Bishop captures Knight
Erik's horse easily cantered down the Parisian street. He was within 10 streets of the Rue de Rivoli. He thought about her sad face as he prepared to leave that morning. She had clung to his neck in a desperate attempt to steal one more kiss from his lips. "I love you Erik" She'd said choking on the words. Leaving her like that was one of the hardest things Erik had ever done. He could not fully liberate his thoughts from her. Moving further back into his hood he concealed his face from sight. The streets were fairly empty at that time of the morning.
His financial errand was complete. They would have the necessary funds to make their trip available by next day and the rest would be available on their arrival. Instead of doing all his errands accompanied by Nadir Erik chose to do them alone. Now in order to keep some of his promise to Christine he turned and began to make his way to Nadir's home before going to the lair. The streets were almost empty which he liked. Everything about him looked normal but he couldn't shake a feeling of dread which threatened to overwhelm him. He continued on his way, all his senses awaked by an encroaching darkness.
As Erik neared his destination, the horse whinnied. "Common boy Nadir is a bit stiff but he is really not a bad sort". With a chuckle he patted the animal's thick neck. The horse whinnied again and skidded. Erik flew off his mount. He crashed on his back on the cobblestones. The air rushed out of his lungs and before he could get his bearings or gulp in some fresh air they were on him. At least a dozen pair of hands held on to him and began to secure ties around his hands and neck. Through all the confusion and cacophony of voices familiar voice stood out.
"Yes, this is the beast. Don't let him get away. Tie him. Yes, yes, like that. Tighter!" screamed Léandre. The guards dragged Erik along. Still disoriented he stumbled and crashed to the ground head first. "Put him away be quick". They pulled him up and began to hoist his body onto a wagon. Erik turned to see if the vicomte was there but a thick covering was placed over him
The guards finished their work under the heavy canvas. Erik was left completely immobile. They tied him so that his elbows were almost touching behind him, pulling his arm until they were almost ripping from their sockets. His legs were tied together from his inner thighs to his knees. A short rope around his neck was tied to his ankles making him bow backwards so that he could not straighten his legs without strangling himself. His back, knees and shoulders felt as if they were on fire. A single thought never left his mind. Christine will think he had abandoned her again! From the movement he realized the wagon had started to move. The canvas was lifted off his face and he saw two guards watching him. He could see the passing buildings. One street sign said Rue de Rivoli. Nadir!
"Don't try anything. We have orders to hurt you if you do"
Erik rolled his eyes. Unlike the kindness you are showing me now.
The guard with a protruding belly kicked him in the ribs just to bring home his point. Pierrick wasn't pleased when Erik didn't make a noise but let it go. When he got his hands on him, the creep would be making noises soon enough. His belly shook as he laughed at his own joke.
Four guards carried him, took him into a building and down to a cellar. It did not look like a typical Gendarme station. Erik was dumped on the ground bound. This elicited a groan from him and a smile from his guards. They cut the binding from his neck to ankles but otherwise left him as he was. The pain was excruciating. Eventually, he couldn't feel his arms anymore. An hour later two guards returned to his cell and tied his arms and neck to the wall leaving his legs free. At last his shoulders and knees had relief. Erik found that he was unable to stand. The limbs that were numb before were now throbbing with pain as his blood began to circulate again. Tied to the wall, he was unable to change position to get respite from his aches. Before he left Léandre checked on his captive.
Erik looked up at Léandre and saw the long red scar his sword had slashed across the man's cheek. Was that what this was about or was it about Christine? Whatever they did to him his Christine was safe. He gave Léandre a disdainful look. Léandre noted and smirked at Erik's arrogance. With a motion of his hand he ordered Pierrick to approach. "Take that off" he said pointing to the mask. Erik began to panic but tried not to change his demeanor. The guard walked to his side and unceremoniously ripped the mask of his face, handing it to Léandre. Now Léandre looked down at him with a sneer. Erik turned away from him trying to hide his face by turning his head toward the wall, his heart beating hard against his chest. A disgusted look came into the other man's eye. "You ugly bastard! This is what you wanted to share with her? How can a beast like you expect a perfect woman like Christine to love you? Did her sweet pity make you believe that she loved you? She told me all about how sorry she felt for you because of your hideous deformed face. Poor girl she's a true saint." He paced in front of Erik as if he would pounce on him. "Would you deny her the complete pleasure of being with a normal man? A man she hold no pity for. A man she doesn't have to defend or be ashamed of?" Erik stretched his neck further so his ruined side was completely toward the wall. "We spoke of many things Christine and I. Women will say many things when they are angry". Léandre checked the bindings and without another word left the cell.
As much as Erik wanted to ignore Léandre, the doubt was planted. He replayed the words over and over in his mind. He gave himself every reason he knew that proved that Christine indeed loved him. Yet, there could be some truth to Léandre's words. Had she in a moment of anger told Léandre she pitied him? Had she betrayed him again like she did on the rooftop? Erik lay all night wondering about her loyalty. If they held him here for long would she be able to get out of the cave? How would she get to Paris?
In the morning Léandre had the guards replace all the rope bindings with metal ones he brought in. Léandre made sure Erik's neck collar was adjusted so that his disfigurement was turned out away from the wall. He would be unable to hide his face. "You will not hide here!" he laughed. "Let's show the world the beast you really are". Turning to Pierrick he said. "Keep him on display at all times. Absolutely everyone who comes in here is to be shown the Beast of Paris" He clapped loving the idea of his new name for Erik.
"Bring that mirror here" Léandre commanded. Pierrick handed him a mirror. Léandre placed the mirror in front of Erik. "Look into it beast!" Erik ignored him and received a kick to the stomach from Pierrick. "Look into it". Again he refused to look at his image. The punishment continued until his bruised stomach muscles were too bruised and could no longer protect his insides. Another kick and he was forced to empty his stomach where he was. Out of breath Erik looked into the mirror. It had been a long time since he had done that, years in fact since he had seen his face without the mask on. He had forgotten how bad it was. Erik was both repelled and fascinated by the horror he saw. The lumps and valleys made of red mangled flesh. In some parts the bone showed just beneath the skin, the veins just under that. In other parts the flesh was raised and puffy. There was no animal on earth that resembled this. To be called a beast was a complement. As much as he wanted to he wanted to look away and couldn't. His mind took him beyond his mother's house where he had first seen his face in a mirror; back to the Gypsy carnival. By the time Léandre tired of his torture, Erik's eyes could no longer see although they seemed attached to the mirror, his mind was clouded with memories. When they let him go he slumped against the wall fell asleep.
Léandre enjoyed seeing the horror in Erik's eyes as he looked at himself. It had been fascinating to see the beast start to talk to himself in the mirror as tears washed his face. He didn't think that Erik had been totally aware of what was happening. Gleefully he wondered what would happen during tomorrow's session. He had to remember to add that to Pierrick's instructions. At least an hour's time would be reserved for his narcissistic captive to enjoy his visage in front of the mirror everyday. Why it was only fair that a prisoner be allowed to preen a little. He laughed at his own joke. Even if he had to let Erik go eventually, with the image of his repulsive face fresh in his mind he didn't think Erik would dare go near Christine again. Her delights would be for him alone without the disgusting beast to challenge him.
A/N: How do you think Erik will get out of this one, or will he? Please review.
