Chapter 24

"How dare you."

Of all things Nicole was expecting from her mother this was not on the list.

"How dare you go behind my back to…to…"

Her mother's face turned red with anger, and Anne got up to stand protectively with her sister. Jacques, all though uncomfortable with the family drama unfolding before him, remained seated.

"You have been so jealous of your sister! You just had to take the limelight away from her entirely! You already had the world in your hands with you degenerate dancing! How did you pay for this teacher? What scandalous acts did perform to pay for this teacher?"

"That's enough!"

All eyes turned to Anne at her unexpected outburst.

"Mama, that's enough!" she continued, "Nicole has done nothing to bring shame to this family. Her virtue is intact."

"And how would you know?"

"We are sisters, we can't keep anything from each other."

Even in this serious moment the two sister exchanged loving smiles to each other.

"Anne," said Mama, "don't you see what she has done? You may as well say good bye to your dream."

"That is your dream, not mine."

This revelation surprised the whole room. Nicole had always assumed the Anne had wanted to sing for a living. Never had she heard a discouraging word from Anne on singing.

"It may have been my dream, when I was younger, but it hasn't been for years. I've never had the gall to stand up to Mama, not once. Until I heard Nicole's voice. If her voice could become that beautiful, after everything you have done to her, then I can be my own woman too."

Their mother walked right up to Anne and screamed in her face, "You ungrateful brat! After all I have done for you!"

She raised her hand to slap her, but lowered it in defeat.

She turned to leave the room, but before she left she looked at Jacques and said, "You can have them both for all I care."

Silent tears streamed down Anne's face and she was shaking from everything that had happened. Nicole took her sister's hand and squeezed it in support. There were no tears in Nicole's eyes, she had given up a long time ago on crying over the things her mother said. Jacques was admiring the strong willed woman before him, more than beaming with pride. Nicole wanted to be with Anne, but knew it was now or never to confront Jacques.

"Anne," she said turning to her sister, "I love you and thank you for what you said. I am proud to have a sister such as you. I must talk to Jacques alone. There is something I have to tell him."

Anne nodded quickly, smiling though her tears, "I understand completely."

With that she left the room, wanting nothing more than to tumble into bed from her exhausting experience. Jacques not knowing what was coming smiled happily. She remained standing, to anxious to sit, and bit her lip unsure of where to start.

Best to go right out and say it!

"Jacques, you have professed your love for me on more than one occasion. For the I am flattered, but I do not love you in return."

Jacques stopped smiling, and for a moment she saw his eyes flash with anger.

He bowed his head and cleared his throat, "Nicole, I know you do not love me, but I was hoping with time..."

"Jacques, I cannot love you."

"Why?" was his overly calm reply.

"I love someone else."

"And does this man return your affections?"

"Yes."

In the one swift movement Jacques had gotten up from his place on the sofa, and had grabbed Nicole roughly by the shoulders. She looked into his eyes, frightened by his sudden anger. It was then that she saw the real Jacques, the one that had been hidden from her for over a year. This Jacques was full of rage and obsession for Nicole.

"I have done everything for you," he said in a sharp edged voice, "I have been there for you! I have loved you since the moment I saw you."

"Jacques, please let go, you are hurting me!" she pleaded.

He let her go, and started pacing the room, "Oh, like you have never hurt me? All those time I said, 'I love you' and was returned with 'Thank you very much'? All the times I tried to kiss you and was slapped in the face?

"Jacques…"

"No! You will be mine and there is nothing you can say about it!"

He came and stood before her, and she could see anger in his eyes. Never before had she seen anyone so angry, but if she had looked outside, she might have. For at that moment Erik was watching them both.

Erik had come to Nicole's home as soon as it was dark out. He wanted to see her again so badly, he didn't want to wait to see if she would come and visit him. When he had arrived she wasn't home, but he could hear her sister in the den having a singing lesson. Anne's voice was talented, but he could tell there was no heart in it. Nicole and Jacques arrived soon after him, and he sat outside the den's window and watched the dramatic scene unfold. He had almost burst through the window when Jacques grabbed Nicole, and it took all his will to surpass that urge.
Now Jacques stood before her, seething in anger.

"Why him Nicole, why this other man?"

"He is ten times the man that you'll never be."

At this statement Erik smiled knowing that was the greatest compliment that he would ever receive from Nicole. For Jacques was everything he had wanted to be, before he meant Nicole. Before he wanted to be young and handsome, to want for nothing. To walk among the public and be envied. Now he had Nicole and there was nothing else in the world that he would ever need.

Jacques replied. "Well he can never have you, you are mine!"

Her grabbed her roughly by the shoulders and kissed her hard on the mouth.

Erik was so shocked that he froze in place. Later, he knew that his own shock saved the impudent boy's life. For as soon as Jacques had locked his lips on Nicole, she tore away from him and wiped her mouth off with the back of her hand.

"Your dear mother has promised you too me. That other man is too late. We will be married, before the month is out."

Nicole's eyes filled with tears as she shook her head in denial.

"Oh yes, my darling fiancé, there is nothing you can do to stop this."

Nicole walked up to him and slapped him across the face, then quickly ran out of the room.
Erik contemplated his next move. He wanted very badly to go into the den and make Jacques wish he had never been born. In his mind he saw the horrible things he would do to make the boy cry and beg for mercy. Just as he made up his mind to do just that, Nicole's sweet face came to his thoughts. Her caring, forgiving face. He knew that no matter what Jacques said or did, she would never want him to do anything to hurt him.

After all she forgave me of my hideous past.

He knew though that he could not see Nicole tonight for his rage was too much. She would want to tell him what happened, and he would get angry, so angry that he might frighten her.

I must return home, and I will see her tomorrow, I know it. By then my rage will be lessened, and I will be able to help her find a way out of marrying that wretch!