A result of my recent Moulin Rouge obsession.
I slowly opened my eyes. Moonlight filtered in through the windows and the room was lit an eerie navy blue by the curtains. I first saw the tall, strong, black man staring at me from the foot of the bed. My eyes finally landed on the still outline of the Duke, who was lying beside him. A dark liquid ran down the right side of his face and out of the corner of his mouth but he was still breathing. The dark man's head slowly turned downward in terror to take in the sight of the man he had just knocked out.
As if a floodgate had opened up inside me, I suddenly began to sob uncontrollably, breathing laboriously. I could care less about the man on the ground, I needed Christian. Now.
"Chocolat…" I managed to choke out to the tall man between sobs. "Christian… I need…"
He seemed to understand. He nodded, eyes hooded with concern and pity. He helped me out of the now-menacing bed and supported me as we made our way out of the Gothic Tower and down through the doors to the courtyard outside, sobs still shaking my weak body. I barely felt the frigid winter air on my scantily clad body as we exited the Moulin Rouge and stumbled across the street to the Hotel Blanche. The climb up the stairs was difficult; I couldn't breathe properly again. We finally reached the landing on his floor and I threw myself through his door with a loud shuttering gasp, taking him by surprise.
"I couldn't!" He swiftly strode over to catch me as I flung myself onto him, wrapping my arms around his neck and holding on for dear life.
"I couldn't go through with it! I saw you there and I…" I pulled back and took his face in my hands, trying to make him understand. "…I felt differently and I couldn't pretend…"
He tried to comfort me by grabbing hold of my shoulders but I smacked them away with the power of my emotional instability. I took another rasping breath.
"And the Duke, he saw! He saw!" I grabbed his cheeks again, watching his face grow blurry as my eyes welled up with more tears. "He saw and he… he…"
He watched me helplessly as I struggled for words. A sob wrenched through me again and I slung my arms back around his neck, holding on as tight as I could, soaking his shoulder with my tears.
"Oh, Christian, I love you…"
"It's okay," he murmured into my ear as he rubbed my back reassuringly.
"And I couldn't do it, I didn't want to pretend anymore." I felt it imperative that he understand this point. "I didn't want to lie, I don't…"
Then something dawned on me, harsh and cold. It's weight forced me to pull back once again from the warmth of his embrace to stare intently into his green eyes. "And he knows. He knows, he saw…"
He interrupted my despairing words. "It's all right, you don't have to pretend anymore. We'll leave. We'll leave tonight!"
His eyes lit up with the idea of running away. I was pulled back to reality as it sunk in.
"Leave?" It was unthinkable. I could only think about one thing. "But… the show…" I sighed, defeated.
"I don't care." he insisted. "I don't care about the show." He gently rubbed his thumb over my tear-stained face.
"We have each other." It was his turn to take my face his palms. "That's all that matters."
The words alone coming from his lips relaxed me in a way nothing else ever would. I felt hope and joy and… even more love for Christian then ever. A wide smile spread across my face, despite the circumstances.
"Yes, as long as we have each other," I agreed. I brought my face close to his so that our noses were touching. "We have each other."
We kissed several times to exercise the point. When we had separated, Christian diverted his attention to the dark man whom I had forgotten was standing in the doorway.
"Chocolat, take Miss Satine to her dressing room and get the things she needs. No one must see you, do you understand?" As he said these commands he approached his bed where his trench coat had been haphazardly discarded. He snatched it up and strode over, offering it to me. I had also forgotten how little clothing I had on.
"I understand," the big man replied.
"Darling, you go and pack and I'll be waiting." He fitted me into his overlarge coat; it was still warm. I snuggled deep inside it; it smelled of him. To show my gratitude and undying love, I kissed him as passionately as I could, pulling his whole head into it. He finally had to push me gently toward the door.
"Go. I'll be right here when you get back."
I smiled and allowed Chocolat to guide me out of Christian's door and back down the stairs. I was thinking of him, contemplating the road ahead, and trying not to dwell on the life I was leaving behind. Once outside, I glanced habitually up at his always-open window; he was silhouetted in it, watching over me like a guardian angel.
More to come.