Chapter 12: Think of me
Raoul's POV
I was lying in mine and Christine's bed as I watched the door come slowly open. Christine's slight form entered the room, her face ghostly white.
"Christine..." I whispered, for it hurt far too much to speak loudly. I saw her lovely chocolate eyes light up as I spoke, and she made her way over to me.
"Raoul..." she said as she gently took my hand and held it in her lap, stroking it. "How are you feeling?"
I gave her a small smile, which took a great deal of my energy. "It hurts like fire Christine, but with you here, I can't feel the pain nearly as much." I saw her eyes go over the huge white bandage that went around the entirety of my chest. It was already stained with blood, for pulling the bullet out had caused it to bleed even more, and it had hit an artery.
"You must promise me that you will follow all of the instructions that the doctor gives us for your recovery." she said as she smoothed the bedcovers. "I shall not leave your side until you are well."
"But you must, a least for just a little while, for the opera is in less that twenty- four hours." I said, wondering what her reaction to this would be.
She stared at me as though she couldn't believe those words had left my mouth. "Raoul I can't do that; my understudy shall simply have to step up to the task. I can't bear to leave you."
"Christine I want you to sing, Paris wants you to sing, our baby wants you to sing, but most importantly, you have worked so to sing in this opera." I said seriously as I squeezed the hand that held mine.
She bent over and kissed my cheek softly. "I will only do it because you requested that I do so." she said. I saw a few tears escape her eyes and I reached up to wipe them away.
"Don't cry love, I can't bear it. I shall be alright. But Christine, when you sing, please say that you'll think of me." I said, looking up at her angelic face; I knew that if it weren't for her I might not have made it. The doctor had told me of what she had done while waiting for him to arrive.
"I promise. I could think of no one else." she replied as she began to stroke my cheek.
Suddenly however, I felt a surge of excrutiating pain flood through me. It was gone in an instant, but it left a dull ache behind. I let out a shout of pain, and Christine moved closer and put my head in her lap. I squinted my eyes in pain but felt much better knowing that she was there.
"Shhh..." she said sweetly. "Its alright."
I felt my eyes falling closed. I let her take care of me as I had taken care of her in the past. I heard her begin to sing the words to our song ever so softly, and I felt a peaceful sleep overcome me.
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Christine's POV
I carefully closed the door to mine and Raoul's bedroom, feeling more confident about the situation, but there was still a knot of worry in the pit of my stomach. I hadn't wanted to leave him there, but the logical part of me knew that he needed undisturbed rest. My pale yellow nightgown fluttered around my ankles as I walked back down the stairs, hearing the hushed voices of Lucien, Phillipe, Madame, and Meg.
I stopped on the second to last stair, taking a minute to survey the scene that lay before my tired eyes. The four sat there, leaning in close and speaking in whispers. Each still seemed to have at least one article of bedclothing on, which gave each one a rather odd appearance.
The room was dark except for two candles that cast a soft light through the room. It was a strange scene to say the least. Meg was the first to see me standing there, and she instantly got up and scampered over to me, her blonde locks a bit wild from sleep.
"Oh Christine, I'm so sorry it took us so long to get here; the weather is simply dreadful!" she said as she hugged me tightly. "How is he?"
"He's going to make it." I answered, relief flooding through my veins as I spoke. I could see the looks of relief on everyone else's faces as well. "But he is in a great deal of pain."
Meg pulled back from the embrace and took both of my hands. I saw then, in her worried blue eyes the very same innocence that used to be in mine. I sometimes wished that I could have that same innocence again, that trust in the good of all people; it was both a blessing and a curse. I was still naive in nature I knew, but a piece of that had been taken from me the moment that I had fallen under Erik's spell. And now this had happened; those cruel men had nearly killed the person that I loved most in the world.
"I just can't believe this." Meg remarked as she led me over to the couch. " They stooped to such violence."
I nodded. "They were horribly viscious. But Raoul did quite a number on them." I said shakily, taking a sip of the honey filled tea that was offered me. " He was just trying to protect me."
Phillipe flashed a bittersweet smile at that statement. "My brother has always been excellent with a sword, and he has also been exceptionally valiant. Some may call it foolishness, but they're wrong." He looked over at me. "And he married a brave woman," he said with a wink.
"Is he sleeping Christine?" asked Lucien softly, his voice strained and hoarse.
"Yes, in fact he is. But you may all stay the night if you like; we have plenty of room." I said, knowing that I for one, would feel better with them all here.
"That would be wonderful," replied Lucien, as the rest agreed. "But Christine, what of the opera?"
I sighed at that. "He specifically mentioned that, and he wishes me to perform."
"Are you sure you want to do that dear?" asked Madame with a very concerned expression.
"I'm sure," I said firmly. "Raoul wants me too, and so I shall."
"I just don't understand it." said Lucien. "Everything was going so well what with your pregnancy and the reopening of the opera... I just don't know. But there is one thing that I do know; Chistine you must get some rest," he said in as stern a voice as he could muster.
I nodded and showed both Lucien and Phillipe to their rooms, promising to get some sleep, though I knew that it would probably be in vain. I went back downstairs once again, taking my place on the soft leather couch, in between Madame and Meg. All was quiet for a moment, until Madame broke the ice.
"Christine dear I hate to bother you with this, but did you happen to notice any kind of symbol on the gypsies? One that might tie them to any certain clan?" she asked curiously.
I thought for a second, drawing a blank, when I suddenly remembered something that stood out in my mind. "One of them had a tattoo of a snake wrapped around a lilly. The police seemed to recognize it. Why?"
I saw the two Girys exchange a signifigant glance. "Christine dear, these gypsies who attacked you this evening, well, they are from the very same clan of gypsies that held Erik captive when he was younger."
I was very taken aback by this; Raoul had told me the story that Madame had told him on the eve of the masquerade. I felt a twinge of sympathy in my heart for Erik, having to live with those tyrannical people every day. "Well I suppose that Raoul and I have now experienced their ferocity firsthand." I said as I felt the tears falling from my eyes. Raoul's pained face kept flashing through my mind. God it hurt me so much to see him in that agony; I felt like we shared each other's pain, both physical and emotional, like soulmates.
I tried to imprint the image of his peacefully slumbering face as I had left the room upon my brain. Just then, I felt a familiar pair of arms around me; Madame had pulled me to her, my head upon her shoulder. She simply let me cry as a mother would. This went on for a good twenty minutes, until I had no more tears left, and she gently lifted me up, kissing my forehead gently, bidding Meg to help me upstairs before they made their way to the other guestroom.
Once Meg and I reached the room we pulled the mint green chaise lounge away from the windowseat and moved it right next to mine and Raoul's bed, where he lay sleeping. After hugging Meg once more and bidding her goodnight, I lied down and fell fast asleep, my hand on top of Raoul's.
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A/N: A Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you! I am currently sitting in my new blue and white snowflake robe, listening to "Photograph' on my mp3 player, very full from too much Christmas dinner. I hope you like this chapter, please read and review, I really appreciate them! The opera is in the next chapter, so that should be exciting! Until later, see ya! Long live RC!