Disclaimer: I do not own any of the POTO characters. They belong to Leroux, Kay and ALW, from whom I have borrowed in order to write my story. However, the plot and the characters of Leandre, Gaspard, Ettiene, Pierrick, The gendarme Captain, and Dr. J. Morel are mine.
A/N: I apologize for the posting delay but I was unable to upload my new chapter on
Queen's
Knight captures Bishop
Christine was dusting the furniture when she heard the knock. "Come in Madame".
There was no dust on the furniture since she had dusted it earlier but the goal was not to stop, to continue moving, not to think. Christine was afraid that if thoughts of him and what he might be going through came into her head she would go mad. So she cleaned and re-cleaned, washed and rewashed and polished all that had previously been polished.
Lucette knew what Christine was doing. She had done something similar after Jules' death. Free time had been her enemy but she conquered it and did not allow it to set foot in her life for many years. She looked at Christine and felt sorry for what she had to do but Erik's life was at stake. "What has Raoul been telling you about freeing Erik?"
"He said they have him in a cell but that he is well and that he is going to help him get out…but that there are some legalities involved in clearing Erik's name"
"Did he mention the 'legalities' involved?"
"No, but I suppose he will bring the full weight of the Chagny name to bear on the situation"
"It has been well over a week shouldn't the full weight of that illustrious name have had results by now?" Christine had stopped dusting and had turned to face Lucette. She looked at Christine's face and felt sorry for the girl but she had to press on. Whatever was left in Christine that was child like had to be put aside. Her childish blinders must come off now. "Could the vicomte not be doing what he has promised to do?"
"Madame, Raoul wouldn't do that…would he?"
"He is after all a man in love"
The younger woman dropped on to her bed. "Oh Madame, I have been a fool! My poor dear Erik!" She began to wring her hands, her face pale.
Lucette sat next to her. "The vicomte is waiting for you. What will you do child?"
Christine was willing to do whatever it took to save Erik but not one idea entered her head. She looked up at Lucette. Her eyes fixed on the older woman's for guidance.
Lucette softened her voice "When go out to the vicomte you must convince him that you will die without Erik. He loves you my dear and he will not want to see you suffer" She gently stroked Christine's head.
The girl nodded, her hands continuing to grind against each other.
"You must be the best actress you have ever been Christine!"
"Madame, then I will not need to act at all!" she said bringing herself up to her full stature. The years of ballet training gave her a wonderful posture. She walked out of the room in full stage presence.
All the guards except Gaspard lay sprawled on the table. Some had their heads on their plates. To Erik's chagrin, Pierrick, now Léandre's personal guard accompanied him and was not present for the midday meal.
Erik washed in a bucket. The soap stung his sores so he washed as best he could. He combed his hair neatly and donned the clean garments. The garments were plain but he knew it was the best Gaspard could provide. The old guard had been unable to procure the domino Erik had asked for. Nervously, Gaspard opened the cell and Erik pushed past him.
"My Marie, she'll be safe now lord? You promised"
Erik stopped short and glared at the man. "Are you putting my words into doubt?"
Gaspard lowered his eyes. "No, lord…I just"
"She will be safe"
"Thank you, lord"
Gaspard was certain that whatever happened to him now his daughter would not be harmed. He had the Devil's own emissary's promise. He'd pay of course for having let out Hell's beast but his own child would be safe. "I am your faithful servant. Remember that lord". He called after him.
Erik walked past the guard's bodies. He took the steps two at a time as he reached the top of the steps he opened the door. Pierrick stood there with Léandre just behind him. With a snarl Pierrick lounged for Erik almost knocking him down, but stopped when he felt his neck in a noose. His hands flew to his neck trying to get between the skin and the lasso but to no avail. Erik pulled tight and listened for the snap.
Horror filled Léandre's eyes to see Erik loose. The mirror dropped from under his arm and shattered into tiny fragments. Léandre's mouth opened but no sound came out. His personal guard lay dead at his feet. He turned and began to run. Erik threw the lasso again but did not yank this time. He slowly tightened the noose and stopped. Léandre's eyes were wild with fear. Erik stared into the Marquis' face as he slowly continued to tighten the lasso. Leaving Léandre with a sliver of air the bulging eyes and swollen tongue made the Marquis' head look as if it would explode. His color slowly changed from aristocratic pink to red to a dark purple. He could still get some air into his lungs. Erik's eyes fluttered shut as he finally yanked. He heard the familiar snap and the corner s of his mouth quivered. Léandre's head flopped to the side at an unnatural angle, his mouth frozen in a soundless scream. The body fell to the ground with a thud. Reluctantly, one day, Erik would admit to himself that he had enjoyed the kill but for now he was just glad to be rid of his enemies.
Erik again retrieved his lasso, threw the bodies down the steps and called down to Gaspard. "Dispose of these" He heard the immediate answer from below.
"Yes, my lord"
Christine walked out of the room she shared with Meg. Dark circles surrounded her eyes. The hollows in her cheeks were sunken. Her lips were colorless and dry. There was nothing of the opera Diva in Hannibal in this woman that stood before him. She was wearing another drab dress.
"Good afternoon Raoul" Her voice was monotone.
"Lotte! You are not taking care of yourself"
When she saw him she managed a weak smile and held on to the nearest chair to steady her. "Any news? Have you seen him? Can I see him today?"
She held his eyes. He did not know that eyes could hold so much sadness. Her eyes were like the Creature's eyes! Christine would never be his again even if the Creature died.
"Lotte, have your tea. I'll be back soon" He kissed her forehead. It was cold.
She called after him. A little frown developed between her eyebrows, "Raoul? Are you doing all you can do to help save Erik?"
He did not dare meet her eyes. "Lotte I have loved you as I never knew I could love" "I will take one horse with me if he returns before I do take my carriage and escape with him. The Chagny crest should offer you some protection"
He left her standing there wringing her skirt her eyes down cast holding back tears that would not fall. How he loathed himself. He had brought her to this suffering for nothing because he had known since they were his guests at the Manor that Christine was no longer his. Truthfully, maybe she had never been his. Christine had even wanted to keep their engagement 'secret' so the Creature would not find out. Not because she feared him but because she knew really belonged with Erik. Erik! Raoul prayed the man was still alive.
"I am not he" he had told the Creature. I am not like Léandre. I would not do what he did to the Creature. I am not like that! His thoughts wondered to Phillippe, and what he would have done in this situation. In his head, in his heart he knew. Phillippe might be many things other people did not like but he always behaved with honor. Raoul felt dishonor drench him with its fetid stench. He pushed his horse to a gallop. For once he was very glad his brother had been called away.
"Madame, I will not move from here. I know that if Erik is alive he will come for me"
"My dear, but you cannot stay by that window all day" Lucette put a lite shawl around Christine's shoulders.
"Raoul looked very upset"
Lucette stood by her and nodded "I think he may be remembering who he is and will now do what is right"
Christine nodded unable to continue, her eyes getting lost on the horizon again. Both women continued to stand by the window, supporting each other by the waist. Neither voiced her fears, afraid of making them too real, they simply waited
As Erik rounded a corner in the corridor he collided with Raoul. Both men stood their ground. Raoul felt the soft cord slip over his head and his next breath was cut short.
"Why did you take so long to return you little bastard! Do you know what that sick animal was doing to me during this time?"
Raoul struggled to breathe. His hands struggled with the cord.
"Of course you knew…You were with her all this time were you not? He glared at the choking man. "Why?" he yelled at him.
Raoul's lips began to turn blue.
"Were you trying to win her over?"
Raoul could feel Erik's breath on his face.
"Do you not know she is mine?" He pulled on the cord and Raoul spluttered his eyes rolling.
"What ruse did you exercise to make her stay away?" He let the noose loose enough so the vicomte could get a breath in.
Raoul coughed and breathed deeply. The noose was still around his neck and he knew the Creature would snap his neck before his arm was halfway up. He bent over and put his hands on his knees. "I have done you a great wrong. It is true I tried to keep her for myself" His voice sounded strange to his own ears.
"Why didn't you"
Between gulps of air he managed to ask, "When you were a child did you ever try to catch the moon?"
Erik nodded in understanding. No one could take, fool, cajole or force love from Christine. They had to wait until she gave herself willingly. That prize was his alone.
He looked the vicomte in the eyes and read his sincerity there. With almost pity he took the noose off the vicomte's head. He heard a whispered.
"Thank you"
"Where is she?" Erik asked him
Raoul rubbed his neck. "You mean Christine? She is with Madame Giry of course"
Without another word Erik turned to leave.
"You must leave France immediately. Léandre will not stop until you are dead"
"Or he is" Erik looked toward Raoul as the vicomte ministered to his neck.
Raoul wondered how he had managed to escape without help. He had to give another notch to the Creature.
Again Erik turned to leave but Raoul's voice stopped him.
"You know, that chess set we played with? It's an antique but it never belonged to Philidor"
"Why would you say…"
"To impress you…to gain advantage"
"I was impressed, but it did not help you" He said simply, no insult meant.
"No, it didn't" Raoul smiled at the other man's natural self-assurance. He handed him the mask. "My horse is right outside. The white one. Take it."
"Is it good?"
"The best" It was now Erik's turn to smirk. He looked at Raoul but couldn't thank him and continued down the corridor breaking into a run. Raoul did not expect him to.
