Chapter 18: Blackhearted Danger
Christine's POV
I stared in absolute terror as Raoul came face to face with the gypsy. I had never seen such a forbidding look on his face before, not even when he had confronted Erik. His face was set with a hard frown and his normally twinkling blue eyes blazed with such fury as I had never seen there before. I heard the gypsy speak again in an even harsher tone.
"You injured two of my best men de Chagny, and now they are sitting in a French jail for who knows how long! You should have expected this." he said as I saw him pull out what appeared to be a long dagger.
"I expected retaliation yes," Raoul said steadily. " But not here, in a place full of poeple who have nothing to do with the matter."
I saw Raoul inch steadily closer to the wretched man, who didn't even seem to notice as he continued with his crazed rant.
"No one gets the better of my clan! Not even an arrogant aristocrat! You will pay, and your little wife too!" he screamed.
Raoul remained calm, trying to keep the man's attention focused on him rather than on the candelabra in his hand. "Call me whatever names you like Monsieur, but you will harm no one" he said, with the air of one having a polite conversation.
"Oh, and what's going to stop me?" asked the fiend in a mocking tone.
"This," said Raoul as slammed the candelabra full force against the villan's head, knocking him completely unconsious. He pried the dagger out of his assailant's hand and swung around to face the remaining gypsies, his eyes flashing dangerously. In truth the gypsies looked a bit terrified. "I do believe I've had quite enough of you," he said angrily.
"Well," said one of the gypsies. "We haven't finished with you yet!"
With that the three remaining gypsies attacked. I drew in a sharp breath, and took a step forward; I couldn't let Raoul get hurt. But I felt a firm grasp on my wrist, preventing me from moving. It was Lucien.
"You mustn't Christine," he said. "You're in a delicate condition, and Raoul wouldn't want you to get hurt," he said firmly. Without warning he ran down the stairs and picked up the candelabra Raoul had abandoned and engaged one of the gypsies in combat.
I felt Meg wrap an arm around my shoulders her body shaking violently. I surveyed the room around me; it was chaos. Some people were trying to escape while others seemed to afraid to attempt. Andre, Firmin, and Madame Giry meanwhile were trying to calm the crowd. I saw Raoul knock one of his assailants out, leaving him with only one to battle. Lucien seemed well on his way to knocking out his as well. My heart was hammering in my chest as I watched, but my blood ran cold when I felt a grimy hand on the back of my neck.
"I believe you'll be coming with me Vicomtess," said the scratchy voice of the female gypsy.
I inched my way out of her grip and turned to face her. "I have no intention of doing so," I answered her.
"I really don't think you have a choice in the matter!" she said as she jabbed me in the stomach with her knee.
My eyes widened as I felt a searing pain, but I couldn't let myself be taken by this woman, I just wouldn't allow it. I lifted my shaking hand and slapped her hard across the face, knocking her to the floor.
"I do have a choice I believe," I said as I felt a pair of strong, familiar arms catch me. It was Raoul, who, at seeing me being attacked, had knocked his opppnent to the ground. The woman looked ready to get back up, but at Raoul's harsh, "Don't move," she stopped. He swung around with me in his arms, to see whether or not his last gypsy had been knocked out. He hadn't, but now there was a new man finishing him off.
The man was dressed all in black and as he gave the final swing, I saw a glint of a white mask in the candle light. From the expression on Raoul's face he appeared to have seem him as well; it was Erik, there was no doubt about that. How he had heard the racket from all the way down in the cellars remained to be seen, but he had helped finish off the last gypsy. I felt another surge of pain and I groaned out loud.
"Christine darling, my love..." crooned Raoul softly as he sat on the stairs and held me close.
"Raoul... I need a doctor... the baby..." was all I managed to get out.
"Someone, we need a doctor quickly! Christine is hurt!" he cried.
The room seemed to be swirling around me as I tried desperately to hold on toconsciousness.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Raoul's POV
I held Christine in my arms, panting from my battle with the gypsies, my body sore. I saw the room being restored to order from my perch on the cold marble stairs, though I did hear a few screams from below, and the announcement that all five guards that had been standing outside had been killed by the gypsies. Andre and Madame Giry were seeing the guests out, and Lucien was walking by each of the gypsies and binding his or her unconscious hands and feet. Firmin approached me, his face white as a sheet.
"Raoul, I sent someone for the police, and an unfamiliar man in black offered to ride for the docotor... I couldn't see his face, he was still wearing his mask." he said, his voice frantic. "Is she going to be all right?"
I looked down at Christine's face and locked eyes with her, willing her to be all right. She smiled weakly up at me.
"I'll be fine Monsieur Firmin," she said faintly, her eyes fluttering.
He went back down the stairs looking unsure, and tried to help restore calm.
"Christine," I said, my voice breaking. " You must hold on.. for both you and the baby." I felt hot tears sting my eyes and felt several drip down my cheek. And as hard as I tried to stop them, they just kept flowing. Those ruffian gypsies had done the worst thing possible; they had harmed my Christine and our unborn child that was growing inside her.
"I'll be fine Raoul, you'll see. You're here with me after all," she said, her eyes clouding in pain.
I held her closer and rocked her gentley. After about another twenty minutes passed, the doctor arrived. It was the very same doctor who had tended to me after I had been shot.
"Monsieur de Chagny! I came as soon as I could! Here, let me get her upstairs; I'll let you know something as soon as I can," he said kindly.
I nodded and carefully transferred her into his care, watching with red rimmed eyes as Madame Giry showed him to Christine's dressing room. I heard Madame whisper quickly to the good doctor the turn of events, and thinking that I was out of earshot, she asked him if the baby might be lost. I heard a whispered, "With a blow like that its possible..." I heard no more after this, as they turned the corner.
I shook my head, trying to ward off the painful thoughts that flooded my my mind, I walked slowly back down the stairs to the now almost deserted ball room and threw myself into a chair. The only ones left were myself, Lucien, and Meg, for Andre and Firmin had gone to talk with the police. I put my face in my hands, willing myself not to cry. I heard the hushed voices of Meg and Lucien in the background; Lucien finally found the courage to approach me. I felt his hand on my shoulder.
"Raoul, I'm sure she will be all right. You know she will," he said, his voice sounding strange, as though he too were trying to hold back tears. "Its not your fault."
I sighed heavily and pulled my shoulder out of his grasp. "It is my fault Lucien, because I didn't get there in time to prevent it from happening." I heard the shuffle of footsteps as he pulled a chair around to face me.
"You were fighting off those fiends Raoul! You were fighting two at once, and you took care of the leader before that! And the minute you saw Christine in danger you flew to her side!" he reached over and shook me, as though he wished that I would see sense.
I stood up and began to pace. Then I turned around sharply and faced my friends. I felt all of my emotions welling up inside, all of the sadness and fury at the events that had happened recently. "I want to know why," I said slowly, my voice rising with every syllable, "it is that Christine can't have peace in her life! She's been through so much in her life and she dosen't need to have this added fear of losing our child! She deserves better! I am tired of her having to live in fear; she deserves to be happy and blast I will do anything to make it happen!" I stopped, breathing heavily. " I want to know why the world can't leave us alone!"
The room echoed with my shouts. I looked up at my friends shocked faces and I suddenly felt bad for shouting. "I'm sorry you two," I said. "I'm just very worried. I'm tired of having someone constantly after us, but I shouldn't have taken it out on you two; you're the best friends we have." I suddenly felt the arms of Lucien and Meg around me, enveloping me in a caring embrace.
"We know Raoul," said Meg gentley. "I think that rant may have done you good, you hold your emotions in too much. And you have every right to be angry."
Once we broke apart Lucien commented. "You and Christine have been through a great deal of things my friend, but you have both been brave through it all. We just have to pray that everything will be all right."
I gave my friends a half hearted smile, cheered slightly by their words. We were silent after that, and it left me to my thoughts. In the silence however, I heard the swishing of a cloak going down the hallway. I turned sharply, but saw nothing. I wondered fleetingly if Erik had been listening to my words. But my thoughts were interrupted when I heard the click of Madame's shoes on the stairs. I sprinted up to her, my heart racing, hoping that evreything was all right. I saw her chuckle at my hastiness behind her tired expression.
"How is she Madame Giry? Are she and the baby all right?" I asked in a rush.
"Both Christine and the child are fine. The blow, by some miracle, didn't force her into early labor. There may be some minor complications later on, but they will both be fine. God is smiling on your family tonight Raoul," she said with a smile.
She gave my face the once over, apparently seeing the tracks of the tears on my face. She gave me a quick hug before bidding me to go to Christine. I ran up the stairs, I didn't need to be told twice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A/N: Hey everyone, I hope you enjoyed this! Thanks once again for the lovely reviews! I promise to answer the next ones, I just didn't get a chance to anwer the last chapter's. Your reviews are always so encouraging and inspiring, so please keep them coming! Thanks!