We have Christine, Desslar, you would be wise to put your pistol down!"
Erik's first reaction was one of disbelief. Michael was lying, the man would do anything to put Erik off guard and he did not appreciate the fact that the man was bringing his wife into it. Christine was safe in the trees with Nadir; no harm would come to her because there was no way anyone would be able to find her in this darkness.
"You have to come up with something better than that, Delauney!" Erik growled. Did the man think he was daft? He would not fall for such a ridiculous lie!
"Then I will just have to show you!"
Erik felt like his heart was being torn from his chest when Christine was forced into the room with Michael Delauney behind her, his pistol pointed at her head. Her eyes were closed and he could see the tears that had trailed down her cheeks. The first thing that Erik seemed to notice was that Delauney's arm was wrapped far to tightly around Christine's stomach and his first thought was for the baby. However the next thought was for the pistol pointed at Christine's head and the thought he had at the moment was how the hell it was so hard for Christine to listen when he told her something! He should have tied her to one of the trees where she had no way of escaping and ruining everything! However Erik found it difficult to feel anything anywhere close to disappointment when he saw her open her eyes very slowly to look at him, as if she was afraid of what she might see.
He could see that she was extremely disappointed in herself for allowing herself to become caught and he could also see that she was worried about what he thought of her now. All of this, however, was replaced when her eyes found his left shoulder and she knew immediately he was hurt. Christine's eyes once more found his and he saw the fear for him in the blue depths.
"You test my patience, Delauney, get your hands off of my wife," he growled softly. Michael smirked and Erik felt his fist clench, he would give anything to pound that man into a bloody pulp. Erik knew there were a couple more men standing outside the door and for the first time he really began to worry about his and Christine's future.
"Put your gun down, Desslar, and do not make me ask twice," he said, pressing the head of his pistol roughly into Christine's tender flesh for emphasis. Erik angrily tossed the pistol onto the ground and felt completely defenseless when he did so. Michael turned his head to look at his two men.
"Both of you, tie him up," Delauney said, before turning back to Erik, "If you struggle I will kill her."
The men came in and produced ropes that they used to bind Erik's hands roughly behind his back. Christine whimpered each time they pulled too roughly and she had to look away. Erik remained still as he was tied, even given the pain that was in his shoulder, and he did not once look away from Christine, she was what he was being strong for, he had to remember that.
"One of you come over here," Michael demanded when they were finished with Erik. The masked man watched silently as Delauney gave the pistol and Christine to the other man, instructing him to kill her if anything should go wrong.
"Erik," Christine whimpered in fear when Delauney began to approach Erik. Once more Erik said nothing. He did not know what to say.
"No...!" Christine pleaded when Michael produced a dagger. Erik closed his eyes for a moment, desperately trying to come up with some way to get himself and Christine out of this. He could only imagine what Delauney had planned for him with that sharp blade. Christine began to struggle and the man holding her cursed when she pushed back against him, causing him to lose his balance and drop the pistol. Michael turned angrily right when Christine ran towards them, not knowing what she was going to do but knowing she had to do something. Michael, however, seemed to know that she would try such a thing and he lunged for her, grabbing a rough handful of her hair in his hand. He yanked her head back so roughly Christine was surprised that it did not snap. Delauney forced her to meet his gaze and she had never seen such a look of pure loathing in anyone's eyes in her entire life.
"It is becoming weary this need you seem to have to save the day. You should know from past experiences that there is absolutely nothing you can do to stop me!" he growled, throwing her roughly to the ground.
"Christine..." Erik pleaded softly. He just wanted her to sit still, he did not want her hurt, and he did not like the sound her body made when it hit the floor. The man who had been holding her previously grabbed her once more and she had the pistol at her head again.