At first, the only one who seemed aware of my presence was Christine, who had grown very, very still upon my entrance. Her back was still to me, but I could feel how her body was aware of my every movement. I walked slowly, head up, to the edge of the top of the stairs, and looked down on them all.
Though Christine was the first to notice me, the first to turn and acknowledge me was the viscomte, who had been dancing too close to Christine for my liking. He would have been wise to simply stay away from her.
I was willing to forgive him for it however, until Christine turned and clung to his side, staring up at me like I was a dangerous wild animal about to pounce. The anger I felt toward the foolish boy consumed me then. I vowed to make his life a living hell so long as he walked on the earth.
"Why so silent, good messieurs?" I asked, slowly pacing down the stairs, glaring intensely around the room without turning my head. My eyes met with fear in every face they found. Perfect, I thought, let them fear me. Perhaps finally they would manage to prove that they were capable of following simple orders. "Did you think that I had left you for good? Have you missed me, good messieurs?" I continued, turning my attention to MM. Firman and Andre, whose faces had drained of all color beneath the colorful masks that hid their eyes.
"I have written you an opera," I said, coming to a stop just a few steps above them. I brandished the bundle that held my opera. "Here I bring the finished score: Don Juan Triumphant!"I casually tossed it to their feet, daring them to pick it up with my eyes.
"I advise you to comply, my instructions should be clear. Remember: there are worse things than a shattered chandelier!" I finished, and I turned away from them, looking directly into Christine's eyes as she cowered against her precious little fop.
"And you," I continued, no longer working from my prepared words. No, what I was about to tell miss Daae was entirely unscripted. "You deceitful little temptress," I hissed, "are coming with me."
The viscomte made to step between us, but I had her by the wrist- and partially by the hair, which was just as well. I hoped the pain would bring her to her senses as I tore her from her lover. I felt positively ill to even think that word in relation to the fop, though I was pleased when I saw the flash of anger in his eyes as he cried, "No! Bitter fiend, release her!"
"Raoul I'm frightened!" Christine cried as I pulled her up the stairs with me. I pulled her around so I could wrap my arm around her waist and be certain that she couldn't get away as I turned to address the viscomte once more.
"Make no further attempts to see miss Daae," I spat, "If you value your life- or hers." There was a collective gasp as we disappeared through the false wall. I locked and barred it, making certain nobody could follow us this way. Christine screamed for them to help her as I dragged her along through the darkness.
"Cry all you want," I told her, trying to disguise the pain in my voice, "They'll never find you, not unless I allow it. No, I've the run of things down here, it's a maze of tunnels he'll be lost in for days, if he doesn't fall victim to one of my traps."
"How can you do this?" she demanded shrilly.
We came to the end of the tunnel, to the shore of the lake where I had left my boat. I threw her rather roughly into the boat and climbed in after her, pushing away from the cracked stone of the cavern floor before she could climb back out. "It would be in your best interest to stop resisting," I told her, "It's the only way you'll be allowed to return to them."
"You horrid man, you're no angel of music," she cried, pulling at my cape and pleading with her eyes. I shook her away and continued rowing the tiny boat across the lake.
"Perhaps it would be best if you remained silent, Christine," I hissed. My heart was racing as I leaned down to stare directly into her eyes. She was so close. It would've been nothing to lean in and kiss her- but no, even as angry as Erik was he couldn't do such a thing. Though he may be a murderer, Erik did have some decency. There were some things I just couldn't take by fear.
We reached my home and I took her arm again, dragging her inside. "Welcome to my home- pardon me, our home," I said as I pulled her into the bedroom.
"Please just let me go," Christine begged me, but I pulled her along, determined to give her a tour. She would have to become familiar with this place soon enough, it would be the only place she was allowed until she performed on opening night.
"I told you precisely what you had to do, Christine," I told her as I dragged her back out to where I had composed my opera. I let her go just beside my organ and I sat to play. "You disobeyed my orders. You are not to see the Viscomte de Chagny again. It is all that your angel commands and yet you have chosen to disobey me. Now you will not be allowed to be free. Your days and your nights will be spent here, with me."
"You're mad," she said, backing away from me. I chuckled, allowing the lighthearted sound to echo across the lake.
"If I am, it is only because you have made me this way," I said, snarling the latter half of the statement. She gasped and stumbled back another few steps, that beautiful fear in her eyes once more. "Should you try to leave me, I will kill the viscomte before your very eyes."
"You can't!" she shrieked, "Please, anything but that!"
"Then you are to stay here, with me!" I roared in reply, standing and taking her by the wrist, pulling her closer to me. The way she struggled caused me to tense up in spite of myself. As badly as I wanted her, as I wanted to feel her body against mine… I could not ignore how wrong it felt to take her unwillingly.
I touched her cheek with a shaky hand, and she looked away from me, jerking away from my touch. I grunted in frustration and let her go. "You're free to explore our home, but the boat- and the lake- are off limits. Remember, his life depends on you remaining here."
I sat back down at my organ and began to pound out the overture to my opera as she fell to her knees and wept.