Disclaimer: I don't own Susan Kay's book Phantom, or anything having to do with The Phantom of The Opera.
"Would you like me to start a fire?" Raoul's maid asked nervously; seeing the expression on her master's face, as he stomped inside the house, slamming the door.
"Yes, thank you Anna," Raoul replied grinding his teeth, trying to muster all his remaining dignity. He was still trying to comprehend the fact that Christine had chosen the phantom over him, the vicotme de chagny. Roaul had never been had anything denied to him before. However, Christine was something that money could not buy.
XXXXXXXXXXXX
Erik shivered at the feeling of Christine's lips on his. Something inside him had broken, and although it was small, he could tell that she was slowly breaching the barriers he had worked so hard to build. Erik had never felt more vulnerable, than when Christine was around him, touching him. And although he yearned for her touch it scared him that she had that power.
"Christine—" he pulled away from the embrace, touching Christine's hands lightly, still getting use to the fact that he could. "Thank you, you saved me."
"Erik, I could never leave you alone."
In reply, Erik just stared down into those beautiful eyes of his angel., slowly accepting the fact the she was indeed his. Overcome with emotion, Erik pulled Christine toward him, kissing her passionately. As their bodies melded into one, Christine was happy, as she had finally found her happy ending.
XXXXXXXXXXX
The next few days passed like a whirlwind for Christine, as she experienced unknown emotions and many things for the first time. Eventually, Erik regrettably announced that he had to leave her to go into town and get provisions they would need. Reluctantly agreeing, Christine went about cleaning the lair, as she felt it was her duty. Winding through the dark tunnels of his domain, Erik slowly made his way up to the busy streets of Paris. Moving, as silently as usual, but today with an extra effort, as he knew the police would still be looking for him.
Once out onto the street, Erik proceed to get everything he needed, trying to keep as invisible as possible. He carefully crossed the street, heading towards his favorite store. He "personally" knew the owner having bought his compliance with large sums of money, and fear. As he entered the back alleyway, to his relief, he spotted the package waiting for him. Peaking inside he confirmed the items and started to make his way back to the opera house. Yet, on a second notion, he thought he should go visit nadir, who no doubt was wondering what had happened to him. It was as he passed in front of the shop, that he saw her.
No…No…. it couldn't be…how…. it wasn't possible…. Erik thought to himself as he started breathing heavily stumbling and staggering backwards. Memories of that day painfully replayed in his mind.
"You want to see?"
She dropped her mouth in a soundless scream, her hands flinging to fend him off…the pain which sent her running from him, running across the rooftop garden to throw herself against the balustrade that finally blocked her escape, the crumbling stonework giving way beneath the weight of her body and tumbling her, in a shower of flaking mortar, into the courtyard that lay two stories beneath.
It was Luciana!
A/N: suspense you can find out where I am going with this is the next chapter, and if you haven't already noticed I am a hopeless romantic…much to little lemon's displeasure…lol…yay E/C romance!