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)
Kaveh Hushmand – Oded Fehr – (The Mummy, The Mummy Returns) Thanks Mlle.Fox!
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.
I seem to have lost some reviewers, I don't know if it is my story or personal issues, but I miss every one of you. Thanks to those of you who faithfully review each chapter, it is very appreciated.
CHAPTER 26
The next few weeks past uneventfully, Manuela and Elizabeth settled into the west manor house quite easily and everything seemed fine.
However, everything wasn't fine. Erik had heard disturbing reports from the monastery. Several attempts to set Pascal free had been made. The monks had warded off the perpetrators, but no one had been caught.
They did manage, however, to get a description of these men from several of the guards and a few of the more repentant prisoners.
With those descriptions in hand and imperative security upgrades, Erik and Kaveh were ready for whatever these pitiful men decided to try.
One evening, in late August, one of the guards approached Erik with a crumpled brow and disturbed eyes.
"My lord, my men and I found several men lurking on the outer limits of the estate. They were armed and very agitated. What would you have me do with them?"
Erik's stomach knotted in rage. So, they had made their move; what did they think they were going to accomplish by taking on his well-trained, well-compensated guards?
"Where are they now?"
The young man noted his lords strained tone and the hint of fury that threatened to overtake him.
"We have them secured in the tower, my lord."
"Very well, I am on my way."
Erik summoned Kaveh, explaining the situation and they both headed for the tower, eager to confront these men with the information they had.
ЖЖ
Erik only knew a few of the men. There were fifteen total, and the few that he knew were noblemen with their hands dirty with weapons dealings, illegal drugs, and flesh peddling.
"Lord Armond, I can't believe that a man of your influence couldn't come up with a better group of ruffians to invade my home." Erik spewed, his words dripping with mockery.
"If things had gone the way I planned them you'd be dead now…and every one who has aligned themselves with you."
Lord Armond burrowed eyes of hate into Erik, hoping to make the younger man flinch with uncertainty; instead, Erik smirked menacingly at the man he knew to be his father's closest friend.
"You can't begin to comprehend the danger you and your men just walked into."
Lord Armond's heart was practically jumping out of his chest. Pascal had never indicated how commanding and intimidating this man was.
The other prisoners were silent, realizing that they had most likely walked into a trap.
"You knew…you knew we were out there…how?" Lord Armond stuttered.
Erik shook his head and smirked again, "The monks have been instructed to wire me should any suspicious correspondence or people arrive at the monastery." He chuckled darkly, "I suppose that includes you and your army of miscreants."
Erik had known to expect an attack of some sort; hence, the reason for increasing security training and hiring the most skilled guards that money could buy.
Kaveh had done the training and Erik knew to trust that they were up to the task of protecting his family from the misguided, desperate attempts of Lord Armond.
"What you have done to Pascal is reprehensible…I demand you release him."
The laugh that sounded off the walls and carried down the stony corridors was chilling and deadly.
"You demand that I release him?" Erik mocked.
Erik walked with slow determination, stood before Lord Armond, and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Tell me, Lucian, do you remember a night, thirty-five years ago, when you waltzed into a gypsy camp behind your ruthless leader, Pascal Laroque?"
Erik could see the recognition in the man's blue eyes. Terror oozed from each pore and the man began to fidget under Erik's livid, green stare.
"I'm not the product of an amiable relationship my father had with a willing woman…my mother was the gypsy princess Pascal murdered that night…"
Lucian's eyes widened and he felt the bile rising in his throat…he had longed to forget that night so long ago…but the screams remained – every time he closed his eyes.
"Don't think that I am not aware of what you did to my family that night…the murdering of my mother, my grandfather, my uncles – and countless others."
The look on Lord Armond's pinched features was priceless. Erik could see the wheels of thought turning in the man's head; he was trying to come up with a way to talk his way out of this.
However, some unknown, unseen force took a hold of Lord Armond's voice and the words were out before he could stop them.
"I killed no one – I witnessed Pascal slaughtering many – I don't know who they were, nor do I know how many there were."
An evil, condescending smile curved across Erik's mouth, "Even if what you say is true, you did nothing to prevent the atrocities he committed – none of you did…you are all as guilty as he."
"NO!"
The man was panicking and Erik found his plight amusingly entertaining. The others were as still as stone statues; their faces masked with calm indifference – but Erik could see the fear in each set of eyes that dared to look his way.
"What do you plan to do with us?" Baron Manhausen finally asked, finding his voice.
Erik smiled with serpentine sweetness, "There is a ship that leaves tomorrow morning headed for the jungles of South America…" the smile disappeared to be replaced by a searing stare, "….Kaveh and my men will make sure that each of you is on it."
Each man gasped loudly and some began to whine; a particularly emasculated looking man even wet himself.
"Our families…estates…"
"Your families will be taken care of – each of you has my word on that."
"Taken…care…of…?" Lord Armond stuttered.
Erik settled determined and unyielding eyes on him, "I am not in the habit of butchering women and children…they will be afforded the chance that my family was not given…they will go on without you."
"How did you know it was us…after all these years?"
Another menacing smirk spread across Erik's features, "I have eyes and ears everywhere…I know a great many things…about a great many people."
He turned from them and did not return, wishing to cleanse his mind of their existence.
After instructing his currier to inform the Duke of the evening's events, Erik dismissed the situation and joined his family for dinner.
TBC