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Chapter 14

There was a silence that settled in the lair. Erik felt awkward and warily, but curious about her. In all the studying, he had done and from knowing Christine, he thought most girls believed in love. Only 16 and she didn't believe in it. Erik found himself wondering at what had truly happened to her.

Poison fell back into her strange habits. In the early morning she rose, sometimes ate, other times not. She would then go hunting for spiders in the lair. She caught them, placed them in a glass, watched them ran around inside it, then sketched and put down notes about it. Then, taking them to a corner, released them with a kiss. Erik would secretly watch this, all the while his curiosity growing. Sometimes, he found, she even talked to them like they were people.

When she grew bored with playing with the spiders, she would do frightful things with the butterfly knife. She would throw it up into the air and catch it, or balanced it in the middle of her palm. Some of the things she did, rivaled any opera production he had seen, or the tricks the gypsies of his past.

One day there was a thunderstorm so bad that the rumbles could even be heard five cellars underground. Erik went about his normal schedule, but didn't see Poison at all. About 5 in the afternoon as the storm continued to rage, his curiosity won out and he went to her room. He stood outside the door, trying to listen for any noise. Not hearing any, he cracked the door open. That one time, walking in on her, Erik learned to only glace into any closed door with her in it. The lesson paid off, for Poison was sitting in the middle of the room, the red velvet blanket sitting around her. All candles were out. The only light in the room was from a fire. But it was still enough to see the she was naked. Again, her back was to him, but this time her head was bowed over.

Erik pulled the door closed slightly, but then froze when she raised her head.

"Erik?"

"Yes?" Erik spoke though the half closed door.

"Come on in. I'm covered now." Her voice sounded dull and worn.

For a minute, Erik thought about declining, but then decided against it. Stepping into the room, he saw that she had wrapped the blanket around herself. She still faced away from him though. Erik walked around to the front of her and looked down at her. Poison's head was still bowed.

"Sit? Please?" she gestured in front of her.

Before he could catch his self, Erik found himself sitting on the floor facing her. The minutes dragged on before anyone said anything.

"What are you doing?" Erik finally asked.

Poison raised her head. "Listening to the storm."

"It will not last much longer. This one is rare that we could hear it down here,"

"Pity. I love storms."

"Really? I didn't not know that." Erik was surprised, yet not so.

Green fire flashed in her eyes, even though her face remained indifferent. "There is a lot you still don't know about me."

"I'll listen if you want to tell me."

"Nosy Erik?" her face still remained indifferent, but the green fire was blazing now.

"Well, you have been here for almost two weeks. You tell me only bits and pieces of your life or only half answers."

The fire died, and she dipped her head, "I know. Maybe I'll tell you another time." She raised her head and the familiar playfulness came back. " Right now we can just listen to the storm." Another rumble of thunder reached their ears. Erik tensed as she moved closer to him, but remained wrapped in the red blanket.

As Erik stared into the fire, he faintly was aware of Poison leaning against him. When he got the nerve to look down, he saw that she had fallen asleep. Moving so that he could stand and pick her up at the same time, Erik gently carried her to her bed. He laid her down and stood to move, when he found out that she had a tight hold of his shirt. Try as he might, she didn't let go. He had to alternatives; one, take the shirt off, or two spend the rest of the day in bed.

Giving in with a sigh, Erik stretched out beside her, tensing only slightly when she moved closer to him. Slowly, he placed an arm around her and he; himself, fell into a rare, dreamless sleep.