Disclaimer: I tried to kidnap the Phantom, but failed. Therefore, I do not own him. I don't own Manistee, either, since it's a real place; I am only using it b/c it's a great town I love very dearly.
AN: Wow, I never expected to get 20 chapters into this story! That's a new record for me! Unfortunately, this story must eventually come to an end. I might write another Phantom story later, but that would depend if anyone will read it…and if my Erik muse can give me an idea for later use! Review!
Chapter 20: Breaking Away:
Never had Erik seen anything as lovely as his Clara asleep in her bed, a peaceful smile upon her face as she dreamed. Did she dream of him, of the love he had for her? He certainly hoped so, as she was the one who ruled his thoughts whenever sleep took him. Tonight, it hadn't been enough to sit outside her window and watch her…he had to be close to her, to smell her floral perfume and feel her presence near him.
A snuffling sound from the bed jolted him from his thoughts. Watching closely, Erik saw brown lashes flutter as they lifted, revealing sleepy brown orbs as his precious Angel awoke.
My dreams had been full of horrible visions, mostly those of my father, aunt, and uncle forcing me into a marriage I didn't want. I was in a wedding gown, walking down the aisle as Papa escorted me up to my bridegroom, a man who looked at me with his pale eyes and happily accepted the chain that my father gave to him, a chain that bound my wrists together behind my bridal bouquet. Everyone smiled, all of them happy…except for me.
Suddenly, I could feel another presence in the room, a familiar aura that I had felt before and found comforting. It was watchful, as though protecting me from the outside world, and I knew of only one man who had such an air about him.
'Erik,' I thought, letting my eyes flutter open and my dreams end.
There he was, splendid in black silk and cloak, his green eyes focused on me. I smiled sleepily and reached out for him. A black gloved hand enveloped mine, and I gently pulled him towards the bed, eager to have him hold me close in a loving embrace. Erik was too happy to oblige, a sweet, gentle smile forming on his lips as he lay down beside me. I could feel his strong arms slide under and around me, pulling me close to his chest so that my head lay just over his heart.
"I can hear your heart beat," I whispered to him.
From where I lay, I could hear his chest rumble as he gave a quiet hum of pleasure under my ear. He said nothing, but I could tell he was very pleased with the situation from the way his arms wrapped even tighter around me. In the back of my mind, I knew that this was highly improper, but I did not care; I was with the man I loved, and that was all that mattered. I was in heaven, and the last thing I wanted to do was ruin such a glorious moment.
As time crept by, I could see the darkened sky begin to lighten oh-so-faintly, the sun's rays slowly trickling though the window that was wide open, letting in a cool breeze from the Great Lake only a mile away. The air began to grow warm with the summer heat, and I found myself drifting into a light doze as Erik's fingers combed through my hair.
He did not wish to wake her, but with dawn coming, he must speak with her, no matter how lovely his future bride was as she slept against him; there would time enough for that after they were wed.
"Angel?" he whispered, reluctantly pulling his hand away from her warm, luscious hair. "Angel, I must speak with you before I go."
Erik heard her sigh as she woke, her head lifting up just enough for her brown eyes to meet his. "Yes, Erik?" she softly replied, eyes still clouded with sleep.
Oh, how he loved it when she said his name! "Angel, as you know, I purchased our boat tickets not long ago," he whispered, looking her in the eye as he once again stroked her thick hair. "We must leave tomorrow if everything is to go as planned."
Clara nodded against his chest. "I know," she said, one hand reaching up to stroke his chest through his shirt; he practically purred at the feel of the silk rubbing against his skin. "Should I meet you tomorrow afternoon at the bookshop?"
"As early as you can," Erik replied, his voice husky and thick as her hand continued to rub against him. Unable to take anymore, he reached up and gently grasped her hand in one of his own. "You must stop, my love, otherwise I will ravish you here and now."
To his surprise, Clara gave a rather naughty chuckle as she tilted her head up and lightly brushed a kiss over his lips. "As you wish," she said, fluttering her eyelashes at him.
A growl formed deep in the back of his throat as he carefully moved out from under her gentle touch. "I must go before I am seen," he said, barely hiding his need for her.
She sighed as she slid out of bed to stand along side him, her arms drifting up to embrace him. "Until tomorrow, my Erik," Clara whispered.
"Until later, my love," he replied, not intending to wait so long before seeing her again.
The two of them kissed their farewells before Erik pulled away and slipped out the window, vanishing into the leaves of the tree outside the balcony.
I couldn't hold back a sigh as I watched the love of my life vanish out the window. 'Oh, dear, how like a romance novel that sounds!' I thought to myself, chuckling as I did so.
However, I had to admit that it was true; Erik was my other half, the one I had been waiting for my entire life. After waiting so long, and after enduring endless lectures from my mother about not finding a husband, I had finally gotten the one thing I had always longed for in my heart…
"True love," I whispered as I went to the window, closing it against the morning breeze.
The sunrise that greeted me lifted my spirits as it cast me in a warm, golden blanket of light. Closing my eyes, I relished in the warmth I felt in my heart, knowing that, soon, I was going to be with Erik, and we would be married as soon as we left this prison that my family was forcing me into.
"Miss Clara?" called a voice through the door. "Are you up, Miss?"
I sighed, my perfect moment ruined. "What is it, Penny?" I groaned, rubbing the bridge of my nose with my right hand.
"Miss Clara, your Auntie declared that she wants you downstairs for an early morning breakfast," Penny said as she slipped into the room, shutting the door behind her.
Again I sighed. "Can't you tell her I'm ill?" I asked as I went to sit down in front of my vanity.
"Afraid not, Miss," Penny said as she brushed my hair; from the tone of her voice, she was obviously on my side of this argument. "I already tried, and she says that you'd better be dead if you're going to miss this meal! Even then, I'm afraid she'll drag you down there, just to be sure!"
Groaning, I allowed my faithful maid to twist my hair up into an elaborate bun and to curl the two locks hanging on the side of my head. I was then forced into a horrid pink dress that my aunt had purchased for me when I had first arrived, right before I told her that I despised the color. From the exasperated look on Penny's face, I knew that this had to be a way for Aunt Mary to get a small bit of revenge on me for not accepting Charles' proposal.
After I was dressed, I took a deep breath and headed out into the house, trying to prepare myself for anything. A butler announced my arrival to those seated in the dining room, and I was shocked and appalled at seeing Charles there, a bright smile on his face. I barely managed not to scowl at him, and instead merely ignored his presence as I sat down at the table, directly across from my aunt. Once everyone was in their seat, the servants raced forward to put plates of steaming hot eggs, bacon, sausage, and oatmeal in front of us.
Charles tried to start numerous conversations with me, which I pointedly ignored. As a result, Aunt Mary and Uncle Geoff declared that I was being rude and that I must answer when spoken to by Mr. Kirkland. This I also refused to do. It was terribly childish of me, but I was quite satisfied with my behavior during the entire meal. Both Charles and my family members grew increasingly frustrated, and once the dishes were cleared away and the servants gone, I braced myself for the full force of their anger.
"Clara, this is entirely uncalled for!" Uncle Geoff snapped as he glared at me from the head of the table. "You are a young lady of high standing and I expect you to act like it!"
I said nothing, merely sipped at the glass of milk I had in my hand. From the tension in the air, it was likely that everyone expected me to respond somehow, probably in a loud and angry manner. Instead, I kept quiet and contented myself with my drink.
"Oh, for Heaven's sake, this is absurd," declared my aunt. "Very well, if you won't say anything, then I will. Clara, your father has replied to the message we sent out yesterday about Charles wanting to marry you and he approves of the match. As of today, you and Charles are engaged."
The cup slipped from my fingers and dropped to the polished wooden floor, shattering into a hundred shining pieces. For a moment, I stared at my empty hand, trying to fully understand what was happening. After my mind managed to absorb the fact that I was now engaged, I looked up to examine the faces of those around me. Charles was beaming like mad, and my aunt and uncle were unbelievably smug as they looked at me. I felt my eyes narrow in anger. How dare they try to run my life and tell me who to spend my life with?
"No," I said, allowing a cold, hard air of resolve to develop around me.
For a moment, the three of them stared at me, wondering if I had actually spoken that word, wondering if I was actually being disobedient to an order from those above me.
"What do you mean 'no'?" Charles blurted out, pale eyes bulging in their sockets.
"It means, no, I will not marry you," I declared, holding my head high as I glared at him.
"Yes, you will," Uncle Geoff snapped as he slammed a fist on the table. "As an unmarried woman, you must obey the head of your household, who, in this case, is your father. If he commands you to marry Mr. Kirkland, then you will do as you're told."
"I will not!" I yelled, standing from my seat.
"You have no choice," my aunt firmly replied, slowly rising from her seat, her body tense as a poised serpent. "The arrangements were made before breakfast. You and Charles will wed in three weeks, willing or not. If you do not, you will be disinherited and left a poor spinster!"
Taking a deep breath, I pushed my chair out of my way and stomped out the door, heading towards my room.
Deciding to enjoy his last day in Manistee, Erik chose to join the rest of the hotel guests for breakfast in the public dining room downstairs. True, his new mask and makeup would be an inconvenience, but it would be worth it; he would need his energy, as he planned to explore the town one final time before going to see Clara and helping her with carrying out the plan for tomorrow.
Thankfully, not many people chose to have breakfast at the hotel, instead choosing to eat at one of the quaint cafés lining the town streets. Erik considered doing this as well, as the cafés offered seating outdoors so that diners could enjoy the sunshine and cool breezes coming off the lake. However, the thought of a quiet morning meal without people laughing, shouting and chatting around him (or, in the case of women, flirting with him) was quite irresistible to a private man such as himself.
The food offered by the hotel was quite good and plentiful, and he couldn't resist another breakfast pastry to go with his third cup of coffee. Once the last crumb was consumed and his cup was empty, a rather cheerful Erik Rousseau stepped onto the streets in search of a gift for his beloved Clara. It had been too long since he had presented her with a gesture of his affections, and he desperately wanted to surprise her with something when they left this country behind. But what could he give her?
'Chocolates?' he thought. 'No, that's a silly thought; she's not very fond of sweets…perhaps a book for her to read on the voyage? That certainly has possibilities…'
Suddenly, he passed by a small shop window filled with glittering gemstones…and paused…
I had the worst luck imaginable. A servant had caught me just as I was about to head up to my room and dragged me to the tea room, where I was forced inside, the door locked behind me. It was only after the footsteps faded that I noticed that Charles was in the room, his gaze focused on me. I growled as I turned back towards the door.
"Let me out!" I cried, pounding the wood with my fists. "Let me out this instant!"
"Clara, please stop!" Charles cried as he grabbed my hands and hauled me towards the couch.
I was unceremoniously thrown down, trying to catch my breath so that I could yell at him some more. "This is your doing, isn't it?" I snapped, giving him a hard glare. "You want to make my life a living nightmare just because I won't marry you for your stupid money and family name!"
"They aren't stupid!" Charles yelled as he stood above me, fists clenching. "The union of our two families would put us amongst the greatest and most elite people in the country! Think of the friends we could make; you with your Southern charm and beauty, right beside me with my influence in the state government…"
"I don't want money and power, I want love!" I shouted, rising from my seat and pushing him aside to make my way back to the door.
"And I can give it to you!" Charles said with a touch of desperation in his voice. "I love you!"
A laugh escaped my lips as I turned to face him. "You don't love me, you love the idea of me," I said, crossing my arms over my chest. "You love the fact that I'm a girl of the South with money and influence, but that's all. I want true love, love from a man who wants me for who I am, not what I represent to him and to others!"
I watched as Charles sighed and ran his thin fingers through his equally thin brown hair. It was quite sad to watch, as the poor man had no attractiveness whatsoever. Poor Charles was just pale and thin…and quite dull to be around. Perhaps there was a girl out there who would love him, but it certainly wasn't going to be me! Erik already had my heart, and I know that I certainly had his.
"Clara, you should consider yourself fortunate that I have any feelings for you at all," my unwanted fiancée said, looking over at me. "Even in France people still marry for wealth and position. You should be happy that this hasn't truly been forced on us the way it is in other places."
"Oh, believe me, this is most certainly being forced upon an unwilling bride!" I snapped, turning away from him.
"Clara, what could this man have that I don't? He's a man in a mask, for goodness sakes!"
I could feel my skirts whirling around me like a hurricane as I spun around. "Erik just so happens to be the most considerate, the most doting, and the most incredibly handsome musical genius that I have ever met!" With each trait, I took one step forward, bringing myself right in front of Charles' face. "He treats me like a woman and a goddess at the same time, and makes me feel wanted, beautiful, and loved. He makes my heart soar even as it races within my chest." Now I was merely inches from his face. "And I would give my life for him if need be."
I heard the door unlock behind me and heard someone gasp. "Oh, good, you're making progress!" It was Aunt Mary.
"Actually, I was only giving Charles a verbal listing of the qualities that he doesn't have," I said, turning around to face the doorway.
I happily watched as my aunt frowned. Instead of waiting for her to reply, though, I rudely pushed past her and went out the door, heading for my room.
For Erik, the day could not have gone better. He had purchased the perfect gift for his beloved and was now enjoying a cool glass of lemonade at a small eatery, softly fingering the small box in his pocket. Best of all, he was growing accustomed to the mask and makeup; now he would be able to go about in public without much discomfort until he and Clara were firmly settled into married life…wherever that may be.
He had just taken another drink when he heard the girls sitting next to him whispering about an upcoming wedding. Though he tried to ignore them, Erik was soon glad that he hadn't. The names Charles Kirkland and Clara Savoy reached his ears, and before he knew it, the Phantom was making his way back to his hotel, a cold look of anger in his green eyes.
Later that night, I sighed heavily as Penny combed out my hair. I was so tired and drained that I was thankful for the attention my dear maid was giving me. After fleeing to the sanctuary of my room, I locked the door and prayed for help from Above. I felt that nothing would happen, but to my surprise, Penny knocked discreetly on my door, begging for entrance. Carefully, I let her slip into my room, along with a large basket over her arm.
"Supplies for when we get holed up here for the day," she explained with a broad smile on her face.
I merely laughed and settled down to unpack the parcel. Inside were all sorts of cheeses, bread, a fine white wine, cold meats, and a few books and games to play while we attempted to "out-wait" my aunt and uncle. Although Aunt Mary came to my room several times, demanding I open the door, Penny and I had a fine time together. We ended up chatting, joking, and often complaining about the lack of intellect and compassion within my family (though especially with my father).
"You're right about loving Mr. Rousseau," Penny declared to my surprise. "You just seemed to light up while you were with him, and you kept that glow right up until your mama or papa ruined that for you." She shook her head. "It figures that, just when you find your other half and are perfectly in love, your family would try to tear you apart!"
The day finally faded into night, and I yawned as Penny helped me get ready for bed. She had brought her nightgown, which she now wore, and a spare dress with her so that she could serve me in the morning. I was alone in the room when I noticed the window open. Penny had just gone into the bathing room to tidy up after my bath, and I suddenly felt afraid. However, as a shadow detached itself from the tree, I could make out a pair of green eyes behind a black mask. I opened my mouth to acknowledge my fiancée, but he swiftly placed a forefinger before his lips.
Hush, Angel, Erik said as he made his way towards the bed, his voice only in my ears.
Watching him reach underneath it, I realized that he had come to fetch my suitcase for our elopement tomorrow! Keeping silent, I felt a smile pull at my lips as Erik lifted the travel case and made his way to the window, amazingly silent and graceful as a cat. I saw him blow me a loving kiss before vanishing into the night.
"You alright Miss Clara?" Penny's voice asked me from just inside the bathing room. "You look all up in the clouds, Miss!"
"I'm fine, Penny," I said in a quiet voice as I thought about tomorrow. "I'm just tired…it's been a long day, after all." My maid nodded before going back to her chores.
Meanwhile, I focused on how I was going to get out of the house tomorrow without being followed.
Smiling, Erik made his way back to his hotel, Clara's suitcase in his hand and a hopeful smile on his lips.
AN: The elopement is coming up soon! Please review and keep my Erik-muse happy! Thanks!