Sweet Seduction

Chapter Twenty-Seven: No Good Deed

A/N: Hello again! Just wanted to tell you guys that this story is drawing to a close. There will probably be only about five or six more chaps to go and then an epilogue. So, you better make sure you leave a review before you miss your chance (hint-hint)

And, I apologize, I promise I'll reply to all your wonderful reviews this weekend, I just have absolutley no time right now to even breathe, so it's almost a miracle I got to update!

No thoughts within her head but thoughts of joy

No dreams within her heart but dreams of love!

Christine sang happily, sinking down onto the stage. Erik nodded, tapping his baton on the conductor stand

"Very good, Christine, but watch your breath support! Now, Alexandre, time for your cue" Erik called out, changing his sheet music. It was two months since rehearsals had began and it was now the last day of August. The performance was tomorrow night, and the company was having one last dress rehearsal. Everyone was excited about the new performance (well some were a bit suspicious, and a little bit fearful, remembering what had happened last time this play was put on) and most were eagerly awaiting the next day, especially Erik and Christine. Erik was finally going to be able to find out what the audience thought of his play, and Christine would get to sing the entire opera. She was still a little disappointed that Erik wasn't going to be playing her Don Juan, though. The company had found an excellent young singer to play Don Juan, even if he wasn't as marvelous as Erik had been (in Christine's opinion). His name was Alexandre Dantes, and he was a young men wanting to make his opera debut. A number of the opera's regular male singers had refused the lead role, not wanting to take any chances. Alexandre had just been hired on as a stage hand before rehearsals started and one day by chance, Georges had overheard him singing and was astounded. He then had Alexandre sing for Erik, Christine and Mme. Giry and all (well, in Christine's case, grudgingly) had agreed, and Alexandre was cast as Don Juan. He was a little nervous about making his debut, though, as he'd confided to Christine in private.

Alexandre appeared on stage, singing his opening lines. Everything was fine, until he got to the chorus. Erik cut off the music, starting to become frustrated. He walked up on stage

"Alexandre, don't be afraid to approach her! This is the entire point of the song. You've set up a grand trap to capture this peasant girl and she's finally in your reach! You have to act as though you want to charm her, even seduce her, and you won't be able to convey that to the audience if there's twenty feet of space between you two!" he exclaimed

Alexandre nodded, quickly moving closer towards Christine. He began singing again a capella, a bit more spirited and loudly than last time. Erik nodded approvingly

"Good, good, but one last thing: Alexandre, you have to touch her. Take her hand, hug her, something!"

The young boy noticeably reddened and Georges and Jacques, who were watching, quickly turned their chuckles into coughs when Mme. Giry glared at them.

Erik literally pulled Alexandre over to Christine as he protested "Well, of course Monsieur Destler, I mean, you're the composer, but I- Well, I just don't- It's a little uncomfortable, I mean-"

Christine put her hand over his mouth, immediately silencing the young boy "Alexandre, my husband is not going to mind if you touch me or hug me or whatever you wish. That's part of the song. We understand that."

Alexandre grinned as Erik tried not to laugh. He motioned him over and Alexandre awkwardly slid his hands around Christine's waist. Erik sighed.

"No, boy, like this. Here, let me show you" Alexandre moved out of the way and Erik skillfully wrapped his arms around Christine's body, his right arm nestled snugly under the curve of her breasts and his face ensnared in her mounds of curls. Alexandre stared and Christine rolled her eyes

"No, Alexandre, you don't have to get quite this...intimate. My husband's abusing his power again"

"I'm abusing no such thing Madame, I'm just demonstrating so the boy gets the picture"

"And that's all you're doing"

"Well, that's all I'll do right now" he growled in her ear. She laughed. Erik cleared his throat and began singing the chorus

Past the point of no return -
no backward glances:
our games of make believe
are at an end

He ran his fingers slowly through her messy mounds of curls, and resumed singing
Past all thought of "if" or "when" -
no use resisting:
abandon thought,
and let the dream descend

He quickly whirled her around and grasped her closer than before, his arms resuming the familiar feeling, one around her waist pressing her firmly against him and the other gently grasping her throat.
What raging fire shall flood the soul?
What rich desire unlocks its door?
What sweet seduction lies before us?
Past the point of no return,
the final threshold, what warm,
unspoken secrets will we learn?
Beyond the point
of no return

Alexandre and about thirty staff members began applauding. Now it was Erik who noticeably reddened in the face. Christine grinned wickedly, cocking her head

"All right, you made your demonstration. Now let go of me and let Alexandre practice" Unless you're going to be singing tomorrow night. She let that go unsaid, but Erik understood her meaning perfectly well. He quickly bowed and got back down into the orchestra pit, where he resumed conducting and leading the company through practice for the rest of the afternoon.

"Christine! Christine, wait a moment" Meg called, running up to her best friend as Christine locked the door to her dressing room.

"Meg? Whatever is the matter?" she asked worriedly

"Look what I found in the socialite column in the paper"

"Meg, you didn't! Please tell me you did not talk to another reporter" she groaned

Meg looked at her, stunned "Christine, that was over a year ago! Do you have to remind me of that every chance you get, for goodness sake? And even if I did, do you think I'd be the one to show it to you or your husband?"

"Show me what?" Erik asked, coming up to the girls. He slung his leather satchel of music papers over his shoulder. Meg held out the column for them to see

"Look, right here, page four"

Christine and Erik both skimmed over the paper.

A Noble Engagement

Phillipe de Changy, (formerly the Viscount de Changy since the recent ailing health of his brother, and now Earl de Changy), has formally announced his engagement to Duchess Victoria le Chanter of the Marseilles de Chanters. The announcement was made yesterday evening at the state dinner and ball, held at the de Changy estate. A suitable year engagement is planned for the delightful Earl, and Duchess. As nobility custom dictates, upon the union of the two, Phillipe de Changy's class standing will thereupon be changed from Earl to Duke, as expected

"So, what is all the fuss about?" Erik asked "Raoul's brother is getting married."

"Oh, that is sweet. Even if it is Raoul's brother, he shouldn't be miserable just because Raoul's unstable right now" Christine said lightly

"No, keep reading!" Meg exclaimed, pointing further down the column. Erik sighed and began reading aloud over Meg's shoulder

The soon to be Duchess de Changy has taken quite an... opinionated stand for a woman of her class, particularly against her finance's rather drastic decision to institutionalize his brother, the former Viscount, Raoul de Changy due to severe mental illness. Due to the recent death of the Earl de Changy, Phillipe and Raoul's father-

"Wait a minute!" Erik exclaimed, snatching the paper out of Meg's hands "Their father is dead?"

"Yes, but that's not-"

"The worst of it" Erik finished for her. He could already tell what the rest of the article was going to inform them of, but he kept reading aloud nonetheless

Phillipe de Changy has now inherited the title of Earl de Changy, and his brother Raoul de Changy has now been reinstated to the title of Viscount de Changy, which he was stripped of upon his arrival at the Asylum de Loons. Alas, this is only one of the changes made in the de Changy family since the arrival of the beautifully dazzling Duchess. The Duchess has persuaded her finance to release his brother Raoul from care of the asylum-

"Oh no" Christine gasped. Erik continued

-and once again into the care of his former estate. The Duchess believes her finance was under enormous amounts of pressure at the time he was forced to make the hasty decision to institutionalize his own brother. The Earl Phillipe de Changy claims that he believed it was the best course of action for his brother's failing mental health at the time, but now, with guidance from his ever-loving finance, he has officially signed the Vicomte to be released from the asylum permanently and granted a full pardon for whatever inappropriate deeds he may have committed in his brief term of mental imbalances.

This new announcement has set all of Paris a twitter with curiosities. Days before the Vicomte Raoul de Changy's arrival at the asylum, he was a rather generous patron to our own dear Opera Popluaire and engaged to the promising young opera star Christine Daae. Since this time has passed, Mlle. Daae abruptly ended their engagement, jilting the Vicomte for still unknown reasons (frightened of his failing mental health perhaps?) and is now married to conductor of the Opera Popluaire and co-manager, Erik Destler. Mlle. Daae has once again returned to singing, and will be performing in the controversial new opera Don Juan Triumphant, written by her own husband to boot, in one week's time

"Oh no. Oh no NO!" Christine screamed, her legs giving out beneath her. Erik dropped the paper and rushed to catch her, gently lowering her to the floor. Christine barely noticed, trembling violently and hugging herself

"No, this can't be true. Tell me it isn't true!" she screamed

Erik hugged her

"Christine, darling, everything is going to be fine"

"Fine! Erik, nothing is fine right now! Raoul's not in the asylum anymore. He's out for good now and I know he's going to come find me again. Erik, this time he really will kill you! Oh my god, oh my god!" she screamed, nearly hysterical

Meg bent down, taking her best friend's hand

"Yes, but Christine, the paper said Raoul's fine now, see? Maybe he has made a recovery and he is not insane anymore."

"Oh bullshit Meg!" Christine screamed, picking up on her husband's colorful language. Meg stared at her in shock

"Christine, vile words do not pass through a lady's lips" she recited

"Meg, do you really believe I care what passes through my lips anymore? Raoul's released now! I know he's going to come after me again, I just know it. He really will kill Erik this time and he'll take me and force himself on me and make me-"

"Christine!" Erik yelled, lightly slapping her. She screamed louder and collapsed against him, frantically breathing. Erik stroked her hair

"Christine, calm down. Nothing is going to happen to you. I'm right here, I would never let anything happen to you, I swear. You know I'd do anything to keep you safe-"

"-and Raoul knows that too, and he swore he'd kill you if I ever told you what happened at the Masque and I did!" she sobbed

Erik sighed "Christine, why don't you just forget about this ridiculous story, all right? It could just be gossip for all we know"

Meg spoke up

" Oh no Erik, this newspaper would never print anything that isn't-"

"It's just gossip. Isn't it Meg?" he said, glaring daggers at the ballerina

Meg nodded "Oh, of course. Like I was saying, this newspaper never prints anything but rubbish. Absolute rubbish"

"You see Christine? It will all be fine. Perfectly fine"

He stopped when he noticed Christine wasn't even awake. She was so upset she had fainted again. Erik sighed, grabbing the newspaper and looking at Meg

"Meg, when did you get this?"

"This morning, but it was out three days ago. Jacques got an extra copy the news cart this morning for half-price, because he wanted to show me another story, and I found this instead"

"Well, is it true?"

"I believe so. This newspaper is usually very reliable, and I imagine many of them will run this same story. Raoul must be out of the asylum by this time, and I though you and Christine should know."

"Well, Meg, your intentions were good, but I'm afraid your timing is horrid. Couldn't you have shown me first, or waited a bit?"

"I suppose, but I wanted you both to know"

"Well, you can see how well Christine handled the good news" he said sarcastically, scooping his wife up delicately into his arms and standing up, walking towards the exit. Meg grabbed his satchel, slinging it over her small shoulder and hurried after him, fumbling with her hair ribbon

"But, Erik, aren't you the least bit concerned what Raoul will do? He sounds dangerous"

"Meg, I probably should be, but I'm not. I would never let anyone harm Christine, especially that fop. And I can't see what sort of advantage he could have over me to harm her, besides fear."

"But, he isn't thinking properly. What if he does do something drastic to her?"

"Well, god forbid it, I would never allow that to happen, but if by any ridiculous reason he even goes near her, I will not hesitate to be rid of him once and for all"

"You mean, kill him?" Meg whispered fearfully

Erik nodded "There seem to be more and more reasons to every day. No one is harming Christine and getting away with it, especially without a fight from me first."

"Erik, you can't really mean to murder him!"

"Yes, I can! That devil's been terrorizing Christine for almost two years-"

"-so you just propose to killing him in cold blood?" Meg shrieked "Do you know what would happen if my mother could hear you right now? Or Georges"

"No, and Meg, do not tell anyone I ever spoke of this to you, especially not Christine"

Meg nodded "You have my word"

Erik wondered mentally how much that was worth

Christine sat at the chair to her vanity, slowly brushing her hair and trying to calm herself. She didn't really remember much after this afternoon. Everything had been such a blur. She remembered having dinner with Erik and briefly rehearsing, and Erik even tucked her in and said he'd be up in a while, but Christine couldn't sleep. She couldn't get Raoul off of her mind. She knew, no matter how much Erik and Meg reassured her, that Raoul was still insane. She knew he was going to come after her and it was only a matter of time. She didn't feel safe anymore, and she hated herself for thinking and worrying over such things in her own home.

Fortunately, a knock at the bedchamber distracted her from her worried thoughts. Erik called softly "Christine?"

She stood up, opening the door, to find Erik still in his suit, holding two glasses. She sighed

"Erik, what is it?"

"Christine, it's midnight. Would you please try to get some sleep?"

" I did try. I couldn't"

He sighed, handing her a glass "Would some tea help?"

"Erik, nothing is going to help right now! I-"

"Christine, please, just drink it. For me?"

She sighed, drinking the entire glass in a hurried gulp and handed the glass back to him. It tasted more bitter than usual, but right now she was too upset to care. Erik looked at his innocent, lovely wife, pacing around the room franctically like a mad woman, rubbing her aching head and muttering

"Erik, nothing is going to help. Did you see the date on that newspaper article? It was three days ago. Raoul's been out of the asylum three days-"

"-and have you seen him anywhere?" Erik asked pointedly

She sighed "Well, no, but I know he'll find me. He always manages to find me no matter what and make my life a living hell again. Those other incidents were mere trinkets compare to what he'll do in person"

Erik groaned, sitting down on the bed and patting a spot next to him "Christine, please, sleep? I don't want you nodding off in the middle of tomorrow's opera now"

"Oh, I completely forgot about that!" she exclaimed, sliding into bed. Erik kissed her gently

"Dear, you needn't worry. Raoul cannot-"

"Erik, you don't know what he's capable of!"

"Christine, the last time I saw the boy, the only thing he seemed capable of was arranging the mop he calls his hair"

"And I suppose you have forgotten about that sword fight? He would have killed you!"

Erik inhaled sharply. She just had to throw that in his face tonight, didn't she?

He sighed "Christine, here, just lie back and try to sleep. You can fret about all this if you still feel the need to tomorrow."

She grumbled under her breath, obediently sliding under the covers. Erik tucked her in again, softly singing:

Night-time sharpens,
heightens each sensation
Darkness stirs and
wakes imagination
Silently the senses
abandon their defences

She closed her eyes, listening to the comforting sound of his familiar deep voice.
Slowly, gently
night unfurls its splendour . . .
Grasp it, sense it -
tremulous and tender . . .
Turn your face away
from the garish light of day,
turn your thoughts away
from cold, unfeeling light -
and listen to
the music of the night

She turned over towards him, still listening. Erik continued
Close your eyes
and surrender to your
darkest dreams!
Purge your thoughts
of the life
you knew before!
Close your eyes,
let your spirit
start to soar!
And you'll live
as you've never
lived before

Christine still tried to listen, but she felt herself drifting away from the sound of his voice. She couldn't remember what she was worried about or what was wrong. She just seemed to be slowly floating into darkness as Erik's voice got softer and softer and finally closed out all together.

Erik breathed a sigh of relief. He wasn't proud of it, but that sleeping drought he'd slipped in Christine's tea seemed to have finally taken effect. At least Christine would finally get some well deserved rest. It really would be a big day tomorrow and he didn't want her to be tired or feeling sickly, or still worrying about that fop. He knew Christine must have had some horrible experiences with Raoul, and he tried to put himself in her position, but he was convinced now she was being paranoid. She knew Erik would never let anything happen to her. Well, at least not willingly.

Little did Erik know that even a disaster beyond even his worst imagination would soon occur...