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After the Angel	By : kharkcom Category: M through R > Phantom of the Opera Views: 5808 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Phantom of the Opera, and I do not make any money from these writings

Chapter List
- 8
- 9
Cat spent the next two days locked in her rooms. Her time was largely spent either sleeping fitfully or weeping. Every meal Erique left for her remained untouched and every attempt to check on her wellbeing was completely ignored. It seemed that Erique's rejection of her hurt more each time.
"Do you find me unattractive?" Cat inquired as she waltzed in through the mirror on the afternoon of the third day after the incident.
Erique looked up from the script he had been working on and laughed. "Of course not. You are lovely. Why would ask something so ridiculous?"
She looked pensive for a moment and then glanced down at her hunter green skirt. "If I removed all of my clothing right now, what would you do?"
As the image of her nude flashed through his mind, he grew flushed. "I would like to say I would leave the room but I cannot guarantee that. So don't try it."
Throwing herself on to his bed, Cat began to sulk prettily. "See. You find me repulsive. Horrific even."
"Just because I will not ruin you, does not mean I do not find you attractive."
"Normal men have relations with women they find attractive." She retorted with sensual heat in her voice.
Laughing again, he looked her over. "Catalina, you are not just a woman. You are a lady. And I am not a normal man. I am a monster trying to redeem himself."
"You are an idiot!" She yelled as she stood up and stalked over to him. "I want to make love with you. Why do you not feel the same?"
"I do." Hi voice was soft and soothing. "But some things are more important. You are a noble and I will not be responsible for your disgrace."
Several tears began to roll her ivory cheeks. "But I do not care about that."
"You have such a life ahead of you. I cannot let you simply throw that away for me. For nothing."
She ran out of the room and left him sitting there, feeling like the very worst kind of vermin.

***

The next day neither of them mentioned their discussion. They took breakfast together in the dining room. When Cat finished eating, she stood.
"I am going to visit Lizzy today." She announced while straightening her midnight colored skirts.
"I thought you had lunch plans for tomorrow." He commented neutrally.
Looking down at the floor, she avoided his eyes. "I need her to give me some advice."
"I see. I'll escort you." He said while standing. "Let me get my coat."
She was already on her way out. "There is no need. I know the way." She said over her shoulder as she strolled through the door.
Erique watched her walk out, his stomach churning uneasily. He still didn't like let her go alone, vivid memories of the last time still plagued him.
I should follow. Just to make sure she'll be alright.
By the time he had grabbed his coat, she was already well into the catacombs. He could her humming somewhere ahead of him but made no move to catch up. After the fiasco last night, he didn't want her thinking he didn't trust her as well.
When he hit the sunshine of the outside world, she was nowhere in sight. Attempting to be an optimist, he simply went straight to the manor she had shared with Elizabeth.
With still no sigh of her, Erique walked up to the door and knocked politely.
The maid who answered the door smiled when she saw him. "Monsieur Erique. Come in, come in. Mademoiselle Elizabeth is taking breakfast in the conservatory. Come. Come."
Before he could get a word in about Cat, the little maid had ushered him into a glass room where Elizabeth sat, a cup of tea in hand.
"Hello Erique. I presume you are looking for Cat." She said with a small smile.
"Well yes." He replied with caution. "Have you seen her?"
"Yes, I have. She was just here, actually. She left a moment ago." Setting her teacup down she gestured for him to sit. "You may want to take a seat."
He sat in the armchair across from her across from her and leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees. "What advice did she want?"
Elizabeth looked down at her lavender taffeta skirts, trying to hide her smirk. "She wanted to know if I was still untouched."
Erique found himself blushing at the thought. "And what..." He swallowed. "What did you tell her?"
Her expression grew serious. "I told her exactly what my mother told me a few years ago. The custom of a woman remaining chaste before marriage while a man can dally with whomever he chooses is completely outdated." Picking up her tea, she took another sip.
"So you are not?" He asked anxiously.
"Does it matter?"
"Only if you told Catalina you were not."
A small smile curved her lips again. "I may have alluded to not being a virgin, yes."
He sighed heavily. "Thank you for your help."
"What is this about?" Elizabeth asked, curiosity written plainly across her face.
"I refused to deflower Catalina for fear it would make her life difficult."
"There is no guarantee it will not. That is just a consequence I was willing to face. And if Cat is too, that is her decision to make."
"Yes. Well, thank you for your insight. Do you have any idea where she went?" He asked while standing up.
"No. She dashed out of her about a minute before you arrived."
"That's odd. I should have seen her then. I will see you later Elizabeth. I must go look for her."
"Good luck then." She replied while busying herself with pouring more tea.
"I'll need it." He muttered while he walked out.
As he let himself out of the house, Erique's instincts told him Cat wasn't far and she was up to something. Why else wouldn't she want him to walk with her?
Unless she's just angry at you. A small voice in his head whispered. He quickly squashed it down and decided a quick perusal of the grounds wouldn't hurt anything.
He searched the gardens bordering the manor and was nearing the stables when he heard laughter. Feminine laughter. One of the stable doors stood partially open and Erique glanced inside. The stall where the laughter was coming from also has its door open and a bit of cobalt satin could be seen on the dirt floor.
Why do I have a feeling that whatever reason she's in a horse stall it isn't good?
It was then that he heard a low male mummer followed by soft panting. Sensing his cue, Erique chose then to storm into the barn.
Cat sat on the hay covered floor of the stall with her back to him. Which means she missed the look of utter rage on his face as he realized her dress was partly unlaced. The boy, who had been laying kisses along her collarbone, however was not so lucky. His eyes widened in terror as Erique wrapped a hand in Cat's long tresses and hauled her up.
"Erique!" She gasped in pain.
He ignored her and looked down at the boy who was scrambling away. "Get out!" The enraged Phantom roared.
The boy ducked past them as he ran out of the stable. Erique then looked down at the writhing girl before him. The sleeves of her dress had been pushed down, leaving her shoulders bare and other parts of her almost revealed.
"What were you thinking?" He hissed in a low cold voice while trying to resist the urge to simply strangle her and be done with it.
"I thought if I was no longer a virgin we would not have a problem anymore. She responded while trying to get him to release her.
He pulled her closer and bent so their faces were scant inches apart. "And you thought this was the best solution? To rut in the hay like some common whore?"
"I did not know what else to do. I wanted you." Her face fell. "And I thought you want me as well."
Releasing his hold on her hair, he harshly ordered her to turn around. Wordlessly, she did so and Erique laced her quickly, pulling the laces roughly.
"This was a stupid idea Catalina. I am not worth ruining yourself." He said morosely when he finished. "Why so you insist on this folly?"
After several moments of silence, she answered. "I want to experience pleasure, true pleasure before I doom myself to a political marriage. I know what my future holds. You showed me how good, how wonderful it could be and then simply took it away."
"I can give you some pleasure without ruining you." He replied softly as he wrapped his arms around her.
Shoving him away, she turned and looked him dead in the eyes. "That is not what I want!" She said heatedly. "I want you. I want to feel you, to know you. Only you… I fail to see how something so pure and beautiful could ruin me. If that makes me a fool then so be it."
A silence permeated the stable. Finally, Erique nodded. "I need time to think on this. If you are certain this is what you want I will make a decision."
"I am absolutely certain." She responded with an edge of steel in her voice. He realized there was no talking her out of this.
"Then I would appreciate it if you'd stay with Elizabeth until tomorrow. I may not have decided by then but the solitude would certainly help."
"I understand." She proceeded to turn and walked out of the stable.
Erique trailed behind her, mutely. Halfway back to the house, Elizabeth met up with them.
"So you are the evil madman abducting Cat?" Elizabeth said with a grin. "Jacque mentioned you."
"I have no intention of stealing Catalina today. In fact she will be staying here tonight." He responded grimly.
"Oh." Elizabeth tried to hide the shock on her face. "Truly?"
Cat nodded and turned to Erique. "I shall see you tomorrow then. Afternoon more than likely."
"Of course. Au revoir." With a swish of his coat he departed, leaving the two girls alone.
Elizabeth looked at Cat, questions in her eyes. "Anything you want to discuss? Everything alright?"
"No and yes." Cat stated simply.
"Well then. Tea?"
"Yes please."
Together, they began to walk back to the manor. Elizabeth conjured up a maid to prepare them some tea and they headed towards the garden. After settling down amongst the various floras and their tea was brought out, Elizabeth looked over at Cat.
"It is a good thing you are here, actually." She pulled a letter from her pocket. "This came yesterday. It is from your uncle."
Cat took the piece of parchment and cringed. "How bad is it?"
"Just read it"
She carefully unfolded it and read.

Catalina,
I hope this letter finds well. I am sure you are enjoying the various delights Paris has to offer for young ladies such as yourself. I will soon be in Paris myself for a stretch of campaigning. I will not bore you with the details. I arrive on Monday night and will be expecting you to join me for dinner engagement on Tuesday. It will be a small affair, held at the Comte de Chagny's city manor. You will be expected to dress demurely. I will arrive promptly at seven. Please be ready.
Lord Philleas Hyde
Duke of Cheshire

"Lizzy?" While setting the letter down, Cat looked over at her friend.
"Yes?"
"Do I own anything demure?" She asked whilst adding sugar cubes to her teacup.
Elizabeth laughed. "I took the liberty of having a dress made for you as soon as I read the letter."
"Thank you." Cat said, drinking some of her tea. "What day of the week is it?"
"Sunday. You have two days."
"Oh. Any idea who this Comte de Chagny?"
Elizabeth put a slice of lemon in her cup and took a sip before replying. "I looked into him a little. He is a cousin of yours apparently. Your mothers are half-sisters. His father recently died so he just took over the title. Married to an ex opera singer apparently. Caused quite the scandal."
"Oh. That ought to be an enlightening dinner then."
"What are you going to do about Erique?"
Cat sighed and set her tea down. "Honestly? I am not sure. I suppose I will go over there tomorrow and see if he has come to any sort of decision then visit for a bit and maybe stay the night before coming back here to get ready."
"What sort of decision?"
"Whether or not he can bear to undertake the herculean task of deflowering me." A grin pulled at Cat's lips as she replied with dramatic flair.
Elizabeth laughed again, her blue eyes sparkling. "I see."
They lapsed in to silence, each focusing on drinking her tea. After several moments, Elizabeth set her cup down.
"Any plans for the day?"
Cat shook her head softly. "I was planning on moping for a while actually."
"Ah. I supposed you have no desire to join me in shopping then?"
"Not particularly, no." Cat replied. "I plan on curling up in bed and rereading about the wonderful Mr. Darcy."
"You have read Pride and Prejudice five times already, have you not?"
"Well. Yes. But it is an excellent mood lifter."
Elizabeth laughed as she stood up. "I will leave you to it then."
"Have fun shopping."
"I intend to." Still laughing, Elizabeth left with a swish of silken skirts.
Sighing, Cat picked up her teacup and stared down at the dark liquid. Stupid Erique. Stupid uncle. Why is everything so complicated? At least this cousin is already married. The last cousin of mine I had dinner with, uncle wanted to marry me off to. She shuddered at the memory. She sighed yet again, while taking a sip of her lukewarm tea. I cannot help but wonder what Erique will decide. I do not understand why it is so hard. I want him, I believe he wants me as well; we should simply be able to act on our desires. Stupid Erique for making things complicated.

***

"Why did she have to go and make everything difficult?" Erique mused aloud as he paced through his lair. "First with her stupid diary and then she has to go snooping around where she shouldn't. And the on top of that with that stupid boy and everything else that happened in the stable. Why does she do this to me?"
He had been ranting about the girl for the past twenty minutes, growing more irate by the second. "It is not as though I do not wish to simply take her. I was trying to be noble. That is more than I can say for her. In the short time I have known her; I have caught Catalina kissing two different men. Little tramp."
Collapsing on his bed, he took a deep breath. "But she wants me. Truly wants me. I have not been desired in a very long time. Not since Colette. And she got married…eight years ago, was it? Christine never wanted me. She married the fool. They all seem to marry and leave me." He sighed heavily. "I would have given my soul for Christine to want me."
Laughing darkly, he sat up and raked his fingers through his dark hair. "What are you talking about? You have already given your soul. You're already going to hell. What difference will deflowering another virgin make? And to feel wanted again, to have a beautiful woman look at you with desire in her eyes one more time. Could you pass on that? Would you ever forgive yourself? No. Never."
"Besides, how many times in my pathetic existence will I have the opportunity to take the virginity of a Countess? Ah sweet, pure Catalina. When I finish with you, you'll never want another man. And you'll never leave me…Not this time…Not like the others…"
- 8
- 9
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After the Angel