Search for the Opera Ghost: Rewrite

XIX.

"I have something to say." She told him in a soft voice.

"I don't care to hear it."

"Please, I beg you. Listen and if you don't like what you hear you can take me back."

Erik let out a deep sigh, turned around to face her, then motioned for her to continue. "I'm different from you Erik. Of course there are our obvious differences, you being a man and I a woman, but you have never known society the way I do. You know of society's cruelties because no one looked at you and didn't scream or laugh. I am sorry for the way society has been to you. However, society can be cruel to women too. A man is free to do what he wants. A married man can have a mistress and no one would ever care! If a woman is caught having sex before she is married, she is instantly labeled a social pariah."

"You have no idea of what cruelties I have been through. Why do you think that I feel so helpless whenever you claim me? I have four brothers and they are all free to do what they want, however, I have to marry a man who I do not love for the sake of looking proper in society. At least you can hide away, I can't and I never will be free to do whatever I want."

Erik interrupted her, "I make you feel helpless?"

"Yes."

"You are the least helpless person in the world. I believe underneath your proper exterior is a feisty woman who is waiting to come out and claim what is hers."

Her eyebrow rose in amusement as she covered her mouth and stifled a laugh. "You are silly. I'm being serious."

"So am I."

"Erik, I don't want to live in a cold world where all I am is a wife who breeds heirs. I want to know what it is to be with a man who is warm and passionate. I want to wake up every morning in his arms and hear him tell me that he loves me. I want to have children not for the purpose of an heir, but for the sake of having them. I want to marry and have a wedding dress and have a wedding night that is so passionate that I could cry." Tears welled up in her eyes as she continued, "I want to grow old with a husband who sees me as the most beautiful woman on Earth at the age of 50." She paused once more, "Can you honestly tell me that you can provide me these things?"

Erik slowly rose to his feet and strode over to where she stood and said, "Yes, I can. Now let me tell you what I want. I want a woman who is truthful about her feelings. I want a woman who not only wants my affections but begs for them as well. When we are making love, I want to be able to have a woman in bed who is not afraid of true passion. God...I want you Zuri, but you cannot see that because you are too focused on propriety. You speak of lust Zuri, yes, I lust for you. However, I do so because you are a damned temptress."

"It is not on purpose!"

"No, it is never on purpose. You, however, don't know of the power a woman can hold over a man. Yes, I agree with you Zuri, men do have more power and are free to do whatever they want. What you don't know is that without women we are weak. We are weak because you hold power over us. You have power Zuri, because you have aroused my passion for you even before we had sex on my bed two days ago. The way you move your body when you are angry drives me up a wall with unbridled passion."

She looked at him as he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her against his hard body. "You cannot be serious. If a woman has so much power then why do men treat us terribly at times?"

"Because we are afraid to lose our power. In the eyes of the law, cherie, you are still considered property."

"Only men would write a law like that." Zuri said with a sigh.

"Yes Zuri, but society's laws do not apply to me nor does its boundaries."

"Erik, I can never be free of my father."

"So you wish to go back and marry someone who you know will not care for you?"

"No. I want you Erik. I want to be the woman that you want. I just do not know how."

He smiled then gently brushed his lips across her forehead. "It is simple sweetness," he said while unbuttoning the front of her dress slowly, "relax and let your passionate side come out."

"Can I ever replace her?"

"No...but I don't want you to mon chere."

"Will you hold me? If only for a little while."

He pulled her hard into an embrace, "Yes Zuri."

xxxx

"Antoinette, I believe I have decided what I am going to do with Zuri."

Antoinette raised an eyebrow in interest. "What is that? Do you intend to release her?"

"No."

She sighed heavily, "Erik, you are only going to make it hard for her."

"She wants to be with me Antoinette."

Antoinette shook her head at him, "So now you intend to marry her. I never thought I would see the day."

Erik glared at her as if he had taken great offense to her comment. "What? You did not think that there was someone for me? Didn't think that someone could possibly love me?"

"Weren't you calling her a whore nearly a week ago?!"

"Yes! However circumstances change and I am going to make Zuri my wife!"

Antoinette smiled, "You are finally taking responsibility for your actions. I will take Christine's ring back if I have your word that you are going to marry Zuri before next month ends."

"Of course madame." Erik agreed then bowed and disappeared in the shadows.

She smiled again. At least Zuri would not have to be destitute or face her father's wrath alone. She wondered what could have changed Erik's mind so quickly. Shaking her thoughts away Antoinette picked up the ring and decided she would have to meet with Christine soon.