Hey guys! again, sorry for the delay. I had a bit of a writer's blog and didn't get too many chances on the laptop, but here we are. And say hello to the Baron Louis d'Etienne!
...dont. i was being sarcastic.
anyhooo, on with the story!
Chapter 3
Baron Louis d'Etienne leant back on his chair, the picture if ease with his feet up on the desk, arms resting on the sides of the chair with a glass of wine in his hand.
He drained the glass and sat up properly.
On the right of his desk was the tray of his finished lunch and resting against the oil lamp beside that was the stack of the mouth-watering Miss Daaé's letters.
He chuckled as he re-read the latest one she sent from a month ago.
In it she mentioned she was coming back today as well as that puzzling tone that implied she didn't seem to want to see him.
He scoffed. Who wouldn't want to see him. Honestly.
He looked out of the window of his private yacht.
Christine was coming back on one of her father's merchant ships and since they had a unique symbol on the sails, he'd been hoping to meet the ship halfway and offer her a ride home in his much more luxurious boat.
She won't be able to resist once she sees the fine quality, he smirked.
He turned and looked over to his bed, the covers still tangled from his last encounter with a delicious creature he'd lured.
That'll be Christine soon, he smiled, standing and putting his jacket on.
"So, Captain, any sign of Daaé's ship yet?" Louis asked amiably, leaning on the edge.
Captain Dawson adjusted his cap and shook his head.
"It's getting really crowded now, my lord," he said. "Merchant ships coming in and out but no sign of the one you're looking for."
"Hmph."
Louis looked around; there were ships wherever he looked, all coming dangerously close.
He needed space.
"Captain, sail outside this traffic and just hover around until we spot Daaé's ship. It should be easier then, no gigantic ships blocking our way."
"Yes, m'lord."
Once they sailed a fair way from the shipping lanes, Louis grabbed the telescope from Dawson and peered through it.
Dawson scowled at the back of his blonde head.
Nope, Louis thought, sweeping the clear horizon. No damn ship.
He thrust the telescope back to the Captain and started to walk back to his cabin.
"Call me when you see them," he said with a wave of his hand.
Dawson rolled his eyes.
"I used to be a First Class Commodore," he mumbled, raising the spy-glass to his eye. "Now I'm reduced to steering boats for spoilt rich bo- What the hell is that?"
He focused in on the spot.
Whatever it was, it was barely visible on the waves, floating as if it was lying on something...
He gasped.
"Man overboard!"
He ran to the helm and spun the wheel, catching the wind perfectly to propel them forward.
A 30-year-old, newly widowed Mrs. Brown knocked nervously on the door of the mansion. Her previously fine dress was now ripped and caked with mud at the hemline, her hair half down from the lack of pins stolen from her.
The white door opened to reveal a sneering butler.
"Yes?" he said coldly.
"I-I was wondering whether you-your master needed a maid or cook or-"
"No, we've a full staff."
"Oh, um, then have you-"
"No."
And the door was slammed in her face.
She crumbled on the doorstep, sobbing into her hand.
She didn't know what to do! If she didn't get a job soon, she'd be forced to go to the workhouse and if not...
"Madam?" a gentle, American accented voice said, nudging her shoulder slightly.
"Madam?"
"Madam?
She opened her eyes and closed them again, the light of the midday sun blinding her.
"She's awake! Get a drink or something!"
The calm voice of Gabriel Daaé was gone, replaced by a loud brogue.
"Madam, can you hear me?"
"...mm.."
"What is this?"
Her eyes flew open.
She knew that voice! That smooth, slightly French lilt, with the arrogant undertone.
"Baron!"
Louis stared down at the woman.
How the hell did she know him? Well, okay, it wasn't a surprise. He was Louis d'Etienne.
He looked closely at the woman; she was familiar but he couldn't place where he'd seen her.
He'd certainly never...
"Baron!" Mrs. Brown said, standing quickly, ignoring how the movement made the world spin.
"Baron, you must help her! Miss Christine! She's-she's been-"
"Christine? Oh!"
The woman was Christine's nurse, chaperone, or whatever.
Yes, the reason he could never really charm her.
"Where's Christine?"
"Sir, she's been taken! Our ship was attacked last night by pirates! They killed the whole crew, burned our ship, and the poor miss..."
Louis swallowed; she was gone? No no no, that couldn't happen.
She'd proven a challenge, yes, by refusing him, but she was one of the few women who didn't seem empty-headed and vain.
She was feisty, and he liked it.
Not to mention she was unbelievably gorgeous, and one way or another he was going to have her.
Perhaps, if he saved her, she'd run into his arms and thank him for being her saviour and her parents would definitely approve him then.
"Oh thank you, thank you so much, m'lord! We were so afraid she'd be harmed! Oh, how could we ever repay you?"
He smirked. Well...
"Madam," he said kindly. "Do you have any idea at all who the pirates were?"
Mrs. Brown sniffed and thought back.
...blood...shouting...the white of the mask...
"...Erik."
"What was that, madam?"
"That was their captain. Erik...Erik...Guerrier."
Captain Dawson shivered.
"Pff. Erik? Nothing gaudy like 'Erik the Fierce' or 'Mephistopheles' Son'? How boring . Can you imagine? 'Captain! Captain! We're being attacked!''What? By whom?' 'Erik!'"
He laughed at his own joke; Captain Dawson paled and Mrs. Brown was furious.
The crew were torn between smirking and shuddering in fear of the name.
"Um, sir," Captain Dawson nudged. "Have you not heard of the Guerriers?"
"Why, should I?"
"Sir, they've been one of the most feared pirates since the 13th century. Even Blackbeard himself stayed clear of them."
"Oh come now, this shouldn't be too hard. I know a lot of Navy men and merchants and...others...I'll have them look out for her and we'll have her back safe and sound in no time at all."
Mrs. Brown's eyes lit up.
"You'll help her?"
"I will try my very best, madam. For now, I suggest you rest while we go back ashore and tell the Daaés at once. And you can tell us what happened to you."
"Yes, sir. And thank you, thank you very much. I just pray the poor dear'll stay safe."
"Yes, yes. Show her a spare cabin, Joseph."
"But, sir," Dawson said after the woman had gone. "You don't know what you're saying. The Guerriers are very elusive and I've heard that this Erik Guerrier is worse than his father. Killed all his brothers just so he can get the best ship and the inheritance."
Hmm, Louis thought. What a coincidence...
"You underestimate me, Dawson. And as I recall, I hired you as a captain for my yacht, not my adviser. Remember your place and take us home."
Dawson tried not glare but nodded.
Fine, he thought. Go ahead and pursue a pirate. Your fault if you end up at the bottom of the sea, strapped to some cannon.
yes, i made you guys wait that long for a short, totally non-erik/christine chapter. i wasn't too happy with this chapter but believe it or not, this is a fairly pivotal bit so keep reading!
maybe if i get a few reviews i'll make christine wake up in the next chapter...So please review! i was so happy to see i had loads of hits from different countries in the last chapter so thanks to all who read!
m
