Christine dans Deux Chapter 15: Su Shopping, a phantom of the opera fanfic

Christine dans Deux

An Alternate Multiverse - A Phantom of the Opera Story

Nyasia A. Maire

DISCLAIMER: See Chapter One
Chapter Fifteen – Su Shopping

I lead Erik and Trystin to the garage where I have parked my little metallic purple Sunfire. Erik looks dubiously at the vehicle.

"We do not use horse carriages any longer. As you probably guessed. Don't worry I'm a very good driver."

"Yep. Mom's really good. And her car is nice. I like it 'cause it's purple."

He looks at me. "Car?"

"A horseless carriage. Hmm … I wonder … carriage, cart, car? Possibly. Also known as an automobile."

"Hmmm …"

I unlock the doors with my remote and open the driver's side door. I flip the seat forward.

"Okay, T. Get in and buckle up."

She clambers into the back seat and into her booster seat. I see T fasten her seat belt and satisfied flip the seat back into place.

"Be right back, T. Gotta show Erik how to open the door."

I walk around the car marveling at how fast and easy I can get around. Erik stands patiently at the passenger door. I walk up and demonstrate the door latch, close it again and then let Erik open it for himself.

"Oh! Wait just a second! I need to adjust the seat. It's all the way forward and your legs won't fit."

I actually run back around the car and slide onto the driver's seat. I easily reach over the console and move the passenger seat back.

"T, you okay?"

"Yep!"

"Sorry, but Erik has long legs."

"That's okay. I'll live …"

I continue the old joke, "yes, but you won't enjoy. Yes, I know. Come on, Erik!"

He opens the door and enters. He closes the door and looks expectantly at me.

I reach over my left shoulder and pull the shoulder harness across my chest and buckle it near my right hip and indicate he needs to do the same. From the back seat, Trystin helps by guiding the buckle into Erik's hand.

"Thank you, ma petite."

"No problem! Come on! Let's go!"

I slide the key into the ignition, close my door and turn the key. The engine turns over easily and gently rumbles. I fumble with my key chain, find the remote control and push the button. The garage door rumbles into motion. Erik (who has been watching me intently) starts, but says nothing. I release the emergency brake and place the gear shift into drive.

"Here we go!"

I pull out of the garage and drive down the driveway. I pause at the end of the drive, no traffic, so I make my turn and drive to the mall.

"Mom, you can't use you handicap parking placard anymore. Better put it away." Trystin cautions. "You'll get a ticket."

I laugh.

"I hardly ever used it in the first place, but you're right! And I've never been so happy to do something in my life. T, I would only get a ticket if I parked in a handicap space and they saw us all running around."

I pull the blue placard from its place around my rear view mirror and without taking my eyes from the road, flip open the center console, place it inside and flip the console closed. I find a parking place and pull in. I put the car back into park and engage the emergency brake.

"Erik, are you going to be all right going into a place with lots of people? There's lots of people and I know you aren't used to people."

"I am not concerned; no one will pay any attention to my face now. Besides, I have my two beautiful ladies to protect me."

I look at Trystin in the rear view mirror and ask, "So, T, ya think no one's going to give Erik a second glance?"

She rolls her eyes. "Ya right! We better not let him out of our sight cause he's gonna have all the girls in there will flirtin' with him. Erik, I guess you don't know it, but you're real cute."

"Cute?" The word sounds strange coming out of his mouth. He turns to me. "Is this going to be a problem for you?"

I see honest concern for me in his eyes and bite my bottom lip.

"No, dearest. I know I have nothing to fear from mall rats." I smile.

Together we walk into the mall and spend the next several hours shopping for clothing for all of us. I purchase a weeks worth of outfits, undergarments, shoes, accessories and sleepwear for each of us from a vintage clothing shop for our trip tonight. Just in case I think. As always, I stop and look in the window of the antique dealer's shop.

"Mom loves this shop. She collects bladed weapons. She's especially fond of Chinese swords, but Japanese run a close second."

"Nothing good in the window today. Should we stop and say hi to Su?"

"Yes! Yes!" Trystin jumps up and down happily. Su is her unofficial godmother and loves to shower presents on her goddaughter.

I glance at my watch; it reads 12:42, plenty of time.

"Erik, okay with you?"

"Actually, I would enjoy taking a look at some of the blades in there."

"Well, let's go. T, if Baba offers you candy, tell him "no, thank you.""

"Aw! Okay." She grumbles a little but smiles again as Erik holds the door open for us.

We enter the crowded shop. There are weapons of all shapes and sizes. There is even a stack of cannon balls piled carefully in one corner of the room.

"Su? Baba? Anyone home? Nihao!"

From the back of the shop, we hear a bright voice calling.

"Christine? Is that you? Is my little girl with you? T? Baba says to come back and talk to him while he works."

And a small raven hair woman enters the shop through the red brocade door hanging. She stops in shock at the sight of the three of us.

"Christine! You have a guest. Welcome, sir."

She gives Erik a small bow, which he elegantly returns. Her eyes widen and she sends me a quick questioning look before turning to Trystin. She opens her arms wide and the little girl runs to her and throws herself into the waiting arms. The two enthusiastically hug each other and chatter for a moment. Then Su points to the curtain and Trystin runs to the back room.

With a wave of her hand over her shoulder, "Bye, mom! I'm gonna go help Baba!"

"Remember, I said no candy!"

Trystin waves a hand as if to say don't worry about it Mom and is gone.

Su turns and intently studies the two of us for a long moment. At last, she speaks.

"So, you found each other." The words are a statement of fact, not a question.

I smile. Erik looks at me. I see the uncertainty in his eyes. He is not sure as to whether or not he should reply.

"Yes, Su. We found one another. You always told me that Marc was not "the one," but I never really believed you. I didn't think "the one" existed." I turn to Erik. "Ever since I met her she's been telling me that my soul mate was out there. She said he was out there, but I never believed her until yesterday. Su, this is Erik. Erik, this is Su Wei. Su, we need help. I need things you have in from the storeroom."

Su pauses her inspection of Erik at my mention of the storeroom and turns to me.

"So, this is serious then."

"I'm afraid so."

She turns her keen gaze on me and I see her eyebrows rise in surprise.

"Christine!" Her hand lifts and hesitates briefly before she touches my cheek. "You're different. No limp? No cane? Hmmm. Most interesting."

Her eyes become cloudy for a moment and then the clouds lift from her eyes and the sharp intellect enters them.

"Baba and I will not see you or Trystin again. I will miss the two of you. You have been family to us. You will take care of them." She says this last to Erik.

He bows to her and replies, "Most assuredly, Madame. I will watch over them and provide them with the best of care."

She nods apparently finding his answer satisfactory.

"Very well, my dear. Follow me."

She leads us through the red curtain and down a little hall. We stop before a barred and locked door. Su pulls a keychain from her pocket and unlocks the padlock. She nods to Erik and he removes the bar from the door. Su turns the knob and leans into the door with a small grunt and push, the door opens. She enters the room and pulls on a chain hanging just inside the door. The small room is flooded with yellow incandescent light. All types of weapons fill every nook, cranny and bit of wall space. Some ornate, some unadorned. My gaze sweeps around the room.

"Su, I need weapons made prior to 1870. Nothing modern. Swords, daggers, stars, sticks, butterflies. Do you have any bladed Chinese fans? Or slippers in my size with a blade in the toe?"

"Hmmm. That's a very specific date. Sorry, no slippers. You know where the fans are. All the fans are pre-1870 and in excellent condition. They look just like new. As to butterflies, well, the oldest ones I have were made mid-twentieth century, but the way you handle those no one would be able to see them to know they don't belong." She stops and smiles sadly at me. "Are you going to blood them yourself or do you mean to blood them."

"I don't know what will be necessary, so I will blood them. Blood calls to blood. We must feed the blades. Better to feed it now than to turn up dead."

She nods her head in agreement. And Erik gives me a shocked look.

"Have you killed before?"

"Oh no, at least nothing human. Not I. But, I do follow the old ways. My grandfather taught me about blades and blooding. We must hurry."

As explanation, I send Erik a memory of my grandfather teaching me how to hunt and to respect the lives of all animals. And of how when I was ten years old I received a compound bow for my birthday. I went out to hunt with it and proudly brought a jack rabbit home (my first kill.) My grandfather made skin and dress the meat. I never forgot that lesson and I never killed again. And I have been a vegetarian ever since.

Erik shakes his head.

Su grabs a knapsack from a hook on the wall and begins to fill it with small round leather cases, leather wrist bands with rows of sticks circling them, several sheathed daggers, a bandolier with throwing knives sheathed along its edge and what looks to Erik's eyes like metal claws.

I feel his curiosity and explain, "For climbing. Ninja use them."

My eyes scan the inventory as I quickly walk along the row of swords. A blue flash of light draws my eye. A Japanese wakasashi winks at me. I lift it and cautioning Erik and Su to stand back. I test the blade. The blade seems to me to sing as I sweep it through the air.

"Oh yes, this one. That will do for me. I will bring my ninjatu from home and that should be sufficient for me. Do you have a shoulder sheath?"

"Of course. Here, sir, I believe this blade calls to you."

She pulls down a Spanish sword with ornate hilt and guard. Erik looks at it and begins to demur until he takes the blade in his hand. He stands silent with sword at the ready. He whips the sword down and out to his side in salute and returns to the ready.

I nod.

Su finds him a belt and scabbard for his sword as well as a small dagger.

"I think these will suffice, Su. What do I owe you?"

"Nothing. These are my farewell gifts to you as well as my wedding presents."

Erik and I smile at one another.

"If you can, please bring Trystin back to visit sometimes. If you can. You can no longer live here, Christine. Your years and you no longer match. It will not go unnoticed here. Too many questions with no answers. And you, sir, we live in a world of paperwork. There is no record of you here. As I said too many questions with no answers." She hugs Erik who is surprised, but returns the gesture. Then she turns to me. She sighs. "I miss you already." We hug and for the first time, I realize Su is my only real friend here. There is no one else as close to me.

"I will miss you too. We will try to come back for a visit, but …"

"Yes, but …"

We silently walk out of the storeroom with Erik lugging the knapsack of lethal weapons. As we walk along the hall, Su bends and retrieves a pillow case from the floor. She takes the swords from me and places them inside the pillow case.

"Have you finished with your other errands here?"

"Yes. We saved the best for last."

She smiles. "Thank you. I think it best if you leave out the back. It will not do for mall security to become interested in the sacks you carry."

"You're not kidding. I had already thought of that when I parked. My car is near your back door. Besides, we must save Baba from Trystin."

We walk down the hall and through an arch into a large open workshop that appears barren after the clutter of the front shop. Sitting on a stool happily prattling away is Trystin. She sits next to a wiry thin old man who is repairing a broken sword hilt.

He pauses in his work and turns to me. "Nihao!"

"Nihao!" I return the greeting.

He bows to Erik, Erik returns the bow and the little man laughs his voice sounds like small silvery bells. He turns to Trystin and gives her a hug then helps her down from the stool. She gives him a slight bow and runs to Erik and slides her hand into his.

"Do jay, Su." I bow to her; she bows to me.

"Take care, my friend."

"You too. Both of you."

I turn and walk out the back door before I spill the threatening tears that burn my eyes. I feel Erik's hand on my shoulder and take comfort from his touch. We walk to the car and I press a button on the remote. My trunk pops open. Erik squeezes my shoulder. I turn to him.

"Magician." He teases.

"I hope so." I reply seriously.

We load our purchases into the trunk, ourselves into the car and then head home.

By the time we pull into the garage, the sun is visibly low in the sky.

"Mom, I'm hungry."

Erik looks at me and laughs. "Me, too!"

We take our bags into the house and I warn Trystin that she is not to mess with the weapons.

"I won't. I promise. Can I go watch some Disney channel before dinner?"

"Sure, go ahead. I'll call you when it's ready."

"Okay!" And she runs down the hall to her room.

"Disney channel?" Erik asks.

"Television. Children's entertainment."

"Oh …"

"Want to help?"

"Always."

"Well, the kitchen awaits us."

We make a fast dinner of salad, garlic bread, rigatoni marinara and meatballs with bell peppers (on the side.)

In silence we eat dinner, then quickly clear the table and wash the dirty dishes. Our rapidly approaching time of departure weighs heavily on Erik and me. I know that the time for my talk with Trystin has arrived.

I carry the bags from the mall into my bedroom and place them on the bed. Erik excuses himself and withdraws to the bathroom.

"T, I need to speak with you. It's important."

She climbs up onto the bed.

"What's up?"

"T, you realize that Erik is from the past, don't you? I mean, you know the movie he's in was 136 years ago? Right?"

She looks at me seriously and says, "Uh huh, you told me it was along time ago. That's why they use candles and horses and stuff."

"Yes. That's right. Well, you remember Madame Giry?"

"That's Meg's mom!"

"Yes, that's right. Well, last night I was there. I was at Erik's home and I visited with Madame Giry. Erik and I were trying to find a way for me to get home and have him be with me. We were afraid that we wouldn't be able to find each other again if Erik stayed there and I came home to get you. So, Madame Giry went to ask the gypsies for help. I waited for hours and she never came back. It turns out that Erik and I figured out how to get here together all by ourselves. That's how he got here this morning. Now, the problem is that, well, you know my voice that tells me things?"

"Yes, your voice, the one that's your power."

"Yes, right, my power." I smile gently at her and tousle her hair. "Well, my voice told me that the gypsies are going to hurt Madame Giry."

"Hurt her? You can't let them hurt her! She's Erik's friend. And, you have to watch out for your friends, right?"

"That's right. We don't plan on letting anyone hurt her. That's part of the reason we went to see Su today. I needed some things from her shop. Anyway, in order to help Madame Giry, Erik and I have to go back to his time. We're going this evening and I think it best if you come with us. I don't like the idea of leaving you here alone. I don't like the idea of bringing you to 19th century France either, but at least we will be together. First, I need to tell you this so listen. When we go, we will be taking you to Madame Giry's room and you have to stay there with the door locked. No wandering out. No exploring. She has a bed and you've had a long day, so I will put you to bed and wait for you to fall asleep. Then Erik and I must go and bring Madame back from the gypsies. Can you do this? Will you listen and obey my wishes? I need to know you are safe while I am out with Erik. They don't have cell phones, but we will bring the walkie-talkies with us. However, T, I am absolutely positive that the walkie-talkies will not work from inside the Madame's room because it is underground, so will you be okay? I need your pinky promise."

I look into eyes with my most serious, no-nonsense looks to be certain that she sees I mean what I say. I see her look at me with equally serious eyes.

"Don't worry about me, mom. I'll stay in the room and be good. I'm pretty tired anyway. Just make sure I have a nightlight, okay? Can we bring my Game Boy?"

"Definitely, a nightlight. And, yes, you may bring your Game Boy. We will not have any way of recharging it, but you can play with it for as long as it works. Now, we need to pack some things, just in case we can't find our way back here. Just the things you really need. You know, like your bears. Put everything you want take to with us on your bed. And remember, not too many things. I already have clothes for you to wear, so don't worry about packing them."

"Okay. I'll hurry. We can't let anything bad happen to Madame Giry. That would be terrible!"

She runs to her room and I can hear her going through her drawers and closets.

"Erik. I told her. Everything's all right. What an amazing child! She said we have to hurry because we can't let anything happen to Madame." I think to him.

I feel his relief and hear, "Ma chére cœur, I will be there in a moment. I will miss this room."

I laugh, but only for a moment as realize that I will probably miss that room too.

I swiftly move about my room choosing the belongings that will journey with me. I remove each of the drawers from my jewelry chest and empty the contents into a large velvet drawstring bag. For barter, I think as I tie the drawstring. I remove my compound bow case from the closet and place it on the bed. I open the bottom drawer of my armoire and take out my crossbow case. That joins the growing pile on the bed. I leave the bedroom and go to the den. I unlock the filing cabinet, which I store inside the closet, and in the back of the bottom drawer I take out two small metal boxes. I close and lock the cabinet. I pause and return to my desk and take a small silver picture frame with me as well.

I manage to pack all of the things I wish to bring into two carry-on bags and Trystin's things fit into her school backpack. The only things not packed are the weapons. I remove the swords from the pillow case and get a laundry bag out of my linen cabinet in the hall. I place the crossbow case, the knapsack full of weapons, a quiver of arrows and the swords in the bag and draw the string. I remove the bow from its case and sling it over my shoulder. I have the velvet drawstring pouch hidden beneath the blouse I changed into (a royal blue silk with long billowing sleeves and drop shoulders.) I tie the pouch to a string around my neck. Instead of my jeans, I now wear black cotton slacks that I have tucked into my black knee-high boots. These are special boots. Each boot has a sheath sown into the lining bearing a throwing knife.

One last look about the room.

"I'm ready."

"Me, too!" Trystin adds. She is now wearing her favorite mint green flannel nightgown and a pair of pink fuzzy slippers.

Erik enters the room with some things from the kitchen.

"Breakfast for Trystin."

He looks over his ladies. He smiles at Trystin and as he turns his gaze upon me, he smiles a little sadly.

"A deadly beauty. Let us hope we pack these weapons needlessly."

"Let us hope we are able to bring them with us and that we do not need them. As to the other … well, only if needs be. I love you, Erik."

"And I love you."

"It's time."

He nods his head in agreement. Each of us slings one backpack or a carry-on over each shoulder. I sling my bow and Erik slings the laundry bag over his shoulder. Erik and I stand facing each other with Trystin in between us. He has a hand on one shoulder and I have a hand on her other should. She looks up at us curiously. I turn my eyes to Erik's face and marvel (once again) at his beauty. I raise my eyes to his and feel how he completes me. We are not alone; we are one. I blink.