Twisted Every Way

Chapter Four

RAOUL

I cursed my father relentlessly as I left the restaurant, left her.

Quite frankly, I didn't want to go to this damned Opera House to sign ridiculous papers. I truly wanted to stay and follow her home. Learn where she lived so I could call on her.

Christine...

It had been years since I had seen her. 

God, she was so beautiful.

My heart beat rapidly and my palms were sweating.

Ever since the accident she was the only one who ever made me smile. I felt my heart pound in my chest as memories flooded.

Once her father's contract ran out, she left with her family, and I never saw her again. After the accident, she and I became closer. I helped her with her broken heart over my brother, and she helped my through my guilt and rage.

Unfortunately, as much adoration and love I showered her with, she never showed any interest in me as more than a friend.

And then as the years flew by, it almost seemed like she forgot about Erik completely.

As much as I loved the idea, I knew deep down it was a coping mechanism for her heart to heal, and it killed me to know those feelings would never surface for me.

But in all honesty, I had forgotten her as well. We both moved on with our lives and I learned the joys of women as I grew older, forgetting about that beautiful servant girl and drowning myself in others.

Most of the women I had been with whined and complained about my cold demeanor after our first night together.

I couldn't help it.

None of them could fill the void left in me since my childhood, so what was the point of keeping any of them around? Once morning came, they were sent on their way.

Fortunately, women's wants always came naturally to me, but I knew with her, with Christine, it was going to different.

She was never taken by the charm that came so easy for me. She was always teasing me about it and how she would say she was the only person in the world not falling for the Vicomte Charm.

Recalling the memory of her teasing caused me to smile to myself. She could make me laugh so easily. It was so natural with her, to be myself.

Since I knew it was going to hard to catch her, it definitely made the chase all the more exciting, because I knew, when I finally had her again, I did not plan on letting go.

Just in that single moment I found her again I knew, I had to have her.

The streets were lined with everyday people, shoppers, travelers, homeless ones on the street begging for money. I pushed past most of them, never giving a second thought to the people beneath me.

But Christine...

I walked through the doors of the Opera Popularire and tensed.

I hated this place.

Hated all of the memories and feelings it churned inside the cage I locked them in.

This was a horrible investment. My father funneled money into this place like an idiot, and hoped it would show for his lost son's love of music.

Erik...

I clenched my hands and gritted my teeth as the sounds of his screams filled my ears.

No.