I know how everyone doesn't want Lotte to leave Erik for Pierre, but everyone relax. I still don't know my complete intentions for the two and it seems that Erik will now have someone on his side even if he is a run away from the law. Enjoy.

Chapter 14: Piecing Together the Puzzle

Lotte led Erik inside. Charlotte welcomed him warmly much to his surprise and addressed Lotte. "I've mended your dress, but I hung it out to dry, because it was incredibly damp. How did you manage to get it so wet? It hasn't rained in quite some time."

"I fell into the river while I was trying to get some water," Lotte lied.

"Oh, you poor dear; well come along suppers' on the table."

Supper was rather silent. Lotte sat beside Erik nibbling at her bread for she had already eaten. Erik also took his time for he did not want to frighten the family even though he was hungry.

"So where are the two of you from?" Charlotte asked as she began to clear away some of the dirty dishes.

"We're from Paris," Erik said looking up at her.

"Are you heading anywhere in particular?" Armand asked as he stripped some chicken off the bone.

"Not sure. I was hoping to return to Paris, yet that might be unwise for we are not welcomed there." He took a sip of his wine.

"We're you kicked out of Paris? That's the only reason I can thinkof why someone wouldn't be welcome in town."

"You could say that, but they won't be able to keep me away for very much longer. I left my most prized possession back in town and I would much like to have it back."

"Did you leave your wife behind?"

"No, my pipe organ is probably collecting dust every time I think about it. There is no woman for me back in Paris."

"Hey Lotte want to come upstairs and see my bug collection?" Pierre asked all of a sudden.

"Hang on I have to ask. Father, can I go?"

"Sure you can. Have fun and mind your manners."

"Thank you Father," she said as she kissed him and ran up the stairs after Pierre.

"What about the girl Erik?" Armand asked. "Doesn't she go to school?"

"I taught her everything she needs to know and more. Yet, she tends to surprise me with just how much she knows." He finished his wine and set the glass down on the table.

"Would you like some more monsieur?" Charlotte asked.

"Actually I was hoping you had some tea?"

"I was about to have a cup myself. Is Lemon Tea alright?"

Erik nodded. "It doesn't matter much to me. Though I was also wondering if it was possible for me and Lotte to spend the night to rest up before we leave tomorrow?"

"There's a guest bedroom upstairs in the attic the two of you can share. I'm sure you and Lotte don't want to be separated. There are a bed and a couch up there to sleep on," Armand said.

"And there are extra blankets in the linen closet at the bottom of the stairs if you get cold. You're free to take as many as you need," Charlotte added as she picked up the teapot and poured some water into a cup.

"You're both too kind. How can Lotte and me thank you. I'd give you a bit of silver for the food and board, but it seems my money was taken from me earlier."

"Oh, it's quite alright. Our home is always open to the weary traveler. Plus Lotte is such a sweet young lady. You're a lucky man to have her with you. What happened to her mother?"

Erik stared blankly for a second. He didn't want to tell them who he really was, but would they know of the opera house? So in a way he told the truth, but not the full truth. "I actually didn't know her mother. I was working one night in my study when there was a small knock at the door. I got up to answer it and standing there was this little ten year old girl. She had told me that she was all alone and had no where else to go. She had started to cry out of fear and so I did what any caring person would do. I picked her up and carried her inside. She's been with me for8 years now. I wasn't about to let her stay out there and die. Some people just don't deserve to die."

Charlotte put the tea down on the table in front of him and he drank from it slowly. "There are some people that deserve to die. I just read in the paper that a man has escaped from Paris and was the cause of death to 3 men and a child," Armand said. Erik chocked on his tea. "Are you alright?"

"I heard about that," Erik lied, his eyes watering. "I think I'll head up for the night. Send Lotte up when she gets tired won't you?" he said setting the unfinished tea down on the table and heading up the stairs. He wasn't even to the top when he heard Charlotte's worried voice from below.

"Armand do you suppose he's…"

"Charlotte, don't start. He may possibly be, but didn't you hear what he said earlier. No one deserves to die. And he is right."

"But he murdered people. How do we know he won't murder us in the night and take the vineyard for his own? Not only that what about the description of his face and the fact that he disappeared into the woods along with an 18 year oldgirl."

"Wife you saw how well Erik treats Lotte. I never saw two individuals interact so much like father and daughter before and they play that role very well."

"What about the fine on his head? If we turned him in we could be rich."

"Wife I don't believe I'm hearing this from you. We made more than enough money this year from the wine. The best turnout we've had in years. For us seeing him for who he really is probably was what allowed him to be so calm at the dinner table? Lotte seems to damper whatever anger is hidden within him and she loves him which is very important. Let's not get in the middle of that."

Erik had been standing at the top of the stairs holding his breath until all had been said. It was a pleasure to finally hear someone standing up for him. "This should be logged away as a first," he thought as he pretended to write down something on a piece of paper. But it was the next conversation he heard behind the semi-shut door down toward the end of the hall that caught his attention.

Ha you have to wait until the next chapter to find out what the next chapter is about. Hope you guys continue to read. As I revise and update chapters I'll keep the updates coming. Thanks a bunch.