The Girl Is Mine (Teressa/Lenoir)

[destler]

Evening was swiftly approaching over the Manor. He had Sought to teach the lovely Teressa again but tonight.... ahh, tonight he'd have a special treat. For a girl to know music, she had to FEEL music. Her voice was decent, and apparently she was a wonderful dancer. But to him, that was not enough. That alabaster beauty burst with music in his eyes. He wanted to help her harness it and to present it to the world as never seen before!

Deep in the tunnels under the Manor he strode to the lakeside like a dark shadow. Cloaked and wearing a dark fedora, his face left as is for he'd not harvested fresh skin to cover those raw lacerations and deformities. In the attire of a fine Victorian Gentleman's evening wear, he stood there at the shore for a moment before he pulled out his violin and began to play. It was a somber, surreal song. Slow and haunting. Calling across the lake waters towards the one being he wanted so desperately to see tonight.
"Come to me, my alabaster beauty," his voice a soothing growl softly echoed along the walls and the vast cavern of the underground lake. The walls of the cavern near him began to softly glow from the phosphorus moss and causing some of the strange rocks to shimmer like stars.

[Teressa Lavalais]

Teressa cocked her head. She'd been sitting in the open living room, sewing lace onto a new cravat for Erik when she heard music...but that couldn't be right, Erik wasn't here. She stood, her lace nightgown falling about her. Walking toward the source of the noise, she followed it out the front door and looked out over the lake.

"Hello?" She called out, in case there was someone there. "Who is that?" Walking over to the boat, she got in and picked up the oars, then pushed off toward the other shore. Who in the world was playing music here at this hour? And on the shore of her lake? Strange...

When she reached the middle of the lake, she discerned that it was a violin...and what a beautiful song it played...slow, haunting...and gorgeous...She followed the music across the lake.

[Erik Lenoir]

As the sun started to hide its face, Erik decided he would take a walk in the garden. Being in his underground lair, he knew where the sun was only by the long case clock's chiming to remind him.

Emilie had told him that she had been working in the garden almost single handedly. From the looks of it, and the lovely improvement, Erik had thought that there must be several of the women working out in the garden to beautify it. But it seemed there was only Emilie. How generous it was of her to do that for everyone!

Never leaving home without a weapon, Erik took the Punjab lasso and his dagger. He fingered the revolver that the young de Chagny had given him not long ago, when he and the older Vicomte had fought with a strange fellow who had kidnapped the little blonde Christine. Erik had not had a chance to return the weapon to him. He left it in his cupboard drawer; he would return it to de Chagny later.

Erik left his lair, crossing the lake and took the bridges up to the large wooden doors which led out to the corridor and the stairs or the lift. He took the stairs to the main floor and exited by the door to the garden. He enjoyed the garden any time of day, but night was his favourite time. He could hear the night birds' odd noises. The fireflies lit here and there all over the garden.

He walked along the path, the white crushed rock sounding under his footfalls. He walked toward his favourite part of the garden, the roses. The dark red, blood red roses. They reminded him of love and their aroma was the sweetest of flowers, even the sweetest of roses. Then he walked further and there were the pink roses. They were much more delicate and of a sweet and soft aroma. He suddenly had a vision of the lovely Teressa Lavalais. She reminded him of a delicate pink rose. Sweet, delicate, gentle and yet there were those thorns. She could be a bit feisty. He liked that.

[destler]

Drawing that musical wand across it's matching instrument, he thought Love was like a violin. It needed two components to make such beautiful music. And yet, a third to use those components properly as the Musician to make that beautiful music.

Those thoughts trailed off at the sound of a voice and he smiled and continued to play. This time that somber, surreal song increased in its siren's song like a crescendo towards a climax. Hoping to draw it's intended target closer and to him. On the shoreline of that subterranean lake.

[Teressa Lavalais]

Teressa came close enough to the other shore to see a figure on the bank. Drawing closer, she peered through the eerie blue glow of the lake to see any details. But she couldn't. The man - she was sure it was a man - was cloaked and wearing a hat to cover his features.

"W-who's there?!" She called out to the stranger, hoping he'd answer. "Who are you?!" Teressa wondered who this could be....and why would he play such...beautiful....lovely music...And the way he moved....so fluid....smooth....

She shook her head. She needed her wits about her. She couldn't let the music consume her. She mustn't let it...

[destler]

Still playing that violin, ramping up towards that musical climax as he swayed to the music on the shoreline. He finally spoke.
"Tis I, my alabaster beauty." His soothing growl echoed over the dark waters. "Come to me. I have a surprise for you."

He stood there playing the music intensely while waiting for her. Seeing that dark distant figure in a boat coming towards him. "Come to me, my marble Goddess."

[Teressa Lavalais]

Teressa got to the shore. It was Destler! And...he had a surprise for her? What sort of surprise? She carefully stepped out of the boat, feeling shamefully underdressed. She crossed her arms in front of her to conserve her modesty and tentatively walked over to him. Her bare feet padded softly on the large rocks of the shore of her lake. Pushing her mask up, she finally took a good look at Destler. She could only see part of his face, but it was him alright. Whatever was he doing that for? His face was perfectly normal, albeit a bit scarred. Or so she thought.

"Erik Destler? What are you talking about, "a surprise"? Do you know how late it is?" Her voice was soft, calm. It echoed off the walls of the cave, the space amplifying her sound.

[destler]

He watched her approach the shoreline as he played into a strong crescendo of music that only drew out a long strong note as he slowly stepped towards her.

Lowering the violin now, the bow in the hand with the violin as he reached out a hand towards her. Smiling and absolutely enraptured by her mystical beauty. The outfit she wore was revealing and yet in this darkness not at all revealing to say the least. But enough that he could tell she was quite like a seductive marble statuette come to life. Her appearance excited him to say the least. The whitish lace cast against her alabaster-white marble skin with the golden hair and garnet eyes. There was no way she could be a mortal woman but truly had to be a Goddess from Mount Olympus. Of which, he marveled upon her beauty. She had to be the Goddess Aphrodite.

He could only smile as he felt her fingers wrap around his. "Come." Drawing out the word as his intense eyes betrayed he was grinning big. Inhaling deeply at the thought of this beauty with him now. And oh, was she a temptation.
He began to lead her away from the shoreline, through the labyrinth, making way to the above world of the Manor. Through the tunnels and the great halls out towards the gardens which was cloaked under the darkness of the night and yet bathed so brilliantly by the silvery glow of the moonlight.

[Teressa Lavalais]

Teressa followed behind him, curious as to what this surprise was...She watched him. He kept looking forward, his posture filled with confidence...She couldn't turn away, she was far too enraptured.

He took her out, through the manor, and into the gardens. The gardens...she rather liked the gardens, and she came out alone sometimes to think. Always at night, when she'd be guaranteed some alone time. She'd go over to her favorite tree by a large pond and sit beneath it, looking up at the stars. They were different here, she could no longer place the constellations she knew in Persia. But they were still beautiful.

"Where are we going?" She kept her voice soft, for fear that his mood might change suddenly, like it had when they'd first met. It was strange, this was only their second meeting and he was already taking her away in the middle of the night to show her "surprises"...

[destler]

Glancing back, he turned around once they were in the gardens. Taking both of her hands into his. As he guided her along the paths, he took one of her hands and wrapped around his arm. Smiling he glanced about. "I've been slowly exploring this mysterious estate. It's full of wonder, my dear." Turning to look at her a moment, " Ever changing wonders that as I cannot explain." He glanced up towards the towering roof of the Manor. "There are a couple surprises I wish to show you tonight. But first... " he trailed and turned while taking her hands, guiding her along the garden path. His eyes gazing upon her, in that seductive beauty of her white-ish skin and golden hair set in a different shade offset by the silvery glow of the full moon. "Let us... enjoy.. the night." As he could not take his eyes off her. That nightgown was so revealing and accented her perfectly it set his body aflame, his wild eyes dark with desire.

Guiding her along in such a strange manner of walking beside her, before her and guiding with both hands, " He came to what looked like a gazebo, it was rather run down but was open without glass or latice work. Off there was seen the pond and the trees as the gentle night wind played with them. The beautiful weeping willow hovering by the pond.
Drawing her up into the gazebo, he glanced back at the Manor a moment with a smirk, then back to her. Turning her to look around her at the amazing splendor and beauty of the night that surrounded them. The night sounds with the gentle light breeze that barely touched them. He stood at her side, right next to her as an arm wrapped around her shoulder.. "Beautiful, is it not?" Whispering into her ear.

[Erik Lenoir]

Erik had been just enjoying the night, and walking along the path through the garden, the path with crushed white stones. The stones made a gentle crunching sound underneath his feet. But suddenly he heard something else. Some vague sounds. He went off of the path where he would not be heard and walked in the soft grass, in the shadows. He stood a moment to listen as to where the sounds were coming from.

There were definitely footfalls and in the distance, near the pool and the old gazebo, two figures came into view as Erik watched. One was a man dressed in what could be a long duster and a fedora. The other was a woman, taller than the man and of a light complexion. She seemed not to be wearing much more than night clothes...it was Teressa! He wasn't sure who the man was at first, but as he moved, he recognized the fellow who had kidnapped the little blonde Christine! Desstler! But could it be? Erik had surely killed him, shooting him nay times. How could he be alive?

Erik took to the shadows and began to follow them. He walked only where he could not be heard. What was this fellow doing with Teressa? Although they had only met a short time ago, Erik was quite taken with her and had feelings for her...and definitely wanted to protect her.

Erik watched the two walking. Destler had his arm around Teressa. How could she let that madman touch her? Perhaps she didn't know how crazy he was. Or perhaps she did like him. That thought upset him very much. She must not get involved with that madman!

Erik continued to follow at a short distance. He didn't want to startle Destler and have him do something desperate. His own footfalls were silent. There was a slight breeze and it played with the ends of his cape. He continued to follow...

[Teressa Lavalais]

Teressa looked out over the water. Her weeping willow flowed in the breeze, and the overgrowth of the flowers around the gazebo gave it such a wonderful look. Instead of looking hard and uninviting, the gazebo was bright under the moon. She hardly felt the arm that snaked across her shoulders.

"Oh, yes, it's beautiful...oh, it's gorgeous..." Teressa looked up at the moon. It cast a soft blue light over everything, lighting up the night so that everything was visible. She sighed happily, a small smile spreading across her lips.

She was lost in the moment, truly, not picking up on anything else that went on around her. She always loved the night-time...there were no secrets there...not for her...

[Erik Lenoir]

As Erik approached closer he could see Teressa quite clearly. She was smiling and seemed happy. She was talking about how beautiful everything was. Could she sincerely like Destler? Erik frowned. He felt a bit of jealousy. How was it possible? The fellow must have mesmerized Teressa. The gazebo was in rather an atrocious state, clearly not beautiful. Perhaps she meant the trees and the moon...

No, Erik was quite sure Destler had mesmerized her. But he didn't want to show himself yet and force Destler into making a move. Erik wanted to see if he could find out what the man's motives really were....

He stood still in the shadows, almost invisible if anyone looked in his direction, living up to his name of Phantom...

[destler]

Indeed the scenery was gorgeous beyond compare. Even in the partial state of the gardens. The setting made up for it. Either way, it was romantic! And this was what he was counting upon. This... and another setting if this did not work.

Shifting to stand directly behind her, his hands moved to rest upon her shoulders for a moment before caressing up and down her arms. "A night befitting to a Goddess," whispering into her ear, his hot breath brushing over it as he gazed out over the moonlit landscape before his eyes shifted back to her, that face so close to his. He could barely restrain himself in want to steal a kiss. But, not yet. He wouldn't kiss her yet.

"There are so many delights and surprises upon this estate, my dear alabaster beauty. All of which..." His face next to hers, hands upon her upper arms as he held her close back against him, "I intend to show them... to... you." Ending as his lips started to trail over her shoulder, just barely brushing over her very light skin.

[Teressa Lavalais]

A shiver overcame Teressa, and she pulled away slightly from the feeling of his lips on her skin. She didn't know how to feel from that shiver...whether she should continue or be afraid. She was afraid...less of the situation, more of his reaction to her slight hint at a rejection.

She didn't want to have to snap away from the scenery and it's loveliness, but to keep her wits about her, she had to. It was beneficial. If she wanted to keep herself out of any trouble...like Erik said...she'd have to stay single at this manor...The problem was, she didn't want to. She had had her feelings turned by only a couple of men here...Two...and...well, she didn't know what to feel, how to act, or any of that nonsense. She'd never been in a relationship before...not a real, loving relationship. It was so...so strange, to be talked about by people in a way that suggested they cared for more than her physicality.