Chapter Twenty-Six
�Are you quite sure you will be alright? I�m not so sure I like the idea of you walking home alone.� Christine frowned down at her daughter as she opened the door to the schoolhouse for her.
�Mamma, I�ll be fine. I know not to talk to strangers. Please don�t be worried.� Maddy hugged Christine tight and entered the schoolhouse. �I love you!�
Christine waved and blew a kiss to her daughter, and turned to walk home with tears in her eyes. Her first-born was so grown up, and she was extremely proud of her.
X
Maddy sighed as she left the schoolhouse, and carefully crossed the street to walk along the scenic pathway by the large oak trees. Her black hair whipped around in the light breeze as she walked pleasantly along, taking in her surroundings. She felt so mature doing this all by herself and she appreciated the trust her parents gave her. Moreover, she couldn't wait to brag to Charles.
Raoul watched as Christine's daughter walked down the path toward him. He hid behind a large oak tree, the same he had been behind before, and he smiled, smoothing his suit and placing his top hat securely upon his head. Stepping out from behind the tree, he smiled at Maddy as she grew closer. "Madeleine! Why I haven't seen you since you were but a babe, my you've grown!"
Maddy drew to a halt about two feet away from him, and she shifted her books to her right arm. She frowned up at him and tried to remember who he was, but all she found even vaguely familiar was his voice. Lowering her head and deciding to stay true to her parents' wishes, she stepped to the side and resumed walking. "I was told not to speak to strangers," she said softly in an apologetic tone.
Raoul frowned, reaching out as if to touch her arm as he rushed to walk at her side. "But I'm not a stranger! I'm a friend of your mother�s! We grew up together, after all, in Scandinavia. Surely she's told you the stories of Little Lotte?" He smiled boyishly.
Maddy raised an eyebrow and stopped again. Her mother had told her of Little Lotte, but she seemed very distant when she had spoken of it. Obviously this man did know her, and she even felt she could recall hearing his voice in her past. "But... All of our friends and family are always around. Why haven't you been?" Her big blue eyes had a curious sparkle in them.
Raoul frowned. "Well, you see... your mother and I have not spoken in a long time, not since you were very small. Your father... well, he's never really cared for me, I don't know why. So I figured it was best if I were to keep away. But I just couldn't resist talking to you... you've grown up fine." He said, a proud and almost fatherly glint in his eyes.
Maddy smiled and stood proudly. "What's your name?" She smiled up at him almost shyly.
Grinning, Raoul took Maddy's hand and kissed the back of it, bowing grandly. "I am the Viscount Raoul de Chagny." He stated grandly, before laughing a bit. "Quite a pretentious title... May I walk you home, Madeleine?"
Maddy giggled and squeezed his hand. "I'd like that." She began walking with him down her favorite path, and could see her home not very far in the distance, standing tall. "Do you know of my brothers and sister?"
Raoul frowned. More of them?! Shaking his head, he looked curiously down at the girl who held his hand. "No, I don't believe I do. Tell me about them." He said with a broad smile and an encouraging squeeze of her hand.
Maddy grinned. "They're not that important." She giggled. She liked this man a lot. He knew nothing of beautiful Bella, or of Charles and Phillip. He only knew her, he only cared about her. It made her happy that one could focus on her and her only. "If I tell you about them, you must promise you'll always like me the most!" She stated playfully, her giggles escalating.
Raoul laughed heartily, nodding. "Of course, little one! You'll always be my favorite." He said fondly, feeling tears in his eyes. This girl could have been ours, Christine and I could have had a wonderful little girl just like this... Damn you, Erik!
Maddy slowed as they left the town, coming very close to her home. "I love my brothers... It's just Bella that I don't like. She's so beautiful, Raoul." She blushed and looked up at him. "Can I call you Raoul?"
He nodded, smiling encouragingly. "Of course you may. And why would Bella's beauty make you dislike her? Surely you don't think your parents would be so shallow as to like her more?"
Maddy frowned and shrugged. "I don't know. Papa always tells me he loves me, and that Bella could never match up to me. But I'm not so convinced sometimes. Charles loves her more than he loves me." She smiled sadly. "I wish I were as beautiful as her."
"Now now, I can't imagine that any girl could be as beautiful as you are." He stated, smoothing her hair. "And Charles, he must be your brother? Well you are his older sister, and he will always love you best, I bet."
Maddy shook her head. "But he doesn't, Raoul." She liked the way his name sounded. She'd never heard it before, and she liked saying it. "Oh well, it doesn't matter. You promise you will still like me when you see Bella?" She took a deep breath and stopped as they came to stand in front of her large home.
Raoul laughed heartily. "Of course, little one!" He insisted, looking to the house. "I look forward to seeing your home, and your family." And your mother... "Shall we go in?"
Maddy nodded, a feeling of dread coming over her. It was odd, really, because it wasn't for the fact that everyone fell in love with ditzy little Bella. She had a bad feeling about this and she just couldn't put her finger on why. Shrugging it off as best she could, she pulled Raoul by the hand and opened the front door, closing it behind him. "The twins may be asleep, so we must be quiet."
Raoul nodded, taking in the information of twins as well. So, Christine has four children, three pregnancies...the middle child must be Charles, and the twins must be Bella and a boy... Nervously Raoul looked around. "Where is your mother? I would love to see her again after all this time.."
Maddy led him to the sitting room and sat him down on the settee. "I'll go get Mamma for you, but first I must go put my books in my room." She let go of his hand. "Wait here, Raoul!" She smiled and blushed as she gave him a kiss on the cheek and then hurried to her room, her raven hair fanning out behind her.
Raoul watched the girl rush off, and looked around, a bit nervous about seeing Christine again, and knowing that this would not be good. He only hoped Madeleine would not be present... he didn't want her to see the arguments that were surely about to come. Suddenly he perked up. Was that humming? It sounded like it was coming from the room next to this one...
Christine sang softly, merrily, as she worked to fix her family dinner. She rolled the dough for the bread as she hummed, and grinned remembering the night Erik had overheard her speaking with Nadir about dough and having different thoughts about the conversation. Hearing little footsteps pounding around downstairs, she smiled and called, "Maddy? Is that you, dear?" She hoped the twins wouldn't wake up. She'd just gotten them to sleep...
Raoul heard Christine's lovely voice call out, and he grinned, standing and moving to the kitchen door. He felt a throbbing desire fill him just at the thought of seeing her again, after all this time... Pushing the door open, Christine was facing away from him, and he slipped forward slowly, wrapping his arms around her body and pressing his hips to her backside.
Christine laughed softly and leaned into whom she thought was her husband. "Erik, we just did this, can't we wait until later? I'll never get dinner cooked if you can't control yourself!" She leaned forward and began to roll the dough again, still laughing at how much stamina Erik had.
Moving his lips against Christine's neck, Raoul brought a hand up to grasp her breast roughly. "Christine..." He moaned, pressing himself harder against her rear and shaking with desire. "I can still remember how it felt... to be inside of you.." He gasped out, his desire rising and rising.
Christine gasped and tried to push back, but it seemed every man she knew was too strong to escape from. She whimpered as she tried to get away fruitlessly. How could this madman find her again?!
Maddy walked to the kitchen, smiling broadly as she became excited to tell her mother of her friend. When she saw Raoul pressed against her mother, looking as if he wanted to give her the special hug, she gasped and her eyes widened. Papa... I must tell Papa! She ran from the kitchen, and off to the music room.
Raoul turned to the door at the sound of the gasp and his eyes widened. Quickly he pulled Christine toward the table, bending her over it and lifting her skirts. He struggled to free himself from his pants, and whimpered in frustration. "Your daughter... is a wonderful girl..." He moaned, pressing his still-clothed hips against Christine and gasping for breath. "But now... it is my turn..." He whispered harshly into Christine's ear, before biting it. "You will carry my Child now, as your father intended!" He stated, his voice choked with need. Freeing himself from his pants, he smiled down at Christine, preparing to thrust himself deeply within his love.
Charles's eyes widened when Maddy came running past him toward the music room. Rushing toward the kitchen, he threw open the door and gasped. "Maman! What is going on?!"
Raoul looked up fearfully, moving his hips away from Christine's and staring in horror at the small boy. "So you did make love to the monster! And look what you were given as punishment! One of Satan's own!"
Christine turned and slapped Raoul as forcefully as she could, and moved to grab Charles in her arms. Tears streamed down her cheeks and she backed away from the kitchen. "Stay away!" She screamed, and turned to run away from him.
Erik rushed from the music room, after hearing Maddy only say that Raoul was in the kitchen. He didn't think about why Raoul was there, or how Maddy knew his name... instead he just rushed through the halls, and ran into his wife on the way to the kitchen. They both fell to the ground, and Erik gasped in relief, pulling his wife against his body and holding her close in his arms.
Charles wasn't crying or afraid, but instead angry. He wormed out of Christine's arms and ran to Raoul, who had just entered the sitting room. "You hurt my maman!" He screamed in anger, the rage that had been passed from Erik to his son boiling. Running forward, he kicked hard at Raoul's legs.
Erik carried Christine to the settee then, stroking her cheek before whipping out his Punjab lasso. "This time, monsieur, you will not survive!" He snarled, advancing on Raoul, then throwing the lasso away. "And I will kill you with my own hands!" Lunging at Raoul, Erik knocked him to the ground and fit his hands over the man's throat, glaring with pure hatred and rage at the man beneath him.
Charles grinned maliciously. "Don't let him hurt Maman any more, Papa! Let me help!"
Christine breathed deeply and grabbed Charles, pulling him away from the sight. She didn't want him to become filled with hate, she didn't want him to know violence. Suddenly Maddy rushed into the room, tears in her eyes, and she stood close to the two men on the ground. "Papa, don't!"
Erik whipped his head to look at Maddy. "What?! Do you know what he's done to your mother?! Do you know what he's just tried to do again! I don't care what nice things this man said to you, he's nothing but a liar, and he will pay dearly for the pain he has caused Christine!" Erik cried, tightening his hands around Raoul's neck and delighting in the man's choking sputters.
Raoul was finally able to sputter out a word. "Beast!" Was all he cried, before his flailing hand found purchase on the pocketknife he kept with him at all times. Flicking it open, he slashed out across Erik's chest.
Crying out in shock and pain, Erik fell back, grasping his chest and glaring with hate at Raoul. "I will kill you, Chagny!" He exclaimed, trying to stand. But the blood was flowing quickly, and he was unable to gain his footing. The world was going black, he was getting dizzier and dizzier... "You will pay.." He gasped out, before he passed out on the floor.
Raoul looked down in shock at Erik, then at the hand which held the pocketknife. Tossing the blade down, he looked at Christine with wide, frightened eyes, then at Maddy with apologetic ones. After a moment of silence, he bolted from the house, rushing down the street and quickly disappearing from sight.
Charles squealed, wrestling his way out of Christine's grasp and dropping to his knees beside Erik. "Maman! Do something!!"
Maddy sobbed and fell to her knees on the other side of Erik, and carefully removed his mask. "Papa, I'm so sorry..." She stood and took out a potion she had made for Bella to put her into a deep coma, but had never used it. She sipped it all down, and fell to the floor beside Erik, her head hitting the floor loudly.
Christine cried out and quickly came to kneel in between her husband and daughter. She looked up to Charles and told him sternly, "Go get me a bowl of hot water, and hurry." She ripped Erik's shirt open and examined the wound, wincing at the blood but sighing with relief as she noticed it wasn't very deep. She ripped a strip of his shirt off and ran it carefully over the wound, and kept it there to soak up the blood as she turned to examine Maddy. Only God knew what that potion was... it could've been poison as far as Christine was concerned. She sobbed and tried to remain calm, though inside her heart was breaking.
Charles rushed from the room at his mother's command, hurrying into the kitchen and fetching the water just as she wanted. Bringing it back, he sat beside Maddy and touched her face. "Maman is she dead?!" He began to cry, throwing his arms around his sister and burying his face in her hair. "Maman I don't want her to die!"
Erik began to stir slightly, groaning and trying to sit up. He opened his eyes and moaned in pain, raising a hand to his head.
Christine gasped in relief and set Erik's head in her lap, and carefully tore another piece of his shirt away to dip into the water. "This is going to hurt." She said softly, and placed it over the wound. She looked over to Maddy and reached out to feel her pulse. "She's still alive, Charles, but I don't know what she took!" She grabbed the vile and looked at it helplessly. Holding it in front of Erik, she asked him carefully, "I know you're very weak, but please, do you know what this is?"
Taking the vial in shaking hands, Erik looked to his daughter and a choked sob escaped him. Sniffing at the inside of the vial, he winced at the strong smell. "It is not poisonous... but it seems as if it is a combination of herbs that will put a person into a deep sleep. A coma, if you will." He sighed, tossing the vial aside and taking Christine's hand. "I can make something to counteract it. Help me up right away." He stated, beginning to sit up again and crying out in pain.
Christine eased him back down and stroked his face. "Rest, Erik. You've been injured, you need to lie still." She looked to Charles. "Do you know how to make the potions? Papa can tell you and you can fix it..." She added another hot strip to Erik's wound, wincing at all the steam.
Charles trembled, biting his lip. "I think so, but Maman what if I make it wrong and it hurts Maddy?" He wailed, clinging tightly to his sister's hand.
Christine sighed and took a deep breath. "Bring to your father what he needs, then." She scooted closer as she pushed Erik up gently. "I'll help you sit." She placed her arms around him and let his weight rest as much as he needed on her.
Erik sat up further and coughed, wincing as his hand moved from his mouth with flecks of blood on it. Wiping it on his suit before Christine could notice, he looked up and watched for Charles to return.
Charles had rushed to Erik's science room, and was in the process of grabbing every ingredient that Erik had on his shelves. Tossing them all in a large leather bag that Erik kept for that express purpose, Charles ran down the stairs and almost tripped as he flopped to the floor in front of his mother and father. Thrusting the bag forward, he gasped for breath as he moved to hold Maddy's hand once again.
Erik took a few deep, calming breaths, and smiled reassuringly at Christine, before he opened the bag and began checking each label carefully. Mixing several things together, he ground it up with care, then placed it into a vial. "I'll need some water..." He motioned to the bowl of it that sat next to Christine.
Christine carefully placed the bowl in front of him, into his lap, and rested her head against his shoulder as she watched him work. Tears came to her eyes as she realized she was the one to blame for all of this. If only Erik had fallen in love and married someone else... Raoul would've never hurt their family as he had in the past and on that day.
Finishing the potion with a sigh of relief, Erik set the bowl aside and drew Christine against his body. "I love you." He stated, kissing her forehead. Dragging himself across the floor, he handed the potion to Charles. "Give that to her, tilt up her head so she doesn't choke."
Charles nodded, and very gently pulled Maddy's head into his lap, lifting it a bit and putting the vial against her lips. A bit dribbled to the side and he bit his lip in concentration, putting the liquid slowly into her mouth. Gently he rubbed at the muscles of her neck, knowing instinctually that it would induce swallowing. When the potion was gone, he looked up at his father. "Now what?"
Erik smiled, motioning down at Maddy. "Now we wait... I'm sure it will work." He stated.
Christine pulled Erik back to rest against her and she lifted his arms as she began to wrap what was left of his shirt around his shoulder and under his arm, bandaging his wound.
She tied the knot in back just as Maddy began to stir, and the young girl made a few gurgling sounds before her eyes fluttered open and she squinted around at the room. "What happened?"
Charles gave a cry of joy, throwing his arms around Maddy's body and placing little kisses all over her face. "Maddy! Maddy I was so afraid you were dead! Don't do that again, Maddy! I promise I wont hide any more spiders in your bed or throw dirt at you outside or be mean to you or call you a stupid girl!" He screeched, clinging tightly to his big sister and wailing.
Erik blinked several times, before smiling at his daughter. "Welcome back, dearest. I certainly hope you will not pull a stunt like that again..." He stated, an eyebrow rose.
Maddy sat up and reached to run her hand over her father's face. "Papa, I'm sorry, I just... He seemed so nice, and I remembered hearing his voice... Please forgive me, Papa. I didn't know he would hurt Mamma or you." Tears came to her eyes and she rubbed at them irritably.
Erik shook his head. "There is nothing to apologize for, darling... you simply didn�t know. We should have warned all of you children about him long ago. He forced your mother to give him the special hug... and he was very mean to both of us. You must stay far away from him. If he tries to speak to you, you must rush right home and tell us." Erik stated, looking to Maddy and Charles seriously.
Charles nodded and whimpered, grabbing at Maddy's arm. "Maddy... I love you.." He said, curling up in her lap and wrapping his arms around her neck. "Please don't leave me.."
Maddy held him tight and kissed his marred cheek, whispering that she would never leave him as long as he told her he loved her every day and never got mud into her hair again because the spiders were kind of cool and she didn't mind them as much as having to get grime out of her locks.
Christine watched with a sad smile before looking down at Erik seriously and whispering, "I want you to teach me the Persian war arts. I want to be able to defend myself!"
Erik sighed, looking drowsily into Christine's eyes. "We can discuss this later... right now... I am bleeding into my lung... and I would like it very much if you could take me to a hospital."
X
Christine kissed the top of Maddy's head and bade her goodnight, and moved from the downstairs area to the grand staircase. It had been a week since Raoul had come back into their lives, since Dr. Auclair had stitched up Erik's lung. She was relieved when Erik had healed quite nicely, and she was eager to see just how healthy he was tonight... She smiled as she moved up the stairs quietly, and entered their bedroom as unnoticeably as possible.
Erik was stretched out on the bed, his arms behind his head and his eyes closed in complete relaxation. Things that past week had been hectic at best, and he was relieved for a moment to kick back and hopefully spend some quality time with his wife.
Christine giggled as she moved to his side of the bed, and she sat down next to him. "Erik, you can't possibly be relaxed unless you have all of your clothes off..." She ran a hand down his chest and to his waistband, fingering it lightly.
Erik chuckled, opening one eye to peek up at Christine. "Care to help me with that, my dear?" He asked, smirking slightly, then letting his eye close again.
Christine grinned and started with his shirt, unbuttoning it very slowly, though she couldn't wait to see her husband out of his clothes. "Now... You must continue to breathe deeply and carefully... I'd hate for you to have to go the hospital again so they can see your insides!"
Erik only smiled, reaching up to caress Christine's cheeks with his fingertips. "I shall breathe very cautiously." He stated, licking his lips in anticipation.
"Oh good." She smiled as she placed kisses along the scar the remained on his chest from where they had performed surgery. She moved her lips to his nipple, and she licked it teasingly before biting and then swiftly moving to bite the other. She grinned and placed a leg over him, straddling his waist, and moved down his legs as she kissed to where his pants began.
Erik whimpered softly, reaching his hands down to tangle into Christine's hair. "Christine, yes.." He whispered, raising his hips slightly in anticipation of pleasure soon to come. "Yess..."
Christine grinned and opened his pants, and jerked them down his body as quickly as she could. She spared no time, and after running her lips across his abdomen, she trailed the tip of her tongue up the length of his manhood.
Erik gasped and arched his hips, moaning thickly and grasping the sheets tightly. "Christine! My God.."
Christine raised an eyebrow as she ran a fingertip up the same path her tongue had taken. "Are you still breathing cautiously, my love? If I need to stop..."
Shaking his head vigorously, Erik lifted his hips, begging for more contact. "No, I'm breathing wonderfully." He insisted, biting his lip and moaning thickly. "Please Christine..."
Christine fought a giggle, and instead smirked deviously. "Please what, Erik?" She batted her eyelashes innocently, still just lightly running her fingertip up and down his length.
Erik growled, reaching down and taking the back of Christine's head in his hand, he pushed her face downwards, until her lips barely touched his aching flesh. "Please put your mouth on me.." He whispered, shaking as he lay before his wife.
Christine shivered and did as he requested, letting her tongue trace the tip of him before opening her mouth and taking as much as she could into her mouth. She kept her eyes on his face, and one hand caressed his inner thigh as the other joined her mouth on his manhood.
Erik gasped and cried out, tossing his head back and threading his hands in Christine's hair. He resisted the urge to thrust his hips upward, and instead trembled as he felt her mouth against him. "You.... oh Christine.. you are amazing..." He murmured, reaching hand down to slide over her cheeks and down her neck. "My love..."
Christine grinned and removed her mouth, and moved up to lay beside him. She untied her dress and slid it off her body, and quickly lifted it over her head and to the side. She turned to Erik then and ran a hand down his chest, and then pulled at his shoulder to get him to lay atop her.
Erik complied eagerly, rolling atop Christine and kissing her with a voracious and fiery passion. His hands moved all over her body, caressing her curves. "I've needed this so badly.. this closeness to you.." He murmured, kissing a trail down her neck and stopping to suck a bit at her pulse point. "I love you so..."
Christine trembled and wrapped her arms around his neck, spreading her legs a bit to cradle him with her thighs. "Erik," she murmured against his ear, closing her eyes in pleasure as moved her hips against his. She breathed hotly into his ear, and moaned softly as she felt her entire body ache for release.
Thrusting deeply within Christine, Erik cried out, throwing his head back and arching his upper body. His hands came to the small of Christine's back and he held her close, sitting up a bit and pulling her into his arms. He cuddled Christine close, having her almost in his lap as he rocked into her body again and again. His lips came down to possess hers with a great amount of love and reverence, and he trailed his fingers up and down her back gently.
Christine felt completely blissful as she held Erik's upper arms, and her eyes fluttered as she felt him enter her over and over. She moaned deeply, and tiny whimpers escaped her throat each time he thrust. She wrapped her legs around his waist and cried loudly, "Erik, I love you, Erik!" She sped up their pace, holding onto him tightly, her nails digging into his shoulders.
Erik groaned and gave Christine a sly smirk when she began to speed up the tempo of their thrusts, and he matched her pace eagerly. His lips slid down to trail wet kisses along her neck and shoulder, and one hand came to the small of Christine's back, bracing her and moving a bit faster. His other hand moved down between her legs, brushing against her sensitive skin, then rubbing gently. He could feel his release building, and Erik moaned low in his throat, the end sounding quite like a growl.
Christine couldn't control herself as she screamed his name harshly and climaxed, holding him close as she trembled in his arms. She bit at his shoulder and moaned as her lower body continued to move in time with his.
Erik gasped for breath, thrusting within his wife once more, then releasing with a long and satisfied moan. He clung tightly to Christine, his face nuzzled into her neck and his breath coming in ragged gasps. After the spasms of his lower body had finally ceased, he allowed himself to fall back upon the bed, Christine atop him as he still rested within her body. "Christine... every day I am amazed that I can love you more than the day before... someday I think I will burst from loving you so much." He stated, stroking his fingers through her hair slowly.
Christine smiled down at him with tears in her eyes, and lowered her lips to his gently. She ran her fingers through his hair and rested her head on his chest. "I don't think we'd be able to make love if you burst into a million particles." She grinned up at him. "But it'd certainly be a different position, if we tried."
Chapter Twenty Seven