-cough- Stupid cold.

oo0o0oo

Of course, she had another home too, a newer one, but she didn't want to ruin it for herself.

While getting back into her dress, Tori thought on how she was going to go about this. Would she even talk about it to Erik? Would she let the topic drop, or hang in the air between them? No...that was too much of a risk. Erik wasn't the type to let things drop like that; not easily, anyhow. She needed to talk about dinner with Raoul or her new marriage was done for.

She hurried to the carriage outside, noting that the curtains were drawn. Strange. She had asked that they remain open so that she could stare out the window at the sights and judge where she was, therefore keeping better track of time that way. The interior was dark when there wasn't sunlight filtering through, so dark that Tori could barely see her hand in front of her, which unnerved her.

She opened the door quickly without really looking in and sat down.

"Why are the curtains drawn?" she asked, aiming the question at the carriage driver but not really looking at him or speaking up enough for him to hear.

"Because I would like it that way."

Tori started as she looked up from where she had sat, squinting in the darkness. She recognized that voice- it was Erik, wasn't it?

In the darkness, she could hear Erik lean forward to address her better. "Would you rather I opened the windows? Let people see me? Reveal my identity so that you may forever be known as the dancer who married the Opera Ghost?"

"No, of course not!" Tori held out a hand, unexpectedly touching Erik's chest. She withdrew, wincing. "It's just hard to see, that's all."

Erik leaned back. His head leaned against the wall of the carriage with a soft thunk. He sighed, "You've lived in light for so long, child. Where have your night eyes gone?"

"I've never had night eyes."

A shifting noise sounded from the cushion of the seat. "I haven't taught you anything?"

Tori stayed silent. He had verbally cornered her; she absolutely hated it when he did that to her.

"Answer me."

The carriage started to rattle away. Tori swayed with the shaking of the wheels on the stone streets, nearly hitting her head on the window and then Erik. "You've taught me plenty. Singing, confidence...you haven't taught me the ways of darkness."

Erik chuckled coldly. "And I would rather you stay untainted. I do admit, it's terribly dull having a wife who's a light dweller."

Tori's voice lowered to a low hiss. "You're jesting."

"Always, dear, always."

This wasn't looking too good. Tori rubbed between her eyes with her index and thumb nervously; where was her plan B?

"Erik..."

He sighed again. "What's done is done, I suppose."

"Are you still angry with me?"

Erik reached out a hand and grabbed Tori's roughly, kneading the back of her hand with his thumbs in little circles. "If I was associating with another female, wouldn't you be as well?"

Cornered. Why was he toying with her?

"I don't jump to conclusions. You know that better than anyone."

They fell into a bitter silence, Erik's hand still clutching hers, as if she might float away from him. After a while the stones gave way to a dirt road, and Tori peeked out of the window silently. Erik blinked at the light and withdrew his hand, using it to wave dismissively at the window.

"Close it. The light hurts my eyes."

-------------------------------

The house seemed even emptier when they finally arrived. The sun had almost totally set, the sky a dusky purple, cloudless save for a few dark puffs. The door closed loudly, the hollow sound echoing around the empty halls.

Erik gave Tori a soft kiss. "Dinner is already prepared. I sent the servants to bed, so we have the house to ourselves."

He started to head up the stairs.

"Where are you going?" Tori called after him.

"Bed, of course." He turned to regard her, eyebrow quirked. "Do you think I'll jump out of the window and fly off to some faraway and exotic land?" Lips spreading in a smug smirk, he laughed. "Now we see eye to eye, don't we?"

She rolled her eyes, annoyed. "Wait for me, please."