Erik silently slipped inside the Delauney manor. He was anxious to see Christine again that night but he needed to take care of what was going on at the moment. He would see Christine later and he would make love to her with the knowledge that she was pregnant with his baby. But his plan was slowly working when it came to Michael. He was becoming more frightened every night and believing that he really was hearing things only in his mind. The man had not even posted guards at his door or balcony, he really was foolish. Erik had to wait for over an hour before Delauney's lights went out and he slipped into the room. He was going to make him realize that revenge was all too sweet and he was going to pay for what he had done over the years.
Erik heard Michael's breathing slowly even out and he went to the mans bedside, seeing him quite clearly in the pale moonlight. He knew that if Michael opened his eyes he would not see Erik because he blended completely into the darkness. He had chosen a black mask that covered the upper half of his face and it was not as noticeable as his white half mask, all the better. Skillful hands shot out and latched around Delauney's throat, squeezing with all the force Erik could muster. He was not going to kill him, but he was going to make him wish he was dead. He had decided to do this after spending the night in Christine's arms.
The fact that it had been so long since he had seen her, touched her, bothered him greatly and he was going to make the man pay for it. Michael gasped and began to struggle, his eyes nearly bulging out of his head as he tried to free himself from the strangers grasp. Like hell he was going to die from this person who had been haunting him for days. He struggled and fought but the man-and he was sure it was a man-was much stronger than he and effortlessly held him down. The air was slowly becoming more and more difficult to get into his lungs and Michael panicked, swinging out at his attacker and hitting him in the face, hard.
The grip on his neck suddenly loosened and then was completely gone. He shuddered and gasped for air, having never really been that close to death before in his life. He heard the window on his balcony open and then close as his attacker silently left. Michael stumbled from the bed, one hand holding his throat and he lit the fire in his fireplace, closing his eyes and taking several deep breaths.
He turned and sat down on one of his chairs, putting his face in his hands. That had been to close for comfort. Something in front of him caught his eye and he slowly raised his gaze. There, in front of him, was a black mask, and he had no doubt in his mind who it
A noise woke Christine from her sound sleep and she opened her eyes to see Erik coming from the balcony. She sat up in absolute bliss until she saw the look on his face. Something was wrong. He was not wearing his mask and she knew that he would not go outside exposed like that, even if it were dark.
"Erik...?"
"Get up, Christine, and pack, you must be quick!" he said, not giving her time to speak. He went to her wardrobe and began grabbing some of her clothes, stuffing them into a satchel he found at the bottom of the wardrobe.
"Pack? Erik, what is going on?" she demanded, standing and rushing to him. The look on his face scared her but she needed to know what was going on.
"Michael and his men will be here soon, we must get you and your family out of here," he said. Christine gasped and put a hand to her mouth, looking at her husband in horror.
"What? How? I thought you said everything would be alright?" she demanded. She could see the tears that were beginning to form in Erik's eyes.
"I ruined everything, my love, everything...I am so sorry," he whispered, completely broken. Christine shook her head and took his hand for a moment, squeezing it reassuringly. She knew that he was doing his best given the present circumstances.
"It is alright, Erik, really," she whispered, not really knowing what he had done to ruin everything but knowing that she would never blame him because she loved him far too much.
"You must go and wake everyone up, tell them that they need to leave Rome immediately. Tell them they must stay hidden, for their safety," he said, his voice rushed, needing to get Christine out of danger but also feeling obligated to her family. Christine immediately nodded and rushed toward the door.
"What about me?" she asked, turning before she left the room.
"You are coming with me; I refuse to let you leave my side."