Chapter 6: Linger in a Darken Past
Colette finished her chores and ran to the music room, she entered quietly hearing the piano already playing. Delilah and Pandora looked up and growled at her as she walked in. Erik looked up and finished playing the piece he was on. He shut the book and opened the door and shoed Delilah and Pandora out, then closed the door.
" This would be your fourth lesson if I'm not mistaken," Erik said
" Fifth Monsieur," Colette replied
He nodded and invited her to sit on the piano bench. He sat down and opened a book they were working on.
" Monsieur how did you learn how to play?" she asked
" I taught myself," Erik replied, " It was the only thing that brought joy to my life."
They began the lesson and Erik taught her scales and then added music to them. Colette picked up rather quickly and Erik taught her to sing each note.
" Again," Erik said playing the chord
She took a deep breath and sang each chord. Erik then played endless sharps and flats for her to learn on.
" Sharps are half steps up, flats half steps down," Erik said, " Listen carefully."
He sang each note perfectly as he played and then pulled out a piece. He sang it precisely as it was written, there were no flaws to his playing nor his singing.
" That's really good," Colette said
Erik continued on teaching Colette until lunch was prepared, he let her go on her way, as he cleaned up. Erik looked at the covered windows and sighed, Delilah and Pandora walked in, they nuzzled Erik's hand.
" My darling friends," Erik said
He knelt down and petted them and they licked his face. Erik looked at them and smirked, then got up, he walked out with them following close behind. Erik came to the dinning room and as he was about to sit down someone knocked on the door. He gave a frustrated sigh and looked at Gaston.
" Send them away, I want nothing to do with them," Erik said
Gaston nodded and walked to the door, he opened the door to see a young woman standing there.
" Is the Comte Montague here?" she asked
" Who may I ask is asking for my master?" Gaston asked
" Madame de Chagny," she replied
Gaston looked at her and said, " Please, come in."
She stepped inside and Gaston told her to wait in the foyer and he walked to the dinning room.
" Comte Montague the countess de Chagny is here," Gaston said
Erik looked up and looked at Gaston.
" What does she want?" Erik asked
" I heard you were here Erik," Christine's voice said
Gaston turned and looked at Christine and Erik stood. She curtsied and Erik walked over.
" Why have you come here?" Erik questioned
" To congratulate you on your new life," Christine said
He looked at her with the same look he's always looked at her with. He reached out and placed his hand on her soft cheek.
" It's been three years, of torture," Erik whispered, " I have never forgotten that day."
She grabbed his hand and kissed it and Erik turned away.
" You've stated your business Christine now go," Erik said, " Your not welcomed at this estate."
" Erik," she said
" You no longer have that privilege to call me by that name," Erik said, " Leave before you cause even more pain."
Christine looked at him and walked in front of him and Erik looked at her.
" You haven't changed," Christine said, " Your still so selfish."
" Selfish? You are the one who is selfish," Erik growled, " You married a stuck up little bastard."
" How dare you say that?" Christine hissed, " Look at your palace Erik, look at you!"
" Delilah, Pandora," Erik called
Both came to their master's call and looked at Christine.
" Their named after you," Erik said, " named after the woman who betrayed me."
Christine looked at the Great Danes as they stood beside Erik. Christine walked past Erik and she looked at him.
" I was in love with you Erik, once," Christine said, " but now I see that you have turned into a beast and not a prince."
Gaston opened the door and Christine walked with haste out the door. Erik breathed deep and Delilah and Pandora ran out the door barking at Christine. Erik whistled and they came back, he turned away and walked off. Marie and Gaston followed him.
" Monsieur your lunch," Marie called
" Get rid of it, I'm not hungry," Erik answered
The dogs looked at Marie and sat before her.
" You will get your share later, your master needs you now," she said
They looked at her and she pointed to the study and they whined.
" Delilah, Pandora," Erik called
They still sat there wanting scraps from the afternoon meal. Marie fed them what she had in her hand and then shoed them off. Colette and the other servants cleaned up the feast that laid upon the table.
" Is he going to be alright?" Colette asked
" Of course he is child, he's a rather sensitive man when it comes to Madame de Chagny," Marie replied
She knew Erik to well when it did come to Christine, but she didn't understand why Christine would come after three years. Marie went on her way and left a small plate out for Erik hoping of his return to the table soon after.
Erik Stared at Christine's picture and he narrowed his eyes.
" Why?" he growled
Pandora and Delilah walked towards Erik as he flopped in his chair. He slumped down and both dogs licked his hands. He looked at them and sighed and then closed his eyes as to sleep.
Hours later Colette climbed the stairs, carrying a tray of hot tea for Erik, she knocked on his study door and waited.
" Monsieur," Colette called
She knocked again and waited, but once more there was no answer. She balanced the tray on her hip and tried the door knob, to her surprise it was open. She entered and saw Erik sitting in the large throne like chair, but he was quiet. Colette walked towards him and set the tray down.
" Comte Montague," she whispered
Colette touched his hand trying not to disturb the dogs, but that didn't help. Erik became startled and grabbed her suddenly.
" What are you doing in here!" he blurted out
Colette stepped back waking Pandora as she did.
" I'm sorry, I came to bring you tea," she winced in pain
Erik looked at her and then at Pandora, he kicked her in the ribs and Pandora yelped letting go. Colette felt tears streaming down her face, wanting to say sorry about waking him up. Erik looked Colette as she stepped back and fell back, Delilah growled at her.
" Down Delilah!" he shouted
Delilah backed off at her master's voice and Erik stood up, his shadow towering over Colette's fallen figure. Her leg was bleed profusely and Erik knelt down and touched her leg.
" Her bite is worse then her bark," Erik said
He removed his ascot and wrapped it around Colette's leg, then helped her stand.
" Marie," his fearful voice rang
Marie ran up the stairs almost out of breath, she looked at Colette.
" What happened?" Marie asked
" Pandora," Colette said
Marie called Gaston and told him to go get a doctor and make it quick. Erik lifted Colette and carried her downstairs to her room. She was scared that the bite was much worse then it was. Marie got the other servants to get some cloths and hot water for the bite. Erik removed his ascot from around Colette's leg and looked at the bite marks. Pandora and Delilah sat outside the door and waited, every once in awhile whining. The servants came in with the hot water and clean clothes; Marie began to clean the bite marks. Gaston came in with the doctor and he looked at the wounds. With his trusty needle and thread he sewed the deep bites.
" You will live, just keep it clean," he said
Colette nodded and walked out and Marie looked at the girl.
" I guess I should bring tea up," Marie said
Erik stood up and Marie grabbed the bloody ascot.
" I'll have this cleaned monsieur," she said
" Thank you," Erik said
He didn't say anything else to Colette, he just walked off without another word. Colette sighed and Marie looked at the young girl.
" Try to rest dear, we'll clean that leg up again tomorrow," Marie said
Colette nodded and leaned back to rest for a little, before the evening chores. Marie walked out with the other servants.
" She's scared right now," Marie said
" What about the master?" one servant asked, " He seemed to be worried for the girl's sake."
" He didn't want to lose an extra hand, that is all," Marie said
She walked off wiping her hands off on her apron. Marie climbed the stairs and knocked on Erik's study door. His powerful voice rang out for her to enter and she entered.
" Comte are you alright?" she asked
" I'm fine, why do you ask suck a foolish question?" he questioned
Marie lifted the tray, then poured him a cup of warm tea. She handed it to him as he sat in his chair, looking like a king.
" You seemed upset after Madame de Chagny left. You had that look of a scared child," Marie said
" Nonsense," Erik replied, " The only scared child here is the one with a bandage on her leg."
The two Great Danes looked up at their master and nuzzled his hands. Marie nodded and then excused herself from his presence. Erik sighed and stood up, then looked out the window, staring into the distant land.
" I need your comfort right now," Erik whispered, " Please, come to me."