Chapter 38 (an angel)

Erik spent the time writing a long letter, apologizing to Meg and telling her to come down as soon as she received the letter. He attached it to Bailey's collar, and telling her where to deliver the letter to. He watched with satisfaction as the dog trotted off.

Well, Lavender, I guess you had persuaded your brother, Erik thought laughingly. A 14 years old girl…..imagine, what a joke it would be for the entire Opera house to know! Erik tapped his fingers impatiently on the wooden table while waiting for the return of Meg and Bailey.

Soon, he could hear trotting of the dog and a quick, careful step of a girl. Erik stood up, pat down his hair, and wait earnestly.

Meg emerged from behind the gate, carrying a basket; Bailey looked excited as he walked alongside with her. Meg was obviously practicing ballet when Bailey brought her the letter; she was still wearing her ballet costume and had hastily put on a cloak.

Meg came to the shore, Bailey trotted off to the direction of Lavender's room. Meg timidly approached Erik, as though scared that he would slap her.

There was an uncomfortable minute of silence.

"What…..what did you want me to come down here for?" Meg asked in a frightened voice. Erik felt guilt, he had not meant to harm her, but the injuries which he had inflicted on her during his outburst two weeks ago had left a scar on her thin, fragile wrist.

"I just wanted to apologize for my rowdy behavior two weeks ago," Erik was shocked to find his voice flat and monotone. Embarrassed, Erik looked down, not meeting Meg's eyes.

"Well, I am too," Meg said softly. Her gaze seemed to be traveling to something else. It was only then did Erik hear a soft scuffling of door. He turned to find Bailey struggling with the handle of Lavender's bedroom. The dog was small, so it was unable to reach up to the handle. Meg chuckled, before walking towards to help the collie. Before she could reach it, the door opened to reveal Lavender.

She staggered out, both hands on the wall for support. Looking at the way she walked, Meg felt a pang of guilt. The powder had really affected Lavender very badly indeed. Erik rushed over to help her. He carried her to the sofa, before putting her gently down on the soft surface.

"Well, you two are making up again?" Lavender said. Her voice hinted relief. Both Erik and Meg smiled at her. Lavender managed a tired smile. She was slumped on the sofa, gazing at the pair of them.

Erik approached Meg slowly. They stood inches away, as though waiting for each other. Erik's eyes were warm, Meg felt herself being drawn just by her gaze. Suddenly as it seemed, Erik moved away, and Meg was staring at think air with a dumb look. She recovered after a few moments to find Erik returning from Lavender's room with a purple blanket. He wrapped it around his sister.

"Well?" Erik asked, looking at Meg, who was frozen there.

"Well, nothing," Meg replied quickly. She got to set the table.

As Erik and Meg settle down to eat, Erik looked at the watching Lavender and said jokingly, " Well, the one thing that was good from the powder incident was that you would not be able to play any more tricks on us again."

Lavender smiled a little, "Yeah, right?" she found a hook fixed beside the sofa earlier there by her. She tugged it gently.

Erik and Meg swore heard a click of a mouse trap above them. They tried to figure out what was going on, but was too late as they were soon rained with a mixture of rose and lavender (the flower) petals. The petals found their way into Erik and Meg's tea and their plates of food.

"Why must all your tricks end with a mess?" Erik said through gritted teeth as Lavender was doubled over with laughter. Meg was smiling, she looked so lovely with the bright purple and red flower petals tangled in her hair. Erik felt himself compelled to look into her eyes. The lunch continued with no more troubles from Lavender.

As the meal was cleared (with some cleaning, since the petals were everywhere), Erik had helped Lavender into her bedroom for a nap. Meg was settling herself down on the coach, with a book. Erik started a soothing, mournful piece on his violin, he was so absorbed in the song that he did not realize that Meg was soon transfixed by him.

"What?" he asked after sensing her gaze.

"It was so beautiful!" Meg said quietly.

"What? Oh, thanks, the song took me sometimes to write.."

Meg walked over. She placed on hand on Erik's shoulder. Good thing Lavender was not here! He thought with relief; she would have laughed her head off.

"Did you write this?" Meg asked softly, her large brown eyes meeting Erik's green ones.

"Yes, I did. You should take a look at some songs which Lavender wrote, very nice indeed," Erik breathed. Meg settled down beside Erik at the organ.

"Well, I am sorry about Lavender," Meg said softly. Erik nodded.

"I understand, and I forgive you," Erik said quietly. Meg smiled. Erik turned to look at her.

"Well, there had being two weeks without seeing you, how was your mother?" Erik asked softly. Meg sighed.

"She had not being getting better, the doctor diagnosed her with tuberculosis yesterday, they reckoned that she might not live," suddenly, Meg broke down, leaning on Erik's shoulders as she wept buckets of tears. Erik was stunned for a moment, before putting his arms around the ballerina as well.

He could understand how Meg was feeling then. He had too; shed tears when his mother died and his sister taken away from him. However, he was no longer sensitive to the loss; he was numbed from pain in the past.

Erik carefully carried Meg to an unused room and put her on the bed. Meg laid head on the pillow and began to fall asleep.

Erik closed the door and went to Lavender's room. Her room was lit, which suggested that she had not yet fallen asleep. Erik gently pushed the door open.

Lavender was lying on the bed, reading. Her eyes darted over the book in her hands; so absorbed were she in the book that she did not realize that Erik had came into her room.

"Hi, little bookworm, I see that you are not sleeping," Erik said gently as he closed the door behind him. Lavender looked up.

"Oh, have you finished your lunch?" Lavender asked cheerfully. Compared to the once dangerously sick Lavender, there was a huge difference. Erik smiled.

"Yeah, she was tired, so I let her use one of the spare bedroom," Erik mumbled to himself. Lavender's grin was replaced by a serious look.

"Tell me, Erik, how do you honestly feel about Meg?"

Erik felt like saying 'annoying', but Lavender was the closest person he ever had, and lying would not improve their relationship.

"Well, she is quite kind. Or that's what I think of her. The powder incident does not count, I mean, I accept that she was just by accident," Erik said slowly. Lavender raised an eyebrow.

"I want the truth, Erik, the truth," Lavender said warmly.

The truth, Erik told himself. She wanted the truth. Erik felt his heart froze. Two sides of his mind were battling against each other.

Come on, phantom, just tell her. She is your sister!

No! What if she went to tell Meg?

Come on, she won't, I trust that she won't…

No, don't tell her.

Tell her…go ahead….

No…don't…don't…don't…

Tell her!

Don't!

TELL HER!

While Erik's mind was arguing with him, his lips voices out the truth unknowingly.

"I…I love her,"

Erik suddenly looked horrified. "Oh dear, Lavender, I did not say anything! Don't take it seriously…just don't…" Erik knew that it was too late to take back those words. Lavender was goggling at him in interest; it was awhile before she finally said.

"Well, don't be shocked, I knew from the start…the powder incident did not seem to affect your relationship with her, I suppose?"

Erik sighed, "True."

"Then why don't you just admit it? I mean, it is natural for someone to fall in love with another. Are you being shy or what?" Lavender scoffed.

"No! You are joking, I am not shy…….or what," Erik snapped. Lavender sniggered.

"Oh yeah? Then why, may I ask that you are turning red?"

"I'm not!"

"Stop living in self denies, it is not healthy for you."

"I know what is healthy and what is not! Thank you!"

"Tsk Tsk, what pitiful creature you are, Erik."

Erik glared at his sister. She was right, though. A voice in his head reminded him. You ARE living in self-denies, you truly loved Meg, but you pretended that you did not!

Erik felt useless. Just then, Lavender suddenly extended her hand and gave him…..a rose petal.

"Here, this was the petal that she kissed," Lavender said joyfully.

"Kissed?" Erik was confused.

"Yeah, I told her that kissing a rose petal would make one's wish come true, but one must say the wish out loud. She did not want me to hear her wish, so she went into my room to say it. Stupid creature, she did not know how many secret tunnels my room has, allowing me to hear her wish," Lavender said naughtily.

"So what was her wish?"

"She wants you to forgive her, and, she love you too, Erik."