"This can't be possible… Erik had you…"

Raoul moved closer to his former fiancée, "Oh the monster has a name now does he?"

Christine resisted the urge to slap him across the face, mentally realizing that it wouldn't be the smartest of ideas… especially in her weakened state.

He pushed her against the near by counter, blocking her from any way of escape.

"Lovely home Christine, tell me does he collect his money from the widows of the men he kills?"

"Do not speak ill of my fiancée sir" she snarled at him. She looked around the kitchen frantically, searching for any form of Maryanne. She prayed the busty maid would be alright.

"Christine I would advise you watched your tongue, it seems I am the one with the upper hand in this situation".

Christine started hesitantly, "W-Where is Maryanne?"

Raoul raised an eyebrow, "The maid? Tsk Tsk Christine, socializing with a lower class it…"

"Where is she?!"

Raoul grabbed her harshly by the jaw, "That maid of yours is indisposed at the moment"

Christine felt tears well in her eyes, if something had happened to her…

"I've decided that is time for us to depart, leave together and start our life".

Christine pushed his hand away, "You're delusional, and I'll never start a life with you".

He grabbed her wrist harshly and pushed her harder against the counter, "You think this is funny Christine?"

He raised his hand into the air, "You like this home? I can give you anything your heart desires, yet you chose to live with a man that psychotic".

Raoul slapped her harshly across the cheek, the smack resounding in the air, "You dare speak to me in such a manner, and after all I've done for you".

Christine raised a hand to her swollen cheek, "The only thing you've ever done is show me what I don't want".

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"She'll never expect for my lair to be in perfect condition"

Nadir smiled at his friend that sat alongside him on the bench of the carriage.

"She will be surprised; I never thought we'd get that place in order in time for your wedding".

Erik smiled at the thought of his fiancée, "Do you think she'll enjoy spending her first night as husband and wife in the lair?"

Nadir looked to his friend, "You seem to have memories there".

The masked man frowned, "Well yes, some good some bad…"

He brightened, "The good times are what we'll focus on".

Nadir laughed at his friends attitude, never in his years had he seen Erik talk so animatedly about something. These past few trips had been in restoring his underground lair. The mob's damage hadn't been as badly as suspected, but now after three days work; there was no way for a mob to ever be able to return to his home. Nadir and he had worked on sealing the exits except for one, and now that the job was complete, Erik wanted nothing more but to go home to the arms of his beloved.

"I feel like I haven't seen her in ages".

"Love does that my friend" Nadir replied while clicking his teeth for the horses.

Erik smiled and sat back on the bench, in only a few short hours she would be in his arms, in his bed, waiting for him.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Hot and sticky…

What was this feeling?

Maryanne opened her eyes lightly and felt the top of her head… blood?

How did this happ-

"Christine" she whispered weakly.

That man had escaped the room he was confined to. She had been on her way to the kitchen when she had seen him. She turned swiftly and had begun to run back to Christine's room when he had spotted her. She couldn't have done anything and he had knocked her out cold with a hard object.

She looked to her left and saw that it had been small statue, a statue that was now covered in her blood.

She strained her ears hoping for any sound of Christine when she heard her plea for help.

"Raoul no!"

Maryanne struggled to sit up, she wasn't sure if she could do it.

Christine pushed the man away as he began to push her on to the kitchen floor. This couldn't be happening again, especially when she didn't have enough energy to fend him off.

"I deserve you Christine and I shall not be denied it".

"You'll never have me!" she screamed as her head collided with the cold tile floor.

"It seems like there is nothing you can do now".

Christine kicked violently and luckily her foot collided with his shin. He let out a groan and sat back as the pain took over him. Christine grabbed the table leg next to her for support and attempted to slide away. She knew it was pointless to resist, especially since fighting would tire her out anyway… but she would try until she couldn't.

She found her feet and made her way half way out the kitchen when she felt a sharp pain pierce her shoulder. She fell to her knees crying in pain as blood oozed out of her shoulder blade. She turned her head slightly with tears in her eyes and saw Raoul placing a bloody dagger on the table.

"I told you there would be consequences wench, and now you know them".

Christine cried as Raoul brought his hands under her dress and grabbed her breast so sharply that it caused her to cry out.

"I will have you, and nothing you can do will stop me".

"How about me then?"

Raoul didn't have a chance to turn when he fell to the floor after a knocking blow from a certain bloody statue.

Christine cried out and pushed herself away from Raoul's unconscious form.

"Maryanne!"

Maryanne grabbed her hands and pulled her up gently, "Christine I don't think I can make it without your help… we need to get out of here, take a horse".

Christine nodded, ignoring the pain in her shoulder. She looked over to Raoul, "He won't be out for to long, let us leave now".

Christine walked Maryanne out to the stables and leaned her against the wall for the time being, after a moment she found a horse and attempted to saddle him up. She knew her time was limited, so she hurriedly and painfully placed the horses' dressings on. She prayed she would be able to steer in her weakened condition. She bent down and ripped a corner of her night gown off. She wrapped her shoulder gently in the make shift bandage and helped Maryanne onto the horse. After a moment she mounted the steed behind Maryanne and grabbed the reins.

She wasn't sure what direction to go in, but she needed to get away from the house.

Oh god where was Erik?

Ha I'm sorry I know it's a cliffy, but I promise I'll update sooner than this time. College if blah sometimes! My job at the TV station takes a lot of my time as well… but I loves it. Heh anyway please review and tell me what you think!