Captive Angel

17. Innocent and kidnapped

Erik felt so happy. His bride would be Christine. His Christine. This day could not get any better. He sat up on his couch in the living room. He assured Christine yesterday he wouldn’t touch her until their marriage was settled and he was going to keep his promise.

He walked over to the organ. Every morning Erik would compose his new production, Don Juan Triumphant. This new play he wrote and composed would take place as soon as he was finished with it. Erik could barely compose his music when the thought kept coming to his mind…He would be married.

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Christine stared at the ceiling of the lair. She lay on the swan bed thinking about her wedding day. This was her fate. Her life would end right here with him. She got out of bed and went to the bathroom. She looked at herself in the mirror trying to figure out what Erik saw in her. Still sees in her. Why did he choose to love her? Christine found herself asking these questions. She didn’t consider herself pretty or smart. Though she did consider herself inauspicious.

~~~

“You may kiss the bride.” Erik lifts my veil and just as he is about to kiss me. BAM! A gun fires up. The priest gets shot in the heart.

Twelve men run inside. They wear black and gun vests. Then I recognize my childhood friend’s brother…Philip De Chagney.

 “Hello, Christine Daae. Or should I say ‘Mrs. Desslar.’” He smirks evilly. What is wrong with Philip?

Erik stands in front of me. “What do you want, sir.” He asks sternly and tensely.

 “You and her.” Then Philip shoots Erik in the shoulder and falls to the ground. I stand there frozen and fall on my knees. My hands help lay Erik on his back. He groans in pain. Philip seems pleased, but angry.

 “Kill her.” Philip orders to one of his men. “And him.”

A man steps behind me. I know what they’ll do to Erik when I’m dead. They’ll kill him just like they will do to me in a few seconds. This was my father’s doing not Erik’s fault.

 “Please don’t, Philip.” I plead. Tears run down my cheeks. I love Erik. I cannot live without him. “I love him. I beg of you to spare his life.” I sob. Please, God, don’t let Erik die.

 “Well, the ‘Little Princess Daae’ has spoken.” Philip mockingly says and walks to me. “You know he’s not innocent, Christine?”

What is he talking about? “Of course he is.” I tell him. “He just wanted me to marry him. He has nothing to do with my father.”

 “Oh, he has everything to do with your father!” Philip shouts in my face. He runs his hands through his hair. “Desslar is the one who assassinated my boss. He helped your father kill several of my men!” He stands up and breathes heavily shocked that this is news to me.

It’s news to me. I never thought Erik was a killer. I knew what he was capable of, but I thought he had some mental mindset or something. Never thought an assassin. “I’ll do anything, please, just don’t kill him.” I beg with my life.

 “Why should I keep you alive?” He looks at me in the eyes, but then he says, “I won’t kill him if you live with me.”

What?! Never! This guy is the kind of person my dad told me never to marry as a kid. Dad’s point proved. Men who shout all the time and like shooting people for fun are the men that don’t need wives. But then I realize Erik is my husband, but this is the only way he can live.

 “All right.” I agree. But my hope is that I will escape. Philip pulls me out the church doors and pushes me inside one of the black vans. All I can do is play the part…