Chapter 3: Repercussions

Erik walked downstairs humming softly to himself. He gathered some kindling and small pieces of firewood, lit it and began to prepare a breakfast for his beautiful Christine. As some sausages sizzled away his humming slowed significantly.

By God, I just defiled my beloved Christine! I promised her I'd wait. Disgusting monster, can't even control himself for one day. What the hell is wrong with me? He thought. He began to berate himself, sinking deeper and deeper into self-loathing. Just as he was reaching for his overcoat to leave and save Christine from his monstrous self, he heard a quiet noise behind him.

"Angel? Is everything alright? Those sausages are burning," Christine questioned quietly.

Her long brown locks were in a most alluring state of disarray. The nightgown she had been wearing hung to her knees in white satiny folds, a lace shawl hung over her shoulders and the sight made Erik want her all over again. Immediately after the desire washed over him, shame followed quickly behind. Christine must have noticed his torment, for she stepped closer and put her delicate hands on either side of his face.

"Erik? I don't regret anything that happened this morning. I love you, and I'm happy my first time was with you. I wanted it to be with you. I want it to continue to be with you," she told him sweetly. He groaned and closed his eyes. His head shook back and forth.

"Don't try to make me feel better Christine. I'm such a monster. A lecherous old monster. How can you look at me? My hideous monstrous face?" he moaned. Christine made a disgruntled noise that made Erik open his eyes and look at her again. Her cheeks were starting to flush in apparent anger, and her eyes flashed dangerously.

"You stop that right now, Angel! I love you! There is nothing about this morning that I would change. And you will see reason immediately. Say you love me," she sang to him.

"You know I do," he answered her. She stood on tiptoes and pecked him on the lips, a smile making her whole face light up.

"Anywhere you go, let me go too! Love me, that's all I ask of you," they sang together.

"We're past the point of no return," Erik sang to her. She nodded, aware of what he meant.

"I know. I don't care. We'll figure everything out as we go," she told him. She wrapped her arms around him and held him, love and contentedness radiating around them. Neither one realized things were about to change again, and in monumental ways.

…

Raoul stood in the streets of Paris, anger showing in every line of his figure. Christine had left him, left him for that beast. That murdering beast. He would find his Little Lottie. He mounted his horse and started down the cobblestones, turning away from the smoking rubble that was once the opera house. As he trotted down the road, he saw all manner of the residents of the opera house loitering on the streets, seeming unaware of where to go. All but one face. One face seemed to search the streets in fervor, blonde hair flashing in the early morning light.

Meg scanned the crowds looking high and low for her dear Christine. Her eyes lit upon Raoul and she surged forward, still wearing the men's garments from last night.

"Raoul, where is Christine? I can't find her anywhere!" she cried. Raoul's face briefly flashed with his jealousy before it was quickly, far to quickly for Meg to even notice the fury, schooled into careful concern.

"I fear the Phantom has stolen her away. Tell me, Meg, will you join in in my quest to find her?" he asked. Meg nodded enthusiastically. Raoul reached a hand down and Meg used it to boost herself up behind him. Her soft breasts pressed into his back.

I may lay with this woman while I search for Christine. After all, a man has needs. Then once I'm done with her, I'll find Christine, kill that beastly monster, and take back what is mine. Raoul thought viciously. He signaled for his horse to pick up the pace and the two started their journey, neither knowing that the alliance would change them both, for the better.

A/N: Hi! *waves awkwardly* Sorry, I'm so slow of an updater, it's so hard to keep the muses going. I will try to keep this going, but it will be slow. I can understand anyone wanting to wait a year or more to see if I've finished this. I do have a story arc I want to work with, but it will take some thought to actually take my two sentence story arc and make it into the actual story.