When he had come into the room it had all happened so quickly. Christine had raised the vase as Sienna distracted him. She had swung and it had hit his head much harder then she had intended. He had fallen to the floor with a loud thump and Christine gave a soft cry. She remembered reaching down to feel a pulse and found nothing. She had taken his life.
"There!" Sienna cried, pointing at the door that they were slowly getting closer to. Both women began to run, Christine wondering why no one was coming after them. Surely there were guards? But deciding not to question their good fortune Christine ran faster. The first hit of cool evening air that hit her face caused Christine nearly to weep. Sienna's tears were flowing freely and the two women continued their flight. Several moments later they heard shouts and Christine's heart began to race. They had found out they were gone. Sienna cried out and tried to run faster but it was impossible. They heard more men joining the first and Christine prayed that they would get away in time.
She had read the letter that Leroy had sent to Erik. He had made her read it, taunting her. The idea that they wanted Erik to give his life for hers was preposterous! She would not let him do that! That was why she had done everything she could to get out of there. But the men were slowly catching up and Christine knew that they might get them before they had time to get away!
"Run, Christine, please!" Sienna pleaded. Christine glanced over at the woman beside her, seeing her fear. She was terrified of being dragged back to that place. They heard a carriage approaching in the distance and both began running towards it, praying that it was someone that could help them. Sienna began screaming, trying to catch the drivers attention. Christine joined her and their screams echoed throughout the quiet Roman streets. Christine heard cursing from the men chasing them when the carriage stopped in front of the two women. Christine came to a halt, her breasts rising and falling with the force of her breathing as they waited for whoever was in the carriage to step out.
"Oh, my God!" Christine cried, tears beginning to fall before she could stop herself. She ran into Erik's arms and collapsed against him, for the first time allowing herself to break down completely. Erik's strong arms wrapped around Christine in stunned surprise. One moment he had heard screaming and the next his wife was back in his arms. He had never seen her cry and the fact that she was now only registered partially in his numb mind. The other woman with him gasped and cried Christine's name. Erik raised his head from where it had been buried in Christine's hair to see a group of men running towards them, pistols drawn. Erik cursed under his breath. Leroy's men.
"Get in the carriage, Christine, both of you!" Erik commanded. Christine, for once, did not argue, she took the woman's hand and they climbed into the carriage. The three men stopped when they reached Erik and all of them looked hesitant. Of course Leroy was not there, Erik noticed. He would not do his own dirty work.
"Gentlemen, is there a problem?" Erik wondered; his voice pitched dangerously low. The men glanced at each other. There job had been to get the women, there had been no talk of fighting a crazy masked man.
"Give us the women back or we will be forced to kill you," one of them said bravely.
"Your master will not like that, I guarantee you that, he wants to kill me himself," Erik said calmly. The men were spared having to answer when another carriage pulled up behind Erik's. Even Erik turned to look at it curiously, wondering who it was. Anthony, Raoul, and Nadir all stepped out of the carriage and Erik's only visible brow rose in surprise. The men looked nervous and began backing up. They did not want to die tonight.
"Erik, is there a problem?" Anthony asked; his hand slipping into his evening coat to where his pistol was lying, ready to be used.
"No problem," one of the strangers said quickly. The four men watched the strangers leave rather hastily. Erik shook his head at their cowardice, knowing they would have to deal with Leroy and his anger.
"Anthony?"
Anthony turned to see his sister step out of the carriage and throw herself into his arms. Her tears had swollen her eyes and Anthony and the other men said nothing as they looked at her, so happy she was safe and so surprised she was there it left them speechless. Erik, knowing it was selfish, did not want Christine in her brothers arms. He needed to hold her. He was trying to keep from shaking because he had no idea how she could have escaped Leroy's grasp. The other woman, a beautiful young girl, stuck her head out of the carriage window and was looking at all of them curiously. Christine pulled away from her brother and Raoul and Nadir each gave her a hug. She turned to the woman and took her hand, pulling her amongst them.
"This is Sienna de Luca," she introduced. Anthony was studying her closely and with obvious approval and Christine introduced them all.