Page 31 of Angel's Fall

“The bass?” The Persian sounded unconvinced. “What reason would he have to help Erik?”

“He’s entwined in this too!” Raoul went on, focusing on his theory and his apprehension rising at the first sound of running water in the distant dark. “He’s been pretending to be Christine’s lover to cover up her connections to Erik and his own degeneracy. Maybe—”

“Stop,” Motlagh commanded suddenly, and Raoul nearly tripped over where the other man had frozen in front of him. “Shit.”

“What? Is it him? Is he coming back?” Raoul could not hear any footsteps, only the soft rush of a stream somewhere. It was like no stream he’d ever heard above ground, he considered, especially as the noise grewlouderwhile the two men remained stock still. “What on earth is that noise?”

Raoul looked towards where the sound was coming from and yelped. A head with no body, glowing like it was on fire, was approaching! And the sound – not like water anymore, but a terrible hissing, scratching noise – was moving with it!

“Get against the wall! Don’t move! It can make them angry!” Motlagh warned and Raoul obeyed, afraid to ask what ‘they’ were. He knew he was about to find out. “Allah protect us.”

“Make way!” the glowing head called and Raoul’s heart leapt as something skittered over his foot, then something else against his leg. “Make way for the ratcatcher!”

“Jesus Christ in heaven,” Raoul groaned as the horrible realization of what the sound was hit him.

It wasrats. Hundreds of rats scurrying over their feet and legs as the ratcatcher drew near. It was just a man with a bright lantern on his face, drawing the vermin to him, Raoul saw now, but, oh God, there were so many! Thousands of tiny claws skittered over his legs, greasy fur and a hundred sinewy tails following.

“Make way for me and my rats!” the man whooped, and surely any man that undertook such an occupation had to be completely mad. He clearly saw Shaya and Raoul cowering as he drove his horde of rodents through the cellars, and he laughed as the torrent of squirming vermin engulfed them like a wave all the way up to their thighs and hips. The vermin scrambled across his groin and Raoul was glad the wall was there to keep him from expiring in pure disgust.

It went on forever, an endless parade of rats as their master’s light faded down into the hall, until finally the last little creature scurried past. Raoul nearly collapsed, fighting the urge to vomit.

“You knewthatwas down here too?!” he managed to cry. He didn’t care that the Persian looked ashen too.

“I never know when he’s going to be making his rounds, I assure you that—”

“You can assure me of nothing!” Raoul yelled, and he didn’t care that his voice was ringing through the dark. “You are useless! You don’t know who this shade is! You won’t take me to the lake! You send me intothat, and for what? Why are we here?”

“If you mean to hunt him, you must know the territory.”

“So that I can be just as much of a coward as you? No! There has to be a better way! This is madness!”

“Monsieur!” Shaya called as Raoul rushed away. He had no idea where he was going, but finding his way out couldn’t be so hard. He’d been a fool all day and he was done with it. It would be better, he was sure of it, to spend his time trying to win Christine’s confidence so she would betray her teacher.

His poor Christine, wherever she was now, Raoul prayed she was safe from all this horror and darkness so far below.

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Christine nestled closerto the warmth of the lover sleeping beside her and mused on all the ways he had made her ache today, for better or worse. All day her heart had stung with guilt, not just for the fear Erik felt each time she left, but also for Raoul, who did not deserve such lies. At least she could tell herself there was a good reason for it all. With Erik, at least she knew how to console him. She smiled against the pillow, happy for the way her thighs and ass still twinged with the echo of their coupling.

It had been fast and slow all at the same time when they arrived home. In seconds, just as promised, Erik had rendered her bare and begging in his bed. He’d taken her on her knees, fucking her so thoroughly she saw stars.

Christine had surrendered to being possessed. She loved the way Erik’s cock filled her as he fucked her in that position. She loved the way he made her grip the bed for support, even as she hated how he was hidden from her eyes. He was hers: the hands on her hips as she sped to climax, the frantic rhythm as he claimed her. Her terrible angel had made her scream so loud she was sure the Opera above might hear.

Christine found herself blushing at the memory and coughed softly into the pillow, reminding herself of the other pleasures they’d taken after. Well, itshouldhave been a pleasure to sing for him, but tonight they had begun onLohengrin, just one scene, and it had left her voice tired and irritated.

She closed her eyes and tried to think about the beauty of the music instead. Her teacher had played for her afterwards when he saw that she was tired. The violin had filled her mind with melody until her eyes had drooped and he’d ushered them to bed. She could still hear it if she listened.

Even with her eyes open now, the notes were there, familiar and comforting. Maybe tea would ease her throat and help her sleep, she thought as she rose, wrapping herself in her red robe.

The music went on, louder now, and Christine stopped at the door. She recognizedThe Resurrection of Lazarus, but this wasn’t how Erik played it. It was familiar in a way that made her heart ache anew. She stepped into the parlor and stared at the player standing by the crackling fire.

He’d always loved that spot, either to play or tell stories, especially at the end. He finished a phrase and turned to her, not annoyed at all by her interruption. The violinist’s smile was a little sad, even when she was a child, and it was the same now.

“There you are. I thought you’d be out sooner,” he said, setting down his instrument and beckoning her closer.

“I’m sorry, Papa. I must have lost track of time,” Christine answered, voice shaking.

She wanted to embrace him. It had been so long since he’d been able to hug her. He’d been so weak before. Now, he looked healthier than she had seen him in years, and it made her so happy. Even so, Christine stayed a foot away. Was he mad at her for being late? He looked glad to see her, but also disappointed.

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