Katja squirmed in his grasp, but just like when she was fifteen, she couldn't escape. The gypsy forced his tongue deeper into her mouth, his hand squeezing her breast with bruising force. She finally was able to tilt her head up and free her mouth long enough to call Erik's name.

As punishment for screaming, the gypsy hit her across the face, stunning her momentarily. When Katja was able to blink the spots from her eyes, he was looking at her rather smugly. "We've been looking everywhere for you, you know that?" he said, his hand leaving her breast, running down her hips, and going around her waist to her behind. "We were very upset when our favorite playmate went missing. You can't imagine how happy I am to know that we're going to have you back."

"No!" she cried. "You can't take me there! Not again!"

He smacked her again. "Shut up," he growled. "I'll do what I want with you. You're nothing but a filthy little whore, and now that Javert's out of the way, you're mine to do with as I please."

"Eri-"she started to scream, but the gypsy silenced her with his hand again.

"Make another sound and I'll fuck you so hard you'll never be able to walk again," he threatened. "Are we clear?"

She nodded and he removed his hand. "ERIK!" The gypsy struck her again, this time sending her sprawling into the street. He brought her to feet and threw her back against a wall. He began to push her skirts up as tears slid down her cheeks.

Erik froze when he thought he heard someone shout his name. It almost sounded like Katja, but she was right…His eyes grew wide when he realized she was no longer behind him. But she was just there a moment ago! Where had she gone? What if that was her screaming? "Katja?" he called, looking around frantically. When he didn't get an answer, Erik took off sprinting in the direction he thought he heard his name coming from.

His feet pounded against the cobblestone street as he ran. Erik had promised her that no one would ever hurt her again, and he meant it. If someone so much as ruffled her blonde hair, he would never be able to forgive himself. If anyone dared to lay a hand on her, Erik would make them pay dearly.

Suddenly he heard his name again. It was louder this time, and full of terror. Erik stopped at a side alley and was outraged at the sight before him. Katja was pinned against a wall, her skirts up around her waist, as the man ran his hand up her thigh. She was crying silently, and Erik felt a surge of murderous rage.

Katja cried out as Erik dragged the man away from her. When Erik realized the man was a gypsy, any mercy he would have considered giving him evaporated. Erik punched the man with every ounce of strength he had. There was a crack and blood began to spurt everywhere as the gypsy's nose broke, but Erik didn't stop. He hit the gypsy over and over; words unable to describe the wrath Erik wanted him to feel for hurting Katja.

He didn't stop until the gypsy fell at his feet, little more than a bloody mess. Looking down, Erik realized that both his shirt and hand were stained red. Katja was sobbing uncontrollably. Erik wanted to hold her but getting her covered in blood was probably the worst thing he could do for her at the moment.

Erik stepped closer. "Katja?" Her eyes stared at something behind him, her whole body shaking. "Katja, we have to go." She still didn't even look at him. "Katja!" When he still didn't get an answer, Erik had to come up with another solution. "Put your arms around my neck." She woodenly obeyed, more like a puppet being controlled by a puppeteer than a human being. He scooped her up and took off running for the safety of the opera house.

She whimpered as he placed her in the gondola, reluctantly releasing her hold on him. Erik propelled them across the lake as quick as he could. When they were back at the lair, he picked her back up and carried her back to her room, setting her down gently on her bed.

"Katja…" Erik swallowed hard. He couldn't believe that he had let this happen. If only he had been paying better attention. "Did…he…?" She shook her head, the only response he had gotten out of her. Erik let out a sigh of relief; at least the man hadn't gotten that far. "Oh God, I'm so sorry Katja. I thought you were right behind me. He shouldn't have been able to get near you."

Realizing they both had blood all over themselves, Erik left her for a moment to change his shirt and wash the blood from his skin. When he returned, Katja was still sitting in the same spot, her arms wrapped around herself. She seemed to be in shock.

He undid the laces of her dress and helped her out of it until she was in just her corset and shift. The memory of his dream flashed through his mind, but Erik forced it away. Now was not time for him to be thinking things like that. He grabbed a nightgown out of her wardrobe and pulled it over her head. Katja remained limp, like a rag doll. Erik could tell he could do almost anything to her at the moment, and she wouldn't fight him.

Erik gently touched her cheek. "Katja, you're safe with me now. They don't know where you are. I won't allow them near you again. I swear."

Finally Katja slowly made eye contact with him. "It was his fault…"

"What was his fault?" Erik asked softly, caressing her tear stained cheek.

"Javert wouldn't have found me if it weren't for him." She pressed her face into his shoulder as Erik held her tightly. "He and another boy, they found me in the woods. They were going…going to…molest me when Javert found us. He took me because he wanted to do it himself."

Katja was quickly dissolving into hysterics. Erik's shirt was quickly becoming soaked with her tears. "It's okay," he murmured into her ear. "He can't hurt you now."

He stood and fetched some laudanum. Erik poured a spoonful for her and offered it to her. Her blue eyes watched him uncertainly. "It'll help," he whispered. "I promise it'll help." Katja hesitated before slowly drinking it. Her eyes began to drift shut as she leaned against Erik's chest. He held her until she was fully asleep. Erik stood to go, but her fingers were entwined with his. Sitting back down next to her, he realized she had been holding his hand and he hadn't even noticed.