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Nadir stopped his pacing and looked at Maryanne, his gaze cutting deep into her.
"It's a fake letter" he repeated, more to himself than to her. He resumed his pacing as he tried to make sense of the situation.
"Why would someone send a fake letter"?
Nadir turned and looked at the questioning maid. He ran a hand through his hair as he attempted to come out with a reasonable answer.
"I'm not sure" he told her. He stopped pacing when he felt her hand fall lightly on his arm. He turned to the fading red head, her blue green eyes glistening with fear and worry.
"Can you make sure Nadir?" she asked her voice low and timid.
Nadir ran a finger down the maid's jaw, his intense stare boring into hers.
"Anything for you, Maryanne" he said in a low voice.
Both turned at a slight cough coming from Meg. She stood in the corner, a worried look on her face.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but I need to tell you something"
Nadir nodded, motioning for her to continue.
Meg looked down at the ground, "Christine is gone".
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Christine ran farther into the woods, she couldn't take it anymore. She needed to be away from the house, away from the world of pain she felt lying in her bed. She needed to breathe and clear her head. She had snuck out through the back passage way that Erik had taken her through countless times and now she was in the snow covered woods looking for solitude.
She saw a clearing ahead and sighed in relief. As she neared she saw someone was already there. She was still technically on Erik's land, and seeing a person in his woods confused her. She continued to walk forward, expecting it to be a stable boy out for a little fun, until she saw a sharp green jacket. She stopped, she knew who's jacket that was…. She hoped the man hadn't seen her as she turned back around.
"It's not safe to travel in the woods by yourself beautiful"
Christine cringed at the sound of the man's voice.
Turning slowly she met his gaze; he was propped up against a tree nibbling at an apple.
"This is my Fiancée's land; I should be asking why you are here". She told him, her voice quivering slightly.
He nodded and approached her slowly, tossing the apple into the snow. "Yes, if I were you I'd be asking the same question".
As he neared her, Christine backed her steps, not knowing whether she should run or scream for help. She looked around frantically; she had gone out to deep in the woods for anyone to hear her. She thought for a brief moment about running, but tossed it away. If this man wanted something from her, he would be able to catch her.
"What do you want" she asked her voice apparent with fear.
He chuckled menacingly, his gaze traveling down her body. At that Christine crossed her arms across her chest, feeling suddenly very exposed.
"You don't have to do that" he said while walking closer to her.
"I-I need to be going". She told him while turning to leave.
He stopped her but grabbing her shoulder harshly, "I don't think so" he told her, his hot breath seeping into her ear.
She managed to scream before a filthy hand covered her mouth, "Scream again and I can assure you it will be your last". He stopped as he ran a hand through her hair "You're incredibly beautiful, no wonder the Vicomte wanted that monster dead".
Christine's eyes widened, tears beginning to flow as she struggled to free herself from the man. He laughed, holding her tightly against him. He turned her toward him, "That's right sweetie, your little phantom is dead". Christine stilled, the shock hitting her… had Raoul?
The man laughed again, "To bad he's not man enough".
He grabbed her harshly, his hands taking free roam around her body, " Oh yes, to bad hes's not man enough" He leaned down close, brushing his lips against her ear as he told her,"Your coming home with me beautiful".
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"Christine?"
The shaman rushed over to the awakening man, "You have awakened, and I was worried about you".
Erik sat up on the hard bed, his head aching again, but not as badly as before.
"How long have I been asleep?" he asked the older man standing in front of him.
The shaman smiled, "Since the last time you woke up?"
Erik nodded, not really remembering waking up to begin with… although he did remember this man.
"Three days". The man replied a look of concern on his face as he studied Erik's head.
Erik shook his head slightly, not wanting to feel the god awful pain return.
The shaman walked over to a sizzling pot above the fire, "Hungry?"
Erik thought for a moment, "I'm starving actually" he said with a light smile.
The shaman chuckled, "Of course you are, I was hoping that you would be".
The man produced two bowls and filled both. He walked back over to Erik and handed him one of the bowls. The shaman then went and sat across from him.
After a moment the shaman spoke, "Can you remember anything that happened?"
Erik sat his bowl down, thinking hard about the question given to him. He remembered slight but he knew it was better than nothing.
"I remember my fiancée" he began "She had been sleeping and I left her a note explaining I was going on a short walk". He took another sip of the stew the shaman had given him.
"I remember going out to the woods". He stopped as he tried to recall his memory.
"I remember a rose, a beautiful flower that I wanted to present to my fiancée when I returned"
The shaman motioned for him to continue as Erik pondered his mind.
"I can remember the scent of snow filling my nostrils, and feeling extremely cold". He rubbed his arm "I must have been knocked down from behind". Erik ran a hand unconsciously behind his head.
"Your head injury was made to be fatal, and would have been had we not found you". The shaman informed him. "You lost a lot of blood, but whoever did this to you did not know enough about head trauma". He stopped as he took another sip "Although you are lucky where they hit you".
Erik frowned; he didn't think he was lucky at all.
The shaman turned at the sound of the door opening, another older man came in accompanied by a woman and a small boy. Erik recognized the boy, but could not recall from where.
The shaman greeted them, "Jacob, as you can see our fallen man is awake".
Jacob nodded and sat at the small table in the room.
The little boy on the other hand approached Erik, his gaze never leaving his face.
"Can I sit with you?" he asked timidly.
Erik looked at the boy; he couldn't be any older than ten. Erik smiled lightly; never would he have thought a child would want to approach him. He nodded to the delight of the boy. The boy made his place beside him and sat quietly as the shaman gave Jacob and the woman bowls of stew.
Erik noticed the boy's shirt, it was a vibrant shade of green…Green?
"Green" Erik announced.
The shaman turned to look at the man who had just announced a color like it was a detail that no one knew of.
Jacob furrowed his brow, "Green?"
Erik sighed, "My attacker, he wore green"
The shaman was asking him questions, but Erik wasn't listening. He was re-playing the details over in his mind. Images from the night he was attacked coming back to him.
"Is he dead?"
"He's not, just knocked out cold"
Erik frowned, he seemed to recognize the first voice, but he couldn't think from where.
"Where are you going?"
"To claim what is rightfully mine".
Erik knew these pieces of conversation were not in order, but it was all he could remember. What was rightfully his?
Either way you choose, he has to win….
Whose voice plagued his mind? He thought for a moment before realization set in.
"Fop" he said out loud, more to himself than to the rest of the group.
He stood for the first time since being there, his legs visibly shaking, threatening to give him.
"I need to return home" he told the shaman.
The shaman began to speak but was cut off by Erik, "Now I need to go home now". He looked the man in the eyes, "My fiancée, I believe she is in danger".
The shaman nodded and ordered Jacob to retrieve fresh clothes, food and a carriage.
"You are not well enough to travel" he informed Erik.
Erik sat back on the bed, he was beginning to feel dizzy from the prolonged state of standing.
"Your probably right, but I- Christine, she needs me".
The shaman nodded, "I am sure she does" he observed Erik's head, "I will travel with you, as will Jacob, you need to rest fully for this trip".
Erik nodded relucantly, he knew he wouldn't be able to make this trip on his own.
"Thank you".
The shaman nodded and made preparations. This was going to be a long trip