A/N: Thanks to my beta, Olethros

Erik: the Vampire Hunter - The Continuing Adventures

Episode 13

By: Elektra

66 Laramie Dr.

Orpheus sat on the floor, rocking back and forth on his heels as he stared at the wooden stake in his hands. The wood was wet. Just like the carpet all around him.

Both were tainted red.

He dropped the stake as if it burned him.

"What did I do?" he whispered as he held up a stained hand. "What…" he glanced over to the unmoving form beside him. "Ms. Martine?" he called softly. "I'm awake, Ms. Martine. I heard you calling…"

Martine wasn't moving.

Oren's breathing grew rapid and shallow. "Please, Ms. Martine. Please sit up. Don't lie on the wet carpet, you'll get cold." His voice became a small squeak, "Ms. Martine? Please…" He studied the woman carefully. Her face was slicked with scarlet liquid, her normally mocha skin now alabaster white. The large gaping hole in her chest did not belong there.

Oren's eyes fell upon the wooden stake once again.

Grief consumed him, a musical cry ripping from his golden throat.

It was a cry that could wake the dead…

Daaé-Garner Residence

Christine opened her eyes and saw nothing but darkness, though she could have sworn she had put the nightlight on before she went to bed. Even at age twenty-two, she still had not gotten over her childish fear of the dark. If the nightlight was off, however, that meant Erik had finally come to bed.

Christine relaxed. The dark always seemed safe when he slept beside her.

It had, unfortunately, been over a week since he had done so. He had been composing obsessively the last several days. She had barely seen him.

Christine slowly reached a hand out, feeling his lean torso. She trailed her way down over his abdomen and frowned at the light outline of ribs beneath her fingers. She let out a sigh of disapproval - her fiancé never bothered to eat regularly when he was busy being creative. She knew if Erik did not keep up his physical activities or regular meals, he could easily revert to the bony skelton he had been as a child. She did not want that for him.

I'm going to buy him a Big Mac tomorrow and make sure he eats the entire thing! Christine decided as she rested her head on Erik's shoulder.

She closed her eyes, glad to have Erik to snuggle against tonight. It had taken far too long for him to get comfortable with ANY kind of physical contact, and she did not appreciate going without it for a week.

Her eyes opened as Erik's body shifted. He gathered her against him and she welcomed the feel of his cool lips brushing her warm skin as they trailed their way up her neck.

"Sweet Christine," he murmured against her ear, "will you forgive me for my disappearance this week?"

"Why should I?" She feigned a pout, knowing he could see it in the dark.

"Because Erik promises to make up for it…" he replied. "… in many different ways…"

Christine's skin tingled at his words. He was using that voice again – the voice that set her blood on fire and made her body ache. It was his way of seducing her as, he had often said, he could not seduce her with his looks.

Regardless, Erik certainly knew how to use what he did have - such as the graceful hands that were currently caressing her. Christine looked up into his golden eyes, faintly glowing in the dark room. He took the silent invitation and slid his mouth over hers.

Before either of them could carry things further, however, the phone rang.

Erik's head shot up to look at the clock on his night table - 2 am. "What the hell?" he growled.

Christine shouted out a week's worth of frustrations and quickly grabbed the phone beside her, unintentionally snapping at the person who had dared interrupt them. "What?"

The voice on the other line immediately caught her attention, concern taking over.

"Oren!" she gasped, "What's wrong?" She glanced at Erik, then turned back to the phone, "Wait, calm down. What happened? Who's hurt? Oren… I can't understand you if you're freaking out! … Martine? Something happened to Martine? … Blood? Oh God… okay… call 911 and tell them you need an ambulance. Erik and I will be there as soon as possible. Call 911 NOW, Oren! Hang up with me! We'll be there soon, okay? Bye…"

Erik was on alert. "What happened?"

"We're needed at 66 Laramie Drive," Christine sighed. "I'll explain on the way."

Erik jumped out of bed, his Hunter instincts kicking in as he quickly set about preparing for whatever was waiting at a house to which he had hoped never to return.

Laramie Drive - later

Erik and Christine stood off to the side of Shay's former residence on Laramie drive. Erik had left his bike down the road and they had walked silently the rest of the way.

"Why are we lurking?" She asked as the two watched the police scour the house and street, looking for what could have happened to the woman who had resided there. The ambulance had left some time ago, leaving the others to investigate the crime scene.

"Because we cannot exactly go up to them at this time of night in the middle of a crime scene and say 'hello,'" Erik replied. "It would make us somewhat suspicious."

Christine wrung her hands, knowing he was right, "Where's Oren?"

"If Orpheus is smart, he is hiding. If he is unlucky, he is already behind bars."

"Well, he can just tell them what happened…"

Erik let out a harsh laugh, "Tell them what? That he suddenly woke up with a bloody weapon in his hand and a critically wounded woman on the floor beside him? That would go over well."

Christine bit her lower lip nervously, "He's going to be in trouble, isn't he?" she asked.

"I do not see how he could get OUT of trouble,"

Christine nodded. What had happened to Oren? What had caused his blackout?

"Come," Erik held a hand out to her, "There is nothing more to see here."

She entwined her fingers with his. "He's not used to any of this. He… he seems like a lost child, you know? Probably scared out of his mind."

"Well, we can do nothing to help him right now. If the police have him, so be it. I will find out in the morning. He will be fine until then."

Christine nodded hesitantly and followed Erik back down the road.

Daaé-Garner Residence - an hour later

"Ms. Christine?"

Christine jumped at the voice as she slid off Erik's bike. She spun around to see a nervous shape moving behind a large tree on the front lawn.

"Why are you here, Orpheus?" Erik demanded as he tugged off his helmet.

Oren stepped forward, hugging himself, "I did not know where else to go. I thought… well… Ms. Christine has been so nice to me, maybe …" he glanced away.

Christine let out a soft sigh, "Do you want to stay here?" she asked. "Until we can figure out what's going on?"

Erik let out a harsh laugh, "Oh yes, that's brilliant! Let us allow a murderer to hide in our home!" Christine glanced at Erik, raising an eyebrow to remind her fiancé that he wasn't innocent himself.

"She's not dead!" Oren replied. "And I had nothing to do with it, I swear! I had no idea… I … I just woke up and… and there was this big mess…" He buried his head in his hands, his voice frightened, "I don't remember anything!"

"Erik, if something IS messing with him, wouldn't it be better to watch him?" Christine asked.

Erik narrowed his golden eyes, focusing on the whimpering boy a few feet away, "Tell me, Orpheus, do you know whose body Martine gave you?"

Oren looked as if his big secret had just been revealed.

"Come now," Erik continued, "Did you think me a fool? I have grown familiar with the stories. You were nothing more than a decapitated head when our resident vodooun priestess found you. She is no stranger to raising bodies from the dead. YOU did not have a body to raise, so surely she had to have found one somewhere…"

Oren's green-gold eyes darted fearfully back and forth between Erik and Christine. "I don't know," he said finally. I asked Ms. Martine myself, but she never told me…"

"Crash with us tonight," Christine decided. "We'll try and figure this all out in the morning."

Oren nodded and followed the two inside.

McNeil Hospital

I can't move. Why can't I move? I cannot open my eyes. I hear voices. A coma? Is that my current state? The pain in my chest is strange. The voices again. Something about emergency surgery? Critical condition?

Where is Oren? I heard him cry out in that beautiful voice before the blackness could completely consume me. He brought me back… I think. At least, I know I am not dead.

I remember what happened. Poor Oren had no control over HIM.

I remember the way HE looked at me before HE impaled me with that stake. HIS eyes. Those demon eyes. So different than my innocent, naïve Oren. I will never forget those eyes. I never HAVE forgotten them.

HE is back.

Daaé-Garner Residence

"I hope Oren will be okay," Christine sighed as she and Erik dressed for bed.

Erik gently tugged Christine onto his lap. "You care about people far too much," he chided.

She shrugged, "It's my nature."

"I know," he slid a hand up her neck and brushed his fingers against her jaw, "It is something I have great difficulty in doing."

"You care about me," she pointed out.

"Only you," he answered. "Everyone else can go to Hell."

Christine tsked in response, sliding her hands up his arms to rest on his shoulders, "I don't believe that. You care about Madame Giry and Meg, Nadir, and even your mom - though you'll never admit it." She furrowed her brow, "I still can't figure out if you care about Raoul."

"Hardly," he grumbled.

Christine laughed at that, then kissed him gently. It was meant to be simple and chaste, but soon turned into far more as her thoughts went back to the previous night, and the unfortunate interruption.

Erik tugged his mask off and tossed it on the chair with his shirt, then immediately lowered Christine to the mattress, sliding atop her petite form as he kissed her once again.Christine responded eagerly as his hands slowly trailed their way up her thighs to tug at her bikini briefs.

"Ms. Christine!"

Erik froze.

"Mr. Erik?" There was a hard knock on the bedroom door, "May I… may I speak with you?"

Christine let out a cry of disappointment, her body raging against yet another interruption.

"I do not care what is screwing with his head, I will KILL him first!" Erik growled. He shoved himself to his feet and spewed forth a string of swear words that would make a sailor blush, then walked – awkwardly – into the en suite and slammed the door behind him.

Seconds later, Christine heard the shower running. The water was ice cold, no doubt…

She quickly grabbed her robe and wrapped it around her. With a sigh, she glanced in the mirror and arranged her hair to cover the amorous marks Erik had made on her neck.

"Ms. Christine? Mr. Erik?"

Christine opened the door to see Oren standing shyly, hands clasped, his face fearful. "Did… did I wake you?"

"Sleep was the last thing from our minds…" Christine muttered, moving to allow Oren in. Of course, the man had no idea what he had interrupted.

He looked around, "Where is Mr. Erik?"

"In the shower," Christine answered. And I wish I was with him… "He'll be done in a moment." She said aloud, then sat on her bed, offering Oren the chair beside her night stand.

Oren did so and waited nervously for Erik to come out. It was a few minutes later when he finally emerged, glaring at Oren before sitting beside Christine.

Unfortunately, he had not brought a mask into the bathroom with him. Oren couldn't help but stare in wide-eyed horror as he saw, for the first time, what Erik usually kept hidden.

"What do you want, Orpheus?" Erik demanded angrily as he sat beside Christine, who took Erik's hand on instinct.

Oren blinked quickly as he tried not to look at the skeletal face before him. "I… I wanted to know if I could see Martine. I'm worried about her,"

Erik let out a harsh laugh, "The moment you show up there, the police will take you! Whether you remember what happened or not, YOU are the prime suspect."

"We can go check on her tomorrow," Christine offered. "And let you know what's going on."

"Yes …" Oren replied. "I need to know everything."

Christine studied Oren for a moment. The way he had said that sounded almost menacing. "Are you okay?"

"Oh… yes… yes, I'm fine, Ms. Christine," Oren replied, his tone normal once again.

Erik still seemed suspicious, but continued, "Of course, since you are in hiding, you will not be able to perform at the Populaire. You understand, yes?"

Oren seemed rather upset at that bit of news, "But… we're starting a new opera and my understudy quit due to personal reasons!"

"Which would be?" Erik asked.

"He's afraid of the opera ghost…" Oren answered meekly.

Erik and Christine exchanged glances. "Erik?" Christine started ,"You've been watching rehearsals-"

"-and I know the opera by heart. Yes, I figured you would mention that," Erik muttered.

"It would be great publicity for the theatre. I mean, CAM performing live? And you have a mask that's close enough to your skin tone so it wouldn't be so obvious on stage." She smiled mischeviously, "And I hear the lead soprano plans to go home with you afterwards."

Before Erik could respond, Oren spoke up. "But… my part, Mr. Erik. It's… very difficult."

"I can handle your part quite well!" Erik snapped.

"I… I suppose there is no other choice," Oren answered hesitantly. "Thank you again for your help." He seemed at a loss for a moment, then stood up. "Please, let me know about Martine as soon as you can." Christine nodded and Oren headed out of the room, leaving the two alone once again.

Unfortunately, to continue where they had left off was now futile.

The Populaire

The buzz at the theatre was centered around Oren's sudden disappearance. No one knew the connection between the lead tenor and the woman who was brutally attacked in her home two nights ago, but that did not stop rumours from circulating.

In the meantime, Loki had taken it upon himself to use Erik's temporary on-stage position to build PR for CAM. He even went so far as to suggest Erik sit for interviews with various newspapers and magazines. Erik had adamantly refused.

"You are making my job very hard, Mr. Ghost!" Loki complained as the two sat in the dressing room. "How am I supposed to manage your career if you refuse to do anything?"

"I have a career," Erik replied. "CAM is only a hobby. I hired you to keep me from the public spotlight, not toss me into it!"

"It doesn't quite work that way," Loki muttered. "The managers are asking Lowell Key to convince his client to help promote the upcoming performances!"

"André and Firmin know better than to ask anyone to convince me of anything."

Loki studied the masked man. "Perhaps they cannot convince you, but I do know a lovely young woman who can. Must I bring her into this?"

"Last I checked, Christine had her OWN interviews to deal with. She does not need to worry about mine. Let her mention me if she wishes, but I will not sit for a journalist who will ask questions I do not want to answer."

Loki sighed, "It is times like this I wish Oren Pheryus had not fired me. At least he was willing to promote himself." He then frowned. "Speaking of which, where is he? Why did he disappear and leave you to fill in?"

"Ah, more questions I do not want to answer," Erik replied. "Do not concern yourself with Orpheus. I assure you he has not concerned himself with you."

"No, I don't imagine he would. Did you figure out why he has been acting so strange?"

Erik studied the trickster, "Why are you so interested?"

"Well," Loki shrugged, "It's only because his mood changes were… erratic. I would say it was a kind of possession. Either way, I do not want him coming after me." He glanced around nervously. "Would you protect me if he did?"

Erik simply looked at the creature before him, and wondered what could possibly make an immortal so in fear for his life.

Guild Headquarters – the next day

Gus Leroux flipped through the report Erik handed him. It held all the information regarding the recent incident with Orpheus and Martine.

"So he truly does not remember?" He asked.

Erik shook his head, "Not a thing. And Martine is in a coma, so she is of no use."

"And he's still at your house?" Leroux asked.

Erik nodded, "Yes, but I would rather someone take him off my hands. Christine and I have far better things to do than babysit Orpheus!"

"Well, someone should keep an eye on him in case he has another 'blackout'. I cannot think of anyone better than you." Leroux replied simply. "And if worse comes to worse, you can do what must be done."

"I told you I have resigned as the Exceutioner!" Erik snapped angrily. "Do not put me in such a position again."

"At times, such a position is unavoidable." Leroux answered. "Think about this – doesn't it seem odd that during his 'blackout', Orpheus attacked Martine with a stake? It speaks to something personal. Whoever… or whatever… is doing this seems to be leaving the Guild a very clear message."

Erik considered this. Annoyed with having to deal with a frightened Orpheus for the last few days, Erik had not stopped to think of the possibility that the attack upon Martine could have had a deeper meaning.

He made a mental list of inventory in his head:

Weapon: stake

Victim: Martine

There was method to this madness. Both were connected to the Guild. So what was Erik missing?

Perhaps it would be better to keep Orpheus close to him.

McNeil Hospital

HE is here.

I may not be able to open my eyes or move, but that does not mean I cannot sense him. That does not mean I cannot hear him.

"Oh Martine…" HE begins with a sigh, "What a mess you've gotten yourself into." HE continues to speak to me. Taunt me. Torture me with HIS presence.

How did HE get here? How did HE get by those I know stand at the door? Why am I even asking such questions? A creature such as HIM can do what he pleases. HE is that powerful.

And we are all doomed.

END OF EPISODE 13