Author note: whoot-ness. NaNoWriMo is in a few days and I wanted to update for all my lovely phantom fans.

Thanks to:

Penmora Zenith, OG, Star, and Bella Diva for their kind reviews and their spurring for me to update.

TheDragonEye

Dawn brings no relief

"Come on men, I want to get back to the manor before something else happens." Philippe barked at the fools who honestly thought they held some importance to himself.

They were wrong. Like a pawn who serves to be sacrifice in a game of chess; Philippe needed people like that to do his bidding. Which was also a reasoning as to why the Phantom was not tethered and on his own horse. The thing had not stirred since he had first knocked him out and perhaps he really was slinking further and further away. Which was also a reason why he needed to get back to the manor. There was also another possibility of the Phantom actually faking his injury and not really being knocked out at all. The sun was rising, and in the light it would be easy for The Phantom to find a way home, though it would be easier to spot him.

Wait a minute. . . the creature that was bound had no home. Perhaps there was a few pitying fools who really did not want to see him being killed. But who is to say that it was how those Persian men really felt? Oh and then there was also Christine, which he was beginning to feel that his hold over her was slipping away. Perhaps if he threatened his brother's safety as well as the monster's? Well he would never carry out actually harming his brother, but Christine was too stupid to see that, which was why the threats were carried out. Now, the Phantom's health he would never promise to keep safe. The insane thing had nearly cost him his life after he went after Raoul the night Christine had been taken by that deformed being.

Philippe didn't even like to think of Erik as a man. He would come to say it though, seeing how Erik could feel pain, but as for his name. . His mother probably hadn't even named him, in Philippe's opinion. He didn't deserve a name. But that was what Philippe believed, so shallow and revenge-thirsty to see past anything.

Philippe was pulled from his thoughts when out of the corner of his eye he swore he saw Erik stir, but apart from that he saw nothing else to the man who was bound on the horse. Perhaps it was just his nerves getting at him.

"Come on, Men! If he wakes up then you are in for it."

Erik, however, had stirred making him nearly moan that was a voluntary thing to relieve an aching pain in the back of his head. His throat was burning like a brush fire from the running he had done before which had not manage to settle out and his skin was beginning to seer from the tight ropes. His hands wriggled against the rough ropes which bound him so cruelly like an animal, only to no avail in loosening. Whomever had tied him was making sure he went no where.

Then it came rushing back at him. Darius, the threatening letter, the forest, running, and finally the blinding pain to the back of his skull. The dreading realization hit when his eyes opened weakly into slits to see the moving ground below himself and the horse's hooves.

'Philippe. .'

There was no other explanation, and when he raised his head to see, of course the first person he saw was Philippe sitting all high and mighty on his horse like he had just inherited the throne of England.

Well, Erik knew, that though he had to get into the manor to find Raoul' Being captured was not the way to go about doing it. After a few fruitless attempts to free his hands he gave up and began to shift his body weight over and over to the right. If he could get his bound legs dislodged from the loop in the saddle then he could try to tuck them close to his hands to untie them and just make a run for it. He continued to sway precariously and knew that if he slipped to far then he would be uncomfortable for the rest of the ride by being slung half on and half off the side of the horse.

Perhaps if his horse made a sudden break for it? Well it was worth a try. He didn't care if anyone saw, but he began to squirm at a bit faster and stronger pace until his legs slung out of the knot of the saddle and he gave one more attempt before he felt himself begin to slip. His heels managed to kick the horse in the flanks. And obviously the animal had not expected that to happen, after caring almost seemingly lifeless cargo for so long. It made an attempt at bolting, the rope that trailed to another horse and was tied to the pommel of a saddle coming undone in knot. The horse took off, and it took all of Erik's upper body strength to keep him from sliding any more and allowing the horse to trail his upper torso and head across the ground as it made tracks.

Behind him he heard a cry of protest and several pairs off hooves pounding the dirt behind himself. He knew his horse was slowing down and he began to swing his body frantically in another flail, trying to get the horse's attention. It worked, but not the way Erik expected it to. He had expected the horse to turn his head towards himself and be spooked by the beat up and masked man. Instead the horse simply reared in it's fright and began to buck his body.

One of the men who had took off first after him pulled up hard on the reins and felt his own horse begin to be spooked by whatever had spooked the other. It was just an air of fear which made the other one begin to buck and the rider began to call out for aid from his companions.

Erik on the other hand was having worse luck, with no hands nor legs free to calm the horse, he himself was being jerked about until finally the saddle buckle came unloose and he tumbled to the forest floor. Erik let out a muffled groan and curled up to the best of his abilities to avoid being trampled. When he dared to raise his gaze, he saw in the grass not too far from him the hilt of a dagger which must have flown from it's sheath on the other horseman. His eyes widened and began to shimmy forward to it. He had begun to cut at the ropes on his arms when the noise about him gave way to the fact that the horses were calming and the others were closer. When the ropes finally frayed, he worked on cutting at the ropes on his ankles.

The horses were calm, and a man was advancing on him. Though with extreme caution towards Erik. He was afraid! Erik could just tell by looking at him. His legs sprung free from the restraints and he picked up the dagger. All he needed to do was jump on the horse and run for it. However, when he tried to he knew it was a mistake. His head was still light headed from the hit and falling, and his ankles were not strong enough to support his body weight because of the ropes.

The other man eagerly took the moment to advance, though stumbled backwards a few steps when Erik took hold of the rope in one hand and held the dagger in the other. At least the man knew the rumors of how he could wield a sword and a rope, though it was not a noose it could still prove to be for his advantage.

"Back away." he growled at the man who did indeed stumble back a few paces. Upon a further glance he realized that the man was not that old. Perhaps early twenties, but even so that seemed to old.

He had no time for those matters though. He needed a surge of power and he threw the knife at the man's feet who flinched. That was all he needed to get up to his feet and drag himself on the horse's back without collapsing back to the floor. Another nudge to the flanks and he was off, crashing into the forest just as a gunshot went past his ear and crashed into the tree next to him. He needed to get to de Changy manor before they did, and retrieve the boy before he went back to Christine.

"Dammit!" Philippe cursed as his bullet missed the Phantom's shoulder where he had been aiming. He looked back at his men.

"What the hell are all of you waiting for?! After him!" without much more to be said several riders started into the trees after their escaping prey. Raoul turned his gaze back towards the young man on the ground. "What the hell happened!?!?" he demanded and smirked as the young man flinched when he raised his gun once more.

"T-the hor-ho-horses s-s-sir. . they g-got st-t-tartled by him. . he has. . such b-burning eyes." the man managed out at a stutter, from fear of the man in front of him.

The gun cocked once more and was raised at level with the man.

"So does the devil." Philippe spoke, "If the Phantom get's away then you'll be seeing that very thing in hell." he replied coldly as he put his gun away and mounted back on his horse.

"Yes, s-sir!" the young man spoke, and nearly launched himself on to the back of his horse before bolting away.

Philippe shook his head a few times, "Well wasn't that kind of me?" he asked sarcastically and pulled his gun out of it's holster once more before starting after the way his men went. The Phantom was making a mockery of him once more. And he did not like it one bit.

Erik crept stiffly from tree to tree. He had abandoned his horse back in the outskirts of the forest after he found a deer, a wild goose chase for the ones on his trail, hopefully the silence he had managed when they darted past had been enough. After that he used the rope and some wood to make small splints for his ankles. He knew they weren't sprained or broken, but the support of them was what he needed above all. Now he was making a dart towards a dreadful place. I mean just the look of the de Changy manor sent chills up his spine, if he was caught in there. . . well he didn't want to think about that now.

Erik slid along the side of the house and peered through each window cautiously, until finally he found one of the back doors which was unlocked. He found himself in the kitchen and looked around for a clock. It was still early, and he knew people would still be awake. He needed this time to find Raoul.

The masked man's eyes kept darting about, trying to memorize his surrounding incase he should need to get out quickly. His cramped limbs were giving signs of protest as he left the kitchen and started down a hallway. Erik froze when a door in front of him swung open and just missed hitting him. To his complete and utter relief a almost drugged looking Raoul came lumbering out of the room, a bottle of whiskey hung loosely in his hand.

At least that didn't take too long in finding him, now all he needed to do was get him back to Christine and Nadir.

Erik took a deep breath and held back his bitterness, "Raoul?" he asked.

"Who 'eh 'yah?" Raoul turned and looked him over with half glossy eyes which made Erik thankful for strong drinks.

"Er. . I work for your brother, and he needs you right away." Erik lied with a bit of trouble and some mental gagging at his choice of story.

"Philippe never needs my help." the drunk pointed out in a slur.

"Well he does, now quickly, before the Phantom gets away. He says if you want a go at him you had better do it now."

The look of positive glee on the man's face made him twist in disgust and he turned on his heel and started back towards the kitchen. He was nearly out the door when he heard a voice behind him.

"Vicomnte? Where are you going?" Erik dared to turn to see a servant, obviously getting ready to help with breakfast.

"They caught 'der Phantom." there came the slurred reply.

"You are in no condition to go anywhere while drunk like that."

"Relax, sweetie. I 'ave been waitin' for dis."

Sweetie? Perhaps it was better not to ask and Erik darted out of the home, heading to get his horse. Still to his disbelief Erik heard the crunch of grass behind himself, telling of Raoul following.

"You only 'ave one horse." Raoul stated as he climbed on, earning another scowl from Erik. "Yes, but this horse can carry a person and a drunk piece of luggage." The words didn't seem to click before Erik managed to whack the man over the head and climb on the horse to hold the knocked out man on the horse.

"The things I do. . " Erik shook his head as he dug his heels into the horse with a groan of protest. This would not be an enjoyable ride home, Erik could just tell.

Ending note: Well, it's like 3 in the morning, and I didn't like how it all played out. But I hoped all my lovely readers did. See you in the next update. Whenever I can manage time.

TheDragonEye