Chapter Eight teen
DISCLAIMER: OK; I don't own phantom of the opera. Plain and simple
Erik taught Iris to paint. She had a strange, and amazing talent at such a young age. She called it; a good teacher, but he knew she had a hidden genius in her. He would be proud to someday call her his sister-in-law. Meg was reading; while Karen bathed. They all seemed to make his home theirs; and went about their daily lives as he did during the three years he was alone. He would paint; read; and bathe; just in different orders. Soon; they would all change; Meg would go bathe; while Karen would read; or watch Erik teach Iris.
Iris grew close to Erik. He had become more than just her soon to be brother-in-law; and not only her painting teacher; but a friend to her. She told him stories of what happened back in their hometown; she told him of her friends; of the gossip the women did in the market; everything.
Meg came in and asked Erik for one of his shirts; when he asked what for; Meg told him why.
"Karen needs one. The only dress she has isn't clean and she doesn't have anything else." Erik nodded and gave Meg a shirt and a pair of pants from the dresser. Meg took them to Karen; and Erik went back to teaching Iris.
"You've got real talent." Erik told her.
"I've got a good teacher." But Erik knew she was being modest; but he wondered if she had the mind of a famous painter; the brush seemed to have a mind of it's own. Iris felt she could paint in the dark; or in her sleep if she wanted to.
Erik left her for a bit; letting her paint freely; and went to prepared a meal for them. Meg sat in a chair in the den reading a romance novel he had taken from one of the ballet girls in years passed; after he had first known his feelings for Christine.He studied the men in those books and tried to be romantic like them. She seemed absorbed in the book; memorizing every word the author had printed on the page. Karen had gotten out of the bath and was wearing Erik's clothes. They were far too big for her; and she looked silly in them.
He prepared a small meal for the four of them; using what little ingredients he had; and cooking utensils. Karen sat at the organ as he prepared their meal; seeing as Meg and Karen didn't know how to cook; and Iris couldn't even if she knew how. She pressed the keys; and they erupted in a horrible sound. He called Karen into the den for dinner; and when he went to ask Iris if she wanted to be moved to the den; she shook her head.
"Could I possibly have my dinner in here?" Iris asked. Erik nodded and brought her food in to the room for her. She thanked him and went back to painting. Erik returned to the others; sitting on the chair and seeing that Meg had not touched her dinner; but was still reading.
"Iris is working on a project." Erik spoke up after swallowing a mouthful. "She hasn't put that notebook down yet. She's got talent." They went on discussing it; and soon Meg realized it was dinner time; and put her book down. "I'll be heading back up to the Populiare tomorrow for a few things; If you ladies need something; just tell me and I'll get it." Karen's eyes instantly shot up at him; but she did not speak a word; until Meg had read herself to sleep; and Iris was still working on her project. Karen grabbed his arm and begged him not to go. "Karen, we need food and you need something to wear when your clothes are dirty. We cannot live without something to eat for much longer; and as for your clothes; that's just something I'm going to get for you." She continued to beg him to stay.
"I don't want you to go! What if he catches you?" She cried on him; Erik took her in his arms and stroked her hair. "Let me go with you." Erik was shaking his head.
"I brought you down here to keep you safe; bringing you back with me will put you in danger. I'll have my sword with me; so I won't be unarmed, and I'll come right back."
"What if I go by myself?"
"No." He told her bluntly. "Your staying here; and that's the end of it." He hated being so fierce with her; but he didn't want her to be hurt. Karen moved away from him stubbornly and told him she wanted to go with him. "I said no."
"You also said to stay away when I saw your face; but I didn't, and you almost died then too." she could feel chokes climbing up her throat; and she felt herself wanting to give up; but she wouldn't allow it to happen. "I can't lose you." He could only look at her; she was so desperate to keep him alive; she wanted him to be around at all times.
"You won't." He promised. "I swear it to you. I'll go quickly." She felt so helpless. He wasn't going to let her go with him.
The next morning; Meg had him pick up some dresses for her and Karen from the dormitories. When he left; Karen wished him the best of luck; waiting for him to return. The two hours he was gone were the longest Karen ever had. She couldn't find anything to entertain her until he got back; so Meg started talking to her.
"You haven't decided yet; have you?" Meg asked; and Karen looked up from the book she had been stairing at.
"What do you mean?"
"When you will get married. You haven't decided."
"Meg, at this point I'm just hoping he comes back alive." Karen sighed with anticipation. "Where could he be?"
"Karen; give him time. He'll return." She pouted and put the book on the table.
"I hate waiting like this! I'm going after him."
"No! Karen! Wait!"
"Meg; I can do this." She paused and dropped her engagement ring in Meg's palm. "So nothing will happen to it." and she was off. Meg was trying to stop her; having set the ring on the organ; she begged Karen to come back. But she wouldn't.
Erik returned two hours after he had left; and when Karen wasn't in the main room waiting for him; he asked Meg where she was. He had at his side; a bag of stolen food items from the Opera Populaire kitchen; and their dresses were in a different bag on the other side. He set them both down while Meg answered.
"She went to get you." Meg hesitated. "She was worried sick; I told her you would come back but she wouldn't listen and she left." It took Erik a few minutes to realize what Meg had said; Karen had left for him; but he had returned. He turned and went after her.
"Don't let Iris get out too." His voice was angry; as if Meg had never tried to stop her. He tried to think of where Karen would be; but there were many places in the opera house for her to be.
Cliffie! I thought of this at the last minute :DD
