Chapter Five

Siren's Song

Christine's throat felt raw from her screaming and her tears were all but causing her to choke. Her small pale hands clutched the iron gates in front of her as she pleaded entrance. She continually looked behind her as if something was about to jump from the darkness.

She had known walking into the woods so late in the afternoon had been folly. She had not meant to go as far into the trees as she had but it had been so beautiful she could not help but explore further.

But Christine had dallied longer then she should have and it had become dark. She hated the dark with a passion and had been unable to find her way back to the village. Hysteria had come quickly and Christine had run, old fears and threats clouded her mind. She had to get to somewhere warm and safe.

She had seen this estate purely by chance and had run to it with absolute relief. But no one had yet to open the gate and she tried to scream again but found her voice hoarse from the strain.

She collapsed, sobbing and nearly out of breath when she heard the gate open with a long creak. She looked up and saw a man looming over her with a lantern. His mouth was set in a grim line and the mask he wore on his face seemed to glow in the darkness. Christine's eyes rolled back in her head and she fainted.

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Erik fainted when the girl fell into oblivion. Rupert, who was behind him, took the lantern from Erik as he went to the girl. Without much effort he picked her up, she was ridiculously light.

"I wonder what she is doing here in the middle of the night," Rupert said, looking at her with interest.

"We will find that out when she awakens," he said. They walked into one of the rooms in the manor that was unoccupied at he set her down on the bed. Rupert set the lamp by the bed so they could see her easier.

"She is a fine looking lass," Rupert murmured. Erik could only agree numbly, staring down at the woman before him. Who was this little siren that had shown up at his door?

"Leave us, Rupert," Erik ordered. The man looked at him in disappointment.

"Are you sure, my lord?" he wondered, wanting to find out who the woman was.

"Now."

Rupert sighed and left the room, closing the door silently behind him.

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Christine opened her eyes groggily and was surprised to find that she was lying in a soft, warm bed. Whoever owned this manor must have found her…then she remembered the strange masked man and looked around frantically.

"Ah, mademoiselle has awakened," a rough voice said. Christine's eyes landed on the man who was leaning against the opposite wall. His feet were out in front of him with his ankles crossed and his arms were folded across his broad chest. Her breath left her on a shaky exhalation as she studied him through the semidarkness.

He wore snug black trousers that fitted his lean frame favorably to show his lean waist and strong, long legs. He wore a matching cotton shirt that buttoned up the front and fit rather snuggly over what looked like broad shoulders and a wide chest. His hair was black and slicked back. The side of his face that she could see was beautifully handsome.

He had a strong jaw and chin that was cleanly shaven and a pair of green and gray eyes like none she had ever seen. Who was this handsome masked man?

"Who are you?" she whispered, frightened but not willing to admit it.

"The Black Wolf," came his reply and Christine gasped. This was the man she was supposed to watch out for? She admitted that he looked dangerous but she had never thought that such a awful man would be so…sexy.

"Oh," she managed to whisper, her eyes as round as saucers.

"What were you doing at my gate?" he wondered gruffly. Christine flushed in embarrassment.

"I got lost in the woods," she whispered.

"Was there any need for the screaming?" he asked. She shook her head.

"I am afraid of the dark," she said guiltily. He snorted and she instantly felt like a child.

"Thank you for helping me," Christine said softly.

"You left me little choice, you fainted at my feet," he said. He seemed rather annoyed by the whole thing and Christine frowned.

"If you wish me to leave I will do so," she said. He seemed surprised that she had noticed his mood.

"No, I daresay you will get lost again if I let you go back out there," he said stiffly. Christine sighed, the man was rather melancholy.

"Then I thank you for allowing me to stay," she said. He nodded. He stood up straight and looked as if he were going to approach her. Christine stiffened and whimpered.

"No…please stay right there," she whispered, her fear of men coming out. He frowned and looked at her for what felt like eternity. With a sigh Erik took a step back. What had he been thinking? This girl was no different then any of the others. In the morning she would leave without even knowing his name. Nothing was ever going to change.

"Are you alright, monsieur?" she asked softly. His eyes fell on her again and he noticed the worried frown on her brows and the way she chewed her bottom lip.

"Why do you ask?" he wondered, curious.

"You looked so sad for a moment," she whispered in reply. Erik was surprised she had even noticed, not many people ever did.

"You-you may sleep here tonight and tomorrow one of my men will escort you home," he said gruffly. She nodded and laid back down. With one more fleeting glance Erik left her to rest.