Chapter 2

Erik POV

I felt anger well up inside me as the man approached Elise again.

"Hello, I'm Jack, Elise's brother. Lissie, I've finally found a park for us to stay in. It has a rather lovely grove of trees to sleep under."

"WHAT!" I asked incredulously. "Do you not have a place to stay? Money for a hotel?"

Elise glared at this "Jack" and slightly shook her head

Elise POV

I glared daggers at Jacques and slightly shook my head, signaling him, "no, not him." I guess Erik took my head-shake as our answer.

"Well, then. I humbly offer to share my home with you," he suggested with a smile. I widened my eyes in fear, knowing what Jacques had in mind.

"Oh, Erik! We couldn't possibly-" He cut me off.

"Oh, I insist, Mademoiselle Elise. I have plenty of room, I assure you."

"Well, if you say so…" Jacques replied, smirking at me. "Thank you very much…what is your name, kind sir? I don't believe we've been properly introduced."

"His name is Monsieur Erik," I said. "Why don't you GO and get our suitcases and place them by the table."

"OK. Thank you again, Erik," he said, finally leaving us.

"Thank you very much, Monsieur, but you couldn't possibly want to house two strangers." To my surprise, Erik grinned.

"It would be an honor to house such a beautiful young woman as yourself," he said in turn, leading me to the dance floor once again. I blushed again, flattered.

"So how long do you plan on being in France? It is obvious that you are not from around here."

Well, we are from America, but we have been recently orphaned, and thus are traveling Europe looking for family that originated here," I lied.

"Well, no matter how long it takes, you are most welcome in my home," he replied with a warm, sympathetic smile.

Erik POV

I found no ill feeling toward the world; my bitterness gone and my happiness restored, all from meeting this exquisite young woman. I shockingly found myself asking her to stay as long as she needed. Nadir casually walked over.

""Bonjour, mademoiselle," he said with a flourish. I grew angry. He was taking her attention off of me!

"Elise, this is Nadir, my assistant, as well as my friend. Nadir, this is Elise. She and her brother will be staying with is for a while. If you'll get the carriages ready to go we'll be leaving soon, if that's okay with you, mademoiselle."

Elise POV

I was amazed by this far eastern man. He was very handsome in an appealing exotic way.

"It is quite a pleasure to make your acquaintance, monsieur!"

I found him quite attractive, but I was more drawn to Erik. As he left, and I became more accustomed to this Erik, I began to speak.

"Erik, would you like to dance one last time?" He nodded and held my hand as we made our way to the dance floor once again. As we slowly danced our way around the room, the lights dimmed to create a more romantic mood. I knew the tune from somewhere, and I found myself humming along. I pulled Erik closer and laid my head on his chest.

Erik POV

I tensed as she gently pressed her head to my chest. What game is she playing in which she'd prey upon this hideous beast? Then, I heard her humming. It was as if an unearthly being was in the room. Her voice slowly grew in volume until she was singing. It was rough around the edges; strange and unexplored, yet alluring and beautiful at the same time. The people around us stopped and spread to the sides of the room, listening. We were soon the only ones in the room dancing. As the music ended, so did the trance she held me in. She stopped singing, and we silently left the room hand-in-hand and made our way to my mansion.