Return

He lay on top of her motionless. She allowed it. She was just grateful that

his face was turned away from hers. The hot tears were falling from her face.

What did she expect? He made no claims of love. He had not even said he

fancied her. There was not even a statement of adoration.



The pain of what she had done was more than she could bare. The name of his

love had come at the time of his release. She knew now that she was to be no

more than his whore. How could he be so cold, she thought, so unfeeling?



Suddenly she felt sick, without warning she pushed him off her, sat up and

wretched over the side of the bed. She cradled her face in her hands. She

spoke with sadness, "Why did you do this? I have nothing now."



He stood and turned and offered no remorse. "You will satisfy my need of this.

Imbri, I offered you no ideals of love, you did this of your own will."



I was shocked at his words and hissed at him, "Liar, you seduced me you... you

touched me in ways that I could not refuse you. I would have stayed in your

embrace forever, a willing lover, if you hadn't spoken of her."



He laughed menacing, "You know very well that you will never be my Christine."



With that she flew at him and hit him. She screamed at him, "You bastard! How

could you do this? You are a monster!" Tears fell from her eyes.



He grabbed her wrists and twisted them behind her back. And she locked eyes

with him again, her once proud stature cowering before him. She was no match

for him, she knew it. He had broken whatever barrier she had protected herself

with. Where once she would have held her head high in his presence, she now

dropped her head and felt that she had been defeated.



She spoke slowly, "I hate you... And God as my witness, I will kill you if you

come near me again."



He laughed again and placed his hand under my chin. "Now my vermei, you may say

these things. I know what secrets you have and wouldn't it be interesting to

tell everyone that their new owner has a lover?"



She cried harder and grabbed his hand "Please don’t..."



"Now that we have that out of the way, come back to bed. I have no desire to

stop now."



She lay upon the bed motionless; her heart broke in two, but her body betraying

her as she responded to him every time he touched her.



His want of her left her bruised, and by the end of the week, she had no emotion

left. He took it all, all of her dignity, all of her secrets, he demanded all

from her.



He returned her to her room and left without words. She contemplated taking her

life but would good would it do? She still loved the opera house.



Her mood grew dark and she took on a new attitude on life. Gone was the

laughter, the beauty of the world. She had nothing, she felt nothing.



She thought his need of her would subside after the week. She was getting into

her covers when the mirror made a clicking noise and she began to sob

uncontrollably hiding under the blankets. He didn’t even take her to his home.

He took her right in her own bed.



Erik was growing fond of Imbri, but he knew to control her he couldn't show her

his attraction. He had to keep up the game. He would pleasure her tonight. He

had read about pleasing women with the flick of his tongue. He wasted no time

and brought her tears and shame to unparalleled delights. She had climaxed

uncontrollably.



After their lovemaking, her picked up his cloak and brought forth a small box.

He saw her eye it with peeked interest. He handed it to her and spoke softly,

"You are mine. I do not take it lightly that I will commit to you alone. I will

seek no other as long as you interest me. I do not believe we can be married,

for I feel no love for you, but I have a great need of you."



She opened the small box knowing that this was a large gesture on Erik's part.

It was more than she could hope for. For all of her loathing of him was an act.

A part of her had already started its dangerous journey of love.



She gasped at the ring that it held. It was a blood red ruby, larger than

usual, and it was encrusted with diamonds all around it, making the ruby

beautiful. I wrapped my arms around his neck. "Oh Erik, I love you..." I

stopped myself and looked down at my feet. I had said it, he knew now.



He lifted my chin with his hand. He smiled at me and kissed me tenderly. He

had no words in return, but his simple kiss had spoken volumes to me