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No Easy Way	By : secretlysecretly Category: M through R > The Phantom of the Opera > Het Views: 7568 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own The Phantom of the Opera, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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Chapter 53

Raoul raised his arm tiredly and pulled the cord hanging over his bed, summoning the butler to his quarters. When Gerard opened the door, inquiring as to what the Viscount needed, the Viscount instructed the tall man to ask Erik to join him.

Indeed, a few minutes later, Erik walked into the room without knocking the door, a worried expression shadowing his eyes. “Is everything alright?” he asked without delay.

“No Erik, everything is most certainly NOT alright.” Raoul answered in a vexed manner.

“I didn’t think so…” Erik replied callously, with a hint of mirth lacing his voice. “What did the diva say to you? Did she ask you for a second chance? Did she tell you she was under a spell when she tried to kill you? Did she beg you to forgive her temporary insanity?” he scoffed, shaking his head in disdain as he spoke.

“All that and much, much more.” Raoul cryptically answered, feeling a chill run down his spine.

“What is it Raoul? Did she threaten to turn me in to the authorities if you don’t keep her by your side?” he accurately predicted, his lips curling up into a knowing smile when he saw Raoul turn even paler at his words.

The blonde man didn’t answer however, feeling his blood turn cold in his veins as he bore witness to the masked man’s stringent demeanor at the prospect of his imminent arrest. “Do not look so shocked Raoul. I had expected something like that of Christine all along. I am pretty sure the idea came to her when she heard Olivier Dervaux confront me with his sinister plan in order to win Marianne.” the brooding man offered unceremoniously.

“I had the same thought but… I don’t understand. How can you be so calm knowing you are liable to get arrested in any given moment? To lose everything you have fought so hard over… To lose the woman you obviously adore thanks to a devious woman’s caprice?” he asked, stunned at the masked man’s self-control at such a dire time.

“You seem to forget Viscount that I have been running all through my life. As a child I became subject to ridicule and abuse because of my face. As a youngster I had to remain below ground to avoid being seen by the Opera staff. As a man I was dying each and every day for someone to call a friend, for a woman to show me some affection. And when I finally thought I had found her, instead of at least showing me compassion and becoming my friend, she turned against me and did everything in her power to lead to my demise. That is the kind of behavior I have had to endure all through my life Viscount. All because of my face. A face I am not responsible for, which has kept me hiding in shadow, clipping my wings and keeping my dreams unrealized for so long.

“At least that’s what my life had been like until I met your cousin. Marianne and Madame Giry were the only two people who ever regarded me as anything more than a monster. I was amazed to say the least when the radiant Duchess regarded me as an ill-tempered man rather than a hideous freak of nature. The moment our paths met, she confronted me about wearing a mask and although I was furious with her audacity at first, I came to see it as what it actually was. The genuine surprise of a woman so wonderfully honest that she crumbled all of my defenses from the first moment I laid eyes on her.

“I can die a happy man knowing an angel like Marianne loves me and would be willing to follow me to the ends of the earth. She said so. When I talked to her of my fears regarding Christine’s intents, she assured me that she would be willing to leave everything behind and flee France with me so that we could be together at last and raise our family together.

“I don’t know if I could ever do that to her, especially given the condition she’s in at the moment, but just knowing she would be willing to sacrifice everything she loves so dearly to stay by my side is enough for me to know that I would die a happy man this instant if I knew she was safe. And, knowing you and everything you have done to ensure her happiness, I am certain you will do everything in your power to keep her safe. I care not for my own life Viscount. I would gladly give myself up to the Parisian authorities knowing you would be willing to take care of Marianne and our unborn child.

“That is how I manage to stay so calm and collected in light of my imminent doom. That is how I manage to smile despite knowing my end is near. These past few months my life has been fuller than all of the years I spent beneath the Opera House, playing my cruel tricks on the managers. I have loved, laughed and cried, I have allowed myself to hope against all odds that I would finally find the peace I have been searching for all my life. And I did find it Raoul. I found it in Marianne’s eyes and it is enough to last me through eternity.” he finished, smiling dreamily as his thoughts drifted back to his lover, despite the grave danger he knew he was facing.

The Viscount did not say anything, finding some semblance of peace from his dark thoughts as he listened to Erik talk so openly about his feelings. He had never thought the masked man capable of letting his emotions show in such an open manner and was left speechless for a couple of minutes, trying to collect his thoughts, in order to inform Erik of his plan. For, despite the former Phantom’s apparent determination to sacrifice himself in order to keep his cousin safe, Raoul indeed harbored a malicious plan that would keep the two lovers out of harm’s way and himself away from his wife forever.

“Do not fret Erik. You will not be avenged upon by Christine, I will make sure of that.” he stated rigidly, somewhat shaken when he saw Erik shake his head tiredly.

“I am through running. I have escaped my fate for far too long. It would seem that my past has finally caught up with me and there’s nothing I can do to stop the course we are on any longer.” the masked man stated, a bitter smile on his lips.

“You have not even heard what I have to say Erik! You have gone through hell and Marianne has suffered too much by your side for you to abandon hope now, when you are so close to finding happiness in each-other.” Raoul erupted, unwilling to watch this strong man lose his spirit after everything that had transpired.

“We are not close to finding happiness Raoul. We had already conquered bliss and your devil woman of a wife snatched it away from us by involving Olivier Dervaux in our… equation. Marianne was forced to break off our engagement despite her love for me and she would have even married that pompous ass if it had not been for your kind interference. I cannot thank you enough Raoul but please, don’t ask me to go through this again.

“I know the life of a fugitive. I have lived it for so many years and I can tell you right now; it is not a life fit for your cousin. Marianne should not have to hide; our child should not have to hide. I know what you have in mind Raoul. For me to take Marianne away from Rouen, perhaps even France, for a few years until all will be forgotten and we can return here, where nobody will be able to associate me with the Opera Ghost. Or perhaps” he continued, not allowing Raoul to interrupt him, “I should remain locked away in a basement and let Marianne face the ridicule and social contempt for giving birth to a fatherless child out of wedlock.” he finished, contempt for the unwelcome prospect seemingly seeping through every pore of his body.

Raoul simply sat there, taking in the masked man’s pain, a sense of wonder for his cousin who had found a man that loved her enough to be willing to sacrifice everything, even his own life for her if need be. He was reminded of his own strong feelings towards Christine and how hard he had fought against this very man whom he now admired for his strength of character, but shook those thoughts out of his mind, knowing in his heart that Erik would never do anything to bring Marianne any harm.

Realizing Erik had stopped his ranting and was now sitting in a chair across the room from him with his head buried in his hands, utter desperation emanating from his crouched form, he cleared his throat and spoke the words that would finally bring this broken man some peace of mind. “Actually Erik, you are mistaken. That is not what I had in mind at all…”

Christine was again sitting in the confined space she had come to know so well through the past few days, impatiently tapping her fingers against the surface of the vanity table as she examined her reflection in the mirror. For the first time in years, she wasn’t satisfied by what she saw, but she knew it was only a matter of time before she would be her usual radiant self again.

She hadn’t slept well in days, the glorious curls that used to adorn her features hanging limply in tendrils on other side of her face. Her alabaster skin was unblemished, but she couldn’t help sighing in chagrin at the dark circles beneath her once luminous eyes. She had not bathed since that fateful night when she had almost killed her husband and her skin was sticky, bereft of the intoxicating aroma that had become her signature scent. The clothes she wore were dirty, and although once she had been enthusiastic over the fabric and intricate design of her dress, she now saw it as nothing more than a useless rag that was only good for concealing her supple curves.

She muttered a string of curses under her breath and stood from her position before the mirror, unwilling to dwell on her pitiful apparition any longer. She would remedy the situation once she would be free to leave this room by taking a long, luxurious bubble bath and treating herself to some much-needed rest.

If only Raoul would make hasty on his word and instruct those fools to finally grant her her freedom!

Hearing footsteps stop behind the closed doors that led to her makeshift cell, and then some commotion indicating keys being turned in the lock –keys that she knew by now only Erik held- she felt a surge of power flood over her senses. Knowing this was her golden opportunity to ridicule that horrible monster who had the audacity to turn her down, she started laughing even before he opened the door that separated her from freedom.

She turned her back to the door, unwilling to allow him no more than a few necessary glances at her imperfect appearance now that she was the victorious one, but continued laughing despite her disappointment for not being able to fully enjoy this moment of ultimate triumph over the man who had the gall to discard her so foolishly. Her wicked laughter rang out in the room even as she heard the door open behind her turned back.

“I am so glad you finally decided to let me go free your highness. Did you honestly think that fool would have you keep me in here forever?” she hissed scornfully, turning to finally look into the eyes of her tormentor, but instead found herself watching the two men that followed the tall, impeccably dressed man into the room and the only thing that caught her attention was the stark contrast between the black Erik Destler wore as opposed to the two bulky men who were dressed all in white.

“What is this?” she scoffed, raising an eyebrow haughtily at him as he stepped aside and let the two men march over to where she was standing and brutally take hold of her upper arms, holding her in place. “Are you so frightened that you don’t trust yourself in the same room with me unless you have these thugs to protect you?” she asked impertinently and when he did not reply pressed on. “You need not be afraid of me Erik…” she cooed, batting her eyelashes playfully at him. “I am but a feeble woman who could never harm a strong, powerful man such as yourself.” she finished playfully, her ironic chuckles a testimony to her belief that her words were absolutely false.

“It is not I but your husband who requested for the gentlemen Viscountess.” Erik murmured, his mind still reeling after all that had transpired that morning.

“My husband?” Christine inquired, confused at this new turn of events. “Let go of me you brutes!” she then barked at the two men in the white uniforms who had started dragging her out of the room.

“Viscountess, this is for your own good.” one of the men tried to calm her, steeling his grip on her forearm despite his words.

“What is going on?!?” she demanded, finally alarmed at the unrelenting way the two men kept trying to move her out of the room.

“Madame, your husband has requested for your transfer to a lovely villa in Paris. You shall receive proper care there…” the man offered again, moving her along as he spoke.

“Villa? What is this?!? ERIK?” she demanded again, trying to break free from the two men’s grasp to approach him.

Erik on his part only took a few steps back, as if he were afraid of her, and Christine felt her heart sink when he avoided her eyes and shook his head dejectedly.

“Please gentlemen, I want to make sure that you will do everything in your power to keep her calm. It is imperative that the lady receives the best possible care money can buy.” he instructed the two men, walking behind them as they led Christine out of the room.

“Where are you taking me? What kind of a scheme is this?!?” she cried in disdain, pulling her hand free from the shorter man and instantly trying to claw her way out of the other man’s grasp.

“Please Madame, calm yourself! The Viscount has asked us to be kind. I don’t want to sedate you.” Victor, the nurse who still held onto her tried to soothe her, thinking to himself that his orders had indeed been correct. The poor woman held unparalleled beauty, but she appeared to be extremely aggressive.

“Don’t you tell me what to do, you gamin! I will make sure you pay for this! Where are you taking me?? What is that ‘lovely villa’ you keep referring to?” she demanded haughtily.

“We are to take you to Pitié-Salpêtrière Madame.” Victor offered cordially.

“But that is an insane asylum…” she whispered, suddenly realizing what was going on.

“Actually Madame, it is a hospital for those who suffer from their nerves. We prefer to think of……”

“Don’t you dare tell me what you think you fool! I am not going anywhere! I demand to see Raoul RIGHT NOW!” she screamed.

“I’m afraid that will be impossible Viscountess.” Erik cut in. “The Viscount has requested for your transfer to be made as soon as possible and has asked me to make sure he wouldn’t be present when they take you away.” he informed her curtly.

“SHUT UP! YOU ARE THE ONE BEHIND ALL OF THIS!” she cried again, her anger finally giving her the strength to break free from her captors. As soon as her hands were free, she ran to Erik, clawing her fingers over his shoulders and neck, even his face, managing to scratch his skin and break it to the point where she drew blood. She tried to remove his mask, but the instant her fingers clutched at the white porcelain, his own hand shot out and with panther-like speed he grabbed hold of her wrist and removed her hand from his face steadily.

She screamed, trying to claw at him once more, but the two male nurses had already recovered from their initial shock and were quick to come to his rescue. In a few seconds, they had pulled Christine away from him and Erik was adjusting the white porcelain over his deformity, securing it in place once more.

“BRING THAT FOOL TO ME RIGHT NOW, OR ELSE I DON’T KNOW WHAT I’LL DO!” she shrieked, on the verge of hysteria.

“Viscountess, please try to control yourself. I know you are under a lot of str-” he tried to console her, but Christine seethed at his words.

“YOU IMBECILES! Did you think I would let you live your quiet life and go gently to that godforsaken place that moron is sending me off to? I told him I would make your lives a living hell and I meant it! LET GO OF ME!!” she yelled to the nurses who, instead of listening, held tighter onto her.

Years later, Erik would still remember her scream of wrath as she turned to the short stubby nurse and spit him in the face, as well as her painful cry when that said man finally lost his composure and yanked forcefully on her arm, finally dragging her out of the room.

Christine, in a mad fit started kicking her legs in every which direction in an effort to break free, but it was to no avail. Finally, she started crying miserably and allowed the two men to carry her down the stairs towards the grand entrance of the mansion. Something caught her eye and she turned her eyes to a tranquil form resting against the wall, following her with her eyes and as soon as she recognized her husband’s cousin, appeared to regain her strength.

“You’re the one behind all of this, aren’t you?” she spat with venom at Marianne who immediately cowered back into the wall with fear.

“Don’t play coy you bitch! You turned Erik against me and now you have managed to convince Raoul I’m crazy, but I won’t let you get away with this!!!” she roared, planting her feet on the ground and forcing the two men that were dragging her out of the house to stop for a few seconds before trying to resume their task. “If you can destroy me, I can easily destroy you in return you whore!” she enigmatically hissed, turning to her captors once more.

“That man whose orders you are following is the murderer who was once known as the Opera Ghost.” she stated frigidly, noticing Marianne’s face blanch at her words. “He is the one responsible for the destruction of the Opera Populaire, extortion against its managers, embezzlement and theft. He killed Joseph Bouquet and raped me repeatedly when I was residing in the Opera’s dormitories. He tried to take my husband’s life prior to our wedding and also attempted to murder him again upon their reencounter in Rouen.”

Her words hanging in the air, a smug smile curved Christine’s lips as she turned her eyes from the men who held her to Erik and then let her gaze wander over Marianne. The brunette was regarding her with a mixture of agony, contempt and pity burning in her gaze. Turning her eyes back to Erik, she found him to appear more serene than ever she had seen him. Suddenly, a cold sweat washed over her as she heard one of the nurses that was still holding her in place snicker at the revelation she had made.

“Madame, this is exactly what your husband told us you’d say. He informed us of your infatuation over the Opera Ghost and how traumatic your experience with that madman was, leading you to lose your grip on reality every so often, your fits becoming more frequent as time progressed.” he tried to soothe her, but Christine would have none of that.

“You ignorant fool, you don’t know what you’re talking about!” she haughtily replied. “Erik Destler is none other than the Phantom of the Opera and I intend to make sure he rots in prison for the rest of his days.” she repeated, her steely eyes meeting Erik’s apathetic ones.

‘I’m through running. Give me your best shot!’ he seemed to challenge her silently.

“Madame, please, we have been instructed not to use force to remove you from the premises but you are being entirely too stubborn. Please come with us quietly and-” he tried again, but was interrupted by her maniacal shriek.

“You are a fool! I would not follow you ‘quietly’ as you so cordially pointed out, even if my life depended on it!”

The two men looked at each other and then the man who had been spat upon but a short while earlier disentangled himself partially, only to retrieve a small vial from his pocket. Signaling to the other man, he readied the syringe while his colleague held on to the woman’s arm tightly, holding her in place for the injection. “NOOOO!” came a pained cry from the brunette’s lips, but the two men paid no heed, making sure they had drained the vial of the narcotic substance before they finally resumed their prior positions, making sure to keep the maniacal woman between them.

“No! Erik please, do something! I can’t! NO!” she cried again, desperate for some help at this point. The masked man shook his head passively however, unwilling as much as he was unable to assist her in this dire time.

“Please Erik, I will do anything… ANYTHING!” she pleaded miserably, but to no avail. The two men dragged her away, kicking and screaming despite the sedative substance already running through her veins and making her limbs heavy.

“You can’t do this to me!!” she wailed as they passed the tall brooding man and the quiet figure that appeared too shaken to do anything at this point.

“Please take good care of her.” were Erik’s parting words as he closed the door behind the Viscountess and her captors, unwilling to spare her another thought as he gathered Marianne in an embrace and finally nestled her in his arms, holding her tightly to him as she cried openly for herself, her cousin, her Erik, even the poor, treacherous Christine.

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A/N: Please, let us know what you think
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No Easy Way