Rook to Queen's Bishop Level 4

The Library at the Chagny manor had an overabundance of books. When Erik had first perused the library he had found that out of so many books, less than a handful was even worth opening. It was obvious that the books, been purchased as fillers for the shelves. Many were leather bound volumes of great beauty and inferior quality. He missed his library with its books on Science, Mathematics, History, philosophical treatises and for lighter fare; he had Greek tragedies, Moliere and Voltaire. All of his books were well read with tattered pages and broken backs. He felt as if he would lose his sanity if he remained in this house much longer.

Erik sat in the library reading a well-worn copy of Uncle Tom's cabin. Who had been reading this? He could not imagine the vicomte or anyone in his family having an interest in such a topic. Perhaps, he thought, a guest had left behind the book. Erik settled down to enjoy the forgetful guest's tome.

As Raoul entered the manor, he instinctively went to look for Christine. Even under the present circumstances, he needed her smiles as he needed his daily sustenance. Hoping for a glimpse of her mop of curls, he peeked in the Library.

"Oh"

Erik looked up and said nothing.

"She's not with you?"

Erik brought his eyes down to the book again. His mouth set firmly.

Raoul entered the library and sat at the edge of a chair staring at Erik.

Finally, Erik closed his book with a thud and began to walk out.

"Do you know yet where you are taking her?"

"What?" Erik set his teeth.

"Christine told me the two of you might be leaving soon. Do you have plans?"

"If I do, would I share them with you?"

"How are you planning on taking care of her during your trip? Do you have an available carriage?"

"We will manage"

"I'm just worried for her…she's delicate"

"Yes" Erik was about to say more but he just clamped his mouth.

"You must take blankets to keep her warm if you need to sleep outdoors"

"I said we will manage" Erik closed his fists and by the look of his face Raoul saw that the conversation was over.

Raoul expected him to leave but Erik didn't move.

Erik slowly walked over to the Philidor game set and picked up a piece.

Turning the King over in his hand, he asked "Game?"

It surprised Raoul but then, to Raoul, everything about Erik was shocking and odd.

He shrugged "Sure"

The two men sat opposite each other.

"I won last time, you may start" said Erik with the tiniest hint of a smile on his lips.

Raoul looked daggers at Erik and then moved his pawn.

After a few moves, Erik just sat and hung his head.

Raoul waited for his move and when it did not come, he leaned back.

Erik put his head in his hands and sighed. "I can't take her with me"

"I see you've come to your senses" Raoul's heartbeat raced. Could this be possible?

"I was never out of my senses!" He said harshly and started to pace. "It's the circumstances…she…she doesn't deserve it"

"No" Raoul kept his answer short and controlled. He felt like screaming, jumping, dancing…Lotte, Lotte. Outwardly, he showed no emotion except for the hidden tapping of his foot. Anything might change the Creature's mind.

"I will need a horse".

"Go to the stables and pick one I don't care which one. They are all excellent"

"No doubt" said Erik after moving his Knight.

"Do you need money?" Raoul moved his Knight.

"No"

"When will you leave? Tonight?" Raoul asked hopefully.

"No, she would notice"

Raoul did not want to know why his Lotte would notice The Creature's disappearance in the middle of the night. He did not want to know anything except that somehow by a miracle that, knew not whom to thank for, he had a chance again. "Check"

"Tomorrow, after breakfast you will entertain her in the parlor while I…while I make my departure."

Raoul nodded his assent. "Check".

"Where will you go?

"As far as your horse will allow me"

"Out of France?"

"Are your horses that good?" asked Erik knowing the answer.

"They are the best". Raoul answered with conviction but without vanity. If presently, he had not owned a horse that was good enough he would have purchased one that could take the Creature to China if need be. "Check"

"Make sure to take some food with you" Raoul did not want the Creature to have any mishaps that would cause him to need to return.

Erik looked at Raoul sternly "I need you to swear that you will let her sing. She needs to sing"

"I know how she loves it. I would never deny her."

"There are smaller venues where she can…"

Raoul nodded "I will guide her in finding what she needs"

"She needs to sing!" Erik began to raise his voice.

No, no, no, we must keep him calm. Raoul wanted to keep everything as harmonious as possible. "She will sing I promise"

"Do not hurt her, in any way or you will answer to me" So the Creature, the monster, thinks I might harm her. How dare him. Raoul was almost shaking with fury but managed to control his temper and with a well modulated voice. Simply said, "I wouldn't, ever".

"If you do, I will know and I will hunt you down and end your life" with those words Erik moved his Rook "Check mate". Do not concentrate so much on winning vicomte. You enjoy 'Checking' me much more than it is healthy for your game. Surely Monsieur Sodovesky taught you that?"

Raoul blushed up to his roots but he made himself smile and a slight laughter escaped his lips "Congratulations! You bested me again"

"Of course I bested you. I'm a far superior player than you…you pompous fool!" With those words, Erik stood up and left.

Raoul paced the library trying to gain control of himself. His instinct was to run the Creature thru with his sword. "One more day, Lotte, One more day, one more day"

Christine found him in his black trousers by the window staring down at the garden.

"Why aren't you in bed, Erik?"

"I am worried about the roses"

"The roses?"

"Yes there's a frost coming"

"How do you know? The weather is so warm tonight"

He smiled and gave her a chaste peck. "I know"

"Erik?"

"Yes?"

"What will happen when we leave here?"

She is worried he thought. "I don't know yet Christine"

"We will stay here a couple of weeks while you recuperate"

More time in the boy's home?

"Don't look at me like that Erik. Dr. Morel said…"

"That fool!"

"That fool, saved your life"

"It was you that saved my worthless life"

"Do you love me Erik?"

"You know I do"

"Show me"

He lifted her in his arms and carried her over to his bed. Gently he laid her down and lay by her side. He stroked her dark hair away from her face "Christine, I love you". He kissed the sensitive spot on her neck. She lifted his mask off and kissed his cheek.

"I want you Erik"

"Not in his house. It is not right"

Erik had told Christine about his always living, marginalized, in societal pockets, never enjoying freely of the rich fabric of Parisian life. She thought it was so peculiar that he of all people was always worried about following social conventions. This attention to societal mores showed in this attire as well as his manners.

Unlike the rest of Paris, Erik considered her, an Opera chorus girl, to be an untouchable jewel.

She kissed him tenderly and he returned the kiss without deepening it. She knew that in his bedroom at this time his control was minimal. Erik wrapped his arms around her and she spooned closely to him using his arms as her pillow. Erik pulled the blanket over both of them to cover them from the morning's frost.

She reached over to the night table and saw the music box. They had gotten into the habit of playing it every night. That was their signal that no more touching was to take place and only light chaste kisses were now allowed. These nights of sleeping side by side had been blessings for their love hungry souls and torture to their touch starved bodies. On many nights Erik had said that he had wanted both to hear the music play and to smash the damned monkey into slivers.

Tonight Christine took the music box with the all-seeing monkey and slid it under the bed. Erik snuggled against her neck. His tongue traced her ear lightly, causing her to moan and writhed under him. "Erik, oh" her voice thickened. She did not want to be denied on this night, damn all conventions! There would be no music on this night.

He tangled his fingers in her thick curls and kissed her lips hungrily, his resolve diminishing with each touch of her body. She kissed his chin and let her tongue trail up to his mouth he shivered as she slipped her tongue in and kissed him deeply. She filled his mouth with her tongue and met his in a tantalizing dance. Pulling back just a little to catch his breath, he warned her "Christine…" She pulled him down to her again. He knew he was at the limit of his control and attempted to separate from her again. "My love we have to stop now. Right now or I won't be able to do so" Christine answered him by grinding her hips against his straining pants. He groaned and slid his hands down her body.

Erik licked the small dip at the bottom of her throat. His hand slipped down and came up between her thighs. He covered her womanhood, the heat, and moisture searing his hand. Christine. His control was collapsing. Erik removed his hand quickly and heard her exhale. He heard her moan "Why?"

His mind kept saying not here, not here. If not here then when? They had agreed not to do anything like that under the vicomte's roof. Tonight was different, there was an immediacy to each tough, each caress. Erik did not want to hand the vicomte his treasure. As soon as he had formulated the thought, he felt shamed at thinking of Christine as a prize. She is mine.

It was no longer a choice. He needed to have her tonight. The vicomte would have her as his wife but he would be first. His heart twisted at the thought of his Christine in the boy's arms. Tonight, she would be his, all his. She was ready and she wanted him. He stroked her hair as he positioned himself above her.

"Yes, Erik, yes"

"Do you want me?" He knew the answer.

"I do"

"Tell me"

"I wan"

"Do you want to be mine?"

"I...I"

"Yes or no"

"Erik!"

"Choose Christine!"

"Yes, yes" She said turning her head into his chest. He took advantage of her turned head to trace his tongue along her neck his hand seeking her heat again.

"Oh Erik"

They kissed then with all the hunger they had reserved for just this moment.

His eyes closed and then suddenly he plunged into her. Christine cried out and her eyes widened. Tears spilled from her eyes. Too late, he realized she did not know what to expect. She is so young and innocent. Erik felt like a maggot. "You are mine Christine". He whispered in her ear. She began to move away from him seeking comfort but he gave her none. Erik held on to her continuing his movements, sinking deeper into her. He looked into her eyes again only to see pain and confusion. Damn it! He was so close to his release. A few more thrusts and he would be there.

Erik, pulled out and held Christine in his arms, she whimpered, tears rolling down her cheeks. "Are you all right my love?" Erik held her and kissed her teary cheek. He had been so close to tasting Heaven and now he plunged into the darkest abyss. What have I done to you now Christine?

"It hurts Erik" She clung to him and sobbed.

He held her tighter to him "I know. Just lay still my love"

"I'm sorry Erik"

"No love you were not ready," he said, kissing the top of her head

"But I made you want to"

"Made me want you? Christine, with you, I always want to. I should have prepared you but…" He lowered his eyes to the floor. "I don't really have much experience in this myself".

"I know"

"I suppose someone with more experience would have known to prepare you better. I am so sorry Christine. I have spoiled everything"

"Oh no Erik, It's not spoiled. We just have to practice a lot." She kissed his cheek and a giggle escaped along with another sob.

As they returned to a calmer state, Christine lay in his arms warm and relaxed. She reached under the bed and played the music box. They both lay staring at the monkey playing with his cymbals.

"That is a little too late my love" he smirked. They both chuckled and in each other's arms waited for the morning light.

In the clear light of day, a dark figure made its way to the Chagny stables. Noiselessly he secured his few possessions to the horse. The animal began to rear but he controlled it by whispering a few words into its ear. He mounted the powerfully built white horse and quietly rode out of the stables. The lone rider passed through the frosted Rose garden. The roses looked crystallized as if they had been encased in glass. He passed the bench where Christine had taken his mask off and kissed him under the rays of the sun. His eyes glistened but he turned his head and maneuvered the steed away.

As he reached the periphery of the estate, he turned to look at the Chagny Manor. He slowly turned the horse away and continued down the road entering the forest ahead. There was no sound except a slight rustling of his cape as it caught in the wind.

In the Library Christine was having an animated game of checkers with Raoul. She suddenly stopped and pressed a hand to her chest.

"Are you all right Lotte?

"Yes, thank you" She felt a strange sensation as if her soul was trying to leave her body. How silly of me. She continued to play but an inexplicable sadness overcame over her mood.

"Would you like to learn how to play chess Lotte?"

"No, not today Raoul. I really should check on Erik"

"His health has improved rapidly"

"True, but I still like to check on him"

"Let us finish our game first"

"Raoul, I really have to go check on Erik" Christine got up and began to walk out of the room.

"Wait, Christine" Raoul held her by the shoulder. "He's gone"

Her shudder was so strong he assumed she would faint and tightened his grip.

"Here Lotte, take a seat"

Christine would not allow his hands to push her down. She had to get out of there now. Without looking at him she said, "Thank you Raoul, but I think I will go to my room now"

"Are you sure Lotte?"

She did not say a word but continued moving until she found the stairs and then blinded by her tears she ascended to her room.

"Erik, Erik, Erik!"

Was there a chance that Raoul might be lying? It occurred to her now that Raoul might have hurt him and hidden him from her. If she asked him, he would not admit it. She discarded that idea because Erik was as before, more than capable of defending himself. She rushed from the room into what had been Erik's room. His clothes were all gone as were his weapons; the monkey box was on the dresser. On the bed, a red rose with a black ribbon. The rose still had frost on it. Christine rushed to the window, her eyes searching the grounds, but there was no Erik.

Her knees felt so weak and she reached out to support herself. As Christine held on to the bedpost she remembered the trick Erik had shown her. She twisted the bedpost knob just as Erik had shown her. To her surprise, it came off easily to reveal a hidden space. A silk rope lay on the bottom and a piece of folded paper on top. It read:

My Christine,

I disappoint you once again. It goes to prove how unworthy I am of your love. My devotion will always keep you company but I cannot, I should not. I have killed many and that alone condemns me to the life of a fugitive. When I saw that, I had to involve you in my despicable vice in order to save myself I decided that I could not. I am an opium addict. I have been for years. It was, if there is ever an excuse for weakness, my way of remaining sane in a world that despises my existence. How could I tie you to this deformed maggot? No, you belong in the little parlor downstairs in fine dresses hosting teas with the vicomte's circle of friends. What can I offer you but my flawed love? For the first time in my miserable life, I let go of something that is mine. You Christine you are mine, but I free you to live your life, to be happy as you see fit.

The love that we have shared will be my sustenance for the rest of my days. Perhaps when your heart is no longer full of hurt and detestation toward me, maybe when you are singing, you will think of me.

I have always loved only you,

Erik

Christine picked up her rose and lay on the bed that smelled of him. She was not sure why she couldn't cry although her heart was torn. She pressed the cold flower to her lips, made herself into a little ball, and fell sleep on Erik's bed.

End of Game two

A special thanks for my beta reader Reinaldo Walker. Thank you!

Thank you!

Thank you also to all my reviewers. Please continue to review. It keeps me writing in spite of a busy schedule.