A/N: Why did I write that Halloween was in 13 of November? It is 31 of October! Sorry guys, I have no idea of what I was thinking of when I wrote that chapter. Weird, no one has commented about that… but I guess you all understood myfailure and forgave me? ^^
This chapter has not been looked over by my BETA, so sorry for any grammer or spelling mistakes.
Christine had visited Meg after the encounter with Madame. Christine found Meg in her bedroom absolutely devastated. Her eyes were red from crying, her nose was runny and her blonde hair had been a mess. Christine did everything she thought a best friend should do. She hugged her, she handled over handkerchiefs, she combed Meg's hair, she even cooked lunch for her and through the whole time, Meg told Christine what happened between herself and Peter.
''What a pig!'' Christine growled. ''How dare he!''
Meg sniffed. ''Mother was right after all…''
Then Meg began speaking about Erik and how he might also be married. Christine became angry at the start. My Erik, married? That is absurd! But Meg reminded her of that Madame had been right about Peter, so she might have right about Erik as well. This made Christine a little uneven, but she still refused to believe that Erik was hiding something. He couldn't, right?
''Very well Christine.'' Meg said. ''Do what you want but remember what I said. I just don't want you to be hurt.''
And Christine promised to keep it in mind.
October went by very fast and now Falldark had welcomed the month of November. It is the month before Christmas and now with the holidays being so close, people are doing Christmas shopping just like every year, and just like very year, Falldark was a very busy place. The month had reached half of it's days already, so town square had been decorated from top to bottom and there was also a large Christmas tree standing in the middle of it all. The town's children were allowed to decorate the tree, but of course a little help from the adults was needed. Christine and Erik were two of the ones who had agreed to look after the children.
Christine reached down to pick up another Christmas ball when she noticed one small boy that was trying to climb the latter to reach the top of the tree. ''No, no, no, you can hurt yourself young man.'' She said and lifted the boy of the latter and put him on the ground. The boy just nodded his head and went back to decorating the bottom of the tree.
''You are good with children.'' Erik smiled. ''I bet you will be a great mother someday.''
Christine smiled and tried to hide her blushing face in her hair. Erik was such a master of making her face red, that it was ridiculous. I cannot believe that he agreed to help the children alongside with me. Christine had also learned that Erik also was great with children. The little ones would poke him on the side and he would happily lift them up so they could decorate the higher part of the tree. The little ones would laugh and then he would laugh. The picture was perfect. Oh, but then the horrid thought struck her. Maybe the reason he's so great with children is because he already has one? Please God, no!
''Christine, are you alright?'' Erik asked. ''You look pale.''
''Oh! Really? Um.. I just… '' Just do it, but not too forward. ''I want to ask you something.''
Erik laughed. ''Go ahead and ask then.''
''It is about what Madame said.''
''Aha... and?''
''It has been troubling me for a while now and I can't take it anymore, I need an answer… are you hiding something from me?'' Please, please, please!
Erik looked at her with wonder. Does she know? Did that damn witch speak up!?
''Do you think I'm hiding something?'' He asked.
''I don't know, that is the problem. Madame was right about Peter, she might be right about you.'' Her face was absolutely serious.
Yes, Erik had been told about what happened with Meg and Peter. What? Does Christine suspect me of being married? Ha! Yeah… big chance. No, Erik was not married, but of course he was hiding other things.
Erik sighed. ''Well, I am hiding one thing.''
''What? You are?'' Christine looked as if she was about to cry.
''Yes, isn't it obvious? I am hiding half of my face.''
Hi-his face…? Oh… Oh! How silly! Christine laughed, trying to shake of all bad thoughts. ''Your face? Of course, but that secret is okay with me.''
''Really? Are you not even curious?'' Why am I talking as if I want her to ask about it?
Christine smiled at him. ''Well, I take it as a private thing. It is up to you.''
Actually Christine had been thinking about it ever since they met. It didn't bother her much, but she could not resist being curious like everyone else in town. People say it might be a war wound, so terrible looking that he wants to hide it. Christine thought a war wound was something to be proud of. It is a sign of survival. If not a wound, what else could it be? By birth…? Well, she was not going to ask with all these people around.
Suddenly a voice of panic called, ''Christine!''
Christine turned around and met Caroline Loren. Caroline was a woman in her late thirties and had dark hair and it was tied up in a bon. Christine became immediately concerned when she saw that Caroline was crying and her hands were shaking.
''Caroline, what is the matter? You look absolutely terrified.'' Christine said and took Caroline's hands in her own and began caressing them as if warming them. Other people that were there stopped with what they were doing and focused on the situation.
''Have you seen Eliza?'' Caroline cried. ''I told her to wait here by the tree while I went and bought some milk.''
Everyone's eyes began searching the area. There were children there, but none of them was little Eliza. ''I don't see her.'' Christine admitted.
The poor mother cried. ''Oh, God! Where is she?''
Christine embraced Caroline and began hushing.
''A child is missing! A child is missing!'' People began to yell. ''Everyone search. Little Eliza is more important than anything else right now!''
This seems familiar, Erik thought. He turned to Christine who was still holding the devastated woman. ''I shall look in the forest.'' He said. Some other people heard him and agreed to follow.
The sun had gone to sleep, but no one in Falldark was. Erik and his group walked thought the forest that was covered with wet snow. The humans had a hard time seeing because of the dark shadows that the giant trees were casting, yet Erik had no problem with the dark. Everyone in the group kept on calling ''Eliza! Eliza!'' Except for Erik, for he knew that the girl would not call back. She's dead for sure.
Erik stood still and began focusing on smells. A vampire's sense of smell is very sensitive. It is a part of their hunting skills and it is used for locating danger or food. Come on. There must be blood, Erik thought as he kept on smelling. Then, just as he had suspected, he smelled it and the source was on a twenty meters distance. As Erik moved towards the goal, the stench became worse and he located it from behind a bush, and just as he thought; there behind the bush laid the little girl. She had dark ringlets like her mother and was wearing a blue dress with a winter jacket. Her face was pale, yet she did not look grotesque at all. Her lips were still pink and her hair was decorated with snowflakes. A pretty corpse if you cast away all that blood that had been pouring out of her neck and down her left shoulder. This girl was a fresh November kill. Erik covered his mouth and nose in his jacket sleeve. Oh, the smell! That wonderful smell! No, I need to resist! And that he did. Erik called for help and backed away from the corpse, hoping the smell would not follow him.
''What?'' Major Goldburg flew up from his chair. ''Another kill?''
After the finding of Eliza's body, Madame went straight to the police and took a look at the body like always. She regretted waking Eliza from the dead. The child had been more hysterical then what Rebecka had been. Eliza had jumped of the examination table and was about to reach the door when she collapsed, dead again. The memory made Antoinette shed a tear. She quickly wiped it away.
Madame was now at Major Goldburg's office to report the news.
''Yes,'' Madame Giry clarified. ''Caroline's eight year old daughter, Eliza.''
''A child? Oh, my God.'' Goldburg buried his face in his hands. He felt as if he was a failure. He just knew that the people would question this. He said that Rebecca had been killed by an animal, and now when Eliza had been killed as well, surely they must panic?
''This must stop, Major Guldburg.''
''W-well of course, but how? We don't know who did it.'' He began pacing back and forth.
''Goldburg, which family suddenly moved in the same day as Rebecca's death?''
The major halted. ''Madame, you suspect the Destler family?''
''I suspect Erik Destler, sir. He has an evil aura.''
''And you are sure he's a vampire? I mean, you told me you have a hard time pointing out who are.''
''I am certain. He is not good at hiding it.''
''But we can't arrest him. People will talk and we can't be certain that he is the killer. You have not caught him in the act have you?''
''Well, no…''
''Then we have to do so and then…. Just declare him or whoever it is, that he's a killer. That should be easy right?''
Sadly, it isn't that easy… But it is the only options we got. Madame also filled the major with more information of a vampire's nutrition. She knew that vampires feed ones a month and Rebecca was listed as October and now Eliza had become November.
''Then we have to watch out in December.'' Goldburg said. ''No more kills! If we can't find the guilty one… we have to get rid of them all.''
And that became their agreement.
Christine felt as if she herself was dying. Another death had occurred and in some way it felt as if it was her fault. Ever since that night when she saw something following her home, she had this feeling of being watched. Why is this monster doing this? If it is me you want, why them? Christine had been part of the search for Eliza that day, and after staying out the whole night in the freezing cold weather, Christine had turned sick. She had begun coughing at the bakery and Madame had ordered her to go home and rest. So now Christine was sad, depressed, scared and sick. How could anything make her feel better? Then, as if God answered her with a sense of humor, Erik walked into the bedroom where she was laying. Heavens! I am only wearing a thin nightgown! Christine pulled up the covers so it hid the whole body except for her head.
''Erik, h-how did you get in? I did not hear you.''
''…The door was open.'' Well, I can't tell her that I actually broke in. That would be creepy.
''It was? Was I really that careless? Oh, I must be very sick after all.''
''You want to talk? Want me to get you anything?''
''You came to take care of me while I'm sick? That's sweet of you.''
''Actually, a cold can pass after a week, I was thinking about… you know, how you are feeling.''
He meant Eliza. Should I tell him? He has been so honest with me, so I should give something back. Here goes...
''I-I blame myself.''
Erik frowned. ''Why do you say that?''
Tears were forming in Christine's eyes. ''I just… It feels like-like it should have been me! That this thing is after me!''
''Thing? What do you mean, my dear?'' Erik caressed her cheek with his finger.
''The thing that killed mother and father! Oh, Erik… I'm so scared...''
That vampire is haunting her still. But, could she be right? Is it the same? Erik went stiff when Christine sat up, making the covers reveal her nightgown, and embraced him. Damn it! Damn it! I can feel her breasts pressed against my chest! Wait... feel? How come I can feel it? We have touched but I have never felt it, not like this. Could it be….? Could be the power of her feelings for me? Erik's arms went around her small body. Is it so?
''I'm in love with you Erik.''
Oh, God! Oh, God! Erik was actually trembling after she said those words.
''Maybe you don't like it, you're shaking, but I had to say it.''
''I-I am not shaking b-because I'm upset, no, no.'' He stammered.
Christine sighed. ''That makes me happy. Don't worry, you don't need to answer, it is perfect this way. I just also wanna say that… if you ever feel like I'm worthy to know your face… I will be ready. Would you… would you consider that?''
What was he to answer? This girl had poured out all her feelings for him so what was he to answer? She wants to know my face? No! I could never…. Or, could she…? Maybe…. Erik's mouth formed a smile. Not a grin, a smile! It was a smile of happiness which he could not recall ever having. It made him feel human. Erik sighed with bliss and held her a little tighter. He was enjoying this and for the right reasons. He knew what it was.
''I think I am falling in love with you to.''
When Christine was caught in a deep sleep with a smile on her lips, she had no idea that someone had picked the front door lock and entered her home in the middle of the night. The figure had been very quite so she would not wake and it had been staring at her at her bed side. It touched and searched through her possessions in the house. As discrete as it had been at entering, the uninvited guest left the house as if no one had been in there.
A/N: Ew... that's creepy. I hope you like this chapter and that it wasn't so rushed with the killings and stuff. I need to put William's sorta plan in motion aswell... See you next time!