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: This story is almost over people! Someone asked if they could co-write a story with me, but I'm afraid I already have a writing partner (in another genre, but still, she'd feel bad if I got another one). So sorry, my friend, but one is all I can handle…trust me! (winks) Still, thanks for the offer, I appreciate it. Please review at the end of the chapter; it makes me and my muses happy. Thanks!
Chapter 22: The Final Confrontation:
I barely bit back a yelp as Erik pulled me in a darkened side alley, tucking us away in the shadows and away from the sight of anyone passing by. When I opened my lips to protest, his gloved hand covered them to prevent any sound from escaping, his other arm slipping around my waist to keep me from moving. I held my breath as Erik's tall, gray-and-black clad form effectively hid my own from view of the street, and was surprised to hear quick-moving footsteps on the sidewalk that were coming closer to where we were hidden…closer…closer…
The person who was obviously our pursuer ran past our hiding spot, not hesitating for one moment in his need to try and find us. Once the footsteps had faded, I was released from Erik's firm, but gentle, hold, sighing with relief. Erik himself pulled away to allow me to collect my self, smiling as I began to straighten my hair and smooth my skirts.
"Oh, goodness!" I exclaimed, still slightly flustered by what had just happened. "Well, I certainly didn't think that would happen!"
"I am sorry if it seemed I manhandled you, Angel," Erik apologized, one of his gloved hands rising to stroke my cheek. "But I needed to get you away from there quickly." He was silent a moment, watching me as I took a deep breath. "Why was he there with you, Clara?"
I could hear the suspicion in his voice and closed my eyes, sighing as my shoulders sagged forward. "My aunt caught me off guard," I said, opening my eyes to look into his own. "I came downstairs for breakfast and found Charles sitting at the table as though he belonged there. I tried to get away, but, unfortunately, I was given an ultimatum: spend the day with Charles, or don't leave the house at all."
Erik looked furious enough to strangle someone. "You were forced to bring him with you?" he said, his beautiful voice full of anger and disbelief. "How could your aunt and uncle do this to you?"
By now Erik had begun moving towards the street, glancing around the corners of the buildings to be sure that no one saw us emerge. When all was clear, he offered me a hand, which I gladly accepted, and the two of us stepped into the bright sunshine of the afternoon. I took his arm and his other hand came up to gently hold mine in the crook of his elbow as we began to walk down the sidewalk.
"I'm afraid that my father responded rather quickly to their telegram about Charles proposing," I said, sighing as we walked. "He, of course, has approved of the match and means for Charles and I to be married in a few weeks…my aunt has already announced our engagement to the local gossips, so it will likely be all over the town soon."
Beside me, Erik sighed, his left hand patting mine as I squeezed the inside of his arm. "It will be alright, my love," he said, drawing my attention from where it was focused on the walkway. "We will make our plan successful, you'll see."
I couldn't help but smile at him and let him lead me down the street. The day was perfect, being neither too hot nor too balmy, and there was a lovely breeze coming in off of the Lake and the river. Erik and I didn't speak for a while, merely enjoying one another's company and the pleasant weather that Nature was providing for us. I smiled as a pair of tiny birds landed in front of us and cheeped, apparently begging for food. I made little noises with my tongue, causing the birds stare at me a moment before chirping a reply and fluttering off. Beside me, Erik chuckled.
"I shall have to find you a pair of songbirds, if you so adore the creatures," he said, urging me back into our walk.
"Oh, I'd rather have a cat," I replied, smiling as I leaned closer to him. "But birds are nice, too, if only for their voices and the joy they seem to have."
Erik chuckled again, but said nothing. Instead, we stopped at store windows and looked in, occasionally going in for a brief glimpse of what the shopkeepers were offering inside. I purchased a few handkerchiefs for the voyage, and Erik purchased a few small books made to be taken on long journeys, saying that they were for us to amuse ourselves with until we arrived at our destination.
Time passed swiftly, and I realized that Erik and I hadn't had a full day together since Rockford. When I made this remark to him, Erik merely smiled at me and kissed my hand as he led me into a tiny café for something light to eat. We were seated promptly at a very small table in the corner, and had not long to wait before our server arrived with our order: two glasses of milk and a small plate covered with tiny pastries. I politely thanked our waiter and eagerly reached for a little custard tart, happily biting into it and relishing in the light mint flavor mixed into the creamy center.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed that Erik was watching me eat with an unusual expression on his face. I kept my confusion and amusement to myself as I delicately licked a tiny bit of cream off of my lower lip, my inconspicuous gaze not leaving Erik's obvious one. To my surprise, Erik was watching my lips as though they were the most fascinating thing in the world, his eyes going from a bright green to a deep emerald in a matter of seconds. I tried to hide my reaction to that, instead bringing a lemon cookie the size of my thumbnail up to my lips.
If you keep teasing me in this manner, my love, I will be forced to do something rash and scandalous right here in this café.
I tried to hide my giggles by taking a sip of milk from my glass. Erik's talents in ventriloquism never ceased to amaze and amuse me, and I dearly loved how he managed to talk to me just so I alone could hear his loving words. I let him know my appreciation by smiling at him with my eyes over the rim of my glass.
You are a devious flirt and vixen, my dear, he said, narrowing his eyes, which were darkening even further as I watched him.
This time I fluttered my eyelashes, much as a woman would do over the edge of her fan while flirting with a gentleman. Erik gave a low, frustrated growl and picked up a cookie, popping it into his mouth and chewing it in a rather irritated manner. I took pity on my poor love and set down my glass, sending him an apologetic smile and begging him for forgiveness with my eyes.
For a moment, Erik was lost in those huge brown orbs, the love they were sending him surrounding him and filling his heart. The pure need he had felt for her while she oh-so-seductively ate the pastries still raged within him, but with the pleading look she was currently giving him, along with her beautiful, soft smile, eased the hot fire that burned through his veins. Oh, the need and hunger he had felt were still there, but her gentleness was enough to make it into a deep, warm love.
You are forgiven, my Angel, he said into her ears alone, using the talents that so amused her.
The pleased smile she gave him in return was blinding, the joy it held sending his heart straight to the heavens. Oh, Lord, what this woman could do to him with a single look! Distance truly did make the heart grow fonder, and he had already been away from her for far too long. Oh, how he loved this woman!
Without thinking, Erik reached over and took her hand into his own.
He had forgiven me…and his hand was caressing mine, oh-so-lovingly…
I sighed and savored the moment. It was inappropriate to behave in this manner in public, and if we were to be seen…
"Clara Savoy?" cried a pair of familiar voices.
I turned my head and bit back a groan. 'Oh, no, not the Carlson sisters!' I thought in a panic.
The two girls were the biggest gossips in town. Brenda Carlson was the eldest at 17 years of age, and her younger sister, Natalie, could have easily been her twin, despite being just 15-years-old. Both girls were blonde as a field of wheat, had lovely hazel eyes, and not a true mind to share between them and their newly arrived baby sisters (who were already showing potential as being as silly as their elder siblings).
My polite 'society smile' slipped into place and I managed to calm my voice to the proper mannerisms. "Hello Miss Carlson…and Miss Natalie…"
"Now who is this here with you?" Natalie asked, eyeing Erik up and down with a sly, appreciative gaze. "Well, hello there, Mister…"
"Rousseau," Erik replied in the indifferent tone he wore when speaking to those he disliked.
"Well, Mr. Rousseau, I'm Natalie, and this is my sister, Brenda," Natalie said, happily introducing yourself. "You know, Mr. Rousseau, I do love your accent…where exactly are you from?"
"France," my fiancé replied, though I could clearly tell that he was becoming irritated just by listening to Natalie talk.
"Oh, I love France! It's so fashionable!" Brenda squealed, fluttering her eyelashes in a flirtatious manner at Erik. "I mean, I have never been there, but I would love to hear about it! Would you join us for coffee and tell us all about your homeland and what brought you to America?"
"Yes, you shouldn't be seen with Miss Savoy, she's engaged to Charles Kirkland," Natalie said, glaring at me out of the corner of her eye. "Mr. Kirkland is quite the catch, you know, and she's very lucky to have him as a fiancé!"
"Oh, I'm not engaged to Charles," I quickly replied. "That's just a silly rumor going around. My aunt so wishes for it to be true that she wants to frighten all the other girls off by spreading falsehoods."
"Oh, really?" Natalie said, cocking at eyebrow. "You and Mr. Kirkland seemed to be quite the happy couple not too long ago…did something change, then?"
I gave a polite shrug. "I have never had interest in Charles," I said calmly. "My Aunt wanted me to marry as quickly as possible while I was here, just to be able to plan a wedding before her own girls grow up and become engaged. It's much like a bit of practice for her, just so she knows what to do when my little cousins grow up and start being courted. Charles Kirkland is completely free to any girl who wants him." I turned and gave Erik a joyful smile. "I have found all I could possibly want and need in Mr. Rousseau here."
"Ohhh," was Natalie's reply. "Well, we'd better get going," she continued to say, tugging on her older sister's arm. "Good day, Miss Savoy!"
The two quickly vanished out the door and I was able to let out the breath I had probably been holding since the moment the two had appeared. Erik's hand grasped mine and I was able to breathe again.
"We need to go," I said, glaring at the doorway. "They will be spreading that tale around town in no time, and I know that my aunt and uncle will hear about it and come to stop me."
Erik nodded and the two of us quickly paid the bill and left, heading towards the docks.
Mary Pine angrily stalked into her husband's study, not stopping even to knock before entering. Besides, she already knew who was visiting her husband: a very upset and angry Charles Kirkland presently sat in a chair directly in front of Geoff's desk. Presently, the two of them stopped in the middle of their conversation as she marched right up to Geoff and crossed her arms.
"The Carlson girls have just come over, telling me some sort of story about Clara having an afternoon meal with a Frenchman," she snapped, glaring at both men as though it were somehow their fault.
"Frenchman?" Geoff asked, puzzled. "Is it her former fiancé from Rockford?"
"Not unless he's been miraculously healed of his deformity," Charles said, frowning. "The man has a perfect face, no mask whatsoever; I saw his full face in the bookstore. It must be another Frenchman here on a holiday from Europe."
"Well, apparently Clara knows him from somewhere," Mary retorted, her hands now placed on her hips. "She told Brenda and Natalie Carlson that she was never interested in Charles and that he was free for any girl to take! And she also spoke of finding happiness with a 'Mr. Rousseau,' who was the French gentleman she was out with today!"
Charles had leapt from his chair upon hearing this. "I don't believe it!" he snapped, pacing the floor. "I will not loose her to some foreigner she's just met off the street!"
"If I'm right, Clara has obviously known this man from previous meetings," Geoff said thoughtfully. "It's possible that she had met him in town while exploring it alone and unaccompanied…"
"I knew I was too lenient on her!" Mary cried, throwing her hands in the air. "Her father warned me to keep an eye on her while she was here, and I failed in doing even that!"
"We haven't failed yet." Geoff moved from behind his desk and approached his wife, laying a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Manistee is a small town; she may yet still be there. We could easily track her down, no matter where she is."
"Yes…" Mary said, taking a deep, calming breath. "Yes, we must do that…"
She then called for her servants to help her, her husband, and their guest get ready, not knowing their conversation and orders had been overheard by another party.
The ship was leaving not long after we arrived at the docks, so Erik and I stayed on the peaceful dock and watched our belongings be loaded onboard, the trunks and suitcases being automatically carried to our cabin while we waited. Erik frequently stroked my hand, and I shivered with joy at the feel of his skin pressed against mine. He had removed his gloves just so he could be able to touch me, and his gentle caresses made me feel loved and cherished as he leaned close to speak to me.
"Only a few more minutes, beloved," Erik whispered into my ear as his left hand covered mine, which was tucked into the crook of his elbow once more. "Then we will soon be far away from here."
I sighed with joy and impatience, but said nothing. I merely watched them load the ship, a few passengers already beginning to board. Just as I was going to ask Erik if we, too, should start up the gangplank, I felt something cold slip onto my left finger. It was the engagement ring Erik had given to me when he had proposed in my parents' garden! The diamond under the gold rose design sparkled up at me in the sunlight, almost a mirror image of the shining joy I felt in my heart at that moment. I looked up into Erik's eyes, allowing a soft smile to grace my lips. Erik took a slow, deep breath before leaning forward, pressing his lips to mine in a deliciously gentle, loving kiss. I sighed, savoring the sensation that rushed through my body.
"Miss Clara!"
Our kiss broke instantly and Erik and I turned around quickly. Fear gripped my heart until I realized who it was calling my name.
"Penny?" I whispered as my maid approached me.
"Oh, Miss Clara, you need to run!" she said, gasping for breath. "I've been looking all over for you, and a man in town saw you walk here! You need to run before that aunt and uncle of yours find you! They've got that pale gentleman with them, too!"
"We must go, Angel," Erik said, nodding his thanks to Penny. He hesitated a moment. "What will happen to you, Penny, after they find out that you've helped us?"
"They'll punish her," I softly replied, worry clearly showing in my voice as I gripped his arm. "My aunt will tell my father, and he will dismiss her and probably her entire family from our plantation." My heart dropped at the thought of Penny and her family being forced to suffer because of me.
Erik frowned before reaching into his pocket and withdrawing a small roll of money. "Penny, take this to that man over there," he ordered, looking my maid straight in the eye. "Ask to purchase one ticket to the voyage along with Erik and Clara Rousseau, saying that you are our newly hired maid." He held up a hand to stop any protests. "I have been assured that our quarters will be spacious, with an extra room for a servant. We didn't have need for it, but now we have no choice. Go!"
Penny did as he asked, going up the gangplank and approaching one of the ship's crewmembers. The man looked at her then at us, which caused Erik and I to nod our approval of the purchase. The crewman nodded back, then took the money before he beckoned for Penny to follow him. She was gone barely an instant before several familiar voices called out for me. I groaned and turned my head to bury my face in Erik's arm. He gently patted my hand as my aunt, uncle and Charles ran up to us.
"Clara Savoy, what do you think you are doing?" Aunt Mary cried out in a soft voice, trying not to draw attention from the boarding passengers.
My eyes narrowed in annoyance and anger. I'd had enough. "That is none of your concern," I declared, holding my head up high as I glared at my aunt and uncle.
"You are part of this family! Of course it is of our concern!" Uncle Geoff snapped, his face nearly turning red in anger.
Meanwhile, Aunt Mary was busy analyzing Erik. She took note of his allegedly 'perfect' face, his fine clothes, and, most importantly, the fact that there was a diamond ring currently on my left hand.
"Where did you get that?" she hissed, looking at the marvelous piece of jewelry. "You can't have known him long enough to marry him!"
"And yet you wish for me to wed Charles, whom I've known for far less time than Erik," I said, keeping my tone smug and sarcastic.
"Erik?" Aunt Mary gasped. "Erik Rousseau? The man your father disapproved of?"
Uncle Geoff and Charles (who had been amazingly quiet) turned to stare at her, but it was my uncle who spoke. "I thought he wore a mask? This man looks perfectly normal!"
"Appearances can be deceiving," Erik replied, his voice cold as he addressed the others.
At that moment, the horn on the boat announced the last boarding call. Erik clasped my hand in the crook of his elbow once again and straightened to his full height, which was well over six-feet.
"Come, my dear, it is time to go," my beloved said to me, directing us towards the gangplank.
"She's not going anywhere," Charles snapped, he and my family blocking our way to the ship. "She is my fiancé, not yours! Release her at once!"
"That is enough!" I said, turning to face the three people blocking my way. "I've had enough of being talked down to, ordered about, and completely taken advantage of by the three of you!" I put my right hand on Erik's shoulder. "This is the man I love, this is the man I am going to marry, and I don't care what you or anyone else thinks about me, about our love, or about him! For once, I am going to do what I want, and I'm not going to let some selfish, greedy, power-hungry monsters like you ruin my life!" By now I was fully angry, glaring at them with all of the hatred I had in me. "Now get out of my way before I do something drastic!"
Without waiting for a response, I pushed past them, hauling Erik behind me until we were safely on the boat.
Never before had he seen his Angel look that angry. The change in her had been both disturbing and incredibly beautiful, transforming her into a warrior goddess amongst women. When she had pulled him behind her onto the boat, Erik had to take a deep breath to be sure he was still awake and not dreaming or imagining the whole thing. Presently, he was just happy that, while Clara had been dragging him towards the ship, he had reached into his pocket and presented the waiting crewman with the two tickets he had purchased, smiling broadly as he did so.
From their place on the deck, Erik could hear Mr. and Mrs. Pine, along with Charles, arguing in an attempt to get onto the ship, claiming it was urgent that they do so. This made him extremely glad for the tight security on not allowing just anyone to board the vessel. He could just imagine how they must be forcefully dragging the Pine's and Charles Kirkland away down the docks, possibly even by policemen; it was an incredibly amusing picture.
A loud whistle pierced the air, and Erik felt the boat jerk underneath his feet. He managed to regain his balance quickly, just in time to help Clara. She smiled at him in gratitude as she clung to his arm, exactly like she had on the docks. A feeling a love and joy filled Erik's heart as he began to lead her to the railing on the far side of the ship, away from the docks so that she could see the water as they floated out to Lake Michigan. Overhead, seagulls cried out in their shrill voices, and below them, the engines of the ship roared to life as they began to rapidly move forward.
Beside him, Clara sighed. "I thought this would never happen," she whispered for his ears only. "I thought that I would never be this happy or free, either."
Smiling, Erik pulled his arm free, moving behind the woman he loved and wrapping her in his arms, her back pressed tightly against his chest. "I would have made this happen even if the gods themselves forbid it," he whispered back as the air off the water blew against their faces.
Something heavy in his coat pocket tugged at his attention, causing him to reluctantly pull his right hand free and reach into his coat. Looking at the red velvet box, Erik smiled.
"Clara?" She turned around to face him. "I have a gift for you."
A delighted smile graced her face, brilliantly lighting her up so that it appeared she glowed. "Oh, Erik, you didn't have to give me anything!" she exclaimed, putting a reassuring hand on his arm. "You've done so much for me already, it just doesn't seem…"
Erik merely gave her an affectionate smile as he interrupted her. "I have not had the chance to present you with a true gift for some time. Do not deny me this, beloved…please…"
She nodded as he pressed the little box into her hands, watching carefully as she flipped it open.
I opened the red velvet box to reveal a glittering, oval-shaped gold locket. In the center was a white pearl, surrounded by flowering designs in three types of gold: white, red, and a deep, dark gold I had never seen before. It was beautiful, but as I made to put it on, Erik's hands reached out to stop me.
"Open it," he whispered.
I did so, revealing the inscription.
To Clara: The Woman with the Heart of an Angel
I smiled, feeling tears prick my eyes as Erik hung the precious locket around my neck. I then thanked him with the thing I knew he wanted most…a kiss of love.
AN: Aw, wasn't that lovely? A few more chapters (three at most), and it's over! Review!