Chapitre 18

It was about one in the afternoon, I was curled up in the library and a large book was open on my lap 'Historical Names of Today'. Next to my chair was a large pile of discarded books, I was desperate to find that name! It came up far too often to merely be coincidence... Gankutsuou. I had sketched some pictures of the eyes to jog my memory; it was clearly evil from what I had dreamt and heard in my head. I groaned in frustration and added that book to the pile, getting up from my comfortable seat again and climbing the ladder to the top shelves. I ran my hand over the books and texts, either made of leather of digital books.

"Surely there must be something that mentions it!" I sighed, getting down from the ladder-

I stopped. Turning to my left and looking straight at a small section about other cultures and customs. My hand was drawn to a book with no title, bound in black leather with gold and silver laid into it. Pulling the book out from its place I sat down on the bottom of the wooden ladder, opening it up. 'Occult Demons of Eastern Space and Beyond' I carefully flicked through it, it was so old that pages were either missing or had disintegrated. Names like... Lokgammon, Nakioujio, Kastsujiinbo, Fleaurcareil popped up, they were terrifying monsters of folklore around the universe. Names that struck fear into my heart and made me feel cold even thought it was not.

Footsteps...

I gasped and ran back over to the table and gathered up all my sketches and notes. Shoving them into the book and hiding it under the lounge.

"Hello my dear." I smiled as the Count came into the library.

"How are you feeling? After your little swim yesterday, I was afraid you might catch a cold." I said. He walked closer to me, his eyes flickering to the pile of books by the chair.

"What have you been reading Estelle?" He picked up one of the books and turned it over, looking at the title. "'Historical Names of Today'? 'Famous Villains of the Modern Times'? What are you up to?" He asked, I bit down on my lip and looked away.

"It's nothing that you need to concern yourself with Count; I'm just looking for something." I said. He smirked and cupped my chin, making me look into his hypnotic eyes.

"Come now... what harm is there in telling me?" He purred. I blushed and looked away.

"I'm looking for Gankutsuou, I've heard to too often to just be a coincidence." I said. His eyes suddenly darkened and his lips twitched, I froze. "Count? Is something wrong?" He closed his eyes and his jaw tightened.

"It was just a dream my dear. I told you that you needn't worry about such things..." He said, his tone sounded like he was about to snap, his voice was a low growl. "You shouldn't let things like that worry you; you have me to protect you." He said, wrapping his arms around me and resting his cheek on my head. I locked my arms around him, smiling softly into his velvet waistcoat. "Estelle?"

"Yes?"

"I will be busy these next few days, I will be purchasing some new property and I will not be able to spend that much time with you... unfortunately." He said softly, his voice changing to soft and warm again. His long fingers wrapped around one of my curls, teasing it between his fingers.

"You're a busy man. Don't worry; I'll make sure I'm occupied." I said.

"I was going to ask Baptistin to escort you and Mina to the Galerie la Fayette later this week, to buy a new dress for you as I am holding a gathering in the near future." He said. I looked up at him and smiled; he cupped my cheek and grinned wickedly.

"What's that look for?" He brushed his lips against my ear.

"I would love to see you in red." He purred. The Count's arm wrapped around my back and the other stroked my hair back.

"Oh really?" I asked, taking his face gently in my hands. "What about something... strapless?" I whispered, he chuckled and curled his hand around my neck. I let out a cry as we fell backwards onto the lounge.

Pinning me down against the printed silk, his lips met mine.

"Estelle. Why do you tease me in such ways?" He growled, I squeaked as his strong hand moved up my thigh, over the tight fit of my pants. His fingers toyed with the buttons of my pastel blouse; I leant up to kiss him again. The Count moved back a little, just beyond my reach and looked deep into my eyes. "The way you walk, your sweet breath, your..." He undid one button. "...flawless..." and another "...skin." He revealed my soft cleavage, I shuddered as he lowered him mouth to my neck. My head fell back against the pillow as his lips travelled down my chest, my fingers moved through his hair as he caressed my skin. I moaned as his arm locked around my waist and he sucked hard on my neck, teasing me with his fangs. Suddenly he found my perfect spot, sucking hard on my neck as I whimpered in pleasure.

"You're just as irresistible to me... Excellency." I whimpered. He moved to my face, our foreheads against each other and his hair made a veil around our faces.

"How so?" He purred, his arm released my waist.

"Well... it's your lips, your face, your body-" He smirked. "-your scent... but I think above all things, it's..." I gently caressed his cheek, he nuzzled my wrist. "... it's your eyes." He looked at me with those terrifyingly seductive eyes and I turned away. I felt him crawl over me, his icy breath sent chills down my spine. Suddenly he grasped at my throat; his teeth were clenched as his nails dug into my skin. We looked one another; his grip was relaxed but firm around my neck.

"Do you trust me Estelle?" He whispered, so softly that I could barely hear it. I looked back into his eyes, straining my neck so I could reach his lips.

"I-"

"Excellency."

We stopped. I turned bright red as Bertuccio stood in the doorway, his eyes averted. "Forgive me for interrupting but you're going to be late to your meeting with General Morcerf." He hesitated, but the Count pulled away from me. Instantly my hands reached my blouse and I fixed up my buttons.

"I will see you later tonight for dinner." The Count said. He took my hand and kissed my knuckles, I blushed.

"Good luck with your meeting Count." I said. He smiled and left the room, the instant he was gone I reached for the book under the lounge. I sighed with relief as I saw it was still there, I opened the book back up and continued to read. Filling my head with such black knowledge, demons and monsters from across the stars. Kastsujiinbo the stone warrior who had slain a thousand aliens with his bare hands before selling his soul to the underworld, Fleaurcareil the phantom demon of adultery who lured wives into cheating on their husbands, Nakioujio the weeping princess who had her family slaughtered by a demon of darkness... but the next page had been torn out.

Looking around the corner of the door I saw that nobody was coming, making a quick dash to my bedroom I hid my notes and the book in one of the drawers of my dresser under the box with the diamond and emerald necklace.

'Why did he get so tense when I told him what I was doing? He looked as though he was about to strike me or something horrid like that.' I shut the drawer of my dresser, running my hands over the gilded wood. 'Who is Gankutsuou anyway?'

*THUMP*

*THUMP*

I let out a cry and clutched my head, bracing myself for the voice.

"Curiosité tuée cela chat… mais de l'autre côté. Tuer le chat peut libérer la colombe. (Curiosity killed that cat... but then again. Killing the cat may set the dove free.)" The voice said, and then it was gone. I wiped away a bead of sweat that made its way down my brow and sighed. I was very happy here with the Count but I couldn't help but think of what Beauchamp had asked me.

"'Now that your step mother is bedridden, have you thought about going back home?'" Perhaps I should visit... I haven't seen them in such a long time. Later though, I was far too happy being here with the man I loved with all my heart.

Drake's View-

I clutched my bottle of... something strong. I didn't even care anymore, ever since the woman I loved ran away with that egotistical bastard of a man... if he was a man at all. It was a small gentleman's bar in the inner workings of Paris; I was throwing my money away to these girls who couldn't hold a candle to her.

"So this is where you lounge around now?" I looked up to see my best friend Lucas waltz his way in, shooing away a busty blonde woman who looked twice his age. "I must say that it's really quite pathetic Drake-boy, you set your sights on one woman and she rejects you. You need to start looking at women; there are thousands of young and beautiful women in Paris-"

"Then why couldn't the Count pick one of them?" I spat, taking a swig of my bottle and wincing. Lucas put his drink down at my table and handed me a newspaper.

"If you're a fan of the Count then check this out!" He said, throwing it down on the table. I looked at it blankly... then my eyes widened at the title.

EXCLUSIVE!

Inside the Count of Monte Cristo's Subterranean Mansion and the Treasures Within

"Let me see this!" I shouted, grasping the paper in my hands. Lucas rolled his baby blue eyes and sipped his drink.

All inside the inner working of the Count of Monte Cristo, the entire mansion is filled with luxuries that mock the common man. Walls and statues made of gold and jewels and thousands of empty rooms for the few that live there. As far as I know, these people include the Count of Monte Cristo himself, the Count's two henchmen, a servant named Ali, a maid called Mina Braque and two beautiful young women named Haydee and Estelle Cutter.

"SHE'S LIVING WITH HIM?" I shouted, Lucas snorted out his drink. I turned the page and looked at the photos of the mansion, the golden walls and a huge artificial sea all beneath Paris. 'This is a thousand times grander than what I expected it to be. He has more wealth than all of Parisian society!' I kept reading, the writer told me how grand the house was and the odd appearance of Ali and this pretty girl called Haydee. Then I saw it... I instantly tore the photo out of the newspaper. Estelle smiling in a white dress, the sea behind her and the wind was tossing her hair. I read the paragraph next to the photo.

The two young women of the household are Haydee and Estelle Cutter, both would be evenly matched in a beauty contest. Mademoiselle Cutter has made gossip headlines as the Count of Monte Cristo's partner as she not only comes from a wealthy background but rumours have speculated amongst the upper classes that she is a 'possession' of the Count.

I clenched my teeth. 'What?'

Their physical attraction is clear when they are spotted rarely in public but one cannot help but wonder if she too... is a treasured doll that the Count keeps in his menagerie of expensive toys.

I shut my eyes and wrung the newspaper in between my hands, Lucas looked at me.

"Something wrong Drake-boy?" He asked, playing with a lock of his black hair. I saw red. HOW DARE HE!

"Yes. Everything is wrong. She's a prisoner in his golden cage, locked off from the rest of the world and living with a selfish pig. She should be with someone who loves her and cherishes everything she is!"

"Now where would we find such a guy...?" Lucas mocked.

"Don't talk like that. I bet he feasts on her blood while she sleeps or watches her bathe-"

"As opposed to you wanting to marry her then fuck her until her hips break." I grabbed his patterned shirt and snarled at him.

"Don't take that tone with me! You know nothing of love!" Lucas pushed me across the room and got to his feet, he was at least a foot taller than me and not the guy to pick a fight with.

"Neither do you! You lust after her because of her beauty; if you loved her then you would be satisfied knowing that she's happy with the Count." I growled and grabbed the newspaper and pushed away the drapes that blocked the exit. Lucas followed after me closely, anger reading in his face. "Don't do anything stupid Drake! You'll regret it." He shouted as I got into a taxi.

'I will do something... but I know I won't regret it.' I thought. The taxi sped into the night as I pondered what to do to prove my love to not only Estelle but to the Count too.

To prove that I was the man for her.

To become the knight to save the maiden from the terrifying demon.