Search for the Opera Ghost: Rewrite

XXXVI.

Zuri lay in a fetal position as she felt her stomach cramp once more. Two months had passed and she was feeling the pressures of pregnancy. She felt tears fall down her cheeks as her stomach cramped once more. A whimper escaped her throat. A soft hand gently caressed her stomach as a mouth pressed over her neck. Erik's solution to her pain was to give her pleasure, to make her forget the pain she was feeling. "No Erik." She whimpered softly.

"Love, it worked last time." Erik whispered in her ear.

"Last time I was burning for nearly an hour after you began." She responded seriously.

"But you loved it." He continued as his hand traveled from her bare shoulder down to her breast, slowly cupping the mound as she moaned her approval.

"No..." Zuri started but groaned as he rolled her over on her back.

"Don't love. You are in need of pleasure and you are denying it. Besides, your stomach feels better after we have sex. Don't deny it Zuri." Erik continued as his hand gently moved down her stomach.

"No Erik. Please. I want to lay still."

Erik frowned, "Alright Zuri. However, I tried."

Zuri laughed softly, "Yes you did Erik, you tried to get between my legs."

He laughed with her. "Yes madame, I am a bad husband."

"Oooh!" She cried out as her stomach cramped once more. "Oh for pete sakes Erik, your child is being active."

Erik continued laughing while he rubbed her belly. "Calm down little one. Your mother needs her rest." He said as he gently kissed her stomach softly.

"Don't..." Zuri began to say but stopped herself when she felt his hands rub her stomach in circular motions.

"Erik! You're going to arouse me that way."

He grinned wickedly. "That is the point mon chere. I have wanted to say that you are growing in some very attractive places. It is hard being a husband to a pregnant wife."

"What is so hard about it?" She questioned him curiously with a tinge of sarcasm in her voice.

"A man's weakness can be his sexual drive and you my dear do not make it any better when you are showing off your body to me."

"Males and their sex drives." Zuri muttered.

"God you know I want to take you and you are refusing your husband." He flashed her a pleading look.

Zuri felt her stomach cramp again, "Fine. I am obviously out-voted because your child is giving me a hard time."

Erik grinned as he gently kissed her cheek. "I promise to be good."

"You better." Zuri replied then watched as her husband began to unbutton his pants.

xxxx

Madame Giry knew that eventually Christine would return for her revenge against Zuri. If she knew anything about her it was that Christine hated to be made a fool of and Zuri had made an utter fool of her. It had been funny, but she had seriously thought that Christine could do harm to Zuri. Especially in her condition.

'Be careful Zuri,' she thought to herself. 'Even you can get hurt by them if you are not careful.'

She had watched Erik turn around miraculously and give Zuri the attention she so deserved and desired. Everything had changed for the better, but when she had hit Christine it turned worse. Christine had become something that she never envisioned. She became a terrible person who would do harm to another for the sake of it. She never thought Christine could be that way...but she was.

Madame Giry would keep an eye out on Zuri, she would make sure that Christine did nothing detrimental to her. If so then the baby could be in serious trouble. She knew that Erik would kill if anything were to happen to either his wife or baby. Hell would break lose as the term was often quoted. Yes, she would keep a close eye on Zuri.

xxxx

Zuri woke to the sound of Erik's voice. She felt his hand on her stomach as he gently caressed her. "What?" Zuri asked as she shook bleariness from her eyes.

"Zuri, I hate to wake you but you were having a bad dream." He replied with concern etched on his face.

"It was nothing." She replied as she tried to shake away his concern.

"Tell me about it." He said as she sighed softly.

"Fine. I was in a dark room and starting to descend down a flight of stairs. I felt a pair of hands push me down them. I fell until I lay at the bottom. I heard a laugh then sat up to see if I was okay but saw that I was bleeding. You woke me up after that."

Erik looked at her in a concerned manner. "Love, I worry about you."

"It's only a dream." Zuri explained as she felt Erik tighten his hold.

"Still, I want you to be careful."

"I always am."

Erik shook his head at her. "I'm serious."

"I am too." She said as she turned in his arms and gently kissed him. "Don't worry. It was only a dream."