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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 32

Erik adjusted the mask over his deformity and glanced one last time at his reflection in the mirror.

“What difference does it make?” he whispered to himself as he put on his jacket and walked out the door.

He had been up all night, going over Marianne’s words in his mind, and still he couldn’t comprehend what could possibly have happened to make her break off their relationship like that. Even if Raoul had convinced her that a man who wasn’t of her social status was not worthy enough to stand by her side, it still didn’t explain the vulgar way in which she had offered to remain his lover even after her imminent marriage to Olivier Dervaux.

It didn’t make any sense to him. Marianne was a romantic soul, always ready to defend the rights of those less fortunate than herself, and dignified even though she had offered her body to him out of wedlock.

He was absolutely certain that she had been a virgin before she had shared his bed and that didn’t make any sense when he thought of the way she had dismissed their lovemaking, describing it merely as fornicating.

If he had been so wrong in his judgment of Marianne’s character, he couldn’t trust his instinct any longer. He had done everything to win the affection of a spoiled little girl years ago and had given himself over to Marianne body and soul now, against his better judgment. Although he knew deep in his heart that no one could ever love him despite his hideous appearance, he had believed her when she whispered words of love in his ear.

He had resisted his feelings for this woman ever since the first moment he had set eyes on her, but when push came to shove he couldn’t remain unmoved by her lies. Christine might have broken his heart when she had left his lair that night to follow her handsome Prince Charming but Marianne’s seemingly genuine interest had mended it, only to have her step over it at the end.

It was cruel, raising his hopes of finally creating a normal life for himself with her by his side, only to plunge a knife in his heart by telling him he wasn’t, or would ever be for that matter, worthy of her.

He made his way out of his room and down the stairs, not paying any attention to his surroundings. Nothing mattered to him anymore. He had agreed to duel to the death with Raoul de Chagny two nights ago and recalled that at the time he had started frantically searching for a way out of the hopeless situation.

Now that he had found love he had so much to live for, but killing Raoul wasn’t an option for him either. As much as he had never seen what was so special about the Viscount, he couldn’t very well dispose of his future wife’s cousin. He knew Marianne was quite fond of Raoul de Chagny and he intended to let him live not to cause her any pain.

Yet now, it all seemed so insignificant to him. Losing the woman who had captured his heart had left him a shell of a man for whom nothing mattered any more. And although the Phantom of the Opera would seek revenge from his seemingly eternal foe, he could no longer find it in his heart to avenge himself on the Viscount.

The simple fact remained. Marianne had chosen societal status over him. She didn’t love him; apparently she never had.

Ultimately, she had made his choice for him. Now that he had had a glimpse of true intimacy with the woman he loved, he couldn’t bear the thought of living alone for the rest of his days. If he couldn’t have Marianne by his side, his life was not worth living.

It would seem that the Viscount had been victorious. The mighty Phantom that once was the terror of Paris no longer existed. In his place, a broken man mounted his steed and rode to his voluntary death.

Raoul arrived at the meeting point where the duel was to be held and found Olivier there, already waiting for him. He dismounted his horse and walked over to greet his friend.

“Good morning Raoul.” Olivier said with an impatient look in his eyes. He was smiling as he greeted Raoul, sure that the outcome of the duel would be favorable both for the blonde Viscount as well as for himself. If Erik were to die today, he was sure Marianne would turn to him for comfort, no longer hopeful that she would be reunited with this freak that she had apparently become obsessed with.

“Bonjour Olivier.” Raoul said with an uneasy air about him. He removed his jacket and handed it over to Olivier to ready himself for the fight.

At that moment, they heard the gallop of a horse approaching and both men turned their heads to look at Erik Destler who was riding towards the spot, followed closely by his butler.

The masked man dismounted his horse and curtly nodded his head at the men’s direction, waiting for Vincent to secure the horses and take his waist-jacket from him.

Vincent was carrying with him a case that enclosed the swords the two men would be using and opened it to reveal the silver weapons so that the fighters would make their choice. Erik directed him to first have Raoul choose and as soon as the Viscount took a sword from the case, he grasped the remaining one and the two men came to stand opposite each other. A few seconds later their swords clashed and a sickening sound penetrated the cool morning air.

Meanwhile Marianne was rushing to the spot, apprehensive that she would not be able to make it on time. She heard the sound of metal clashing together and galloped forth fiercely, anxious to reach the clearing as soon as possible.

The fight was escalating rapidly as the two men tried to take control of the confrontation but neither gave in, both willful in their rage against each-other. Suddenly, a cry pierced the air.

“Stop this madness!”

It was Marianne who had already dismounted her horse and was running to them frantically. Erik, turning at her direction as soon as he heard her voice didn’t pay heed to the sharp blade of his opponent’s sword as it pierced his left shoulder.

The pain was unbearable and his eyes darkened as he fell to the ground, clutching his hand to the open wound, feeling the blood seep through his fingers. He heard a scream and registered the voice to be that of Marianne, but remaining conscious became increasingly difficult and he lost his grip on reality just as he felt a hand touch his face and the scent of magnolias enveloped him.

“No!” she screamed as she fell over him and her hand flew to his face. For a moment she thought he was dead, as his eyes remained closed and he didn’t seem to respond to her pleas and suddenly Olivier’s hands gripped her shoulders, trying to pull her away from Erik.

She fought with all her might, refusing to be separated from the man she loved yelling at Olivier to let go of her. “Get away from me you snake!” she snapped at him, turning her attention back to Erik again.

“No Erik! Don’t leave me! No!” she wept, taking his head in her hands and holding him to her breast, tears flowing down her face. “Please Erik, wake up! You can’t do this to me! I love you!”

She turned venomous eyes to Raoul, for the first time in her life feeling hatred fill her. “How could you?” she spat at him. “Why Raoul? Why? To defend the honor of that harlot wife of yours?”

“Marianne! Control yourself!” Olivier chastised her, outraged.

“And you! You monster! Don’t speak to me ever again!” she turned to Olivier, her eyes filled with loathing.

“Erik, please speak to me.” she begged her beloved, trying to convince herself that he would be alright.

At that moment, Erik stirred in her arms, feeling his senses return to him. He slowly opened his eyes and tried to focus his gaze upon the loving face of Marianne who was looking at him hopefully, a radiant smile on her lips. Even though the pain in his shoulder was insufferable, he couldn’t help but smile back at her as he felt the warmth of her embrace wash over him.

With Erik still in her arms, gazing at him with a worried look in her eyes, Marianne smiled down at him sweetly, caressing his brow tenderly, feeling her heart swell with joy at the fact that he was alive, although obviously tattered by the blow Raoul had mustered on him.

Forgetting momentarily they were in the presence of her cousin, the baron and Erik’s butler, Marianne leaned over Erik to whisper soothing words in his ear. Suddenly she was hurled from her wounded lover by Olivier’s hand. He grasped her from the elbow furiously and flung her away from Erik in a second.

Gnawing his teeth in rage, he fixed her with a livid gaze, silently telling her with his eyes that he would be made a fool of no longer. Marianne tried to escape him, taking a step back to where Erik was laying, but Olivier held her firmly in place, yelling at Raoul to finish the deed.

Raoul on his part was still stricken with the way Marianne had reacted to the supposed death of the Phantom. He had observed the outrage that had consumed her when she thought him dead. The way she had turned on him and Olivier for wounding Erik Destler had amazed the young Viscount. He had never seen Marianne lose her temper before and couldn’t help but wonder what had brought on this bout of indignation on her part. After all, she couldn’t possibly have formed a friendship with that monster. It was unspeakable to say the least!

He turned his attention to his cousin and saw her look at him with a pleading look in her eyes, silently begging him to spare the life of his reviled opponent and for a moment hesitated in raising his sword. That’s all it took for the Phantom to move from where he was laying on the ground, slowly making his way back on his feet.

Raoul had to hand it to him. Erik Destler was a fighter, never giving up even when all the odds seemed to be against him. He waited for Erik to find his balance again before he once again raised his sword, a resolute look in his eyes to finish this today, once and for all.

Just then he heard commotion coming from where Marianne was standing next to Olivier, as the young maiden broke free from the baron’s grasp and ran towards the two opponents. In her hand she held a piece of paper and she was begging them to stop fighting and listen to her.

Surrendering to the interruption, as his cousin seemed to be determined to put an end to this duel, Raoul lowered his sword and turned his attention back to Marianne who had by now reached him, without for a moment letting his guard down as far as Erik Destler was concerned.

Winded from all that had happened to her that morning, Marianne handed the parchment she held to Raoul and started explaining why she was so keen to stop him from covering his hands with Erik’s blood.

“Raoul, you cannot do this. Not when Erik has done nothing to become the focus of your wrath. I know why you are set to hurt him, thinking that this is the only way you will be able to restore your honor. But, Raoul,” she said, a sob escaping her throat, “in fact it is not Erik that you should be trying to punish but your own wife!”

At her words, Raoul’s face blanched and for a moment she thought he would strike her for her insolence. A few seconds went by without any words passing between them, and then Raoul spoke with a grave voice. “Marianne, I don’t know what spell this monster has cast on you to make you behave like so, but I have to tell you right now that I will not tolerate such disrespect for my wife from anyone; even from you!”

“It is not I but your wife who has been disrespectful to no one but you Raoul! I know you love Christine deeply and I hate to be the bearer of such news to you, whom I hold so dear, but Raoul I cannot bear to see you risk your and an innocent’s life for a woman who is so eager to betray your trust!”

At this she handed Raoul the note and he took it from her fingers, puzzled as to what she was talking about. Surely his sweet Christine would do nothing to make a fool out of him, Marianne must have made a mistake in believing that his wife could be in any way culpable of such grave errors in judgment to raise such outrage against her.

He unfolded the paper and scanned his eyes over it, recognizing his wife’s handwriting instantly. It appeared to be addressed to Erik and as he read the words, he realized his wife was practically throwing herself at the Phantom!

He was abhorred by the very idea that Christine would be brazen enough to even think of deceiving him in such a way. She always seemed to be so proper and yet, by the looks of it, through this note she had made herself available to Erik Destler of all men, apparently ready to be swept off her feet by the man who had once been her tormentor.

He felt lightheaded, his head filling with images of Christine in the arms of the beast, giving herself willingly to him, enjoying carnal pleasures in his embrace. He turned to Erik, a venomous look in his eyes, ready to finish what he’d started but what he saw made him cringe. Instead of the arrogance he expected to be regarded with, he saw only pity reflected in the Phantom’s gaze.

“I never thought I would ever say this to you Viscount, but I’m sorry for you.” Erik said, meeting his gaze steadily.

Raoul was devastated. This was all too much for him. Raoul de Chagny was a proud man. The pity he saw reflected in the eyes of Marianne and Erik was more than he could muster. He threw the sword on the ground before him and turned his back, trudging over to his horse. He needed to be alone right now but Erik’s voice stopped him short.

“Viscount, I am sorry that she deceived you too. I want you to believe that I never provoked Christine in any way into thinking that I would be willing to have an affair with her behind your back. I know how it feels to be betrayed, you know as much. My heart belongs to your cousin now and always.” he said, turning to look at Marianne with a hurt look in his eyes.

Marianne averted her gaze, focusing her attention to Raoul, not ready to deal with Erik’s pain right at that very moment. She wanted to fall into his arms, to tell him that Olivier was blackmailing her, to admit she loved him deeply, but she knew it was impossible. She had to abide by Olivier’s cunning scheme to keep him safe.

Raoul didn’t turn to look back at Erik. He simply mounted his horse, at a loss with all that had transpired today. He galloped away fiercely, not stopping when he heard Marianne’s worried cry as she called out his name behind him.

Marianne stared after her cousin as he rode away, not knowing what to do to comfort him after the disturbing revelation she had subjected him to. Suddenly, she heard a thud behind her and jumped, turning to see what was the sound that had jarred her from her reveries.

She found Erik kneeling on the ground, his hand clutched to his chest, above his heart. She cried in agony and knelt to check on him, moving his hands out of the way and lifting his waistcoat partially, to reveal his white shirt which had now turned crimson from the blood that was oozing from his open wound.

She shrieked in anguish and Vincent was on her side instantly, fussing over his hurt master. Taking control of the situation, Olivier instructed the butler to go fetch a carriage and Vincent hurriedly run to his horse and rode back to the Destler estate in search of help.

Marianne couldn’t help but break out in tears as she took Erik in her arms, trying to console him desperately. “Please Erik, hang on. You have to be strong. Please, stay with me.” she repeated over and over again, trying to convince herself that he would be able to pull through this.

She stroked his cheek, her tears falling on his face and rejoiced when she felt him stir in her arms as he raised his hand, caressing her hair lovingly. He smiled at her bitterly and she smiled back, trying to appear brave but his eyes rolled back as he went limp in her arms.

“No! Erik! NO!” she screamed in terror.

Marianne sobbed over Erik’s limp body, cradling his head in her arms and rocking back and forth for what seemed like hours before she heard the sound of an approaching carriage. She never glanced back at Olivier’s direction to see him resting his weight up against the trunk of the ancient oak tree, a malicious smirk on his lips, taking in the scene that was evolving before him.

In a matter of a few minutes, Vincent and the few servants he had brought with him had picked Erik up and had carried him to the awaiting carriage, to bring him back to his estate where he would undoubtedly receive the care he much needed. Marianne followed them once they had boarded the carriage once again, ready to get in, when she felt Olivier’s hand close around her elbow, pulling her back to him with force.

“Not so fast my dear.” he said coldly, closing the door to the vehicle and nodding at the driver to take off.

Marianne watched with a terrified look as the man she adored was carried away from her, praying he would recover soon.

Suddenly, Olivier pulled her to him roughly and she couldn’t help but moan in discomfort as he pressed her body violently against his.

His voice was grave as he spoke. “Perhaps we should forget about the monster and take advantage of the fact that we are alone at last.” he slurred in her ear, hugging her closely so that she felt his arousal press into her body. She gasped in shock and tried to break free from the hold he had on her, but Olivier held her firmly to him.

“What is it love? Are you shy? Or is it that you would rather be in the arms of that gruesome creature?”

Marianne couldn’t utter a word in response. She remained frozen in his arms, unable to speak for fear of arousing his temper any further. When his hands moved to her breasts though and she felt him caress her over the delicate fabric of her dress, she couldn’t help herself any longer and squirmed in disgust.

Instead of angering him further though, her reaction had quite the opposite effect. He released her from his tenuous hold and smiled frigidly.

“You will succumb to me my love. Have no doubts about it. You will beg for my touch once you come to your senses and see him for the monster he truly is.”

“He is not the monster Olivier! You are!” she spat with venom.

Before she realized what was happening he was before her in two long strides and backhanded her furiously.

“You will go to Erik Destler this very day and as soon as he regains consciousness you will inform him that you want to have nothing to do with him.” his grave voice informed her.

“No Olivier! Please, anything but this!” she cried in agony. “He’s hurt.” She pleaded with him although his eyes held an icy glint as he regarded her with disgust.

“I have already agreed to marry you Olivier. Please let him regain his strength and I promise I will end it once and for all!” she tried to reason with him.

“I have heard enough!” he interrupted her abruptly. “Go Marianne. End it tonight or I swear his blood will be on your hands. You know me well enough to understand when I am not joking.”

“Yes.” was all she could utter in response, unable to fight him any longer. She wanted nothing more than to be by Erik’s side right now, frantic to know if he would be alright.

It would break her heart to torment Erik like this when he was hurt but at least she would preserve his life. She had already made her choice; it was only a matter of time before she finalized it.

Olivier Dervaux had won.

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A/N: First of all, we would like to apologize for the delay in updating our story since S1 is still on her vacation and S2 has to work like crazy. We would also like to thank those of you who read our story even though you probably don't have the time or simply don't want to leave us a review. Next, a special thanks to BlackRosePhantom for all her reviews, or simple comments. It is a free world out there and we don't delete reviews, unless they have offensive content or in one case, they were advertisements. Some of you such as nonplussed didn't find them much useful as to decide if they would eventually give our story a try or not. Dear nonplussed, we understand your point of view, since ourselves many a time have tried this kind of "system", and that is to read some of the reviews first in order to see if other readers liked a story or not. However, sometimes we just began and read the story without any kind of "consultation" from other readers. We invite you to do so and read some of the chapters so as you could decide for yourself whether you like it or not. Then it would be more than useful for us to give us your positive or negative feedback (not that we would like the negative one!)

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No Easy Way