Authors Note: Hello all, new chapter and I'll get to the thank you(s) quick. Whitewraith, for being my only reviewer to the last chapter.

I also have a new Phantom fict out called A change in Acoustics if anyone is in the mood for a modern story.

TheDragonEye

Attack in the Dark

Part I

"You can't possibly believe her."

"I never said I did but I said I would help her. I owe it to her."

"Erik! Dammit, you are in no condition to go after a drunk being 'manipulated' by the one who wants you in his clutches."

"Honestly Nadir. I am not four!"

"You act like it!"

It had been going on, back and forth, and back again ever since Erik had told Nadir what Christine had said about Raoul and how he somehow was innocent through all of this.

"She's up to something, and who knows what side she is on Erik. I think you are taking her words about owing her a life debt too seriously. Here is my life debt to you. Keep a low profile and up in your room while we figure these things out." he Persian man scowled at the masked man curled up on the divan in front of a fire. Erik was beginning to remind him of a cat, and that wasn't necessarily a good thing.

"You didn't see her face, Nadir. She really looked genuinely worried for the boy. And she said she loved me. Me, even after what happened!" Erik spoke as he lifted his eyes, bearing a little sign of hopefulness. It had been two hours since Christine had left him and Erik had managed to hobble down to the study, there on receiving a instant lecture from Nadir and a hastened motion to lay down on the divan.

"I have been your conscience longer than you have known Christine, Erik. Now you need to listen to me." Nadir spoke softly as he took the seat opposite of Erik. "I know you still love Christine, and that could be blinding you. Christine could be thinking or plotting something right under your nose and you might not even recognize it because you are fawning over her like a love sick puppy."

Erik was silent for a time and he looked away from Nadir's dark brown and piercing gaze. What to do, what to do? Of course. He didn't completely trust Christine yet, not after the hell he had been through, but it had been Nadir's fault as well. Why kidnap him? There were enough traps about his home to keep people like the count De Changy away. They just hadn't been activated when Raoul had managed to lumber his way down and attack his weakened body. How could he bring himself around to bring that man to Christine, in a way he felt as though Raoul was getting everything he deserved. It was showing off his true colors.

"Do you not want to see me happy, Nadir?"

"Don't give me that crap, Erik. Of course I do, but we just need to wait and see if Christine really is telling the truth or if it is another feigning bluff. She could be a double agent, working on both sides for her benefit. I don't like to think that way about someone like Christine. But those four weeks could have seriously scared her Erik. You could have scarred her through your actions." Nadir replied swiftly.

"Then why save me?"

"She already had answered that question, had you been listening." Darius pipped in from the corner, and breathed a sigh of relief when he heard no sour words pointed at him, nor received any dark glares.

"I know, Darius. I just wanted to see how Nadir would answer the question." Erik replied as he sat up, leaning his back on the divan once more.

Nadir shook his head a few times. "Erik, as soon as you are back on your feet without getting exhausted from every move you make, we shall go and see if there is any possible way to get Raoul out of the manner. Perhaps Christine will talk a bit more on anything she knows if she gets what she wants." The Persian man spoke over Erik's protests about needing rest. "My only concern is that she might ask for something we cannot give."

"What can we not give her?" Erik asked and received only a shake of the head from Nadir. He was certain Christine could think of some things.

Alright, so the plans were revealing themselves to Erik. He understood why he had been brought here and why Christine was acting so oddly. He understood where Nadir and Darius were coming from and the risks and tasks that were needed and all set in motions all from the fire and the actions that took place underground five or so weeks ago. Things like this were happening too fast though and was leaving Erik in the whiplash of the matter. Erik, before he knew it, felt his eyes slowly drooping closed, the warmth and look of the fire making him oddly and easily sleepy.

"Sir? Should we get him up to his room?"

"No, let him rest. Sleep off all that is on his mind."

Erik heard the shuffling and retreating of two pairs of footsteps before he truly did slip off to sleep. His cloak which he had gotten back serving as his blanket and leaving him in the confides of dream.

"Erik. . " He looked up at the sound of his name and looked about, easily spotting Christine even in the waning light.

"Thank you. . you brought a friend from evil. You truly are an angel of music. An angel." she spoke as she closed the space. He could feel her warm breath as it swam over his bare cheek as she pressed a small kiss to his bare cheek. Her hand came up and gently touched the side of his neck while the other pushed up on his mask, letting it rest against his forehead as she kissed his marred cheek as well.

"I told you I would, Christine." Erik replied, his eyes closed as he concentrated on her lips and hand as she gave them to him in a small token of her gratefulness. He wasn't sure though if he imagined what came next or if he had failed to notice it before. But now Christine seemed closer, her body resting up against his own as she kissed his lips.

"I know, and for that. . I long to give you something else besides having that in return for the debt. Raoul is safe, and he is leaving for England soon. I . . I shall stay with you." she whispered in his ear before she nibbled on the earlobe. Her lips began to trail kisses down his neck as she pushed him backwards. He landed against the soft fabric of the bed as his one love straddled his chest, continuing to move down with her kisses. Both Erik himself and Christine growing heated through the actions.

"Christine. . " Erik whispered, his voice growing husky in response to the soft touches he was receiving. Christine shifted backwards, grinding her bottom down against the protrusion which was beginning to escalate in pressure in the confides of his trousers. She gave him a small smile before kissing him once more on the lips. "The rest is yet to come." she whispered against them before suddenly it was all gone.

A loud crash sounded and Erik jerked upright, he knew that had not come from the dream. Something was wrong. He slipped from the divan, his erection he had gained in his sleep slowly slipping back to it's dormant state. In a painstakingly slow pace he opened the door to the study and looked about. In the pale moonlight he saw the shattered window and quickly headed deeper into the house, towards Nadir's quarters and then Christine's.

To his relief he found both of them there, looking as confused as he as to where that noise had come from. In a matter of moments the entire household of servants and guests were up, lighting candles and looking about for any hints that could have led to the disturbance of the night.

Erik himself helped, but could not look at Christine for more than a minute without flushing a deep crimson behind his mask. The window seemed to be the only thing that was broken, and yet there was something odd about it. Erik could not yet place a finger on it but there was defiantly something not right about it. "It could have been a robber. . ." he spoke softly.

"That had been my original guess too, Erik." Nadir replied as he ran a hand through his hair. "Christine, Darius, what do you think?" he called.

Christine merely shook her head. "I wouldn't know. But. . it is very unnerving, I hope nothing of importance was taken." she whispered in reply.

Nadir nodded, "Darius, go and check to see if all the drawings and such are still in their places."

That was when Erik noticed what was wrong, well actually two things that were wrong. "Nadir." he whispered hoarsely. The Persian man turned to look at Erik with a questionable look. "T-the glass. . .it's shattered." he spoke stating the obvious. "But look how. The shards of glass are on the outside, not the inside. Someone left this house from the inside, not entering." Erik cast one more glance about and felt a shudder run up his spine. "And, Darius. . Darius isn't here. He didn't hear a word you said." he added. True enough there was no sign of Darius, and a murmur went up and around in the servants who were also along the lines of saying 'Come to think of it I haven't seen Darius. .' or 'He's right, where do you think he is?'

"Monsieur Khan." Christine spoke quietly as she spotted a piece of parchment, neatly folded up on the ground and bearing the seal of the De Changy's.

Without a moment's hesitation Nadir stepped forward and retrieved the piece of paper, opening it up and reading over it.There was another lapse of silence as all eyes seemed to be on Nadir. Then, the piece of parchment was handed to Erik who read it himself. Finding it difficult to read the hasted, sloppy writing:

To whomever the hell it concerns,

We seem to have taken possession of a very valuable asset in your planning, and unless you would like to have him tortured and sent back to you as a mad man, or dead, then hand over the Phantom of the Opera. Whom our intelligence has told currently resides in your possession. We demand him before Two in the morning, today, or else your friend Darius will be wishing he never mixed up with you people.

Count Philippe De Changy

Erik paled and looked around for a clock. When his gaze finally found it, to his horror it read: one o'clock on the hour.

Ending note:

Hope you enjoyed, I'll try to update sooner

TheDragonEye