"He was such a good man that he forced my mother to sleep with not only him, but all of his friends!" Christine cried, the injustice done to her mother needing to be voiced.
"Your mother was a slut; she deserved everything that happened to her!" Leroy spat.
"And your brother deserved to die for touching her!" Christine sobbed, angry at herself for allowing the tears to flow. This time he hit her several times and Christine felt near unconsciousness. Sienna had edged her way towards the door, knowing that if she could get out of the room she would be able to find Anthony and Erik. Christine finally noticed her.
"Run!" Christine screamed to her friend. Leroy let the Italian trollop go, he was determined to make Christine suffer for the things she had said about his brother, may he rest in
Christine could not be in the manor. He had told her that she had to stay behind, for her sake and the baby. But then he heard the scream again and it left little doubt that his wife was here and in danger. He fled down the hall, towards the sound of her cries. He had always known that Christine was a stubborn woman but he would have never believed that she would put herself in so much danger. Leroy and Michael could kill her without a thought simply to spite him.
Had she known what it would do to him to find out that she had deliberately disobeyed him? If she was hurt he knew he would blame himself, not her. As her husband it was his responsibility to protect her, even when she was being completely impossible. He truly loved that side of her but at the moment he would have given anything to make sure that she was alright. Anything at all.
"Erik!" Anthony shouted. Erik turned his head, but did not stop running. Both Anthony and Raoul rushed to keep up with him, them, too, having heard Christine's screams. Another scream joined the second two and Anthony recognized it this time. Sienna!
"Oh, God," he whispered to himself. His pace quickened considerably. Erik blamed himself for leaving Sienna alone while he went to find Anthony. But then again, he had not thought that Christine would show up, and he could only imagine what was going on in that room that would cause her to scream. It was only a matter of time before they were caught and he needed to make sure they were ready to fight.
He was suddenly glad that he had allowed both men to come because now that Christine was in danger he was glad he had people who would help him...it had felt like a long time since he had had someone there to help in the same cause. He was not alone anymore, thanks to his Christine. He owed her more than he would ever be able to repay but he was willing to spend a lifetime making everything up to her.
"Your pistol?" Erik demanded. Anthony reached into his coat and pulled the weapon out, Raoul quickly doing the same. Erik would not need one; he found he was rather good with his hands...
They were stopped short when Sienna came running towards them her cheek showing the beginnings of a bruise and her tears rushing down her face. She ran right into Anthony's arms and wrapped them around her in relief. He thanked God for giving her back to him. With her kidnapping he had realized how much he truly did love her.
It was foolish to feel so much for her so soon but he could not hide his emotions and he did not even want to. Her body was shaking with the force of her sobs but Anthony took her chin in his hand and forced her to meet his gaze, demanding that she tell him what was happening. She was only able to utter one word.
"Christine."
Please! Please...don't do this!" Christine pleaded. She struggled and fought but Leroy had managed to remove his shirt and shoes and loosen her corset. If this man touched her as he obviously intended to she could only imagine what Erik would do...what she would do. That was why she refused to stop fighting; she would not let this be done to her.
She knew that Erik had to be somewhere in the house and Sienna had to find him sooner or later, preferably sooner, and she knew she would be safe once he was there...she only had to fight a little longer, she was sure of it. Of course her mind kept wandering back to the baby, praying that this fight with its endless struggling would not harm it...God if that happened she would never forgive herself. She should have listened to Erik when he told her to stay where she was. But of course Sienna would be in her position and she knew Leroy would have gotten what he wanted with the Italian girl.
"I will make him pay for touching my brother..." Leroy hissed as he cleanly ripped Christine's corset in two. She screamed, the sound blood curdling. Leroy grinned and looked down at the beauty in front of him, covered only by a thin, nearly transparent chemise. His hand took unwanted liberties and she managed to free one of her hands and hit him with everything she had in the side of the face. He grunted and pinned her down more roughly, divesting her of all of her clothing except her pantalets.
"Hm, perfect, just like I thought you would be," he murmured. Christine body was nearly to the point of exhaustion and she did not know how much longer she could continue fighting. Where was Erik? She was jarred back to reality when Leroy, for no apparent reason, slapped her across the face. She whimpered, unable to help herself from making the sound and he smirked. He could tell that she was weakening, and he knew the more she struggled the sooner she would collapse in exhaustion, which should be at any moment. So he slapped her again, this time Christine became limp beneath him, her eyes rolling back in her head. Leroy's hand went to the buckle on his trousers and he began tugging on it, trying to get it undone.
When the door slammed open the sight that greeted Erik's eyes was one he would never be able to forget. The moment the door had flown open Leroy had produced a pistol and had it pointed directly at Christine's head. She was lying beneath him, limp and unmoving and for one horrible moment Erik thought he was to late. Her corset was torn as was her chemise and her perfect breasts were bare for all to see. Leroy had his much larger body pinned against hers and Erik felt like being sick.
One side of Christine's face was covered in a horrible bruise and he could see dried blood caking the side of her mouth. Why was she not at home, safe and warm in their bed? Both Raoul and Anthony had their pistols already drawn and they were pointing at Leroy, daring him to give them one good reason to shoot and they would do it.
"Tell them to put their weapons down, Desslar, or I will kill her," Leroy hissed. Erik would have given anything to have his hands wrapped around the man's throat at that moment. Erik glanced at both men at his side and gave them a slight nod and both men reluctantly dropped their weapons onto the floor. Leroy stood from the bed and pulled Christine's limp body up against him, holding her up with one arm. Erik did not like the way her head fell limply to the side.
"Tonight, it seems, is full of surprises. I thought it would be a leisurely evening. I would read, and then have my fill of a certain Italian trollop," Leroy said, as if he were discussing what they would have for supper. Anthony growled.
"But then, imagine my surprise when I find someone who is far more tantalizing..." he growled, his tongue coming out to run along Christine's cheek.