ALL I KNOW OF LOVE
Erik and Christine are the creation of Gaston Leroux; the reference to Persia and some of its customs are derived from Susan Kay's book, "Phantom". All other characters and the backdrop of the story are the creations and property of GerrysJackie.
Some places and all names are fictional.
PLAYERS:
Erik – Gerard Butler - Perfect
Christine – The face and coloring of Zooey Deschanel (Failure to Launch, Elf) – and the body of Marilyn Monroe, except 3 inches taller
Gustav - Billy Connelly – Because I really like him.
Patrick Connelly - Paul Bettany – (A Knights Tale, Firewall, A Beautiful Mind)
Pascal – Mel Gibson's looks (slightly older with graying hair) with the cunning and cruelty of J.R. Ewing from " Dallas".
Madam Marie Forsythe – Miranda Richardson
James Lumpkin (the butler) – Daniel Davis (the butler from the TV show "The Nanny")
Kamilla – Georgie Henley (Chronicles of Narnia)
Duke Sergei Beauvais – Derek Jacobi (Underworld:Evolution)
Kaveh Hushmand – Oded Fehr – (The Mummy, The Mummy Returns) Thanks Mlle.Fox!
Use your imagination on all others.
This story has taken a while to develop, but I hope it has been worth it. I have several chapters already written, but I am taking my time. There is humor, drama, and romance in this story, so I hope you will enjoy it.
This rendition of Erik is one of a man who has suffered greatly in his life, at the hands of just about everyone in his life, but his spirit is still intact. He is less self-loathing than others that I have written, but he is very much aware of his self-proclaimed faults. He is dangerous and ruthless, but has had enough of death and destruction. Women are still a mystery to him, and he needs a strong, independent woman who is his equal in every way.
This Christine is not a drop-dead gorgeous woman, but her beauty is less assuming and soft…Erik will see it.
I will try to update twice a week, depending on how quickly I write chapters. I don't anticipate this being a particularly long story, but we'll see.
Enjoy.
CHAPTER 29
Erik and Christine were both exhausted from the dancing and the socializing, so they summoned a cab and left the ball early.
Gustav and Teresa made apologies for them, but also took the time to announce the imminent arrival of another grandchild.
"We have four beautiful granddaughter's, and this child is due in April…I am praying for a grandson."
Those who were told were pleased and excited and Gustav only had to answer a few stray and offensive questions about Erik's mask and his background.
Overall, people were receptive and accepting of him; and Gustav was most thankful; he didn't think Erik would make another effort to come back if he felt like an outcast.
The conversation lulled and the subject of his family came up, and Gustav was always ready to talk about his daughters and granddaughters.
Gustav already felt as though he had lost Abby, she had married the son of the wealthiest merchant in the region and she and the girls went with him everywhere.
He highly objected to that way of life for his daughter and grandchildren, but they had happily chosen it. He saw them once every two years or so.
Bethany had recently remarried and she, her new husband, and Giorgia were to come and visit at Christmas; but he missed Abby terribly.
Her triplet daughters, Alicia, Ariana, and Aldonia, were the epitome of spoiled, but he loved them so much. It had been almost two years since he had last seen them – they had just turned two before they left…now they were about to turn four.
No, he was not going to allow anything to be said or done that would offend Erik in any way; he would not have another daughter and grandchild taken away from him.
ЖЖ
"It's called suggestive hypnotism or hypnotic suggestion. I perfected the skill in Persia many, many years ago."
Erik was lying beside Christine on the bed. They had arrived at the estate and immediately readied for bed.
"Who taught you to use it?" Christine asked.
"Before the Khanum came into power and took advantage of my skills, her father was the Khan. He was under the mistaken impression that because I was so hideous of form, I had no ability to reason or think on my own."
Erik laughed awkwardly at the memory of other people talking slower around him thinking he could not understand them. They assumed that because he was deformed, he also lacked mental capacity.
"I observed the one whose skills were unsurpassed. He was an extraordinary person whose usefulness became obsolete once it was discovered that he was using his skills to manipulate the Khan.
"It was by watching him that I learned the skill on my own. I tried to use it against the Khanum, but she was not able to be hypnotized. I was forbidden to look into her eyes from that point on - she never fully trusted me."
Christine was intrigued by this particular skill. It was like nothing she had ever heard of. Hypnotism was still a new discovery and completely non-researched; but she had seen how it had worked on the baron and she was once again in awe of this man she called "husband".
"So, you just made suggestions to him while staring him into a state of hypnotic sleep?"
"More or less." Erik stated. "I altered his minds perception of certain things and certain people in his life."
"Like the way he treats Gaelynn."
Erik nodded and smiled. He had not gotten the chance to use that skill for many years. It was an invasive procedure and it required a complete disregard for the other person's privacy.
His father's lack of conscience had made him impervious to its influence and to any other mind-altering attempts.
"Thank you…thank you for being the incredible man that you are."
Christine cuddled up to Erik's chest and listened to the slow, melodious beat of his heart.
"Anything I now am or ever hope to be…is because of you." He murmured.
His words made her heart sing and as sleep crept in, Christine reflected on how happy and fulfilling her life was and thanked God for His enduring mercy.
ЖЖ
A couple of weeks after they got home, Erik received a wire from the monastery. Kaveh's concerned scowl was all it took for Erik to assume the worst as he unfolded the paper.
Christine and Beth stood in the background, all too aware of what the contents could entail.
Erik scanned the written contents and finally lifted plaintive eyes to his wife.
"It seems that there has been an accident…" Erik's voice was low and controlled, but there was an unknown quality in its beauty. "…Pascal is dead."
Christine's sharp intake of breath was all that was heard.
"There was another break-out attempt. He and his men fell down the side of a particularly tall and dangerous mountain…."
Erik didn't know what to feel. He walked past everyone and headed into the sitting room. The late afternoon sun was setting in the sky and an array of color was painted on its canvas.
He stared out over the vast parcels of land that had belonged to his family for centuries, and felt an overwhelming sense of sadness and loss.
Christine sat down beside him, and was relieved when his hand took hers. They sat there for a few minutes, mesmerized by the wonder of God's painted sky.
"I suppose a part of me always hoped he would repent and become a good man…" Erik finally stated. "…I wanted him to love me and be happy for me."
His head fell forward and his shoulders trembled. Christine did not say anything, but took his head in her arms and lowered it to her lap. She tenderly ran her fingers through the soft strands of his dark hair and hummed quietly.
He never made a sound, but Christine knew he was weeping for the chances his father had scorned by being the kind of person that he was.
"Erik…you are so blessed to have three men in your life who all think of you as a son." She watched his eyes close, but there was a slight crease on his forehead, "…Sergei, James, and my papa."
Erik's head lifted up and his black brow arched at her, "Your father?"
She smiled and placed her palm to his smooth cheek, "Yes, Erik…he told me so himself."
She continued to smile at him and then leaned in for a soft kiss, "The best parents aren't always the ones we are born with….being a parent is an honor…a gift from God."
Erik gave her a broken smile as he struggled to contain his emotions.
"Sometimes…He plants us in a borrowed garden…nurtures us and forms us as He sees fit…then, when the time is right, He uproots us and puts us in the garden He intended for us…" She knew he understood her analogy and she could see the tears sparkling in his eyes.
"…your life…with all its pain and strife…." She lifted his trembling chin and looked deep into his fathomless eyes, "…has brought you to this point in time…this moment…" she smiled through her own tears, "…don't let the ghosts of your past or the sins of your ancestors cause you to think less of yourself."
She kissed him again, stood, and headed out the door to let Erik search his heart for what he knew to be the truth.
Christine turned toward him one last time and strengthened him with her next phrase.
"If you want to see and know what a father should be, look in the mirror."
Erik felt his heart leap at her words and he gave her an appreciative smile. She smiled back and quietly left the room.
TBC
