Chapter 25: Darkness

There are important and non important events within some stories and it is only fair to say that the weeks Raoul De Changy was away back in France was weeks filled with unimportant events... The story really recommences when Raoul De Changny had convinced his wife Christine to accompany him to America on a holiday along with their son Charles whom had just turned 3 years old.

Erik was very paranoid by Christine's sudden arrival at Phantasma along with her young son,

"Why would she come here alone without the vicomte?" he mumbled to himself but Darius placed a comforting hand on his shoulder,

"Don't worry. I shall gather what information I can" he assured before heading off but Claire couldn't help but frown as she felt something was wrong and came to stand by Erik's side,

"Something doesn't seem right about this... I don't like the fact that woman is here all of a sudden" Claire muttered,

"Her being here is no problem at all. There is only a problem if the vicomte is with her" Erik corrected,

"Why should you worry about the vicomte?" Claire asked,

"... The boy and I have a history that would mostly have him still seeking a vendetta against me and that is all I will say on the matter" Erik told her firmly and Claire folded her arms,

"I still don't like the fact that she is here... She hurt you... And I hate her for it" Claire said firmly causing Erik to turn towards her with a reassuring smile,

"You need not worry when it comes to Christine" he assured her,

"I know because I swear if she causes you any more trouble for you then she will have me to deal with" she vowed and Erik couldn't help but chuckle before they both shared a hug.

Darius told Erik that he had learnt that Christine and the vicomte were simply on a holiday with their young son but a sudden business opportunity arose that drew the vicomte away so to make it up to them both; He purchased tickets for them both. The explanation made Erik feel more at ease but Claire still could not shake the feeling that something was very wrong; Feeling even more uneasy upon her and Erik learning from Darius that Christine and her son would be staying in the hotel wing of the concert hall until the vicomte's business was complete and he would come and join them,

"Erik, I'm telling you. That woman is up to something." Claire told him desperately,

"Do not worry, Claire. I shall make sure that Christine and the Vicomte learn nothing of my presence here" Erik assured her and she could only sigh, silently praying that he was right.

Have you ever been sleeping peacefully and wake suddenly due to the feeling that something is watching you in the darkness?... Well this is exactly what happened to Claire as she sat up in her bed and quickly turned up the oil lamp on her bed side and looked around the room,

"Hello?..." she called before standing from the bed and she heard... Crying?... Claire knelt down and cautiously looked under the bed only to find Christine's son hiding under there!,

"Hey... It's alright... You're not in any trouble. Why don't you come out of under there?" she encouraged gently and was stunned when the little boy quickly scurried out from under the bed and hugged her waist tightly,

"The monster got my mama" he cried as he trembled terrified,

"There there... It's alright. Come on, Let's get you back to your mama" she encouraged before leading the little boy back to the hotel wing.

Claire frowned when she found Christine's suite door stood ajar and she looked down at the little boy gently,

"Just... Stay here for a moment" she instructed gently before heading inside... She approached the viscountesses' bed and grew uneasy at the sight of her motionless form beneath the duvet,

"Miss Daae?..." she called as lighting flashed outside as she approached and she hesitantly pressed two fingers to the still woman's wrist that hung out of the duvet limply and Claire silently gasped in horror, backing away upon having felt no pulse. She quickly rushed outside, lifting Charles into her arms and rushed off to wake Erik.

CHRISTINE HAS BEEN MURDERED! QUICKLY REVIEW FOR CHAPTER 26!

Kind Regards,

TheAuthor1996