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Post by Gerik on Mar 26, 2008 21:01:19 GMT -5
They stared at each other as if they were coming to some unspoken understanding, then Gerik swept back out of the room to attend to his organ. His pipe organ.
What was I thinking bringing him here? Frowning, he began playing, his frustration flowing out of his elegant fingertips and onto the ivory keys. How can I trust him in that room? The music rose in volume and speed as his anger was whipped up into a frenzy. That's Christine's room. He can't stay there. There is no place for him here! He pounded the keys and one last loud chord blasted through the caverns, and then there was silence. Panting, Gerik glanced over to the boy. But I can't let him go...
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Monique
- In the Duggins -
Not enough regret to make her sorry.
Posts: 72
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Post by Monique on Mar 27, 2008 10:43:58 GMT -5
*Jake, for her part, was staring at him sullenly, though inside her soul twisted.*
His music... I never knew anything could sound like that... it's as if he's drawing up music from the depths of his soul, and playing me as surely as that organ. He's killing me softly with his song.
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Post by Gerik on Mar 28, 2008 20:55:57 GMT -5
Gerik was restless. The presence of this boy put him on edge, and the knowledge that he'd trapped himself into being stuck with the child annoyed him. He stood and reached for a stack of newspapers on a nearby table, intending to start a fire in the fireplace which now exists because I say so. There was no need for extra heat, but at least it would be something to do.
A headline on the topmost paper caught his eye. "'Opera Ghost' Still at Large. Police Suspect Masked Hermit." He crumpled the paper between his manly fists reflexively. So they were still looking for him!
He looked over at Jake again. There was no way he could ever be free now, no matter how much his presence upset Gerik's way of life. If Jake were ever loose, he would certainly alert the police to Gerik's wherabouts and all would be finished.
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Monique
- In the Duggins -
Not enough regret to make her sorry.
Posts: 72
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Post by Monique on Mar 31, 2008 9:11:43 GMT -5
*Jake was getting really bored. There was only so long she could stare at Gerik's manly thighs or poofy shirts, especially since there was NO WAY he would ever look at her... in that way.*
"I'm going to check on Snowflake."
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Post by Gerik on Mar 31, 2008 18:22:26 GMT -5
"NO!"
Gerik lunged, grabbing Jake's arm roughly and pulling the lever that lowered the portcullis in one swift move. Full-tilt panic had taken over. If the police were onto him, they might know where his lair was and already be planning a surprise attack. Did Jake know the police were looking for Gerik? He wouldn't have come down to the cellars if he knew that, would he?
Gerik's mind raced. He had to get out. He had to leave the Opera, he had to get away. No, he realized, glancing at Jake. They had to get out. The boy was stuck with him for good now.
"Come," he instruted suddenly. "We're leaving. Pack all of this up now." He gestured to the papers and ink strewn on the tables and thrust a rucksack into Jake's arms.
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Monique
- In the Duggins -
Not enough regret to make her sorry.
Posts: 72
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Post by Monique on Mar 31, 2008 18:26:31 GMT -5
*Jake stared dumbly at the mess of papers and dolls.*
"This... isn't going to hold everything."
*Her mind was racing. Where were they going? What was wrong? Why was Gerik scared, or was he just angry?*
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Post by Gerik on Mar 31, 2008 20:21:39 GMT -5
"Take the papers and ink first," Gerik barked. "And that stamp and the wax. Then the dolls. Leave the dollhouse for last."
He sounded disconnected, more focused on how he was going to pack and take along all of Christine's things than he was on what he was saying.
"Just do it!" he shouted as if Jake had argued.
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Monique
- In the Duggins -
Not enough regret to make her sorry.
Posts: 72
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Post by Monique on Apr 1, 2008 11:32:58 GMT -5
*Jake, already moving to stuff the papers in the bag, flinched. In all his tragic majesty, Gerik was insane. It made her pity him even more. What a lonely sole must be contained in that broad, manly chest! Jake tried not to look too hard at the figures, one of which looked suspiciously like Gerik in the sense that it was clad in tight black breeches.*
"Where are we going?" *she ventured, finally.*
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Post by Gerik on Apr 1, 2008 17:51:28 GMT -5
Gerik paused, pressing his large hands down on the surface of the vanity and staring at the gilded mirror that sat between them. His green eyes filled with tears as he traced the engraved C.D. with one long, delicate finger. Leaving Paris meant leaving all hope of Christine ever being his. But what else could he do?
He shuddered involuntarily and slammed a fist into the mirror, shattering the glass and cutting his knuckles.
"We're going--" His voice broke and he breathed deeply. "Scotland. We're going to Scotland. And we're leaving today."
He'd never been to Scotland, but the few people he'd ever spoken with had told him that his voice reminded them of a traditional Scotish brogue, so maybe he'd fit in better there than here in Paris where everybody had country-appropriate accents.
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Monique
- In the Duggins -
Not enough regret to make her sorry.
Posts: 72
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Post by Monique on Apr 1, 2008 23:00:30 GMT -5
((I love you so much.))
*Jake gasped at the sight of the blood coursing down Gerik's shapely but rugged hands. She wanted to insist on tending them, but he'd surely know she was a woman, then. And she didn't know what might happen if he knew that.
But Scotland... Her father had been from Scotland. He'd often said, in that brogue of his, that he wanted nothing more than to attend her wedding in full regalia, kilt and all. Her eyes filled with tears. He would never see that. Not only was he dead, but she was never getting married!*
"Are you... You need to clean your hand."
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Post by Gerik on Apr 5, 2008 17:57:40 GMT -5
"No freaking duh."
Gerik grunted by way of response and continued putting Christine's things into a bag, careful not to smear blood on any of them. As soon as he was finished - and he finished remarkably quickly - he turned to Jake.
"Go get Snowflake ready for travel. Put a saddle on him. Feed him. Do whatever it is you need to do." He stopped, then began again with a start. "And if you try to run, I swear I will find you and kill you, do you understand me? Do you understand me?"
He walked toward Jake as he spoke and now grabbed the collar of the boy's shirt with his bleeding fist. "Go," he said finally, satisfied that his point had been made.
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Monique
- In the Duggins -
Not enough regret to make her sorry.
Posts: 72
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Post by Monique on Apr 7, 2008 9:43:18 GMT -5
*Jake shook her head, then nodded.*
"I mean... yes. I understand."
*She wouldn't dream of running. She couldn't. She was trapped now; trapped by the mystery of this man as surely as if he'd pinned her between his massive thighs. She turned and fled--the room, anyway--to the relative safety of Snowflake. At least Snowflake was less ambiguous. She knew all about horses, after all. She was trembling as she did stuff to the horse, like arranged his tacks.
Soon, she was done, and wondered whether she was supposed to wait for Gerik or go back and tell him she was done. She was afraid of him; but either plan might displease him. His blood trickled down her collar. Finally, she went back to the lair.*
"Snowflake is ready," *she said.*
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Post by Gerik on Apr 7, 2008 15:39:04 GMT -5
Gerik stood with his back to Jake, staring forlornly at his pipe organ and Christine's swan bed, both of which he'd been forced to admit were far too big to carry along on the trip. Could he really do this? Could he leave his music and Christine? His mind reeled at both thoughts, but he couldn't do anything else. He'd trapped himself into this situation and now had no other choice.
Turning, he realized slowly that Jake had spoken. "Good," he said after a long pause. He stared at Jake, but at the same time seemed to stare through him. His mind was clearly elsewhere. Finally he picked up two large bags and slung them easily over his chiseled shoulder. "We're going now, follow me."
And without another word, he closed the portcullis and led Jake out of the cellars, careful not to allow the boy to see the hot tears stinging his eyes the whole way.
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Monique
- In the Duggins -
Not enough regret to make her sorry.
Posts: 72
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Post by Monique on Apr 7, 2008 15:47:22 GMT -5
*Jake wondered what all Gerik was leaving behind; what memories lay behind those dark green eyes, full of fire and want and pain. She followed behind patiently, knowing that to get lost was to perish.*
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Post by Gerik on Apr 7, 2008 15:48:20 GMT -5
((I'm gonna start another thread...))
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