Chapter Twenty-Four

Hidden Feelings

A/N: I noticed several people questioned what reason Sienna was kidnapped. In the last chapter it states that Sienna was just an innocent bystander, in the wrong place at the wrong time, and Leroy did not want any witnesses! But she will become important to one of the characters so hold in there! Everyone's support for this story is amazing, and I am so glad you like it! DonJuan

"Christine? Tell me about your husband," Sienna said. Christine looked up in surprise at the young woman she was quickly becoming to care about as a friend. They had been there for over a week and no one had come into the room since Leroy's last visit except for some men who came to bring them meals. Other than that they had each other to talk to and entertain. Why did she want to know about Erik? Christine had tried not thinking about him because she found it hurt. They had last seen each other the last time on such strained circumstances. She did not forgive him for hitting her and being so domineering but if anything happened to her she did not want the last time she saw him to be an angry memory for him.

She missed him. She hated herself and cursed feeling that way after what he had done to her but she could not help herself. She missed the way he yelled at her, the way his incredibly sexual voice could change when he was angry. Christine missed the way that he scowled at her when she said something completely preposterous or unexpected. Like when she had kissed him in the carriage. She had loved the way he had responded to her. To think that such a strong man could come undone at her touch was a great aphrodisiac that she wished she could feel again.

But most of all she missed the way he could be so gentle to her and make her feel needed, even if it was only for a short amount of time. Like when he had come to her in her room at Anthony's manor. She could hear how sorry he was for hurting her and the way he had held her while she slept was something she would never forget. Or the time he had come to her after she had been attacked in the ally after the opera. He had held her with such protective arms she had felt as if nothing would ever be able to hurt her.

Erik was capable of great gentleness and Christine wanted to explore that a little more closely. Perhaps her Black Knight might become a White Hero? She prayed that he would be able to help her if she was unable to find a way out of her soon. She knew she had to escape or they would kill him and she could not stand that. She knew she was smart enough to get away from a man like Leroy. She could easily outwit him. She just needed to figure out how.

"Um...what do you want to know?" Christine asked. Sienna smiled and shrugged. Not for the first time Christine realized that Sienna would have been a perfect woman for Erik to marry. She was sweet and docile and probably would never think of talking back to her husband. The perfect woman for a man who always wanted his every wish met.

"Everything," Sienna said.

"He is tall, dark black hair, lean body," Christine said, picturing him clearly in her mind.

"How did you two meet?"

"We didn't. It was an arranged marriage," Christine said flatly. Sienna seemed surprised but said nothing for a long moment.

"Will he worry about you after being kidnapped?" Sienna asked. Christine shrugged. Probably, but only because he did not like anything that was his being taken away from him. That was most likely the only reason. Sienna could only imagine what it must be like marrying someone she did not know and sharing her life with him. She admired Christine's courage and how she had stood up against Leroy even after what she was being told. She also wondered about this husband that Christine seemed so reluctant to talk about. Was he really that bad. But she was more interested in Christine's brother Anthony, who Christine never ceased to talk about. He seemed quite charming and Sienna wished she could meet him.

The fact that she was able to get along so well with Christine, even under the circumstances, was amazing to Sienna. Christine was obviously of nobility, it was in the way she talked and held herself and the way she had dressed when they had first been brought there. Sienna was from a poor merchant's family and had always thought that most noble looked down their noses at people like her, she liked that Christine was different.

"Sienna...if I find a way out of here, will you help?" Christine asked suddenly. The other woman looked at her in surprise.

"O-of course...I want out of here just as much as you do," Sienna said.

"If I do not get out of here they will kill my husband, I will not let that happen," Christine said fiercely. She had a protective note in her voice that Sienna thought was interesting after the things she had said about Monsieur Desslar. Perhaps there was more to this couple then met the eye.

xXx

"Easy, Erik!" Nadir admonished when Erik slammed his fist into the nearest wall. Anthony, Raoul, and Nadir all cringed at the sound it made and the look of anger on the masked mans face. It had been seven days since Christine had been taken. Seven days! They had had no word of her and Erik was beginning to get violent. He hit things and cursed all the time and his relentless pursuit of Christine was wearing on the other three men. Night and day it seemed he searched for her. Anthony tried to tell him to slow down but it had only won him an angry growl.

Erik could not stand not being able to know where she was. It was killing him. What if she was injured, or worse, dead? That thought nearly had him as close to madness as he had ever been. He needed to hold her to know that she was alright. He needed to tell her how sorry he was for hitting her like he had. He hated himself for that and he wanted her to know it. If she was dead he did not know what he would do. He refused to think of that possibility

He cared something for her. He would never say anything to anyone but he knew deep down it was true. It had to be. Why else was he nearly mad with his worry for her. His spit-fire was a strong woman but he knew that she was just that, a woman. A lot of dreadful things could happen to such a beautiful woman he swore that if anyone touched her he would kill them without a moments hesitation.

He missed her comebacks and the way her eyes flashed whenever he made her angry. He missed the way she moaned and the way her body quivered whenever he touched her intimately. He had yet to make love to her and he wanted to share that with her unlike anything else. He had not wanted her in the beginning, but now he did. She was not what he wanted in a woman and yet he could not think of any other woman would ever do. He needed someone just as strong as he was and he had found that in his Christine.

"Monsieur?" one of the maids whispered, knocking softly on the door. It was obvious she was afraid of Erik and she hesitantly gave him the paper she had, as if she were afraid he would bite her. Anthony moved closer to Erik, curious to know what it was. It had Erik's name written on it in a perfect hand and Erik opened it slowly, knowing he was going to dread what it said.

Desslar,

The fact that you still grace this earth is an insult to the Delauney name. Emma, though she no longer considered some of us family, deserves to be here more then you ever will. You should never have been a part of our family, you are not fit. The sins you have committed against our family is finally catching up to you, the devil wants his due. We have Christine, if you want her to live then you must give yourself for us. Your death will release her. She does not deserve to die, you do. Do not make her pay for your sins.

L. Delauney

The paper crumpled in his hands as Erik threw it into the fire. Anthony had been reading over his shoulder and he frowned, knowing the name Delauney. Erik had a lot of explaining to do. Before Anthony could demand answers he noticed Erik had left the room quickly. Anthony tried to follow but he had disappeared into the shadows. Anthony had a feeling that he was going to give his life in return for Christine's life.

xXx

Erik ran his hand through his hair as the carriage slowly made its way to the Delauney manor. It had been abandoned for ten years or more and Erik would have never thought to look there. He had had no idea that anyone else was alive from the Delauney line except for Emma, who of course had died. He knew all to well what sins Leroy Delauney was talking about and he was willing to be punished for them in order for Christine to live. She had nothing to do with this and he refused to involve her now. He was finally paying for something that had been one event of many that had torn Emma and him and their family apart forever.

He was jostled from his thoughts when the carriage suddenly stopped at the sound of women's screams.