Disclaimer: We own none of the characters from Phantom of the Opera.
Author�s Note: If you have problems with rape, then you may want to use caution reading this chapter.
Chapter Seventeen
Raoul stood below the window of Erik and Christine's grand house, daring to peek up over the sill and watch as Christine carried their year old daughter into the living room and place her in the playpen. He smiled at how gently Christine stroked the babe's head, and handed her a rag doll. Then she left the room, and he watched the child, forming his plan.
Christine hurried from the room, trusting her child's curiosity for now. She'd been blessed with Erik's talents and wit, but she'd been cursed with Christine's insatiable curiosity. At least it kept Nadir busy... Christine moved to the kitchen and stirred the soup she'd been fixing earlier before Maddy woke up, realizing how hot it'd become. Onto the bread, then. She turned to the counter, where the dough had been laid out, and began kneading it carefully.
Erik strode through the house, patting Maddy on the head on his way into the kitchen. Striding behind his wife, he wrapped his arms around her waist, nuzzling his face into the back of her neck. "Mmm... hello, my dear... need some help with that bread?" Sliding his hands down her arms sensually, he rested them over her hands. Gently he began to knead the dough with her hands, kissing at her neck as he did so.
Christine closed her eyes and sighed happily, leaning back against her husband and enjoying the feel of being against him. "I always need your help," she purred, turning her head and catching his lips with hers while her hands remained in the dough.
Erik chuckled, kissing her slowly and moving his hands, now with dough coating them, up her arms and to her cheeks. He chuckled when he drew back from her cheeks and saw the flour on her face, and he kissed her nose. "I love you..." He whispered, before kissing her passionately.
Christine moaned softly and turned away from her cooking, and wrapped her arms around Erik's neck, securing that he couldn't pull away, as she had no intention to end the kiss any time soon. As she swirled her tongue around his, she thought dimly that perhaps Maddy would behave long enough that they could have a quick round of lovemaking... No, she would climb out of her pen by then... Then again... She squeezed Erik tighter to her, not caring what happened at the moment.
Erik growled, pulling Christine away from the counter and moving to a bare wall. Pressing her against it, he grabbed her sides, then thrust his hips against hers, kissing down her neck and sliding his hands to the ties of her dress.
Raoul waited for a while, but it didn't seem that anyone was going to return to the sitting room, and Maddy was playing peacefully with her toys.
Walking to the front door, Raoul opened it up and silently moved toward the sitting room, then stooped over the playpen and drew Maddy up into his arms. He looked down into her wide, expressive blue eyes, and held her with one arm, reaching into his suit pocket to make sure his weapon was still there.
Christine ran her fingers wildly through Erik's hair, pressing her breasts against him, and her hands went to the back of her dress to help him untie it. Though, she paused, her lips going slack against her husband's when she heard Madeleine cry out at the top of her lungs for Papa. She frowned and gazed up at her husband, confused and worried.
Erik frowned, kissing Christine's forehead, then moving to the kitchen door. "Madeleine?" He called, opening the door and faltering when he saw Raoul holding his daughter. "What are you doing here?" He demanded, striding forward and stopping short when Raoul pulled the gun from his pocket.
Christine had been moving back to the dough, fairly disheartened, but when she heard her husband speak coldly, which he would never do to their daughter, her steps toward the counter faltered. She grasped her skirts so that she would not trip on them, and rushed toward the living room, only to gasp and nearly faint. "What is going on?!" She cried, grabbing Erik's forearm and staying a tad behind him, frightened as she spotted Raoul's gun and wondering what he would do to Maddy.
Maddy stopped crying when she saw the shiny "toy" Raoul had pulled from his pocket, and she giggled even though excess tears were falling from her face. She reached to place a hand on the gun, grinning wide, her bright blue eyes sparkling with interest.
Erik growled, staring into Raoul's eyes. "Maddy, let go of it." He said softly, his eyes hard. "And you. Put my daughter down." He said, taking Christine's hand in his and squeezing it tightly.
Raoul pulled the gun from the little girl, looking down at her softly. "Not a toy, little one." Then looking back at Erik, he sighed. "I don't want to harm her... just give me Christine and I will give you your child back."
Tears filled Christine's eyes and she moved in front of Erik, looking helplessly at Raoul. "Please just let her go," she whispered, nearly choking out a sob. She held out her arms to Maddy, who wasn't paying attention, merely glaring at Raoul and pouting that she couldn't have the gun. "Maddy," she called lightly, stepping forward a little with her arms outstretched.
Raoul raised the gun, pointing it at Erik. Tears filled his eyes as he clutched the child closer. "Don't come closer, Christine... I don't want to kill... I don't want to be like him. Just come with me, Christine, and your daughter will be safe. Otherwise, I leave with her... and you don't see her again."
Christine shook her head as tears spilled down her cheeks. "Please, Raoul, don't do this. What happened to my childhood friend? Please just stop this madness. It doesn't have to be like this." She didn't know what she could do to convince him, but she couldn't stop the tears even if she wanted to. She wanted to protect her family, and if the only way was going with him... No, no, there had to be another way. She stood in his way of Erik, the gun now pointed at her, but she knew Erik was at least a foot taller than her, if not more, and that she couldn't protect him by being a human shield. "Please, Raoul," she tried pleading again.
Raoul shook his head, frowning. "No. I will have you, or you will have no one." He said, hand shaking on the gun. "Come with me."
Erik stepped in front of Christine, uncomfortable with her in front of him. "Leave NOW." He demanded. Raoul just shook his head, cocking the gun.
Christine sighed and turned to Erik. She brought a hand up to caress his mask, and she told him with her eyes how much she loved him, since she knew that if she said it Raoul would only be rash. She turned then to face Raoul, and stepped toward him. "Let me have Madeleine so that I may give her to Erik," she told him firmly, shaking with the fright and dread for having to go with him.
Raoul appeared thoughtful for a moment, then handed the child to Christine.
Christine smiled reassuringly at the small girl in her arms, a tear sliding down her cheek as she strode to Erik and placed her delicately in his arms. She kissed her on the forehead and stroked her cheek, before squeezing Erik's hand one last time, and going back to Raoul's side. She glowered at the man, though tears fell from her eyes. "Just so you know, Monsieur le Vicomte," she began coldly, "I'll never love you. So what's the point in having me?"
Raoul took Christine's arm then, dragging her from within the house and smiling broadly. "You will love me, as you did once before." He stated, flagging a hansom and climbing inside with Christine.
"NO!" Erik screamed, running to the door and watching as Christine was pulled in. "CHRISTINE!"
Maddy began to cry, her powerful voice carrying all the way out to the hansom, and Christine shut her eyes against the pain overwhelming her. She leaned back against the seat and glared at Raoul. "You're insane," she whispered harshly, "And I hate you."
Raoul sighed, and looked over at her. "You think that now. But once you are away from the corruption of that man... you will realize how much you still love me." He said, and looked out the window. "Ah, we're here." He paid the hansom driver, and led Christine into his home. Taking her toward the sitting room, he tugged her to sit on his lap on the sofa, and kissed her passionately, grasping her hips and groaning.
Christine did not return the kiss, and simply let her do what he wanted. She did pull back, however, a hand against his chest. "You expect me to go into this full heartedly? Raoul, I'm a married woman, and I will only submit myself to one man." She shook her head and crossed her arms over her chest. "There's nothing you can say or do to convince me otherwise."
Raoul growled, flipping her beneath his body. "Please, Christine..." He begged, tears in his eyes, "Just love me again!" He cried, lifting her skirts and untying her gown. "Let me love you! Christine..." He kissed down her neck swiftly, moving his hands beneath her dress and pressing his fingers against her womanhood. He felt a surge of desire then, and he whimpered. "Christine....."
Christine arched her back, but not in passion. She was trying to move away from his fingers, from his hands, his lips. She felt sick and she felt bile rise to her throat, and at the same time her hands rose to his shoulders. "Stop it! Stop this!" Tears filled her eyes as she fought him, knowing if he set his mind to taking her, he could do it. He wasn't as strong as Erik, but he was much stronger than her. She just didn't know what she would do if he did not let up. She scooted away, and sat up at the end of the couch, bringing her dress over her knees and hugging them tight to her chest. She trembled and buried her head in her lap, trying to make everything happening go away.
Raoul sighed, leaning toward her again and kissing her. "Christine, please..." He whispered, taking her beneath him again and lifting her skirts once more. This time he moved one hand to his trousers, sliding them down and without any warning, thrusting himself deeply within her. A choked sound slid from his lips and he grunted thickly as he began to pound into her body.
Christine cried out in horror, pushing fruitlessly at his shoulders. Tears poured constantly from her eyes, and she wanted him out of her immediately. She wanted to die, rather than have this. She wanted Erik to hold her, to have his gentle yet passionate touch. She tried desperately to pretend that it was Erik above her, but it wouldn't work, for this was not the way Erik made love to her. She cried helplessly and lay there, taking this horrible abuse, and screaming weakly, "Erik!"
Raoul threw his head back, crying out in passion and thrusting into her harder and harder. "Ahhh, I love you Christine.... yessss....."
Erik ran down the street, legs pumping powerfully as he panted. Apparently Raoul didn't realize that Erik knew where he lived, and after running Madeleine to Jean Claude and asking him to keep her for the night, he had taken off to the Vicomte's house. Finally he reached the front door, and threw it open, rushing into the sitting room and stopping short at the sight before him. "Christine...?"
Christine cried out and her arm that had lain motionless reached forward toward her husband. "Erik! Erik!" She choked and wiggled beneath Raoul, screaming and batting at him. "Erik!" She called, her tears making her hair damp.
Erik gave a cry like rage, flinging himself against Raoul and pulling him roughly from his wife's body. Gathering her up into his arms, he pulled her skirts back over her legs. Turning then to Raoul, his Punjab lasso was around the man's neck in seconds. "Well now, monsieur.... this does seem familiar, doesn't it." He growled, eyes darkened with hate.
Raoul glared up at Erik, clawing at the Punjab lasso and making tiny choking sounds.
Christine was still crying, shaking from the whole ordeal, and she couldn't stand any longer. She fell to the ground, landing on her rear, and started rocking back and forth, mumbling incoherently, her eyes wide.
Erik pulled Raoul, via the Punjab lasso, to the front door. Throwing him out into the streets, he flagged down a night watchman, explained the story, which was quite believable, even coming from a strange man in a mask, since Raoul's pants were still down, and his previous arousal still obvious. Then Erik rushed back into the house, scooping Christine into his arms and holding her close on Raoul's sofa. "Christine... my God, if I had taken just another moment more..."
Christine trembled in his arms and looked up into his eyes, hers watery, and fresh tears began to fall in the paths of the old ones. She looked much like a very frightened child. "He... he was in me, Erik!" She started to sob madly. "I told him I didn't want him to do it! He claimed he loved me! How can anyone love a person and do that to them!" She clung to Erik. "Do you have something that can make me forget? I don't want to know he accosted me. Please, Erik, save me, save me my angel." She buried her face in his chest.
Erik stroked his fingers through her hair lovingly. "Oh Christine... there is nothing to make you forget... only time will dull the pain, my love..." He whispered. "But I promise you, the boy will never harm you again... take solace in that fact, and let it help you heal. I will protect you from now on, and I only wish I had done what I promised today." He whispered, lifting her up and carrying her from the house. Flagging a hansom, he gave the man directions to their home, and climbed into the back, holding Christine tightly in his arms and placing gentle kisses on her face. "I love you so... and I'm glad you are safe."
Christine stroked his face, tears still streaming down her face.� Luckily she'd not been a virgin, otherwise she'd surely be hurt physically as well as emotionally.� Due to her optimism, she was able to calm her heartbeat.� She never let go of Erik, and as she felt the hansom coming to a halt, she whispered, "I want to get him off me."� She looked down at her body in disgust and then gazed helplessly at Erik.
Erik nodded understandingly, cuddling her closer and carrying her into the house, then to the bathroom on the second floor. Setting her down to sit on the edge of the tub, he began to draw a warm bath, adding her favorite scented oils and choosing the most soft and fluffy towel for her to dry off with. Then he looked down into her eyes, and began to untie her dress gently.
Christine stared meekly at his forearms as she watched the muscles move as he undressed her. She felt a lot better with Erik's hands on her dress. But she wasn't going to think about that, about... him. She smiled softly at Erik, the smile just barely reaching her eyes, and feel the trauma wearing off because she knew he'd always be there to protect her. However, her smile faded and she glanced around as if she expected Madeleine to pop out of the walls. "Where is Maddy?" She questioned softly.
"Oh... I've arranged her to stay with Jean Claude for the night... I figured you would need some time." He said softly, kissing her forehead. Finally the dress was pulled from Christine's body, and Erik gently assisted her into the water, turning the knobs and turning off the flow. "There you are my dear..." He whispered, lifting up a cloth and dipping it into the water. Then he rubbed it over Christine's back. An idea came to him, and standing, he removed his clothing swiftly, then slid into the tub behind his wife.
Christine settled comfortably in between Erik's legs, leaning back against him and making sure his arms were wrapped around her tightly. She closed her eyes and whispered, "I'm sorry I'm not taking advantage of Maddy's absence." She played with his fingers, slipping hers in between his, watching as she did so. She felt her inner muscles relax as the water held her, and she relaxed completely against Erik.
"Oh Christine... don't be silly." He said gently, holding Christine close to his body and beginning to wash her arms and chest. "I want only for you to feel comfortable again." He said gently.
Christine nodded meekly, her head dipping to watch him run the rag over her. She turned her head to look into Erik's eyes, and she held onto his forearm tightly as she spoke, "I want you to teach me how to fight." A slightly mad glint came into her eyes, and she said sternly, "I remember what you learned in Persia, what you told me about. Teach me how to defend myself." The last sentence she said in an excited whisper, and squeezed one of his thighs in anticipation of his answer.
Erik shook his head sternly. "No. I will protect you, you do not need to know anything of the sort."
"But I want to learn!" Christine insisted, her forehead crinkling as she beseeched her husband. "You must teach me. I must know!" At this, she grabbed his face in her hands, looking desperately into his eyes.
He closed his eyes against her pleading eyes. "No. I cannot teach you such a thing. I cannot." He stated, trembling at the thought of his sweet, gentle Christine knowing how to kill.
Christine sighed, defeated, and settled back down into his arms again. "Then I won't leave your side. Not for a moment. I don't ever want to experience anything like that again, Erik. I don't even know how to properly make love to you anymore." She shivered, despite the water being very warm.
"Oh Christine... there is no proper way, and I do not expect you to wish to make love for a long time." He said lovingly, stroking her hair and helping her to tilt her head back. Gently he wet her locks, rubbing shampoo into her hair. "If you do not feel you know how, my dear... then you are not ready for such an act yet." He said simply, massaging her scalp.
Christine closed her eyes, fighting back tears, and then opened them suddenly, grabbing his wrists. "I want to know, Erik.... Help me remember what love is..." She whispered, and turned so that she was facing him. "You're the only one that can help me recover... Please, Erik, do not let me become an empty shell..."
Erik's eyes widened, and he sighed. "You want me to make love to you?" He asked doubtfully, stilling his hands in her hair and looking seriously into her eyes. "Christine, it may not be a good thing..."
Christine's shoulders slumped and her head bent low. "Then you'll never make love to again?" She whispered, twisting her hands relentlessly.
"No! Christine, I will make love to you as soon as you feel ready!" He insisted, washing the last of the soap from his hair and tugging her tightly against his body. "My dear..."
Christine closed her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder, holding him close as if he would disappear at any moment. "What if I'm never ready? What will happen to the other nineteen children we wanted?"
Erik sighed softly, cuddling her closer to his body and resting his chin atop her head. "I'm sure you will be ready again..." He said gently. "And if you aren't... " He fell silent, not sure what to say.
Christine lost her optimism at his silence, and she sat up, pushing her wet hair off her shoulders. "I'll become very much like a raisin if we stay in here much longer." She managed a weak smile and stood, reaching for the fluffy towel he'd pulled out for her.
Erik nodded, standing as well and helping her to dry. Sighing softly, he touched her cheek. "Do you need anything? Some food, or a drink?"
She shook her head to decline, and pulled him toward their bedroom by the hand. "I only need rest," she mumbled, though she was sure she wouldn't get any rest if this kind of tension remained between them. Erik wasn't Raoul. He wouldn't hurt her, ever, not intentionally, and she wondered why she was still so traumatized. Yes, he'd done an unspeakable thing. The point was, Erik had taken care of it, and Raoul hadn't even released into her, meaning she could not be pregnant at any chance. She didn't want to distance herself from her family because of a bad experience, that could have been much worse. But would Erik be too paranoid to realize this? She sighed and shook her head, moving to the top drawer for her favorite frilly light blue nightgown.
Erik slowly removed his clothing, folding it and setting it on top of the dresser. Moving to the bed, he crawled beneath the covers and waited for his wife to come beside him.
Christine wrapped her hair around itself, and then moved toward the bed, settling next to Erik. She yearned to feel true desire, true love, Erik's love. She wanted to know that not every man was a rapist, that she could trust her husband, though she already knew so very well she could. Erik touching her would not bring Raoul to her mind, for it would be clouded with bliss. For what it was worth, Raoul hadn't even touched her, merely impaled her with his small excuse for manhood. She loved Erik, and therein laid the difference. Everything would be fine, and she yearned to feel his touch... She scooted closer to Erik, her head on his pillow now, and tried to communicate how she was feeling by kissing his neck, as she moved her hand down his chest and under the covers...
Erik looked down at Christine with wide eyes, touching her cheek. "Christine...? Are you sure about this?" He whispered, rolling on his side and pressing his body to hers.
Christine closed her eyes as she felt her whole body ache for him. "Yes," she whispered, "Because I love you." She leaned forward to kiss his lips, and then slid her tongue across him, tasting Erik, and loving it, as well as wanting more.
Erik gasped softly, laying atop his wife and kissing her passionately. In all honesty, he had been dying for this contact with her since he came to her in the kitchen... Sliding his hands up her legs, he gently cupped her cheek, and timidly pressed his hips to hers.
Christine moaned softly and ran her fingers through his hair, massaging his scalp as he had done her in the bath. She wrapped her legs around his waist and slid her hands down his back, raking her nails gently back up as her tongue warred with his. She pressed her breasts against his chest, moaning once more, and reached to take a hand with hers, their fingers entwining.
Erik whimpered, then pulled his lips from hers, looking into her eyes and smiling slightly. "God Christine... I need you so badly..." He whispered shakily. "If you want me to stop, you need to say it now... or I will not be able to stop..." He gasped out, sliding his hand down to move beneath her sleeping gown and trailing his fingers up and down her thigh.
Christine moved her hips slightly so that his fingertips brushed against her womanhood, and she closed her eyes as she shook with delight. "Don't stop, mon amour," she gasped, "I need you more than I need the air I breathe." She captured his lips again and moaned into his mouth, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck.
He gasped in passion, kissing her hard and moving his fingers against his wife. Sliding his fingers up inside of her body and giving a moan at the feel of her against his hand. His lips trailed down her neck, and he whimpered softly at every thrust his fingers made.
Christine arched on his fingers, and she clutched at his shoulders as she felt her body go up in flames. One hand came up to tangle in his hair and press his lips to her neck as she tilted her head. She remembered their interlude in the kitchen and she felt the coils low in her stomach wind up tightly, begging release. "Please, Erik," she whispered, thrusting her hips up. "Oh God I love you so much." She could barely get the words out, and they were hoarse with passion.
Erik moaned softly, replacing his fingers with his manhood and giving a great cry of pleasure. Gently he moved within her, stroking smoothly in and out of her body and caressing her hips, then over her back, cupping her cheeks so reverently. "Christine... I love you so..." He whispered, voice choked with need.
Christine gasped out, clinging to him and wrapping her legs tightly around his waist. She moaned his name as she brought her lips crashing into his, and then pulled back to hold his face in her hands, trying to keep her eyes open to hold his loving gaze until she came. "Erik..." She gasped out, her eyelids falling, but she quickly opened them. "I love you!" She cried, moving with him now, squeezing him tightly to her.
Erik began to move a bit faster, crying out in need and beginning to shake in pleasure. He felt a delicious tightening in his stomach and chills ran out through his limbs. Gasping for breath, he changed his angle, moving deeper and deeper into his wife and sobbing with need, tears of frustration filling his eyes as he tried so hard to reach the pinnacle of his desire.
Christine gave up as she felt herself come powerfully, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, her lips gliding across his ear as she panted while tightening around him and releasing. She cried out his name and began to shudder underneath him, and clung to him as she continued to moan, inspiring him to release within her.
Erik gave a great frustrated sound, burying his face into Christine's neck and struggling to find his release. His breathing came into sharp gasps as he clung to her body. A frustrated cry slid from within him, and tears slipped from his eyes. He didn't know what it was, but he needed something more.
Christine frowned, and put a hand to the back of his head as she flipped him over, and felt her desire mount again. She began to ride him furiously, and dipped her head to slide her tongue down his neck and to his chest. She gripped his upper arms as she bit his nipple none too gently, and swirled her tongue around it to make amends for the sting. She sat up then, her hair falling over her breasts, and her hands slid down to grip his forearms as she rode to her second release.
Erik's eyes widened when Christine moved over him, and when her lips closed over his nipple he gasped, arching his body and clinging tightly to his wife. "Christine!" He cried, and when she tightened around his flesh, he thrust a few more times within her body and came powerfully, his entire body jerking and he clutched her tightly against his chest, panting and unable to see properly.
Christine sighed happily, and fell off him to his side, where she cuddled up to him. She reached down to pull the blankets over them, and nuzzled Erik's chest as she rested her head upon it. "Oh, my love," she sighed, breathing deeply. She was so tired, but she wanted this fresh feeling to last longer.
Erik trembled, sobbing softly as he clung tightly to Christine's body, burying his face into the top of her head. "Oh God... Christine... I could have lost you..." He gasped out, shaking with his sobs.
Christine tilted her head up to cup his face in her hands and look him in the eyes. "No," she told him sternly, "You would never lose me." She leaned forward and kissed him sweetly. "I don't believe you'd ever let that happen, just as I would fight forever to get you back, as I did when you were sick." She nearly smiled as she listened to herself, amazed that she had grown up so very much. "I love you," she told him, resting her head back on his chest again and snuggling close.
Wiping his eyes, Erik cuddled closer to Christine. "I love you as well, mon ange." He whispered, cuddling closer and letting his eyes slide closed.
Christine rubbed his chest and then curled her arm around his middle, and placed her lips against his jaw.
Laying in Christine's arms gently, he kept his eyes closed as he stroked his fingers up and down her back. Gently his voice lifted in a soft song. "Say you'll share with me one love, one life time..."
Chapter Eighteen