Aurora and Anna ran out when they saw the horses return.
"Talia are you alright?" Anna asked hugging her friend tightly.
"I'm fine."
"Aurora where is Raoul and Christine?" Philip asked.
"In the library, why?"
"Trivan, Louis, Nadir take Erik to the North wing and put him in a room. Talia, Anna, Aurora, and I will reassure them we're fine and the problem has been taken care of."
"But how will we keep them from knowing he's here?" Talia asked looking back at Erik.
"We send them to the sea shore they keep talking about." Aurora said planting her hands on her hips. "Philip can run the estate without them underfoot."
"Agreed, but till we get them to leave make sure nobody except us and Lira enter the North wing."
"Return of Lady Vampire." Talia muttered under her breath.
Philip tucked his cape around Talia and ushered the girls into the house and towards the library. Talia wished she could go with Erik and tell Raoul to go to hell.
"Talia." Christine ran to her and hugged her. "Are you alright? He didn't hurt you?"
"No, I'm fine." Talia shivered.
Raoul hugged her. "You soaking wet."
"I fell into the river."
"Then lets get you into dry clothing." Christine started to the door.
I'm going to hate myself. "I can care for myself. I don't need you or Raoul babysitting my every step." Talia drew herself up, threw the cape at Philip, and marched out of the room.
Raoul started to follow her.
"Leave her alone." Philip ordered. "She's had a hard night and she needs time to herself."
Talia came into the room that had once been Count Aramis de Chagny's bedroom. Erik was on the bed with Lira and Anna standing by waiting for Louis to give them orders. Nadir stood near the fireplace trying to build it up.
"How is he?" Talia walked till she stood next to Anna.
"He's still unconscious but he should be fine." Anna told her. "When will Raoul and Christine be leaving?"
"I don't know I went screaming from the library hoping Philip and Aurora will take care of it."
"Hopefully soon sneaking Louis in here will be difficult." Lira commented.
"And Nadir." Talia said.
"I will leave this evening and not come back till they leave it will be safer for him and I trust you can handle his care without me."
"I will send notes to update you if they do not leave immediately." Anna reassured him.
Talia turned quickly when she heard the door click and relaxed when Aurora walked into the room.
"How is he?"
"He will be fine. When will they be leaving?"
"Tomorrow morning, they had planned to leave anyways but then after this incident they thought of staying to be here for Talia but Philip convinced them she needs some space."
Talia smiled. "I don't know how I'd live without Philip."
Louis stepped away from the bed. "He'll probably sleep most of the night Talia why don't you change and go to bed. Anna or Lira can watch him."
"I'll change, but I will sleep in here on the sofa. He doesn't know any of these people and if he's frightened God only knows what could happen."
"I'll take the room across the hall, call if you need anything." Anna said.
"I'll find you something to sleep in and help you out of that gown." Aurora told Ann and led her out of the room.
"I'll stay till you return." Louis told Talia.
Nadir followed Talia into the hall. "He will be fine Talia, he's survived far worse."
Talia nodded and gestured to Trivan who was standing in the hall. "Trivan can show you the way out. I'll write tomorrow and send it into town."
"Thank you." Nadir bowed and followed Trivan.
Talia and Lira walked into Talia's room. Talia's eyes froze on her reflection in the mirror. She was a definite mess. Her hair that had been put up so carefully hung down in damp clumps. The dark blue silk dress that she had worn for Erik because he loved was ruined. The skirt was torn, mud, and grass stains mixed with blood now decorated the soaked silk. Surprisingly the diamond necklace and earrings she had put on were still there, but the diamond studded comb she had placed in her hair was gone.
"Milady lets get you our of those wet clothes before your in a sick bed." Lira started to try and undo the buttons.
Talia stepped away and went to the vanity. Out of a drawer she took a thin silver dagger and handed it to Lira. "Just cut it, the dress isn't worth saving."
Lira hesitated but she knew Talia was right. Finally she just cut the row of silk covered buttons.
The heavy dress just slid off Talia's shoulder and pooled on the wooden floor. Talia stepped out of it and while Lira found a nightgown Talia took off the undergarments. She took the nightgown from Lira and pulled it on.
"What should I do with this?" Lira looked at the dress.
"Let it dry and then burn it." Talia didn't want anybody to see it in the trash and start rumors.
Lira nodded.
"I will be with our guest tonight. Could you bring Anna, him, and me breakfast here in the morning?"
"Of course."
"Thank you, for everything." Talia smiled and then left.
Aurora was placing blankets and pillows on the sofa when Talia walked in. "Louis went to see Philip and then retire to his room."
"Alright." Talia told him.
"Be careful Talia, love is a dangerous as a sword fight." Aurora walked out the door careful to close it behind her.
"Tell me about it." Talia walked over to Erik and looked down at him. Even though his face didn't bother her she wished she had his mask so when other people were around he did not feel they were frightened of it. "Good night Erik." She went to the sofa and tried to make herself comfortable on the it.
"Morning milady." Lira smiled bringing in a tray full of food.
"Morning." Talia stretched and then put a robe on.
"How is our guest?"
Talia walked to the bed. "Still sleeping?"
"Lady Anna is on her way, and Raoul and Christine would like to say farewell before they leave."
"I'll step out and see them after I eat."
Anna walked in, wiping her eyes and mumbling. "Morning Talia, Lira."
"Should I try to wake him?" Talia asked her friend.
"Let him sleep, he needs the rest to heal." She picked up a croissant and began to pick at it. "You slept for days on end when you were burnt."
Talia grabbed a croissant and spread jelly on it. "Can you watch him when I speak to Raoul?"
"Of course."
Talia finished the roll, and drank some tea. "I'll change, speak to them, and be back."
"Alright." Anna sat down and gestured for Lira to join her.
Talia walked to her room and found a simple light blue dress. She changed quickly and slipped into a pair of shoes and went to seek out her brothers. She found Raoul and Christine in the sitting room of their suite making sure they had everything they needed.
"Talia dear you look well." Christine hugged her upon seeing her.
"Thank you."
"I can't believe I put you in danger of that monster."
He is not a monster. "It was not your fault."
"Why don't you come to the seashore in a few weeks?" Raoul asked.
"Maybe." Talia hugged him but wished it was Erik and that it was them running to a safe haven. "Have a safe trip."
"I'll write." Christine told her as Raoul led her to the carriage.
Talia nodded and once they were out of sight she went to the North wing.
Anna looked up at her when she walked in. "He's still sleeping."
She nodded and took a seat next to the bed.
Louis touched her shoulder and looked down at Talia. "If he's not awake in the morning then we'll worry, but I spoke to Nadir he hardly ever sleeps, and he could have been worn out."
She looked down. "I'm just."
"Scared I know." Louis patted her shoulder. "Get some sleep Talia things will be better in the morning." He walked out the door and tried to smile at Anna.
"How is she?"
"Worried sick, I'm afraid if he doesn't make it…"
"She's come through worse things than this." Anna snapped.
"Anna have you ever been in love, do you know how that affects a person. How it makes you want to rip yourself apart just to see that person happy and safe. When you get that way and they can't return it or wont you're basically killing yourself slowly and painfully until you reach a point the real thing starts to look good."
Anna looked up at him. "Are you still talking about Erik and Talia, or about us?"
Louis pulled her to him and kissed her quick and hard. "Both." He growled and then left.
Talia brushed her hand across Erik's good cheek. She then walked back to the sofa and stretched back out on it.
"I won't go. You can't make me." Talia screamed at her father. She hated the idea of being sent to a finishing school so they could un-teach everything her father had taught her.
"Natalia you are being unreasonable." Aramis said trying to control his temper.
"Why are you doing this don't you love me?"
That struck Aramis hard but he was determined to be firm. "You are going and that's final."
Talia turned and ran towards her room. "I hate you I hope I never see you again."
It was well after midnight when she snuck out of her room and to the stables. Quietly she saddled her gelding Arthur and led him out of the building. "I won't go to some finishing school." She clambered into the saddle and sent him out of the courtyard and towards the woods.
Aramis had saw Talia leave the courtyard and horseback and he ran to the stables when he arrived he found Trivan already saddling a horse.
"Count De Chagny." The sixteen year old stuttered in surprise. "I was going after her."
"I'll come with you." He started to saddle his stallion. When he was done they rode out after her.
Arthur's breathe left trails of steam in the cold winter's night as they sped through the woods. "No papa I won't be a proper lady, I want to be the lady you taught me to be." Talia shouted to the shadows of trees.
"Talia!"
She kicked the gelding trying to get more speed when she heard her father call. She knew his large stallion could easily over take her pony, and if she was caught she would not only be punished but she'd still be sent to the school.
Arthur tried to stop when he saw the ground fall away into darkness, but the frost and snow made it impossible. They went tumbling into the river breaking through the layer of ice as they fell.
Aramis yanked his horse around and jumped off. "Talia!" When she did not answer and all he saw was the slight reflection of the moon off the thin layer of ice he dropped his cape and boots and dove into the water.
Trivan stood with the horses and jumped in surprise when a creature wearing something that glowed white over his face came up to him and laid the limp and cold Natalia at his feet.
"She'll be alright." He growled and then disappeared.
"Count, sir! She's up here." Trivan yelled to the count when he came up for air.
He nodded and splashed his way to shore. When he got to land he ran up to them and wrapped Talia in his warm cape. "Trivan get up on my horse, I'll hand her up to you."
The boy did as he was told. "A man, I think, saved her."
"I wish I could thank him." The count's teeth chattered as he got onto the horse Trivan rode.