Yes, I became aware my paragraph skills suck. I'm trying to fix that. Oh, and about the error with Erik's mom's name. I didn't know that little fact. ::blushes:: Sorry. Oh, and here is Erik's really good dad side in this one. The one that a lot of people like apparently. And I agree, Amile is pretty darn cute. Anyway, read on my little minions!
Chapter 5: Sickness
There was some sort of epidemic passing through the opera house. Some sort of fever. Erik was not aware of this, and neither was Amile. She was nine now, and she had more freedom around the opera house, which also meant she had many more chances of catching something.
After a nightly run around the opera house, Amile was getting unusually tired. She never was really tired but this time, she couldn't help it. She was even a bit dizzy. Slowly, she made her way to the lair and curled up on her bed, shivering. Had the lair always been this cold? Chills ran through her and her head felt funny. Erik came in with a proud smile. "Christine is doing great. I am so proud of her now." He looked at his daughter shivering nearly uncontrollably. A frown took over him. "Amile? Are you okay?" She spoke in shaking breaths. "Y-yes daddy. J-Just a l-little b-bit cold." He touched her forehead gently, then drew back. She had a fever. He covered her up and stroked her hair, now damp with sweat. "Just sleep darling. Just sleep."
He stayed up all night, watching her. She had short spells of severe shivering. He had never been this worried. A cough would come from time to time and maybe a sneeze or two, but other than that, she just layed there, sweating and shivering. After about four hours of this, he crept back upstairs to find Madame Giry. She would know what to do in a time like this. Covering himself in the shadows like he did naturally, he crept to where Madame Giry stayed.
Without trying, he unlocked and opened the door with ease. She laid on her side, sleeping soundly. in one swift, cat-like motion, he was at her side. He gently touched her shoulder. She grumbled and rolled onto her back and looked up. A short gasp escaped her lips. "Oh! Erik! What are you doing here?" He looked around quickly. "I need you to see Amile. She's sick." Madame Giry sighed. "Just about everyone in the whole place is. Fever, correct?" He nodded. She groaned and got up. Without hesitation, he took her to his lair.
At the first glance, Madame Giry did feel pity for the poor girl. She was sweating horribly and her face was a pale as her father's mask. "Amile?" Madame Giry said softly, touching Amile's shoulder. She grumbled and curled up tighter. Erik frowned at his daughter. "She's been like this for hours. I got you since I knew you could take care of things like these." Madame Giry blushed a little bit. Erik did trust her enough to take care of his beloved daughter. That was trust. She looked carefully at Amile and frowned. "Tomorrow I will get some medicine, until then, take care of her." He looked at his daughter sadly. "Will she be able to go that long?" Mme. Giry nodded. "Yes, no one I know has died of a fever yet. These are regular symptoms. Just take good care of her." With that, she hurried back upstairs.
Erik had fallen asleep in his watch over Amile. He slowly opened his eyes to see Madame Giry already taking care of his daughter. Amile was wide awake and still had the tired sick look to her. But she smiled. "Madame Giry is bein' my doctor!" she said happily. He looked at her sideways, wondering how she knew he was awake. Then he mentally smacked himself, she could hear anything and everything. He stretched out a little bit and smiled at her. "Are you feeling any better?" She nodded.
"Oh yeah. Madame Giry gave me some medicine and it made me all better. It just tasted reeeeaaaallllyyyy bad."
She stuck out her tongue to add to the effect. He laughed a little bit then stood with Mme. Giry. He looked down and smiled, almost shyly. "Thank you so much. I could have never done this." Madame Giry just smiled. "It's nothing. Amile is very good about the medicine." She handed him a small bottle. "Just give this to her every hour until it runs out." Amile made a horrified face. "That's the nasty stuff! Ecchhhh!" Erik restrained himself from bursting out laughing. Even if she acted sometimes like a sophisticated young lady, she had never lost that youthful sense.
And in no time, after much caring for her, she did get better. The night that he thought she was officially better, he took her into his arms and held her to him. He shuddered at the thought of if he had left her in the alley when he found her. He just wouldn't be able to live with himself. But one glance down at his sleeping daughter cleared it from his head and he too fell asleep.
