No One Mourns the Wicked

Erik stared at the sight before him. The rose, its head drooping dismally, its once radiant light dimming, petals preparing to fall one by one until he was trapped forever by the curse his parents had left him alone with.

"Master?" Nadir asked, looking at the rose as well.

"Leave me alone, Nadir," Erik growled, "I do not feel well."

"I just came to tell you that dinner is served, but if you are not well…"

"I will go," Erik grumbled, standing up and starting for the door, "you may go now."

"Of course, Sire," Nadir said, glancing back at the rose again. One of the petals was hanging by seemingly nothing.

Christine looked up when Erik entered the room. She was already eating and was surprised to see him. But he sat down and picked up his fork, though he made no motion to eat anything on the plate before him.

"Aren't you hungry?" Christine asked.

"Not really," he replied with a small sigh.

"If you still feel ill then you should go to bed," she said, "I really don't mind eating alone. Besides, I'm finished and was going to go back to my room."


Erik nodded and stood up at the same time as Christine and waited for her to pass before exiting after her. He followed her into the hall and onto the stairs. He felt strange and his vision blurred for a moment as a sharp pain shot through his temple causing his head to spin. He reached out and grabbed the railing for support as the edges of his vision went dark.

"Erik?" Christine asked, turning around as he sat down on the stairs, "what's wrong?"

"Nothing," he snapped, "I'm fine."

"You don't seem fine," Christine argued.

"Its just a headache," Erik muttered, pulling himself back up to full height, still holding the railing to remain steady.

"If you say so," Christine sighed, though she still made sure that he made it up the stairs before going into her room.

The edges of his vision went dark again, and then everything as he collapsed once he was inside his room. When he woke up he realized that he was on the sofa in his room with Nadir sitting not far off, eyes trained on the rose.

"So you're awake?" Nadir asked as Erik sat up, "I think you passed out."

"Well then you are quite astute," Erik replied sarcastically.

"How long have you been feeling ill, Sire?"

"That is none of your business."

"No…but I have a feeling it has been since the rose began wilting, has it not?"

"Perhaps…but why do you care?" Erik asked, lying back on the sofa as exhaustion spread over his body.

"The first petal fell tonight, at about the same time you collapsed."

"I am sure that you have a point," Erik grumbled.

"You must se the connection," Nadir replied calmly, almost sadly, "perhaps this rose holds something more for you than simply a timeline."

"Does it really matter?" Erik asked, "whether it does or not?"

"Sire, your life could be directly linked to this rose…you do know what that means, don't you?"

"Yes…"he replied softly, "and perhaps that would be for the better…"

"Sire?"

"Do you think it would really matter if I died, Nadir?" he asked, "I have done no good in this world…and no one mourns the wicked, no on would care if I died."

"I beg to differ, Sire," Nadir said quietly, "I think that there are people who would mourn you. I would, Antoinette and her daughter…Mademoiselle Daae."

Erik's head turned at the last name, "No…she would not mourn me. After all, if I were to die she would be free to go back to her life. And so would you Nadir, and Antoinette and Meg…leave now. I would like to get some rest."

"As you wish my Lord," Nadir said, giving a small bow, "good night."

Erik sighed and glanced at the pitiful rose under the glass dome. A single withered petal lay at the base of the stem and the others were already beginning to droop, just waiting to join there lonely companion.

"No…no one mourns the wicked," he muttered, "and so no one will mourn me."


A/N: Okay, I know this chapter was dreadfully short, but at least it was a chapter, right? Anyways, please review and trust me, the next chapter will be longer...after all I don't think it could be shorter.