Chapter 14
Erik drug Poppy down the hall, and down to his lair. Poppy struggled to have him let go, but he ignored her and continued to drag her. Poppy rolled her eyes. It always seemed he was dragging her around every chance he got. Like she was some damn pull toy. When they got to the lair, Erik let go of her long enough to shove her down into a chair.
"Now. Explain." Erik snapped.
Poppy smirked, "Explain what? The parking ticket? John Boy calling all night? Or the peanut butter in the organ?"
"No! That-," Erik froze, "What about the organ?"
Poppy's smirk turned into a grin. She burst out laughing. "Nothing! Just playing with you! You have been neglecting your 'people lessons', have to put them in somewhere."
Erik couldn't resist the small smile that came upon his full lips. He quickly bit it away. "We'll talk about that latter..."
"Oh! So you're not going to kill me?"
Erik sighed. Did he scare her that bad? "No. I have no reason to...
Poppy put a look of false disappointment on, "Well, shucks."
"Yet," Erik finished with a glare.
Poppy sniggered.
"Now how did you know the song? Even Christine does not know the whole song. Much less Carlotta."
"I-" Poppy's mind raced, "heard you sing it to Christine? When-you was trying to teach her it?"
Erik shook his head, "You're lying. You have not been with me up to Christine's mirror since that day we met. Now tell me the truth. If you know as much about me as much as you had claimed, then you'll now that I'm not one to be lied to. You are a tremble liar. I know. I've heard you talk to the dancers. Thank god, that they are not that smart. Now tell me. I what to know how much you know."
Poppy bit her lip. She sighed, "Ok. Can you get me my pack?"
Erik turned and walked in to Poppy's temporarily room and picked up her red pack. He carried it back to the living room. Poppy had brought her legs up under her skirt. Ayesha was curled up in her lap, Poppy petting her head. Her head was down, her chin on her chest. Her red hair was hanging on ether side of her face. "Poppy?" Her head came up and she smiled. Candles glinted off of her smoked glasses. Now that Erik looked fully at her, he remembered that she always wore her glasses around him. He couldn't help but wonder why. He never saw her eyes, and he wondered what color they would be. "Here." He placed the pack in her hands.
Poppy began rummaging though it. She pulled out her friend's book. Then her CD player. Poppy then tore into a secret pocket. Out, she pulled the 2004 soundtrack, Phantom of the Opera. She placed it into the player. She then handed the book and player out to Erik. Poppy felt them leave her hands. "Ok. As I have told you, that book is about you. As you see and as I have told you, I am from the future. In the future you are well known. There has been dozens of movies made, that tells your story. In 19-"
Here Erik interrupted her. "Movies? What are those?"
Poppy twisted her jaw in thought, "Well, you take hundreds of pictures, and they are flipped though very fast and it then looks like the pictures are truly moving."
Erik was intrigued, "And when will this happen?"
"Not long. In about 40, 50 years I believe. Somewhere here in France. Not sure exactly. Anyway in 1986, the book was turned into a musical."
"A musical? Not an opera?"
Poppy laughed a little, "No not as a opera," Erik's mouth opened, but before he could say anything, she went on," and no, I don't know why. It was a big hit. So big, in fact it it's self was made in to a movie in 2004. Became even bigger, due to one sex-," Poppy paused and cleared her throat, "talented, yes, talented actor that portrayed you. That CD is the music from the movie."
Erik looked down at the player. Should he? He could find out about him and Christine. But would it change how he felt about her? He looked up. "Poppy. Tell me. In the book are I and Christine together?" He watched her face. She winced when Christine's name was motioned, but he choose to ignore it, not knowing her meaning as to why she did just that every time her name was motioned. Sorrow then passed over her face.
"Well, there's this young boy. A viscount. He-well-he will end up marring Chris-," She didn't get much further, because of Erik.
"No! You lie!" He shouted. Erik shoved the player and book back to her.
Poppy shook her head, "No, I'm not. As you have said I am a terrible liar."
Erik jumped up, "You are lying!"
Poppy stood too, "I am not," her temper rising as well," If you don't believe me, well, then read the book!"
How cliché.
Erik walked up to Poppy and struck her across the face. Her head snapped to the left. Her glasses fell off. Erik froze. He has never hit a woman. He was truly a monster.
Poppy froze as well. She knew why he had hit her and she didn't blame him. She was only worried about her glasses. And keeping her eyes covered until she found them. "I see Erik." With that she kept her face away and bent down to find her glasses. Thank god they didn't fall far. She picked them up and keeping her head turned, she put them back on. Poppy then turned to face Erik. He was still in front of her. "Here read the book." She held her hand out and dropped it at his feet. Then turned and walked in to her room.
Erik watched her calmly drop the book and walk to her room and close it. He looked back down at the book. The white mask on the cover stared mockly back up at him. Erik scooped the book up and went to his own room. He sat down and began to read.
Poppy sit on the bed. Her glasses were off beside her. She wanted to cry, but knew what would happen if she did. She touched her eyes and winched at the deep-set scars. Ugly. She placed her forehead on the bed, dry sobs racking her body. No, she was not crying because Erik hit had hit her. No, she was crying because at the moment it all seemed helpless. An hour latter, and a still dry-eyed she made her way to Erik's room. Poppy knocked on the door. A minute latter Erik opened it. "Oui?" Sounded like he had been crying too.
She smiled, a weak one, but a smile, "Erik, I still can't speak French that well yet."
Erik looked down at her. She looked exhausted. "You know want-" He got it. A joke. "Poppy I want to say I'm sorry. I never meant to hit you. I just didn't want to face the fact that Christine-," Poppy winced, "could love anther."
Poppy nodded. She couldn't think of anything to say.
"I have something to ask you."
"Yes?"
"Could you help me? Help me get Christine to fall in love with me?"
Why did he have to ask her that? Her useless eyes filled with the dreaded tears, as she heard the pleading help in his voice. She nodded. Then wrapped him into a hug. He stiffened, but then hugged her back. She rested her head on his shoulder as the tears brought small shudders of pain to her. "I'll try Erik."
