Chapter 3

"Dinner and Tea"

Erik's P.O.V.

"Sir, dinner will be served shortly." Aaron said to me. His voice just above a whisper, as he stuck his head into my music room. I sighed and replied,

"Alright, thank you." He closed the door and I stood from the piano at which I had been playing the new piece I had created. I buttoned my waistcoat and pulled on my jacket. I walked to a small statue mounted on the wall, a grasshopper. A reminder of my past and the wrongs I have made. A reminder to never cause that much pain to the world again. A reminder that love is a vile, ruthless emotion that I wish to never feel again.

I turned the grasshopper and the hidden door in the corner of the room opened. I walked out and turned the scorpion statue that was just outside. The door closed and I headed toward the dining hall. Once inside I saw the three women already sitting at the table, leaving the head of the table for me.

The nurse smiled at me, I did not return the gesture, but sat down. Immediately my glass was filled with red wine.

I looked to the youngest of the three. Her doll sat next to her, a place set for it also. The girl's eyes wondered to my mask but she quickly looked away.

The young girls sister seemed to be staring at Aaron, who was standing in the corner. When he noticed her gaze he smiled. The two had obviously found some interest in one another.

The nurse seemed uneasy with the silence and fidgeted with her napkin until she, unfortunately, spoke.

"Mary are you hungry?" The girl nodded. "They are serving chicken tonight." The girl seemed delighted, but still no words came from her mouth. This irritated me so I inquired,

"Does she not speak?"

"No, not since her parent's death." The girl, Mary, seemed ashamed and adverted her eyes to the floor.

I downed the wine sitting next to me. I knew I would need it if the nurse planned to speak again, which undoubtedly, she would.

"Mr. Destler I detect a French accent. Are you from France?" The nurse said. I nodded. "Really? What city?"

"Paris."

"What made you decide to come to England?" I motioned towards Aaron, giving a signal to refill the wine glass.

"I got tired of the country."

"How long had you lived there?"

"30 years."

"My goodness. You know, my father taught me to read some French." I nodded. Just as I downed the second glass our food was brought to us. I stabbed my fork into the chicken breast and took a bite.

"Mr. Destler, earlier I heard music being played yet I could not find the source." Ella said.

"Miss this is a large house, you may have even heard a victrola." I looked up to see Aaron raise his brow and smile slyly. I gave a glare and took another bite of my chicken.

I was forced to listen as the two elder women talked of America and their hobbies. Only once did I speak. When Ella said she enjoyed horseback riding, I mentioned I had a stable. This I hoped would get the women out of the house for a while and I could compose more. Now that I knew they could hear the music I played I cursed my self for not finding a way of sound proofing the room.

Finally dinner ended and I was free to escape to my sanctuary. Maybe I could still convince Miss. Ella there was actually a victrola somewhere in this house.

Aaron P.O.V

It was late, almost midnight and Master Erik was calling for tea. I groaned as I walked down the hallway. This man never slept and so in effect I never slept. I being his 'right hand man'so to speak. Which I suppose is much better than living with my mother. My mother relied on one thing in life, alcohol.

As I began to walk up the stairs I heard a door open behind me. I turned and saw Helen coming from Ella's room.

"Oh, Good evening." She said to me.

"Good Evening Miss. Carter. Is there something the matter with Miss. Ella?"

"No, no I could not sleep so I thought I'd check on her."

"Do you need anything?"

"No, but why are you still awake? It's nearly morning."

"The Master is requesting tea."

"Oh nonsense. You get to bed leave that tea to me." As she reached for the tray, I pulled back.

"Really Madame you should be getting some beauty sleep."

"Son, I had beauty sleep last night and let me tell you I still looked a day older when I woke up." I smiled. "Now where is that man?"

"I suppose it would be rude to refuse the request of a guest. Follow me Madame." I continued up the stairs and down the hall, finally reaching the scorpion. I turned it, handed her the tray then bowed. Her jaw dropped and walked into the hidden room. After she walked in I turned the statue again to close the door.

I sighed, the Master would not be happy with this.

Helen's P.O.V.

I walked into the hidden room, and suddenly regretted my request of Aaron. The man in front of me was consumed with the music he was playing and did not notice that someone was in the room with him. I noticed he had taken off his jacket and flung it over a chair to the left of him.

As I observed he suddenly stopped playing. I was scared at first but then I realized his only intention was to write down a few phrases of music on the sheet in front of him.

It was at this time I cleared my throat. He turned quickly and seemed to see my presence as a threat.

"Why are you here?" He seethed. I took a deep breath and tried to appear as though he did not intimidate me.

"I came to deliver your tea."

"That is Aaron's job."

"I sent him to bed."

"You had no right to do that. He is my employee, and as his employer I decide when he is to retire to sleep." He said, his voice growing stronger.

"But you can not keep him up all hours of the night."

"This is none of your concern."

"Oh, just handle it. I can serve your tea tonight." Before he could speak I handed him a cup of tea. Instead of grabbing it though he pushed it away.

"I must have milk and honey in my tea." He said, annoyance wrapping each syllable. I sighed then noticed the other two cups on the tray. I poured them into the cup, then tried again. This time he took the cup and had a sip. When he decided it was to his satisfaction he waved a hand of dismissal toward me.

I turned to exit but the door had disappeared. I looked back to him, he was pointing at a grasshopper on the wall. I turned it, just as Aaron had done with the scorpion. A door opened in the corner of the room and I left, quickly fleeing from the man who still dwelled in the room.

Just so there is no confusion let me explain this story a little:

Nadir was a nice guy, so if he came across some children (like say he met their aunt at a party and she told him the whole story, then he offered to help.)he would want to help them. but then Nadir got a job and would not have time for the children so he would need someone to take care of them. Who is his closest friend? ERIK! So then he asked him

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