Chapitre 14

Estelle's View-

I tried to hold back tears as I was blindly lead through cold hallways by rough hands. It was cold and dark and the air was thick with blood and alcohol, I was pushed forward and landed on my knees, one of them grabbed my hair and pulled my head up.

"What do you think?" I heard one of them say, there was the sound of high heels and something hard and leathery tapped the side of my face.

"Take off the blindfold and let's have a look at that face." A female voice said, the foul smelling fabric was ripped from my eyes and I looked up, a woman in dominatrix gear was towering above me. "Not bad at all." She muttered as she gestured for me to stand, they grabbed my arms and lifted me up. She raised her whip and ran it along the side of my bruised face, over my throbbing lip. The room was dark and hot, crates scattered and empty bottles everywhere.

"What do you want with me?" I cried, the woman chuckled and looked deep into my frightened eyes.

"It's not what we want with you, so much as what we want from you." She said, there was agreeing sounds coming from my kidnappers. She looked over at the men that grabbed me and smirked. "We'll see what Luigi wants to do with her. Put her in a cell until he gets back, but I think you'll all get what you want." The men high-fived each other and dragged me to a cell, I couldn't hold back any longer. It was just a dank and foul-smelling cupboard; I fell to my knees on the floor. Once the door was slammed, then I wrapped my arms around myself so I could pretend they were the Count's.

'He won't come for me...not after the way I snapped at him.' I wept.

I waited in the dark, ignoring the conversations outside that went on. It was only a matter of time and my hopes were dimming faster and faster of a rescue mission for me. Suddenly there was a crash outside and I gave a yelp of surprise, the smell of dust and blood came to me. I got to my feet and listened to the sound of clashing steel and manly grunts. There came some voices... oddly familiar.

"Hello? Is someone there?" I cried, knocking my fists on the wooden door. There were footsteps, then a feisty and comforting voice.

"Stand back." I did as he said, moving to the back of the cell. I cried out as the door was yanked off its hinges, the dust settled.

"Baptistin! Oh thank-" I didn't finish the sentence. I ran forwards as he gave a gasp of surprise as I crashed into him, almost knocking him over.

"M-Miss Cutter? How did-" I stuttered, he gently took my face between his hands and looked at me. He frowned at my throbbing lip and bruised face; shaking his head. "The Count is not going to be happy." Suddenly he scooped me up and carried me over to where Bertuccio was tying up the criminals. The dominatrix looked up at me in anger; I rested against Baptistin's chest. "Hey! Looks like we found a lost dove here!" He shouted, Bertuccio looked at me and looked just as surprised as Baptistin.

"Don't worry Miss Cutter; his Excellency is coming for you and Albert."

"Albert!" I cried, looking over to a huddled couple on the floor. The familiar boy looked up and I gave a sigh of relief. The young girl next to him looked at me in awe.

"Mademoiselle? What are you doing in a terrible place like this?" Albert said, I shook my head and rested against Baptistin's chest. He looked down at me, blushing as I wrapped my arms around his neck.

"Because I was easy... alone... and vulnerable." I looked up at Baptistin. "Take me to the Count. I miss him." I muttered, he nodded and I curled up into a ball. Blocking out the smells, sights and ideas of what may have happened if they didn't come for me.

Count's View-

I made my way down the dank and dark halls of Luigi's catacombs, drawing a handkerchief from my sleeve to wipe the blade.

'I think he'll consider my offer.' I chuckled, moving quickly to hide the knife within my vest. I squinted as I reached the heart of Luigi's lair, smiling as I saw Baptistin and Bertuccio with Albert.

'Les jeune âme c'est sûr, quoique il a mouillé dans quelque chose très ténèbres. (The young soul is safe, though he has dabbled in something most dark).' Gankutsuou said to me. Then something stirred within my cold heart. 'Les piste de pâle aile... (The scent of white wings)' It muttered. Albert got to his feet and looked at Franz and I, smiling widely.

"Excellency! Franz! Somehow I knew that you would find us!" Albert said happily.

'Us?' I thought, and then Baptistin turned around to reveal the unconscious woman in his arms. Estelle was asleep, but my eyes closed in on the bruises on her face and arms. "Are you alright Monsieur Albert? The Baron d'Epinay was very worried about your wellbeing." I said as I moved over to the young girl on the floor, the one with brown hair. I reached out my hand to check her injuries, instantly she flinched away. 'Oh my... how interesting.' I thought as the boy looked at me harshly as Bertuccio picked him up and we all walked out of the catacombs. I turned to Baptistin and muttered in his ear. "Put Estelle in the carriage, next to my chair."

"Yes Excellency." He nodded and we all got into the carriage, the Baron and Albert almost instantly fell asleep as did the boy we retrieved from the catacombs. Bertuccio and Baptistin got in the front and we all headed back to the hotel, I opened my cloak and wrapped Estelle up in its velvet folds. Her skin contrasting beautifully against the black, her head fell and rested against my neck. I drew my book from the hidden compartment in the carriage. Opening to that disgusting photograph of Albert's parents. 'The fruits of betrayal must be plucked from the tree...' I thought, looking at Albert in seething hate.

Before long the carriage stopped at the hotel, Albert and Franz were taken to their rooms and the boy was moved to Haydee's and Miss Braque's room. Baptistin carried Estelle carefully to our bedroom, putting her down on the bed. There was a flurry of red and white as Mina rushed into the room, tears in her eyes.

"Oh my GOD! What happened?" She asked us as she stood before the unconscious Estelle who flinched at the sudden loud noise.

"She was kidnapped by thugs and taken to Luigi Vampa's catacombs; we managed to rescue her before anything happened to her." Bertuccio said, she kneeled by her side and took her hand. I frowned as I looked at the bruises on her delicate face, like patches of mud all over her snow flesh.

"I-I shouldn't have let her walk home. Not in the state she was in." Mina sobbed, my two henchmen left the room. I removed my hat and cloak before turning to scowl at Mina. Her large tears dripped down her white maid's dress.

"That's right you shouldn't have. What a careless and uncaring act Miss Braque." She looked up at me, wiping her eyes.

"Excuse me?" She asked. I narrowed my eyes at her, she got to her feet.

"Fix her up and make sure she gets better. It's because of you that she got hurt and almost raped, any more mistake from you and you will no longer be in my services." I said, she bowed her head and curtsied.

"Yes your Excellency." She muttered, I left the room and slammed the door.

Estelle's View-

Very carefully I opened my eyes, afraid of what I would see. Luxurious sheets and familiar smells made me sink deeper into the pillows of our bed. I raised my arm to look at the dimming bruises on my skin, it was dark outside and the light of the city of Luna sparkled. I carefully got out of bed and moved over to my mirror, pulling on a dressing gown to cover my flimsy nightdress. I couldn't see any bruises on my face but my eye was a little baggy from healing, I wrapped my arms around my hips and looked out the window. I heard the crunch of the carpet behind me.

"Thank God you managed to find me; I was afraid that you wouldn't." I whispered, arms wrapped around my hips and his mouth found my ear.

"Even if you should slip into the blackest waters and the sharks are closing in... I will fight them off." He muttered, I turned around to look at him. I blushed as I saw his shirt was open, exposing his hard chest to me. "How are you feeling my dear?" He asked, cupping the side of my face. I looked at his hand, gasping as I looked at the skin. Instantly he flinched away, but I caught his wrist.

"No, let me see." I brought his hand closer to me, my lips parted as I examining the thick and delicate black lines that ran over his long fingers and sharp nails. I caressed his hand between mine, feeling that some of his hand was starting to crystallize. I pulled the sleeve of his shirt up to see the line continued up his arm, where more skin was turned to crystal. The tattoos were like the thorny stem of a rose, harsh but beautiful at the same time. 'Just like he is.' I ran a finger along one of the lines.

"Do you think I'm hideous?" I looked up at him in surprise; he looked intensely at me for my answer. I took his hand and pressed his cold skin to my heart, my cheeks turned red.

"You're beautiful." I said, standing on my tip toes so that I could reach his divine lips. He smirked as he pressed his mouth harder on mine, separating my lips with his skilled tongue. I ran my hand over his neck, delighting in his naked chest. I moaned as he claimed every inch of my wet lips, my hand slipped to his heart. Then I stopped. I froze. My eyes shot open but I could not see, I could only hear.

"EDMOND!"

"Mercedes! It's just some mistake; I'll be back just wait for me!" Then darkness... such darkness.

"W-Who are you?" A familiar voice said, I flinched as my head was filled with bright pink light.

"My name is... Gankutsuou..." I let out a cry and pushed something away from me. I blinked and I saw the Count standing a few feet away, my hands outstretched to push him away.

"Estelle? What's wrong?" He asked, I straightened up and pressed my hand to my brow. Closing my eyes I took a deep breath.

"I-I'm fine I just-"

'Naºve colombe!(Naive dove) ' I cried out as a voice shouted in my head, suddenly I felt his hand in mine then his comforting eyes.

"Shall I call a doctor?" I shook my head and cupped his face, closing my eyes as I brought his lips down to meet mine in a tender and loving kiss. Shrugging off my dressing gown as I did so, I turned around to look out the window at the sparkling lights.

"All I need is you Count." I whispered to him, his hand grazed my thigh. I mewled softly as his claws slowly and gently raked my delicate skin, it sending waves of pleasure like electric shocks up my spine. The Count drew me closer until my back was against his chest, held gentle but firmly in his grasp. He could feel that I was still a bit tense from my experience earlier. He tightened his grip ever so slightly before nuzzling my neck with his chilled lips. "Count-"

"Shhh, my dear...let me relax you..." He purred, the tone a bit different from usual. It was lower and huskier, a slight growl coming from his voice. His lips ventured up to my ear, where he proceeded to lick and nibble the soft flesh, teasing it with his tongue.

I bit my lip, trying not to moan but he could sense my resilience and smirked...oh he loved a challenge...it would make it all the more sweeter when he would finally take me and ravish me with unbridled passion. But, that could wait...couldn't it? Oh, how he longed to see me exposed under him, for only his eyes to see. How he dreamed of and craved to bury himself deep inside me and find all the places that would make me cry his name in pure ecstasy. For now, he would have to be satisfied with what he had...though perhaps he could make his true animalistic appetites know to me tonight...perhaps. He dropped his own thoughts and went back to taunting me with the wet circles his tongue was drawing in my ear.

I shuddered at the feel, tightening my grip on him.

"Count-"

"Why don't we continue this...in bed?" He picked me up, carrying me bridal style to the bed; I on the other hand was blushing the deepest shade of crimson imaginable, I just wasn't ready for this! He carefully laid me on the silk sheets, like I was a soap bubble, so fragile I'd break at the slightest touch. I looked up at him, his pale skin seeming to glow under the light of the city from the window. I reached up, twirling and playing with the deep locks of hair cascading down from his head.

"I'm jealous; your hair's much softer and silkier than mine." I teased. He chuckled, leaning down and whispering in my ear low and sultry.

"Not as soft as your body is under mine my dear Estelle." I blushed deeply, hiding my face under the sheets like a child scared of the dark. He just chuckled, and slowly pulled the sheets away. "Don't hide my dear, I wish to gaze at your beauty. And as a Count I demand satisfaction." He teased, winking at me and flashing his oh so famous smirk. I looked away, unsure; but was quickly distracted by the Count's lips descending on my neck; I let out a small squeak. He smirked at my reaction, searching for the soft place on my neck that would make me squirm; it didn't take him long as I let out a small cry when he softly suckled a spot near my artery. I jumped slightly as his cold fingers brushed my legs, his lips relocating to join his hands, shuddering when he worshipped my flesh below. He kissed up my legs, never taking his eyes off me, those same eyes putting me in a trance.

"Count...I...we-"

"Shhh, relax and let me do all the work my sweet..." He purred sensually.

'Well...maybe...this is...for the best...' I thought, his soft and decadent touches making me feel at ease, so at ease in fact, I was starting to doze slightly.

The Count purred as he drew ever closer to the hidden treasure under my gown, he stopped briefly, encasing me in his arms, burying his face in my stomach.

"Estelle...I've never really told you much about me...but please be patient, everything will come to light...and maybe...after all this is over-" But he was cut off by the soft sound of me snoozing and he lifted his head. "Estelle?" My peaceful face confirmed it; I had been lulled to sleep by his actions. He smiled slightly, shaking his head. "Always next time my love."

That very next morning I awoke to the sight of the Count's eyes half open, I froze as his face was buried deeply in my neck. Working on a lock of hair, twirling it between his fingers with a rather bored expression on his face, I turned slightly so I was facing him.

'I must have fallen asleep, oh God!' I thought, he buried his face deeper against my throat so his lips stayed there. Carefully I wrapped an arm around his shoulder and stroked his hair with the other hand. "We have to go back to Paris... don't we?" I asked him, he nodded. I gulped as his lips moved against my slender neck, he chuckled.

"It's a shame... I would have really enjoys a few more nights like that one." He purred, running his hand through my hair and along my jawbone. I gasped sharply and clenched my thighs together. Suddenly he paused with his thumb just under my jaw; carefully he tilted my head back.

"Count-"

"Don't speak." I held my tongue, carefully he slid his nose and lips along my neck, over my jaw to my pale and- "You're shaking." He said bluntly, I looked at his bewitching eyes.

"I-I-I'm sorry I just-"

"What's wrong?" He purred, I clutched at his hair, careful not to hurt him.

"After the catacombs I don't- I mean I can't..." He let out a sigh and pulled away, I whimpered in protest but he didn't hear it.

"Then last night was..."

"I was trying so hard! I-I wanted to I really did but-" I felt his arms wrap around me, holding me to him so, so tight. Our body locked together... so perfectly and yet so cold. 'Like something's missing.'

"When you're ready... let me know." I looked at him, smiling softly at his tranquil face. He smirked. "Then I'll make sure that it's a night you won't easily forget." He growled, I pushed myself up and locked my lips with his. He responded instantly with lashings from his seductive tongue that I craved, slowly I pulled away. My tongue sticking out a little between my lips, teasing him; he smirked.

"I think that night will come sooner rather than later." I mewled. He chuckled deeply and our foreheads rested together.

"I hope so my love, for my sake as well as yours." I laughed and rewarded him with sweet and delicate kisses; desperate to forget that we were meant to be packing our bags for Paris.