A/N: My muses have apparently decided that poor Christine is to remain in the company of this rather unusual aristocrat for some time...but never fear! Erik is on his way to pull her out of his clutches! Ah, but will he succeed? It remains to be seen...

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Chapter 12: "The Cinderella Ploy"

Erik

The cool night air whistled gently through my raven hair. The spirited black stallion I had chosen to steal bore me inexorably toward what I hoped would be an emotional reunion with my beloved.

It had been quite easy for me to acquire him. I had always had an incredible rapport with animals. In fact, I had even preferred their company, as they accepted me without question. They never grimaced in distate when receiving food from my hand, nor did they bristle aggressively when I caressed their rough fur.

As I rode along, my heart pounding almost in time with the horse's hooves, my mind raced along, as well. I was fairly certain that she would have headed back to Paris, so it was on that road that I had hastily set out, leaving all our belongings behind in the room at the inn. I refused to consider the possibility that she might have chosen to go elsewhere. Nevertheless, I felt an inexplicable dread. Something was telling me that she was not going to that destination...Shaking my head with great determination, I kept my eyes on the road, aided by the waning moonlight I hoped would not vanish completely, urging my horse on to greater speed. The valiant steed followed the commands I gave him through the pressure of my legs upon his steaming flanks, the gentle tightening of the reins, and the soft murmurs that reached his ears, praising his efforts. Animals, even more than people, readily respond to gentleness and praise.

The miles passed swiftly, and I began to calm down slightly. I reasoned that, if she had somehow been able to find a coach, I should be able to catch up with her. Although the concierge had told me that no coach heading to Paris would be coming by until morning, I knew that she had somehow found a way to leave the town. I had briefly entertained the thought that she might have found some place to hide from me, until she could take the coach in the morning. However, I had quickly discarded it. My instincts had never failed me yet, and they were telling me, quite firmly, that she was no longer in the town.

Christine

I glared at the ridiculous specimen of maleness before me. Handsome and rich he might be, but he was obviously a dangerous fool, one that could not easily be crossed...

I now smiled at him, attempting to allay any suspicions he might be having about me.

"You say she's your mother, Monsieur? So I am to stay at her chateau?"

He nodded, immensely pleased with what he considered a brilliant idea.

"It would be most appropriate for you to begin to get acquainted with your future mother-in-law, my sweet little dumpling! Do you not agree?" He smiled what he probably considered his most dazzling smile, but its effect was totally lost on me. There was only one man whose smile could instantly make my heart burn with intense love...

"Oh, most definitely! If you intend to marry a woman, you should present her to your mother as soon as possible! Never mind the fact that the woman herself does not wish to enter into a relationship with you!" I laughed sarcastically.

He smiled again, although with an obvious undercurrent of anger. He simply ignored my comments.

"I do believe, Mademoiselle, that we must stop for a short rest. The horses must be tired, and you yourself would welcome the chance to stretch your legs, I am quite sure."

He then rapped on the roof of the coach with his walking stick, glancing pointedly at me.

"You shall make no attempt to escape, Mademoiselle. I have a trusted coachman and his assistant with me. Additionally, there is no town near us for miles all around. You would become hopelessly lost!"

I nodded, then looked down at my hands. I knew that my chances of flight were slim indeed. Oh, Erik, what a supreme fool I've been! How could you ever forgive me?

The coach came to a gentle, rolling halt. Dupres opened the door on his side, alighting with the agile grace of a born sportsman. Turning, he then reached into the coach, in order to hand me down.

"Thank you, Monsieur, but I am quite capable of getting down without your assistance!" As I spoke, I grasped the sides of the door, and carefully stepped down.

He smiled tightly, but remained silent, for which I was most grateful.

Erik

Thoughts continued to whirl through my mind as the stallion swept by moonlit trees and sleeping, untilled fields. I felt that I was getting closer to my beloved. How I longed to see her! I wished to allay her fears. I wished to take her in my arms, and gently soothe her hurt emotions with my tender kisses, begging for her forgiveness. Ah, my sweet, angelic diva! Will you eternally fear me? Am I to be nothing to you but a terrifying monster? Angry tears stung my eyes as these thoughts tormented my mind.

The moon abruptly disappeared behind some clouds, and I was forced to slow the horse down. I would not risk injuring either one of us, not when I felt we were so close...

The stallion slowed down to a canter, then a trot. His mighty flanks heaved with his labored breathing, and I realized, with a pang of guilt, that I had been pushing him too hard. I therefore slowed him to a walk, easing up on the reins. The stallion snorted, tossing his head, and we went on thus for what I calculated to be two more miles. I was not pleased at this delay, as I knew Christine had a head start of several hours. On the other hand, it would not do for my mount to be exhausted before we had any chance of reaching my fleeing betrothed...

Christine

I walked a few steps from the coach, closely attended by the watchful Dupres. I turned away from him, crossing my arms in front of me, and stared up at the moon, thinking of Erik...Anxiety once more rose in my heart. What was he doing at this moment? The thought that he might be making another attempt on his own life was haunting me...It would disappear from my mind for a while, only to return, stronger than before. I fought to control myself, as I did not want to give in to tears again in front of this man.

"We have a long ride ahead of us still, Mademoiselle. However, we may rest here for a few minutes. Then we shall be on our way again."

I felt a mixture of dread and anger at these words. Would Erik, I began to wonder, have decided to come looking for me? A burst of hope blossomed within me, as well as a sudden inspiration.

I turned back to Dupres. "If you please, Monsieur, I would like...a little privacy at the moment." I hesitated, knowing that I had to make this believable. So I ducked my head, pretending embarrassment.

"Ah, yes, I understand, my dear," he answered, to my vast relief. "I shall not be far, should you...ah...require any assistance..."

"I will be quite all right, Monsieur," I replied, as I ran off to the nearest bush, as if I were in a hurry to relieve myself. Once hidden behind it, I felt my clothes, trying to find something that would be a sign to Erik...I had nothing, unfortunately. I would have to rely on a little accident that had taken place in a fairy tale...I slipped off one of my shoes, hiding it in the voluminous sleeve of the Persian robe I was wearing.

I slowly walked back to the coach, intently watching Dupres, whose back was toward me. He was talking with the coachman, and seemed to be temporarily off his guard. Noiselessly I approached the coach, holding my right hand behind me, as I gently allowed the shoe to slip down to the ground...

Erik

At last, having rested the stallion to my satisfaction, I pressed on, now aided by stronger moonlight. On and on we went, this magnificent horse and I, throughout the night...

The first rays of the softly rising sun were bathing the landscape in golden hues when I again decided to allow my equine companion a well-deserved rest. We slowed down once more, both of us gratefully breathing in the crisp morning air.

The road was softly shaded by beautiful trees whose verdant splendor nearly made me forget the urgency of my errand. I, who was assuredly a creature of the night, now wanted to linger in this French version of Paradise...I wanted to smell the colorful blooms all around me, perhaps plucking a few to adorn the temples of my adored Christine...It was to her I owed this new appreciation of daylight's treasures. She was a creature of the light, of delicately-scented flowers, of flowing streams and open fields...I, on the other hand, was born to darkness, and the despair of a desperately unwanted solitude...

I brought the stallion to a gentle stop, and dismounted. Speaking softly to him, I caressed his elegantly-shaped head, and his ears came forward as he nuzzled my shoulder. Then I pulled the reins over his head, and led him along. He was covered in sweat, which was not a good sign. He needed a good walk to cool him down, if dire consequences were to be averted.

We walked through intermittent patches of sun and shadow, alone on the road. If it weren't for the fact that I was in pursuit of the one woman my heart longed for, I might have thought that I was on a well-deserved vacation trip in the country. It was an incredibly gorgeous day, one I wished I could have shared with Christine...

So we walked, and I did not expect to encounter anything unusual, certainly not a slim Persian slipper, embroidered in bright colors, lying in the middle of the road, right in my path...

My heart jumped alarmingly as my eyes fell upon the slipper. I came up to it, wondering what sweet fate had given me the luck to encounter it. Had I not rested my horse when I had, I would never have seen it. Indeed, I would have speeded right past it!

I knelt down to pick up the slipper, staring intently at it for a moment as I turned it over. The sole was encrusted with fairly fresh dirt, which meant that she had alighted from the coach she was probably traveling on. They, too, had taken a rest, and not too long before I had made my fortunate find!

With renewed hope in my heart, I hastily mounted my stallion, tucking the slipper into a small pouch on the saddle. Flicking the reins, I resumed my swift pursuit.