ALL I KNOW OF LOVE

Erik and Christine are the creation of Gaston Leroux; the reference to Persia and some of its customs are derived from Susan Kay's book, "Phantom". All other characters and the backdrop of the story are the creations and property of GerrysJackie.

Some places and all names are fictional.

PLAYERS:

Erik – Gerard Butler - Perfect

Christine – The face and coloring of Zooey Deschanel (Failure to Launch, Elf) – and the body of Marilyn Monroe, except 3 inches taller

Gustav - Billy Connelly – Because I really like him.

Patrick Connelly - Paul Bettany – (A Knights Tale, Firewall, A Beautiful Mind)

Pascal – Mel Gibson's looks (slightly older with graying hair) with the cunning and cruelty of J.R. Ewing from "Dallas".

Madam Marie Forsythe – Miranda Richardson

James Lumpkin (the butler) – Daniel Davis (the butler from the TV show "The Nanny")

Kamilla – Georgie Henley (Chronicles of Narnia)

Duke Sergei Beauvais – Derek Jacobi (Underworld:Evolution)

Use your imagination on all others.

This story has taken a while to develop, but I hope it has been worth it. I have several chapters already written, but I am taking my time. There is humor, drama, and romance in this story, so I hope you will enjoy it.

This rendition of Erik is one of a man who has suffered greatly in his life, at the hands of just about everyone in his life, but his spirit is still intact. He is less self-loathing than others that I have written, but he is very much aware of his self-proclaimed faults. He is dangerous and ruthless, but has had enough of death and destruction. Women are still a mystery to him, and he needs a strong, independent woman who is his equal in every way.

This Christine is not a drop-dead gorgeous woman, but her beauty is less assuming and soft…Erik will see it.

I will try to update twice a week, depending on how quickly I write chapters. I don't anticipate this being a particularly long story, but we'll see.

Enjoy.

Thank you for all the wonderful comments you are making about his story. I am pleased with the number of reviews and appreciate every comment that has been made.

CHAPTER 13 – Making Sense of it All

Christine awakened to the sun gently caressing her cheek and she wondered what the light feeling was that she had in heart, and she realized it was love. She had admitted to herself that she was in love with her husband, whom she barely knew.

She bounced out of bed and put on a day dress. She quickly walked to the dining room for breakfast, hoping to see Erik first thing before he left.

She was too late; James said that he had left before the sun came up.

"He wanted me to tell, my lady, that should you have any problems with anything or anyone, address them to Mr. Hushmand, he will take care of it while the Marquis is away."

Christine felt like crying. She had hoped to see him off as a proper wife should, but the chance had passed her by. She felt they had made some headway last night, but there was still so much she wanted to know about him and his past.

"How long will he be gone?" Christine asked, trying not to sound upset.

"I am not sure, my lady, a couple of weeks – give or take a day or two."

She frowned and walked away. She would just have to learn as much as she could about him in his absence – she had a whole house full of servants who have known him for some time and a friend who had known him for twenty years.

She would start there.

ЖЖ

Several days went by, and Christine wasn't having much luck with the servants. Many of them had only met him ten years ago, and Erik had already shared the events of those years with her.

She found Beth and Kaveh in the parlor, enjoying afternoon tea. They had been spending a great deal of time together and their relationship was quickly surpassing the "friendship" stage.

"Kaveh was about to tell me about his and Erik's years in Persia." Bethany announced as Christine entered the room and sat down.

He had been painting a verbal picture of the land he called home, and Bethany was enthralled…both by the land and the man.

"What do you want to know?" Kaveh asked.

His dark eyes sparkled with knowledge and a slight bit of trepidation, but he knew this needed to be done; Erik would never share these things with Christine, and she needed to know.

Bethany smiled into his dark eyes, loving the depth of their black middle; you couldn't tell where the pupil ended and the iris began.

"Christine said that Erik never speaks of Persia."

Kaveh thought for a few seconds and then lifted doleful eyes to Christine's expectant features.

"His memories of Persia are entirely different than mine." Kaveh stated, "He was a prisoner there…much like the ancient gladiators were prisoners, but were allowed certain advantages…he endured many years of suppression and torture."

Kaveh told them everything, although he tried to spare their delicate ears the goriness of Erik's inhumane treatment, he was not allowed to – Christine would not have it.

"The scars I saw on his chest and back the other night – how did he get them?"

Kaveh was surprised that Erik had allowed her to see them. He was very protective about his physical shape and the condition of his body. Christine offered an explanation when she saw the confusion on his face.

"It was late and Timmy was fussing – Erik had already managed most of the problem by the time I got to him. The child had a fever and Erik was rocking in the chair and had him over his bare shoulder wrapped in a cool towel."

"I am not sure that you want to hear what Erik has been through, my lady…it is most disturbing – on many levels."

"Will he be angry at you for telling me?" She asked with great concern.

Kaveh chuckled lightly, "No, just don't expect him to elaborate on anything."

He took the next hour to describe in detail what Erik had suffered at the hands of the Sultana and her minions. Christine sat quietly and listened, but tears poured down her face. She silently wept for the man she had grown to love very deeply and swore that if she ever had the chance, she would gladly take the life of the Sultana.

Kaveh saw the look of indignation on her face. He knew her feelings for Erik ran deep – but he had not known how deep until this very moment. He answered her unspoken question.

"Don't worry, my lady, she got her just rewards…think of the story of Jezebel in your Christian Bible – the sultana met with much the same end not three years after Erik escaped."

Christine smiled wickedly, wondering what had caused such a death.

"How did that happen?" she asked.

"Let's just say that her body was not recognizable – no one knows exactly what happened; and worse than that – or better, however you want to look at it – no one is interested in finding out."

Christine had much to reflect on and thanked Kaveh for his time. She excused herself and headed out the door, leaving them to further their attraction to each other.

"She will help Erik overcome everything." Beth stated.

Kaveh looked at her with a strangely dispassionate look on his face, "He doesn't need someone to help him overcome his past – he's done that. What he needs is someone to give him a future and make him realize he's worthy of one."

Beth leaned into him and rested her head on his shoulder, "Whatever he needs, Christine will be that to him – she wants this more than anything I have ever seen – it's in her eyes and the way she moves."

"She has never asked anything about the mask – or why he wears it…it's really quite refreshing." Kaveh admitted.

Bethany shrugged and lifted her head to look into his ebony eyes, "Why should she, he's a very attractive man and it matters not what lies beneath it…he would still be an attractive man."

Kaveh nodded his head in agreement and pulled her to him, "Do I need to be jealous of your obvious appreciation of his physical beauty?" Kaveh teased, "I'm not sure I could win against him in a fair fight."

Beth playfully swatted his arm and gave him the kiss he had begged for, "Of course, you should always be aware of handsome men who catch my eye….but he belongs to Christine, whether he knows it or not." Beth had to ask, "Does he even find her attractive – he hasn't even tried to kiss her?"

Kaveh had suspected as much, Erik would never assume that his wife would invite his touch, so he would not offer it.

"Of course he finds her attractive, and I know this for a fact…" Kaveh assured her. "…but Erik has never been allowed –if you will excuse my forwardness – to be a man."

Beth scowled and waited for him to explain, "He was punished for every male desire or instinct he showed – he soon learned to squelch them – they have been dormant for many years."

"Christine won't let them remain that way – not if the look in her eye is any indication." Beth stated with a grin.

"God help her when he finally gives into his passions." Kaveh agreed with an equally ornery grin.

ЖЖ

It has taken him a couple of days to get there, but Erik finally stood with Sergei. He had given a brief but descriptive version of what Pascal had done to Christine.

Erik had had enough of his father and he knew that the Duke would be able to help with the details of his punishment that Erik had in mind.

Sergei still felt that Pascal should meet with some unfortunate accident, but Erik had had enough of killing. There were far more mentally painful and pleasing ways to punish a man than death.

"I have enough blood on my hands, Sergei…I'll not add my father's blood to my growing list of sins."

"What do you propose to do, Erik…he will continue to be a thorn in your side." Sergei advised.

Erik's face lit up with a wolfish grin, "Do you still have a cousin at the monastery?"

ЖЖ

Christine had taken the initiative to find a horse in the stables that suited her. The roan mare that Daschel, the horse master, suggested, turned out to be perfect. She was tame enough for leisurely riding, but she had spirit enough to whip through the countryside at high speed, allowing Christine the freedom she longed for.

Christine had named her Danseur Bleu, because of the color of her coat and the dancing manner in which she walked. They had become quick and easy companions and Christine had taken to riding with Kamilla in the mornings before her studies began.

They had just returned from their morning jaunt through the hills of southwestern France, when Christine noticed Erik's carriage already stationed in front of the estate, and there was another with royal markings parked behind it.

'He's home!' She thought, and smiled when she felt her heart leap at the thought of him.

She and Beth had shared many hours of discussion about Christine's absent husband and the lack of physical contact.

Three nights ago had been one such discussion…

They were discussing the first time Christine had actually approached Erik.

"I told him I despised him." Christine whispered.

Beth gasped and stared at her sister as if she had grown a second head, "Christine, have you taken leave of your senses?"

"Well, he forced me into this marriage without considering my opinion, he must think I'm plain or just downright ugly…he hasn't so much as tried to kiss me – in fact, he acts as though touching me would cause him great distress."

Bethany could not believe what she was hearing, "Christine, do you hear what you're saying? Many marriages are arranged, you can't fault him for that."

"I don't, he explained why he married me and gave me permission to take a lover – he has no intention of consummating this marriage." Christine breathed.

Beth gasped and her eyes grew as big as saucers, "You have got to be joking?

"No…" Christine proceeded to tell Beth all that Erik had said to her.

The reaction from Beth was much the same as Christine had had.

"What an atrocious woman!"

"I couldn't believe the way she treated him…if she weren't dead, it probably wouldn't take much prodding for me to kill her." Christine seethed.

"This man has been through some of the most blood-chilling experiences in his life." Beth stated, feeling sick to her stomach.

Christine furrowed her brow and nodded in agreement, "…I appreciate all that Kaveh told me…Erik would have never told me…I know that much."

Christine smiled as she noticed how Beth's face lit up when she talked about Kaveh.

"You really like him, don't you?"

Beth blushed and grinned, "I suppose; if one likes the tall, dark-haired, deep eyes, handsome kind of man." She teased, "Oh! But wait! You do like that type!"

Christine gave her a playful punch on the arm, "Oh, do stop!"

Beth giggled and punched her back, "What have you got against happiness, Christine?"

"Not a thing…why?"

"Because you seem to do everything in your power to keep it from touching your life…especially where Erik is concerned."

Christine dropped her head a played with the quilt that rested on the bed where they sat.

"Everything he makes me feel is so frightening, Beth." Christine admitted. "I lose myself in his eyes and that exotic spicy scent that seems to always be on him."

"And this scares you…?" Beth was almost laughing, but decided against it.

"Beth…I'm serious!"

"Christine, dear sister, that's love!" Beth announced, "That – is – love! Plain and simple. You have to know this after what you felt for Caleb."

Christine was mortified! "What do you know about Caleb?"

"Everything, dear sister."

"You were 14!" Christine practically screamed.

"Yes, I was…but I knew the two of you were deeply in love and he took your innocence." Beth watched Christine's eyes go dark and the distant pain of what she had lost that day long ago seemed very current.

"What I had with Caleb was not nearly this intense." Christine added.

"You reacted to Caleb like a love-struck teenager experiencing lust and desire for the first time….you are reacting to Erik like a woman reacts to a man."

Christine abruptly became very quiet and it looked like tears were beginning to form, "He said that he knew I would loath him…he expected nothing less." The tears did fall this time, "He said that he didn't blame his late wife for cheating on him, anyone was better than him….what did he mean, Beth…all I have seen of him is wonderful!"

"Maybe it's a physical thing, Chrissy…I mean, what's under the mask? Maybe whatever it is has sent women running in the past, shallow though they may have been, but it would still cause a man to have a complex…even one as attractive, brilliant, generous, and caring as Erik."

"I have tried to fight it, but I do love him." Christine finally admitted.

"That's half the battle won…now, you need to give him a reason to stick around more…make his time here worth while so that he won't want to leave and can't wait to get back when he has to leave."

"How do I do that?"

Beth grinned mischievously, "Listen and learn."

TBC