Chapter 6 – Ill Made Decisions

Elizabeth sat in the middle of the grassy park and watched patrons walk down the gravel path. The midday sun shone high above. The ivory-colored dress she wore seemed to blend in well with the surroundings. She had decided to leave her hair down about her shoulders – not very typical for her but right for the situation.

Jean-Claude Cassell was going to meet her although he seemed to be running late. Her stomach was a ball of knots. Every time he passed her on the street Elizabeth wanted to faint. She was a fortunate young woman to have met such a fine young man.

If only father agreed…

To her father, Jean-Claude seemed like the bad apple fallen far from the tree. He was the only man that her father had not approved of since she had been in New York. She had made friends with musicians, construction workers, writers, and many other men in different professions. Many of them were considerably older but her father did not seem to mind. Jean-Claude seemed to be a different story.

"Why is a beautiful young woman sitting by herself in a vast park?" asked a voice behind her.

Elizabeth smiled and looked up to see a handsome young man standing behind her. She quickly stood and looked down at her feet. "The man I was to meet seemed to be running late."

"The cad!" he exclaimed. "What man in their right mind would be late to meet someone as beautiful as you?"

"I am not sure, sir. Perhaps you can take his place."

She squealed as he lifted her and swung her around. Elizabeth had never felt so safe in someone's arms before. Jean-Claude was debonair and charming. His hazel eyes enchanted her while his tanned skin seemed to shimmer from the sunlight that was cast on him. He was well-dressed in a navy blue business suit. It hugged every curve and muscle on his body. His midnight black hair seemed out of place in the colorful park.

"I am truly sorry I am late. They held a meeting after lunch."

"No worries. I would have waited here all day for you."

His lips on her forehead made her eyes close. He was always gentle with her – never forceful or crude. Elizabeth was glad to have met someone like him. It was rare to find a true gentleman in the middle of a large city such as New York.

"May we walk, Elizabeth? I have been sitting all day."

Elizabeth nodded and took his hand. Jean-Claude entwined their fingers together as he led her down the path through Central Park. The large trees that grew seemed to cast enough shade to keep them cool in the summer sun. The newspapers had reported it was the hottest summer they had been through. Elizabeth could feel the heat wanting to suffocate her. It was hard to breathe with a corset on. It was a miracle within itself that she was still conscious.

"How is your mother?" Jean-Claude asked, hoping to break the ice.

"She is doing well. Father is trying to convince her to audition for Carmen that is to be performed at the Met. She is resisting his advances."

"She must be a strong woman to do that. Even I would fall prey to his requests. Your father scares me, Elizabeth."

Jean-Claude had only met Erik once, but it was a first encounter he would not soon forget. He had gone to pick Elizabeth up for their second date. Jean-Claude thought it only proper to meet her parents before escorting her on other engagements. Her mother was pleasant but wary of his intentions with Elizabeth. Jean-Claude understood her pretensions. It was Erik that had frightened him.

The white mask was nothing compared to the anger that lay behind his eyes. Elizabeth had prepared him for her father's strange appearance. It did not startle him as much as he thought it would. The anger, however, seemed to boil inside of the man. Jean-Claude knew that a father would not be happy of a man courting his daughter, but Erik's rage was more than just protection. Erik's rage was a barrier to keep Elizabeth well guarded from any harm from the outside world.

"Please, Jean-Claude, do not let me father frighten you. He is merely a man."

"A man with a daughter who is being courted by a man." He sighed and looked over at Elizabeth. "He does not appreciate me courting you."

"It is not his decision," Elizabeth stated. "It is my life and I will be with whom I please."

"You would cross your father to be with me?"

"I would cross a lake of fire to be with you." She smiled at him and put his arm around her waist. "Do you doubt me?"

"And Nicholas?"

Elizabeth stopped short at the mention of her father's student's name. Nicholas was a young man who lived with nothing but hopes and dreams. He was definitely her father's student. Nicholas loved music – lived music. There was nothing he would not do for her father. He had been saved, many years ago by her mother and father. She was not sure if he felt he owed them a debt or was in her presence just to annoy her.

"What of Nicholas?" she asked curiously.

"He has a crush on you, Elizabeth."

She laughed and could not stop. Tears pooled in her eyes as she looked over at Jean-Claude. "You are absolutely mad."

"Am I?" Jean-Claude turned Elizabeth to him and looked at her beautiful features. He had fallen in love with her sea blue eyes and pale skin. Her voice was what did him in. He didn't want to lose that. "Am I wrong, Elizabeth?"

"Yes, you are wrong." She could not believe what she was hearing. "You are jealous of a man that holds no ties to my heart. Only one man does and that's you. You know this."

Jean-Claude kissed her gently at first and then passionately. He held her close to him – feeling the warmth of her body through the thin fabric of her dress. She tasted like sugar and honey – sweet and alluring. The sensation he felt with her would not change in a thousand years. He loved her more than anything in his life. Jean-Claude knew it was time. He must do what he was told to do.

Pulling from her embrace, Jean-Claude smiled at her. "Elizabeth, there is something I must tell you."

"Of course. Anything…"

"I have to go away for awhile."

She looked at him curiously. "Why?"

"There is something I must do – a ritual if you will."

"A ritual? I do not understand."

"Come with me. Join me and help me with it." He entwined his fingers with her. "I promise you that you will not be disappointed."

"Jean-Claude, I have no idea what you are talking about. If I just leave on day and do not return my parents would be very cross with me. Explain to me what you are doing and I might possibly get permission to go."

He sat her down on the grass and sat beside her. "There is this…group that I am joining. It is an exclusive group, Elizabeth. Only a select few are offered a spot."

"Then why would I go with you?"

Jean-Claude could not find the right words. The group he was joining was exclusive and the things it did was hard to explain. If he got granted permission to join, he could ask one other to stand beside him. He wanted Elizabeth to be beside him. He wanted her to walk the Rite of Passage with him. They were meant to be together. He wanted her to see that.

"If I am granted into this group, then I am able to invite anyone in that I wish." He smiled at her. "Elizabeth, I want that person to be you."

"Jean-Claude…"

"Please, Elizabeth. I love you."

Her heart stopped as she looked at him with tears in her eyes. The only people that ever said they loved her were her parents. She never thought, in her wildest dreams, that any one would ever say they loved her. Jean-Claude had said it and it did not give her the sensation that she had once thought. She was devoid of the happiness she was sure of that was to proceed such a declaration.

Do I love him?

"You do not have to say anything right now, but I do need a decision by the end of the week. Next Monday I am to do the trials that they wish for me to do. I do not want to go through them without you." He gently kissed her forehead and smiled at her. "You mean everything to me. I want you beside me when I am granted one of the greatest honors that can be bestowed upon a man."

"I will consider what you have told me." She smiled at him and lightly touched his shoulder. "I must go. My father has offered to take me to the opera tonight. I must go home and get ready."

"Enjoy yourself and please remember that I will always love you."

Jean-Claude watched Elizabeth walk away without another word said. The breeze that blew from the Atlantic rustled her blonde hair about her shoulders. He wished to feel the silky strands between his fingers and to feel her tremble from his touch.

She had promised everything to Jean-Claude. He would not be denied. Elizabeth would be his in due course. There would be no denying him once he had provided what she wanted from him. There were many parts and instructions and had to follow them to the letter. The Rite of Passage was one of the very few on a full page of items that he had to do. Elizabeth was a pawn – a beautiful one at that.

Did Elizabeth suspect his deception? He was doing this so that they could be together in happiness. There was a rich reward to be given to him at the end of his tasks. She promised him all the riches of the world – including his beloved Elizabeth. She had also told him that Elizabeth's father would not stand in the way. If the plan had gone according to what she had projected, Elizabeth would be his within a month's time.

He had to remain patient. His family's honor and dignity was on the line. The love he possessed for Elizabeth would have to be put on hold until he had completed what he must. Soon she would tremble beneath his touch – her milky-colored skin would be caressed in a way that only she could have dreamed of. She would scream in ecstasy and then lie sated in his arms. His warm embrace would sooth her and calm her. Lips would devour every inch of her body – driving her to the brink of madness.

Jean-Claude smiled as he started walking out of the park. Even the mere thought of taking Elizabeth every night gave him satisfaction. There would be no one to stand in the way. He would have what was rightfully his. In the process, she would have what she deserved. Everything was going according to plan.