"What the hell is going on here?" Anthony asked Raoul. The young man shrugged and looked around himself. The inn they had come upon was the only one for a few miles and so instead of driving the rest of the night they had decided to stop. But a crowd had gathered in the hall near an open door and both men pushed their way through.
"What is going on?" Anthony asked the nearest man. He was old and gray and his teeth were missing but he managed to answer Anthony none the less.
"Two people were shot! A woman and a man in a mask," he said. Anthony felt as if his heart had been torn out of his chest. He shoved past the man with Raoul right behind them and they managed to get to the door and inside. Christine's husband was lying on the floor in his own blood, and the woman with him was not Christine. It was one of the maids Anthony remembered seeing at Erik's ball. But where was his sister and who had done this.
"Is he alive?" Anthony demanded of the man in the room. It was obvious he was a doctor and he turned from the masked man to see Anthony.
"Yes, but for how much longer I have no idea," he said.
"Help him however you can, I will pay you handsomely," Anthony promised. He turned to Raoul and they both pushed back through the crowd. Christine had to be here somewhere and he had to find her.
xXx
Christine coughed, blood bursting from her mouth. The fight with Kenneth had lasted far longer then the man had anticipated. Christine, though a small woman, was strong and no matter how many times he hit her she still managed to get back up again. Her dress was torn and the bodice hung around her waist so she was only covered by her corset.
But she was so tired, she could feel her body ready to give in but she knew if she were to give up she would be dead. Kenneth advanced on her again. This time he managed to slam her head against the wall. Christine moaned and crumpled to the floor. Kenneth picked her up in his arms and carried her to the bed. This time she had to strength to fight back and Kenneth knew this. He had waited for her to tire and now was finally the time. He dropped her onto the bed and tied her hands to the headboard, making sure she could not escape.
xXx
Anthony and Raoul had opened every door they came upon looking for Christine. Every one had been empty. But Anthony would never forget what he had seen when they had finally come upon her. She was tied to the bed, seemingly unconscious. A man stood beside the bed, slowly ridding himself of his clothing. The man had turned in stunned surprise to see Anthony and Raoul standing there but they had not given him time to lunge for the pistol near him.
Their fists had beaten him to death in their rage and they could only stare at what they had done in shocked horror. They had killed a man. Raoul was shaking and Anthony was silent. Everything had happened in a blur of confusion. They had seen him and the gun and Christine and their brains and bodies had acted on instinct. Now they would have to live with this for the rest of their lives.
"Anthony...Raoul?" Christine whispered, breaking both of their thoughts. They turned to her and saw the bruises and blood marring her body. Her limbs were numb and did not appear to be moving. Both men rushed to her and untied her, but she could not move from the bed. Anthony pulled Christine into his embrace and several tears fell into her hair.
"Are you alright?" Anthony demanded. She nodded weakly and Anthony felt a sense of right that he had killed the man who had been about to rape his sister. Raoul had Christine's hand in his own and the other man could see the tears brimming in his eyes.
"Erik...where is Erik?" Christine demanded. Both men exchanged glances. Why was she asking for him? They both expected the couple to hate each other, they were complete opposites! But here she was asking for him.
"He has been shot, Sister," Anthony said. Christine cried out and tried to struggle into a sitting position but Anthony held her in place.
"You must not move! He is being cared for by a doctor!" he said, trying to assure her of the man's safety. He could not tell her that he might be dying at that moment. Christine's gaze had somehow fallen on the body of Kenneth and she gave a sob and buried herself against her brother, unable to stop her tears. Too much had happened the last few hours and she did not know what to think or what to do. Was Erik going to be alright?
xXx