As soon as he neared the house Erik knew something was wrong. He turned to Nadir, a worried expression crossing his fine brow.
"Nadir" he started. He looked toward the stable houses, where he saw three of the farm hands standing. He turned the carriage swiftly in their direction before going to the front of his home.
"My friend I fear as something is wrong".
Nadir nodded in agreement and dismounted the carriage alongside Erik.
Erik walked swiftly up to the first farm hand. The boy had to be of only twenty years, he had a golden tan on his skin that was adorned with many freckles. His dark brown hair was kept underneath a woolen hat that seemed to have seen better days. On seeing Erik his face turned to a lighter shade of brown.
"Boy, what is the problem" Erik demanded.
The boy shifted his feet and looked at the other two farm hands with him, "Sir it seems we've had a robbery".
Erik raised an eyebrow, "A robbery? Of what kind?"
The boy motioned toward the stables, "Two of our finest horses are missing, and so is the carriage that your lady so fancies". The farmhand stated in his heavy Irish accent.
Nadir was first to speak, "The whereabouts of Miss. Christine Daae?"
"Aye sir, I presume she is in the house along side Miss. Maryanne, I haven't heard a word from the servants in the quarters".
Erik nodded, "Thank you, I shall be back shortly, for now see if you can gather any information from near by villages".
The farmhands nodded and made their way toward the barn. Erik turned back to Nadir, his face gaunt and hallow.
"Something is not right".
Before Nadir had a chance to put his words in, Erik made a dash toward the house. All he wanted was to see Christine safe and sound in the bed… he knew he didn't have to worry about Raoul, for he had been taken into custody the day prior to Erik and Nadir's departure.
Erik stopped as he reached the house and made his way inside, he immediately knew something was wrong.
"Nadir! Come quick!"
He followed the shards of what seemed to be glass across the room and into the kitchen.
Blood…
It was everywhere. Erik stopped and took in a deep breath, praying to god this wasn't Christine's blood.
Nadir ran in next to him and gasped slightly, "Christine and Maryanne… where are the servants?"
Erik shook his head in disbelief, "I-I'm not sure".
He bolted from the room and ran up the stairs to the bedroom he shared with her, all the while shouting her name. He reached their bedroom and found nothing, but continued to search frantically through the other rooms.
He opened the third room and gasped in shock, there on the floor and on the bed, where the rest of his housing staff. Gashes and bruises lined the bodies of his staff, and each was equally joined in being bound and gagged to wherever they were sitting.
Erik ran swiftly to the first maid, all while shouting for Nadir. He untied her hands and took the gag from her quivering mouth. She gasped for air and threw her arms around Erik's muscular form as fresh tears ran from her eyes. Erik only hugged her back, knowing his staff had most likely thought this would be their end.
Erik shushed the crying maid as Nadir untied the rest of the servants.
The maid, known as Betsy shook with fear as she managed to blurt out words to Erik, "He-He sir!"
Erik sat back, "Relax, now tell me who did this?"
Betsy's tears fell in streams as she attempted to tell him, "Him sir! There were twenty men! All here for one purpose!".
Another maid popped into the conversation, she seeming calmer than the hysterical maid in front of Erik.
"Sir, men did this to us" she stopped and looked around at the rest of the shaking staff, "All of us… and we do not know why".
Erik frowned, "What men… I don't fully understand".
Betsy stammered, "Th-the man with the red hair sir…like the very fires of hell".
Red hair… no it couldn't be. He had put an end to that mans life as it was… unless he was missing something?
"Twins"
Nadir interrupted Erik's thoughts.
Erik looked up at the Persian, "Your not serious…Nadir?"
Nadir shook his head, "I've seen it done before… if it's the man with the fire hair then he has deceived us all".
Erik looked at the floor, "Does this have to do with Raoul?"
Nadir shook his head once more, "We, my friend, we were set up".
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"You shouldn't have run Christine".
Christine looked up from the position she was in. where was she? The walls were damp, the air was cold and it was so dark…
"Erik…?"
A laugh pierced the darkness, "Oh no my dear" the voice stopped as he approached the small dancer "Not even close".
Christine looked up and gasped at the man in front of her. it couldn't be…
"I watched you die…"
Dominic Bonaire smiled a grim smile, "No my dear" he chuckled menacingly "You watched my brother die".
"Oh god…" Christine whispered.
She didn't remember much, all she knew was that she had gone out in the carriage with Maryanne. They had ridden for sometime when they saw one of the police carriages in front of them. Relief had taken over her body and she had ran to the bench of the carriage… she remembered an immense pain and now she was here.
"You know Christine; your fiancée really is a fool".
Christine snarled, "You don't even know him".
"Oh but I do… when the Vicomte was taken to your residence, my plan was in full swing, I wanted you to think you had your victory when all along you had nothing".
Christine frowned and she looked up, "You speak nonsense".
Dominic smiled, "I speak truth, I knew that monster of yours wouldn't kill the Vicomte. Out of respect for you of course, so he called the police… a call that was easily disrupted."
He walked around the room as he continued, "It's funny you know, what you can acquire from the junk collectors… who knew that they would have an old carriage laying around, one that can easily be turned into something that resembles protection… but really means your fate".
Christine gaped as she realized who the police in the carriage really were, "That was you?"
Dominic turned swiftly, "Not only did you fall for our scheme, although you were an unexpected run off… so did your fiancée".
He walked toward her, "Did you know Erik turned Raoul into the police, and that they were to meet at a secluded location for your benefit?"
Christine nodded in confusion.
"When Erik turned Raoul into the police… he was turning him into me".
Christine gasped, "That's how Raoul got into the house then?"
Dominic nodded, "Oh yes, but little did he know he was retrieving you for me…"
Christine huddled farther into the corner as Dominic continued his story, "Oh yes we were in disguise, we took Raoul right under his nose and he never had a clue. Although Raoul is no longer needed".
"Where is he?" Christine demanded.
"Oh Christine" Dominic said as he sat on his haunches, "Your Vicomte is dead".
He laughed as Christine shook in fear and sobs, "and now you belong all to me".
Tell me what you think! Sorry for the wait.
-AesSedia