The Love of a Stranger
Ob1MegOb1
I'm soooo sorry its taken so long to update this story! I kept rewriting this chapter because it kept going in a direction I didn't like. Now I think I have found a good direction for this chapter to go. Thanks once again to all who continue to read and review this story!
Chapter 10
(Jasmine)
We had walked for a long time. And yet no words passed inbetween us. He had led me outside and we had found a place to sit under a willow tree which I happened to remember very fondly. I could not tell whether we were afraid to reveal our vast secrets or if we were still nervous with one another because we did not know each other.
Finally I decided to be brave for once and speak first, "So Monsieur what do you wish to know?"
He was silent before finally answering, "What do you mean Madmoiselle?"
I sighed, "I know you have questions and I am willing to answer them. I think it is time we put this discomfort to an end. Just remember this telling each other everything goes both ways."
"Of course," he said softly. I knew though it would be harder to make him talk then me.
(Erik)
She was getting impatient, and I could see it in her eyes. She wanted to know more about me, probably just as I did about her. But she had made the first move and so without even thinking I asked my first question, "Who was that man in the house? Paul?" And then I bit my tongue at the expression on her face when I said that. That was probably not the best thing to open the conversation with.
"Interesting first question," she muttered leaning up against the tree, "I was hoping he would be one of the last things you would ask me about. You do know this puts Christine at the top of the list for my questions."
I groaned at her sarcasm, "Don't groan," she said smiling snidely, "You're the one who asked the question and if you are done moaning, I will answer it."
"Fine," I answered, "Lets hear your story."
(Jasmine)
"I guess I first met Paul when I was about sixteen years old. I met him when I was out shopping with my mother. I accidently ran into some kind of vendor, which of course he was helping his father run. He was very kind in helping me and we soon became close friends."
(Erik)
I could tell where this story was going and I could see the pain etched in her features as she spoke of him. He had hurt her very much, but I could not tell whether in a mental or physcial way.
"Shortly after my father and mother died Paul took it upon himself to take care of us. He said I should not have to raise them alone. But things became difficult, and paying for rent was one of them. Paul was soon working all day and night just trying to help us meet ends meet. Which means he came home very grumpy and upset. It was one of those nights that he struck me for the first time."
I closed my eyes in pain. My blood boiled to know he had caused her harm. How did he expect to help her if he beat her because of his own petty irritation?
(Jasmine)
I could feel his anger emanating every where and began to wonder if I shold really continue to tell him because that was not the worst of what had happened while I was with Paul.
"And soon it began to get worse..." I said pausing for a moment. My heart ached at the memories long past. Yet I knew it was probably I put these memories and emotions to rest.
(Erik)
Her eyes were filled with pain and her eyes shone with the tears which she did not wish to shed. She held them back bravely though as she continued to relate to me her story. "He began to not only beat me but William and Rebecca as well. We could never escape his wrath and one of us always was his redemption for being angry."
I balled my fists in hate of this man. I had not even fully met him and already I hated him.
"So one day I got tired of it," she muttered, "and I held a pistol to his head and ordered him to leave. I never saw him again until today. And now to know he is engaged to my cousin makes me very worried."
(Jasmine)
When I had first heard him utter the words he was engaged to Elizabeth I immediately became worried of her well being. Even though Aunt Ev seemed okay with the arrangement, I knew that Paul had always been good at covering up his acts. If he was beating Elizabeth it would be hard to tell.
"How did she look when you came in the room?" I asked him, "Did she seem okay."
He paused for quite a few seconds before finally answering, "She seemed very happy and alright. I don't think she was harmed in any way."
I sighed, "That gives me relief for right now but it did take him awhile before he started beating us."
(Erik)
The look on her face was painful to see. Her eyes seemed so distant and pained at the rememberance of being with him. I could only imagine what it was like for her. To be there all alone as he beat her and nobody to defend her or her family. I gently reached over gripping her hand. "I'm sorry," I muttered, "I can only imagine what you went through. I was beat as a child as well."
She looked up at me her eyes filled with sudden pain and curiosity, "You were? By whom?"
I sighed, "My father," my heart pounded at the thought of him. Always coming home eyes bloodshot and angry. His words slurred and his hands shaking but powerful. How I feared his loss of sense and control. And how I always feared that fist comimg quickly in my direction. It had always caused me great fear and when I looked in her eyes and I could see that same fear reborn in her.
(Jasmine)
I could see that discussing his family life was going to be hard. I only wished I could truly relate to him. In my heart though I knew I never could because I had always had my family to comfort me in my times of darkness. He had been hated by his own family. Who would protect him then?
"Why did they hate you?" I whispered.
"Is it not obvious," he muttered, "You have felt my face. It is enough to scare any normal person away. Even the ones who claim to love me. Even the ones who should love me."
I gripped his hand tighter, "I do not fear you Erik."
His voice suddenly became very agitated, "I bet if you could see you would not be saying that."
I smiled, "But I can see Erik. With my fingers I can feel your scarring and I can only imagine what it must look like. I can hear your voice and see the pain etched in every feature. And I can touch your hands now and know how scared you are. You are not alone Erik, and do not think because I can not see that I don't know how you look. The fact is, I probably know you better than anyone."
(Erik)
I looked into her eyes and there was a deep determination within them. She wanted so much to understand me but the fact was that she had barely scratched the surface. "You don't know me at all," I muttered getting up and walking away from her.
She grabbed my hand, "Erik wait..."
"NO!" I shouted, "You don't what I have done. You don't how much blood has spilled on my hands, how many screams penetrate the darkness, how many people have stared into my ungodly face before they meet him. I have killed Jasmine! I am a murderer. I am a monster!"
And while many have cringed in fear at my anger she stood there staring straight at me. It was the first time I had ever looked straight into her eyes since I had almost killed her. I turned away from her my heart aching at the remembrance of that moment, "I almost killed you, your brother," My voice was now quivering, "How can you even care for me?"
She gently reached for my shoulder, "Because every one deserves a second chance," I muttered, "Even the most ungodly of people."
I sighed my breaths short and unsure, "I have done too much evil for a second chance. Jasmine you have no idea what I have done. I have killed men..." I paused for a moment before saying this next line, "I have killed children."
(Jasmine)
His body was quivering beneath my fingertips and it was the first time he seemed...vulnerable. "Erik," I muttered, "We all make mistakes."
"But I never made mistakes," he said his voice deep, "I did them purposefully, I did them vengefully. I longed to purge the world of all who despised me and I tortured, and I killed. I invented the most hellish means possible to make man suffer. My genius was made into one of the most deadliest weapons possible."
I gently pushed him down so that he could sit down, in my hopes of relaxing him. "Erik nobody does things like this without a reason. You were angry, you had grown up in a world filled with hate it is only natural that you are this way."
"Everyone has choice," he muttered, "I could have fought against my nature. I could have stood up to them, I could used my supposed genius for good. My gifts could have been heard for those who are eager to hear, not those who fear it."
"But I'm not everyone else Erik," I said forcefully, "Yes we all experience hardship! Do you think it was easy for me to become blind at the age of four! To have to raise my family alone, penniless, and believe me I have had to the most dishonourable things to keep this family togehter. I have sacrificed everything Erik, my dreams, my love, my home! You were not forced to lose anything because of your decisions! They were made for you long ago, they were bred into you! I had no one to be influenced by! I am truly alone!" My face was now hot from the tears running down my face. I turned away from him my heart pounding with anger and embarrassment.
It had been awhile since my emotions had gotten the best of me. And in this one moment I had shown him a darker side of me. A side that hated all those who looked down on me and my family. I hated them for every sneer, every snicker, and every snort of indignation. I hated that they had isolated us keeping my family from having a normal life. My breathing was now very labored my heart pounding my blood boiling. "I...hate...them," I muttered.
(Erik)
Her eyes had become very dark and her face was now like a storm cloud on the verge of explosion. Her eyes sparked lightening as she muttered those words. And her voice was as low as the rolling thunder before the storm. She was shaking greatly that I feared she would seriously hurt herself. What had been an attempt to calm me had turned into a catalyst for her own self destruction.
"Jasmine," I said gripping her hand, "Jasmine breath. You need to relax."
She yanked her hand away her eyes glaring, "Relax? How can I relax when everyday they walk the streets. Everyday they point their fingers and laugh. They laugh at my attempt to have what they inherited. What they inherited and know I can never have because I am a poor pathetic woman."
I suddenly gripped her face yanking it in my direction, "You listen to me," I said forcefully, "You are anything but weak. You don't want to be those airhead mistresses who walk the streets and can't tell the difference between a ghost and what is real. You are smart responsable woman. You know your priorities and you fight for them. And I love you for that."
Her face suddenly softened at the end of my speech. She sat there her eyes filled with sympathy and maybe even just a little bit of longing.
I stared at her my heart pounding, "I love you for who you are. Not for your voice, your riches, or your reputation. I love you for your knowledge, dedication, and love. You fascinate me more than any prima donna, and you captivate me like no woman has ever done." I gripped her hand and kissing it gently, "You bring out a side of me that I or the world has never seen. A side I have always seeked, and yet never truly found, until now."
"Erik," she whispered softly leaning towards me and I towards her and then once again I met her in a kiss. A kiss now filled with new found passion and committment. A kiss that swept away all others from my mind. No more tears for a love lost. Now there was only her, and everything she fought for. She was the one thing that counted, and she burned in my heart. She burned in my soul, ached in my flesh and ignited my nerves. She was my Jasmine, and my destiny now belonged in hers. Nothing else mattered, and nothing else ever would.
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