I simply want to say, a few of you commented on the fact that the first dress I chose looked like something your mothers would wear…that is probably because I am old enough to be your mother, most of you anyway.

That said, enjoy.

BEYOND THE SHADOWS

CHAPTER 24

Tomorrow was it. Lana's wedding was going to be spectacular, only because Erik had Christine by his side. They were about midway through the flight, and Christine and Meg were catching a nap while Erik read the newspaper.

They had decided to fly on a commercial flight, just to save on time. They went a little faster than Erik's personal plane. Their next stop was Atlanta, Georgia. They would rent a car from there and drive to Savannah for the wedding.

Meg was going to go on to New York and meet them there tomorrow afternoon. She had gotten the job at the University of Glasgow and was going to arrange to have the few belongings she desired to keep, sent to the apartment she had found in Glasgow. She and Rachel had decided to become roommates.

Erik wasn't to thrilled about his little sister moving out on her own, but he was happy for her and Meg. They had a great deal in common and needed each other's friendship.

Erik roused Christine and Meg as the flight touched down in Atlanta. He was growing anxious about meeting his mother. He just prayed that all went as well as he hoped it would.

It felt odd to be back on American soil; in just a little over a week; Christine had come to think of Scotland as her home. Not that it really mattered where they lived; her home was anywhere Erik was.

The airport was a madhouse, as the Atlanta airport always was, but Erik had made sure their car was waiting for them as soon as they arrived with their luggage.

He had rented a Jaguar, his favorite make of car. He had the luggage loaded into the car and they headed to the rental cottage to change for the wedding.

Erik had procured a rental cottage on Broughton Street in Savannah. He had booked it on the internet and everything was paid for.

"Are you nervous?" Erik asked as they drove along the highway listening to the radio.

Christine looked at him and smiled, "Nope, should I be?"

Erik shrugged his shoulders, "I don't think you and Lana are going to get along, I was just wondering if you were regretting this whole thing."

"Don't you worry your handsome head over it, darlin'...I can guarantee that we are not going to get along, but I will not make a scene." Christine replied, with an evil smile. "But…there are a few details I may feel inclined to share with her."

Erik just chuckled, not sure why the image of Christine giving Lana a verbal thrashing was so appealing to him.

"I want to see the look on her face when she sees how beautiful you are in that dress you are going to wear." Erik chided.

"Erik, did she see you without the mask?" Christine asked quietly.

Erik didn't answer at first. He looked out the window as he drove. Finally, he looked over at her, "Yes, she did."

"What happened?" Christine asked.

"She recoiled from me, took my engagement ring from her finger, and threw it back at me…saying she could never marry a man with half a face." Erik felt unusually peaceful as he retold the story to Christine.

He was finally able to speak about the incident without feeling like a complete dolt. Lana no longer held any sway over him…that knowledge was liberating.

"I'll guarantee that your 'half a face' will far exceed the 'full-face' of her husband to be." Christine stated, emphatically.

Erik smiled, knowing Christine was willing to fight this fight for him, and he was finally at a point in his life where he would allow her to do so. He had grown weary of trying to prove his worth to people, the only ones who mattered, were Christine, his sisters, Nadeesh, Sachin, and his mother.

The Victorian cottage he had rented was absolutely breathtaking. The two bedrooms were decorated with antique furniture from the 19th century, there were 9-foot cathedral ceilings, intricate decorative woodwork and murals; everything was beautiful.

"Oh Erik, it's so lovely!" Christine breathed.

Erik was pleased that she seemed to like his choice of temporary living quarters. It was 11 am and the wedding was in three hours.

"Do we have time for a Jacuzzi before we have to leave?" Christine asked, slinking up to Erik.

Erik hardened as he watched her approach him with that come-hither look in her eyes.

"We have time for anything you might have in mind." Erik replied with an impish grin.

They spent the next hour and half, making love in just about every position there was. Erik had a very creative mind and Christine had an active imagination…their love life would never be boring.

"I suppose we should get out of the water before we shrivel up like prunes." Christine commented, as she got up out of the water.

Erik watched her rise up out of the water like a seductive mermaid luring him into her trap. He was ready for another round of lovemaking, but knew they needed to get ready for the wedding.

They were in the car forty-five minutes later, heading out of downtown Savannah toward the church. Erik had rented the car with global satellite link, so he knew exactly where they were going.

The church was gothic and ornate, like most churches built in 1784. The stain glass windows were each twenty feet tall and eight feet wide.

As Erik and Christine approached the front of the church, walked up the stairs, and toward the registry, Christine could have sworn that all eyes were on them.

Erik signed their name, "Mr. and Mrs. Erik St. Clair", in the registry and followed the usher toward their seat in the middle of the church, on the brides side.

Christine noticed many eyes watching their every move; many were female, each casting Erik an approving appraisal with their provocative looks. He looked stunning in the eggshell suit he had purchased for this occasion, and she accented him beautifully.

They looked like a Hollywood couple, and Christine was so proud to be on Erik's arm. She was going to make every woman envious of her marriage to Erik.

They made their way down the aisle and sat about midway down on the bride's side. The church was fairly full, and she and Erik sat on the end closest to the aisle.

Christine watched the groom walk out and stand at the front of the church. He did not impress her in any way and she was convinced that he was the twin brother of Elmer Fudd. The man could not have been more than five feet, nine inches tall. He had dark, balding hair and a puffy exterior. It was all she could do to keep from laughing.

When Lana appeared at the back of the church, naturally all eyes turned toward her. She happened to look up at the audience as she passed and caught a glimpse of Erik, and she swept her eyes up his tall, shapely form. She then watched as Christine slid her arm into the crook of his arm and possessively smiled at her.

'Who is she?' Lana thought as she continued down the aisle. 'I don't recall him being so handsome.'

Erik and Christine found the service to be rather droll, but they made it through. The man they had sing "their song", was passable, but Erik knew he had never had any real vocal training; he just was not that good.

The reception was held in the huge fellowship hall of the church. The gifts covered two large tables and Erik took one look at them and realized he and Christine had never had the opportunity to have gifts to open; he wondered how important that was to a bride.

He held her to him and whispered, "I do regret that there were no gifts for you to open at our wedding, my bride."

"I got to open you, my love." She responded and placed a lingering kiss on his warm lips.

That was the sight that Lana saw when she came up to them. A twinge of something, which she could only identify as jealousy, ate at her stomach; but she would never reveal that to him.

"My, my….what spell has he cast over you to make you enamored with him?" Lana mused, her tone dripping with mock sweetness. "It certainly can't be what lies behind that mask?"

Erik allowed the kiss to finish before his eyes turned to the woman whose spiteful spirit and hateful words had caused him hours of misery.

Christine felt the unease in his rigid spine and gently put her hand to his cheek and turned his face toward her. She placed a tender kiss to his lips before speaking.

"Erik, who is this vile creature?" Christine asked, nodding her head in the direction of Lana but regarding her as nothing more than a piece of trash.

Lana's mouth dropped in horrified shock. This woman, whose beauty was far above her own, spoke as though she knew all about Erik's awful secret and still wanted to be in his arms.

"I'm the bride." Lana pointed out, not believing the audacity of this chit. "I don't recall inviting you to this event, I assumed that Erik would bring one of his boring sisters…what are you, his cousin…or maybe Rachel's lesbian lover…I've always wondered about that girl."

Erik smirked, knowing Christine was not affected by Lana's accusative words, and that Lana was playing right into Christine's hand.

Christine cocked her head in an arrogant, haughty manner and then turned to Erik with a beguiling smile.

"Darling, she is beginning to bore me, must we stay here and endure her monstrous presence?" Christine took another look at Lana and then coddled up to his chest, "Take me back to the cottage, take that ridiculous mask off, and make love to me – just as you did this morning, and last night…and…" she captured his mouth in a passionate kiss.

Just to catch a glimpse of Lana's gaping mouth was worth the flight from Scotland – even if they'd had no other business to tend to.

Erik smiled seductively as Christine broke the kiss. He did not have a chance to respond to Lana's presence before his hand was grasped tightly in a firm shake.

"Erik St. Clair…imagine meeting you here, you're not one for social gatherings." The older man stated with a big smile. "What's it been…five years or more?" He clapped Erik on the arm, "You haven't aged a day."

"Brad Farlow." Erik finally addressed, "It has been a while…" Erik turned to Christine and drew her into his embrace, "Brad, I'd like you to meet my wife, Christine."

That was all Lana needed. Her hand flew to her mouth and she her feet were glued to the floor. She felt the blood rushing out of her body as she watched the love exchanged between the couple.

"Wife?" She exclaimed.

Christine once again cast disapproving eyes at her, not wanting her to think that this whole display was for her benefit. Erik had told Christine earlier that he had a loyal friend who would be attending...a man that Nadeesh had worked with and then introduced to Erik. This friend would be at the wedding and would open up the conversation in such a way that Lana would know exactly what was going on.

"I am hearing your name in same major circles, my man…you must be raking in the money?" he hinted, knowing that Lana did not know the vastness of Erik's wealth. "What are you now, the richest man in America?" His laughter was hearty and deep, and Erik could not help but react.

"I actually don't live in the United States anymore…" Erik responded and looked down at Christine. "I purchased an island in Europe, that is where Christine and I have made our home." He kissed her upturned mouth, "We commute back and forth in our helicopter; and, if need be, our private jet."

The look on Lana's face was priceless; although, she was trying her best to not show any reaction to this disturbing news. 'I had no idea he was so rich.' Lana thought, as she listened politely; despising Christine more and more as each minute passed.

Christine decided it was time for the last phase of her plan. She went up to Lana and graced her with a bright, beautiful smile.

"Erik is such a wonderful man…and such a passionate, creative, skilled, and inimitable lover…" Christine looked over at him and her eyes devoured him. She turned he eyes back to Lana and saw what she had wanted to see…jealousy; but she was not through…not yet.

"He has made love to me every night and day since we've been married…I'm sure it won't be long before I carry his child within my womb…" she looked over at Erik and then smiled sweetly as though she were talking to Meg, "…we want four, you know…two girls and two boys."

Lana finally found her voice and could not believe the squawk she heard in it, "How could you marry a man with a face like that?" She laughed, nervously and her words were laced with venom, "I suppose you keep the lights off and only look at him when you have to."

Lana had no idea how much in trouble she was. She didn't even believe her own words, being awed by Erik's handsomeness. She just didn't want to admit that she had lost him.

Christine lost the smile and moved within an inch of Lana's face. She towered over the shorter woman and used her size as an intimidation factor.

"How dare you even have the impudence to write what you wrote in your email. You have the most vicious, slanderous tongue of anyone I have ever had the misfortune of knowing." She spewed. "You have some nerve, getting married in a church…when God knows the evil spirit that lurks in your heart…what you did to Erik was nothing short of callous and brutal, and you will suffer for it; maybe not now, or even in the near future, but you will suffer."

Lana was backing away from the truth she heard in Christine's words…and the venom that swam in her eyes. "If you so much as look in Erik's direction or say one misconstrued word to him…you will find that I can be as formidable an enemy as you can imagine; perhaps more so."

She leaned in closer, "Do I make myself clear?" Christine spat.

All Lana could do, was nod her trembling head, "Good." Christine said. "Now, you go back to your troll of a husband and I'll go back to my handsome one."

Lana took her queue and practically ran away with her tail between her legs. Christine watched her scurry away like a frightened animal and had to chuckle. She turned around and found Erik's eyes smiling down at her.

"That was…inspired." Erik smirked and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it." She smiled back, "Now, let's get out of this God forsaken place and have some fun."

"What did you have in mind?" Erik crooned.

The look in his eyes told her exactly what he had on his, "You are insatiable!" She teased.

"Mmmm." He sounded, and lifted his perfect brow. "Perhaps it comes from doing without for so long."

"Perhaps." Christine affirmed as they headed out to the car. "How about dinner and dancing…and then a walk under the stars?"

"Your wish is my command."

TBC