ARGH! You won't believe how sorry I am! Writer's block! Trips! No computers! o-0 It was horrible! I assure you that I know what I am writting now and I will be updating more quickly. Thank you ALL for your patience! Bless you!
DISCLAIMER: Never owned Phantom...must we go over this again???
Part Twelve:
Lark reached the door with less difficulty than she had had back two weeks ago. When they had first arrived, she had banged into any surface both possible and seemingly impossible for her to reach. Erik, furious that she managed to put more bruises on her than he notes on a page, had threatened to lock her in her room with cushions everywhere. It had been then that she assured him that she would learn where things were. He had not been there when Lark was held at the De Chagny mansion, and he had not known completely how she had learned to walk about without harming herself.
Another knock came after two seconds after the last.
"Pushy…" Lark muttered, but opened the door. "May I help yo-..?" She started off courteously.
A harsh, rather croaky voice came through and dug itself into Lark's poor skull like screws.
"Would you like your fortune told?" the voice demanded rather hysterically, like it would die if she refused its whim. If Lark could see, she probably would have slammed the door shut right that very moment and not talked at all. The woman on the doorstep, for that was who it was, looked very alarming indeed. With many bangles around her thin wrists and many-a-beaded necklaces, the woman's rickety figure dominated the step. Her flyaway hair looked ready to blow off her high forehead while her wide brown eyes held a look of insanity.
Oh, her mind was there, it was just frazzled.
"W-what…?" Lark asked uncertainly, wishing she knew who it was.
A sharp, clicking noise came from beneath her nose. The woman had started snapping her bridle fingers together impatiently.
"Your fortune, dearie. I read palms. You want? Fair price."
"Oh!" Lark's face lightened considerably even with eyes closed. She remembered people who could tell fortunes…Her Mama, before the accident, sometimes took Lark to fairs and festivals. There would be all sorts of people there and some of them were fortune tellers. They used, if she remembered correctly, different ways and styles. Cards, flowers, people's hands, even tea leaves and once one lady had a large crystal ball that seemed to have its own glow. Mama had made sure Lark never went near some of these strange folk.
"Pagans, dear," she had reprimanded Lark once while catching her daughter trying to get her fortune told by an ancient looking gypsy. "Are not to be messed with. They'll steal your money and get you in much trouble! Stay away from them, hear?"
Lark had obediently stayed away every time they went to another festival or fair, but her eyes still wandered to the brightly colored tents. Now was her chance, and Mama wouldn't have to worry about her because Erik was in his room! He would come as quickly as possible, if she ever called for him and needed him.
"You do fortunes?" Lark echoed.
A jangling noise came from her. Perhaps a nod of the head?
"Of course, dearie." The woman croaked. "Fair price…You seem to have a bright future ahead, if I may read."
She stood there silently and opened her mouth.
"How much…?"
A delighted cackle came from the woman not unkindly.
"Oh, you are a good miss indeed! Such a sweet dearie. For you, it will be only five francs."
Lark didn't know how much it would normally cost so she decided to take that as a compliment. Smiling, hoping she was looking at the person, she motioned for the fortune teller to enter.
"Come in, it'll be much more comfortable inside than out…" she offered graciously.
"You're such a dear, letting a pour old girl like myself in," the woman warbled, "four francs!"
"Oh, you don't have to lower it…" Lark said, blushing modestly.
Unsure if she would be able to lead the way, Lark took a step back from the door and banged her head on the doorframe. Cursing under her breath, a habit won from Erik, she heard by the clanking of the fortune teller that she never heard her bop her head. Rather than feeling insulted, Lark was grateful to not have the woman worry over her. She would leave such things to Rachel and Richard.
"Lovely home!" the woman said agreeably.
She must have been near the hallways and for Lark it was very easy for her to find this fortune teller. The clanking and clicking was louder than Erik, Richard, and Rachel walking put together!
"Such wonderful chairs, matching the paper on the walls, too!"
The woman praised everything she saw and the more she did, the more Lark blushed.
"We can sit here," she said, feeling her way to the couch.
The woman's weight barely made the divan's cushion go down and her constant clanking and jangling kept her well in Lark's hearing range. The fortune teller leaned forward eagerly.
"Now, let's see those pretty palms and we will see your future…."
O-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Murmurings came from the other side of Erik's door and drifted into his perked ears. He had gone into his room after she had gotten the door but that didn't stop him from listening in to make sure he found out who the hell it was. Leaning against the doorframe, his curiosity slowly dwindled when he heard Lark's relaxed voice. A small bang told him as he winced that she had also knocked against something.
"Clumsy girl," he muttered to himself, resisting the urge to roll his eyes.
Tempted to go off and check on her, he was alarmed to hear so much….rattling going on.
Erik crept softly across the carpet, barely even touching the floor. All he needed was a mere glance at the visitor and he would be satisfied. Maybe it would have been better though, as Erik turned the corner, if he had never seen the newcomer. A cackle came as a wild looking woman peered closely at Lark's open hand.
"A good long lifeline, dearie," she said creakily, "and, oh my, what's this…?"
Lark's face remained calm but excitement lightened her otherwise opaque eyes. Erik stared bemused at the fortune teller. The woman's forehead creased.
"My, my, I see two…for one so young this is interesting!"
"What is it?" Lark cocked her head to the side.
The woman cackled but continued to peer at her hand.
"You also have…my word! A dark stranger with you…" the woman laughed, sounding like a rusty hinge. "Don't go out late at night, which is my tip, dearie…"
Lark just smiled a secret smile. There was no doubt on who was her 'dark stranger.'
Erik however rolled his eyes, wincing at her guffaws. So much pain it brought to an ear that was used to only hearing beautifully tuned things! If this frenzied looking creature had been any type of instrument, Erik would have smashed it to bits like he did to a certain old viola….
"I need some tea…" he grumbled then cringed as the woman let out a bloodcurdling shriek.
"DARK FIGURE!" she bellowed, leaping up. "BEGONE, DEMON-!"
Lark looked alarmed at the woman's reaction to Erik for she knew he was around. The footsteps he took were uniquely muffling on the carpet but still she heard him. Erik, knowing he had been discovered, stepped out; thankful he had remembered to replace his mask.
"No demon am I!" He said sourly, "For God's sake, woman, don't scream!"
The woman stared at him wild eyed then threw a panicked glance at Lark who smiled gently.
"Erik, you should've announced yourself better, you nearly gave her a heart attack!"
"Ah, but she chose to give out that unearthly shriek."
The woman mimicked Erik's sour attitude when she heard she was being insulted.
"I am palm reading." She said sulkily. "You who hides your face however…."
"Oh, he just likes to cover up." Lark said airily, "He's my Papa."
"Oh." The woman threw a look of disapproval in Erik's direction which he kindly returned with a threatening stare. They stared throwing daggers at each other a moment longer before he sighed and swept towards the kitchen.
"Forget tea," he grumbled, "I need wine….and Lark, make sure you send this…Madame out as soon as she is done. It is my money that is being given to her, non?"
Lark smiled meekly.
"Yes, Erik…"
The fortune teller huffed.
Revvvveeeeiws are my cravings! Happy Halloween!
Erik: It's TOMORROW.
Oh...oops...