Chapter 31. Nevermore.

My little Erica sat at the dinner table waiting for her mother, while I paced the floor, when Christine walked in, her eyes red as if she had been crying.

"Momma?" Erica said.

"Erica, go to your room please." Christine said and Erica did.

"Christine what happen?" I asked.

"Angel, I went and spoke to Raoul…"

"Oh god did he hurt you? I'll kill him if he…"

"Eric there was just an argument."

I took her hand in mine then said. "Then why do you have marks as if someone twisted your wrist?"

Silence.

"Christine what happen?"

"I went to bed with him."

I pulled away from her and said. "You've chosen the boy again."

"No Eric, I never want to go through that again! Raoul has an idea of what a wife should be and he's disappointed that I'm not. I never want to see him again."

"And you won't." I said and I went into my work room.

After working for hours I heard the door open and Erica walked in.

"Momma says it's time for dinner. We're having soup."

"Tell her I'm not hungry."

"Are you mad at her?"

"It's none of your concern. Now let me work."

She kissed my head then left the room.

I was just starting to get deep in my work again when I heard a crash Christine scream Erica's name.

I ran out to the kitchen to see a mess of soup and broken bowl on the floor and Christine bent over to clean it, while Erica stood in the corner.

"Erica what were you thinking? You just threw the thing down!"

"What happen?" I said.

"Erica threw her bowl and made a mess."

I looked at Erica and said. "Erica why did you throw your soup?"

"Got you to come out of that room." She stated then turned back to the corner.

"Good lord child!"

"She's too much like you…" Christine said.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"She's your daughter for sure."

"I'm going back to work…"

Suddenly Erica made another dish break.

"That's it!" Christine shouted. "To your room!"

"Fine." Erica said and left.

"Dear lord what has gotten into that girl…"

"Christine please calm yourself."

"Don't tell me to calm down! If you had just came out for dinner she wouldn't have done that!"

"Christine I you hadn't gone to see that boy of yours I wouldn't have been so upset!"

The next thing I knew was a stinging pain in my face and my mask was on the ground.

Christine stared at me surprised that she had hit me and said. "Eric…"

"Well, it seems the monster has lost his good treasure again." I said.

"Eric I'm sorry…"

Before she could finish, I left the room.