"You ride very beautifully."
"Excuse me?" Charlotte turned towards the direction the voice came; from the other end of the stable. She lifted her ridding crop up as she walked further down.
"I say you ride very beautifully. Such control of animal. Haven't seen such control of a wild animal since motherland. My mother she could make bear stand on ball."
Charlotte reached the voice with its thick Russian accent. He was a tall, well-built man sitting on a bench brushing one of the ponies. His light brown hair matched his handlebar mustache. His clothes were dirty and wrinkled but they did not distract from his overall attractiveness.
"You're new here. Is today you're first day?" Charlotte tucked her riding crop into the belt of her riding habit.
"Why say I'm new?"
"Only new people would talk so to Mr. Y's daughter."
"So you Charlotte I've heard so much about? I guess I'll be seeing lot of you." He stood revealing just how tall he was. Taller than her father. "I am Rasputin. I was hired to help with the stables and animals." He held out his hand and Charlotte could not help but notice a sixth finger, a prefect copy of his ring finger.
"Ah yes. I'd offer other hand but it's there too," he sighed as he lowered his hand.
"No, no it's okay!" Charlotte removed her top hat with the piece of veil on it she wore at an angle. Her full face now on display, she smiled at Rasputin. "You'll be just fine here at Phantasma."
On the other side of the park, Gustave and Arthur rode the Ferris Wheel for a second round. The youngest brother's eyes looked out over the edge of the basket, "It's all so big and there is just so much of it."
"Yes, New York is a large city. Please sit down, Arthur. I told Mama I would keep you safe."
"If we're testing the safety of the ride, wouldn't it be better if I stood?"
Gustave sighed, "Arthur, sit down or this will be the last time we test this today."
The boy obliged scooting right up next to his brother. The two were silent for a minute before the younger one spoke again, "What's it like being grown?"
Gustave looked out over the city now, "I haven't really thought about it. I've always been responsible and taking care of people; Mama, Charlotte when she was your age and younger, helping Papa with the rides and shows here…sometimes it just felt like my body got bigger."
"Did you ever have marks or defects on your face?"
Gustave sighed, "No. I have never been like you, Charlotte or Papa. I have birthmarks elsewhere on my body but they are still nothing like yours."
"May I see them?"
"Right now?" The young man laughed nervously.
"Yes, why not?"
"They are not in the most appropriate place to show."
"Neither is mine but I didn't get to pick."
"You are rather precocious, aren't you?"
"Mother says that too! That I'm precocious just like my big brother if only more so. We have something in common! What does it mean?"
Gustave's eyes narrowed at the boy, "What do they have you doing? Singing? Writing? Playing piano?"
"I like reading! And drawing. And I can build an amazing sandcastle. Charlotte says she has a bunch of blocks she used to build things with that she's too grown for I can have. Is that what being grown is like? Not wanting to build with blocks?"
The Ferris Wheel came to a stop and Gustave opened the basket's door.
"Are we done for the day with the wheel?" Boris asked.
"We are."
"We are?" Arthur asked. "I thought you said if I didn't behave this round would be the last. I sat down. I get another ride."
"Arthur please; I have other things to do," Gustave stepped out of the basket. "I need to finish a few things on my automatons. I know Charlotte was out rehearsing her zebras."
"She was?" Boris asked as he pulled the full breaks on the ferris wheel. "Ask her if she met my cousin."
"Your cousin?"
"Yes. Mr. Y went to the Lower East Side the other day when I told him I had some family who recently got here from Russia looking for work."
"Aren't you from Mississippi?" Arthur pulled on his vest, still not getting out of the basket.
"You're worse than Charlotte," Boris snapped. "Anyway, my cousin did circus work in Russia mostly with animals. I told your father he would be great in handling the expanding animals we have."
"I am sure you will see her at some point. Or you can even ask your cousin. You will probably see him sooner than you'll see me again," Gustave pulled out his pocket watch and looked at the time. "Come on, Arthur."
Christine returned home later than expected and found Charlotte sitting at her father's side.
"Why didn't you tell me Dada was ill?" She looked up.
"You had already left for the day. There was no point in ruining your mood. He's going to be fine; just a mild case of dysentery."
"You don't know that!" Charlotte took her father's hand and squeezed it, "Dada, you need more fluids. Do you want to some broth?"
Erik lazily opened his eyes, "Oh, Charlotte…I just ate that soup you made me. You know I can't eat too much or…"
"You have to try, Dada!" The girl stood. "I am going to get you some broth. I believe you can handle that. And I will make another pot of tea. When I return, we need to check your fever." Charlotte walked past her mother as she left the room, not saying a word to her.
"I see you have a nurse; I am going to make myself comfortable in a guest bedroom," Christine quipped.
"Angel," Erik whispered as he slowly lifted his hand.
Christine smiled as she sat down on the other side of the bed next to him, "And how are we feeling?"
"Don't make me eat that broth," He sat up. "I finished actual soup over an hour ago and I don't feel like I have to shit. If I eat the broth, I know I will."
"She's never really seen you ill. She's just concerned and you're not as likely to put on dramatics with her. Speaking of dramatics; do you want to hear how rehearsal went today?"
"How did rehearsal happen without me?"
The Diva bit her lip and looked down at the bed before looking back up at her husband, "I decided to direct today. I had all your notes and I already know most of what you are thinking. I had Violet stand in place for me and learn the staging." She smiled, "I did add a few things I think you will approve of; a couple of womanly touches."
"Christine, no! I have my vision for…oh…" The Phantom laid back down and curled into himself. "Oh…my stomach!"
Christine placed the outside of her hand against his forehead. "You don't feel as hot as you did earlier today."
"We will soon know. Charlotte sent Bridgette to get a thermometer," The Angel of Music then started crying. "I want my wife taking care of me, not my daughter!"
"Erik, Angel, I'm right here," Christine wiped his tears away gently. "I'm right here."