Kerri and Erik decided that once they were married, whether with Kerri's parents permission or not, they were going to travel. Erik wanted to take her to Persia and Italy and Spain and Africa. Kerri almost died when she heard it; she could think of nothing better. Whether as a honey moon, or to avoid being arrested, Erik wanted to make Kerri happy.
It brought a part in him out that he was unfamiliar with to know that he was the reason she was jumping about and giggling like an idiot.
"It's called a soul." She nodded. "How does it feel to have one"
"Terrible. Now if I have to kill you, I'll feel bad about it"
"Well, I'm sorry I'm such an inconvenience to you." She twirled around in a new dress, one her mother had bought her for 'no real reason.' But there was a reason, Kerri just didn't care.
"Don't you think it's even slightly odd that she bought you something you actually like"
"Yes, I do. But I'm not going to ruin whatever she's planning by spying on her. I'm going to milk this thing"
"But what if she's buttering you up for something"
"Like what"
"Like maybe they thought you would never get married, so they sold you as a slave to some British ambassador"
"They wouldn't sell me." She snorted. But then, her mother had never bought her something she liked.
She looked at Erik, wide-eyed. He shrugged.
"I'm a cynic. Don't listen to me"
She bit her lip, looking down at her outfit. It had come with jewelry and shoes. It must've been bad.
"What do you think she's planning"
"Do you want to find out"
She nodded. He smiled, holding out his hand.
"Follow me. But be quiet"
Erik took her out into the hallway, opening a panel in the wall that revealed a narrow staircase. Kerri had been up there before; it lead to the attic.
"Take off your shoes." He said. She threw them under an end table, and Erik led her through the passage.
The attic ceiling was low. Erik had to bend almost in half to fit under it, and to top it off, they were walking on the narrow side of a 2x4 support beam so they wouldn't fall through the ceiling.
There was an air vent in every room, and there were vents in the roof to allow for air exchange.
"Wait, shh, I hear something." Erik whispered, pointing to a vent in front of them. He climbed up on a rafter to sit, and Kerri knelt down to listen in.
"….God damn that boy, Alayna! What were you thinking, agreeing to let her choose her own husband"
"I never thought she would actually find someone, Reynard! Honestly! I would love for her to marry you! But I can't just go back on my word"
"You're her mother! Of course you can! That's your job."
"And what am I supposed to say? 'I'm sorry Kerri, but you still have to marry the Duke. It's for the best.'? She'd hate me"
"We all hate our parents Alayna. It's a fact of life"
"Besides, if we force her to marry you, it won't change things. You'll never have her. She'd chop you up into little pieces"
"Damn right." She whispered. Erik motioned for her to shut up.
"I highly doubt that." The Duke snorted.
"Both her father and her brothers taught her sword play and archery. She can defend herself"
Kerri couldn't believe this. He mother was conspiring with the Duke!
"Trust me Alayna, I have it under control. All you have to do is get rid of Erik"
"And how am I supposed to do that"
"Tell her she can't see him again. Kill him, for all I care"
"Reynard, you're taking this matter entirely too seriously. It's just an infatuation"
"No, I am not! You swore to me that I would have Kerr as my wife. I trust you Alayna. Don't make me question my judgment." The Duke left, slamming the door behind him. Erik motioned that it was time for them to leave.
Kerri waited until they were back in her room before she started ranting.
"I cannot believe her! How could she do that? She's my mother, for crying out loud"
"Well, at least she feels bad about it now"
"Apparently not enough to stop him"
"Not everyone can be as brave as you, Kerri"
"That's not bravery Erik, that's self-respect." She crossed her arms.
"She was right about one thing; if he comes near me, I'll stab him in the eye"
"He might be stronger than he looks"
"So am I"
"Do you remember that one morning when you were teasing me"
"That was different, you caught me off guard"
"That's not the point. Do you remember how close I came to raping you"
"It wouldn't have been rape"
"That's not the point either. The point is that it happened. It happened, and I almost raped you. Now I know you can defend yourself, but that only goes so far"
"So I carry a knife with me all of the time." She shrugged.
"Do you think that will be the first thing you think of? Get to the knife in my stocking under the petticoat under my skirt"
"Erik, you're scaring me"
"Good. I went slowly, because I wanted you to tell me to stop. It takes a few seconds for rational thinking to kick in when you feel trapped. I know that. But what I'm saying to you is that you might not have a few seconds"
Kerri fell silent. He was right and just thinking about it made her shiver.
"Kerri, we'll make this work." Erik said.
"How? You said it yourself; my mother isn't going to stand up to the Duke"
He sighed.
"Let's run away…elope. We don't need them for a damn thing. I have a house in Nice. It's right on the beach. We can go there. They'll never find us"
Kerri was speechless.
"Erik, this is your home…my home"
"No it's not. This city was never my home. The opera house was my world, and I burnt it to the ground. And you and I both know that we could live without the socialite crap"
She smiled.
"We could travel"
He nodded. "If you wanted"
She took a deep breath. It had always been her dream to see the world.
"I'll need some time to get some things together. Three days"
"Are you sure? We have as much time as we need"
"Positive. Any longer, and I'll get second thoughts"
He nodded. "Alright then. Three days"
"Please come with us. Both of you." Kerri pleaded with Delia and Marie later that night.
"Kerri, you know we can't. If they find us, we'll be killed." Delia had ultimately supported their decision, although she was unhappy with the means to the end.
"But they won't find us! We're going to Italy and Spain and Africa and Persia! And Erik has an estate in Nice. No one will know us"
"Kerri, that sounds lovely, but we can't." This is your life. And I've spent sixteen wonderful years watching you shape it. But I can't be with you forever"
"Of course you can! You and Marie are more like family to me than my own parents! And, if you stay here, they'll throw you in jail for perjury"
Delia's mouth fell open. "You told us where you were going on purpose"
"Yes she did. But Delia, you're like family to us. It would be a shame to leave you here." Erik leaned against the bed post. He wanted them to come as much as Kerri did"
"You really are such a little monkey. I have no idea why I humor you"
"Does that mean you'll come"
"Yes, we're coming." Delia groaned.
Kerri squealed, hugging both women.
"Raoul's coming over for dinner on Friday night. We'll leave while everyone is having coffee." Kerri was so excited.
"That soon"
"Listen, you're going to have to be waiting here for us, alright? I'm going to go down to the barn and get the carriage ready. Then I'll come back for you two and your things. Kerri is going to come back up here while we're pulling around to the front of the house. I'm going to come back for her, and then we're headed to the port. There's a ferry that leaves for Le Havre at nine o' clock. We have to be on it if we want to be en route to Africa by lunch time Saturday"
"How long have you been planning this?" Marie raised her eyebrows at Erik.
"Six hours." He responded.
"I'd hate to see what you could do with twelve"
"Probably plan out the next three days perfectly." Kerri mused.
"Plus two days after that." He added.
And so the plans were made. That night, Kerri laid awake, thinking about her not too distant future.