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No Easy Way	By : secretlysecretly Category: M through R > The Phantom of the Opera > Het Views: 7568 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own The Phantom of the Opera, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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Chapter 12

Erik’s voice mesmerized Marianne’s senses. She quickly stood upright and fixed her eyes to his. Seeing the smile that was reflected there, she felt herself blush profusely as his smile grew wider still.

“Good morning to you Monsieur.” she replied, a timid smile touching her lips. “It seems that you left the soirée in quite a hurry last night. I never had the chance to greet you.”

“Had I known that you would be looking for me Mademoiselle, I would certainly have prolonged my stay at the party. I was under the impression that I was disturbing you and your suitor and didn’t mean to impose. As it was, I left the party early to get some much needed rest.” he replied, his face turning serious at the mention of Olivier.

“Suitor?” she replied, instantly getting on the defensive. “Olivier is not my suitor, he is merely a friend of the family that I have known my entire life.”

“I acted on false pretenses then; for that I’m sorry. It was just that he gave me the impression that he was somewhat displeased to find us dancing out on the balcony together.”

Marianne couldn’t reply, knowing that he was right. The night before, Olivier had indeed acted the part of a suitor, reacting to Erik’s presence in an unusually aggressive manner.

“I’m afraid that you are not entirely mistaken on the subject, but I can only assure you that whatever is going through Olivier’s mind is not reciprocated on my part.”

Erik, not wanting to make her feel even more uncomfortable, smiled a soft smile and nodded his head dismissing the subject.

“What are you reading?” she asked, relieved that he didn’t press on the subject any further.

Erik, understanding that she was trying to change the subject, turned the book so that she could look at the cover. “It is the works of Charles Baudelaire, ‘The Flowers Of Evil’. I don’t suppose you are familiar with his work.”

“On the contrary, I am quite fond of Baudelaire’s poetry.” As soon as the words passed her lips, she regretted them.

Raising his visible eyebrow, Erik smirked at her spontaneous response. “You are full of surprises, Mademoiselle.” he teased.

“I presume you are one of those men who find it scandalous for a woman to be fond of such dark poems, Monsieur. Let me assure you though that I am perfectly capable of appreciating fine literature, even when it’s presented in such a bizarre way. After all, why should women be expected to enjoy merely romantic novels?”

Her indignation grew stronger with each passing second as she took in his amused expression at her heated words.

He was laughing as he spoke. “You will find that I agree fully with your view on the matter at hand, my dear.” he replied, his smile growing brighter. “I’m afraid that I would grow extremely bored of any woman as tedious as the ones you just described. I find it quite agreeable, if not necessary, for a woman to think for herself and not allow others to impose their will upon her, be it for fear of appearing improper or simply because society expects it from her.”

“I have to admit Monsieur that your reaction is not at all what I would have expected.” she muttered under her breath, still unable to believe that he was being honest with her.

“I am not sure as to what your expectations of me were my dear, but if I were a boorish man who views women as mindless, helpless creatures lacking the power, and even worse the will, to wield their lives as they please, you will find that your notion couldn’t be further from the truth.” he simply stated.

Taking in her surprised expression, Erik continued. “I would be delighted to have by my side a woman with an insatiable thirst for knowledge such as my own. I find girls who are only interested in their looks and fine jewelry, cautious to always appear demure and proper… well bland, to be quite frank. Such is the case with men who are only after wealth and power; ones who perceive women merely as trophies that will complete their success…” he paused for a few seconds and, not receiving a reaction from Marianne, smiled uneasily. “I fear that I have bored you Mademoiselle…” his voice trailed off as he looked away, silently chastising himself for getting carried away like that.

Yet, something from deep inside aroused a need in him to share his innermost thoughts with this woman. He turned his gaze back to Marianne, silently taking in her beautiful features. As her skeptical expression transformed into relief and a smile lit up her face, Erik could swear that the sun seemed to shine brighter upon him. He held her gaze with his fearing that something, anything would dissolve the magic he felt surround them at that very moment.

Marianne on her part couldn’t believe her ears. Here she was, sitting opposite to a complete stranger, listening to him put to words all of her frustrations, hopes and dreams. She had always felt quite strongly about women having equal rights with men, but hearing a man utter the words of his own volition, had absolutely astonished her.

“Quite the contrary Monsieur Destler. I am sorry for not saying anything all this time, but I must admit I was taken by surprise upon hearing of your beliefs. It is quite uncommon for a man to profess such liberal views regarding women. I’m so used to hearing men degrade my genre to mindless, pathetic creatures only good for procreation and housekeeping, that I had almost despaired of ever encountering a male of your sort.”

“First of all Mademoiselle de Duchess, I have a request to make of you.” Erik cut in, smiling.

“Yes?” she inquired.

“I must insist that you call me Erik from now on. ‘Monsieur Destler’ is simply way too typical if we are to be as honest as I hope we can be with each-other.”

“It would please me a great deal to do so, Erik” she said, trying out his name on her tongue “but only if you’re to call me Marianne. After all, ‘Mademoiselle de Duchess’ is but a title I have inherited from my parents and I have been brought up believing that all God’s creatures are equal under His sight.”

Erik was moved. Although he had asked her to call him by his given name, he had not truly expected her to return the gesture. He had been an outcast all through his life and here he was, mere months after his arrival at this part of the country, conversing easily with a beautiful woman –a Duchess no less- that seemed to have no care for social etiquette and the titles of nobility that stood between them. For the first time in years, he felt a glimmer of hope stir in his gut.

“Alright then, Marianne. I will tell you this; any man that would expect of you to play the part of the obedient little wife, would have to be a fool!”

Suddenly, an image flashed in her mind’s eye. Herself in white by Erik’s side, standing at the altar. She mentally shook herself back to the present and spoke truthfully. “You never cease to amaze me Erik, I will grant you as much.”

“Running the risk of sounding like a common gossip, I have to say that yester night when I met your friend, Baron Dervaux, he gave me the impression of a man such as the ones you are describing; were you referring to him just now?” he asked poignantly.

Marianne smiled bitterly but didn’t reprimand him for being so blunt. Suddenly, she felt as though she had known Erik all her life and could confide anything to him.

“Olivier is not so bad, just blind when it comes to matters that displease him. I see him as my childhood friend whom I grew up with, but lately he acts as if he’s viewing me under a different light. He has been courting me discretely, always hinting over how our union would prove priceless… I’m sure that he’s not romantically interested in me; actually I’m convinced that he merely wishes to follow the guidelines of our limited society in Rouen, trusting that a marriage of convenience would make him come full circle in what is expected of him.”

“A marriage of convenience? Alas! That would be absolutely horrendous Marianne!” As he spoke the words, Erik grasped her hand and slowly brought it to his lips, pressing a feather-light kiss on her knuckles. “A free spirit such as yourself should never be contained in a life of this sort.”

Marianne’s blood rushed to her face, painting her crimson. As she sensed his lips softly caressing her skin, she felt her flesh rising in goose bumps all over her body.

Receiving no response from her, Erik pressed on. “I couldn’t help but notice that you only speak of the Baron’s feelings, trying to decipher his actions. What about the way you feel Marianne? Are you in love with the Baron?” he enquired with a baited breath as he awaited her response.

“I cannot imagine sharing my life with a man that would effectively imprison me in a loveless marriage.” was her immediate response. “I would rather remain a spinster than give up my dream for love.”

Still holding her hand in his, he caressed her palm with his thumb softly. “Marianne Pinon, it is you who amazes me.” he said, trying to relieve the tension in the air.

They both laughed at his words, but before long, Marianne’s face turned serious again.

“Erik, please forgive my intrusion, but how is it that a man such as yourself still remains unwed? I find it rather strange that a man who holds the female sex in such high regard has not yet found a woman to share his life with.” her tone was apologetic as she spoke the words, fearing that her curiosity could very well arouse his anger, effectively ruining the fragile bond that had begun to form between them. Fortunately, he didn’t seem angry at her indiscretion.

With a wry smile, he spoke calmly. “It’s not just a matter of character my dear. What woman could ever be expected to bind her life with one who hides behind a mask? You yourself expressed your irritation when we first met, calling me a freak.” At those last words, his voice took on a hurt tone, which made Marianne cringe internally.

“Well, don’t you think that it is extraordinary, to say the least, for a man to be wearing a mask? Would you rather have me go around pretending I hadn’t even noticed it?” taking in the way Erik seemed to draw within himself as she spoke, she tried to soothe him with her next phrase. “What could possibly be so horrible that you feel you have to hide behind that mask of yours?”

Erik’s face seemed to be made of stone at her last words. “I hope for your sake that you’ll never have to see what lies beneath my mask.” he replied, clenching his teeth painfully.

Marianne extended her arm calmly and took in his flinch as what she could only describe as a naked kind of fear washed over his eyes, probably thinking that she would rip his mask off his face. Instead, her hand stroked his right cheek; or at least the part of it that was visible, save for the mask.

“Erik, I can only speak for myself when I say that it doesn’t matter what you hide behind this mask. I have been brought up learning that I should never discriminate people according to their race, social stature or appearance. As far as I’m concerned, the only thing you can and should control is your manners. I can only hope that someday you will learn to trust me and show me yourself what lies beneath the mask.”

Never breaking eye contact, Marianne kept her hand on this strange man’s face, her fingers brushing at the edge of his mask as she saw his expression transform from fear to confusion and then to … was it anger?

As his eyes took on a steely resolve, she knew that she had said too much and once again offended him despite her intent; perhaps this time the damage would be irreparable. She decided that she should spare him of her presence and muttering an apology under her breath, she snatched her hand away from his face to stand up.

At that moment, as if her movements had snapped him out of his trance, Erik took hold of her hand in an almost desperate manner and seized her movements.

“Stay.” His voice was so soft, she almost thought she had imagined the word. Looking back into his eyes though, she realized she had heard him correctly.

Nodding, she settled back into her spot next to him and smiled hopefully. “Would you please read a poem for me? I really enjoy Baudelaire’s work.”

Simply nodding in response, Erik opened the book once more and started reading to her in his low soothing voice.

In Praise of My Frances

I'll sing to you on a new note,
O young hind that gambols gaily
In the solitude of my heart.

Be adorned with wreaths of flowers,
O delightful woman
By whom our sins are washed away!

As from a benign Lethe,
I shall drink kisses from you,
Who were given a magnet's strength.

When a tempest of vices
Was sweeping down on every path,
You appeared, O divinity!

Like the star of salvation
Above a disastrous shipwreck...
I shall place my heart on your altar!

Reservoir full of virtue,
Fountain of eternal youth,
Restore the voice to my mute lips!

You have burned that which was filthy,
Made smooth that which was rough,
Strengthened that which was weak.

In my hunger you are the inn,
In the darkness my lamp,
Lead me always on virtue's path.

Add your strength now to my strength,
Sweet bath scented
With pleasant perfumes!

Shine forth from my loins,
O cuirass of chastity,
That was dipped in seraphic water,

Cup glittering with precious stones,
Bread seasoned with salt, delectable dish,
Heavenly wine — My Frances.

As the last words died down in Erik’s throat, he closed the book and looked into Marianne’s eyes, losing himself in her gaze. 'My Marianne...' an inner voice from deep inside of him whispered.

“Marianne, I know we started off on the wrong foot so to speak, but I would really like to make amends between us. Would you like to visit me once more so that this time I may properly show you the grounds of my estate?”

His heart almost burst in song as her face lit up and her lovely voice spoke the words he so longed to hear.

“It would be a pleasure Erik.”

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A/N: Come on people, don't be shy. Tell us what you think!
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No Easy Way