I can't beleive how much i have written! Hmm, perhaps i should put chappy's together to make them longer, so there will be less chappys...you all don't mind, do you?

anyways, sorry for the slow updates!

Part Forty-one:

"…a complete waste of time!" Richard's voice snapped through the door. "What do mean, 'waste of time'?" Rachel's voice shrieked, "You are the one who is a critic and a jerk!" Lark looked worriedly at Erik but he only listened harder to the people behind the door. "I'm a jerk??" Richard bellowed, "Who's the one who leaves right in the middle of a social occasion to finish a painting?" Rachel gasped like she had been struck. "I am embarrassed by you," her brother continued, "and I can hope that our guests are not too insulted by your foolishness." There was the sound of feet towards the door and Erik pulled Lark away. "Act like you're lost." He hissed in her ear, leading her down another hall and turning her around. "I'll pretend I'm following you." Lark's eyes widened and she nodded vigorously.

The door opened and Lark immediately turned to Erik. "…It's not my fault we're lost!" she wailed, "They didn't really show me around!" She winked at him before registering her face with an unhappy pout. 'She's good,' he thought. Erik feigned an irritated voice and crossed his arms. "Well, we should not have left the dinning hall if you didn't know where to go!" he steamed. Richard closed the door behind him and walked over. "Lark? Monsieur Erik?" he questioned curiously, "What are you doing up here?" Erik turned toward him and pointed at Lark. "Ask her!" he fumed. Richard glanced over to the girl who shrugged helplessly. "I wanted to know where you two went…" she said truthfully.

Richard looked briefly surprised but then smiled kindly at her. "I'm sorry," he apologized, "we should have shown you both around before." Erik cocked his head in the direction of the door their host had just left. "What is in there?" he asked. Richard scowled slightly and coughed, embarrassed. "It is my sister's workshop. I don't suggest you go in there, very messy…" Erik nodded but looked curiously at Lark who smiled and shrugged; she had been there before. Richard then coughed again and looked sheepishly at both Erik and Lark. "I am very sorry for my sister's actions." He said, "She sometimes gets carried away with her work." Richard tried to lead his guests away and back downstairs but Erik stopped.

"May I see this…workshop?" Erik asked, looking curiously at the door. Richard looked at him then at Lark who grinned. "I've already seen it, but can we? I think Erik would enjoy it." Their host looked helplessly between his guests then sighed in defeat. "I suppose, he grumbled, "but I shall go elsewhere, my sister is not happy with me at the moment." Erik nodded and bowed to his host politely. Richard bowed back before rubbing Lark's hair fondly and heading down the stairs. "Come on, Erik!" Lark said excitedly, tugging on his sleeve, "I think you will enjoy Rachel's work!"

"What exactly does she do?" he asked suspiciously, though curiosity compelling him forward along with Lark's tugging on his arm. She just smiled mysteriously and knocked on the door leading to Rachel's workshop. A sound of something being thrown against the wall was heard. "Go away, Richard!" Rachel yelled from inside, "I don't need your criticism!" Lark looked startled as she threw a glance at Erik who looked as shocked as she was. "Rachel? It's me and Erik." She said timidly, "Can I come in?" A cry of surprise came and the door was opened revealing a red-eyed Rachel. "Oh! Lark, I'm so sorry… I thought you where my brother…" The woman blushed bright crimson and tried to sweep her hair into a more acceptable state but failed.

"What were you doing when you left, Rachel?" Lark asked. Erik eyed the covered easels with interest, ignoring the conversation. "Paintings," he muttered to himself. Rachel sighed heavily and shrugged. "I guess I got inspired, my dear," she explained to Lark, "and I don't like to lose an idea so I had to save it." Rachel smiled at her and motioned towards the first covered easel. The girl looked confused for a moment but then brightened and clapped her hands together excitedly. "Oooh, Rachel! Have you finished?" she squealed, "Did you get an idea?" Erik looked back once at the squeal with a look of uneasiness but then went back to ignoring them and trying to suppress the urge to peer under an easel's cover. Rachel laughed lightly and led Lark over to the first easel, uncovering just a little bit, their backs hiding the rest of the painting; much to Erik's annoyance. The girl praised the older woman. "Oh, Rachel, it's starting to look really, really good!" she exclaimed, "but the monsieur reminds me of someone…"

"Yes, he isn't supposed to, though." Rachel remarked, fondly placing the sheet over the painting, "I just borrowed an image. As you see, though, I haven't finished him yet." Lark giggled, "He has no head!" Erik whipped around and gave the girl a peculiar look to which she just grinned evilly. "What to see, Erik?" she teased; he scowled at her but nodded slightly. Rachel paled and stood in front of the easel. "Oh, I'd rather not…" she mumbled, another blush rising in her cheeks. Erik glanced at her and walked a step closer. "Why ever not?" he asked, trying to look over her shoulder, "Lark got to see." Rachel shook her head and spread out her arms, preventing Erik from going around her.

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