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 51
When they finally reached the door that led to the bedchamber, Erik had sobered up and, putting an arm around her shoulders, pulled Marianne to him in an effort to grant her strength, as much as absorb some of her own piece of mind, knocked on the door that separated them from Raoul and the good doctor.
Instantly, Doctor Renault’s kind voice bid them to enter and a few seconds later they were standing side by side opposite to Raoul, listening to the doctor explain everything that needed to be done to ensure a swift recovery. Doctor Renault Clio then went on to explain how Erik’s intervention had saved Raoul’s leg and rendered him in an excellent condition considering the ordeal he had undergone.
Raoul simply nodded throughout the Doctor’s speech, not making any comments on what he was saying. Soon thereafter, the elderly man left, leaving specific instructions to Raoul on getting plenty of rest and doing everything in his power to avoid stressing his trauma under any circumstances.
When the door finally closed behind Doctor Renault and Gerard who was escorting him to his carriage, Marianne almost sighed in relief at not having to pretend everything was in order anymore. As soon as she heard the resounding click of the lock fall into place, she immediately turned her eyes to her injured cousin who was lying on the bed. The blonde man moved to sit up, but Erik was by his side stopping him in an instant.
“You are going to hurt yourself” were his only words as Raoul raised his hand to interrupt him.
“Don’t worry Erik, I’ll be fine. You’ve done too much for me already” he muttered, trying to move again but to no avail.
Erik pushed him back again, insisting that he remain still, but Marianne was by his side in a few seconds, putting her hand on his forearm soothingly.
“I need to speak to the both of you.” Raoul stated ominously, which finally made Erik pull back, merely helping the hurt Viscount to sit up in the bed.
Satisfied that he was finally regaining some of his strength, Raoul smiled cordially and waited for Erik to pull back the chair that was resting by his bedside for Marianne. As soon as his cousin took her seat, Raoul turned his attention back to the tall masked man, silently urging him with his eyes to sit by Marianne, but Erik shook his head in the negative and crossed his arms over his broad chest, saying nothing.
“I meant to talk to you both regarding the situation we have found ourselves in.” turning to Erik he smiled gratefully and spoke in a level voice. “Erik, I would like to thank you for everything you have done for me. I am eternally grateful to you for the gallant way in which you intervened and managed to save my leg from infection or even worse.”
“Think nothing of it Raoul. I would have done the same for anyone, let alone my future wife’s cousin.”
“No Erik! Please let me say this! You have every reason to hate me and yet you…” Raoul started again, but Erik interrupted him.
“Hate you? No Raoul, quite the opposite, it is I that is eternally grateful to you! You managed to see past our animosity, past the lies of your wife, past Olivier’s devious nature, and came to me with the truth about Marianne.” he said, bringing his hand to rest upon Marianne’s shoulders in a reassuring gesture. “If it had not been for you, Marianne would be trapped in a loveless marriage by now and I … I would still be destroying myself with liquor, surrendering mind, body and soul to my darkness.”
At his words, Marianne turned partially in her seat, meeting his eyes with her glowing orbs. For a split second he returned the gaze, all the love he felt for this extraordinary woman reflected in his eyes. Then setting his shoulders, as if he were preparing himself for battle, he turned back to Raoul. “It is true Raoul. You owe me your quick an efficient recovery, but I, I owe you so much more than that. I owe you the rest of my life by your cousin’s side and the family that we are going to create together.” he finished, caressing his fiancé’s shoulders imperceptibly with the tips of his fingers.
Raoul, obviously moved by the masked man’s words, didn’t say anything, merely nodding his head in silent acceptance of everything Erik was saying.
For a few passing seconds, silence filled the room until Raoul cleared his throat and addressed them both. “I know how much you two love each other and although at first I have to admit I was not partial to the idea…” he started but stopped, smiling good naturedly when he saw Erik sneer at his words.
“Alright, I will admit that when Christine first told me you had your eyes set on Marianne I would have been more than happy to see you dead.” he muttered, eliciting a gasp of indignance from Marianne. He met her eyes unwaveringly, needing to be honest after everything that had happened. “I see the error of my ways now. I finally understand that you never meant to use Marianne to get closer to Christine. In fact, I am convinced that you made it quite clear from the first moment you saw my wife again at that ball that you never meant to go after her in the first place. Just as I am convinced that you will do everything in your power to grant my cousin the happiness she deserves by your side.”
Erik did not say anything, merely nodding his head in response. Raoul, seeing his grave expression, decided to put his fears to rest, wanting nothing more than to see the two people before him find peace in each-other. “Having said all that, I want the both of you to rest assured that I will do everything in my power to protect you from my wife’s cunningness.”
Hearing him made Marianne’s eyes light up for the first time ever since she had heard of her cousin’s injury. It would appear that the power Christine held over her husband wasn’t all consuming, leaving space for his decency to flourish. She stood from her chair and walked over to her cousin, taking one of his hands in hers.
“Thank you Raoul. You don’t know how much it means to me to hear of your support!” she gently told him, smiling radiantly.
“There is nothing to thank me for Marianne. Neither you, nor Erik have done anything to deserve the difficulties that have befallen you. After all, I have realized Christine is not the innocent I once thought her to be.” he admitted, turning his eyes to Erik momentarily. “Erik, you told me that Christine is being kept in the house under lock and key?” he addressed the masked man who nodded his head in the affirmative, before explaining what was happening with the Viscount’s wife.
“After she attacked you, I made sure to lock her in the boudoir adjoining to your room, as I had to call for assistance and care for your wound to avoid infections. When we had finally we had done everything in our power to help you with the pain, Marianne insisted upon talking to your wife, confronting her for her unmentionable action.” he quickly explained.
“Oh Raoul, it was terrible!” Marianne cut in anxiously. “She kept repeating that she would do everything in her power to make sure Erik would be punished for everything he had done. She said that she is determined to keep him from being with any woman other than her and that she can easily accomplish her goal by turning him into the French authorities, stating that he once was the Opera Populaire Phantom.”
Raoul simply nodded his head, recognizing his wife in Marianne’s words. Three years ago he would have sneered at anyone who would throw such ridiculous allegations against the sweet, innocent Christine whom he had fallen in love with during his teen years and had reencountered as an enchanting Diva who had taken his breath away with her stunning beauty and extraordinary talent. But that image had started to fade long ago.
Ever since she had abandoned Madame Giry and little Meg following to their wedding, doubts regarding his choice of a wife had clouded his reason, but he had been trying to abate his worries by turning a blind eye to Christine’s indifference towards him. He had long ago realized his wife was not the woman he had made her out to be during their short lived love affair under the threat the Phantom posed for their relationship but, being the man that he was, Raoul had resigned himself to a passionless marriage which to outsiders appeared to be perfect.
When it had become clear to him that Christine had used him to avenge Erik for falling in love with another woman, Raoul had deemed the fact horrible and had been partial to ending his marriage to the apparently cold-hearted woman. His conviction had been strengthened by Christine’s reaction to the truth he had confronted her with.
Raoul had never been a cold man and he certainly could not accept cruelty in others; especially his wife. Even if he had been prepared to forgive her betrayal and weakness in character, he could never come to accept the fact that she was prepared to bring two people in love misery just because of her foolish sense of jealousy. The fact that she had gone so far as to shoot him because he had stated he wanted a divorce from her, would only make things easier for him.
“I want to see her!” he stated calmly, his tone making Marianne more nervous than if he had been shouting.
“Raoul, do you really think that is a good idea?” she ventured in a small voice.
“Certainly cousin.” he said in that calm voice of his that sent shivers up her spine. “I believe it’s time for me to look into the eyes of my would-be executioner.”
“But Raoul…” Marianne tried to reason with him only to stop short as Raoul raised his hand to interrupt her.
“Do as I say please. I want to see Christine right now.” he repeated, his voice raising in volume as he became agitated at his cousin’s denial.
“Raoul is right.” Erik’s deep voice pulled them both from their thoughts as he stepped closer to the bed. “I agree he has to see Christine and settle this once and for all the soonest possible.” he stated, receiving a worried glance from his fiancé. Turning his eyes back to Raoul, Erik took another step and then stopped right at the foot of the bed that carried the injured man.
“However, I believe it wouldn’t be wise to stress yourself anymore so soon after you have regained your senses.” he warned Roaul. “Perhaps you should wait until morning to confront your wife. That way you will have regained more of your strength and it will certainly make the whole situation easier on you” he finished, folding his arms over his chest casually.
A glance from Raoul told him he was almost convinced, but Erik knew how edgy the man must have been feeling at the moment, so he pressed on. “Unless of course you don’t mind her perceiving your fatigue for weakness….” He ventured, looking at the Viscount expectantly.
Raoul didn’t say anything, merely moving his eyes from Erik to Marianne and back for a few passing seconds. “Perhaps you are right” he finally muttered, resigning to the pain that had slowly started to drift in waves from his trauma to the whole of his body. “I should probably follow the doctor’s orders and rest for the night… but I shall see her as soon as I wake up in the morning.” he stated ominously meeting Marianne’s eyes again, almost challenging her to deny him.
“That goes without saying of course.” Erik agreed, satisfied that he had managed to put off the inevitable confrontation at least until the dawn. “You should take your medicine now and try to get some sleep.” he advised Raoul, afraid that the younger man would change his mind if he didn’t act quickly.
The Viscount nodded his head reaching out his hand to take hold of one of the bottles that Doctor Renault had left on the nightstand.
“Do you need help?” Marianne inquired but Raoul shook his head in the negative, turning his eyes to her. He smiled pleasantly to her and Marianne smiled back, a lace of sadness shadowing her eyes.
“Come Marianne.” Erik prodded as he walked over to her and took hold of her wrist, helping her to her feet by his side.
“Raoul should rest and I should be leaving to let you retire for the night.” he said simply, leading her out of the bedroom.
“Goodnight Raoul.” he wished the Viscount to which the blonde man responded by tilting his head towards the pair.
“Goodnight Erik, Marianne.” he replied, settling back into his bed.
“Goodnight Raoul.” Don’t hesitate to call for me if you need anything.” Marianne said and returned to her cousin’s side, leaning in to kiss him tenderly on the cheek. She then pulled the covers over him and turned to walk out of the room to let him rest.
Just as she reached the door, she heard Raoul’s voice ring out behind her. “Thank you Marianne. Thank you both. For everything.” She saw Erik’s lips curve into a sad smile and closed the door behind her, leaving Raoul alone with his dark thoughts for company.
The couple walked down the corridor and descended the stairs together, moving slowly towards the main door of the mansion. When they reached the mahogany door, Erik turned the handle and turned to look at her lovingly.
“Sleep well my love. I fear tomorrow is going to be a long, hard day for all of us.” he muttered, leaning in to steal a kiss from her lips.
“I can’t wait for all of this to be over…” Marianne whispered. “I can’t handle much more of this drama any longer…”
“I know love. Don’t you worry though. I’m sure Raoul is going to put an end to this madness tomorrow once he confronts Christine.” Erik replied, leaning in to steal another kiss.
“What do you think…” she started but he didn’t let her speak anymore, taking her lower lip between his and biting softly on her flesh. A whimper escaped her lips and when he ran his tongue over the spot to relieve any pain he might have caused, she felt her knees trembled at the alluring sensation.
She leaned into his touch, her own tongue entering his mouth to taste him and sighed when she felt him respond to her kiss with fervent passion. They were soon devouring each other and Erik almost groaned when he realized where they were and that they could get caught at any given time. Instantly he pulled back, bringing his hands to Marianne’s shoulders to keep her in place, but she tried to bridge the distance between them once more, unable to comprehend why he was doing this to her for the second time in one night. She forcefully approached him again, kissing him hungrily.
“I am sorry Marianne. This is not fair!” he murmured against her lips pulling back again. “We cannot do this; not now with everything going on.” he continued apologetically.
Her eyes sparkled at his words and she poked a finger to his chest accusingly. “Than stop kissing me Monsieur Destler!” she admonished him playfully and then leaned in giving him a swift peck on the lips before pulling back from his arms altogether, regarding him with a devious smile.
Erik tried to hold on to her but seeing as he had failed he groaned and just stood there, giving her a pitiful look of frustration as he pouted his lips.
Marianne couldn’t help but let out a small giggle at his expression and reached out to touch his cheek lovingly. “Will dream of me tonight?” she asked, smiling when he leaned his head imperceptibly to her touch.
“I always dream of you.” he replied huskily, turning his head slightly to kiss her palm. “When I lie in bed at night, I think and dream of nothing but your body next to me, your scent, your touch, your skin against mine, your lips caressing your flesh, holding you in my arms while we lie awake at night, weaving dreams about how our life together will be…” he whispered sensuously, accentuating his words with sporadic kisses he lay over her palm and fingers.
He hesitated for a few moments, half expecting her to strike him for teasing her like that, but when he noticed she almost swooned at his touch, his spirit was boosted and he ventured a bold gesture, pulling her by the wrist and connecting his body to hers so that she could feel the hard ridges and softer plains of his bulk against her flesh.
She gasped at the contact and a soft rosy color painted her cheeks when she acknowledged his desire for her through their clothes. Erik’s arm snaked around her waist, holding her in place and he buried his head in her hair, whispering in her ear.
“I am as frustrated as you by all of this Marianne. I cannot wait for the moment when we can finally be together again, but we have to be patient.” were his words, but his actions betrayed him as he took her earlobe between his lips, gnawing softly on the sensitive flesh.
“I know.” she exhaled on a breath, letting her head fall back, surrendering all control over her senses.
“This is torturing more than it does you.” he hissed, trying to regain his reason as he disentangled himself completely from her. “Soon my love. Soon you will be mine forever and I will finally be able to show you how much I missed our nights together.” He growled seductively.
The look he received was one of sheer suffering as she nodded her head dumbly and reposed her body against the door’s frame.
“Good night my love.” he called out tenderly, turning his back and walking to the stables to retrieve his horse.
“Good night.” she whispered after his retreating form and stood there watching him as he moved with elegance in the night. When he finally disappeared in the darkness, Marianne sighed and reentered the house closing the door behind her.
With heavy, tired steps, she made her way up the stairs and towards her room, cursing Erik for the torture she was putting her through. This would be a long night; she could tell…
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