I picked up a new reader, welcome Opera Dove, I am glad you like what you have read so far, I realize you posted on chapter one, but hopefully, you will get here eventually.

And thanks again to Pertie, OperaLover, Mlle.Fox, and hunting4max; you gals are the cream of the crop!

Enjoy

If it is well with your soul, you have everything that matters. If it is not, nothing else matters.

God's Best for Your Success

I Surrender All

CAUTION: CHILD ABUSE DEPICTED

CHAPTER 11

The laboratory was dark and gloomy, making the boy feel at home…for that was what he was used to. He was tied in the corner, not knowing why he had been brought here from the cellar.

He watched as his captor approached him with malice on his face. The boy was aware of the stench coming from the man…he reeked of death. The man untied the boy and yanked him by the hair.

"You are nothing but and animal…a demon from the loins of Satan." The man jeered as he strapped the squirming boy to the examination table.

The boy watched as the man moved determinedly around the lab, picking up various instruments and chemicals, his heart beating frantically in his young chest.

"She dared to call you my son…whoring wench…how could you be my son…look at you." In the man's syphilis infested mind, the boy before him was twisted and turned, his flesh mangled and mutilated – he looked like a gargoyle.

The boy tried desperately to see his horrid skin and mangled features, but all he saw was a boy. Maybe he could not see the things this man saw.

"I must rid you of the infested flesh…I must gore it out of you." The man spat while walking leeringly. "You don't deserve to live, but I will show you mercy." The laugh that followed sent shivers up the boy's spine.

A hot, searing liquid was poured on an instrument made of metal and the man approached the boy with a sick grin on his face. The boy's survival instinct kicked in and he frantically pulled against his restraints…why? Why was this man doing this to him?

The shiny instrument of torture inched its way toward the boys frightened face, and he caught a glimpse of himself in its reflective pool…he saw perfection; dark green eyes, wavy black hair, perfect cheekbones, full lips! No! He couldn't do this! His mind, with intelligence way beyond his three years, screamed against the coming torture.

The man dribbled the chemical on the boys right cheek, causing the flesh to boil and raise…he took the blunt side of the instrument and manipulated the flesh, carving it into whatever the man had pictured in his sick mind. He continued with his ministrations, causing the boy to pass out from the pain…but his active and functioning mind cried out…

'NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Erik jerked and bolted in the bed, screaming with the force of the pain he was sure was real.

His mind could feel every aching inch of flesh as his father sought to rid it of its sin. Erik clawed at his face, trying to remove the offending instrument that bit into him with the pain of a dull knife. His searching hand caught hold of the mask and threw it across the room, completely unaware of its purpose.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Karlie shot out of bed as if she had been burned, pulled her robe over her form, and headed for the hallway. She had heard the most tortured screams coming from the supposedly empty room next door.

She did not bother knocking, for she continued to hear the man as his screams turned into a pleading whimper. Roland came running toward the room from his office, he had decided to pull an all night session, getting ready for the coming season. He knew that it was Erik behind that door.

Karlie managed to get the door open with the master key that Roland carried. The sight she found made her blood run cold. Roland ran in before her and approached the figure in the corner.

Erik had crawled from the bed and huddled in the corner, carrying the blankets and sheets with him. He was curled up in the fetal position, with blood dripping from the wounds he had inflicted on his face, and his shirt and hands were also covered in blood. His lips were moving as plea after plea was whispered from them.

Audrey had warned Roland that Erik often suffered nightmares…but had not had them as often lately. Audrey had stated that there were times he caused himself pain, but the next day he would be unaware of what happened, wondering where the wounds came from.

Karlie covered her mouth with her hand, holding back the sorrowful cries she was shedding for this wounded man. She heard Roland address the man as "Erik" and knew immediately that this was the new vocal teacher and financier and the man Audrey had written her about.

The man was trying to escape the darkness that was surrounding him. He clawed at the wall, seeking refuge within its inner spaces. His somber moans were excruciating to Karlie…what torture he must have endured only to relive it like this on a regular basis.

She ran to his side, hoping her presence would calm him, but he did not seem to know that she was there. The room was cloaked in darkness, with just a glow coming from the oil lamp.

She ran and turned up the back lamp, casting an eerie glow on the room. She ran back to where Roland was trying to wake Erik, whose lean form had begun to tremble; either from shock or fear…nobody knew.

Roland grasped Erik underneath his arms and Karlie grabbed his legs and they moved him back to the bed; he was deceivingly heavy. They placed the blankets back over him, hoping that their comforting cocoon would calm his trembling; but it did not work.

"What do I do Karlie, he needs to stop trembling and calm his heart rate." Roland was worried about this man who had become a valued friend.

Karlie remembered one line from Audrey's letter that indicated something that might work. She had said that although Erik resisted human touch while conscience; it was the only thing he craved when in the strong clutches of a nightmare.

Karlie pulled the covers back and crawled on the bed next to Erik, speaking to him in calming tones and stroking his forehead. She soothed his thick, damp hair; lightly letting her fingers play across his cool, creased forehead; and caressed his bleeding, wounded cheek. Roland watched in amazement as his body calmed with her words.

"Audrey hinted to this in her letter, she said that touch has brought him nothing but pain and heartache in his life, so he resists it…but it is the only thing that calms him during his nightmares." Karlie offered. "Could you turn the lamp up some more Roland, I need to see his face and determine the extent of his injuries." Karlie was trying to ignore how good the man smelled…she remembered the scent lingering on her bed sheets.

The lamp came up and Karlie caught her breath in her throat…the man was beautiful!…well, except for the blood running down his face. His features were very masculine, with perfect cheekbones, a charming, dimpled chin; straight, aristocratic nose, well-shaped forehead…and those lips! A debate immediately went on in her head about whether or not his lips would taste as good as they looked.

The ruined flesh on the right side of his face did not sicken her…it saddened her. She had been a bit shocked at first; but then she saw the stunning handsomeness of the rest of his face, then the raked her eyes over the perfection of his body, and the marred side was soon forgotten. Audrey's letter had highlighted the way he had received the scars…but Karlie had only imagined what they looked like. The reality had been painful, to say the least.

Karlie chided herself when she found her body reacting to his obvious attractiveness, 'What are you doing Karlie…you don't even know him? What are you…a schoolgirl?'

She gently put her hand to his marred side and carefully examined the depth of the cuts. She noted that they were deep and ragged, and she also felt a familiar tug at her heart. There was something about him…

By this time, the doctor employed by the opera house was running into the room. He had been informed about the new financier and instructor and all that went with him.

His initial thought was fever, but Roland explained about the nightmares and the source…briefly. Doctor Hamilton understood and applied a salve to the wounds and started to dress them…

"I will do that Dr. Hamilton, I think he will be more compliant with a females touch." Karlie stated, showing none of the desire she felt in her voice or on her face.

"Alright Karlie, just make sure he keeps these on for a couple of days, at least….I have given him a sedative to allow him to sleep calmly, he will be a bit groggy in the morning." After one more quick look, the doctor left.

Karlie gathered some water in a washbowl and cloths to clean his face, hands, and chest from the blood that soiled them. The washroom smelled so familiar…Karlie's hand shot to her mouth and remorseful tears filled her eyes. Musk, spices and leather…this man was the stranger from her room last night!

She allowed the tears to run down her face as she remembered their verbal exchange. She had called him a beast and a monster and practically told him he was not worth her time. No wonder he had said what he said, she had treated and spoken to him the same way every other female had done; as if he was a hideous creature not capable, or worthy, of love.

Karlie pushed these thoughts aside for the time being, he needed her. "Roland, help me get his shirt off so that I can clean him up." Karlie stated, her voice cracking from the tears that were threatening.

Karlie was used to issuing orders, she had been adopted mother to so many young girls through the years and Roland looked to her for support and guidance. Her father had taught her independence and self-discipline as well as how to be a woman…maybe not so much a lady, in the truest sense of the word, but definitely a woman.

Roland approached the large man and pulled him up into a sitting position. Karlie unbuttoned the shirt and pulled it over his shoulders, then threw it to the ground…it was ruined. Roland let him gently back down on the bed.

Karlie stood up for a minute and stretched her back; as she did so, she got a really good look at Erik Clairvaux. The man was magnificent. His broad shoulders rippled with muscle and his chest resembled fine, chiseled marble with perfect muscle tone. Dark hair playfully covered the surface, making Karlie's knees go weak.

Audrey had been associated with her share of handsome men, and most of them did not deserve a second glance. Karlie remembered the horrible things she had said to him in reference to his physical body. She had called him "monster" and "beast", not realizing that she was treating him the same way every other female had treated him.

She had not seen his face, but she was certain it had been doused in pain; her words hurting him to his innermost being. Karlie winced as she thought of the damage she may have done at having any sort of friendship with this hurting man.

She shook her head to clear her mind and set about cleaning his face, careful not to disturb the dressings. She realized how impossibly long and dark his eyelashes were and thought how much she couldn't wait to see the eyes they framed.

Without warning, Erik started mumbling, his voice high pitched and lost, like a small child. Karlie thought he was talking to her, but she realized he was dreaming again.

"I will be a good monster…please don't make me take it off…" He raised his hands to shield his face from some unseen assailant, but his next words revealed the reason for his efforts, "Yves, please! Not rocks…don't let them hit me…" Erik was pleading with his unseen captor, begging for mercy. His breathing became erratic and he began to tremble all over again. The sedative was making its way through his body, but had not completely quieted him yet.

Karlie pushed her leg under his chest and lifted his massive upper body with the strength of her leg; she moved behind him and held him to her as she rocked his tremulous body. Her gentle fingers raked through his soft hair, and the fresh scent of soap and spices floated to her nose. He smelled wonderful and felt heavenly in her arms.

She quietly hummed a children's lullaby in his ear and thought about how empty her arms had been for so long. Erik filled them with such warmth, and in the process made her heart yearn for the once thing she had denounced four years ago…love.

She cried at that point. She cried for the lost, innocent boy locked up inside the beautiful man she held in her arms…and she cried for the pain she felt in her heart at the harsh reality of her fading years and her desire to have a family.

A few minutes went by, and Karlie was certain that the man himself would not have allowed such intimacy between them; he did not appear to have a weakness when conscious, and she doubted he would be willing to admit any weakness at all.

Audrey had described him perfectly, not meaning to make Karlie responsible for him; she just asked that Karlie keep an eye on him…she had mentioned that he was attractive, but her words had not done him justice.

Once Erik had quieted and drifted into a restful, drug-induced sleep, Karlie gently removed him from her arms and laid him down on the bed. She retrieved the clothes and set about cleaning him up.

She cleaned his chest, relishing how his muscles reacted to her hands. She reluctantly left his chest and lifted his left hand. His fingers were long and well groomed; with little calluses on the fingertips; she presumed they were from the piano. They were also unambiguously masculine; large and strong.

Karlie thought back to Audrey's letter; these hands had killed, albeit in self-defense, but she also had said they could produce the most wonderful music. Karlie had been angry enough in her lifetime to kill. There were a few people she would enjoy making bleed and then, enjoy laughing while they did so. Yes, she understood the desire to kill…all too well.

Karlie finished both hands and wrapped the slumbering man in the blankets. She had an overwhelming urge to kiss his forehead, but she resisted…she would have to settle for getting to know him first – he must never know that she had seen him such a vulnerable state.

"Roland, please do not tell him that I was the one who dressed his wounds or helped him in any way." Karlie pleaded. "He would not be accepting of it."

Roland nodded his agreement and they left the room after turning the lamp down. Karlie wandered thoughtfully back to her room. She knew that the verbal trashing she had given him the night before had probably been something he was used to, but it made her squirm with remorse nonetheless.

She thought about the man she had seen tonight. His face was a paradox; striking and handsome on the left side, torn and ravaged on the right. Karlie thought she would like to know what would make a father do that to his son…but the more she thought about it, she knew she didn't want to know. Just the thought that there really were monsters in the world that steal the innocence of children, like Erik's was stolen, made her want to kill the man that did this to Erik…too bad he was already dead.

To Be Continued…