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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.

Chapter List
- 13
- 14
- 15
Chapter 14

The following morning, Marianne descended the stairs in an excellent mood and informed the butler that Monsieur Destler was to pay her a visit later in the day. Upon his arrival, the butler was to lead him to the balcony where she would be enjoying the sun.

When Gerard, her butler, informed her that Baron Dervaux was also visiting and expected her to grace him with her presence, she instructed him to fetch some tea for them and show her old friend to the balcony.

As she exited through the French doors out to the balcony and her gaze wandered over the flourishing gardens, she heard Olivier’s voice call out to her. She turned to greet him with a pleasant smile on her face but meeting his eyes with her own, the smile withered on her full lips.

“Good morning Olivier” she greeted the young man, wondering what had brought on this change on her friend’s usually cheerful mood.

“Where were you yesterday? I paid you a visit but apparently you were absent for the better part of the day.” He appeared to be livid at her, which only served in raising Marianne’s temper in response.

“Are you not even going to say ‘hello’ to me Olivier?”

“Bon jour Marianne.” muttered Olivier between clenched teeth. He seemed to grow impatient at her ironic retort. Apparently, the time they had spent together at the soirée but a few nights ago had not served in showing her how right for each other they really were. Olivier on his part had hoped that she would come to see things his way but it was becoming clear that Marianne had jumped at the chance to meet with this new neighbour of hers shortly after the ball.

He was trying really hard to appear calm about the matter; after all, Marianne wouldn’t appreciate it if he were to behave in a possessive manner. However, he couldn’t keep himself in check and impulsively questioned her again. “Are you going to answer me Marianne?”

His words immediately put her on the defensive. “Olivier, I cannot understand why you insist on a matter so trivial. After all, I am a grown woman. I have the right to go where I want, whenever I choose.”

“I know where you were. Gerard informed me yesterday when I came to see you.” Ignoring her flashing eyes, he pressed on. “It is simply not acceptable for a woman of your status to be visiting a bachelor at his premises, unescorted.”

“Not acceptable? By whom Olivier? I am an adult woman, responsible for my own self and independent both socially as well as financially. I have little concern for idiotic guidelines set by society, and I certainly do not feel like I have to answer to anyone. You are neither my father nor my brother Olivier; you have no right to judge my actions!” Marianne was all but yelling at him now, seemingly furious at his intervention.

However, Olivier remained unmoved by her display of annoyance. If anything, her behaviour only served in flaring his temper even more. “Is that so Marianne? When your parents died I swore to protect you always. And now, here I am, hearing from your lips that I am next to a complete stranger to you. I never expected you to regard me as a father or an older brother though; you know perfectly well that all I ever wanted from you was to look upon me as your future husband.”

“My future husband?” Marianne burst out, indignant at his words. “Haven’t we already talked about this Olivier? Haven’t I explained to you over and over again that I cannot see you as anything more than a dear friend?”

As she spoke these last words, Marianne turned her back to the Baron, no longer able to look into his eyes. Olivier’s shoulders sagged, as he realised that he simply wouldn’t get through to her with words. Maybe if he showed her… Approaching her from behind, he snaked his arms around her waist, ready to turn her in his embrace so that she would look at him. As Marianne felt his hands on her body, she snapped out of her reveries and abruptly swirled in his arms, her eyes on fire.

At exactly the same moment, she heard Gerard’s voice announcing Erik’s arrival. Both Marianne and Olivier turned toward the butler’s direction at the same time, startled to see Erik Destler following closely behind with his eyes fixed upon the couple.

His eyes were cold, but he did not let the venom seep into his voice as he greeted them formally. “Good morning Mademoiselle de Duchess; Baron Dervaux.”

Marianne disentangled herself from Olivier’s embrace nervously and felt a chill ran down her spine as her eyes met her neighbour’s gaze. “Good morning Monsieur Destler.”

“Good morning.” muttered Olivier under his breath without even trying to hide his irritation. ‘Why has he come here?’ he thought to himself, immediately realizing that Marianne must have invited him. Yet, he was too angry to register the fury in Erik’s eyes.

“I apologize for the interruption.” Erik stated coldly looking at Marianne who had been rendered speechless. “I didn’t mean to bother you Mademoiselle de Duchess, but I was unaware of the fact that you were entertaining the Baron.”

Marianne’s heart skipped a beat at the tone of his voice. ‘What must he think of me, finding me in the arms of a man that only yesterday I insisted upon not being interested in?’ As panic threatened to overwhelm her senses, Olivier’s voice interrupted her thoughts.

“No Monsieur Destler, you are not imposing. I was about to take my leave as it is.” He turned to Marianne, bowing his head curtly. “Marianne” he greeted her before turning his attention back to Erik, clicking his boots in salute. “Monsieur Destler.” With this, he hastily turned towards the balcony door to take his leave of them.

“Please take a seat Monsieur Destler, I will be with you shortly.” Marianne spoke, shaking herself mentally, as if she had been in a daze all this time.

“You don’t need to escort me Marianne. I will see myself out.” Olivier snapped at her, stepping through the French doors.

As she watched her old friend scurry away she heaved a resigned sigh, mentally trying to steel herself for her inevitable confrontation with Erik. Finally turning back to him she offered her neighbour a seat once more, still avoiding his burning gaze.

She sat uneasily taking her teacup in her hands and turned her gaze over to Erik who was still standing, seemingly rooted at the spot. His shoulders were tense as he stared at her with a bitter look in his eyes. Her heart constricted at the sight before her, thinking back to her similar reaction when she had witnessed him dancing with Sophie Virago in his arms. Twice he had asked her and both times she had insisted that no romantic involvement existed between her and Olivier.

For Erik to find her in the Baron’s arms just as he was starting to see her as something more than a spoilt little rich girl must have been a great disappointment. He was looking at her as if she had betrayed his trust; and although she had not led Olivier on, she just couldn’t bear the thought of Erik regarding her as a common liar who would think nothing of leading men on and playing with their emotions.

“Erik, won’t you join me?” she asked him timidly, trying to appease his anger.

Apparently though, her words had the exact opposite effect on him. She watched him with disbelieving eyes as he started to pace furiously back and forth. “Please Erik, would you like a cup of tea?” she tried again with a mellow voice.

He said nothing, merely stopping his frantic pace, fixing her with a ferocious gaze for a few seconds and picking up his stride again. Marianne felt intimidated but was determined to ease the tension between them.

“Perhaps you would rather have a walk in the gardens?” she asked, her voice wavering with uncertainty.

He turned his attention back to her, his eyes feral as he ceased his movements altogether and came to stand before her. His voice was grave as he spoke. “This is not a good time for pleasantries Marianne. We need to talk.”

Marianne was unnerved by his abrupt response but tried to keep her voice even as she spoke. “What would you like to discuss Erik?”

“Don’t act so innocent my dear. It was only yesterday when you insisted that there is nothing going on between you and your Baron, and today I find you in his arms. Would you care to share with me what is going on?” he finally burst out.

She bit her lip nervously, but met his feral gaze with her own. “First of all, I don’t have to explain myself to you. What gives you the right to interrogate me in such a vile manner?”

She regretted the words as soon as they tumbled from her lips. His eyes suddenly darkened, shaded a dark forest green. However, although she felt her courage leave her at the fury eminent in his gaze, she felt her anger flaring white hot at his next words.

“Don’t play games with me Marianne for I promise you’ll regret it.”

“How dare you threaten me? Get out of my house this instant!” She stood up, ignoring his wrath as he closed the distance between them in a couple of strides and grabbed her arms forcefully in his hands.

“What did you say?” he raged as he started to shake her furiously. “I’m not a dupe like that Baron of yours, to fool around with!”

Panic was starting to take over Marianne when he kept shaking her as if she were a rag doll. “Erik, what are you talking about? Are you insane? When did I ever play games with you?”

Erik ceased shaking her form, still holding onto her tightly. “Didn’t you? How then do you explain the fact that only yesterday you were in my arms kissing me, and today I find you in the arms of another? What would you have me think?” At this, he let go of her and Marianne started rubbing her arms where surely bruises would form before the day was over.

“It’s not what you think Erik. The truth of the matter is that once again Olivier professed his interest for me and when I denied him he tried to embrace me. You just happened to appear at that very moment.” Her eyes were searching his for any indication that he believed her, but his voice remained cold as he spoke again.

“What would you have done, had I not walked in on you?”

“Does it really matter Erik? You are not going to believe me whatever I say to you. It’s obvious that you didn’t understand a word I said to you at the lake the other day… just like you refuse to hear a word I say to you now!”

“It matters not what you say Marianne; all that matters is what I saw with my own two eyes. I guess I am just one of your little pastimes; a diversion for a spoilt rich girl who doesn’t know what she wants out of life. It’s a shame Marianne; I was beginning to think you are different. Serves me right I guess.” As he spoke he turned his back on her, starting to move away.

“Alright Erik, if that is what you wish to believe about me, I’m not even going to try and change your mind. After all, I really shouldn’t concern myself with a man who is so afraid of letting anyone get close to him he would rather hide from the world trying to convince himself that it is society that has rejected him and not the other way around…” She watched him from behind as his entire body tensed at her words and he suddenly turned and walked towards her with a feral look, unable to control himself any longer.

Although she couldn’t help but be intimidated at his threatening approach, Marianne refused to let him see how frightened she was. So, instead of retreating in view of his menacing gaze, she straightened her shoulders and set her jaw with a challenging look in her eyes. This seemed to aggravate him even more as he stopped but a few inches from her, their bodies almost making contact.

“If you weren’t a woman, I….” he pressed his lips together, never finishing his phrase.

“You… what? What would you do to me Erik?” she retorted, challenging him.

Erik didn’t respond. He merely clenched his jaw until the lines on his face seemed to be set on stone and the veins on his neck almost popped.

Marianne couldn’t stop herself from provoking him further. She raised her eyebrow ironically and pressed on. “Well? … What are you waiting for?”

As his hands flew to her face, for a split second Marianne thought that he would strike her and terror froze her soul; but when he crushed his lips to hers, she forgot all about the anger and apprehension and opened her mouth beneath his questing tongue. He invaded her mouth cruelly at first, as if he were trying to punish her for her insolence; and she met him head on. His tongue probed her plump lips, sweeping against her own, exploring every nook and crevice like a man starved that had wandered through a desert to find her.

The passion between them threatened to consume her as his hands travelled from her face to her neck and then came to rest around her waist, pulling her traitorous body against his. She undulated her hips against his, feeling his intense arousal through their clothes and then, as if she were snapped out of a restless dream, she ceased her movements altogether and pulled herself harshly from his arms.

At first he didn’t seem to understand what was going on, his eyes dark with unfulfilled desire. He held his hands out to her, ready to take her back into his embrace but she held a hand up, trying to regain control of her senses.

“Erik, we cannot keep doing this.”

Erik felt his heart sink at her words. He cursed himself for allowing hope to blossom in his heart. Would he never learn? How much heartache would he have to endure to get it through his head that no woman could ever be anything but disgusted with him? He turned on his heel, trying to hold on to his tattered pride, muttering “I understand” under his breath.

‘No! That’s a lie. I will never understand. I will never understand why I will never rouse anything but fear in others. I will never understand why no one, man or woman, will ever want to see past the mask to find the man waiting for someone to reach out for him through the darkness.’ He had reached the French doors when he felt a hand brush upon his upper arm. ‘Why? Why won’t she let me be?’

“Erik.” What could it be that she wanted from him now? Would she warn him never to cross paths with her again? He picked up his pace, refusing to turn and look at her. But that ghost of a touch still lingered on, denying him his escape.

“Erik, please don’t go.” Again that voice. He spun, facing her, no longer able to conceal the pain in his eyes. He watched as her sparkling eyes flooded with … was it concern? Pity? He pulled his arm out of her grasp callously.

“I have told you before Marianne. I don’t want your pity. I don’t need it!”

“Who said anything about pity? Will you stop babbling for one minute and listen to me?” Marianne was starting to get irritated and almost had to laugh when she saw the stunned look that formed upon his face at her outburst. Thinking better of it, she tried to keep her face solemn and spoke again, this time with as much serenity as she could muster.

“Erik, why do you keep doing this to yourself? You have got to believe me when I say that there is nothing going on between Olivier and I, and there is no way anything is ever going to happen; I would have straightened things out myself if you hadn’t come in when you did. I do not know how else to say this to make you understand that I am not interested in playing any sort of game. You have to trust me.”

The change in him was palpable. As she spoke, Marianne could see his anger dissipating, giving way to utter confusion and then embarrassment. He shook his head in dismay, as if trying to clear his mind of any negative thought. “In my head I know you’re right Marianne. It is just that I have been through so much, it is almost impossible for me to trust you; or anybody else for that matter. I simply cannot imagine that any woman, especially one of your calibre, would even so much as pay attention to me.”

“You are selling yourself short Erik and although I would do anything in my power to help you realize your worth, it is simply something you will have to do for yourself.”

Erik looked at her as if he were a small child; lost, lonely and unable to believe that anyone could hold him in such high regard. Yet, as he stared into her eyes and her words sunk in, a ray of hope started to flicker in his eyes. His voice was that of a little boy when he spoke. “I wish I could believe you. Please Marianne, help me believe you.”

Marianne almost cried at his words. Could this possibly be the brazen man who always seemed to be so sure of himself? She reached out a shaking hand and caressed his hair softly, pulling a stray lock back from his face. A single tear cascaded down her cheek as he closed his eyes and leaned into her touch instinctively.

Clearing her throat, she spoke gently. “Perhaps it is for the best that I will be away for a few days. That way, you will have some time to yourself to unwind and think. After all, I am in need of some reflection myself.”

At her words, he instantly became apprehensive. “Away? Where are you going?”

“I am leaving in two days time to visit with an aunt of mine. I have not seen her in quite a long time and she has written me, all but demanding that I call on her.” she giggled sheepishly when he saw a pout form on his full lips. “I will be away for a week but will be back for the grand ball opening of the season.”

“I will miss you.” he simply stated, seemingly his old self again. His impulsive admission brought a smile to her face and she felt her heart soar at the change in him. She couldn’t help but be blatantly honest and speak her mind in return.

“I will miss you too Erik.”

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No Easy Way