At the Opera House

Chapter 22: The Locket

Christine balked. "No."

"I'm afraid so."

"You're not from the future as well!" Christine moaned. "It would be absolutely ridiculous."

"I cannot recall a time that I was in this "future" that you speak of." Erik said quietly.

"Maybe your mother..." Christine squeezed the locket in her hands and looked up into his eyes. "Or your father.."

"I would not know, my father died before I was born."

Christine glanced at her father, and then at Nadir, his hands cradling his face. "Perhaps we should discuss this later. Raoul will need to be cared for, and Nadir seems rather overwhelmed."

Father chuckled. "I don't blame him, time traveling is a rather daunting subject."

"Perhaps if we purchased him The Time Machine-"

Her father cut her off. "It hasn't been written yet."

"Very well, what is to be done with Raoul?" Christine huffed, leaning into Erik's shoulder for rest. "He needs to be checked on, and to be convinced that I am in no danger."

She felt Erik's trembling hand stroke her arm timidly, she grasped it and kissed it. "Could you please look at him darling?"

He nodded, and slowly drew from her side went to Raoul, his thin legs smoothly taking long strides as he crossed the room again. A languid, thin hand reached over to Raoul's head and pushed back his blonde hair to reveal a quickly coloring bruise.

"There is no danger." Erik said quietly. " He will need bed rest, but his family will be happy enough to provide that."

Christine smiled in relief. "Good, I was worried he would be seriously hurt."

Erik's cold hands let the hair fall again, one of his cold fingers brushing the bruised forehead. Raoul stirred. Erik flinched, his hand jerked back. He retreated back to Christine's side, lips pressed together, forming an almost disturbing line around his mouth.

The vecont moaned and rose a few inches. "What happened?" He choked out, his hand touching his forehead. "I had the strangest dream... we were in a room of mirrors, then a forest. There was a lion.... it was so hot."

Nadir smiled cooly. "You hit your head coming down. You're fine."

"Oh." He looked around the room and jerked foreword at the sight if Erik. "Christine! Come, we must escape." He leapt to his feet. "Curse this wound, Nadir! We need to find a way out, he'll catch us in the tunnel. Monsieur Daae...."

They all stared at him, not one of them moving an inch. He stared back. "What is wrong with you all?" He gaped.

Her father took a step forehead and gently pushed him to sit down. "The damsel is not in distress." He explained.

"What?"

"I'm not in trouble Raoul." Christine quickly explained. "I wasn't kidnapped, I chose to go with Erik."

He stared at her, dumbfounded. "Erik? Erik who?"

"Erik..." Christine bit her tongue. "The Opera Ghost."

"I thought you didn't believe in him."

Christine smiled gently. "I don't believe in ghosts."

Erik stirred uncomfortably, her hand slipped around his again. Raoul watched the action, glancing from their joined hands to her. "You're engaged." He commented flatly. "To the Opera Ghost."

Christine blinked. "Yes, how did-" She glanced at her finger to find a gold band resting on her marriage finger. She glanced at Erik sharply and he looked away. "Yes." She repeated, squeezing his hand. "Yes I am. I love him."