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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
- 22
- 23
- 24
The way she looked at me…

I could drown in those eyes.

Celeste wound her hand around her silver angel, her thoughtful gaze turning soft and introspective. “There are so many ways to play rough,” she murmured. “So many ways to taste blood. I’m getting strong Erik, very strong.”

“Yes, you are,” I agreed gently. “Think of how I killed Vernon Lescot and tell me again how strong you are.”

Celeste shivered, but her eyes did not clear. “You are magnificent,” she whispered. “I could pet you with my words from here to eternity and you’d never believe that though, would you?”

It was my turn to shiver. “Probably not Celeste, but it is better if I never amend how I think of myself. It has taken me years to learn how to control my ego.” I smiled and knew she could hear that smile. “And it is never a good idea to pet a beast, as your protective brother could tell you.”

Celeste frowned at the mention of her brother. “Oh, to hell with Raoul anyway,” she hissed, getting up so quickly it startled me. “His ego is the one that needs shaving off, not yours. I hope you don’t continue to bring him up to me Erik, because I will be upset if you do. I don’t need two people pleading with me to watch my step.” She turned from me and faced the fire with a brooding expression. “He’s a fine one to tell me what to do.”

“He’s your brother and he feels obligated to protect you,” I replied softly.

“A little late don’t you think?” Celeste eyed me askance. “I don’t need protection anymore, I need satisfaction.”

My mouth went dry. My little Celeste wanted satisfaction? “What kind of satisfaction are you speaking of?” I reached out and put a hand on her shoulder, pushing her hair out of the way. She was soft and warm and solid. She quivered at my touch and did not move from the spot.

“All different kinds,” Celeste answered with a smile, but she still did not look at me. “Satisfaction not tied up in moral beatitudes. Satisfaction without worry for tomorrow.”

“All these are nice Celeste, but vague,” I counseled gently. “I want to know more specific things.”

“I don’t know them yet,” Celeste answered swiftly. “All I want is to feel unfettered.”

“No one will ever chain you again,” I vowed, meaning it. “You could walk out of here at any time and I would still make sure you lived how you wished. I am your guardian angel.” I shifted closer to her, letting my hand slide down to the small of her back.

Celeste tipped her body even closer to mine, closing her eyes. Gently, ever so gently, she came to rest at my side. Her good arm twined around my waist as her head rested against the top of my arm. She was too short to rest upon my shoulder from this angle.

God in heaven, she felt like life itself. Twined together as we were I felt her gentle breathing, smelled her soft perfume and feminine musk.

“Oh Erik,” she sighed. “What I feel for you can’t be put into words. All I know is that I trust you with everything I have, mind, body, and soul. Please, please don’t make me leave you.”

I shuddered at her words. How long had I waited to hear a woman say she trusted me? A tremor of longing tore through me like lightning, igniting my blood and brain into white-hot impulse. Turning, I took her in my arms and pulled her unresisting form against my body. “You don’t know,” I said softly, “You don’t know what you’re asking for Celeste. You think Erik is afraid of nothing, but he’s afraid of hurting you.”

“I know.” Celeste buried her face into my shirt, cradling her broken arm between us. “But what Erik doesn’t realize is that Celeste has used up all her hurt. Celeste has no more hurt to feel.”

I chuckled softly. “Narrative already Celeste? Perhaps your brother is correct in thinking I’m making you into me.” I smoothed her hair under my hand, relishing the satin softness that looked and felt like liquid night. “But perhaps Raoul is too foolish to notice that you have always been a little like me?” I dared to hope this was so. “I know what you did with his puzzle, and how you liked to sleep underneath the hooves of his prized stallion.”

Celeste chuckled softly into my shirt. “How do you know about that Erik?”

“Christine found your mother’s diary and read it. She is very inquisitive.”

“Mother was a fool too.” Celeste’s words held little heat. “Father was a drunken, perverted fiend, and Philippe his protégé. I am lucky the only one I have left is Raoul, who was always more guilty of heedless action and foolish impulse than perversity or drink.” She pulled away from me slightly, looking up into my eyes. “You haven’t said you won’t send me away,” she said quietly. “I won’t press you for that answer, but I ask you to consider it with all sincerity. I’m happy here with you.”

I stared down at her. “And you make me happy here Celeste, but I’ll need convincing that my happiness is as important as yours.”

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

He wanted convincing?

I didn’t know how to convince Erik of anything; Erik was determined I had a better future than what he could give me.

I fell into bed with his robe wrapped around my hand, breathing in the scent of him. He was so musky, so masculine and strong… But I could be strong too…

I knew Erik would kill Pierre. It was only a matter of time before the bastard came here himself, seeking me out when his men failed him, and Erik was most suitably equipped to slay him in cold blood. A few days ago I would have been ambivalent to that; I would have neither cheered nor condemned him for killing my husband. Now I was eager to see Pierre die, to hurry him to his eternal fate so I could be Erik’s woman. I was Bathsheba with an active role in David’s treachery; I wanted Uriah dead.

Despite what my brothers had done to me, despite what my father had done, and regardless of what my mother had not done, Pierre was the true villain.

I could see him in my mind, his beautiful, chiseled face and cold grey eyes. How he had smiled upon delivering me to that place, that horrible, godless place of forsaken souls. How much more beautiful he would be with his eyes clouded over in death, his blond hair painted in blood.

Erik killed without spilling blood most of the time. I wondered if he would indulge me in seeing Pierre’s blood. I doubted he would allow me to watch…

Oh to lay in bed with Erik and know nothing could ever tear me away from him! I wanted to spend my days in this eternal night, sleeping without fear, loving without limit, and hearing only the beauty of Erik and his music. He could play me like his instruments all he wanted; I would never refuse him. I would be free as long as I was his.

“Celeste?”

I raised my eyes to see Raoul standing in my doorway. His eyes were worried and did not want to stay upon mine. Instead, he looked at the distinctive robe in my hand and his lips hardened into a thin line. “Mooning again?” He asked loftily.

“Hardly.” I sat up and met his stare coldly. “What do you want?”

Raoul flinched at my emotionless tone. “I didn’t come here to antagonize you Celeste, it’s just…hard.”

“What’s hard about my love for your worst enemy?” I smiled and patted the bed. “Come in and talk to me if you want to talk,” I said.

“Do you have to throw him in my face like this?” Raoul came in and sat beside me, though I could see he did not want to. “You can’t expect me to like how you feel about him. You can’t expect me to condone it.”

“I expect nothing from you Raoul,” I answered gently. “I have always received nothing in great abundance. You should be pleased I’ve found someone who will give me everything I want without a moment’s hesitation or consideration.”

Raoul sighed, leaning back until his head touched the wall. “I deserve that,” he answered quietly.

“Yes, you do,” I agreed. I saw his hands worrying with something tiny. “What is that?”

“A bullet.” Raoul gave a small noise of wry amusement as he unfurled his palm. A small, mushroom-shaped lump grey metal rolled about in the center of his hand. “He kept it after he dug it out.”

“Who?”

“Erik. I shot him once.” Raoul dropped the bullet into my hand. “He followed me home one night, at least I think that is what he did. I saw him staring at me in the bedroom, but just his eyes, his yellow, yellow eyes.” His voice trailed off softly as his eyes dimmed. “I jumped out of bed and he was off, over the side of the balcony like it was nothing. I shot him and he kept going. I’d aimed between his eyes you see, but I must have missed for it was in the shoulder the bullet lodged.”

I looked at the thing with a shudder. The innocuous lump of metal could have killed Erik before I even met him, and my brother would have been his killer. “This was when he pursued Christine,” I said slowly.

“Yes.” Raoul closed his eyes. “If he had not been generous in the end I would be dead now. Christine would be his wife, willing or not. But he changed his mind and let us both go.”

“Because he loved her,” I finished quietly. “Do you love me?”

Raoul opened his eyes with a snap. “Of course I love you Celeste,” he said firmly, taking my hand. “You are my sister and I love you with all my heart.”

“Then be the man Erik was and let me go,” I said softly.

In silence we looked at each other. Raoul’s face crumpled into absolute misery. Suddenly I was wrapped in his arms. “But I just found you Celeste, I just found you and now you want nothing to do with me.”

“That isn’t true.” I hugged him close; feeling tears spring up in my eyes. “I love you too Raoul, but I also love Erik. I need a mate as much as I need a family. Can’t you see how happy I am here? Can’t you see how unhappy I was at home?”

“I know, I know, I’ve always known and I didn’t want to see.” Raoul whispered brokenly, cradling me securely to his chest. “Father didn’t want me to pay attention to you and I let him dictate my every move because I admired him. I never imagined what he was doing to you.” He broke off with a strangled sound, clenching me so tightly I almost couldn’t breathe. “Erik told me and I didn’t want to believe it then either.”

“Who would want to believe such things?” I gave Raoul a squeeze and pulled away just a little. I felt suffocated by all this emotion. “But Raoul, he can’t hurt me anymore. No one can. Erik will never, ever let anyone hurt me again.”

Raoul nodded and straightened on the bed. “This much I can believe,” he vowed solemnly. “Erik takes his duty as your protector very seriously.” He held out his hand. “Do you mind giving me the bullet?”

I dropped it back into his waiting palm. “Why on earth are you carrying it around Raoul? It cannot be good for your mind to remember such things.”

“Oh, but I’m beginning to believe it is just what I need,” Raoul answered with a grim smile, tucking the lead into his waistcoat pocket. “I need to be reminded of things Celeste; I am lazy and arrogant and altogether too accepting of my choices.” He stood up, taking a deep breath. “But that is all I will say about that for now.”

“Do you feel better?” I smiled up at him. “Do you understand my choices?”

Raoul laughed shortly. “I’d be a liar if I said yes, but at least I can find comfort in one thing.”

“And what is that?”

“It is true that Erik will always protect you, and I believe he can even do as he says and protect you from himself. He might even be able to protect you from yourself.”
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Rossignol