Chapter 28

Over the next week Erik did no haunting. He stayed in his lair working on Don Juan. He wanted it finished. Poppy did go back up to the Opera House though. She joined back up in the line. Mme. Giry had taken one look at how happy Poppy was and let out a sigh of relief. Erik was like a little brother to her. She had taken care of him until he was older. She always worried about him. He was a great man who could do great things. He deserved a special kind of woman. Christine was so much like a child. Poppy was wise beyond her years, yet playful. She kept Erik in check. Erik had told her the truth about Poppy. Her being from the future. It was almost unbelievable. But it also explained everything. As Antoinette watch Poppy dance, Christine came up to her. She watched Christine ask Poppy a question. What ever she said angered Poppy. Poppy slapped her, a red handprint staining Christine's cheek. Christine stood there shocked as Poppy stomped off angrily. Christine walked up to Mme. Giry holding her cheek.

"She dares to do that? All I did was ask her a question." Christine asked.

Mme. Giry looked down at the girl, "What did you ask her? It may have been offensive."

Christine shrugged, "All I asked was if she was perchance his mistress?"

"Think girl! Do you really think that? And it is none of your business! You choose the Viscomte did you not?" Mme. Giry inquired, feeling impatient with her.

Christine dropped her eyes and nodded, "Yes. I choose Raoul."

"Well then, Poppy choose Erik, and he choose her. Leave it be." With that Mme. Giry walked away leaving Christine to stare after her.

XxX

That…. bitch! Poppy marched angrily though the back halls. The impudence of that stupid brat! Asking that. If she was Erik's mistress! Poppy had blushed then flushed in anger. What brought that on for her to ask that? Properly her staying with him. As Poppy walked past the Rats dorms she heard them talking.

"I can not wait! The Parisian Valentine's Masque is soon!"

"Yes! All the most eligible bachelors will be there. The crème de la crème!"

Poppy paused. A ball? She walked on, the voices of the Rats fading

I thought it was a New Years ball. Oh. I forgot. My being here, made everything happen sooner. Poppy thought. She shook her head. Now that Erik is slowly forgetting about Christine, he more then likely won't go. She didn't care if she went or not. Made no difference to her.

Ten minutes latter she walked into the lair. For once it was quite. Erik had been working almost non-stop. It had sounded like to Poppy something like 'Point of No Return.' But also something totally different. She tried her best to ignore it. It was hard. The music it's self was seductive. She would ended up slinking to her room with the CD player and tried to drown out the music by placing the headphones over her ears and blaring her kind of music. Safe music.

"Erik?"

No answer. Perhaps he was a sleep. She hoped so. He may not need much sleep, but he did need some. She sighed, and went to walk to her room.

"Poppy? Wait a minute." Erik's voice came out from nowhere.

Poppy let out a small shriek, and spun in the direction of his voice. "Damn it Erik!"

Erik let out a chuckle "I apologize."

Poppy huffed, "Sure you are. You enjoy doing that." she heard him walk up closer to her. He stopped in front of her.

"It does brighten my day." He smirked. Erik then took her hand and placed it on his arm. "Tell me. What do you think?"

Poppy ran her fingers up his arm. It was much softer then the normal shirt he wears. Like velvet. "Erik…tell me…what color is it?" She had a feeling that it was red.

"It's red."

Poppy cocked her head, "And pray tell me, why?"

Erik simply answered, "Because we are going to The Parisian Valentine's Masque."