Demons of the Past
Ch. 13: Succumb to Me
Author's note: This is the most risqué chapter I have ever written; while it has no actual sexual content, it has many innuendos. If this is not your cup of tea, then you might want to skip this chapter. I will give a synopsis at the end-but, like my death scene in a previous chapter, it is nothing bad. I will stick to my rating…but please remember that Erik has been gone a loooong time. I had to write a little 'special time' for him; especially after all I have put him through! It's all in good taste…Thanks for reading everyone. YEA REVIEWERS! P.S. YEA NEW REVIEWERS TOO!
Disclaimers: The Martians coming to Earth told me that once they take over, they will let me own the Phantom of the Opera! And France! And all the cute little koalas from Australia!
(Deep Breath as the insanity leaves me)
And now, on with the story…
The dress rehearsal ended mid-afternoon. Erik snapped off a huge yawn, surprising himself and those around him. Erik murmured an apology, but found that tiredness hung from every feature. Christine looked at her husband in concern.
"Stefan, Raoul, I believe that we should retire now. My family has traveled long and hard, and they have had little rest. Thank you for the company, all. We will see you tomorrow for the gala." Christine spoke softly to Stefan and Raoul. A glance around her proved her words true. Brian was asleep on Elisabeth's shoulder, and Elisabeth herself had heavy eyes. Erik was the most obvious, however. He was not hiding his weariness at all; perhaps he was too tired to care what people thought. Christine put her arms around her husband's waist, and he leaned into her gratefully.
"Of course. See you tomorrow!" Stefan called cheerfully behind them as they left the box. Christine glanced at Erik.
"Love, are you all right?" Erik shook his head slightly.
"Let's go home, Christine. I just want to go home."
Christine steered the group toward the stables. She asked one of the stablehands to order a carriage for them. She turned to speak to Elisabeth, still holding tightly to Erik.
"You will get to see your new home, my dear. I do hope that you like it…" Elisabeth smiled sleepily.
"I am sure it will be perfect, Christine. Does it have a warm bed?" Christine laughed lightly.
The carriage pulled up, and everyone climbed into it. Elisabeth settled herself in a corner of the carriage, Brian still asleep in her arms. Erik sat with his covered right side facing inward toward the carriage. He leaned slightly against the window; he knew he would be unable to sleep, but he liked the feel of the cool glass against his smooth cheek. Erik lifted his head a bit when he heard the sounds of…snores? He glanced at Christine, who had heard as well, and they both glanced at Elisabeth. She was in a deep sleep, her mouth slightly opened as the faint sounds escaped her body. Erik caught Christine's eyes again, and this time she poked him slightly in the side.
"Don't you dare laugh, Erik. Don't you dare! She is so tired…"
Erik sighed and draped his arm around his wife's shoulders. "I know…I have to admit I feel responsible. We rode nonstop for two weeks; we rested during the day and rode at night. There were no breaks or stops. I was afraid that we might have been followed, and I wanted no one to find us…" Erik trailed off as Christine snuggled closer to his muscular body.
"Who am I kidding? I wanted to get to you as fast as I could, Christine…I would have rode the same pace without my siblings; Hell, I may have traveled day and night! I have been denied your touch for too long, love…I fear I shall die from lack of it." Christine was a bit confused for a moment; they had spent the small hours of the morning entwined in each other's arms, and they were together all day…she felt her cheeks flush as she realized the touch he was talking about. Christine turned slightly against him, gazing into his glowing blue-green orbs, rich with desire and wanting. She lifted her chin slightly, invitingly, and Erik took her mouth to his roughly, kissing her in a desperately beautiful way. Christine loved the feel of his lips on hers; she loved how he managed to steal the breath straight from her lungs. Christine felt the desire in her rise as well, and she suddenly broke off.
"If we…that is to say…we can't…not here…" Christine sputtered the words, her face flushed and lips bruised.
Erik gazed at her; the last thing that he wanted to do was stop. However, he knew that his wife was right. He pulled away from her slightly, leaving the warming embrace. Christine sighed in disappointment, not wanting him to quit holding her; Erik laughed lightly.
"If you want me to be a good boy and control myself, I cannot be tempted. You are the only one that can break my reasoning…my logic…all I see is passion and flames."
Christine turned to look at the still sleeping Elisabeth, feeling her cheeks burn in embarrassment. She is his sister! She shouldn't see me kiss him like that…
"But when we get to the cottage…you will succumb to me; totally and completely. Tonight, you will know such passion as you have never known before." Erik spoke in a low growl, his hand going to Christine's chin to cup her face in his hand. Christine shuddered; Erik's voice was thick with emotion. It reminded her of his Don Juan performance.
You have come here…in pursuit of your deepest urge…in pursuit of that wish which 'til now has been silent…silent.
I have brought you…that our passions may fuse and merge…in your mind you've already succumb to me…dropped all defenses…completely succumb to me.
You have brought me…to that moment where words run dry…to that moment where speech disappear into silence…silence.
I have come here…hardly knowing the reason why…in my mind, I've already imagined our bodies entwining…defenseless and silent.
And now you are here with me…no second thoughts…you've decided…decided.
And now I am here with you…no second thoughts…I've decided…decided.
The words seem to float around them, filling the small carriage with fire and fervor. Did they sing the words out loud? Or were the words spoken silently from their souls only to one another? Christine was startled; she often was when she realized how deep a connection she shared with her husband. Erik had a small smile on his lips, and he leaned over to touch the window once again with his cheek. Christine could only sit beside him; her hands folded neatly over her stomach, and pray that they reached their destination as soon as they could.
The carriage pulled in front of the small cottage after what felt like hours. The lurching of the stop woke Elisabeth from her sleep. She rubbed her eyes and glanced around. Erik was just getting out of the carriage; he turned to offer his hand to Christine, who, with some difficulty, managed to escape the interior of the small carriage. Elisabeth moved to the side and handed Brian to Erik. She hopped out herself. Elisabeth looked at the house as the last dying rays of the sun were evident through the trees surrounding them. It was a small, but cute cottage. It felt…like home.
"Elisabeth! Don't just stand there…come inside!"
The inside of the house was marvelous. It was spacious and inviting, and Elisabeth found herself wanting to linger in the sparkling kitchen. Apparently someone had been to the house before them during the day. There was fresh food in the kitchen, and the house was spotless. Elisabeth overheard Erik make a comment about her very thought, and Christine smiled.
"I figured it wouldn't be long before you wanted to return here…I took the liberty of asking a few favors from Stefan."
"You truly thought of everything, my dear. Is anyone hungry?"
Elisabeth nodded a response, but her stomach answered more loudly. Elisabeth turned bright red. Christine simply laughed.
"Come on, Elisabeth, you can help me in the kitchen. Erik, what do you want to do?"
"I know what I want to do-" Christine blushed deeply, "-but I'll settle for my music room. Did you put Brian to bed, love?"
"I did. The poor dear couldn't keep his head up. I'll take him up some supper later. You go on and enjoy yourself, Erik. You have not touched your music in so long…and I would love to hear it."
Elisabeth saw a certain look in her brother's eyes. "Christine, I'll meet you in the kitchen."
Christine laughed, and Erik predictably grabbed her up in a warm embrace. He kissed her deeply, but Christine pulled away.
"Any more of that, and I won't be able to make it through dinner…go concentrate on your music, Erik…"
Erik pretended to be shocked and saddened by her rejection, and gave her a puppy dog look.
"No looks, Erik…go!"
Erik's laughter followed her as she fled to the kitchen. Christine arrived, breathless, and took in the form of Elisabeth. She was standing with a rather amused expression on her face.
"Is love always like that, Christine? Head over heels, love conquers all kind of thing?"
"If you're lucky, Elisabeth…and what is scary to think about is the many choices that lay on the path I chose…one wrong decision, and I might not have the love that I have now. I cannot honestly imagine my life without Erik in it…and I am so glad that he has found his family!" Suddenly, the notes of piano music filled the air. Christine recognized it at once; it was the 'Point of No Return' from Erik's Don Juan…Christine felt heat rise to her cheeks, and hoped that her companion did not notice.
Elisabeth smiled broadly. "I am happy he found us as well…if he hadn't saved me from those horrible men, I wouldn't be here now…he truly is a wonderful person; the best that I know!" She turned her ear toward the music room. "And apparently he is a musical genius as well! Is that one of his own pieces?"
Christine nodded, and Elisabeth squealed. "Oh, I knew it! It's wonderful…it has such emotion…what is this, Christine? It's so passionate...and complex!"
"That's just Erik's style my dear: complicated to everyone but him. He would say that it was simple from a certain point of view…how his pieces come to him is something I will never know." Christine delicately avoided telling Elisabeth what the piece was: if Erik wanted her to know about Don Juan, he should tell her himself.
The girls continued to gossip and learn more about each other. It was an interesting experience for Elisabeth; she had never really talked to another girl her own age before. Dinner was almost ready when Elisabeth asked the question she had been dying to ask.
"Christine, how did you and Erik…fall in love? Erik told me that he had met you at the Opera Populaire…I'm so curious! What's it like to be in love?"
Christine wiped her hands on a dishtowel. "Well…I had known Erik since I first came to the Opera House at the age of seven; my father had died and I came to live and train as a dancer. Erik came to me first as a voice teacher…after all, I was only a child, lonely from the loss of my father…but very soon, as I grew older, I began to develop feelings for my maestro. At first, I thought that the feelings were completely inappropriate…but they kept getting stronger and stronger. I knew I would have to confront them eventually, but I hoped that I could just enjoy being near Erik; I was…afraid of rejection. Then Raoul came back into my life."
Elisabeth interrupted eagerly. "The Vicomte? How do you know him?"
"We were childhood sweethearts…he became the new patron at the Opera Populaire. There was a stage accident, and the prima donna set to perform the lead in our production of Hannibal decided to storm out. I was given the opportunity to perform in her stead, to my shock and Erik's delight. He felt that it was my time to showcase the voice that we had been perfecting for so many years…Raoul saw me performing as Elissa, and he remembered me from childhood. We…I don't know how it happened, but I started to feel the old feelings return when I was with Raoul. Erik was mad…he didn't want me to see the Vicomte at all-I found out later that he was jealous."
Christine took a breath and glanced at Elisabeth; she was hanging on her every word. Christine smiled a bit to herself over her half truths, but she was at least getting the story right (for the most part).
"We started a production of the opera 'Ill Muto'…and during the opening performance there was an accident in the flies…a man was killed; he dangled above the ballerinas as they performed. It was very frightening, and I fled to the roof with Raoul…it was there that I mistook safety and brotherly protection for love…I pledge myself to Raoul; I agreed to become his wife."
Elisabeth gasped. "But what about Erik! What did he do? What happened?"
"I didn't see Erik again until three months later at a Masquerade ball. He approached me, and once again I felt the connection…He told me that I was his, heart and soul. The idea terrified me to the core; I didn't want to belong to anyone! I was confused, so very very confused. Eventually, I had to make a choice: Erik, or Raoul. At first, I…didn't know what I wanted. The emotions inside me were strange and unfamiliar. Finally, I made my choice…"
Christine smiled softly. "And I have never regretted it once. Erik is my soul-mate."
Elisabeth sighed, her head resting on her hand. "I hope to find love like that…can I ask one more thing?"
Christine gathered the food in her hands and took it to the small kitchen nook. She glanced at Elisabeth, and nodded for her question.
"Erik…behind the mask…what's it like?"
Christine glanced up at Elisabeth sharply. "You must never judge someone on appearance, Elisabeth…I have seen what lies beyond Erik's mask, and I love him all the more because of it. But you must understand that there are people in this world that are cruel; they loath what they do not understand. Erik has had a hard life, Elisabeth; one he would not wish on anyone. You will have a good life here with us…Erik has accepted you as one of his own; you will never want for anything. He will protect you…"
Elisabeth bowed her head in shame. "I know, Christine…I'm just so damn curious!"
"Curiousity is not nesessarily a bad thing...but I would say this. A word to the wise, if you will accept it: don't mention the Vicomte to Erik…they are bitter rivals, even after my choice between them. I would go so far as to say their rivalry is worse. Erik…does not want to jeopardize his position as patron because of a dispute with Raoul; by the way, Elisabeth, you handle yourself rather well today. You held your tongue before it could do too much damage. Tell me, what do you think of Raoul?"
"Bah, I care nothing for the stupid Vicomte! He was so terribly rude to Erik…he didn't deserve those comments! I got the impression that he thinks a lot of himself and his title. I'd give him a good kick if I could…"
"I'll join you in that! Maybe we can cut his hair when he's not looking." Erik had joined them in the kitchen nook, and was eyeing the food hungrily. "Let's eat!"
Christine led Elisabeth to her room. She looked around her house in dismay…suddenly, with Elisabeth and Brian staying with them, and twins on the way, the house seemed much smaller than it had with just her and Erik…Maybe Erik will be willing to convert his office to a nursery, Christine thought. By the time the twins are old enough for their own rooms, Elisabeth should be on her own; married or something of that nature. They could make their little cottage work. Christine smiled as Elisabeth entered her room.
"My dear, you will have to decorate the room to your tastes…do you like it?"
"Of course! It's lovely, Christine, truly…but I must say, I don't have anything proper for tomorrow's gala…do you have something I could borrow?"
"I do, Elisabeth, but wouldn't you rather buy some things for yourself? I could speak to Erik about going shopping tomorrow…it would be great! I could show you around Paris. What do you say?"
Elisabeth lowered her eyes. "I don't have any money, Christine…I can't afford to go shopping for new clothes."
Christine waved her hand dismissively. "That's not a problem, Elisabeth; you're family now!"
Elisabeth climbed in to bed, a grateful look on her face. "Thanks, Christine…I am so glad I met you…" Elisabeth drifted off to sleep, the sheets wrapped tightly on her frame. Christine headed for the door and shut it quietly behind her.
Christine headed for her own room. She walked in, seeing the familiar room flickering in the candlelight. This was the one place where she truly felt comfortable; all false fronts and pretenses were dropped as one crossed the threshold. Christine saw the outline of her husband standing on the balcony. She sighed a bit; she had expected him in the bed asleep…
Christine started to undress, which was no easy task considering she could barely reach around to unbutton the snaps on her back. She struggled a bit more, then with relief dropped the dress to the floor. Christine's back ached; she set her hand to the small of her back. She rummaged through some drawers and came up with one of Erik's old shirts. Christine put it on and was relieved that it fit over her large stomach. Oh, how she ached! If only the pain would leave her back; then the pain in the rest of her body would be bearable! Christine surrendered to the urge to sit on her comfy bed; she had been so long at the Opera House that she had forgotten that comfortable beds actually existed. Erik came in from the night air, leaving the door open behind him.
"What were you doing out there, Erik? I though you were tired…"
Erik started to undress, eyeing Christine. "I was thinking…the night always comforts me when I have much on my mind. I am anxious about tomorrow; I don't mind telling you that the idea of people seeing my work and judging it is a bit intimidating. Normally it wouldn't bother me, but if people see this opera and they don't like it…Stefan may not want to use anymore of my works. What would we do for income? We would have to start over…" Erik finished with his clothing, standing only in his pants. He traded them for more informal cotton pants, and eyed his wife.
"My shirt looks better on you."
Christine laughed. "It's the only thing that would fit me! I didn't think to bring my clothing from the Opera House…speaking of clothing, Elisabeth doesn't have anything to wear to your premiere…can I take her shopping?"
Erik frowned. "I don't like the idea of you running around Paris by yourself; I can't go with you tomorrow because I will be needed at the Opera House…can't you loan her something, and we will go shopping another time?"
A pouting face was his answer. "Erik, it's just a little shopping! I won't go far from the Opera House…there are plenty of shops right along the same street! I want to show Elisabeth a bit of Paris. Please, love?"
Erik hesitated. "How much moving around has the doctor recommended? Didn't he tell you to take it easy?"
Christine was starting to lose her temper. "I've been stuck in the Opera House for months! I want to have fun; I want some fresh air…I want to get to know Elisabeth better."
Erik raised his eyebrow. "Anything else you want while you're demanding?"
Christine smiled. "No…" she said innocently.
They started to settle in the bed when Erik looked over his wife with a critical eye. "Christine, you are very tense! Your back…it must hurt you, love." He glanced at her with a mischievously gleam in his dancing eyes. "You'll remember what I said in the carriage? How about I start with a massage?"
"A massage? I didn't know you knew how…"
"I am a man of many talents, Madam. It is rather handy to learn a bit of everything." Erik had Christine turn to where her back faced him. Erik started at the top, working the stressed muscles. "I must keep the mother of my children comfortable…wouldn't want you to go blaming me for your discomfort…"
Christine did not response. She simply melted at Erik's touch; the soreness left as he moved his deft fingers along the fabric of her shirt. Christine moaned softly as the tension and pain disappeared. Erik stopped suddenly and leaned to whisper in Christine's ear.
"None of that now…no moans of pleasure…yet."
Christine distressed at the loss of his touch, and soon relaxed as he started his massage again. He was moving lower and lower…
Erik stopped again and turned Christine towards him. "Love, there's not much left I can do with that shirt on."
Christine laughed at him. She carefully took it off; she looked at him cautiously, unsure if he would still find her attractive.
Erik leaned in for a deep kiss. "Your beautiful, Angel…and you're all mine."
Christine dropped the forgotten shirt on the floor. It pooled to the floor as the candles went out, almost magically to cover the lovers in total, beautiful darkness.