Little Lotte- part of this doesn't sound like your Phic... not at all...

Chapter 20

I awoke the next morning with that horrendous taste in my mouth. Breaking away from Erik's arms, once more I practically ran to the washroom, collapsing over the sink, vomiting in to it. The sound of this disgusting act must have woke Erik, for he called my name.

Please don't come in here angel, I don't want you to see me like this.

His gentle steps terrified me, but I couldn't compose myself for him. He pulled my long, blonde curls away from my face, cringing in horror at the sight before him. when I had finished, he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into his chest.

"Mon Ange." He whimpered, stroking my hair.

Poor Erik, he has never seen me ill before...

"I'm fine Erik." I told him, slowly breaking from his arms to stand. I rinsed the taste from my mouth, as Erik snaked his arms around my waist, resting his head on my shoulder, looking into my face via the mirror.

"But-" He started, but I cut him off.

"Just some bug being passed around, nothing big." I plastered a fake smile upon my face. Erik nodded his head, and lead me back to the room.

"And you. My love, were where you yesterday?" I questioned sitting down on the bed, against the headboard, Erik practically sitting in my lap.

"I had some business to attend to in Bosherville." He danced around the question.

Bosherville? I don't recall ever hearing of a place by that name... why would Erik go there?

Ayesha jumped up onto the bed, curling up between the two of us.

"I missed you Little One." I stroked her fur, looking up at my Erik.

"Almost as much as I missed your father."

I can't believe that word escaped from my lips. I regretted it the moment I spoke it. Erik smiled, looking down at his precious cat, then up at me. I could see in his eyes he would like to be one, and he would be a great one, after all, he missed his first chance... No, his only chance.

"I missed you more." He spoke childishly, quickly kissing my lips.

"What is in Bosherville?" I asked, unable to contain my curiosity.

"A little church..." He whispered, his lips beginning to travel down my neck.

"And the priest that agreed to Marry us." My heart fluttered, I'm not sure if it was from his words, or touch, but it fluttered all the same.

"And when, may I ask, are you planning to get married?" I fiddled with the ruffles of his shirt.

"September, Maybe the twentieth." He spoke, a smile crept across my face.

Did he not expect me to know what that date was? How could I forget the day he first kissed me?

"September would be perfect." I told him.

"It's not to far away?" He asked.

"I think I can wait five months." He smiled, and nodded.

"I should be going, Madame Giry will surely kill me if I miss another rehearsal." He nodded his head, and allowed me to get dressed, not even distracting me with his normal lustful teasing.

I kissed his goodbye, then returned back to the world of light, making it just in time for practice. Meg must have talked with her mother, for Madame Giry didn't even scowled me for being late, let alone missing practice yesterday. The other ballet rats were already in formation, when I slipped behind Meg. She turned her head quickly to smile at me, then lead us out onto the hard wood floor of the stage.

Our routine for this particular opera under minds our skill immensely, the little ones could do this, but the crowd likes the young women dancing around in next to nothing. I shall not complain, it gives Meg and I more time to talk.

"It is good to see you have some colour in your face again, you looked like a corpse yesterday."

"I'm feeling better, thanks to you."

"I only made you tea." I leaned in closer to mer, to keep any wondering ears from our conversation.

"Erik found someone to marry us." Her faced beamed with happiness for me.

"That is wonderful!" She exclaimed, taking my hands in hers excitingly.

"Meg!" Her mother called for her, from across the stage. She left me, as Sorelli took advantage of my solitude.

"Haven't seen you around lately." Her usual cruel voice hit my ears

If it were possible to hate with every fiber of your being, I feel hatred for her more than my heart longs for Erik!

"I have been busy." I said plainly, turning from her.

"With a man I suspect." The witch spoke.

"That is my business." A cruel, malicious grin spread across her deceiving face.

"It must be a man, seeing the ring you have been wearing upon your finger. Judging by the size, he must be rich." She paused, expecting me to make a comment, but I remained silent.

I will not sink to her level.

"Well the man is either stupid, or old, to choose you to lay with. Does he know your an orphan? That you have nothing to your name? Your not even a skilled dancer, or a beautiful one. Maybe your his mistress? He must be stupid, and blind."

That damn spawn of the devil! That unworthy little scrum of a whore! how dare she say such things about my Erik!

The back of my hand made contact with her face, the slapping echoing around us. Her eyes seemed to burst from her head in shock.

She deserves worse.

I didn't speak another word to her, just turned, and stormed off. The ballet girls whispered around me, spreading the news of what I just did, but I don't care, she needed to be slapped, as simple as that.

"Wait up!" I heard Madame Giry call from behind me. I turned and waited for her.

"She's just curious, they all are." She spoke in her usual disappointing tone.

I never expected her to stand up for Sorelli.

"No, Sorelli just wanted to be cruel. You should have heard the things she said." I hissed out, not meaning to be unkind to her, but I couldn't control my tone. Madame Giry hung her head and sighed.

"Maybe you shouldn't wear his ring, if you don't want to be questioned." I protectively grabbed at my ring, running my fingers over the smooth metal.

"I will never take it off." I vowed.