Chapter 7
Erik came back with two bottles in hand. One he gave to Christine the other he tossed to Raoul, not even hiding his disgust. Christine, who trusted Erik, drank hers at once without complaint. But Raoul knew Erik was mad at him and had the idea that Erik might have poisoned the potion with something so toxic and deadly, that he would die a slow death.
Erik, sensing that Raoul was scared, said, "I assure you, Monsieur, that it is not poisoned in any way."
"You're quite sure?"
"Of course."
"Alright," Raoul drank the liquid in one swig and then made a face. "Ugh! That was disgusting!"
Erik smiled to himself. Raoul would be sorry.
"Erik," Christine broke in.
"Yes, my dear?"
"Can we play scrabble?"
"Well..." he hesitated.
"Come on, please?"
'Umm, I'm not sure I want to," Raoul said warily.
That was all the convincing Erik needed. "Oh, come on you sissy. Too scared that I'd beat you?"
"No, but I'll play just to prove it."
Christine clapped her hands and laughed happily. Erik smiled at her. Raoul smiled at the way she was hopping up and down. How in the world did she do that odd little bounce?
Fifteen minutes later they were all at the table playing Scrabble.
"P- U- N- J- A- B! Ha! Beat that woman!" Erik shouted.
"Chicken. And don't call me woman!" Christine demanded.
"That's your word? Chicken?" Erik asked,
"No! Chicken!" She said pointing across the room.
"Dear God! A Chicken! How in the world did it get down here?" Raoul screamed, climbing onto the table.
"Well I assume that it came by way of the road." Erik stated practically.
"Get it away! I'm allergic! It'll make me have a gross odered waste!" Raoul screamed and then fainted, falling off of the table.
Erik walked over and picked up the hen. He went over to Raoul and hung it over his face and nudged him until he awoke. Raoul screamed his Christine scream and the chicken began to flap its wings and squawk.
Raoul fainted again. "You have served your purpose. You can leave now." Erik said to the chicken. It walked toward the large crack in the wall and went out.
"Does that crack lead to the road?" Christine asked.
"Yes my dear. But it is a very long tunnel." He said.
Raoul awoke and looked around, frightened. "Is it gone?" he asked.
"Yes, it's gone, Raoul," Christine answered.
"Oh good!" His stomach gurgled. "I say, Erik! Have you by any chance a privy about?" Raoul asked.
"Yes monsieur. Through that door," Erik said, A sly look on his face. Raoul narrowed his eyes at him. Erik did his best to look innocent.
"Thanks." Raoul walked off.
About an hour and a half later, Raoul opened the door and a foul odor wafted from the bathroom,.
"What the bloody heck do you do to me?" Raoul thundered.
"How'd it go in there? Have a steady flow?" Erik asked innocently. Christine went to get the air refreshener.
"The potion! It has to have been that potion!" Raoul realized.
"Yes, yes, monsieur, and are you sneezing anymore?"
"Well no, but for the past 90 minutes I have been in the bathroom reading a book on The Adventures of Microwave Cooking!"
"Just so you know Nadir bought met that book and I only keep it to amuse him." Erik defended himself.
"What did you put in it!" Raoul demanded.
"A laxative." Erik said. While this conversation was taking place, Christine had found a gas mask amongst Erik's things and was spraying air refreshener everywhere.
"Well you'll be paying for it now for a while. That smell is enough to make anyone keel over!"
