LII

The maid poked her head into the parlour, a frown knitting her brow, "Will you answer the door, or must I do it?"

Erik glared at her and lowered the violin from his chin before storming out into the hall and to the front door, where someone was banging their fist yet again. He didn't really see the point in answering it if he didn't want to see who was on the other side, but it was better than having them stand there for another ten minutes pounding on it.

"Yes?" he asked curtly, tugging the door open to see Charles on the other side.

"Splendid, you are home!" Charles said, stepping into the hall.

"What do you want, Armand?" Erik asked, stepping back as the young man hurried forward and into his parlour, "Armand?"

"I have just purchased a lovely plot of land," Charles said, sitting in the armchair and beaming at Erik as the other man set the violin down, "its perfect, Sabina, truly perfect. It's by the sea, not a terribly large property, but still quite nice. It will be the perfect place to build a summer home, and I simply had to tell you about it, couldn't wait, you know?"

"I can't say that I do," Erik sighed, resigning himself to a long visit.

"Well, I simply had to come and see you, prayed that you would be home actually, after all who better to build my home than the best architect in all of France, hmm?" he asked.

"Your enthusiasm quite overwhelms me," Erik sighed, "you came all the way out here to simply tell me about a plot of land that you have purchased and to ask me to design a house for you?"

"Well…not entirely," he said, clasping his hands together nervously, "though that was part of it, I can assure you. After all, as I said-"

"What else, Armand?" Erik interrupted.

"I really just needed to get out of the house for a bit," he sighed, "it sounds terrible, I know, but Danielle has been…oh I don't really know how to describe it. Moody, I guess, a bit like you actually. Content one moment and then grumpy or weepy the next. I love her dearly, but I've been working a lot lately and…well."

"Ah," Erik said, "I see."

"Yes, so, I hope that I haven't inconvenienced you."

"Actually I was going to the bank," Erik said, taking the violin and placing it back in its case, "I have an appointment in half an hour."

"The bank?" Charles asked, "Have you gotten a new commission?"

"No, I am interested in purchasing some land," Erik replied, taking his jacket off the back of the desk chair.

"For yourself?"

"Who else, Armand?"

"Why would you need land?"

Erik suppressed a sigh and ground his teeth together, "Armand, that is really none of your concern. Perhaps I wish to build a house, hmm? Or perhaps I simply wish to own it. There are countless reasons for me to be purchasing land. Now, if you don't mind I have to be going."

"Yes, quite right," Charles said, though he lingered, "but…"

"But what, Armand?" Erik snapped.

"Maybe I could go with you. After all, how much experience do you have in dealing with banks or buying land? Then we could go out for lunch after, do a bit of catching up, hmm?"

Erik took a deep breath and smoothed back his hair with one hand, "Fine."


Charles did prove to be an asset at the bank, for the young man was a much more patient man than Erik, as well as a savvy business man. He obviously dealt with banks and the purchasing and selling of land, and could easily negotiate a price where Erik would have simply paid them. He supposed it was a good thing to save money, though he really didn't need to, and allowed Charles to show off his knowledge and skills.

"Well, that went well," Charles said cheerfully as they descended the steps of the bank, "so, are you hungry, Sabina?"

"Not particularly," Erik muttered.

"Well then, why don't we look at a few shops before we go to lunch? I have been meaning to buy something for Danielle, just a little gift you know?"

"Yes," Erik sighed, "where?"

"Well there is a jewellery store nearby; perhaps I could find a nice necklace there. Come, Sabina."

Erik just frowned and followed Charles into the crowds and towards the jewellery store. Sometimes he truly believed that not having friends could definitely be a benefit in one's life. But then again, there were worse places in the world than jewellery stores.


"What do you think of this one, Sabina?" Charles asked, pointing to a gold chain adorned with a little diamond heart.

Erik shrugged his shoulders," It's nice."

"You're no help," Charles grumbled.

Erik suppressed a snort and glanced over at a display of rings. There were so many of them, diamonds, sapphires, pearls and rubies, all glistening in the light on their respective bands.

"Looking at the rings, Sabina?" Charles asked.

"Hmm, I suppose so," he shrugged.

"I like the diamond one, in the right corner," Charles said, "or the one with the pearl."

"The ruby," Erik said, "second row and three from the left."

"That is nice," Charles agreed, "you have an eye for jewellery."

"I will take that as a compliment," Erik said, "have you decided yet?"

"Well, it's between the one with the diamond heart and the pearl one…though that one broach was nice as well and then there were the earrings."

Erik rolled his eyes and went back to looking at the rings, tuning out Charles' babble about the pros and cons of each of the choices. Instead, he focussed on the ruby ring. It wasn't complex, just a simple gold band with a well placed gem, but he liked it. It wasn't gaudy or garish like some of the other rings, just elegant and pretty.

"Sabina?" Charles's voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Hmm?"

"I've narrowed it down to the earrings or the heart necklace," he said."

Erik turned to look at him with disinterest. He really didn't care which one he bought, "The necklace."

"Do you think?" Charles asked.

"I know," Erik said firmly, "buy it and be done with it."

"Well, if you are so confident then I'll buy the necklace. Then we can go to lunch, I would like to talk to you about designing my new house, after all."

"Splendid," Erik sighed, pulling his watch out of his pocket and glancing at it.


A/N: Its short, and kind of pointless, but I'm in such a totally awesome mood that I had to update something! March break starts tomorrow and I am so hyped, because its gonna start with a bang! Tonight (or tomorrow morning) at midnight I am seeing the premier of "300", then I'm seeing "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat" on saturday, then next wednesday I'm seeing "Phantom of the Opera" in Toronto, then its my friend's birthday and then mine, plus Dead Silence will be coming out and Hills Have Eyes 2...wow, this month could not get any better...so much happy my head might explode! Okay, now that that's done (I just had to get it out) please review and I hope you enjoyed the chapter...SQUEE!