Part Twenty-Five

"Get your elbows off the table," Esperanza scolded Diana lightly. Her daughter returned her mother with an evil glare that if it could kill she would've certainly tried. However Esperanza returned her daughter with a look of her own that promised a spanking if she didn't do as she was told. Slowly Diana complied and lowered her elbows, and continued to peck at her dinner.

"How was the market love?" Erik said, wiping his mouth and reaching over to help Lucien drink from his cup. His son grabbed it with both hands and Erik gently held the bottom just incase, Lucien always enjoyed doing things himself. Only when he did do things himself he'd make such a mess Erik would end up helping Izzy clean.

"It was as it always has been. Nothing has changed since we've last been here. Oh I ran into the Count de'Chagny.." Well that had Erik's attention in a heart beat. Esperanza found that she didn't like how attentive he became, but she had to explain now before the Count would show up on their door step. "It seems his daughter has a care for ponies, and took it upon herself to go look at one. Only she wandered out too far, the poor Count was beside himself with worry. He over looked her in his search, so she hid herself in the bushes, luckily he caught the boys and I. They are very good detectives." she included getting Lucien to smile and nod enthusiastically.

"Christine..the Count..they have a daughter?" Erik whispered softly, looking down at his plate. A piece of him yearned and ached that he had not been there to see the beauty of the child at birth. Even more so to simply see the child, a small voice whispering in his what if she had been yours?

"Very good detectives indeed, as for little Elene I have invited that she come and ride one of our ponies. Under your strict supervision of course Erik, the Count isn't comfortable with her riding one.." Esperanza supplied as she stood, helping Izzy to take the plates.

"Why does it discomfort him?" He had to ask. His wife stopped long enough to look at him, and speak in a soft almost regretful tone.

"He lost his first when the Countess was dismounted and fell hard during her pregnancy. Honestly what she was doing atop a horse is beyond me, I am assuming the Count did not know," shrugging her slender shoulders she went into the other room with Izzy.

Christine? Oh my poor Christine how painful that must've been for you and I was not there? Well what could I do? Comfort you? Looking at his children that sat round the table Erik knew just how close he had come to losing his first. No...It was in Fate that such a bad thing should happen. He was brought back, when his children were arguing.

Nicholas had reached for his glass and by accident knocked it over. The contents had spilled out and trickled down onto his eldest daughter Diana who for some reason was in a mood. Her yelling came so fast, and the ear piercing screams at her brother Erik had no idea what to say or do. His second son William sat watching, with a rather smug smirk on his young features.

"You stupid dolt!" Diana snapped.

"I..I'm sorry Diana...I didn't mean to!" Nicholas cried looking to his sister in apology, handing her a kerchief. A kerchief that Diana slapped out of his hand, making it sting.

"I am sick of you! You make us the laughing stock of Paris!" she continued, and Erik was still in shock. It was then that Paloma came in to defend her brother.

"He does not! Why are you always so mean to him?" came his other daughter's growl.

"I am not mean to him! I'm giving him what he deserves!"

"Diana! I said I'm sorry!" Nicholas said again.

"Sorry doesn't cut it freak," came the cold words of William.

"William!" Erik boomed.

"Only freaks here are you two!" Paloma yelled, and went for her sister's hair. Lucien wisely ran away to get his mother, while Nicholas was shoved to the ground by his brother. Who at some point had jumped from his seat, and Nicholas quickly shielded his face. It was complete pandemonium and Erik didn't know what to do! His girls were near ripping their eyes out and hair, while Nicholas quietly accepted his brother's beating.

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON IN HERE!?" came the shriek that had them all stopping from their little brawls and looking to their mother. Lucien stood behind her, looking from behind her skirts, while her golden eyes promised they were going to pay. Thank God Erik thought watching as his wife went and ripped Diana from Paloma and William from Nicholas.

"Well?"

"I hate Nicholas", William said.

"How can you HATE your own BROTHER!?" Esperanza snapped, she had had IT with these two. They enjoyed tormenting Nicholas and they had gone too far now.

"Because he's a FREAK!" and that was the last straw. Esperanza was whipping his rear within a heart beat, and William had no way of getting away. When her hand was sore and his screams moans, she released him to run to the safety of his room. Looking to Diana, Esperanza gave her the chance not to say anything but the girl didn't take the mercy.

"It's true he is a freak! And you always pay attention to him, Just because he's...Ahhh!" Esperanza was not going to put up with this, and she whipped her butt to. Finally her daughter clawed herself away and ran up to her room just the same, her door slamming closed. A heavy sigh escaped Esperanza as she stood slowly looking to her husband.

"You need to do something with her Erik. She listens to you, she cant stand me..." that said she went to Nicholas who had curled into a ball in the corner. His brother and sister patting him, reassuring them of their love...and Esperanza thanked God for these two. It made Nicholas's life just a small bit easier. "Come love, lets get you cleaned up and to bed."

Nicholas obeyed, and flung himself into the protection of his mother's embrace.

"Diana...look at me" Erik said softly, and had to repeat himself with more force. He'd seen both his girls to bed, and now he had to talk to his eldest daughter.

"What Papa?" She was getting out of hand.

"Don't talk to me like that young lady. You will apologize to your brother tomorrow." He said sternly, looking down at her. Only her dark eyes narrowed, crossing her arms before her, bouncing curls shimmering.

"I am NOT apologizing to him. I hate him.." she said, and Erik scolded her quietly not wanting to awaken Paloma.

"Diana this needs to stop. It isn't your brother's fault he's different.." Erik began.

"I don't care! He IS different, he shouldn't even be with us. I hate that you take his side you always do Papa!" she sniffed. No not tears.

"Diana..."

"I hate Mama...I WISH she'd die!" Diana snapped, and realizing what she said turned on her side and hid beneath the covers. Speechless with shock Erik only sat on the end of his daughter's bed and watched her.

"I'm not a freak am I Mama?" Nicholas asked softly, as Esperanza gave him his night clothes to change.

"No love, you're not a freak. You never will be. Your sister is angry at me" She said softly, assuring him as he changed.

"But...it's because I'm different." He sniffed, looking at her with his sad blue eyes.

Esperanza didn't know what to do or say I'm sorry love if I could make it all right I would. Slowly she took her son into her arms once more, tears shimmering in her eyes. It hurt so much, it made her chest tighten in pain that her son was not safe from unkind words even within their own home.

Nicholas felt a warm tear drop trickle down his neck and he frowned, lifting his hands to wipe his mother's face. His hands came away wet with her tears and he felt guilty for her tears. It was his fault that she cried nearly every night for his sake, it had to be his fault.

"Come on love, get into bed..."

"Mama?" he said shyly.

"Yes love?"

"C-Can I sleep with you and Papa?...I'm scared to sleep in here..." Nicholas whispered looking to Williams bed. Esperanza understood, and nodded to him, taking his hand. What was she to do?

A cloaked figure slowly made its way up the walk, standing at least ten feet from the door. The lights in the Master Chamber soon went out, and he smirked wickedly. Tugging at the gloves on his hands he secured them to his hands. Taking hold of his cloak he pulled it closely against his body, making his way to the side of the Great Hall where he opened a secret portal.

After all he had, had six years to learn the secrets of the Great Hall, now the Master of the Hall wasn't the only one that knew his way around.