Erik found that he couldn't concentrate on his music anymore and pounded both fists onto the organ keys in frustration. He could not remember the last time he had been so angry. Always he had been able to calm himself with soothing music but not this time. In utter frustration he got up from the organ seat and began to pace around the drawing room like a caged beast. Only then did he notice the time on the clock on the mantle. Eight o'clock, time for Kaylen's singing lesson. " To hell with her!" He said out loud determined that nothing was going to interrupt his thoughts and his anger. It seemed that his words only made him madder and he began to pace around the room with a newfound passion. Maybe he had misheard her. Maybe Christine had really said 'no' and he had just left to fast to notice. No. He was sure of what he heard. His ears had never failed him before. He stopped pacing and sat down on his couch to cry. 'Odd how someone could go from murderously angry one moment to hopelessly sad the next.' He thought to himself as he surrendered to the tears.
"Erik, are you all right?"
Erik looked up in surprise to see Christine enter his house. Damn he had forgotten she would return today. Erik regained his composure, he seemed to be getting better at it through all his practice and stood up to greet Christine. "Just fine my dear." he said though nothing could be farther from the truth. She smiled and offered both her hands in greeting. Erik took them gladly, even more so when he noticed that the ring Raoul had given her was nowhere to be found on her hands. Erik smiled genuinely as he led her over to the couch. "You're early, my dear I wasn't expecting you for some time."
" I'm sorry Erik I hope you don't mind. Maestro let rehearsals out early and since I was going to see you today anyway I decided to come a little early. I'm not to early am I? It is nearly nine." Erik looked at the clock to see that she was right. " So it is." Erik said as he suddenly felt very guilty about what he had said about Kaylen's lessons earlier. He had to see if he could find her and apologize for not showing up today. "My dear, I hope you don't mind but I have a previous appointment to attend to. I trust you will be well off here until I return?"
" Of course Erik. Take as long as you need."
"Thank you." Erik grabbed his cape and hat from the stand in the corner before leaving. He had to tell her he was sorry. He decided she would probably be asleep by now or at least getting ready for bed so she was probably in her room. He navigated the underground passages without even realizing until he came to where his spy hole to Kaylen's room was. He looked into the room expecting to find Kaylen in bed and finding out that he would have to come back tomorrow. Instead he found Kaylen sitting in a chair still dressed with a worried look on her face. She kept staring at the clock in the corner every few minutes. " Where is he?" Erik finally realized she was waiting for him and she had been for over an hour! He couldn't believe it!
*
Kaylen was growing more concerned with each passing moment. He had never been late before and an hour late seemed to be ridiculous. Kaylen's mind flashed back earlier behind the restaurant. He had seemed really upset. She could tell he wasn't telling her something.
"Kaylen." Kaylen jumped at the sound of his voice though it would have been barely audible to anybody else, Erik's voice cut through the thick silence like a sword through butter." I am sorry I am late."
"Never mind Erik. Are you all right you have never been late before."
*
He had left her waiting for over an hour and still all she could think about was his well being. The thought brought tears to his mismatched eyes. "Kaylen don't you care that I'm late." He asked, his voice still a little shaky despite his effort to calm it. " Of course I care, but more because the fact that you have never been late before and I'm worried about you. Not because I have missed my singing lesson."
"Why would you worry about me ?"
Kaylen gave a long sigh and ran her hand through her hair as though she were growing impatient. " Because Erik, I care for you. Believe it or not, I am your friend and I worry about you. I respect the fact that you don't want to talk about what troubled you the other night at the restaurant... I just don't like to see you so sad. "Erik didn't what to say and so he stood in silence. Kaylen let out another sigh." Don't worry about it Erik. I forgive you for being late. I am tired though, I hope you don't mind if I ask to skip tonight's lesson." She didn't seem to be expecting an answer because before he could respond she got up and walked behind her changing curtain to get ready for bed.
*
Erik returned to his home to find it silent. Christine had probably gone on to bed. Erik poured a brandy and sat for a while to think. So he had been wrong. Christine had not excepted Raoul's proposal after all. He was relieved and happy for once as he took another sip from his glass. Then perhaps there was a chance after all. A chance for happiness. He finished off his brandy and came to a decision. If she wasn't going to marry Raoul then maybe she had turned him down for a reason. Could it be that she loved him as much as he loved her? Erik reached into the secret drawer on his writing desk. He had had to keep it hidden before but now seemed to be the right time to reveal it to Christine. He opened the small black box to reveal the ring with in. It was a simple gold band with a diamond setting. Not as fancy as the one Raoul had given her but worth far more. Erik walked silently into Christine's room carrying the little box and a poem he had written to propose. He looked at her sleeping form laying peacefully on the bed. She was so beautiful. He wanted to put the ring somewhere where she would find it in the morning. He didn't want to propose in person lest he lose his nerve. He walked over to her dresser silently admiring all of her small treasures. He ran his hand gently over them all in turn marveling at how everything seemed to match her beauty. To him the hairpins she had hastily discarded were arranged in a beautiful pattern he could never reproduce. Almost like artwork. His fingers found next the small music box he had given her. Finally he found what he was looking for when he found the ivory handled hairbrush. He placed the box and the poem next to it careful not to make a sound. He thought it didn't look quite right and began to rearrange it when he heard a soft thud on the carpet by his feet. He reached down to pick up whatever he had knocked down. He felt the floor with his hands and found a necklace. He lifted it for inspection. He had not noticed it before. Held it in his hand and dropped it suddenly as if it were a red hot coal. He picked it up again unable to believe what he had seen dangling from the chain. He lifted it up to eye level and saw Raoul's ring winking back mockingly at him. He could not have been more hurt if Raoul was the one standing here waving it in his face. He felt like he had been slapped in the face. With a heavy heart he placed the necklace back on the table and picked up the box and poem. He had been wrong. He went back into the living room and replaced the ring to the drawer before pouring himself another glass of brandy. She had obviously been trying to hide the ring from him which was very wise of her. So she was engaged to him. Why then did she come back? Erik put one hand on the mantle for support as he watched the remains of his poem turn black and shriveled in the fire. It was all that damn boy's fault. He would make him pay. But not now, he would wait for the right time.