We're back to 1855 India. Below is a very violent and intense sequence. I tried to keep it from being extremely graphic, though from what my beta said it is somewhat disturbing. If you don't want to read to the end please stop at the break. There will be a warning when the content turns more intense.
Also, I was going to say that someone mentioned I had Mme Giry and the daroga's names wrong. Out of habit I always give Madame Giry a new name even though I know Gaston LeRoux gave her the name Antoinette. I also know that the daroga's name was Nadir but I always assumed that sounded more like a last name than a first name. I apologize for giving them different names, and for giving Erik a last name, which also doesn't fit the original story. I hope you still enjoy the story.
Noir 29
Erik wandered aimlessly away from the café, oblivious to the crowd and to the noise of street musicians. The only thing he could think about was something that seemed impossible.
His father was not only dead but had killed himself.
Erik's mind reeled. It felt like he had been removed from his body, his soul torn from his insides and shredded by Lilian's words.
He had seen the horror register on her face once she realized he hadn't known. For as much as he could tell from their brief conversations, Lilian seemed like a decent woman, one who was interested in helping others. Missionary work had brought her to India. She wanted to be of service to others, to better the lives of people she didn't know. Erik was certain that Lilian would not have said it to hurt him intentionally. But that made no difference. The damage had been done.
Erik stumbled up the stairs to the Inn, barely aware of where he was or what he was doing. He walked down the hall to the right of the stairs and stood before Anisha's door. Eyes closed, he listened.
Just as he had expected, she was not alone. Erik heard Joseph's voice through the door.
He knew what he would find but it didn't matter. Nothing mattered. The one man he had loved and respected above all others was gone.
0-
"Wasteful Europeans," Ursula said under her breath. She shook her head and scowled at Erik's dinner plate. The brief time she had spent at Corinna's side in London only fed her hatred of the English and the rest of Europe. While Indians starved, plates sat full and unwanted in French-run communities.
Corinna sat in silence, staring at the table. The outdoor café slowly emptied as the hour grew later and entertainment was found elsewhere. Music blended with the murmur of the crowd slowly flowing down the street and toward the river where the Kali Festival was taking place for a second night.
"They travel across India and see children who look like skeletons and what do they do? They waste their dinner."
"His father died," Corinna replied blankly.
Ursula's eyes widened. "He…when?"
Corinna shook her head. "I have no idea. I don't think Erik knew, either."
Ursula went back and forth between looking at the plate and at Corinna. "How is that possible?"
"I don't know."
"What did he say?"
"He didn't say anything. He just left."
"How do you know this?"
Corinna looked at her companion for the first time since Erik had left. "Mrs. DeChantel told him. I think his father committed suicide."
Ursula's lips parted. "My goodness." She pushed her chair back from the table. "Where did he go?"
Corinna shook her head.
Ursula sighed. "You know I greatly disapprove of the way you and Anisha treat one another. Family is more important than some man."
Corinna glared at Ursula before turning away. "You despise him without reason," she said under her breath.
"And you trust him only because you think he is handsome."
"I trust him because my father trusts him," Corinna snapped back.
Ursula took Corinna by the arm. "Child, you are infatuated with a foolish dream."
"No, it's not a foolish dream."
"Corinna, what do you know about Mr. Levesque?"
"Enough."
Ursula paused. There were days when she enjoyed accompanying Corinna and days when the girl was childish and infuriating. Since the day Corinna had first seen Mr. Levesque she had been enamored by the dark haired, light eyed European.
"You know what he tells you," Ursula replied at last.
"I know enough," Corinna said through her teeth.
Her temper getting the best of her, Ursula said something she knew would silence Corinna. "What did Anisha say about Persia?"
Corinna stuttered. "She—he—nothing."
Ursula rolled her eyes. "He appeared very uncomfortable when Anisha mentioned it. What do you suppose that was about?"
Corinna merely shrugged.
"Perhaps it would be best to search for him. With such news he may be quite distraught."
The two rose from the table and walked toward the wooden gate.
"I'll go to the Inn. You search by the river," Corinna said.
Before Ursula could protest, Corinna darted into the night.
0-
Joseph stroked the back of Anisha's neck with one hand as he kissed her bare shoulder. His teeth caught her flesh gently at first, harder as both hands explored her body.
"Do you bite your wife as well?" Anisha asked as she pushed his head away.
She watched his movements in the mirror. He was a selfish lover going through the same repetitive motions from the previous night.
"My wife won't barely let me touch her," Joseph panted. He found her ribs and dug his fingers into her flesh. His speech grew worse when he was aroused, his language before a lady worsening as he lost control.
"Why is that?" Anisha guided his hand higher, placing his thumb over the rosy peak of her titian flesh.
"I think she knows."
She raised a brow. "Oh?"
"Or she suspects. But she's a good girl," he pressed himself up against her back. "She won't never leave me. She don't believe in divorce."
Anisha grinned to herself. "Does it excite you to know she might be outside the door?"
Joseph grunted. He grabbed Anisha by the arm, startling her as he guided her quickly to the bed. He had not removed his trousers, but he had opened the button fly.
"It excites me that you're here and willing. My God, you're like a perfect little goddess. They should be celebrating you outside, not that statue."
"Does your wife deny you often?" Anisha asked. Joseph positioned himself over her. She felt his hand run along her inner thighs.
"Why so many questions?" he asked.
She smiled. "I like to know about the women who find themselves alone."
"She struggles sometimes," Joseph answered between kisses. "But I convince her."
Joseph roughly took Anisha's arm and placed it over her head then did the same with the other one. He held her by the wrists and bit her hard on the shoulder.
"Stop it. You're hurting me," Anisha protested. She squirmed beneath Joseph, twisting her legs and torso.
"Easy now, girl," he said. He caught her hair between his fingers. "I don't want to hurt you."
"Then get off me."
"You invited me."
The struggle continued. Anisha thrashed about, legs separated by Joseph's thigh between her knees. He bit her again on the chest.
"I said get off me."
Joseph pulled her hair harder and drew her head back. "Lay still," he said between his teeth. "It'll hurt worse if you fight me."
"Let go of my hair, you stupid pig."
Joseph sat up on her hips and drew his arm back.
"Don't hit me," Anisha said quickly, snapping her eyes shut. "Don't do this."
"A woman don't invite a man to her room for games. I know how your people are in this country. No one will care because no one will never know. We can both enjoy ourselves, or you may fight me. Choose now."
Anisha pushed against his chest, attempting to remove the man nearly twice her weight pinning her to the bed.
"Suit yourself," Joseph said under his breath. He covered her mouth with his thick hand and positioned himself over her.
0-
A strangled scream left Anisha's mouth. Her struggle turned more violent once she felt Joseph enter her.
This wasn't what she wanted.
She had slept with him the previous night in hopes of making Erik jealous. It hadn't worked. He hadn't even offered to walk her back to her room after dinner.
"Stop it. Get off of me," Anisha screamed. She kicked, hitting him in the back of the legs, tossing her head wildly back and forth. Her arms were still pinned uselessly above her head.
Joseph tugged her hair harder, wrenching her neck to the side. He had been correct. The more she fought him the more it hurt. Inch by inch, her muscles ceased to function. Her legs numbed, her arms went limp until she turned into a lifeless, dull doll waiting for an end.
Anisha's voice abandoned her with each unwanted movement of Joseph's body. She searched herself for a single word, a lone protest but nothing revealed itself.
"That's right. Settle down and enjoy yourself."
Joseph bit her again on the breast, which released a scream of pain that melded into a howling sob of anguish. The sound Anisha made startled Joseph into pulling away from her. He grabbed the pillow out from beneath her head and forced it over her face.
"I said there is an easy way and a hard way, girl. So be it."
0-
The scream issued from Anisha's room made Erik shudder. He wrenched the doorknob and found it locked. Without a thought he stepped back and rammed his shoulder into the door.
The wooden barrier split but didn't open. Like a rabid beast, Erik drew back again, this time standing against the wall and using his leg to kick the door. On the second violent kick the door broke upon impact and slammed into the bedroom wall, punching a hole in the thin plaster.
Erik stormed into the room as Joseph rolled off the edge of the bed and disappeared onto the floor.
"My God," Erik said under his breath. He stood on his knees on the edge of the bed and tossed the pillow aside. Reaching over Anisha, he wrapped the coverlet over her nude frame.
She gasped as the fabric draped over her body and clutched the soft cotton that covered her. Without a word, she turned over on her side and drew her knees up to her chest.
"She agreed," Joseph said from the floor once Erik turned his attention away from Anisha. "She invited me into her room."
"To strip her down and smother her," he seethed.
"She started to struggle."
Erik ground his teeth. "And that means what? That she agreed?"
Joseph crawled toward the broken door on his knees. "She would have settled down in a moment."
With his eyes remaining on Joseph, Erik snatched the pillow again. He stalked Joseph and threw him to the ground by placing the sole of his shoe against his back and stepping on his spine. A kick to the side forced Joseph to his back where he lay with his hands over his sore ribs.
"The struggle would have ended when you killed her, you stupid son of a bitch."
"I know when to stop," Joseph blurted out.
His words furthered Erik's wrath. "Because you've done this before, is that it? To who? To Lilian?" Erik kicked him again in the thigh. "Let's see how long it takes you to settle down," Erik raged as he sat on Joseph's chest and placed the pillow over his face.