Angels Fall First

Chapter 12

"Love "

... Christine gasped as she felt his mouth capture hers passionately... rending her powerless against him... She was at his mercy...

All negative thoughts fled from her mind, thinking only of him; feeling his mouth eagerly move with hers. His hands held her tightly against him, sending shivers up her spine. She had never been kissed this way before. Yes she had known Raoul's kisses, but they were so different from Erik's'...

Raoul was always so...proper, careful, lacking in some ways...never fully releasing all feeling to her on a different level other than words.

Erik's were filled with so much ... wanting, need, deep emotion, and so much more, that it made her head spin.

...

He couldn't stand to watch her suffer any longer. He wanted to end her torment. To somehow show her that she was wrong. That she was not this monster she claimed to be...
He felt his instincts taking over as his lips met hers...
A voice screamed... 'NO!,' in his head upon giving into his need. Trying to sabotage him; telling him that he didn't deserve her.

His grip only tightened around her body, ignoring his thoughts; pushing forward until they both were pressed up against the tree, feeling his hands start to roam...

...

Christine let out a small sigh as his hands started exploring the curves of her body; feeling numb. She felt a strange throbbing sensation that started from her naval, which seemed to travel downwards. She felt feverish. Never had she experienced this before; liking it and wanted more. She clung to him as he deepened their kiss, feeling herself respond to him by wrapping her hands around his neck pulling him closer.

...

A low deep growl escaped from his throat as their kiss intensified. He felt like he was in a trance... drug-like. Defenses dropped by her touch. All emotions let go, allowing his body to feel his mind to wander... He thought back to Persia when he was a young man, remembering what it was like to feel the joys of a woman.
He thought of Christine. He felt a need grow deep inside him. An over powering urge he hadn't felt in a long time...

'Just think how good it would feel... You know you want her'... His mind told him; taunting him...

'Don't resist... just take her... She wants you too'...

He felt as if under a spell... just sinking deeper and deeper into the feeling; capturing him feeling powerless to stop...

...

Caesar whined; slamming his hooves in the dirt...

Erik eyes snapped open. He knew his horse well. Caesar was trying to tell them something. He gently pulled himself away from Christine and peered around the tree just in time to see Nadir riding down the trail.

"It seems we have a visitor..." he muttered looking onward.

He stepped out from the tree just as Nadir approached.

Nadir's horse reared up upon seeing Erik, nearly throwing him off his saddle. Nadir cursed out loud feeling anger rise inside him. He was just about to shout at him, when he saw Christine following right behind Erik.

At first he was stunned; not expecting to see them both together this early giving the circumstances the night before. As he approached them he sensed something different between the two...

Christine seemed out of breath; rosy cheeked. Fidgeting with her hands glancing several times to Erik then finally back to Nadir. Erik also seemed to be acting strange, looking more annoyed than usual at Nadir's presence. His face oddly flushed; he too trying to catch his breath... The more he pondered on them... It suddenly dawned to him...

He interrupted something... perhaps something intimate.

As the realization of it formed on his face ... Nadir saw Erik scowl which only confirmed his observation even further.

"Did you both enjoying the sunrise?" Nadir said in a playful manor.

"You could say that Doroga!" Erik replied with warning in his voice.

Nadir was always amused by Erik's moods, unless things got out of hand.

He was still not happy with Erik on how he handled things the night previous. He also knew Erik's heart; loving his brother, despite his demons. Erik had always wanted Andrew to have the best of what the world could offer. For the first time Nadir saw true fear in Erik's eyes staring at that fire. Fearing he would lose EVERYTHING he held dear to him whether he admitted it or not. He knew Erik hated that feeling... For fear is his greatest enemy...

"Tell me old friend where are you headed?" Erik asked quickly changing the subject.

"To town... I need to get supplies for Andrew. He's developed infection in his leg."

Christine stood silent steadying her breathing as she listened to both men converse. When she heard about Andrew, she saw Erik's expression fall. She knew he felt awful on what happened between them. To make matters worse Andrew was sick now. Christine knew the seriousness of infection that could result in losing his leg or worse death, if not treated quickly. They all needed to act fast.

"Did anyone send for the doctor!" Erik asked with urgency in his voice.

"Of course we did, but unfortunately the doctor is out of town. We don't have time to wait for him. Andrew has a fever he will only worsen if we wait for him to return."

"I'm coming with you Doroga. " Erik said at once, grabbing for Caesar's reins.

"Remember the remedy I made for you in Persia when you were injured? We could use that for the infection."

"Ah... good thinking my boy... let's go we have no time to waste" Nadir agreed.

Christine's eyebrows rose slightly wondering why Nadir was ever injured and about Erik's knowledge on foreign medicine.

Erik was about to ride off when he suddenly remembered Christine. He turned quickly to face her but she had already mounted Grace facing the opposite direction and was ready to take off. Their eyes made contact once more. For once Erik was speechless. So much has transpired between them in the early hours. So much he wanted to say and needed to know from her. But there was no time. He needed to help Andrew.

"Christine, will you watch over Andrew for me until we return?" He finally asked.

"Of course I will ... He's a brother to me... I will do what I can to help." She answered with a gentle smile.

"Thank you Christine"... he replied quickly pulling on Caesar's reins; taking off in hast to catch up with Nadir.

...

I quivered as the lightning streaked across the window pane, following a loud crack of thunder. I tried to pull the blankets over my head in attempts to block out the sound hating storms like this, with its never ending fury.

I trembled slightly as I heard my bedroom door creek open.

"Oh no!" I gasped thinking my father was coming to punish me again for being frightened. He was always smacked me around whenever I showed fear or weakness in front of others. Father would often yell or curse telling me that he would give me something to fear.

I cried out a little when I felt something climb on my bed. My eyes were squeezed so tightly shut; bracing myself for the beatings to begin.

"Don't be afraid" a ghostly voice called out to me. Stunned by this voice, I reopened my eyes and peered out of the covers only to see this teddy bear dancing at the edge of the bed. The bear jumped and whirled around in circles before landing once more.

"Never fear... I am here" it told me. It looked like a normal brown teddy bear, wearing blue covered faded overalls with a missing pocket button. A smile formed on my face watching the bear dance; forgetting about the storm.

Suddenly a boy wearing a fabric mask covering half his face appeared from behind the dancing bear, with a smile on his face.

"Erik!" I squealed with delight upon see my brother. With the bear in hand Erik climbed up on the bed crawling to me; sliding under the covers making a tent. The only time we saw our faces was when the lightning lit up the sky.

"Make it stop Erik." I cried covering my eyes again after thunder rang once more.

"I can't stop it brother" he replied.

"But you can... You know magic... I've seen you do magic before. Please make it stop!" I begged. Before Erik could answer a loud crack of thunder boomed across the sky, causing me to shriek in terror.

I heard Erik hold his breath and felt him go tense. He too probably felt what I feared that father would come this time and thrash me for sure.

Erik took a deep breath and slowly climbed out of bed.

"Wait... w-where are you going?"

At the door I could see Erik slowly turn to me...

"Don't worry little brother..." he told me. "I've been through this many times before... What's one more scar."

My eyes widened in fear knowing exactly what he meant... how he had been mercilessly at the hands of our father countless times before. There were times Erik would anger father so... on purpose just to protect me when father would lash out in his drunken state...

Suddenly we both heard father barrelling down the stairs with tremendous force; hearing his belt buckle clang along the banister as he went.

"Whatever you hear, do not come out..." Erik said quickly. "Close your eyes and cover your ears and think of my magic. Promise me... do not leave this room!"

I forced myself to nod promising him... even though I did not want him to go as I feared for his life.

Erik then quickly shut the door and waited... putting himself right in father's path.

I did my best to block out the sounds. But nothing could muffle someone being tossed violently again the walls; shaking the house. Erik didn't even scream which only fuelled fathers temper even further.

Eventually things got quiet. I feared father had succeeded in killing Erik this time. When I felt it safe enough I ventured quietly out of my room through the destroyed hallway, up to the attic to Erik's room...

My breath got caught in my throat as I saw him lying limp discarded on the floor. I ran to him tears streaming down my cheeks once again. He was lying in a pool of his own blood and had numerous slashes on his body from the belt buckles. His mask was off also tossed carelessly on the floor. I was used to his deformed face by now, but it was worse than ever, from being kicked thrown around.

He looked dead... but to my relief I saw the rise and fall of his chest and heard his ragged breaths, confirming he was indeed alive. Not wanting to leave I gently placed his bear near his chest and laid down beside him on the floor. I lightly wrapped my hand around his bloodied one, and hoped he knew I was there with him, knowing he wasn't alone.

It was then I felt a tiny squeeze on my hand...

"Thank you... Erik" I sobbed lightly to him...

"I love you" ...

...

My head throbbed as I woke from my sleep; sweat and hair matted to my forehead. For hours I was coming in and out of sleep from the medication that Erik and Nadir had given me. Tears were still streaming down my face from the dream/ memory from long ago... It seemed so fresh in my mind now. I felt so sad a lost as I fought back the tears not wanting to feel this way.

I was still so angry at Erik. When the two came earlier to re-break; set my leg and give me medicine. I gave Erik hell. Nadir tried his best to diffuse us both. And for some reason Erik was not lashing back as much as he did before... maybe feeling remorse. But anyways I vowed not to let him win, or forget how angry I was. Maybe I was acting immature... but I was in so much pain; physically and mentally, and he didn't care... not at all!

I looked around the room and saw I was alone. 'Good'... I said to myself not wanting to give in to any feelings and seeing Erik or anyone else... I tried to block out that memory by thinking back to the fight and how cold Erik and been for years towards me. But still the images of when we were younger. Before sending Erik away, the night of the storm; the closeness/ bond between us still invaded my mind.

I growled in anger now and I desperately grabbed anything a pillow anything soft to cover my head to bury myself in attempt to block everything out perhaps fall back to sleep.

Whatever I grabbed; against my face had an odd familiar smell to it... It smelled old. I knew it wasn't a pillow, perhaps it was one of my dirtied shirts.

I went to throw it across the room to my heap of laundry when something fell on my face. Feeling irritated I picked it up with my other hand; revealing it to be a button...

"A button?" I growl out loud. I was not in the mood and now my clothes were coming apart. I glanced at my other hand and my heart stopped...

'The bear!' my mind screamed ... 'I'm holding... ERIK'S BEAR!'