A second chapter today for your patience. I know it's short, but the next few will be much longer.

Ch. 10

"Prepare yourself, dear. This will hurt a bit."

Erik waited impatiently in the hallway when he was alarmed by a loud and agonizing scream. He could hear Mr. Adams' soothing voice reassuring Aurelie that she would be alright.

"Nothing to be alarmed about," the Doctor announced as he entered the hallway. "Her shoulder was dislocated, but I was able to adjust it. The pain should diminish over the course of the next few days."

Erik nodded in acknowledgement and escorted Mr. Adams to the door, which was broken and would not close properly. Mr. Adams noticed this and eyed him suspiciously, trying to imagine what on earth could have caused this incident.

"Might I ask what happened to her?"

Erik could tell by the expression on Mr. Adams' face that he was worried, and he was quick to defend himself.

"She fell from a tree," he replied simply, as if it was an everyday occurence.

Erik pulled up the hood of his black cloak to shield his face from prying eyes, should the carriage driver be curious. Though it was now late in the evening and the darkness hid him well, he still wanted to take precautions.

Once they had stepped outside and were certain that the young woman could no longer hear their conversation, Mr. Adams stopped at his carriage and furrowed his brows in confusion.

"A tree? Then what about the door?"

"Can you carry someone who is struggling and open a locked door, both at the same time?" Erik hissed, tiring of having accusations thrown in his face that day. Was it so terrible that he helped someone out? Perhaps he should have left her to die...

No, he shook his head at the thought of it. At least his conscience could be clear, now.

Mr. Adams saw how annoyed the younger man was, and he chuckled.

"Oh, come now! I was not blaming you for this spectacle. But please amuse me, now. Knowing your acute desire for privacy and secrecy, why would you go about risking it all to save her? I do believe that she has a few redeeming qualities, somewhere deep down, but to you she is nothing more than a spoiled woman who has fallen from grace."

"It was my property that she was trespassing on."

"Oh, and the proper way to seek revenge would be to rescue her? How very unlike you..." Mr. Adams seemed to be deep in thought before he continued. "Young people are so stubborn these days; both you and her. I do not understand the lot of you."

Erik was growing impatient of speaking about her, as he wanted nothing more than to return to his sanctuary and to forget her. Never before had he met a woman so rude and infuriating, yet for some odd reason he still pulled out a bundle of money to hand to the Doctor, in her behalf.

"A little extra for your silence," he added.

Mr. Adams took the money discreetly, as if someone were watching, and slipped it into his pocket. He opened the door to his carriage, but before entering, he hesitated.

"And what of her mother?"

"What do you mean?" Erik asked, a bit confused.

"I visited not even two weeks ago, and Mrs. Daniels was very ill. She required a lot of medicine, but I couldn't save her. I am quite certain that she has passed away, as I have never seen her daughter so distraught."

And why is that of concern to me? Erik wanted to snap at him. Yes, he helped the young woman so that there would not be a death on his conscience, but that did not mean that he wished to invest his time and energy any more than he already had. Why should he care if she was depressed? After all, he never knew what it was like to have a mother, and so he could hardly sympathize (or, at least, he didn't want to).

"I believe that she cannot pay for a proper burial..."

Erik knew what the Doctor was insinuating by his statement. The body was still inside, and Aurelie could not afford to do anything about it.

"Then how did she afford your services previously?" he snapped. Already, this woman was proving to be more trouble than she was worth.

"Well...she traded a few valuable possessions. In particular, pieces of cherished jewelry. I do believe that she loved her mother, dearly."

"Yes, one of those redeeming qualities that you spoke about," Erik added sarcastically. Sighing, he rubbed his aching temples and wished that everything would go away. The day had been exhausting in every way; mentally, physically, and emotionally. What he wouldn't give to retire to his peace and solitude!

"Alright, see that it is attended to."

"You are a good man," Mr. Adams said before he left.

As Erik walked back to his estate, he couldn't help but to question the Doctor's final words.