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BEYOND THE SHADOWS
CHAPTER 5
Later that evening…
"Erik, you can't hide down here forever." Rachel teased, as she and Rebekah approached the broad back of their brother.
Erik chuckled at his little sisters words, "I most certainly can…it's my house and I can hide wherever I desire to."
He turned to take her in his embrace, so thankful to have her home and back under his protective care, "Rachel, you look splendid."
Rachel looked up into the endless green eyes of her brother. He was dressed in casual grey slacks and a dark green polo shirt. His white half-mask covered the right side of his face from just below his nose to the hairline.
They had been able to talk him out of the full mask; they had tried to convince him not to wear one, but he insisted. He designed the half-mask for his own comfort, no one else's.
He was an arresting figure; very debonair and suave, but also very handsome; if they could just convince him of that fact.
They finally went toward the fireplace and sat down on the divan. "How much have you told them about me?" he finally asked.
Rachel smiled and looked over at Rebekah – then back at him, "Only enough to gain her interest…that's why you need to see her."
"I know what she looks like, I've seen her picture…our business can be conducted without face to face contact…" Erik shifted uneasily in his seat, "…I don't think she's ready for that yet." He replied.
"I think you mean you're not ready for that yet." Rachel infused.
Erik deliberated over the fact that Christine Daae was a guest in his home. He had long admired her exhaustive work with the people of the Middle East, and the victims of the Tsunami and hurricanes around the states.
Her coverage on 9/11 had been touching and retrospective; taken from angles that others had never thought of…she took his breath away with her honesty, straight-forwardness, and depth of character.
Her depiction, through words, of these horrendous events had prompted Erik to donate money and supplies for the relief efforts going on all over the world.
When he had the chance to see her picture, her beauty riveted him. Upon finding that Abigail had finally hired her, he had to allow himself this rare opportunity.
Erik chuckled lightly, "My sisters…you know I am not a very trusting, nor a very well-versed man when it comes to women…" He dropped his eyes to the flames and smiled slightly, "…I do not wish to create a scene in which I will be gawked at or pitied, I'm not fond of either reaction." He looked up at them both, "Besides, she will come looking for me…I am sure of that."
Right after he said, Christine braced herself against the door; she had followed the sisters, wanting to find out where their mysterious host was hiding himself. His ghostly presence was felt everywhere in the house; and, on top of being disconcerting, it was frustrating.
She slinked up to the door, after following at a distance. They had come down a vast, stone staircase, through a long tunnel, and were now in a beautifully decorated room at the end of the tunnel…he was in the basement.
She used her martial arts training to be as silent as the night and move along the walls where the shadows hugged the perimeter. The sisters had no idea they had been followed.
"Erik, when are you going to realize that not all women will react to you the way Lana did…," Christine heard Rebekah say, "…you deserve better than her."
The masculine reply was dripping with sarcasm and malice, "Oh yes, Rebekah…I deserve better than a stunningly beautiful woman who could, at least, tolerate my presence…" his rage was centered on himself, not her…and she knew it. "…I'm such a catch for any young woman!"
"Don't compare all women to her, Erik." Rebekah heaved back, "You know what kind of woman she was…she used you to gain access to your bank account and status…nothing more."
Erik fixed scolding eyes on her, "What else am I to expect from a woman, Rebekah…mmm?" He spat, "I have nothing to offer except my riches and status…I have no other redeeming qualities."
"I can't talk to you when you get this way, Erik…you refuse to see the good man that you are." Rebekah finally murmured, turning her back to him.
"I'm sorry." He uttered, coming up behind his sister and placing his hands on her shoulders.
Rebekah turned in his hands and embraced him. "I miss you Erik…I miss the man you were before that…woman hurt you."
Rebekah used the word "woman" loosely, knowing that Erik would not approve of the many vulgar adjectives that came to mind when thinking about or discussing Lana.
Christine shrank back into the shadows even more, hearing footsteps draw close to her. She heard them stop, and strained her ears to hear what was being said.
The next words he spoke were so full of loneliness; it made Christine's eyes fill with tears.
"I was such a fool…I would have given her everything…just to bask in the glory of her beauty." His voice was so beautiful and full of pain.
Rachel finally spoke up, "Erik, she never let you kiss her, or even caress her…that is not a relationship."
There was a few moments of silence before he responded, "It didn't matter…I have resolved myself to living without physical love…I would be content to have a woman as a companion with whom I could share my love of music and art…" He chuckled quietly, "…she would be someone I could actually call a friend…I would never touch her…but I don't see that happening."
Rebekah and Rachel both shook their heads in disgust at his lack of self-esteem. They had given this speech before and he had responded in like form on those occasions, also.
"I don't know which is more pathetic; the fact that you think you will never find a better woman than Lana…" Rebekah stated, disappointment in her voice, "…or the fact that you are hiding, like a scared animal, from humanity."
Normally, Erik would have taken offense to someone talking to him like that, but Rebekah was his conscience. She hated his moodiness and self-loathing, and she made sure to let him know it…all the time.
"Erik, you flew this woman all they way from New York…the least you could do, is talk to her…face to face."
Erik looked at Rebekah and shook his head…she was right; he needed to put his reservations and concerns aside, and be the host he needed to be.
"I will talk to her tomorrow…right now; I need to go for a run." He mumbled.
His voice was low and pained, causing Christine to strain really hard to hear him. She could almost physically feel the self-hatred emanating off him.
She crouched down in the dark corner, allowing all three of them to pass her…all she saw of Erik St. Clair, was a very broad, muscular back; long, athletic legs, and a tight, firm backside.
'There is certainly nothing wrong with his physique.' Christine thought to herself.
She silently followed them to the main house and then slipped away, unnoticed, into her room.
She played it off well, approached Rachel after Erik had gone out the door; she told Rachel that she needed to take a walk.
"Sure Christine, just be careful; it's really dark out." Rachel warned, "The lighthouse does illuminate the area a little bit, but follow me." Rachel walked Christine into the parlor, opened a drawer, and pulled out a flashlight.
Christine thanked her and headed out the door, "I could go with you if you want me to." Rachel offered.
"No, that won't be necessary…" Christine stated, a little more anxiously than she had meant to. "…I just need to get out for a little while and exercise, that's all."
Rachel shook her head, not aware of Christine intent to follow Erik, "Don't you want something to eat before you go?"
Christine shook her head and smiled; Rachel watched as she walked out the door and down the sidewalk. She shrugged her shoulders, and walked back toward the kitchen.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Erik sat at the water, just listening to sounds of the night. He loved the blanket of night; he could almost feel normal under its safe cover.
He had been sitting for about a half hour, he figured it was time to do his workout. He stripped off his shirt and sweats, and stood in the moonlight in a pair of blue Speedo shorts, a white T-shirt, and white tennis shoes.
He jogged about a mile up the shoreline, turned around, and was on his way back when Christine settled down in a pitch-black corner next to the sea wall. She watched as this shrouded figure finished his jog and started doing some stretching exercises.
After a few minutes of stretching, Christine noticed the moves he was performing with such skill, as Tae Kwon Do and Karate. Christine watched, completely mesmerized. Next, he started kickboxing.
She had never seen a man move so powerfully or gracefully before. He was a master of each different, intricate move. His body was sleek and breathtaking, and Christine found herself staring. The muscles rippled on his back, legs, chest, arms, backside – everywhere.
From where she was, there was not a blemish on this man. Why would he lock himself away from humanity and say such horrible things about himself?
She was debating that question in her mind, when he turned around and Christine had to stop the yelp that threatened to expose her.
She crammed herself closer to the rocky wall behind her, avoiding his probing and intense eyes. Her breathing was erratic and she was certain he could see or hear her.
The moonlight had not granted her a very good look, but there was no mistaking what she had seen. Erik St. Clair was hiding half of his face behind a white mask…the right side; the other half was perfect – handsome, flawless, and faultless.
'It can't be!' Christine yelled in her head. "It can't be!
She knew that face…twenty years couldn't erase the image that had lived with her each day; she wasn't one hundred percent sure, but she would know soon enough.
She calmed her breathing and fought back the panic that welled up inside her. She may have been granted the opportunity she had longed for all these years; the opportunity to say 'I'm sorry'.
She stood up and chanced another look at the magnificent specimen of man who was unaware of her admiring gaze. 'Oh yeah, I'll find out soon enough…and then, we'll see where all this leads.'
She reluctantly pulled her eyes away from his splendid form and headed back to the house – silent and swift. She knew there was something more to this mystery than was originally known to her. How would Erik react once he knew who she was, if he is, indeed, who she thinks he is?
TBC