Erik knocked softly upon the door, carrying the usual afternoon tea with a slice of cake on the side. Charles called out for him to come in and Erik set the tea tray on the table after it was cleared of the stacks of papers and thick leather-bound tomes. Charles reached for his tea cup and Erik, without being told poured him the customary tea and had put in two cubes of sugar. Charles looked up at him gratefully and then he gestured to the small dish with the cake on it. Erik smiled at him warmly.
"It's a cherry cordial sponge cake with royal icing, Charles,"
Charles used his fork, cutting a big piece of it. The moment he put it in his mouth, his eyes closed in a state of rapture. He savoured the creamy taste, the flavor melting upon his tongue. He chewed slowly and then he heaved a sigh of pleasure.
"Erik that tasted so divine! Thank you!"He began to eat enthusiastically, enjoying his cake with relish.
"Is it better than sex with me, Charles?"Erik suddenly asked, smiling that wicked smile of his again.
Charles nearly choked on his last slice because he stifled his laughter and then he quickly reached for his tea, drinking it to clear his throat. He made more of these throat-clearing noises, coughing slightly and then he looked up at Erik, giving the other the same dark gaze, eyes slightly moist.
"No, not nearly as good as sex with you, my cheeky one!"
Erik was standing beside Charles, waiting on him. He reached up and caressed the back of Charles's neck. He could feel the heat rising from his master's skin. Erik bent close and whispered to him.
"You left me hanging back there, Charles! I'm going to avenge myself upon you violently and I shall render you insensate... you will be begging me stop,"He purred into his ear.
Erik felt Charles shudder, his face already aflame. Erik was holding on to his arms, intending to drag him down towards the floor, but Charles pulled back and pushed against Erik's shoulders, warding him off.
"N-not yet!"He cried out, but Erik was already nuzzling at his cheek and was kissing his neck.
Charles let out a moan as Erik reached down and fondled his clothed sex, tugging and squeezing at its yielding hardness. He kissed Charles on the bridge of his nose, Erik seemed to like kissing him there a lot, he thought vaguely as Erik rained his face with quick and hot little kisses and now they were on the floor. Erik then kissed him roughly upon the lips, seeming to draw his breath out in that biting, gnashing kiss, as if he wanted to eat him up. Charles could barely breathe as Erik continued. He had to pull back, their parting lips making a wet sucking sound, he was breathing harshly and quickly. His lips are now red and shining. Erik made a frustrated sound and reached for him again, but Charles quickly stood up. He smoothed the front of his coat down, straightening his collar. Erik uttered a complaining moan and also got up from the floor, staring at him with him dark intent. Charles reached up and touched his own burning lips, gazing at Erik intently, his pulse beating in rapid succession.
"Erik your impertinence knows no bounds! I wasn't ready yet-"
Erik grinned at him, his eyes glittering with heat." I beg to differ Charles, seeing as my palm had felt how ready you are,"
Charles blushed again, if it was possible to be made to blush even more. "It can't be helped, you've enticed me in more ways than one and my own body submits against my will, responding to your...ministrations,"
Erik kept on leering at him and drew even closer, close enough to kiss, his breath hot upon Charles's face.
"Oh come now, don't tell me you never liked what we were doing! Your cries of ecstasy tell me otherwise,"
Charles drew in a sharp intake of breath and then he laughed and shook his head a bit, returning Erik's stare albeit with fondness and more tenderness than the usual. Erik's expression changed, his brow becoming drawn with the intensity of his countenance, puzzled by the other's reaction.
"Something amuses?"
Charles pressed his forehead gently against Erik's shoulder with affection.
"I've never met anyone that has made me feel the way you have. I suppose I could say I have lost this war of want and let myself succumb to your forceful entreaties because I know that you are enamoured with me,"
Erik's expression softened, holding Charles closer. They were like that for some time, needing not to say anything; they fell into this comfortable silence as if they are used to it. Charles pulled back smiling up at him endearingly and then he went to the table and sat down, opening a book.
"I was reading through my old poetry books, trying to look for a prose or a poetry I was fond of. I'd like you to read it to me, aloud,"
He held the book out to Erik and pointed to the lines that he wanted his butler to read. Erik gave him an amused look, but he read the poem.
It lies not in our power to love or hate,
For will in us is over-rul'd by fate.
When two are stript, long ere the course begin,
We wish that one should lose, the other win;
And one especially do we affect
Of two gold ingots, like in each respect:
The reason no man knows, let it suffice,
What we behold is censur'd by our eyes.
Where both deliberate, the love is slight:
Who ever lov'd, that lov'd not at first sight?
"I'm not much of an admirer of poetry or prose, but that is a lovely poem, well writ I should say,"Erik said.
Charles warmly smiled up at him."It is Hero and Leander, by Christopher Marlowe. I don't think of it as lovely though, it is full of...innuendos I should say. I have a few favourite poets here and there, but this one is closest to my heart,"Then Charles peered at him with lowered lashes.
"And now it means much more to me because every time I read it, I will remember your voice, as I read those lines-"
Now it was Erik's turn to blush. There was this sudden, wrenching deep feeling within his heart for Charles. He wanted to come clean and tell Charles the true nature of his identity and why he was here, even if it would break his heart knowing Charles might hate him after.
"Would you like to go for another walk, Charles? You weren't able to see the brook yet anyway and I have something I want to tell you-"Erik said quietly.
Charles brightened at the thought of Erik and him meandering around the brook by themselves and the fact that Erik meant to say something important to him made him curious.
"Alright let us go!"
They walked in companionable silence, with Erik walking at an urgent pace than Charles. He looked over at the other, and there was a touch of gentle sadness in his eyes, causing the other to gaze at him curiously, but he would not say anything until they have reached the brook. When they arrived at their destination, Erik sat down on one of the large boulders close by the water's edge and Charles sat down with him. His pensiveness aroused a feeling of mounting apprehension within Charles.
"Erik what is it? What troubles you so?"
Erik looked at him steadily, still silent and then he stood up, holding his gaze.
"I can no longer keep up with this charade, of lying to you, day by day. I have grown very fond of you Charles and want nothing more than to keep you safe so I must tell you the truth-"
Charles's heart seemed to sink down towards his gut, suddenly dreading what Erik was about to say because the other's face was so sad and he looked like he was about to share some awful tidings. Charles kept quiet, waiting for Erik to continue.
"I shan't mince about my words or say any trifles so I will tell it to you straight. I am a hired thug. I was hired to kill you. But I couldn't do it, not after I first saw you and spoke with you-"
Erik continued to stare intently at Charles, whose face remained expressionless. The silence from Charles wrenched at his heart painfully, but he knew he had to continue.
"For the past few months that I have served you Charles, I failed to kill you because I have fallen in love with you and now the order that I belong to wishes us both to be dead. I understand if you will loathe me now, but your life is in great peril and I want to prevent any harm to befall you,"
Erik dared to step forward. Charles did not flinch away from him or move. He continued to sit down, his expression solemn.
"You have to leave the country; to hide. I cannot guarantee that they will not try to find you, but I will help you if I can-"
"Is this some sort of game Erik? Should I act frightened?"Charles suddenly blurted out.
He looked amused again for some reason. Erik was flummoxed. Did he think this was some sort of game? After he had poured his heart out and spoke the truth, Charles must have thought it was too preposterous and that he was acting out some sort of fantasy. Damned oblivious fool, Erik shook his head in disgust. Charles suddenly stood up and put his arms around Erik, giggling.
"Should I play the willing victim? Would you like that?"
Erik was about to reprimand him for being such a disbelieving idiot, but then he sensed something off in their surroundings. There was a charged pressure in the air, as if the wind had stopped gusting for a moment. He has this odd sixth sense that had always warned him of imminent danger, given that he had lived all his life in such situations all the time, he immediately knew it for what it was. Erik quickly pushed Charles face-down into the grass, and with a strange, surreal grace he caught the arrow that was meant to pierce Charles through. Charles was down on the grass still acting amused, thinking Erik was about to do something indecent to him, but when he looked up, he saw the arrow in Erik's hand. Charles's delight turned into a dismayed confusion. Erik was not even looking at him. He looked as if he was concentrating on something in the distance.
"Keep down, hide amongst the boulders and do not move,"Erik said sternly in a tone that Charles would have never thought Erik would use on him.
Erik dashed forward into the shrubbery without another word. He moved stealthily the moment he was in the cover of the bushes and although he was quiet, he moved swiftly as he climbed up a tree, looking for the owner of the arrow. All the while Erik was undoing the arrow in his hand, separating the shaft from the head with deft and knowing fingers. He thought providence was with him at that moment because the arrow was a Broadhead. The bastard had meant to kill Charles instantly and now he can use it as a weapon of his own. There. He found the man immediately. Erik was well concealed by the thick cover of leaves of the tree branches he clung to. The man was wearing dark green overalls, searching for him too, but Erik saw him first, so he had the advantage of taking him unawares. He swung from the tree onto another branch and climbed as closely as he could towards the man without being felt or seen, getting himself a full view of the man's face. He saw the man was hiding in the cover of large rocks, trying to sense his presence. Erik then moved lightning quick, he hurled the arrow head as a projectile, a skill he had honed since he was a child and it hit home accurately, into the right eye of the unfortunate assassin. The man uttered a rusty scream of pain and had staggered out from the rocks and into the clearing. Erik dashed forward, his lethal intent evident upon his wrathful expression.
Charles saw the man drunkenly and unceremoniously crawling out of hiding, still screaming. He saw the quiver at the man's back and Charles immediately made out the man's intention. The man shot the arrow, meaning to murder him. Erik had, for some miraculous reason caught the arrow and had attacked the man for his trespass. Charles found the situation shocking. He was too dumbfounded to move. His lethal butler was nowhere to be seen at first, but then Erik, with supernatural speed came hurtling out of the woods and had jumped upon the man. Erik had a rock in his hand and he dashed it to the man's skull heavily. Charles nearly screamed at the awful violence of the act. The man flailed for a moment then remained motionless. No doubt he was dead. Erik checked to see if the man was still alive, searching the man's lifeless body for something. He dropped the bloodied rock next to his victim and walked towards Charles. Charles felt his stomach grow cold, looking at Erik with new-found dread. He realized that what Erik was telling him earlier was true. He sat lifelessly near the pile of boulders, shivering, his face pale; his mouth had gone cottony dry.
"Are you alright?"Erik asked quietly.
Charles nodded stiffly, looking up at him strangely. He never thought it would come to this. That he would feel frightened of the man he was in love with. Erik could see that understanding had finally dawned upon Charles. Charles feared him. It made him feel sick and disgusted that Charles should see his actions, but he had to do something to protect his beloved.
"You do realize that you are in grave danger now, Charles. This is not a game. I have killed two of them already and I am sure there is more to come-"
"But w-why? What did I ever do to them?"Charles cried out in a hurt and angry voice.
"We were hired to end your life, Charles. It is nothing personal so don't be childish about it!"Erik sounded bitter as he said it.
Charles regarded him quietly; he knew Erik killed this man because of him, all for the purpose of protecting him. Erik really was an assassin, recalling coldly what he had thought of as an absurd idea regarding assassins when he spoke to the two constables who recently visited his home.
"We have to report this to the authorities then! The police-"
"The police!"Erik spat out angrily. "They can do nothing, Charles. Would you believe me if I tell you that being the trained killer that I am, I can kill an entire police force and not break out in a sweat while I am at it?"
Charles nodded at this, swallowing thickly. He was in the presence of an expert assassin, who killed two of his own people single-handedly. God only knows what else Erik was capable of.
"What should I do then, Erik?"Charles said steadily, but it was evident he was afraid and still too shocked by the turn of events. Erik held his hand out to Charles. Charles hesitated a moment, but then he reached for Erik's hand so that the other can grasp his hand tightly. Erik felt Charles wince at his touch yet he chose to ignore it.
"I am taking you out of the country, we will leave at once. Better we do not notify your staff of this so that they will not be questioned. Should it come to pass that they might be questioned, at least no danger will befall them if they are left in the dark,"
Erik suddenly looked off into the distance. "Logan will be arriving here very soon. He heard this man screaming. Perhaps the rest of the staff heard it too. We have to go, now!"
Charles hesitated again. "I don't know, I'm so confused-"
He looked up at Erik's eyes, wanting to find some answer in them, perhaps looking for some comfort from this recent violent occurrence. Erik pitied him for his ignorance and his gentility. He gently touched Charles's cheek; the other did not flinch from his touch this time.
"I will protect you, I promise."Erik said with conviction and then he gave the other a small, assuring smile, touching Charles around the neck. Charles smiled back at him, although it was a timid and unsure smile. Erik then turned Charles around very quickly, whispered an apology into his ear and then he pushed Charles down to the ground. Charles let out a gasp of surprise and then Erik brought out a coil of rope he had hidden in his coat. He had taken this from his fallen comrade, whose skull he had bashed in.
"Erik!"Charles cried out, but his butler had already bound him quickly and expertly. He then took out his own handkerchief and gagged Charles with it. He slung Charles over his shoulder and he ran off, heading away from the mansion and going for the wall on the opposite side of the grounds. He understood that his hasty actions would raise the other's vehement anger. There was no time for hesitation and Charles was clearly in a confused state, which would hinder Erik from making rational decisions and making a quick getaway. He wondered if there were more assassins about, but he sensed no one. He was glad he could not sense Shaw. If it was Shaw that they had to confront, the possibility of getting out of this unscathed would have been slim to none.
Swift upon his feet, he was able to cut the distance between himself and the mansion, only to sense that someone was following them. It was Logan. He was on foot and Erik could practically feel the other bearing down on him. He realized that his escape will be for nothing if Logan kept at his heel. He stopped and lay Charles down on to the grass gently. Charles was glowering at him furiously, only capable of making muffled moans of protest. He walked some distance from Charles, waiting for Logan. The man appeared from between the trees, stalking over to him, his axe in one hand.
"I knew there was something off about you, the moment I saw you. If you don't want no service from my axe, it would best you leave Xavier here with me. Hell, I'll even give you enough time to make your escape before them constables round you up!"
Erik watched him quietly, steady and unmoving. Charles could only stare at them in silent horror, hoping that no harm would come to both. He made agitated, protesting noises, but he was left ignored. He tried to wriggle free of his restraints, but Erik had tied his wrist together and then bound his ankles with the same rope extending from his wrists. Damn him.
"I don't want to hurt you, Mr Logan. I only want to make a hasty and quiet departure, if I may-"
"You may not,"Logan spat out vehemently.
Erik acknowledged that Logan will never acquiesce at all. He will have to use force to be able to get past the other. Erik cocked his head to the side.
"Very well then,"Erik said giving him an ominous grin.
He straightened up, walking towards Logan slowly. They circled each other, gazes locked and then Logan growled out an animal cry, rushing at Erik with his axe. Erik dodged it and actually grabbed at the handle with both hands. They struggled, with Erik attempting to relieve the other of his weapon until he managed to overtake Logan. He flung the axe away, but Logan made up for the loss of his weapon by giving Erik a hard uppercut. Erik reeled back, momentarily disoriented. Logan kept pummeling him hard, clearly Logan was bigger and stronger, but Erik was able to deal with the blows, grunting as he was punched, standing his ground. With a howl of rage, Erik flung himself at Logan, grappling with the other and then they fell down to the grassy clearing, rolling upon the grass and hailing punches here and there.
Erik was able to avoid being hit again as he changed his mode of attack. He seemed to be doing some sort of dancing movement, hitting Logan with repeated short jabs as the other floundered, unable to land even one blow. Charles could hear their grunts and cries as they fought. He couldn't see it clearly because he was lying on his stomach at an odd angle and then Erik moved away from Logan; he gracefully lifted a leg sideways and kicked Logan's face. Logan gasped out, bringing a hand up. Erik had succeeded in breaking his nose and it is now surging with a great flow of blood. His vision momentarily blurred, but Erik did not give him time to recover. Erik picked up the closest weapon he could use, another rock. He grasped it in his fist and used it to give Logan another punch, launched it with a swiping motion and hit Logan at the side of the head with it. Blood spurted from Logan's head wound and he fell to his knees, gasping wetly.
Charles managed to see the violent exchange of blows, uttering loud muffled cries, but Erik only looked towards him impassively and unrelenting, hit Logan upon the head with the rock again. Charles felt tears of frustration roll down his face as he watched Logan lying in a pool of his own blood, he did not move anymore. He was dead. Strangely enough, Erik sat by the lifeless body, rolled him sideways and then he staggered away. He had only a few bruises, none the worse for wear. He collapsed to his knees before the Charles, the other looking at him with venomous hate. He tried to gather his wits together first and waited until he got his wind back up. He began to lift Charles.
"Halt! Stay where you are!"
Erik knew who it was before he could completely turn around, his jaw tightening. It was Henry McCoy. He had a rifle in his hand and he was pointing it at Erik. He looked squeamish and downright frightened, but he was bold enough to forestall the head butler's departure. His hand trembled slightly yet he trained the gun towards the abductor, even as Erik gave him that frightful stare of his.
"I know how to use this rifle, Mr Lehnsherr. Don't force my hand,"Henry said in a thin and uncertain voice, his eyes like hard stones as he dared to return Erik's stare.
"I'm quite sure you do, Mr McCoy, but I would appreciate it very much if you try not to stop me anymore. I've had enough of killing as it is," Erik said in a lethally soft tone that made both Charles and Henry very frightened.
Henry licked nervously at his lips, his hesitation evident. He was about to bring the rifle down, but he held it up again, his face pinched and pale.
"Let him go, Mr Lehnsherr!"
Erik still held Charles close to his body; surely, Henry has a clean shot of his head. The other was not a killer, this much is true, but if he was goaded by his own heroics to try, he may actually fire. Erik knew what he had to do. He met Charles's gaze. The other was looking at him with pleading eyes, at the same time, the look within them was warning Erik that if he continued, he will never forgive him. He understood this quite clearly with just that look, and yet Erik gave him an ironic grin. With the same expertise he had done with the assassin, he hurled a pebble at Henry McCoy's face with eerie accuracy, knocking his glasses askew and breaking it. The other flinched back, automatically shutting his eyes to avoid getting blinded by glass shards. Erik quickly got up, letting Charles fall to the grass and with the same amazing animal speed from earlier, he was upon Henry McCoy, he had the other in a vise-like grip around the neck. McCoy was choking, unable to fight back; the rifle fell uselessly to the ground as he struggled against Erik's throttling grasp.
Charles was flailing angrily against the ropes as he remained prone upon the grass, helpless; unable to come to the aid of his two hapless servants. He felt impotent as he kept on struggling, howling his agony against the tight cloth that covered his mouth. Charles saw Erik breaking Henry's neck, destroying the other's trachea. Henry collapsed to the ground, he did not move anymore. Charles's eyes are wide, full of tears and for a moment he could only make choking sounds in his throat. His throat felt so constricted. His sight was growing blurry, heart thudding painfully in his chest, feeling as if he was drowning in a nightmarish hell. All of this violence and death made him feel faint, his mind unable to cope with the horror. He closed his eyes and surrendered to darkness. The last question in his mind was: Why did Erik have to kill them?
Charles drifted in and out of consciousness; sometimes he would feel his body being jostled by movement, as if he was traveling. At times, he would hear voices and then he would hear Erik's voice, causing his heart to ache at the mere sound of that man's voice. He almost welcomed unconsciousness just so he could be free of that sound; that presence. When he finally came to, he did not know where he was or what the time is. He felt his body being jarred as he remained lying prone in the semi-darkness. He was in a carriage, lying across the seat and he had a blanket covering his body. How thoughtful of that bloody murdering brute to consider his comfort. But when he tried to move, he realized his wrists are still bound in front of him, as well as his legs. Erik had successfully kidnapped him and murdered four people in his home. Charles moaned at the memory of it. Erik was sitting in the other seat on the other side of the carriage, wearing all black, appearing to be dozing; he stirred when he heard Charles waking up. Charles was no longer gagged, but it appears Charles did not have anything to say to him, the hatred in his eyes screamed all of his anger and agony. Erik kept on looking at him steadily, even though that look hurt him more than any violent attack he had ever received.
"Are you thirsty?" Erik asked, his voice hoarse. He sounded almost hesitant. Charles just looked at him with those hostile eyes. Erik could see how much it hurt Charles to even look at him, tears were still flowing from those sad blue eyes and at the same time, the animosity in them was great that Erik finally had to look away. He looked for the flask of water he put aside and he sat by Charles's side. He lifted Charles by the neck and brought the drink up to his lips. Charles drank the proffered water anyway because he was thirsty. Erik gently assisted him to a sitting position.
"I am going to remove your restraints now Charles, but I advise you not to do anything untoward-"
More silence from Charles. Erik still removed the ropes, not waiting to see if Charles would respond. Charles massaged his wrists; they felt benumbed due to being bound for some time and then he was flexing his fingers. Numbness can be an advantage, it seems. Without warning, he lashed out and punched Erik in the face. He realized his punch was not damaging enough, but he had wanted to physically hurt Erik after what he had done to Henry and Logan. Erik took the punch quietly, as if he was actually expecting it. The skin of his lip broke again, it was already wounded from his previous fight, but it brought a fresh flow of blood. There was a healing bruise upon his cheek, close to his mouth. He was sure a new bruise will form there later on. Erik did not dare to look up at Charles's face.
"I hate you! With every inch of my being I hate you!"
Charles shouted in a quaking and vehement voice. Like a petulant child he started hitting Erik about his head and shoulders with his fists, but there was no real force or strength in his attack, he stopped and then he broke down, sobbing, looking away from Erik, his shoulders quaking as he continued to cry.
"How could you kill them just like that? They were your fellows! Is it that easy for you to take someone's life?"
"They were in the way. They would not have made it easy for us to leave-"
Erik peered up at Charles, whose face was contorted in anger as he wiped furiously at his tears. Erik wanted to say something, but thought he would let Charles pour forth his venom and Erik decided he will accept it.
Charles was in a state of turmoil, he wanted to kill Erik, but he knew he was incapable of doing that, what with the other being a trained killer. He also wanted to get away from Erik to make his way back to his estate. He knew if he did that, assassins possibly lying in wait somewhere would make an attempt to take his life. Was this really all because of the inheritance? All because of the money? He had questions he wanted to ask Erik, but right now, his loathing had gotten the better of him and he could not think rationally over the situation. He was such a fool, it was only some time ago that he had all these happy moments with Erik and he felt sick to his stomach, remembering them. His chest ached painfully. So, this is how it feels like to have your heart broken into pieces.
He thought going to the authorities would be his best option; someone had to know what has happened. On impulse, Charles grabbed for the carriage door, but Erik, quick as a wink, deterred his escape, holding his wrist in a tight grip.
"Do you want me to tie you up again, Charles?"Erik asked, a trace of anger rising from his voice.
Charles pulled his wrist back and looked away from Erik. He crossed his arms in front of himself, silently fuming. If only he had some sort of weapon, anything that could be brandished against this horrid beast of a man. Again, his impotence left him feeling frustrated. What could he do? It was in a way ironic, he was trying to get away from the very man that could protect him.
"Where are you taking me?"Charles finally asked insolently after a long spell of awkward silence passed between them.
"A secret place, no one in the brotherhood knows about it,"
"Is that what your order is called? Brotherhood? How fitting!"Charles said sarcastically.
Erik shook his head slowly; it was no use talking to Charles in his current state. Erik decided that he would bide his time. He will have to speak to Charles when they arrive at their destination. Once they are alone in that safe haven, he will try to rationalize with him. It is possible that he could soften Charles's heart. Right now he is distraught, angry and still despairing over the death of his servants.
"Say what you will Charles. When we arrive at the barricades I will answer all your questions and then-"
Erik hesitated again.
"And then what?"Charles asked in a dull and bitter voice.
"You can decide if you want us to continue together or if you want us to part ways, after you hear me out-"
Charles let out an exasperated sigh. "I don't see how anything you will say will ever make any difference! You've broken my heart so; you've killed the people I care about and abducted me from my home. You've destroyed whatever peace and sanity I have left in this world. Tell me Erik, are you going to weave me a fanciful story full of miracles that will magically right all these wrongs?"
Erik just kept on staring at him solemnly.
"No; No more lies. Only truth-"
"I fear it will be with much difficulty that you would convince me otherwise!"Charles cried out spitefully.
Erik looked away from Charles, gazing into the distance. It is near dusk and they are traversing the vast and near empty plain of the moorlands. Erik almost wished he could throw open a window and breathe the clear and biting air from outside. His heart was aching in his chest, perhaps breaking in the same way as it was with Charles. Charles's hatred was oppressive, but he braced himself against it, for what would all this endeavour be if not to gain his lover back into his favor?
