Chapter Four: The Chance
After the foul brute had left, Christine had decided to go find Meg and Ms. Blanchett. She could be sure they were pretty scared right now, and wanted to see for herself if they were okay or not.
She had quietly snuck out of the cabin and looked around the dark hallway. She didn't want any of the pirates to capture her or tell their captain, so she had to be careful. She put her ear to different doors and tried to listen for any sign of Meg or their chaperone. She hid in the darkness and avoided the men walking down the hallway. No one seemed to be down here at the moment, but she couldn't take any chances. She snooped around until she barely heard faint, female whispers behind a locked door. Knowing that her friends were behind the door, she fished around in her hair for a bobby pin and picked the lock. She quietly opened the door and closed and locked it behind her. The room was pretty much pitch black.
"Who's there?" she heard Meg's voice whisper. She could hear the tremble in her voice.
"Meg, it's me, Christine!"
"Oh, Christine!"
Christine tried to ease her eyes to the darkness and look for any form or shape. "Where are you?"
"To your left, on the floor."
Christine got on her hands and knees and crawled to the left of her, occasionally bumping into furniture and boxes, until she found Meg's hand and was forced into her arms.
"Oh, Christine," Meg wept as she held her excruciatingly tight. "Oh, my God. Oh, I was so worried."
Christine hugged her friend and shushed her, patting her hair and rubbing her back. "It's okay, Meg. We're okay."
"Oh, Christine, did he hurt you? Tell me he didn't!"
"No, I'm fine. I'm more worried about you. Did they…touch you?"
Meg let go and wiped her eyes. "No. But they keep threatening to. I wouldn't be surprised if they try tonight."
"What about Ms. Blanchett? In fact, where is she?"
"Oh, she's out. She was knocked unconscious when they brought us here and hasn't woken up. I think she needs a doctor."
Christine felt Ms. Blanchett's head next to her then, after Meg showed her with her hand. Christine had to hold back a shudder.
"She was very combative. She fought them back and yelled at them. I never saw her in such a way," Meg whispered.
Christine frowned in thought and caressed Ms. Blanchett's hair. She suddenly felt guilty for ever hating Ms. Blanchett.
"So, Christine, has he really not touched you?"
Christine looked up in the darkness. "No. Not yet, at least."
"Oh, count yourself so lucky. I overheard the men in the hall awhile ago and it was horrible. They were talking about what the captain had said about you and what he was planning to do?"
Christine felt her heart jump. "What did he say?"
"I don't think I could repeat it, it's so terrible. Most of what they said appalled me."
Christine felt her skin go cold as fear spread throughout her body. "Oh, Meg, what am I going to do?"
Meg hugged her again, comforting this time.
"I don't know, Christine. I don't know what to do."
Christine fought back tears as she remembered again that they were trapped on the boat.
"Raoul won't have any idea where we are," Christine cried.
Meg held her as she cried harder. She felt so hopeless, so confused. What was she supposed to do? She couldn't stay on this boat. She couldn't go back to the cabin. She could only imagine what that awful man would do to her. She had to get them out. They could not stay on this boat.
"I wish I could find a way out of here," Christine mused as she broke off the hug and wiped her tear-ridden face.
"How on earth could we ever got off a boat in the middle of the ocean?"
Christine shook her head. "I don't know. I'll have to find a way."
"How can I help?"
"Oh, don't worry, Meg. It's my fault you're here in the first place. If I hadn't convinced your mother to let you come with me you'd never be in this predicament in the first place."
"Oh, Christine, shush. It's not your fault at all. It's those awful pirates," she spat.
Yes, Christine agreed. It was those awful pirates.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()
Erik had burst into his cabin ready to find the dark beauty, and so was extremely furious when he didn't find her. He looked around the cabin and under the bed but she was nowhere to be found in the small room. He swore under his breath, frustrated, and ran out of the room, searching through the hallway. She couldn't have gotten too far, he reminded himself. It was a boat, for God's sake. Still, the little minx could've found a good hiding spot.
He stomped up back onto the main deck, hoping to maybe find her there, although he knew she wasn't.
"Emmanuel!" he shouted before Emmanuel strode over obediently.
"Have you seen the girl, the dark-haired one?"
"No, I thought she was with you, sir."
Erik rubbed his jaw. "She escaped."
"Well, I haven't seen anything up here." Emmanuel thought for a minute and then realized he knew where the girl might be. "Wait, I think I know where she might be, sir. Follow me."
Erik quickly followed Emmanuel as he led him down below deck and far into the dark hallway. When they reached a particular door Emmanuel took out a set of keys and opened the door widely.
The light was harsh and sudden and Christine and Meg had to shield their eyes from it when they saw it. But when they saw who it was their hearts stopped.
"There's your little siren, sir," Emmanuel said as Erik walked in and looked down at his captive.
"I should have known," Erik growled.
Christine braced herself as Erik bent down and scooped her up in his arms. She cried out and beat against his hard chest but he ignored her and carried her out silently, purposefully striding towards his cabin.
"Let go of me, you animal!" she screamed passionately as he continued silently until he came to his cabin room and kicked the door open.
He dropped her on the bed, not gently, and then shut the door and locked it. Then he looked back at her darkly.
Christine felt all her courage and anger evaporate as her fear took over and she scooted back against the headboard, trying to get as far as she could. His gaze was intense and she could the muscle in his jaw flex. She wasn't sure if he was angry or aroused or what.
He answered her question when he immediately got on top of her and started kissing her roughly. She fought against him, but he was strong and held her down and was beginning to take her dress off. But she didn't give up. She beat her arms against his arms and kicked and screamed and lashed out in any way she could.
"Stop. Stop. Stop!" he suddenly shouted after tiring of her theatrical hysteria. "Stop it! I've had enough!"
"Well, that's what you're going to get if you think you can just take me," she spat fiercely.
He glared down at her. "I've about had enough of your resistance. You are trying my patience. I am angry. I am tired. And I am very ready to rip your clothes off and mount you like a dog, so you should not be testy with me."
She scoffed, although his last sentence had scared her witless. "Do you really think I was just going to allow you to take me?"
He smirked a little. "Most women do."
"Whores!" she yelled.
He chuckled. "Oh, honey, you'd be surprised at how many women are willing to feel me inside them."
All of his frank, sexual talk was terrifying her. He needed to stop. "Well, unfortunately for you, I am not one of those women."
"You were eager earlier ago, before I left. What happened to that?"
Her eyes widened in fury. "I was not eager!"
"Hmm, I think I just hit a nerve."
"Get off me, you pig!"
"No. I want to make love to you!"
"And I don't! So, please, get off!"
"What? You actually think you'd rather lose your virginity to some peacock like your fiancé?"
"First of all, he is not a peacock. Second of all, yes. It is my duty as a wife."
"What about your duty to yourself as a woman? Don't you owe yourself a little passion before you lock yourself in that boring marriage with that fop?"
"Why do you even care?" Christine breathed.
Erik looked down at the girl. True. Why did he care? What did he care if this girl went off and married a passionate-less fop who would make her miserable? He didn't. He didn't care what this girl did with her life after he got done with her. All he cared about was sleeping with her. Nothing else bothered him.
"I don't care," he whispered. "I don't care what you do with your life. I do care, however, about getting laid tonight."
"That's all. You don't care who you sleep with? You just want anybody? You'll just take anyone, and that anyone is me?"
Erik looked down at her again. No. He didn't just want anybody. He was hungry, he was aching for her. He wanted to make love to her. He didn't know why, but he did. There was just something about her. He couldn't think of a more beautiful or tempting woman in his life than her. She was a modern-day Aphrodite. He couldn't give up that chance. He couldn't throw away his only chance for a night with a woman like this.
Still, he didn't want to ravish her. He wanted a willing woman. It was much better that way. He had to do something to convince her. He had to seduce her. He had to use everything to persuade her. It was a challenge, but he could do it. He was Erik the Black for a reason.
He stroked his thumb gently over her bare arm and looked into her eyes. She was wary, but he could see the caress felt good.
"Maybe I'm just approaching this situation the wrong way."