Please forgive the lateness of this chapter. I am so terribly sorry that it took me this long to get this chapter up. I do hope that you like it though! I'll be quiet now. Please...please review!
Chapter Five: Deamons
Christine stared at the mask nestled amongst all the delicate tissue paper. "Meg…where did you get this?" she asked her friend.
"I found it last night, as the mob reached his lair. I knew that if I had left it there, it would have been destroyed and that you would be crushed. I couldn't bear to see you like that Christine. He meant so much to you…" Meg trailed off.
"Thank you…thank you so much!" Christine threw her arms around Meg and hugged her tightly. "I shall be forever grateful to you for this."
She turned and faced back towards the door. "I must go. Raoul will be home soon, and I don't want him to worry about me. I only told him that I was going to the opera house and to come and see you two."
Wrapping her arms around Madame Giry, she choked back tears. "I shall visit again…I promise."
"Please don't be a stranger cheri. We love you," Madame Giry replied, patting Christine's hair.
Madame Giry and Meg watched the brunette soprano climb into the ornate carriage and watched it disappear over the horizon.
Raoul's carriage pulled up to what was now the ruins of the Opera Populaire. His driver climbed down from his seat and went to open the door for his master. William climbed out first, and looked about the place in disgust. Then a few moments later, Raoul climbed out of the carriage and surveyed the scene.
"Ah! Vicomte! It's good to see you!"
Raoul turned to see Firmin and Andre approaching. "It's good to see you as well. Now, what are we going to do about this?"
Andre looked at him. "Why rebuild of course! The Opera Populaire brought in a huge crowd every night. Why wouldn't we rebuild?"
"Because of…him," Raoul replied, looking at Andre sharply. "Has there been any sign of him?"
"If you're speaking about then Phantom then no. No one has seen him since last night. I believe you and Miss Daae were the last ones to see him. Once the mob reached his lair, he had already disappeared and we have been unable to find him."
"I hope that you destroyed his lair. I don't ever want that monster coming back to find Christine. She's been through enough."
Firmin nodded. "Speaking of Miss Daae, how is she doing?" he asked.
"Miss Daae is fine. She went to visit her father's grave this morning," Raoul replied sharply.
"Vicomte, forgive me if I am intruding, but is there something wrong between you and Miss Daae?" Andre inquired.
"You are intruding Monsieur. What goes on between myself and Christine is none of your business."
"Understood. Not a problem."
Raoul shook his head and walked over to what used to be the stairs going up to the entrance. He looked around at the damage the fire had caused and sighed as he reached into his jacket and withdrew a small flask. Unscrewing the cap, he took a long swig and then looked back at the other two men.
"We shall rebuild the Opera Populaire and restore it to its former glory," he said.
This pleased Andre and Firmin. "Wonderful! And then Miss Daae will grace its stage as the prima donna once more!" Andre said.
"No, she will not."
"Pardon me?" Firmin asked. "I'm not sure if I heard you correctly monsieur."
"Christine will not grace the stage as the prima donna. Find Carlotta. I'm sure that she would enjoy being the prima donna again. But not Christine," Raoul replied.
"But Monsieur le Vicomte, why? Miss Daae sings like an angel. Why keep such a talent hidden?"
Raoul sighed. "Is it not obvious? If she sings, then he will find her. If she sings then he will return and reek havoc upon us all again. I cannot have that happen again."
Firmin and Andre looked at each other and Andre shrugged his shoulders. "Very well monsieur. Whatever you wish."
"Let's go William. I'm done here," Raoul said to his butler.
Turning, he began to make his way back to his carriage, but was stopped by Andre's voice. "Monsieur! Wait!"
Raoul stopped and looked at the man. "Yes?"
"When should we start rebuilding?"
"As soon as possible. Contact the necessary people and have everything charged to me. I will take care of all the payments," he replied.
Andre nodded. "Very well Monsieur. I shall be in touch."
Raoul nodded and climbed into his carriage. William climbed in after him and a moment later, they carriage started moving.
"Where too now Monsieur?" William asked.
"Back to the manor. I have some paperwork that I must attend to."
"Very well sir."
They continued about their journey until finally they had reached de Chagny manor. Raoul climbed out of the carriage and made his way up to the front door of the home. Opening the door, he entered and hung up his hat upon a hook by the door. He saw Elizabeth pass by in another room. "Elizabeth, come here please."
She approached him and curtsied. "Yes Monsieur?"
"Has Christine returned yet?"
"I'm afraid not monsieur."
He sighed. "Alright. When she does return, please tell her that I would like to see her. I'll be in my study, and I don't want to be disturbed, understood?"
She nodded. "Yes, of course."
The carriage pulled up to the de Chagny manor and the Anne opened the door and stood to the side to let Christine step out. Slowly, clutching the mask to her chest, she stepped out of the carriage and looked up at the massive manor.
Turning to Anne, she handed the young girl the mask. "Take this up to my room and put it somewhere safe. Do not let anyone, especially Raoul see it, do you understand?"
"Yes mam'selle. I understand."
Making his way down the hall, Raoul entered his study and looked about the room. The history of the de Chagny family was contained within this room. There was a painting of his father, Comte Thomas de Chagny. Raoul had admired his father, and wanted to take after him. Next to his father's painting was his brother's painting, Comte Philippe de Chagny. His brother was away and had been for a while. He hadn't seen him in months. Crossing the room, he sat down at his desk and opened a drawer. He took out a bottle and unscrewed the cap. Looking at the bottle for a moment, he saw Christine's face flash before his eyes. "Oh Christine," he said softly.
He loved Christine, and only wanted what was best for her. The thought of the Phantom finding her and taking her away from him again scared him to death. It was his duty to protect Christine. He couldn't bear the thought of losing her again.
Finding a glass, he poured some of the amber liquid into it and took a sip. The liquid burned as it went down his throat, but the burning relaxed him. As the liquid settled down in his stomach, he poured himself another glass and drank again. He did this a few more times and then sat back, looking about the room.
A few hours went by and Raoul stayed in his study the whole time. He didn't come out once not even when the noon bells rang and he knew that it was time for lunch.
Suddenly, a knock on the door startled him out of his reverie."I thought I said that I didn't want to be disturbed!" he called out.
Slowly, the door opened and a female figure entered the room. "Why is it that when I ask not to be disturbed my orders are disobeyed?" he said dryly.
The figure approached his desk slowly. "Raoul?"
"And why do you call me by my name? You know that you're never supposed to call me that!"
"Raoul, what are you talking about? I've always called you by your name."
"No you haven't! And you never will again!"
He stood up and pushed the frightened woman. Falling to the floor, she looked up in fright. "Raoul! What are you doing?" she cried out.
"That's none of your concern!"
He kneeled down and put his face close to hers. She could smell his breath. "Have you been drinking?" she asked timidly.
"Why do you care? My life is none of your concern!"
Looking to his desk, she could see the half empty bottle and glass upon it. "You have been drinking! Why? Why Raoul?"
Infuriated, he raised his hand and brought it down upon the frightened young woman. Screaming, she raised her hands to block the blow. He struck her hands and then took a hold of her wrists and pinned her to the floor, using his body weight to hold her down.
"Why do you care? Why!" he roared.
The frightened young woman whimpered and struggled against his grip. "Raoul, please. Let me up," she pleaded.
"Be quiet!" He raised his hand again, and this time brought it down upon her delicate cheek, rendering her unconscious.
Suddenly, the door burst open and Anne and Elizabeth entered the room. "Monsieur! Is everything all right? We heard a scream," Anne asked, a frightened look on her face.
Elizabeth lit the gas lamp that was next and took a look around the room. She saw Raoul, sitting on the floor next to the body of a young woman. "Who is that next to you Monsieur?" she asked.
Raoul shook his head to clear his vision and then looked at the unconscious young woman lying next to him. The face he saw shocked him.
"Oh my god. What have I done?"
The young woman lying next to him was Christine Daae.
Okay, I hope that you guys liked that chapter! Please review and I'll give you a cookie. If you find a mistake, you can pick what happens next in the story!