Wow, sorry this took forever. I had a bio test this week. Did you know that there are like, seven differnt groups of worms out there? Neither did I.
oh my gosh, i got two reviews! I'd like to thank the academy, my mommy and daddy, Howard McGillin, Gerald Butler,Erik's Muse, and Scimitarmoon. Brownies for all! (there's more where that came from folks! 'hint, hint...wink, wink...say-no-more)
Disclaimer : zey ish not mine. vish zey vere, but sadly, no.
Chapter 4
Erin hurried quickly down the busy street, carefully clutching the bundle in her arms to her chest. Erik had asked her to make this delivery. No, not asked, pleaded with her to deliver it. Not that she minded though. This would probably be good for him. For the past year and a half, Erin had been some what 'counseling' Erik, something she never thought she would be doing for anyone. The man had been extremely depressed and, judging by his attack on her the night she had found him, was prone to anger problems. Helping hadn't been hard; all he really needed was a companion, someone to talk to. And talked he had. He had told her the whole story, right up until she found him.
It was because she had heard the story that she was so shocked when Erik had asked her to make this trip. Part of her had agreed because she knew that this was something he really wanted, but the other part was only doing this out of sheer curiosity. What was she like? How would she react when she saw the package? One thing Erin knew for sure, however, was that Christine Daae was certainly in for a surprise.
Christine examined the pattern she had stitched onto the white fabric in front of her. It was very simple and kind of sloppy, but it was clear what it was. It depicted a white mask lying next to a blood red rose. Tied around the stem of the rose was a long black ribbon, just like the ones the phantom used to give her after her performances. As she stared at her design, it occurred to her that she had no use for a needle-point memorial to the phantom. "Well, that was a complete waste time." She muttered to herself in disdain. She tossed the fabric onto the tea table on the other side of the room, where it fluttered gently next the huge vase lilies she had set on the table. Christine got up from her chair and flung herself face down on her bed, still unmade from the night before. As she lay there, her face buried in a pillow, she got the sudden idea that if she stayed this way long enough, her bed would swallow her up and she wouldn't have to deal with creepy nightmares or needle point ever again. Yeah, she thought, that's what I'll do. Just then, there was a rapid knock at the door. Drat.
"It's open!" Christine yelled into her pillow. She heard the door knob turn and heavy footsteps enter the room. A small impatient cough confirmed who her visitor was.
"Hi Rauol." Christine looked up from the pillow and gazed at her fiancé. His deep brown eyes were bloodshot and he looked rather frazzled. He looked her over once and said "Did you just wake up?"
"No." Christine replied as she sat up to fully face him, "I've been up for a while."
Rauol gave a small sniff and ran his hand through his sandy locks. "Well, I just came up to tell you two things. One, I'm going to be out at the opera house today. The press went a little over board this time and I need to go clear a few things up. Something about La Carlotta sleeping with Italy's top composer. And two, the doorman has just informed me that there is a girl at the door who is requesting a meeting with you. He wants to know if he should send her away or let her in."
Christine sighed and stood up. "Tell him to give me five minutes. Oh, and ask him to send up some tea as well." Rauol nodded and turned around to leave. "Rauol?" Christine called after him. He stopped walking and turned back to look at her. She strided up to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. She kissed him lightly on the lips and said "Take it easy today, okay?"
Rauol looked back at her and gave a small smile. "I'll be home around six tonight." Then he gently pried her arms loose and opened the door to leave. "I'll see you then" and with that he was gone.