Your point is made, Doctor. Whatever we need to do for now." He tenderly stroked her forehead. " I will have a guard placed outside the door until she is able to be moved."
"I think that the wiser choice Monsieur le Vicomte." He checked Christine's pulse and then opened her eyelids to view her pupils. "Hopefully she will now rest for a while." Taking in the Vicomte's disheveled appearance he added, "I would advise you to do the same."
"Unfortunately, my good doctor, there is still much to do." Raoul stood and gave Christine a last look before turning to the door. "The man responsible for my fiancee's condition has yet to be apprehended. I will rest when he is dead" Opening the door Raoul hurried past Meg and to seek for the captain of the gendarmes.
"Monsieur?" Meg entered the room quietly. "Christine is like a sister to me, may I please sit with her a moment?"
The doctor regarded the young ballerina with kind eyes. "Yes my dear. Come in."
Meg moved over to sit by Christine. Taking her hand she cried softly for a moment. Aware of the doctor still in the room, Meg leaned over to her friend's ear and whispered. "Don't worry, your Angel is safe Christine."