Another difficult chapter. One or two more and things will lighten up a bit. Once again, I would really appreciate your feedback on Chapters 55 and 56.

Note to NDBR: There were some changes made from the post on the board

Terror Part 2

Paladin56

Fidelio began scratching on the front door well before Erik made it down the steps. Being a puppy, Fidelio was prone to unusual and sometimes irritating behavior, but Erik had never seen the dog claw at the door in order to be allowed out, especially when he was normally allowed out back.

Walking into the foyer, Erik found Fidelio standing rigid, his tail held straight out. With a yawn Erik made his way into the kitchen and reached for an old horse rein that Gabe had made into a leash, but before he had it fully in his hand, Fidelio began barking.

Startled, Erik felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, gooseflesh forming along his arms.

Something wasn't right. He stalked through the house, swinging his cape over his shoulders as he strode toward the front door where Fidelio had made noticeable marks in the wood. Fumbling with the lead, Erik opened the door a crack and Fidelio used what little space he was allowed to stick his paw through. With a nudge of his large, square head, he wriggled the front half of his body into the darkness of night and growled.

Erik abandoned the leash and immediately opened the door, finding Philippe's horse standing in the middle of the yard, still saddled. The gelding reared up and fled in the direction of the barn the moment Fidelio burst into the yard. Ignoring the horse, Fidelio scrambled around the corner, his teeth bared and head dropped down.

With no other choice, Erik ran after his dog and heard the muffled sound of pounding coming from Sophia's home. His heart dropped in his chest, dread filling his insides as he lost his footing and righted himself against the side of the building.

A vicious, blood-curdling growl met Erik as he bolted through Sophia's opened front door, finding Fidelio with his jaws clamped around the back of a black-haired man's neck. With one wrenching tug, Fidelio pulled Karl off Sophia and began tossing his head side to side, burying his teeth deep into Karl's neck as he held onto the man's shoulders with his front paws, heedless of his previous injury.

Ignoring the fight, Erik found Sophia outstretched on the floor behind an armchair, a belt tightened around her neck and her eyes shut. Her face was a mottled blue, her body unmoving as Erik dropped to his knees beside her and pulled the belt free.

Sophia didn't move once Erik freed her from the strangling hold. With her head slumped to the side, Erik saw the deep, red indentions on her throat. He patted her cheeks, but she didn't react.

"Wake up," Erik pleaded. He glanced down the length of her body, his eyes settling on her bare waist and legs. Removing his cloak, he draped it over her before continuing to jostle her lifeless form.

She still wasn't responding. Leaning down, Erik placed his ear to her nose and mouth and waited to feel her breathing. Nothing.

"Sophia," he tried again, grabbing her shoulders. "You must wake up."

Her head fell back when he lifted her from the ground and he cradled her against his body, swallowing hard, regretting and fearing what had happened.

"Call off your dog!" Karl screamed.

Fidelio continued to growl as he held onto Karl, using his size as well as his position to keep Sophia's attacker from leaving. Twice Karl punched Fidelio in the nose and the dog released his grip momentarily, but quickly repositioned his jaws on another section of tender flesh.

As gently as he could, Erik placed Sophia back on the floor and rose to his feet. Grabbing the fire poker, he whistled and Fidelio abandoned his conquest. Poised above the man who had killed Sophia, he waited until Karl turned onto his back before he kicked him in the chest with his foot. Fidelio licked the blood from his face and looked on, his tail wagging as he awaited his master to take control.

Reaching down, Erik grabbed Karl by the shirt and whipped the poker's handle across his face. Dazed, Karl fell back, his mouth and nose bloody as he attempted to crawl away.

"You will suffer a far worse death than has ever been known to man," Erik swore before he lifted his foot, pressed down onto Karl's outstretched hand, and impaled his wrist with the fire poker, ramming the longer iron tip well into the floor.

Turning and ignoring Karl's screams, Erik dropped to his knees beside Sophia again. Fidelio had joined her, standing over her body as he furiously licked her face and throat. Shoving the dog away, Erik gathered Sophia in his arms, his lips trembling as he ran his hand up her back. His vision blurred, the tears he hadn't realized were gathering suddenly streamed down his face.

"Don't leave me Sophia," he pleaded with her, his lips pressed to her ear. He kissed her, holding the body that was still warm. Rocking on his knees, he planted kisses along the side of her head, his mind pulled in a thousand directions with every memory he had of her. "I don't have enough of you with me yet. You cannot leave me, Sophia."

There were far too many words left unspoken, too many moment unshared. Selfishly he wanted to kiss her again. Unselfishly, he yearned to compose music for her and show her how important she was to him.

Erik squeezed Sophia to his chest, choking on his sobs as he pressed her tightly to himself, his voice low and weak as he continued to beg her to wake up. His grip loosened, his hope suddenly vanquished. Drawing back, he looked at her face again, her features, so perfect in his eyes, motionless. She did not deserve this fate.

Again he held her tightly, whispering to her as he ran his hand along the back of her head and kept it from falling back. As his grip loosened, Erik prepared to place her on the floor again and avenge her death. His years in Persia would be put to use once more, everything he learned would be combined in a torturous death that would last weeks, months—a year if Erik could control himself.

Grasping her hand, Erik gazed at Sophia before smoothing her hair back. He'd make Karl Turro pay dearly for each bruise, for each scratch and imperfection on her face. He'd make himself pay as well for not arriving sooner, for not keeping her safe.

Brushing away the tears that clung to his lips, Erik bent and kissed her, exhaling in a hard sob against her mouth as he placed his fist on her abdomen and cried.

"Who will I teach now, Sophia? Who will listen to my music?" he wept, hating himself for not knowing how to mourn her rather than his own pathetic life. Holding her, feeling the lifeless weight of her body in his arms, was worse than any pain he had ever known. His insides twisted, his heart convulsing, writhing with the agony of what he had enjoyed a mere taste of with Sophia and all he would never be able to give her.

"I want to love you still," he whispered against her face, careful not to allow his damaged flesh to touch her soft cheek.

Erik opened his eyes, needing to see her again, to remember the only woman who had treated him with dignity, with more respect than he ever deserved. Through his tears he saw her lips part, her tongue touching the back of her teeth.

Fidelio inched nearer and lapped at Sophia's bruised hand while Erik placed his fingers gently to her neck, just below her jaw. There it was—the sign of life he desperately needed.

Not knowing what else to do, Erik patted her back several times before rubbing the length of her spine vigorously. Her body suddenly stiffened and she began to cough against his shoulder.

"There," Erik said in her ear. He swallowed hard, sighing in relief that she was breathing. "There, Sophia, keep coughing."

Sucking in a breath, Sophia choked out a sob and clung to him, her body trembling in his grasp. Lifting his head, he turned and saw her eyes wide open and filled with terror. He nodded, murmuring under his breath that she was safe now, that he would see to it.

Without warning Sophia pulled away and began coughing again, one hand wiping her mouth as she turned from him. Swallowing, Erik reached for her shoulder but Sophia brushed his hand away.

"Please don't touch me," she said under her breath before another sob racked her body.

Her request paralyzed him. Unable to breathe, unable to think, Erik sat on the floor and stared at her back. He had failed her in the worst way possible.

"Sophia," he whispered. He extended his hand, desperately wanting to comfort her but knowing he must obey her request. Though she couldn't see him nod, he did so with a frown and folded his hands.

Fidelio whined and drew Erik's attention to the opened door where Citrine stood with both hands clutching the doorframe. Her eyes were wide with horror as she stared at Karl, who was screaming and cursing. Climbing to his feet, Erik snatched up the shovel for the fireplace and held it over Karl's head, silencing him at once with the threat of a smashed skull.

"Gabe found Philippe's horse," Citrine panted, her eyes now fixed on Sophia. "I came here as soon as I heard."

"He's dead," Sophia cried.

Citrine glanced at Erik, her mouth dropping open. Wrapping her shawl around her shoulders, Citrine stepped inside the house, carefully avoiding the spatters of blood and one of Karl's teeth on the floor.

"How do you know this?" Citrine asked. She knelt down beside Sophia, ignoring Karl who was attempting to release his hand nailed to the floor.

Without turning, Sophia pointed at Karl.

"Oh, darling," Citrine mumbled. She placed her hand on Sophia's shoulder but it was immediately brushed away.

"Please don't touch me," she hiccupped, resting her forehead on the arm of the chair. She flinched as Citrine once again touched her shoulder. With a whispered apology, Citrine distanced herself as Sophia began crying again. "Just find Philippe," Sophia begged.

Citrine's eyes turned back to Erik, who was standing numbly several feet away. More than anything he wanted to comfort her, to love her and show her that nothing would ever hurt her, but in his heart he knew he couldn't promise her such things—and that even if he did, Sophia would never believe or trust him again.

"Monsieur," Citrine said, addressing Erik. "Gabe is searching for Monsieur Dupree." She forced a smile, attempting to break the overwhelming anxiety they both felt. "I'll take Sophia back to her room and stay with her." Her eyes flashed to Karl and back at Erik's face. "I'll keep her there until morning."

Erik blankly nodded as he turned and stared at the open door, at the darkness and cold waiting for him once again. Removing the fire poker that kept Karl staked to the floor, he struck Turro twice; once across the shoulders and again in the back of the head. Tossing the bloodied weapon aside, he grabbed the unconscious man by the feet and dragged him from Sophia's home.

Walking into the night, Erik glanced back through the open door at Citrine sitting beside Sophia, her eyes surveying the damage.

Now that he was alone, Erik knew it was true. He'd arrived too late. Sophia was still alive, but Erik knew she was far from saved.