The Magician's Witch

Shots in the Dark

The next few days flew by. At one point, Ronan escorted Christine back to her guardian's house on Rue Notre-Dame-des-Victoire, where Christine found a note from the Viscount de Chagny, apologizing profusely for his poor behavior on Christmas night.

Madame Valerius confirmed that the young man had been by twice—once the day after Christmas and then again, the morning after that, at which point he had left the note. Christine considered her options, then decided to send a note back to him, telling him to meet her at the masquerade ball at the Palais Garnier on New Year's Eve, where they could talk. She requested that he wear a white domino costume.

"You are not seriously considering giving him a second chance," Ronan accused. They had been chatting and laughing only moments before. Now all Ronan felt was dread in the pit of his stomach.

Christine sighed. "Not exactly. But he asked for a chance to explain himself. At least at the ball, we will be surrounded by other people. He is less likely to...well, it would be foolish of him to hit me in public."

"Are you considering taking him back?"

Christine winced. "I don't know. He is my fiancé. I gave him my word."

"Christine, his word became null and void the moment he socked you in the eye! He doesn't deserve you," Ronan cried. "Please tell me you are speaking with him so you can end the engagement."

"I don't know," Christine shouted back to him. "Maybe he is sincere about making amends. Perhaps he has learned his lesson. Sometimes, people just lose their temper."

Ronan shook his head. "This is just the beginning," he insisted. "Men like him always start like this. They hit you once, apologize and promise never to do it again—but they always break their promise, Christine! Always. They can't help it. The next time you say something or do something to make him angry, he will lash out at you, and then blame you for making him so angry that he attacked you! Christine, please do not give him the benefit of the doubt! He doesn't deserve it!"

"You need to leave," Christine told him coldly, turning away from him.

Ronan balled his hands into fists, his temper roiling beneath the surface, but he turned and left, shutting the front door hard.

Upon leaving Christine's house, Ronan decided on an impulse to pay Monsieur la Viscount a visit that evening.

A half-hour later, Ronan stood outside the Chagny house, staring at the lights in the windows, trying to determine which window belonged to Raoul's bedroom. Silently, without being spotted, he opened the garden gate, creeping around to the back of the house. There, through the open curtains above him, he saw Raoul pacing around the room, clearly agitated.

Ronan noticed a crumpled paper in Raoul's fist—Christine's letter, perhaps?

As stealthily as a cat, he climbed up to the balcony, staying hidden from view. As he stood in the shadows, he took out his father's mask from a hidden pocket in his jacket...all he wanted to do was scare the bastard that had hurt Christine. He had meant to stay away from this man, as Erik had encouraged him. But seeing the physical damage the viscount had done to her only solidified Ronan's resolve to torment this brute.

The mask secured in place, Ronan peered into Raoul's room once more; he was still mostly obscured from sight as he watched him pace back and forth.

With a gesture of exasperation, Raoul decided to turn in for the night. Ronan slunk back from the window, not needing to witness the nightly routine of his unwitting nemesis. A few minutes went by. He peeked in again. Raoul wore a nightgown now. Ronan snorted. You wouldn't catch me dead wearing a dress to bed, he considered cynically.