Unmasqued

He cocked his head, listening… and a smile curled his lips. "Do you hear that?"

She listened, and heard, in the distance, the sounds of shouting. Horrible sounds, angry ones… and her blood chilled. "What is it?"

"They are coming for him." His smile broadened. "I did not expect them so soon, but at least we had finished our business first. Now, Christine, you have a choice."

"A choice?"

"I'm afraid after that performance, my brother and I aren't quite willing to let you be torn to pieces by the mob. Nor are we quite willing to allow this murderer to be set free. After all, he is a very dangerous man."

"But you agreed-"

"I said that we would come to some arrangement that would be agreeable to both of us. And I think we still can. Listen… they are coming closer. Raoul, why do you not go and find them… bring them here? Then things will be over very quickly."

"No!" Christine shouted, tears swimming in her eyes as she clutched at Erik, frantically trying to pull the rope loose. "No! Please!"

Philippe looked at her, raised his gun again in a threat, pointing it straight at Erik's head. He was close enough that he would not miss. Christine stopped pulling on the rope. "Much as I love to hear you beg, I don't think you wish to have those angry men hear you at this time. Or they might find their way here even sooner. Raoul, wait one moment… Perhaps we can come to an agreement."

"Let her go," Erik croaked, his chest rumbling next to her. He was so weary, so empty. She felt his absolute stillness… as though he had given up. "She's done what you wanted."

"I'm happy to let her go… in exchange for turning you over to the mob. Christine can leave here and do as she wishes." Philippe looked down at her. "Or… she can come with us. And be safe."

"What do you mean?" But she was sure she already knew.

"This is your choice, Christine. Yours to make. Not his. You come with Raoul and me, back to Chateau de Chagny… and we will allow him to leave now, before the mob comes. I'm certain he will find a way to rid himself of those ropes… just as I am certain that he has a secret way out of this underground lair. He might escape from them… but if he doesn't, at least he will have had a fighting chance.

"If not… then you may go free, and we will lead that angry group of citizens here, and ensure that they do as they wish with your lover. It is long past time for him to have his due."

"You… you intended this all along," Christine choked.

He inclined his head. "Perhaps. I will say that your performance sealed the bargain. I am not willing to walk away from such passion and energy so easily. Now! Your time is running short… they will be upon us in a moment. What is your decision?"

Erik was struggling again, heedless of the gun. "Christine, no, you cannot! You cannot. Leave me… Go free while you can. Get far away from these men!" His voice was rough and scratched, with emotion and from the cut of the rope.

She looked up at him, tears blinding her. "Erik, I can't leave you to your death. I can't! At least if I do this, there is the chance we will be together… the chance. I love you. You have had so much pain… Erik, I love you. I'm sorry."

She brought his face down for a hard, passionate kiss, crying between gasps and tastes of him. He kissed her back helplessly, hungrily… as though trying to argue her out of her folly by using his lips… but she backed away before she could change her mind.

"I love you," she said.

"I will come for you, Christine. I will come for you." He turned his face and looked at Philippe, who'd been watching their tearful parting with that same mocking smile. "I will hunt you down, and I will kill you, Philippe. I promise you that… I will not die until I do." His words broke at the end.

Philippe laughed. "Of course. Now that I have your complete humiliation, and the woman you love, instead of letting you die and putting you out of your misery… I set you free. Go. Go, Erik, and remember these images of what occurred here tonight. Let them torture you, day after miserable day… Remember her cries of pleasure, her ecstatic expression… Remember the feel of her mouth on your cock… because every day, every night, every morning, every noontime… that is what I will have. Wonder if she will learn to love me. Wonder if she will forget you. Live it and remember it and wish for it… but you will never have it again. And I will. After all these years, I have won."

He grabbed Christine's arm, holding the gun at her temple-"Just to ensure you do not try anything foolish"-and untied the rope from the lamp. Erik was free to move now, the rope loose around his neck, but his hands were still bound behind his back. "Go, now, go… before I change my mind and put a bullet in her head."

The voices of the mob were closer, reverberating angrily in the underground cavern, sending shivers of fear into Christine's belly. They would tear him to pieces. "Go, Erik, go! Save yourself!"