Torment or boons (OPEN)

[destler]

In need of a break from his work on the prosthetics which were quite successful... most of the time! There was something about them that still did not work or held together so perfectly. He was raking over every bit of information to figure out how to make them better. How to replace the skin with the synthetic without the use of surgery or rotting and pain and irritations. Oh, there were more issues that needed to be solved rather than were solved.

Today, he would not work on the prosthetics. Instead, he would focus on his music! He felt so worn down, lacking energy and felt older. All because his attentions had been upon the prosthetics and not his music. After all, music was his life. It's what gave him life and kept him alive! Yet as of recent he'd been neglecting his very life!
So today, he made his way into a music room where a fine piano was settled and did a little experimenting and composition. It was exactly what was needed! His longing for Teressa only increased his musical abilities! As well as those memories. Oh, those memories. His body ached for her. To hold her. To have her near. Just the thought made his heart beat faster while he could barely breathe! Holding his chest then his head as he caressed the paper, "Teressa," he softly, slowly whispered with a deep forlorn. Oh, the notes, the music! The heated passion and the incredible ache... the music that came from it was intense to say the least!
Because of it, he hunched over the piano wanting her so much and yet he had to settle for the music that was created from it! Claude was evil! So very evil! First Christine and now Teressa! He would someday confront Claude hopefully to remedy or to alter this curse.

[Adina Gillespie]

Adina had been enjoying this new year with such wonderful people and new opportunities. She had become for more productive in the past few months that she had even been before her untimely death all those years ago. She had met Lenoir and he had even offered to teach her to sing; she had also had he pleasure of getting to know Christine Svenna, Meg Giry, and other residents within the manor.

She was just about to go and make herself some tea in the kitchen when she heard a very faint sound of music coming from one of the rooms. It was a bit erratic and off but it sounded beautiful. It filled her heart with so many emotions and feelings she thought were impossible. A shiver ran up her spine as she searched the halls of the manor until she finally found a long room with a high ceiling that made the music echo with such acoustics! But then she saw the piano and who was playing it.... Him!

She tensed and backed away when she recognized Destler as he sat, hunched over the piano like a mad composer striving to perfect a new composition. She stepped back so that she was just outside the threshold of the room and around the corner. She remembered how sorry she felt for him and slowly moved back into the room to listen to the music.

[destler]

Pondering the notes that played in his head to let his fingers interpret that onto the ivory keys. Pounding away to create such a wild, seductive, haunting and painful sound that changed just as quickly as a person's emotions do. Trying to take that sound and make it music, to take that music and put it to paper. The chaos that races through his mind and becomes sound just never seemed right even though it was perfect.

Finally a single pounding discord that made anything but music was enough to rape the ears and be painful enough to stop. Sitting on the bench, hunched over the keys now, an elbow upon the keys while running his fingers through his hair. With a growling sigh of pain that seemed to linger in the throat, His thoughts could not make sense any more of the music. It was nothing more than an absolute utter mess!

Frozen a moment as he listened, then sat up a little while still listening and then twisted around. He caught sight of a person, about to call out Teressa's name hoping it was her but as his eyes narrowed he caught the image of a red hair young woman. In that instant his face sank long and the visage that surrounded him put off the aura of disappointment then loneliness. "What do you want?" His voice that usual soothing growl but sounded... dead. Turning around with his back towards her, he tried to look busy but failed and glared at the ivory keys of the piano.

[Adina Gillespie]

The maid loved the music, how beautiful yet haunting it was. It drew her in but then the sight of Destler made her back away instinctively. She twisted around the threshold to avoid his eyes should he have spotted her. The dangerous music made her shudder and pull her hands to her chest; the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as the music continued.

She jumped in shock at the colliding notes smashed together upon the black and white keys, the very sound made her shudder. It felt as though a thousand small fingers had just run up and down her spine. Her entire being felt on fire with passion as the music still seemed to ring in her ears. It was frightening, beautiful, and almost otherworldly.

She looked back towards Destler… Why was still still afraid of him even though she felt sorry for him? He was just someone who was being used like a puppet by that terrible being, that Claude person. She cautiously took a step into the room and looked at him. "I'm sorry, M. Destler. I did not mean to intrude, it's just-. The music… It was so beautiful." She stepped a little closer. "May I have the honor of being your audience?" Again, she moved closer, almost by his side now as she gently touched the piano.

[destler]

Still for a moment as he stared blankly at the piano keys. Not a single thing in his mind made sense and he tried so hard to make sense of it all. Even put some logic into the music that was over whelming his head. The palms of his hands rubbed at his eyes before combing through his hair once again before those fingers made for the papers that were partially marked with notes but no words. Wincing a little as the fair light seemed so harsh to his sensitive eyes. He was always so use to gentle candlelight not the bold brightness of this artificial light.

Hearing the light footsteps that was made as she drew closer to him and he silently cringed. The last time he saw her, met her, she clung to that damned half-masked twit Lenoir! Every woman clung to him it seemed! In his flaw, he had claimed Teressa despite he lost her to Lenoir in a pathetic form of a Gentlemen's duel.
Oh, Teressa.
The very thought of her pained him so deeply. He never felt such angst before not even with Christine! It felt like he was dwindling away, even dying! It wasn't possible though since so long as his music survived, he would life. Wasn't that how it went? Despite how horribly he decayed? So why did he feel like he was on the verge of death? It was an utterly horrible feeling. He loathed it!

Organizing his papers with a lack of enthusiasm. He didn't even glance at her as he groaned in slight annoyance, "Hardly." Not said aloud harshly as one would expect, He tossed the papers away and would not face Adina in the slightest. His hand barely hovered over the piano lid pondering about closing it. The music was too painful to even try composing. Just as painful as his tormented emotions.
Barely tossing her another glance as he huffed, "Why?" pausing a moment before he partially twisted towards her but still not even looking her, back still towards Adina as he faced forwards. "Wouldn't you rather listen to the finer, sweeter music that Erik Lenoir produces? After all, he's favored more." Facing away from her as he sat upon the piano bench his fingers wanting to claw at something but could not. He did not want her to see that very pain that gnawed at him. Despite he wore a prosthetic that covered all his deformities and decay, he still felt ashamed. Namely for it what felt like utter rejection from Teressa. Not a word from her. Not a word! He swore he would have her, claim her and he did! Did she not believe he would? He she not believe him at all?

[Adina Gillespie]

She looked at Destler with a sense of something; not fear, but pity. She moved closer and noticed that his face was a bit different than the last time she saw him. Before, he seemed to be stretched, as if his skin were pulled back tightly. But now it looked perfectly, well, normal! She flinched when she heard him wince, moving back just a little before stepping closer still.

She couldn't help but wonder what had made him so bitter, what had happened to his face. Did the Devil have anything to do with it? She felt her heart sink for him as she could sense something was weighing down upon him… He looked different, almost as if he were suffering from insomnia or was that just a part of his madness?

She moved closer still until she was right beside the piano. She frowned.. He had turned his back to her so she moved to the other side of him so she could see his eyes. "Please, M. Destler," She softly implored, kneeling beside the piano bench where he sat. "I came to listen to the music. I do not wish for trouble… I am sorry for how M. Lenoir seemed. I suppose he does not trust you. Well, neither do I, but I want that to change." She rose to her feet and smiled. "I hope we can put aside that terrible incident in the past and look forward to the future… I hope that terrible man is not nearby, is he?"

"But your music is stupendous, Erik," She genuinely smiled and lightly touched his hand with her fingertips. "Please, do not stop on my account. Lenoir…." She paused and looked down. Lenoir did indeed play beautiful music on both the organ and violin. But when Destler first played the organ for her in his lair, it really had moved her to the point of nearly collapsing in emotional exhaustion. She shook her head and looked back at Destler, a gentle smile still upon her face as she smoothed out her dress. "Please… Do continue, monsieur. It really is quite beautiful."

[destler]

He could hear every footstep that brought her closer to the piano, closer to him. Perhaps he was a little nervous but could not explain why. It wasn't any simple fact other than he was uncomfortable with her there. Fear? Fancy? Nay, it was neither of those. For now he simply wanted to wallow in his melancholy. Wishing so desperately for that one very being that took him captive from day one.

Adina's voice made him wince. It wasn't the voice he wanted to hear but luckily it was not the voice he feared most. Doing everything possible to avoid looking at her even turn his head just ever so slightly away from her. He refused to acknowledge her inquiries or apologies. They meant nothing to him and it showed upon his drawn prosthetic face of how he was trying to avoid her even if the words did not fall upon deaf ears. He wanted to block out those words but he simply was unable to.

When he felt her touch, in as swift as a lightning strike his hand blurred and gripped the wrist of her hand that had gotten too close to him. Any further damage was stayed when she asked him to continue on with the music.
After a moment of staring ahead while still griping her wrist tightly and yet he could not inflict harm upon her even when he so wanted to and was attempting to harm her. Slowly, hauntingly turned his head to lock his haunting yet hollow gaze upon her. A hint of a threat there in his eyes, too, warning her that she strayed too close. Too close to what though? That was the question.
"Do not.. touch .. me... " he trailed off in a very soft but threatening tone. Those eyes still locked upon her desperately attempting to hide his pain in the intimidation.

Finally releasing her wrist nearly swiftly withdrawing his hand in a deadly grace followed by finally removing his wicked gaze from her, "Did he send you to tell me that?" he growled almost viciously with a sneer, staring at the piano just merely before him. Doubtful. For what he has seen in the past few times when encountering the half-masked man, Lenoir has done everything possible to keep women beyond him, as if they were forbidden! If it wasn't for Lenoir, his life would be SO much better. The half-masked dolt was there at every turn and ruined every aspect of his life it seemed, ever since coming to the Manor. This place of the damned as he called it and he was one of them!
Hanging his head just a little more before tilting it to the side away from Adina. "My music is what keeps me alive," he said so softly that it was almost barely audible but was not a whisper. "And He... is everywhere." In those last four words, his voice nearly trembled in fear and deep pain trying not to think of the very being who destroyed his life; cursed him for all time to endure Hell on Earth!
Somewhat contemplating what she said to have him continue on with the music. He felt it. That need to play what he felt; to create music from his pain and joy. And yet, his fingers refused to touch those keys. Oh, why this torment?!?

[Adina Gillespie]

The young maid looked upon Destler when she noticed his expression of agony. She sighed and wondered how terribly had Claude tormented him to leave him so bitter, so angry. She looked down at her flats and lifted back a foot to rub at her heel in hopes that he would say something….. Nothing.

She exhaled and frowned sadly. He had turned away from her and it stung at her heart when she was trying so hard to be nice to the very man who had frightened her so terribly before. She looked at him with her gentle, doe-like eyes as she hoped that her smile would perhaps melt him, melt that shell he tried to hard to keep up.

Suddenly, as she touched Erik's arm, he viciously grabbed her wrist, causing her to gasp. Her once kind gaze turned to that of shock and pain. She grimaced a bit but dared not to pull away lest that anger him even more to the point that he may very well break her wrist! She only swallowed hard as she kept her eyes locked on his own. Her hand curled into a fist to try and block out the pain that had begun to shoot down her arm. She could see that dark, threatening gaze in his eyes and recognized it; her father had given her that very same look when he was about to either break her wrist or beat her with a switch or- worse yet- his belt. She knew that she had gone too far in her attempts to try and encourage a bit of humanity from Destler.

Adina quickly withdrew her hand and brought it to her throat, her other hand gingerly touching the stinging wrist. "He who?" She asked, genuinely confused at his accusation. "You mean Lenoir? Non, he did not. I came of my own accord. The music was so beautiful; I had to know its composer. It really is very beautiful."

She frowned again… He really was desperate to avoid her, wasn't he? Well then, she would do her utmost to not allow him to get away with that! She smiled and moved to his other side once more, kneeling upon the wood floors to look up at him. "Your music is hauntingly beautiful. It comes from your soul, from your heart. And, yes, you do have one." The monster Claude had apparently had some sort of hold upon Destler which made her sympathize with him all the more. "We both belong to Him, M. Destler. He brought me back to life and He can take it away just as easily, yet he has not."

She could see he was conflicted by something. His fingers twitched as if needing to play the music that was so obvious within him. "Please. Please, play the lovely music."

[destler]

His reaction to her gasp when he gripped her wrist was indifferent. He did not care. How can one care with this sort of ache in their heart?
After a moment, he turned his head away from Adina to glance at the piano then divert his eyes towards the farthest wall. Anything to not look at her. He honestly didn't care if he bothered her or not at this time.
He who?!? Nearly rolling his eyes at that blinded curiosity. Surely she was not that daft! Her continuance with mention of Lenoir only made his sneer with disgust. What would the overprotective half-masked twit do or think if he knew that Adina was here in Destler's presence? Perhaps do his best to rescue the young woman. He sneered with a slight curl to a corner of his mouth at Lenoir's attempt to be a chivalrous savior to the ladies here of the Manor. He had seen it a couple times, including with Teressa. With that thought there was a barely audible low throaty groan in his throat. Disgusted with the thought of Lenoir. The man had no right to be the self-appointed ' good guy'!

Not paying much attention to her words of praise about his music, his attention was caught when she made an effort to be in his view. He couldn't help but to look at her with a wry, haunting eye. Why? What ever did she want? She... who was afraid of him before and clung to that half-masked half-wit for protection. His eyes searched her, narrowing many times wanting to know what it was she wanted. Truly? Just his music?
"My music..." he trailed off as he turned his gaze away from her, looking back at the keys. "What I feel becomes music. What you hear is.... what... I am going through. And now..." once again, trailing off as he gazed upon the keys, the fingers of his left hand slowly and lightly caressed over the ivory and ebony without making a sound, "the music comes out of my torment."

Still not looking at her as his hands moved up to grip the top corners of the piano. "I cannot!" He growled, slightly hanging his head. "It is my hell, my pain, my torment! It it not for an innocent's ears such as yours!"
Then lifted his eyes as his grip upon the piano slackened a little. The fact that she was one of Claude's toys made her like a kindred spirit and yet, he couldn't fully feel pity for her - he did pity her slightly - but he also feared her! If she was Claude's, no doubt she was an "Agent" of his.
"Why," he whispered harshly, almost heavenly, very breathy while narrowing his eyes at her. No doubt she may never understand the question for it had nothing to do with his music and everything to do with her and her connection to Claude. Why ever was she here?!? Did Claude put her up to his? Was Claude tormenting him with her?
His nostrils flared and breathing increased with that wicked thought at Claude was using her to get to him! Why? To pry Teressa from him? NO! Teressa was his! He claimed her! He Loved her! He will NOT lose another!

[Adina Gillespie]

She flinched and looked behind her; she thought she had heard someone- or something- moving in the room behind them. She shivered and rubbed her arms as she moved away from the threshold of the adjacent room. She could feel her heart trembling as if she could sense Claude was nearby, watching them, waiting to strike.

She shook her head as if to clear her mind of the terrifying thought. She was a very strong and forthcoming maid, but when she had come face to face with the Devil himself, she had been reduced to a frightened little girl. Her thoughts were abruptly turned back to Destler when she caught his sneer from the corner of her eye. "You really do not like Lenoir, do you, monsieur?" She asked before sitting upon the bench beside him. She wished he would look at her, just a moment. She thought that if she could break through his exterior that she would see his real self.

"I am sorry that your music is so sad, Erik. It really is very beautiful," he looked down upon the keys and touched one of them. E flat. She smiled and then realized why he played the music. "It is a woman, isn't it?" She asked, smiling up at him. "Your music is for a woman; someone who means a lot to you, oui? You are very lucky to love and be loved by someone… I wish I were so lucky. My relationship with Lenoir is more- how you say- parental? I see him as the father-figure which I never had… At least, not the good sort."

She jumped a little when he barked out his feverish anger over his music. The maid reached out and touched the piano to brace herself so she would not fall out of her seat. "D-Do forgive me if I spoke out of turn," She quickly said, hoping to placate Destler. She was still somewhat afraid of him; his temper reminded her of her father and it made her shiver if only a little.

[destler]

He did his best not to care about the red-head that stood close by but he couldn't help but to notice her apparent apprehension. Was it because of him? If so... GOOD! If not, then she was an early warning system to another person he never wanted near him.
Barely glancing at her as he sorted the music to at least look occupied. "Dazzling deduction," he growled softly. His disdain for Lenoir so very evident in his countenance and growled lowly again with another sneer. Yet, he did not explain why he loathed Lenoir so.

His attention was drawn in the most unorthodox way to sharply look at Adina with a glare mixed with surprise. What ever was she attempting to do? Was she clearly making him antsy for reasons beyond his comprehension? Glory to Heaven and Hell, was she infatuated with him?
Turning his head away from her as he sighed in almost exhaustion, his arms outstretched rather lazily as the wrists rested upon the piano top. Red-heads. Why ever were they so incredibly annoying?

With a slight mellowing to his countenance, he glanced at her slightly hunched over. "Music is what one feels," he purred with a strained painful growl. "Music is always beautiful." It could relay to others the emotions one felt. It wasn't just individual sensations and emotions but encompassed all, he thought but never told that to her as he removed his dead eyes from the maid.

Straightening as he inhaled rolled his head a bit before turning his threatening, haunting gaze upon Adina once again. "You are annoyingly astute," he hissed.
Loved in return?!? He huffed and smirked, turning away from her as he rose to his feet and slowly paced away from the piano, allowing his hand to trail over the top of the black polished surface. "alas," he paused and sighed, "she runs to another." He roiled within at the thought of Teressa in Lenoir's arms. Pursing his lips together as his breathing increased and narrowed his eyes. He loathed Lenoir and now his thoughts began to drift towards what he could do to take Teressa away from him. The damned half-masked bastard did not deserve the tall Goddess. He no doubt would not treat her in such a way that he would.

Adina had gotten him thinking though. Remembering that little proclamation he whispered seductively into Teressa's ear that he will have her and possess her. Yes, he will still make good on that twisted promise. Did he not take his first kiss from her? And did he not take her with willing consent? Ahhh, she was indeed his! There was NOTHING that could keep her from him!

He groaned lowly and sneered barely rolling his eyes. "Lenoir. Lenoir! Always LENOIR!!" And pounded his fist down upon the piano to make it reverberate with wicked discord. It would be impossible to not notice his absolute loathing of Lenoir in his vicious gruff voice that nearly spat at the other Phantom's name. Oh, such a lady charmer he was. Holding every woman in the Manor in the palm of his hand! Unconsciously, Destler's hands curled slowly into tight white-knuckled fist.
Twisting around in such a dramatic fashion, he pointed at her. "Yes, Lenoir will be his own undoing!" Straightening up as he smirked with such malice. "He adores-" drawing out the word with a dramatic pinched face to emphasize the power behind the word and it's truth, "you women. He cannot exist here without your complete affection and attention upon him." Destler's visage was twisting with absolute horrific delight and snickered which turned into a wicked laugh. "He's such a fool! You women will definitely be his undoing!" And snickered some more.
"I made a promise to her. I thus far have kept it and he keeps me from her!" Destler growled viciously while gazing back at Adina with an intense haunting thought in his eyes. He was contemplating how to dispose of Lenoir and get Teressa back into his arms.

[Adina Gillespie]

The maid wondered if HE really was around or not, and that got her thinking… Perhaps Destler really wasn't such a bad man. A tortured soul, yes, but not truly wicked. It was the Devil's fault, and since she had been brought to life by that very demon, she too understood Destler's plight.

She frowned at how sarcastic Erik was being. "But he is not a terrible person; he is just a tortured soul, much like you- and do forgive me if I speak out of turn, monsieur. I only mean that in a sympathetic way. I can see that you are not truly a wicked man; you were made this way by that demon. He stole something from you and I am very sorry that….." She shuddered. "That monster did that to you."

"Oui," Adina whole-heartedly agreed with Destler- for once- and smiled at him. "Music is very powerful indeed, Erik… I grew up in a very painful home…" She paused and cleared her throat. "My mother died giving birth to me and my father blamed me; he said that I killed màmà. He'd beat me every night until I was sent to work in the manor, where I both lived and died." She looked up at Destler, hoping that she would get through to him, that she wold break through his outer shell.

The maid frowned again, but not with offense; with sympathy. Even someone like Destler deserved to be loved. She turned upon the bench and moved a bit closer to him. "You mean Lenoir." She simply stated, her eyes locked on his. She could sense that there was some rivalry between the two men. "The woman you love is with monsieur Lenoir."

She stared up at Destler with wide, shocked eyes that blinked rapidly at his virulent speech about Lenoir. So he was jealous of the other Phantom. Over a woman? She did not quite understand why men were so possessive of their women, especially in this time. She nervously cleared her throat and looked down at the piano but then quickly looked back up at Destler when he pointed at her… 'you women'?! How terribly rude of him! But yet she did not quite understand. "Er, pardon?" She questioned, still blinking blankly at him.

She quirked an eyebrow when she noticed the very intense look in his eyes; it was starting to make her uncomfortable again just when she thought she had started to understand him more. "Que?" She mused softly, more to herself than to him as she tried to grasp when he was saying. Was he really this obsessed with that woman, Teressa? If so, why didn't he just propose to her and be right out with it? But perhaps he had already done that and she refused. She shook her head to clear her mind; this was all rather confusing.

[destler]

Glaring at Adina with the comparison she made between him and Lenoir, showing that he was by far disgusted with the half-masked twit's defense. Lenoir had ALWAYS been a thorn in his side ever since the day he came to the Manor. "We are NOTHING alike!" Looking vicious as he hand planed out level, shooting from one side to the other in a final gesture.

Then he twisted away from her his hand absent-mindedly going to his face as though to hide it then rubbed his forehead and temples. How could she know? There was no way that she could understand what the Prince of Darkness had done to him.

He did not care about her story. It was the past for one. There was no excuse for what was done now from what had happened in the past unless Lucifer had done the damage. He continued not to care about her past situation and life.

He growled like an animal as he strode away, rounding the end of the piano, barely glancing at Adina. Lenoir, oh that name he hated so much! Then turned his eyes away from the red-headed maid as he walked on, keeping his distance from her. "She... decided to go with him. She still believes she loves him. She... is not his." Spoken the last couple words with dripping darkness and malevolent reality. "She... is MINE!" hissing with wicked intent.

Turning his back to Adina as he slowly paced and pondered. Working on a plan to get Teressa back, whether willingly or not! No one wanted to share a Lover! That has been proven time and time again!

[Adina Gillespie]

Adina flinched and moved away from Destler just a bit. She was still afraid of him, though she did pity him… She could not understand why he hated to be around her. Was it truly because of Claude or was it some other reason? Because she was a woman? A woman other than his beloved Teressa? She thought this over and sighed gently, not taking he eyes off of this poor, tortured man.

"Did He do that to you? To your face, I mean?" She asked, getting up the courage to move closer to him once more. She reached out to try and touch Destler's cheek, hoping that just one touch would possibly break his shell. Perhaps it was her damned curiosity, but she was now more determined than ever to understand just why this man hates Lenoir and what caused him to be so bitter.

She got up and took only a few steps closer towards Erik but made she to keep her distance as she watched him pace like a trapped animal. She flinched again when he viciously hissed, her stomach tightening just a little at his biting tone. He truly was determined to have this Teressa to be his and only his… It was odd; at first he seemed so tender when he spoke of the woman but now he seemed obsessive, almost possessive of her. But what caused him to really hate Lenoir so much? It couldn't be because of how he- Lenoir- looked, no his status. Were they both not the same? The poor maid felt very confused and stumbled backwards a bit, catching herself on the pianos the keys sounded a sharp discord before she eased herself away from the musical instrument.

A frown crossed Adina's face when he turned his back to her… "Is there any way that I can help you win back the love of this woman? Teressa, was her name I believe? Lenoir did mention her to me once. At the Christmas celebration."

[destler]

Teressa overwhelmed his thoughts that he had forgotten Adina was in the same room. Slowly he paced about deep in contemplation of how to keep get Teressa back and keep her within his possession.
After a flickering moment, his attention was snapped from his thoughts and now once again aware of Adina. Those haunting eyes shifted upwards to lock upon Adina noticing her apparent apprehension. Her behavior brought him just the tiniest millimeter of satisfaction but even that was not enough to block out the ounces of regret and pain doubled with lust and obsession.

Her actions caught him off guard deep in thought about his face, reflecting upon that fateful day which tormented him so. A couple blinks and he jerked back staring hard at Adina surprised that she wanted to touch his face! Why? Why would she do that? Pretty woman that she was and he wanted to touch the face of a demon?
Once again his hand shot up and grabbed her wrist but not as swiftly as before when she tried to touch him a while ago. What was her purpose around him? Was HE setting her up to do this to him? Simply unable to grip her wrist this time only held it when his eyes shifted to her hand. The hands of a maiden who fell prey to the clutches of the Beast himself. Did that make her a succubus? A demoness? She clearly was his agent. But for what purpose? Destler did not want to fall for His wiles any more. Desire cost him once before, another desire would not cost him more!
"Yes," he hissed unable to look at her. Instead, his eyes shifted from her hand to look her over then narrowed his eyes as though attempting to discern why she truly was here. She was tempting and no doubt could slake his lust, but that was not something he could fulfill at this time. Not when Teressa was so heavily upon his mind. No. It wasn't Teressa that kept him from ravaging this fine beauty... it was Him! That Beast! The Prince of Darkness and knowing full well that Adina belonged to Him was what kept him from even being seduced or seducing her.

Releasing her and soon enough the sound of discord from the piano made such wicked music upon his ears that he could envision himself intertwined with a woman. Oh, lust was so wicked. So very, very wicked and no doubt Claude would love that.
Destler had to harden himself from even taking any hint of fancy for the fiery hair maiden.

A way to win Teressa's love? Turning his head to look at Adina with a slight tilt, haunting eyes locked upon her with a bright flicker of hope. Studying Adina in an effort to discern why she wanted to help him gain the affections of the one he deemed as his Alabaster Goddess.
A wicked smirk then spread upon his lips. "Perhaps... you can." And he contemplated the course of which to take this devious plot. "Namely that Beast, Claude, needs to stay away from her. But as for Lenoir," he bit the name out with disdain, "I doubt you will have to do anything. You can effortlessly keep his attentions off Teressa." And finished in his thoughts the rest that the women of the Manor could very well keep him occupied as well! It was obvious to Destler in his observations, that Lenoir had affections for most of the women of the Manor and could not keep himself away from them. Yes, the women of the Manor would indeed be his undoing! And Destler delighted silently in this victory.