Chapter Seventeen
Angel of Death Ascends
The three riders remained silent the entire journey each man having their own private moment of contemplation or silent prayer. For tonight David would be considered a man as he would have the responsibility of a man put upon his shoulders. Even though he would not take part in breaching the compound of the estate he still held a role of supreme importance.
His contribution did not lack dangerous aspects as one "neigh" from any one of their mounts could alert the whole of the estate to intruders. David not only had to keep an eye on the horses and a firm hand on the reins but also keep a wary eye out for any stray men scouting the perimeter of the grounds around the estate.
In near silence the three riders rode within sight of the main house. They remained under cover of the trees. Darkness from the moonless night shrouded them in secrecy from any watchful eyes.
Erik and Raoul nodded once toward each other to signal the approach to the house. Erik took the direct approach to the front while Raoul took the back.
With one encompassing glance toward David to ascertain if his nerves had overtaken him Erik could discern no outward telltale evidence that David would be anything other than brave and handle his responsibility as a true soldier would.
Eased in his mind on that score Erik began his forward move. Gliding silently like some dark shadow, Erik gained ground slowly but surely.
The first man he encountered sat on a large stone smoking a cigarette with his gun laying on the ground beside him. Erik considered it the fault of the man he would lose his life while performing in the dereliction of his duty. Had the man not been doing other than guarding as he should have been he may have had a chance.
Erik used his lasso without compunction. He felt all those who sided with Javart to be less than worthy of breathing any longer than it took Erik to find and kill each one with Javart being the last.
As Erik encountered man after man he took a life with little concern it seemed by his outward appearance. True enough Erik did not have any scruples about killing these men but he did not feel totally comfortable taking men's lives anymore. He considered this a necessary evil but he well knew it to be still an evil action, one he had hoped never to have need of again.
While his conscience would remain untroubled Erik hoped this would be the last time he ever had to take this sort of final retaliation against anyone. In future he hoped to deal with others in a more civilized fashion, one that did not besmirch his already blackened soul. If God granted him redemption for all the many sins Erik had committed Erik would be a happy man. He wished to begin life with Meg with a clear conscience and less tarnished soul.
Having taken out the last man standing between him and entrance to the house Erik decided to chance entering through the front door. He hoped this novel mode of entrance for him did not become a regretful action. Slowly Erik opened the well oiled door. He thanked Javart for his thoughtfulness even as he cursed him for making this deadly mission necessary in the first place.
Erik saw no one nor heard a sound within the house. Lights blazed everywhere yet it seemed as if the house held no life. A chill ran down Erik's spine. He hoped it was not one of foreboding.
Erik ran across the open foyer not wanting anyone to come and alert the household to the presence of an intruder. He took the stairs two at a time reaching the landing in short order. He made his way silently to the wall of the long hallway. He peered down seeing two men seated outside a door. Erik could not be certain but he thought it to be about the same location as the room he entered last night. No other rooms had guards so it stood to reason that this would be where Meg and Fiona would be kept.
Erik did not know if the silence of the house boded well or not. At least he heard no screaming coming from within the room. Either Javart had the women drugged or he was not yet in the room.
If Meg were aware of anything untoward happening to her Erik could vouch for her fighting capabilities. Perhaps the only thing that had saved Erik the night he attacked Meg had been her burgeoning feelings for him. Erik dare not dwell too long on his past transgression or he would undermine his skills needed to procure Meg and Fiona's release. He had to stay focused on the needs of the moment.
Erik studied the two men. Just as he had been about to rush them hoping for the best Erik caught sight of light colored hair just peeking around the wall at the other end of the hallway. Raoul, it had to be Raoul. Erik thanked God he had been correct in his assumption when the rest of Raoul's head came around the corner.
Erik made sure Raoul saw him before he gave a sign to move forward upon the dropping of three fingers. One by one Erik lowered a finger. Adrenaline rushed throughout his body giving him an edge he would not otherwise have had. Erik could handle any number of men in a fight but when it came to endangering Meg's life or Fiona's Erik would rather do things in a more conventional way. He did not mind sharing the glory. All he cared about at the moment was reuniting those two women with their loved ones.
As Erik lowered his last finger he and Raoul exposed themselves simultaneously. The guards shouted once then needed all their concentration to hold off Erik and Raoul.
Fists began to fly. Furniture toppled as men crashed into it smashing some while simply overturning other pieces. Glass vases fell to the carpeted floor shattering into miniscule pieces which crunched under booted feet.
Erik let all his rage have free reign as he traded punches with his opponent. As fists connected groans could be heard. Hearing shouts from the floor below Erik knew they had little time. He drove his fist into the man's face then whipped out his lasso. Wrapping it around the man's throat Erik pulled it tight until the man's grappling hands at Erik's wrist stilled.
Just as Erik's man fell Raoul drove his knife up to the hilt into the stomach of the man he fought. The man groaned in pain then dropped to his knees. Erik rushed to the door jiggling the doorknob. Ascertaining that it had been locked Erik used his shoulder to break into the room.
Coming into the room in a rush Erik felt a glancing blow of a vase Meg had just dropped down upon him. It did not really hurt him as it only glanced off his shoulder. He stood stunned for a moment. Meg having realized she had attacked Erik immediately dropped the candlestick she had been going to use to cause further damage.
Meg had been expecting that horrible reptile Mr. Vincent. He had forced Meg to bath and dress as he watched. It had sickened Meg to even imagine that man touching her in any way. Meg would suffer Erik's brutal attack upon her a thousand times rather than have that man lay one finger on her person. He had gone down earlier to receive some shipment of something or other. Meg did not care what it was as long as it prolonged Mr. Vincent's departure from the room. Meg had been dreading that man's return. She had decided to do what she could to aid in her own escape as Erik had not returned. Now here he was and she had beaned him over the noggin.
"Oh Erik I am so sorry. I thought you were…well not you for sure. I didn't hurt you did I?" Meg kissed any place she thought might have suffered some injury. Why she thought his face and lips would suffer from a blow to his shoulder no one asked.
Erik would like to have let Meg fawn and coo over him for a while longer but Erik saw Raoul's smirking face followed by the mouthed words to hurry things along.
If Raoul had not helped in Meg's rescue or been correct in their need to hurry Erik thought he might gladly render Raoul unconscious for a few minutes. Meg nor Christine would thank him if Erik ended Raoul's life. Besides, Erik could forgive the man's knowing smirk if it meant Meg kissed him again.
With one last lingering kiss Erik told Meg they had no more time. Raoul interjected that the back way seemed to be the best way to exit. He saw very few men around back. A few of those would no longer worry about intruders. As the commotion came from around front they would most likely all be heading in that direction to see what had happened.
Erik instructed Raoul to aid Fiona out as she seemed to be ill. Meg explained that Fiona had been declining in health all day as that man Mr. Vincent would not administer the medication she needed to get well. Neither Erik nor Raoul disabused Meg of the idea that Fiona merely needed some medicine to cure some illness. They would rather let her live in ignorance for a while longer.
Erik cracked the door. He could here shouts coming from downstairs and the thudding of many feet below and coming up the stairs.
Knowing they would be overrun in a matter of seconds Erik opened the door pulling Meg behind him. Raoul had placed his arm around Fiona's waist with her arm draped across his shoulders.
Raoul dragged Fiona more than he supported her. If he could run while carrying her that would have been better but he could not move fast enough with the extra weight in his arms so dragging her seemed best.
Erik told Raoul to toss Fiona over his shoulder so he could go downstairs at a quicker pace. Once at the bottom of the stairs Erik told Meg and Raoul to stay put while he canvassed the immediate area to make sure they did not run into any stragglers who had been too lazy to investigate matters around front.
Erik opened the back door cautiously as he heard the kitchen staff speaking excitedly down the hallway and to the left.
In the light from the lanterns Erik saw two men leaning against matching lamp posts. He gauged the distance between the two men and himself. If he threw his knife accurately he could take out the one on the left then lasso the other around his neck as he went to check out his fallen comrade. If something went wrong at least Raoul would have a chance to take the women and make a run toward the horses and freedom.
Kissing his knife for luck Erik let it fly. He hit his target directly in the center at the back of the man's neck. The only sound coming from the already dead man had been a slight gurgling sound. The man dropped down drawing his companion to him. Once that man came to within reach of Erik's lasso the thin rope made a whirling sound as it flew toward Erik's second victim.
Once the rope found its target Erik quickly tightened it killing the man as quickly and mercifully as possible. When that gruesome task had been completed Erik returned to the others. The look on Meg's face when Erik came back to rejoin them disheartened Erik. He thought now Meg would surely rethink having anything to do with him or his unclean, murderous hands.
Erik stood only for a few seconds without making any move to touch Meg. When she raised her face upward Erik nearly lost all coherent thought. Her smile was only a slight movement of her lips but to Erik it seemed as if the sun shone in the darkness.
"I understand Erik." Those three words were all Meg needed to say. Erik would have crushed her to him if time would have allowed such a thing. As it was they needed to make haste to leave this lighted area and return to the darkened outer edge of the estate.
Erik grabbed Meg's hand so that he could guide her through the darkness. He had always been adept at seeing in darkness. That had been one of the many things about him that had frightened his mother.
Meg squeezed his hand trying to give Erik some sense of how she felt about the things he had done to set her and Fiona free. Meg had never been one for violence but Mr. Vincent had forced her to reconsider her passive attitude. If Erik had not come when he did Lord alone knew what would have happened. Meg had a good idea but had not wanted to dwell on it as if she had all control would have left her in a simpering heap on the floor. She would have gained nothing from such an action. Keeping her wits about her with a clear head seemed her best defense in the situation she had found herself in.
Once Erik had arrived Meg had nearly melted into a useless puddle at his feet. She had been so grateful matters had been taken out of her hands and placed into Erik's much more capable ones. Even having the past that they did Meg would trust Erik with her life. In fact she had done so the moment she had placed her hand in his just moments ago.
They did not encounter any men once out in the darker area of the estate. All the outer guards had been called in once it became known one or more intruders had entered the house.
Erik led them directly to where David sat astride his mount while holding the reins of the others. Raoul lifted Fiona up so that David could place his sister in the saddle in front of him. He had difficulty holding her as she was a dead weight. Once he had her steady and assured Raoul she would not fall Raoul mounted his own horse.
He did not ask Erik if he would be going back or not for he knew as surely as he knew his own name that Erik would be returning to the estate so that he could ensure Mr. Vincent did not live to harm anyone else. Erik would take no chance of the man retaliating by perhaps killing or capturing another of his loved ones.
Raoul had at first found it hard to accept that Erik could love anyone, at least in the conventional sense of the word. Now he knew differently. Erik loved Meg but in a different way than he had loved Christine. If pressed to explain Raoul could not have done so with any clear explanation. He just knew it to be the truth. Christine knew it as well. They had even discussed what would happen if Meg and Erik did eventually come together. They had decided that if it came to pass that Meg and Erik made a commitment toward one another Christine and Raoul would do all they could to support them.
When Erik wrapped his hands around Meg's waist in preparation to lift her into his saddle Meg stilled him for one last kiss. She could not bear it if something happened to Erik just when they had begun to discover how they felt about one another.
Erik deepened the kiss for only a few seconds. That would have to carry him until he and Meg could reunite properly. Meg placed her hands on either side of Erik's cheeks admonishing him to take care. She threatened bodily harm if he did not return to her safely. Erik did not have the heart to tell her that would be impossible if he did not return. He had every intention of making his way back to Meg.
After one last kiss, followed by a meaningful meeting of the eyes with Meg, Erik slowly backed away from Meg letting his fingers trail over hers until they only touched with their fingertips. Both seemed reluctant to relinquish all contact with the other.
Knowing that to linger endangered them all Erik at last turned away with determination to be quickly swallowed by the surrounding darkness.
Meg shivered rubbing her arms for warmth. Raoul's urging her to mount drew her attention away from the spot where Erik had seemed to vanish into the dark shadows.
Knowing Erik must do this did not make it any easier to accept on a civilized level. After Mr. Vincent's cruel and torturous treatment toward Meg and Fiona perhaps the man did not deserve any civilized considerations. He had not shown himself to be any sort of a gentleman in Meg's presence beyond those first few minutes he had lured Meg into his trap like a spider trapping its pray in a web.
Mr. Vincent had seemed to be all silky smooth in his manners until he had Meg drugged and under his control, then real monster had been released. Those who had called Erik a monster should spend a few unguarded moments with Mr. Vincent. Monsters did not always look the part.
Erik found a spot close to the front but unseen by those gathered there. It took all of Erik's willpower not to charge forward killing Javart even at the cost of his own life. Erik judged it to be a fair exchange. Knowing Meg waited for his return kept Erik hidden until such time he could make his move.
Javart had ordered a portion of his men to mount up so they could search the surrounding area. Erik hoped Raoul used his good sense to move further away and seek a spot hidden from those who would be searching for them.
Erik would simply have to rely on Raoul's intelligence. Whether he had any Erik could not say with certainty but he did present himself as being of higher intelligence than the run of the mill person.
Once Javart had dealt with his men, Erik heard him say he would be waiting in his study. If they found anything they were to inform Javart at once.
Luck seemed to be smiling in Erik's favor. Javart would be alone and on the ground floor. Now all Erik had to do was go back around to use the same door he and the others had exited only a little while ago. Once inside it should be fairly easy to find the study.
Javart would pay for his arrogance and ignorance with his life. He did not feel any threat whatsoever from Erik. The man had an image of Erik as a helpless child engrained in his memory. He did not know all that Erik had become over the years. That would be his fatal mistake, underestimating his foe.
Erik found the study easily enough. Now all he had to do was wait patiently for Javart to enter. Erik's heart beat with anticipation of what he would do to his former tormentor. For that alone Javart should suffer greatly but for his offence against Meg damnation in the fires of hell would seem merciful when measured against what Erik wished to do to Javart.
Time being against any lingering punishment Erik would have to be content with letting the man know his onetime object of torture would now be taking his life. Erik would also let the loathsome creature know that as soon as it could be arranged all Javart's purloined riches would be returned to their rightful owners.
Just in case Javart still held some of his superstitions from his days in the Gypsy camp, Erik had made up a little talisman along with a curse to go along to hell with him. The thought of a curse would be almost more frightening than thinking one would soon be burning in hell's fire.
The clicking of the door alerted Erik to someone about to enter the room. Erik held his lasso stretched between his two hands. He wound it around each hand pulling it taught.
Erik did not even take the time to see who the intruder was as he speedily wrapped his lasso around the unsuspecting man's throat.
Having made sure the thin rope had wrapped as tightly as it could Erik used his shoulder to knock the man to his stomach. Erik landed on Javart's back. Rolling to the side quickly, Erik managed to get to his knees. He placed one in the center of his prisoners back.
With the rope cutting off all his air supply Javart could not even utter a word. All he could manage was low gurgles. Spittle dripped from Javart's gaping mouth.
Leaning down Erik whispered in Javart's ear the curse he had taken great care to word just so. Upon Erik's last uttered word the man beneath Erik's knee began to struggle in earnest as his fear now began to escalate in expediential degrees as his struggle continued to prove useless.
Feeling he deserved just a little payback, Erik used his knife to nick Javart around his face. Each remembered beating Erik recounted to the man beneath him, Erik added another little slice.
Soon blood covered Javart's face so that his face became distorted. Hearing voices reentering the house Erik knew his time for revenge had ended. With one last curse into Javart's accursed ear Erik twisted the rope so that it cut into the tender flesh of his neck. One last hard pull snapped Javart's neck with a sickening crack.
Erik stood looking down upon the man he had hated most in the world. Finally Erik could put some of those old nightmares to rest. The man holding pride of place in those nightly visitors from Erik's past now lay dead at his feet.
Not wanting to run into anyone coming along the hallway Erik opted to climb out the study window. He would need to make a wide circle around the outer edge of the estate before he rejoined Meg and the others. Erik would take no chance of being seen thereby leading those men to Meg. He would die himself first.
Erik used the darkness once more to hide his movements. All Erik's life had been spent trying to hide in the darkness. This one time Erik did not mind so much. His skills becoming one with shadows served him well.
Erik did not want to frighten young David thereby earning a bullet from the boy. To ensure that eventuality did not happen Erik called out softly to Meg. Meg would know his voice even if the others did not. The last of his whisper had barely faded when Meg launched herself into his arms. Erik lifted her high against him. Her whole luscious body aligned with Erik's own much harder torso. Now did not seem an appropriate time to notice such things. Erik permitted himself only a brief squeeze before he released Meg.
She should have stayed on the horse but Erik could not bring himself to admonish her for disobeying him. Erik used his hands on Meg's waist to lift her into the saddle. He then mounted the horse himself. Once firmly seated, Erik kicked his horse urging him to move forward.
It did not take them long to bring their mounts into a full gallop. They could not afford to chance anyone following them. Erik thought most likely those hired men would abscond when they learned the man with the money would no longer be paying their wages. Money bought loyalty to a point. Among thieves and murderers it only bought allegiance so long as the money continued to move from one hand to another.
After about ten minutes of steady riding Erik called to Raoul and David to slow their mounts. The animals needed a breather.
Erik did not mind spending a longer period of time mounted on the back of a fine animal especially since he could wrap his arms around Meg with her back firmly pressed into his chest.
Erik flexed his fingers wishing he had the courage to dare a much bolder caress. It had been a long time without this sort of physical closeness other than those brief kisses and embraces earlier. Erik wanted more, much more. He could wait.
Meg felt the warmth of Erik's hand all the way through the many layers of clothing which separated his skin from hers. She closed her eyes imagining that hand caressing her naked flesh. Meg did not care that such thoughts were thought to be improper. They were her own thoughts so who would know?
Meg used her finger to trace along Erik's long fingers and the back of his hand. She heard his quick inhalation when she first touched him. Taking his hand in her own, Meg guided Erik's hand to where she needed his touch the most right now. That horrid man had roughly pinched Meg's bosoms several times. He had threatened to do more. Meg wanted every bit of that man removed from her body and mind. Erik could remove the memories from her body. Later she could bath away the dirty feeling crawling over her skin.
She could feel Erik's heart thundering against her back. She shivered. Erik whispered in her ear asking her if she were cold. She whispered back a quivery "no". She did not shiver from the cold. Meg pressed Erik's hand over her bosom so he could feel her own pounding heart. He would also be able to feel the response of her body to his touch.
For only a few seconds did Erik's hand stay unmoving upon her chest. Growling low in his throat Erik buried his face in Meg's fragrant neck. He nuzzled her sensitive skin with his lips. She could feel the rasp of his whiskers. Lifting her had she pressed his head deeper into her neck.
Erik had allowed his mount to drop just behind the others. Meg's initiation in this exploration needed no other outsiders peering at them. Erik wanted this little taste of what Meg had to offer.
He would not take anything more until they were wed. For now though he would take what she freely gave. Deftly Erik unbuttoned to top two buttons on Meg's dress. He worked his hand underneath her undergarment. He could not contain the groan of want that had his trousers tightening. He pressed himself shamelessly against Meg. He nearly changed his mind about not indulging further. Just this bit of heaven almost had him emitting the proof of his lust in his trousers like some callow youth.
When Meg threw her head back against his shoulder emitting a moan, Erik knew the moment to stop had arrived. Much more and they would both disgrace themselves while seated on this hulking animal. Erik wanted better than that for Meg. Hell, he even wanted better for himself.
Erik nibbled at Meg's ear bringing another low moan from her tempting lips. If he did not stop now Erik would drag Meg off into the darkness. He might regret it later but at the moment it sounded damn appealing.
"Oh God as much as I would rather continue we must end this now or I will not stop until we are both sated. You drive me near the brink woman." Erik could not resist placing a kiss just behind Meg's ear in the spot that drew moans from her mouth.
"I know we must stop soon but just a bit longer. I want you to erase every fingerprint that demon put on my flesh. I want only the memory of your touch to be in my dreams when I close my eyes tonight."
Meg wanted to assure Erik that nothing beyond those sickening kisses and defiling touches had occurred. His rescue had come just at the eleventh hour. Any longer and there would have been much worse memories haunting Meg's sleep.
"He…that man…Mr. Vincent he did nothing other than kiss and fondle me a little. I hated every second of it. Damn my stupidity for letting him corner me without anyone being around to hear my struggle. I was never so glad to see anyone as when you came that night. For only a moment I let my doubts rule my head as I thought you might not come back for me. That only lasted for a minute. I have faith in you Erik. I will never doubt you again for even one second. I believe in you Erik. I love you."
Erik turned her head toward him with gentle pressure on her jaw from his hand. He kissed her deeply, stroking her lips with his tongue until they parted. He forcibly held back the groan working its way up into his throat.
Reluctantly he released her kiss swollen lips. Erik used his thumb to trace over her moist mouth. Meg nipped at the pad of his thumb. Such heated desire shot through him just with that small caress.
Erik removed his hand from temptation. He redid each button with a lingering caress from his fingers. Once that task had been completed he placed both hands on the pommel out of temptation's reach.
He remained silent the rest of the journey. Erik had much to mull over. He had many decisions to make. Plans for the future needed to be made carefully and with a clear head.
During the silent ride home Erik came to some unpleasant conclusions. No matter how much it hurt him, he would follow through with his decision. He did not want Meg committing herself to him out of some misguided hero worship.
He knew better than anyone how innocent Meg had always been and to a certain extent still remained that innocent girl. She had not experienced men in any great quantity.
Her first intimate encounter had been clumsy at best. For that Erik blamed himself. It would nearly kill him but he must be sure Meg chose him for love and not some misguided gratitude.
With a heavy heart Erik returned Meg to her mother. Rochelle and Antoinette were naturally ecstatic to have their children returned to them.
In the chaos Erik slipped away to return to his own home. He must separate himself from Meg or his resolve would weaken.
In the darkness of his room Erik let the misery engulf him. He knew he would be risking this second chance for a normal life. Without Meg Erik would rather return into those dark, dank catacombs underneath the opera house. Time would tell if that would be necessary or not.
A/N: Again I wish to thank all those who review regularly and in a timely fashion. Your little blurbs keep me wanting to continue to share what I create. If you haven't yet, please take a little trip to my website. I have added a few things. I will be posting some of my stories their to test the water. They are earlier works and are pretty raw but I am trying to improve them. I have a couple of chapters of one posted already. Take a test drive at my site and see if you find anything you enjoy or improvements or criticisms you wish to make. the site link is in my profile. It has improved already from when I first posted it.