Search for the Opera Ghost: Rewrite

XXXIV.

"What are you doing here Christine?" Antoinette asked with an angered look on her face.

"I have come to see Erik." She replied then turned to her husband, "We have come to see him."

"I am not taking you to him." Antoinette said as she started to the door to her room.

"Madame, if you do not then I will have you arrested." A new voice interrupted.

Antoinette looked at the man's stern face and knew this must be Zuri's father. "No. I will not let you ruin their happiness."

"Madame Giry, certainly you must understand the danger..." Christine began, but was interrupted by Antoinette's angry voice.

"You dare! You have no understanding of what he has been through. You have no understanding what Zuri has been through. You are a childish little girl wanting to ruin their lives. You deserved to be slapped by Zuri. She had every right to do so."

"How can you say that?!" Christine screeched. "You haven't even known her as long as you have known me!"

"Your father would be disappointed in you!"

"No he wouldn't! He would be proud!"

"Madame! If you do not take me to see my daughter, I will have you arrested promptly." Zuri's father interrupted the two.

Antoinette sighed deeply, 'This is going to turn out very bad.' "Very well, however, do not blame me when things turn out badly." 'For you.'

xxxx

"Erik!" Antoinette called out as she entered the lair; Christine, Raoul, and Zuri's father were following her.

"One moment Madame." A reply echoed into the main chamber followed by soft feminine laughter.

"Do hurry." She said then heard soft footsteps as she saw Erik descend the stairs from his bedroom to the main chamber of his home. He was adjusting the collar on his shirt while looking in her direction. He stopped immediately when he saw Christine standing with her. Not just Christine, the fop and Zuri's father was with her as well. "I'm sorry Erik."

"Madame...what are these people doing in my home?!"

"I'm here to take my daughter home."

"She's not going anywhere with you. She is my wife." Erik replied.

"Erik," Zuri's voice echoed into the main chamber, "what is the matter?"

"Nothing love. I have to take care of a few pests." Erik replied.

Zuri rushed beside him, her eyes caught hold of her father then Christine. Zuri grit her teeth and balled her fists in a rage. "Get out of our home you pompous brat!" She directed her voice towards Christine.

Erik caught hold of her waist as she tried to make her way towards Christine. "You are one to talk! You've been a whore to this monster!" Christine shouted back.

Erik let Zuri go as he gasped. He had never thought Christine would turn out like this. Zuri narrowed her eyes on the Vicomtess and headed towards her. Erik knew that his wife was about to have a few choice words with Christine. "Zuri..." He whispered as she neared closer to the other angry woman.

"How dare you call me a whore, you brat!" Zuri yelled as she set her sight on the Vicomtess. Erik barely registered what was going on before Zuri swung her fist at Christine. "You better pray I don't get a hold of you!"

Everyone watched in astonishment as Zuri grabbed hold of Christine's hair and began to pull hard while Christine struggled to scratch at any part of Zuri that she could find. They exchanged very improper words for two ladies as they struggled with each other. The two ended up toppling over in the lake where Zuri finally punched Christine in the cheek.

After several minutes of watching Madame Giry interrupted, "Erik do something!"

Erik shook his head as if to wake out of a trance, "Enough Zuri!" He yelled at his wife, but saw that she was not stopping. At this point she was dunking a flustered Christine underwater. Erik rushed to the lake and jumped in after telling the fop to grab his wife. He grabbed hold of Zuri's waist and pulled her out of the lake as the Vicomte assisted his wife.

"She's rabid!" Christine screamed at Erik.

"No Christine...she only hates you." Erik replied angrily.

Christine looked at him with a shocked expression. It was as if she could not comprehend the words coming out of his mouth. "No one hates me."

Erik laughed softly. "You are a child."

"I am not!" Christine shouted as she stomped her foot.

"Face the truth Christine. You will always be a child. I am happy with Zuri. She makes me even more happier than I used to be." He replied with a smile. "Zuri does so much more for me than you could ever do."

"Enough!" Zuri's father shouted. "You are coming back home with me right now Zuri."

Zuri put her hands on her hips. "No! I am perfectly content being with my husband!"

"You little fool! You did this to ruin our family!" Her father yelled at the top of his voice.

"It is always my fault isn't it?! You blame me for everything. Of course my brothers will always be perfect to you even when they squander their money!" Zuri screamed back in a rage.

"You'll come back this instant or so help me..."

"What?! What will you do father?" Zuri interrupted as her voice rose to match his.

"I'll ban you from our home and the will. You'll get nothing from me Zuri. NOTHING!"

"Good! I would rather die than return!"

"It can be arranged!"

"You will not touch my wife and the mother of my child!" Erik roared as he grasped for his sword and pointed it at him. "You will go back up and leave Paris for good. As for you Christine...I never want to see your face again!"

"You can't order me around!" Zuri's father shouted at Erik.

"You are in my domain monsieur. I can do what I damn well please...even kill you. Now leave!" Erik's eyes narrowed on Zuri's father. "Do this now or I swear I will force you out and I have taken on more men than you two. By the way Christine, I will not save you from your fate. My wife does have the right to protect her home in anyway she deems to." He smiled, "Personally, I enjoyed watching you get pummeled and I would rather enjoy it again."

Christine huffed at Erik's words, "You are such an ugly mons..." She stopped when she noticed Zuri balling her hands in fists.

"Get out of our home!" Zuri hissed at the three intruders.

"You will regret this!" Zuri's father shouted.

"I doubt it!" She replied angrily.

"Come, there is no need to waste time on a whore and a monster." Christine announced then pulled Raoul with her as she found the tunnel that led them back up.

"You hear this girl...if you ever come back home i'll lock you up so fast that your head will spin!" Zuri's father told her then spun around and followed the pair out.

"You don't have to worry about that." Zuri muttered then swiftly walked up to the bedroom, leaving her husband and Madame Giry behind.

"Do not worry about me. Go check on Zuri." Antoinette said as Erik nodded.