Blackmail

Gabrielle's Eyes:

I awoke to booming voices echoing somewhere in the house. I grumbled as I turned my head into the pillow, but after lying there for a few moments willing the noise to stop and finding that it did not subside, I swung my legs over the side of the bed and got up.

As soon as I was upright, I regretted having moved at all and had to lean on the edge of a nearby chair to steady myself. After taking a moment to compose my body and mind, I swung my robe over my shoulders and gingerly tied it around my waist as I headed down the hallway towards the living room. As I reached the top of the stairwell, I looked down and my heart plummeted to my feet. Erik and Raoul were having a face off again and by the looks of it, things had gotten worse between them, if that was even possible.

I sped down the stairs, struggling with the weakness I felt within my body the entire time. When I stepped off the last stair, my frailty finally took over an I plummeted to the floor.

A pair of large arms grabbed hold of my waist and pulled me back to my feet before I hit the ground. I yelped as I felt a jabbing pain course through me from Erik's arms encountering my injury and he quickly stepped back, keeping his hands on my shoulders to steady me as he did so. I was relieved beyond belief that he had caught me as I felt myself grow tired.

"Gabrielle, are you alright? You shouldn't be out of bed if you still feel drained!" His frantic eyes searched mine and I quickly looked away, not wanting to feel week in the knees in addition to the weariness that was caused by illness.

"I have been in bed far too long, Erik!" I said firmly, looking over his shoulder at Raoul standing nearby. Raoul looked to the ground as soon as I met his gaze. I felt a slight triumph at this, but it faded quickly as I saw another person in the corner. I was nearly overcome with joy as I noticed the outline of a young woman with chestnut brown hair.

"Angelique!" I said, sidestepping Erik and racing to my daughter. I brushed past Raoul in my excitement and he jumped away when my arm slid against his, acting as if my touch had burned him. I did not notice nor care as I took my weeping daughter into my arms. "Oh my darling! Oh my baby! I missed you so!"

Angelique simply wept into my neck as I cradled her as if she was once again a girl of four. Suddenly I heard my name being cried from above the stairs and I stood and turned around. I was soon encircled by all three of my children and I kneeled to receive them all in my arms.

"Mommy, mommy, mommy!" Jaime cried.

"Oh my boy…my brave boy…."

"Mother, oh thank God mother!" Caroline repeated over and over again while tears cascaded down her cheeks.

"My beautiful children! I have missed you all so very much!" I crushed them against me with a fervor that was surprising, never wanting to let them go.

"My dear…you will suffocate them if you do not release them shortly." I let go of them reluctantly and turned my attention to Erik, ready to reprimand him for disturbing my moment with my children but then, when I looked at him, all irritation left me as love took over. I stood slowly, keeping my eyes locked onto his as I did so. I watched as his breath caught in his throat as I stepped closer to him.

"Gabrielle…" He said softly, his lips parting on a breath.

"Erik…the love of my life…my savior once more", I cooed softly so that only he could hear.

"No, Gabby, I did not-"

I pressed my finger to his lips and cut off his words. "Don't you even try to say that you did nothing…I remember very clearly who it was leaning over me when I woke up…"

He smiled, "Yes well…Luck was on my side for once…"

"As much as I love romantic reunions, they are something I like to witness only once and I already saw one such reunion between you two, so if you don't mind, save the romance for later, in private…" Raoul's voice pierced through my thoughts and outrage began to coil within my stomach. Before I could get a word out, Erik had stepped around me and was facing Raoul, his eyes blazing into Raoul's.

"How dare you? I will accept any and all anger you may have towards me, but considering what you have done to Gabrielle, I think you at least owe her some courtesy" he hissed.

"Well, my life hasn't exactly been a walk in the park either. I am not solely responsible for what you let happen to your wife and so, I do not owe either of you anything!"

I looked at my children and Angelique nodded and ushered the others back upstairs. I then turned my full attention back to the two men who hadn't noticed my lack of participation.

"You ignorant fool! How dare you treat Gabrielle in such a way, you nearly cost her her life, all because you were dumb enough to get mindlessly drunk! Beautiful! Marvelous job Raoul, way to make the woman fall madly in love with you! I suggest that you come up with a better plan than that if you intend to convince her that she should leave me for you! Correct me if I am wrong, but I don't think nearly killing her is a great endearment."

"Enough from you, you retched excuse for a man…you cowardly monster!"

"Cowardly monster, am I? I was not the one who nearly killed an innocent woman!"
"She is hardly innocent!"

"Oh, pardon me, I didn't know it was a crime to love only one man! My mistake!" Erik's sarcasm was beginning to take on an angry tone.

"If only you knew all she had done!" Raoul said mysteriously.

Erik looked to me for a moment, but my outraged expression consoled him and he turned right back to Raoul.

"What do you think you are playing at? She has done nothing and you know it!"

"Indeed, but the rest of Paris does not necessarily know of her innocence do they?"

Erik's gaze narrowed and I watched as his whole body became rigid. "What?!"

"You heard me! Perhaps I should just tell the truth…go to the authorities and tell them that I am harboring two murderers in my home…one that is wanted for several accounts of murder and another that has been forcing me to hide her murderous lover, the Phantom of the Opera!"

Erik took a step towards Raoul, but this time, Raoul stood his ground. Erik stared into Raoul's eyes and after a moment broke the intense contact. "You wouldn't do that…you couldn't…you still are in love with Gabrielle…"

"No, my dear ignorant Erik, that is where you are mistaken. That would be your vanity speaking, you see, now that you have something desirable that belongs to you, you think everyone is out to take it away…"

"You wanted her, you said it yourself!"

"Indeed, I did…and do, but I am beginning to realize that no matter what I do, I will never truly have her…and the more I tell myself that, the more I am beginning to imagine myself turning you both in and being free for once in my life."

I finally found my voice and spoke up. "Raoul, what has happened to you? You would have never done this a few months ago! Why the sudden change in you?"

He looked at me, with a longing deep within his eyes and walked towards me slowly, ignoring Erik's threatening glare. He raised a hand to brush the back of his fingers against my cheek. I flinched at his touch, feeling awkward and genuinely assaulted, even though only his fingers touched me. I would have been somewhat frightened by his forwardness if Erik had not been nearby.

"You do not love me." The sadness in his tone almost made me feel pity for him.

"Raoul, you knew that long before Erik came back…"

"But then I thought it was only grief and it would disappear eventually, leaving you open to love me. But then, Erik came back and all hope began to disintegrate as I watched you two begin your life together…seeing you bring more children into this world and knowing that no matter how many children you had, none of them would be mine. And then, I began paying closer attention to the way that you looked at your children…as if they were all that mattered within the world…you cherish them even more than you cherish Erik, and that is saying something. In that gaze I saw no room for me and so died my dream of you…leaving me painfully alone…so alone that I began to think desperately of how I could force your heart to be mine…" His voice turned cruel and he placed his hand around my neck forcefully. I screeched and Erik rushed over, shoving Raoul away from me with a deep guttural growl. "You think you have power over me, well the tables have turned my dearest! Your husband can protect you no longer!"

"Desperately attempting to force her into loving you….hmmm…That sounds suspiciously like another such instance that both you and I have experienced…" Erik spat before turning to gently rub his hand over my neck. I brought up my hands to place them over his, mouthing to him that I was fine.

"Do not lecture me!" Raoul replied, turning his back to the both of us as if he had not just nearly choked me. "I am in no mood to hear of your hardships, Erik…for, I am well aware that they outnumber my own…or at least, so you would like everyone to think."

After giving me one final look-over, he turned angrily at Raoul, "You know nothing of my life you despicable bastard and if you ever lay a hand on my wife again I will kill you!"

"You said that once before, and yet a moment ago, I caressed her face while you stood aside…"

"I was humoring you a moment ago when you speaking to her. I showed you respect but you betrayed that. The next time you get near her I will not hesitate to teach you a lesson you wont soon forget!"

"Perhaps…but what if she begins to welcome my touch!"

"I am no fool. I know my wife! She was appalled by your touch!"

"Yes, even I felt that, but unfortunately for you both, you do not have leverage over me any longer, quite the contrary, I have it over you! If you wish for you to remain together, here, with Gabrielle's reputation intact, I suggest you both do as I say."

Both Erik and I fell silent. He looked at me before turning his attention back to Raoul. "I will not allow my family to be blackmailed!"

"I do not believe you have that luxury…you will do as I say, as will your wife…I could care less about the children…as long as they stay out of my way… So…my first demand is that Gabrielle spends the night with me…nothing will be expected of you, my dearest…I know you are a refined woman…I would just like to dream, with you beside me…" He cooed, smirking at me. I took a step back, feeling the blood rush from my face. I never wanted to be alone with Raoul again, even if he promised to be gentlemanly to me. I couldn't trust him anymore.

I looked at Erik, feeling completely helpless. His eyes turned a burning shade of amber verging on dark brown as he looked from me to Raoul. He gritted his teeth, attempting to speak evenly. "I will not allow that! You lost all privileges to be with her alone when you struck her…and if you think threatening my family will force me into relinquishing my power within this household, you are mistaken…if renouncing my authority means placing Gabrielle in danger, I will never be persuaded to comply."

"I figured as much…Gabrielle," He looked straight at me, "talk some sense into your husband…you know what I am capable of…"

I flinched at those words, feeling a twinge of pain in my side. Erik growled angrily beside me as he began to pace back and forth next to me, clenching his hands into fists so hard that his knuckles turned white. I grabbed his wrists and he stopped pacing to look at me. "Erik…I love you so much…I love how your thoughts are constantly on me and protecting your family…but we cannot deny the corner Raoul has backed us in to."

"Gabrielle…" he pleaded with me, "I am frightened for you…I despised not being able to protect you the last time and see what became of that! I will not place you in danger again…I almost lost you once!" his eyes were clouded with tears as he choked out the last words. "I love you Gabrielle…more than life itself…"

"I know, Erik…and I despise the idea of you sleeping alone in our bed…but I cannot think of any way to convince Raoul to ignore his advantage over us."

"Please, no," he breathed.

"Erik, we must…at least for now."

"Smart girl." Raoul acclaimed.

"Shut your mouth!" Erik roared, turning in a flash to face Raoul, the tears in his eyes disintegrating with his sadness as anger consumed him. His body shook forcefully and I couldn't tear my eyes away from him, wanting nothing more than to still his body with my caresses.

I turned to Raoul, feeling my heart sink to the floor. "What are your terms, Raoul?"

"You make it sound as if I am all business…"

"That is all it is for me, Raoul…you are a fool if you think there is any emotion behind what I am agreeing to do."

"No, I understand completely what you are doing and I am fine with your lack of emotion, because it gives me great pleasure to think of Erik receiving what he deserves."

"He deserves pain, for my loving him?"

"He deserves what his selfishness brings him…"

"And what you are doing is not selfish?"

He stared at me in silence, his eyes turning cold quickly. "Do not patronize me, woman, your allegiance belongs to me, now!"

"My 'allegiance' may be yours, Raoul, but that does not mean that my tongue is yours as well. I will speak my mind where and when I please!"

"You will do as your told if you wish to maintain a life that is suitable for you both and your children…Now, say goodnight to Erik and be in my room in five minutes…" With that he turned on his heel and stormed up the stairs.

Both Erik and I watched him go, in silence. Once he was out of sight I turned my attention back on Erik.

"Gabby…" He cooed softly as he brought his hand up to my cheek. I closed my eyes as his hand came into contact with my skin, my mind churning with the bittersweet emotion his touch brought me.

"Erik…I don't know what else to do…he has the means to ruin all that we have and more…we cannot be strong willed this time around…"

"But I cannot leave you alone with him…he is blinded by obsession when he is with you and the course of his mind is so unpredictable that I fear for you…he is not safe anymore!"

"I know Erik…But we cannot treat him as a bystander anymore … for one reason or another, he has become just like everyone else…he is nothing more than an opponent now and we must treat him as such."

"I could kill him…" Erik said softly as he lowered his eyes to my feet.

"I don't doubt that given the right situation, you could…" I said, feeling my stomach go cold as I spoke the words, "but intentionally, no I don't think you are capable of murder anymore…" His eyes met mine and I gasped at the complete agony I saw within them.

"Oh Erik," I whispered, wrapping my arms tightly around his shoulders. His hands crept up to my waist and held me gently. "You do not deserve this torment…do not worry, we will think of something…we have made it this far, haven't we?"

"Yes, I suppose we have…but I still do not like this…"

"Nor do I. You know very well where I would rather be, and that is beside you." Our eyes met as he lowered his mouth onto mine. His kiss was hot and powerful and at that moment I knew I had the strength within me to make it through this night. We broke away but I remained flush against him, not wanting to separate for anything in the world. Finally, I swallowed the lump in my throat and stepped back from him. The heat from his body vanished and was replaced with the cold air separating us and I suddenly felt very scared and alone. "I suppose…I best be going…" I squeaked, attempting to seem calm for Erik's sake.

He closed the space between us and I relaxed immediately as his body came into contact with mine. "You know, there are some things you cannot hide from me, no matter how hard you try…I know what you are feeling right now, and were a moment before…and let me tell you that you are mad if you think that I wont be on full alert tonight…never fear, no one will ever harm you again…"

"I believe you Erik…Goodnight."

"Goodnight. I love you!"

"And I love you…"