Erik

For the second day in a row, Erik woke up with a woman's arm draped across his chest. This time, however, he knew who the woman was, and had -at least a tiny- idea of what had happened. He was embarrassed that this woman had been forced to comfort him for the second time. This time, however, when he got out of bed, he woke her up. He heard a mumbled response of "Turn off the light" as he saw Daina roll over, dragging the covers along with her. Looking at the clock, he saw the time read 9:23, much later than he normally got up. Erik smirked. He had never experienced someone who liked to sleep in as much as Daina apparently did. Or, at least, no one who had the option. Most days at the Opera House the staff woke up before seven in the morning, including the performers. After shutting the drapes, Erik left the room, making his way to the music room.

He had always felt most comfortable when surrounded by music. Daina had listed a good amount of his major interests yesterday, telling him each one would be a viable option to pursue while on trying to achieve his happy ending. Erik pondered his options, realizing that there was really only one that he wanted to actively work on. Don Juan Triumphant had been such a large part of his life. He had worked on that opera for over twenty years. For it to have ended the way it did, in such humiliation and disaster, was such a disappointment.

The more he thought about it, the more Erik liked the idea of creating a new opera. He wanted to erase the pain his previous opera had caused him, and maybe, just maybe, a new opera would give him the opportunity to see his love once again. Erik turned to the piano, frowning a bit at the fact it wasn't his organ, but it would do. It would have to do. He had no other choice.

Daina

Daina woke up, cocooned in the bedsheets she had dragged over her while she was sleeping. She walked downstairs after changing her favorite dark blue jeans and a Star Wars tee shirt, relieved to hear music coming from the music room. She was surprised that he was actually moving on already, after all, it had only been two days since he was left, heartbroken, to die by the woman he loved. Slightly worried that he was moving on a bit too fast, Daina hurried into the music room.

Once she entered, the full blast of emotion that his music produced hit her. It wasn't love, exactly. His music evoked the sense of… affection with a slight bit of obsession mixed with hope, guilt, and shame, an odd mixture if one didn't know his backstory. She was unsure just how long she stayed in the doorway when Erik stiffened, and turned around, finally realizing that someone else was in the room.

His glare softened just a tiny bit when he saw who had entered the room. Daina gave him a small smile before walking towards him.

"I really loved it. It was so… so emotional. Every single story I read always mentioned that you were a musical genious. I've always wanted to hear you play, especially a piece of your own creation. That was one of yours, right? It sounded… it sounded like you."

Erik

He knew his only redeeming quality was his artistic ability. Music was, after all, the one thing that he had to give Christine. Erik was going to change that, though. The money he accumulated from years of salary from the Opera House was a large incentive for any woman. At this point, he had more money than the de Chagny family. If he was able to become a successful member of society, he just might be able to convince her to marry him. He would not just allow, but encourage her career, and they would resume her lessons so she could reach even greater heights.

Erik had been so absorbed in his creation of his latest piece that it took him a while to notice that someone was watching him. He heard a small shuffle, and quickly turned around, ready to yell at whoever had entered the room without his permission. After all, he was used to being alone in his house by the lake whenever he was composing. Once he realized it was Daina, however, he relaxed, if only slightly.

"I've decided" he said as a greeting, turning back to the piano.

"Really? That was quick" Erik heard her reply.

"It was only natural to choose composing. It's the most likely path to get Christine back. She's always been so involved in music, she's bound to still go to shows even if her fiancé" he spat the word out as if it physically hurt him to say it. "Doesn't allow her to perform anymore. Now, if you'll excuse me, I don't have twenty years to perfect this opera like I did my previous one."

Erik became so engrossed in his music once again that he didn't notice Daina nod and leave the room, a slight look of disappointment on her face.

Daina

She was slightly disappointed that she didn't get to listen to his composition, but she understood. More than that, however, she was sad that he was so focused on getting Christine back. Daina knew it would be hard, it had only been two days, but she had hoped that he was working towards moving away from Christine, not trying to get her back.

Daina understood that it would take time, and more than a little convincing from her, to get him to give up on Christine, the way she gave up on him. In the meantime, however, all Daina could do was encourage his musical pursuits, and hope that closure would come in time, and lead to his happiness.

Daina didn't know what to do while Erik was occupied. Without her laptop or her phone, without internet or Netflix, most of what she did was out the window. Even when she read, which she did love to do, she read her Nook Books on her iPad. Everything was tied to electronics, it seemed.

Figuring now would be a good time to start reading the classic books she had always wanted to read, like Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre. She made her way into the library, only to be disappointed yet again when she learned that all the books were in either French, or other languages that she did not know. Sighing, Daina grabbed a book at random, and left the library, intending on retrieving her English-French dictionary. She figured that as long as she was in France, she mind as well try to learn some French, even if the task seemed impossible.

On the way to her room to retrieve the dictionary, Daina ran into the maid from the day before yet again. The maid still had a look about her of disapproval. Daina knew that this maid thought she was a prostitute, and would look down on her for it, but didn't really care.

"What are you doing here? What do you want with M. Destler?" The maid obviously didn't like Daina, and was doing nothing to hide it. Daina was unsure of why the maid was so protective of Erik; he had come to the manor the same time she had. She knew Erik was someone who both needed and deserved protection, but people usually needed time to earn such a fierce protective attitude.

"I'm here to help Er… M. Destler."

"Help? Help with what?" The maid was obviously suspicious of Daina, which made sense. Daina showed up out of the blue, dragging with her an unconscious Erik, and now was thought of to be a prostitute who was staying with him. She was sure that the maid thought she was taking advantage of him, no wonder saying that she was helping him would confuse the maid.

"I am an… old friend of Erik's. He's working on an opera, and I'm here to help him, provide support, whatever I can do to help."

The maid nodded, a look of suspicion still on her face, before turning around and stalking away, her arms full of towels.

Daina continued to her room, knowing that the woman did not trust her, did not like her, and could most likely make her life difficult.

After half an hour of trying to translate the book, Daina gave up. It was way too complex for her meager French. Apparently knowing bonjour and croissant will not help me with this. The only way she was going to learn French, was to get somebody to help her, and the only people who might be willing to help her were Erik, who was occupied with his composing, and Cecilia.

She left her room once again and headed to the kitchen. When she arrived, she noticed that the kitchen was empty. Curious, Daina attempted to find Cecilia. While searching the manor, she ran into M. Alban, who mentioned that Cecilia was outside. Daina left the manor, surprised to see a large area of land. She could see a large flower garden and a maze, with what looked like woods and even a lake in the distance. Excited to explore the area she had accidentally come across, Daina forgot all about finding Cecilia.

After getting lost in the maze, and looking briefly in the flower garden, Daina was wondering around when she came across another part of the enclosed land, the vegetable garden. She saw Cecilia, picking green beans, and called out a greeting.

"Do you need any help?" Daina questioned, feeling bad that everyone else was working, and she was not doing anything. After all, Erik had not asked her for rent or any sort of payment at this point, she felt she should be doing something to earn her keep. After enthusiastically accepting Daina's offer, she and Cecilia continued to pick vegetables, settling into a comfortable conversation discussing how beautiful the lawn was.

During their conversation, Daina spotted a small, black and white, furry shape creep around the edges of the garden. She stopped talking, not wanting to scare the creature away, or antagonize it if was not friendly. Cecilia looked up at Daina's sudden silence, curious about why she had stopped talking. Daina silently pointed out the shape, and the two women watched it come closer, unsure of what it was. It turned a corner, and they breathed out a sigh of relief, realizing that it was just a cat. The two looked at each other, then back at the cat, both smiling at the cuteness of the kitten. Motioning for Daina to stay there, Cecilia left the garden.

She returned a few minutes later with a bowl of cream. They offered the cat the bowl, slowly backing away in attempt to not scare the cat away. The cat crept closer, sniffing the bowl, until it began to settle down and lap up the cream. The kitten seemed extremely suspicious, its eyes darting every which way, looking for danger. Dana was confused, until she slowly approached the cat, and noticed the many wounds across its back. It looked like the cat had been attacked by a larger animal, claw marks raked down its right side. She let out a gasp, then quickly regretted it as the cat tensed, ready to either fight, or run away. Daina slowly extended her hand. The cat drew back, but as Daina left her hand out, ready to be sniffed, showing that she had no weapon, the cat slowly leaned forward and sniffed the offered appendage. Realizing that there was no danger, the kitten allowed Daina to scratch behind her ears.

Daina reached forward and picked up the kitten, who hissed as her clothes brushed up against its wounds. Quickly changing the position that she was holding the cat, Daina made sure that she was not further hurting the animal. She and Cecilia looked at each other, silently agreeing that they had to help the poor animal.

After tending to the wounded animal, whom she and Cecilia had named Claire after discovering the kitten was a girl, Daina realized that it was after 6 at night. Upon discovering that Erik had not eaten at all that day, she brought him a tray containing grapes, bread, cheese, and milk. She walked into the music room, trying to be as quiet as possible, and left the tray on a table covered in papers next to the piano before turning to leave. As she was leaving, she heard Erik say "What is that doing here?" Daina turned to see Claire had not only followed her in, but had jumped on the table, knocked over several pieces of paper, and was drinking his milk.

Well, he decided on what he wants! Too bad he's still hung up on Christine. It will probably take a lot to get him to move on. I wonder if Diana can actually do that?

Thanks to everyone who reads, reviews, favorites, or follows. I know I always say this, but every time I mean it more and more. It really means a lot to me that you guys are actually interested in what I might write.

I'll try to post as much as I can, but this next month is getting kind of busy, my aunt is getting married in October, but her bridal shower and bachelorette party are both this month, and I'm going to be both helping and attending both. And after this month, I'll be back in school. So I will still be writing and posting, but the time between chapters may get longer.

I do not own the Phantom of the Opera, only my OCs.