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.
We are coming to the end; one more chapter to go. The final chapter will sum it all up for you.
Thank you for reading and my next story is in the making. It will be set in present day New York. It will also introduce a different sort of artistic interest for Erik. It will be an Erik/Christine.
CHAPTER 30
"Erik, stop fidgeting and just wear the suit…you look stunning."
Christine could not believe how nervous Erik was about this evening. He acted as though he had never been out in public before.
"I look like a strutting peacock."
His tone was dripping with embarrassment. Christine had purchased a forest green, formal suit for him, but he was finding it difficult to part with years of conditioning. He always wore black – had worn black for years – why did she think he would look good in forest green?
"I don't need any help being humiliated, dearest, I think I can handle that on my own…they stare unabashedly at me anyway – why give them something else to stare at?"
Christine crossed her arms across her chest, resting them on her slightly extended abdomen.
"Will you stop…please…" She almost laughed when his head bowed in defeat.
"Christine…what if…"
"Erik, they'll love your opera and they'll love you." She caressed his cheek and smiled into this beseeching eyes.
Erik felt sick to his stomach, his palms were sweating, he had a throbbing headache, his knees were about to buckle, and his throat was parched.
"Are your parents going to be there?" He asked, almost as an afterthought.
Christine nodded.
"How about Sergei…I know it's a long trip for him…"
"Yes, he will be there…stop worrying." She tried to hide the smile that was playing about her lips; he seemed so disturbed.
Erik ran his hand through his hair, proceeding to tousle the dark strands and making Christine shake her head in frustration.
"Stop…" she put her hands to his chest. "…sit…" she tugged on his shoulders, forcing him to sit in the chair they were closest to.
He sat down and allowed her to straighten his hair and chastise him with her dark eyes and motherly tone.
He started to ask another question…
"Erik…they are all going to be there, my love…Kaveh, Beth, Giorgia, your grandmother, Mama and Papa, Kamilla, Timmy, Sergei…and me." She finished with his hair and tie and allowed him to stand, "Please stop worrying...it will all be fine."
He hugged her fiercely and willed his doubts and worries to cease as her arms encircled him.
Christine took his hand and literally pulled him from the room.
ЖЖ
The night of the opening gala at the Opera Populaire had arrived. Erik's opera was opening to rave reviews, the press was everywhere, and everyone involved knew he had a masterpiece on his hands.
"My Beloved Immortal" was the first opera ever written with a vampire as the dark hero. Erik had not known the allure of the vampire until he began writing the opera and doing the research; they were fascinating creatures; he was certain that if they did exist, he would have fit in with them...quite easily.
Christine had become his inspiration throughout the project, and now he just hoped that the actors that had been cast in the leading roles would do his characters justice.
For the first time in the history of his composing, Erik attended opening night and sat in the front row. On the outside, he appeared calm and collected, but Erik was pushing down the nervous nausea that was threatening to send him spiriting from the auditorium in a cold sweat.
And the worst was yet to come.
The lamps were turned down and the manager of the opera house walked onto the stage.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it is a great honor to have each and every one of you here tonight. Our production is an original opera written and composed by Marquis Erik Laroque. He has formally written under the name of M.E. Fantôme…"
The audience went ballistic with applause. M.E. Fantôme was the most renowned composer in all of Europe and few had ever had the opportunity of seeing him, let alone meeting him.
"His timeless compositions and visionary operas have changed the face of modern theater and have forged a path that will open new and exciting possibilities for all performers."
Again, the room exploded in applause. The manager bowed and quieted the audience with a sweep of his hand.
"Now, without further ado, I give you the Marquis Erik Laroque."
He caught Christine's surpised look out of the corner of his eye and knew that if he looked at her, he would lose his nerve. He stood up, straightened his coat, and walked up to the stage.
The applause was thunderous and he could not believe that it was all for him. He took several bows and allowed the noise to subside before trying to speak.
Erik had recently allowed an interview with the press; so all of Paris, a great deal of France, and most of Europe knew he wore a mask and had suffered greatly because of it.
"Thank you for that warm welcome." He looked regal and beautiful and everyone in the theater was mesmerized by his enigmatic looks and appeal.
"Tonight would not have been possible if it were not for the constant support of my family." He indicated for everyone to stand. "Duke Sergei Beauvais, who has been like a father to me; Kaveh Hushmand and his lovely wife, Beth - and their daughter, Giorgia; my father and mother-in-law, Gustav and Teresa Delancy; my grandmother, Manuela Covaciu; my daughter, Lady Kamilla Laroque; my son, Lord Timotheus Laroque; and finally, the most important person in my life and the light that shines in my heart - my wife, the Marchioness Christine Laroque."
The theater was alive with applause and Erik was all smiles as his family took their bows and his wife cried tears of absolute joy.
"And now, I give you, 'My Beloved Immortal'."
Synopsis
MY BELOVED IMMORTAL
By Erik Laroque, Marquis of Merlot
Adrian
To the outside world, Lord Adrian Montague had it all; looks, riches, prestige – women loved him and men admired him. However, he had a dark and dangerous secret; he was over 700 years old.
Vampire
Adrian had survived longer than many immortals – even Keitel – the first vampire. In the centuries that he had walked the earth, Adrian had known and seen many things – but one thing had eluded him all the years of his dark, lonely existence - the one thing that all living beings longed for…love.
Lillith
She was the forbidden fruit - a human maiden of rare and pure beauty.
Despite their different worlds – or perhaps because of them…they fell in love. Prohibited by worlds to wed, Adrian and Lillith defied their worlds to be together.
She accepted him, in spite of what he was – a monster.
Council of Elders
Vampires rarely, if ever, loved…and loving a human was not allowed.
The elders summoned Adrian and demanded that he kill her – Adrian refused.
Judgment
As punishment for his insolence, Adrian's soul is returned to him and with it, the conscience that will not allow him to exist as what he is. For the crime of loving a vampire, Lillith is sold as a slave to the vampires and Adrian is forced to watch her be dehumanized by the most cruel and evil of all vampires…Rafael.
War
Adrian, many vampires, and even humans, wage war against
Rafael and his brood of evil vampires.
In the end, Adrian and his army are victorious
- but Lillith is mortally wounded.
Right or wrong
Should he defy the very laws that govern his kind, as well as the moral laws that govern the world, and
turn Lillith into his beloved immortal before her heart stops beating?
Would Lillith wish for the gift he offers?
ЖЖ
He had never heard such applause for any opera, and his eyes filled with tears. It seemed the world was ready for his music and for him.
"You were right, Christine…I will never doubt you again." Erik stated, above the roar of the audience.
She leaned in to him, enjoying the beautiful smile that was etched on his handsome face.
"I will remember that." She stated back with an impish smirk.
Erik laughed and pulled her to him for a long, luscious, toe-curling kiss.
TBC