Aaaand here we are at the big 5 O! I'm so happy with myself. I'm planning to end the series at 60 at least...BUT I shall avoid that unpleasant topic and give you (drumroll please) the longest chapter I have written! I could make it longer, but I want to stretch the story out a little more. It's already depressing that it's ending soon...
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Phantom (tear)
Part Fifty
"Ah! Lark, you look so wonderful!" With a rustle of blue silk, a gorgeously, yet still modestly dressed woman swooped down and hugged Lark tightly. The child's muffled reply was barely heard in Rachel's embrace. "Thank you, Rachel." The woman held out her arms to observe the child with fond eyes. "I like your mask, dear." She commented, touching the black porcelain cheek. Lark's face wasn't visible, but her eyes crinkled with a hidden smile. "Yes. It was my…my mama's." Rachel smiled sadly at the child behind her own sapphire blue mask, equally blue feathers decorating its surface. "It suits you." She said finally. Lark looked around, curiously, her eyes squinting slightly.
"There's so many people!" she gasped, delightedly. "We can blend in like no one's business…" Lark turned to Rachel. "Where's Richard?" She asked curiously, missing her old friend's company. The older woman sighed irritably and jerked her head towards the ballroom, where multicolored peoples in costumes with flashing masks whirled together in different dances. "He went to go meet some ladies." She said, her eyes flashing disapprovingly. Lark smoldered a giggle. "He's horrible at that," she reminded her companion, jokingly. Rachel could only shake her head. "I hope so." She muttered, taking out a pale blue fan with darker lace trimming.
Rachel fanned herself and Lark noticed she was slightly pink in the cheeks. "Were you dancing before we came, Rachel?" the girl questioned, staring up at her. Rachel smirked and nodded. "Only with Richard." She said dryly, "Apparently he wanted to show off his dancing skills." Looking around the room with awe, Lark's black and gold dress made lovely swishing sounds as she twirled. She laughed at the sound, and twirled around happily, enjoying how the dress's bottom half fanned out across the floor like a wave on a beach. "Lark, dear," Rachel started, her cheeks becoming red, "where is Monsieur Erik…?" The child looked up from the floor. "Hmm? Oh!" Lark grinned and pointed to the pillar behind them. "Erik's moping behind there."
"So you did get him to join us!" Rachel squealed childishly, clapping her hands together. "Oh, well done! I honestly thought that man would avoid such festivities. Well done, well done!" Rachel sounded impressed, causing Lark to beam with pride. Suddenly a dark, ominous voice came from behind the woman. "It is not like I exactly had a choice." Rachel gasped and quickly turning around, nearly bumping noses with none other than Erik. "Oh!" she murmured as she took a quick step back, cheeks aflame, "You surprised me…um…well….don't you look nice." He scowled while Lark smiled cheekily beside Rachel. Dressed from head to foot in a fabulous gold suit with a dark black/gold vest with gold buttons and equally gold pants, Erik looked like some sort of Greek God or messenger. A matching gold mask covering his whole face.
"So everyone tells me." He grumbled, a pained look searing across his amber eyes. Lark skipped to his side and took his hand, swinging it cheerfully. "I picked it out for myself," she chirped, "now no one who ever knew you would recognize you!" Rachel hid a small smile behind her fan as she gazed, amused at their golden companion. "I can't believe I went through this," he groaned, ignoring Lark. "How could I be so stupi-?" Rachel cut in suddenly, surprising both her companions and herself. "Do you like dancing, Erik?" she blurted out. His eyes snapped to her face, filled with horror and confusion. "What?" he asked, though one could tell he had heard her before. Lark looked back and forth between both adults, eyes wide with surprised pleasure. Rachel's cheeks flushed crimson as she mumbled quietly, wishing to escape, "I was wondering if you liked dancing…."
"Ah." Erik shifted uncomfortably. "Yes. Dancing." Rachel peered at him over her fan. "Can you dance…?" Erik's eyes closed briefly, as though he were wishing desperately to be gone from the hall, and then opened to fix themselves on the woman before him. "Er…yes. Yes, I believe so…." His voice trailed off as Lark giggled quietly, staring at them with eager anticipation. "Wonderful!" said Rachel, breathlessly, "then…would you…" she hid her face behind the fan's lace trimming. "Like to dance…with me…?" His jaw went slack behind his mask. Then, regaining his composure, Erik opened his mouth to respond but Lark jabbed him in the stomach to grab his attention. He looked down at her, glaring. "What?" he hissed, irritably. "Erik!" she said smiling, "If you're not going to dance, we can go over to the refreshments, if you want." Erik looked over in the direction of were the child was pointing.
About ten to fifteen young women were giggling together, simply teeming around the refreshment table. Erik felt rather faint. There was no way he would go over there, but then he'd have to… Turning to Rachel he smiled weakly. "Alright. Fine." Lark beam was so large, it almost mirrored Richard's own far too wide smile. The woman's eyes widened with pleased shock behind her fan. "Really…?" she asked, turning red all over. "Wonderful!" She timidly outstretched a gloved hand, which Erik took in his, handling it like glass. Suddenly Rachel was a beacon of confidence as she grasped his hand firmly and led him out to the dance floor, her face all smiles. Lark waved slightly as Erik turned back to glare at her. "Have fun, Erik!" she cried happily.
"So what are you going to do?" A lowered voice came from out behind her. Quick as lightning, Lark spun around….only to sigh with relief as Richard stood in front of her in a sinister costume of dark green and silver. He smiled at her, no mask covering his face. "Ah, Lark, you're getting so big!" He exclaimed in a falsetto voice, widening his eyes for effect. She made a face at him, but remembered her mask covered any emotion, however, he still laughed. "Oh, I can always tell when you're making a face!" he explained, amused. Lark stamped her foot childishly. "You know me too well!" she complained. Richard snickered and then looked out at the dance floor. "Is that who I think it is…?" He asked, pointing at Erik and Rachel. Lark only smiled.
"You dance wonderfully, Erik!" Rachel laughed as they twirled. He barely looked at her, but kept sending death glares over at Lark who was smiling… "Oh, perfect." He groaned through gritted teeth. Rachel looked curiously at him. "What is it?" Erik gestured with his head over to where the child was…with Richard smiling at them. "You're brother's watching." Rachel rolled her eyes and, once again, hesitantly adjusted her hand resting in his. Hers felt small in his firm grip. "You worry too much, Erik, about him. He's nothing." She scoffed, trying to take her mind off the pressure of his hand around her waist. It was rather flustering. Erik finally turned his now gold eyes on her with an amused expression reflecting in them. "You are not fond of your brother." He spoke it more as a statement, not a question. Rachel shrugged as they danced. "I suppose," she started slowly, "that it is not that I am not fond of him. I merely find him silly."
Erik only grunted. "Hmn." He couldn't talk too much; his voice seemed to fail him most of the time. Plus, he had to concentrate on dancing, for all the times he had watched couples dance; he had never tried the activity himself. Rachel would sometimes correct him on his grip or footing, but it was rare and she seemed to be enjoying herself. 'What am I getting into these days?' Erik sighed to himself. It was very distracting, having to keep his hand on Rachel's waist, and even more of a hassle to not run away and hide himself down in the cellars. "I hate the cellars." He grumbled out loud, unaware he had spoken loud enough to be heard by his partner. Rachel laughed, startling him out of his thoughts. "You hate the cellars, hmm?" she giggled, but not girlishly. Erik blushed, hating his wagging tongue more and more. "I best not let you down into ours. They're a horrible mess!" Rachel told him smiling, still laughing to herself.
Erik found that a small grin was tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Sounds like my house before Lark came in." he replied, thinking of how messy his lair was before the child came with her cleaning abilities. Rachel laughed again; a pleasant sound. "Goodness, aren't we a pair?" she exclaimed. Erik decided not to answer that. His throat had clogged again.
Lark sat down beside Erik, her little face hot and red behind her mask. "Whew!" she sighed, fanning herself unsuccessfully with her hand. "What a tiring experience!" Erik didn't say anything, but continued to sip from the glass of wine Rachel had so kindly fetched for him when they had finished dancing. "I mean," Lark continued, "everybody's always moving! It's so fast!" She squinted into the crowds, looking for Richard and Rachel who had gone off to, once again, dance together so that the ladies could admire the male sibling. Rachel had grumbled the whole way out to the dance floor, saying she would much rather spend time with Erik and Lark. 'She wanted to spend time with me…' Erik thought, bemused, his eyes far away.
"Erik?" Lark poked his shoulder. "Are you there?" He looked at her with a scowl, even though she couldn't see it. "Stop that. I can hear you fine." He grumbled. She removed her mask and carefully set it on her lap before looking up at her grumpy guardian with a smile. "How did the dancing go?" Lark asked. "You looked wonderful out there." Erik's face went hot under his own mask as he avoided her question. "Did you do any dancing, Lark?" The girl's face fell slightly but her smile remained on her face. "No," she admitted, "I haven't really done any dancing. I'm too clumsy." He studied her carefully as she stared out into the whirling mess of the dancers, a longing expression in her sea green eyes. Perhaps….
Sighs I need a review and a cookie...(the writer is sad about...the end)