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Rossignol	By : Savaial Category: M through R > The Phantom of the Opera > Het Views: 5240 -:- 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
- 1-Rossignol
- 2-Two
- 3-Three
- 4-Ch 4
- 5-Ch 5
- 6-Ch 6
- 7-7
- 8-Ch 8
- 9-Ch 9
- 10-Ch 10
- 11-Ch 11
- 12-Ch 12
- 13-Ch 13
- 14-Ch 14
- 15-Ch 15
- 16-Ch 16
- 17-Ch 17
- 18-Ch 18
- 19-Ch 19
- 20-Ch 20
- 21-Ch 21
- 22-Ch 22
- 23-Ch 23
- 24-Ch 24
- 25-Ch 25
- 26-Ch 26
- 27-Ch 27
- 28-Ch 28
- 29-Ch 29
- 30-30- Epilogue
- 21
- 22
- 23
The distinct smell of men hit my nostrils. Cheap alcohol, the reek of opium, and low grade lamp oil assaulted my delicate nose. They weren’t very far. I estimated another thirty minutes and they would be at my front door.

Quietly, I hoisted myself up onto the serpent cable. The scent of Celeste’s perfume still hung against the wire. I breathed it in, thinking of all the people who would want to hurt her. I would never let anyone hurt her again. I would rise from the grave to kill anyone who made the attempt.

The wire felt good and solid beneath me. It had been more than ten days since I last walked it. If I had known Christine and her husband brought me such a prize as Celeste I would have used the wire more thoughtfully. In retrospect I knew I must have taxed her nerves a great deal, jumping down behind her like that. It was a miracle she hadn’t fallen into the lake.

The interlopers milled about underneath me, their voices raised in fearful anger. They were unsure of the path it seemed. Well, I should point them in the right direction. There were only three, which was enough to entertain me but hardly worth the effort had it not been for the madam I wanted to protect. I threw a cufflink farther down the path.

“What was that?”

“I heard it too.”

“Shut up and listen!”

The four of us became motionless. I sat on my haunches on the cable, smiling to myself as they strained to catch another sound.

“Must be an animal.”

“Don’t be stupid, rats squeak.”

“Has to be a rat.”

I threw the other cufflink. The men stiffened.

“That is no rat.”

“I agree.”

“What if it’s the man we’re looking for?”

“Then we kill him.”

“And the girl?”

“Lescot wants her alive. We can play all we like, but she has to be alive.”

Boiling anger rose in my veins. They called it play. They called raping a woman and degrading her in body and mind, play. Well, it had been many years since I’d played, but I knew they’d appreciate that old habits die hard. They could whet my appetite for their master…

I followed them a few meters. The man trailing along behind was a good start. I linked my legs into the cable, swung down and grabbed him. His neck snapped with the sound of old, sodden twig. I was gone before the others even turned around. They stopped at the sound and turned their lamps on their dead companion.

Silence.

They knew they were being hunted now.

The two remaining men put their backs together, synchronous in their desire to see all around themselves with some measure of safety. Their shattered breathing echoed in the darkness. Slowly, they inched away from the corpse and began walking once more.

When the man in lead paused to kick a branch from the slender walkway, I dropped down. He didn’t see or hear me. Bent forward, he lost contact with his friend. I broke his neck too and took his place. The body slid into the lake silently.

I did it well, for his friend merely thought they’d been held up a bit. I led him all the way to my door.

“This is it,” he stage-whispered.

“Yes, it is,” I replied, wrapping the Punjab around his throat before he could turn. “End of line,” I added succinctly.

**************************************************************************************

"What are you still doing up Celeste?" Raoul asked roughly, his eyes searching the room suspiciously. "It's very late."

"Erik was teaching me how to play the harp," I answered, walking past him to the fireplace. My legs felt like rubber. "It's a lovely instrument," I continued dreamily, reaching for the bottle of brandy on the side table. An empty glass beckoned me and I filled it. "I hope I can learn swiftly, I'd love to play it every day." I brought the liquor up to my mouth, wondering if my blood could handle further heat.

"The harp." Raoul repeated what I said, his voice dripping with disbelief. "Is that why your hair is awry and your gown looks rumpled? You look like...” He paused. I saw his fist clench. "You look like a woman who just rolled out of bed."

"I haven't been to bed Raoul," I said with a smile. "You meant to say I look like a woman who's been enjoying a lover, didn't you?" I took a sip from glass, listening to him splutter. "What a terrible thing to imagine," I continued, "that your little sister would have sexual urges. Women aren't supposed to have those feelings, are they? They should wait until they're married." I set my glass down, raising a hand to my mouth in mock horror. "Oh, but wait a moment, I am married!" I grinned as I went back to the liquor. "At least, I am for now."

"Damn it Celeste, why do you have to be like this?" Raoul came to me, yanking the brandy out of my hand and slamming it down on the table. "You're wanton, out of control!" He stood over me, apparently with the idea I would be intimidated by his anger. I swallowed the urge to laugh in his face.

"I'm nothing of the kind brother," I said, my voice carefully flat. "I simply know myself better than you do." I pushed past his hand for my drink. "Why is it wrong to think of me like I might have desires? Is it so awful to imagine I might be able to feel? I'm not a woman to be put on a damned pedestal, nor am I a woman to be talked down to." I swirled the brandy, watching him. "How is it going to hurt you Raoul, to accept that I am my own person? You should be glad for me, not indignant."

"It isn't proper for you to be this way!" Raoul stomped away from me a few feet, pawing a hand through his hair. "Erik's done this to you, I know it."

"Erik made me this way?" Now I couldn't help but laugh outright. "He's an amazing man, but you give him too much credit. All he's done is give me a way to voice what I want."

"And you want him!" Raoul shouted, waving his arms. "I can see it!"

"What's your point?" I shrugged. "So what if I do? More importantly Raoul, what are you going to do about it?"

"I'll take you out of here,” Raoul answered with a growl. "I should never have brought you here to begin with."

"You'll do no such thing." I set my glass down and walked to him. "You will not haul me around like a carpet bag. I am not your property; I belong to myself and myself alone. I go where I want, when I want, how I want."

"I'll cut you out Celeste,” Raoul threatened, “I'll take your inheritance."

"You can't do that either, dear brother, because Pierre already has it, remember? Even if he didn't, I don't care. I can do anything I want to do; I don't need your money or anyone else's."

"You need me!"

"I need your love Raoul, not your home or your money. Will you take your love away because I don't live up to your standards?" I stood there, looking into his eyes. I could see him warring with the idea to say yes even though he didn't mean it. "It wouldn't be the first time you withheld your affection because you found me lacking, would it? Do you prefer me as a simple-minded girl then? Am I less trouble that way?" I tsk-tsked, knowing it would madden him. "Face it Raoul, you don't even know who I am, how can you tell me I'm acting wanton and out of control? To go by your definition of these words, I've always been this way. I am not suited for the kind of life you want for me. I can think of nothing more arduous than keeping house for some rich, useless noble. I'd rather be in Hamlin than live in that kind of hell."

"But- but Christine-"

"Christine loves you and she likes her life with you,” I interrupted him, knowing what he was about to say. "It suits her. But doesn't she like to sing? What do you think her response would be if you wouldn't let her sing?"

"She wouldn't like it." Raoul answered grudgingly. "But I wouldn't ask her to stop."

"Because she loves to do it. It isn't proper though, is it? Most noble men wouldn't let their wives on the stage. Actresses are the same thing as whores to the public mind." I gave a short little laugh, moving back to the fireplace. "Men may do as they please though, yes? Do you ever stop to consider how it must feel to have your whole life governed from birth to death by the fact you don't have a penis dangling between your legs?"

"Celeste!"

"Stop pretending I've shocked you and think about it Raoul, just think about it. You had a chance to come out of mother as a girl. Put yourself in my place just for a moment. Forget you can go back to being a superior male and just imagine it. I dare you. You couldn't live in my body for an hour."

Raoul sat down on the couch, his face screwed up in defiant concentration. "I- well, I wouldn't have to take care of myself," he said hesitantly.

"In what way?" I prompted.

"I'd have a protector, a person supporting me."

"If you were married. What about if you were single?"

"Then a brother or a father would be in charge of my welfare."

"You have no family, now what?"

"I-” Raoul frowned. "I don't know."

"You're small and weak, you have no family. You have to go to work, don't you?"

"Yes, I guess so."

"Why don't you go out and look around at what is available for a woman?" I leaned on the wing chair and drained my brandy in one swallow. "While you're at it, ask a few women what they get paid for their dawn to dusk labor." I sat down on the hearth, looking over at him. "For good measure, imagine you were fortunate enough to find a husband and that he works too. He'll put babies in your belly every year until your womb falls out because you have no control over it."

"Having children is God's gift Celeste," Raoul gave me a pitying look, but I noticed he was no longer as angry. "We should rejoice at the birth of a baby."

"I don't believe that Raoul. I think every baby that's planned for is a joy, and every one that isn't is a burden. Human beings aren't meant to have litters. But all this is moot because as a woman you have no power over it. You might find a tea recipe that would prevent conception, but you'd have to drink it on the sly."

"So what makes you so damned eager to be with a man, if we're so evil and thoughtless?" Raoul glared at me. I smiled.

"Some men are worth all the pain or the human race would have died off by now." I stretched my legs, suppressing a yawn. Erik would be back soon I hoped. "Women take what they can get out of sheer necessity, but they always hope to be loved and cared for. You are an unusual man Raoul, and a good one. I'm proud of you for being a kind and generous husband to Christine, and I'm thankful you care enough about me to notice what I do."

"But?" he voiced the unspoken edge in my tone, his eyes soft and sad.

"But your way is not my way. I hope you can understand that in time."

"But Celeste.... Erik?" he almost sounded like he would cry. "The man is savage, for all his musical talent."

"So am I Raoul, or can't you see it in me?" I replied gently. "I don't want a fussy, upright husband, I don't want a paragon of virtue, and I don't want an owner. I want a man who expects nothing from me but what I am."

"And you think he is that man?"

"If he isn't, then I will move on,” I said. "It depends on Erik himself, Raoul, for he is a gentleman to me despite what he is to others. I have not had one moment of concern for myself under his care. He would protect me with his life."

Raoul sank back into the couch, groaning. "All very admirable Celeste, but I don't think his life means very much to him. He does crazy things!"

"Does he? I haven't seen him do one thing that wasn't thought out from start to finish." I smiled, thinking of what the bell had interrupted. Perhaps that hadn't been planned. He certainly hadn't expected him to play me along with the harp, but oh how well he improvised! "He's a strong man Raoul, with strong feelings. He has the talent and wit to act as he pleases. What seems reckless to you is commonplace to him."

"I know he's strong, monstrously so. It worries me Celeste, to imagine those hands anywhere near-” Raoul choked, unable to finish.

"He'll never hurt me," I said quietly. "If you believe nothing else Raoul, believe that. Ignore what you think you know and really look at him. You won't see the things you expect." Indeed.

Raoul opened his eyes to look at me. A strange expression drifted over his face and settled. "He told me he would never hurt you. Not in those words specifically, but to that effect. I'll accept his word on it that he wouldn't intentionally harm you, I'll give him that, but he might hurt you without meaning to."

"It's a very big world Raoul, to build your life on what could happen."

"I have to think on the possibilities Celeste, I cannot help it." Raoul groaned again. "Why? Why couldn't you have chosen someone safe and secure? Why did you have to pick the man who nearly killed me? The man who tried to make off with my dearest love! The man who can kill with his voice and sit down to dinner like nothing happened!"

"Don't get me wrong Raoul, I'm sorry the two of you met under such circumstances and I'm sorry he threw you in his torture chamber." I smiled sadly, shaking my head. "I won't deny he inspires the respect one would give wet gelignite. Just try to understand there are other ways to approach life. I don't expect you to bless my attempts to win the Opera Ghost, but I do expect you to be forgiving enough to see Erik with an unbiased eye. The man underneath that mask is simply amazing, just look and see."

The door opened. Erik came in dripping wet and shaking himself like a cat. He looked us over, shut the door, and shed his tailcoat. His hat and cloak were gone already. The sodden garment hit the floor, soon joined by his vest. As we watched he removed his shoes and socks too. His feet were high arched I noticed, and as carefully manicured as his hands. "Lescot will be here soon," he said gruffly, pulling what looked to be a long cord out of his sleeve. He wound it around his hand until a few drops of water came out of it, and then slid it back where it came from.

"There were three of his men. When they don’t report back to him he will fly here." He walked to the fire and put his back to it with a sigh. "I'm getting tired of being wet," he declared. From my position below him I looked, thinking again of a cat. Erik had the demeanor of one who'd been let in from the rain just a hair too late. The thought made me smile. He felt it and looked down at me. His eyes crinkled at the corners. "Go ahead and smile Celeste," he said with a chuckle, "The lake is liquid ice."

"You killed three men?" Raoul said, breaking into the moment. "Where are the bodies going to go?"

Erik shook himself, breaking his gaze toward me to turn to my brother. "The bottom of said lake for now. I have a vat of etching acid that will take care of them eventually. Do you have another idea?"

"No, no, I'm sure that will work." Raoul grimaced. "Will there be any others before Lescot?"

"I doubt it, but I am not worried if there are." Erik looked down at me again. "The Vicomte and I can discuss this somewhere else if you like Celeste, we don't expect you to listen."

"I want to know," I said slowly, keeping his eyes. "I'd rather listen in discomfort than die in ignorance."

Erik nodded, and I felt his pleasure at my answer. "A formality my dear, I was bound to make sure." He rubbed his hands together briskly. "I am going to change," he announced suddenly. "A man my age could get pneumonia." He drifted out of the room without further preamble. I watched him closely, appreciating the way he moved anew.

"Three...” Raoul mumbled. "He probably strangled them one by one. In the dark they would not have seen him coming."

"Mmm,” I answered distractedly. "Probably."

"It really doesn't bother you, does it?" Raoul sounded incredulous. I turned to look at him.

"Not particularly Raoul, they were coming here to get me. I might have killed them myself. I wouldn't have wanted to, naturally, but I would have if it meant staying out of Pierre's clutches."

Silence fell. Raoul shifted uncomfortably. He tried to look at me without making it seem as if he looked. After a time I became immune to his frustration and let myself think on more pleasant matters.

The sound of Erik's breath as I took his hands on a journey over my body.

The touch of his skin on my pulse point.

The feel of his whipcord body pressed against me.

The smell of his arousal mingling with patchouli.

Ah, when would we continue? How long would I have to wait? I imagined myself lying in his arms as his mate. It was strange, but my drive to be free somehow hinged on belonging to him. I chose to give myself, which made all the difference in the world. I wanted to be Erik's property, his woman. I couldn't imagine anything more liberating than to give him every part of me.

"Celeste?"

Erik appeared in my vision. I blinked, confused. Had I been sitting here long? Where was Raoul? Except for the two of us, the room was empty.

"My dear, the look on your face would earn three tickets to hell." Erik crouched very close to me, eyes shining behind his mask. He'd changed into dry clothes but still wore no shoes. His white renaissance shirt had its laces hanging loose at the neck and cuffs. "I only tell you this for my own comfort," he continued, seeing I wasn't going to speak anytime soon. "Raoul favored me with one of the hardest expressions I've seen him give. What further abuse did you heap upon the boy while I was out killing people?"

"Nothing he didn't deserve," I answered, reaching out to catch a drop of water from a thick black lock dangling over his mask. "And nothing he won't recover from by morning. I was trying to talk to him like a person instead of like his sister. It didn't go over very well." I moved over to give Erik a place by the fire. His hair was still very wet. "He felt sorry for those men," I continued softly, "And he didn't like the idea that I didn't."

"Their interruption was reason enough to kill them,” Erik said lowly. I shivered and smiled. Erik was indeed quite savage when it pleased him to be. "But I apologize for the liberties I took nonetheless," he went on. "I should not have-"

"Don't apologize." I interrupted him for the first time. "What we were doing took both of us, and I'm not sorry at all." I turned my head to look at him. His golden eyes regarded me with a soft, lazy passion.

"I'm not sorry either," he said finally. "But I'm worried that later, you will be."

"Funny, that doesn't concern me either. I don't anticipate regret in regards to you, I don't act impulsively enough."

"Ah, but I often act impulsively."

"I hope you don't mean that to be off-putting Erik, because it goes quite the opposite way."

Erik laughed under his breath. "I think you're leading me by the nose my dear. You have something contrary to add to my every protest, but I just keep walking into it."

"Fun, isn't it?" I grinned.

"Oh yes." He reached out, putting one slender finger under my chin to make me look at him fully. "You realize though, that I'm not adept with the sort of game we've started? I might play rough without meaning to." His eyes probed me, gold flashing red in the firelight. "I wouldn't blame you if you veered off my path. It isn't too late."

"My feet take me where I want to go,” I replied evenly, though my insides quivered at his meaning. Apparently I affected him more than I could have hoped. "I don't need to be carried, but it would be nice if I could walk beside you."

Erik fell silent, continuing to hold my eyes. I saw the edge of his sharp mind and the weight of his past collide behind his tawny orbs. The finger under my chin withdrew with a last, lingering stroke that brought fire to my veins. I stubbornly did not look away even though I knew he would be able to see how he enflamed me. I thought that he smiled underneath his mask. He spoke at long last.

"To say of shame- what is it?
Of Virtue- we can miss it,
Of Sin- we can but kiss it,
And it's no longer sin."

His recitation ended, Erik stood. "It's no exaggeration to say that we have much to think over," he said solemnly. "I wouldn't play rough with you for anything Celeste, you've seen far too much of that already."
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Rossignol