A New Beginning

Chapter 35

"Where is Gustave? Is he coming?" Erik asked Christine as he brought out the food and set it on the table.

Christine smiled and sat down beside Lotte, slightly fixing her daughter's bow. "He'll be down in just a minute," she replied.

Erik nodded and talked to Christine about his day, and she did the same. When they turned to Lotte to ask her how her day had been, Erik found she was extremely pale. Christine rose from her seat and went over to her. "Lotte, sweetie, do you feel okay?" she asked her worriedly. Lotte nodded absent-mindedly and pointed at the staircase, where a nervous Gustave stood.

"Who is that?" Lotte asked shakily.

Christine rubbed her shoulders, "That's just Gustave, he just decided not to wear his mask tonight."

"O-oh..." 

Lotte seemed to understand what was going on and she wasn't scared, but she was still pale from the shock and seemed to still be processing the scene.

Erik threw daggers at his son from his seat and eventually stood up. "Gustave, I need to talk to you in your room," he growled and made his way over to him.

"Erik, I don't think that's necessary," Christine intervened.

"In private," Erik finished and pulled Gustave upstairs by the arm.

Christine stayed with Lotte, trying to calm her down even when she was frightened herself of what was going through Erik's mind in that moment.

"Explain yourself," Erik told Gustave as he stood in front of him.

"I- mommy said I was allowed to eat dinner without it tonight," he stuttered, looking down at his feet and fidgeting with his fingers.

"That is not what we had agreed on."

Gustave hung his head, "I know."

"What do you have to say for yourself?"

"I'm sorry," Gustave breathed guiltily.

Erik turned red in the face and his hands balled into fists. "Didn't you see the look on your sister's face? She was paler that your mask, Gustave. You scared her half to death and all you have to say for yourself is 'I'm sorry'?"

Gustave just looked at the ground, unsure of what to do or say.

Erik leaned down to look at his son in the eyes. "Gustave, look at me," he ordered, a little harsher than he had meant to. Gustave slowly raised his head and then his eyes, only a second later before his father's palm came in contact with his face. The boy flinched and closed his eyes at the impact that left a red mark in no time. "You're going to buy your sister some flowers and you are going to apologize to her in the morning, until then you will stay in your room," Erik said and left without another word.

Meanwhile, Christine talked to Lotte at the table. "But mommy, why does he look like that?" the girl asked.

"It's a long story angel," Christine sighed, "but could you help him feel better? He's probably really upset right now."

Lotte frowned, "But he didn't do anything wrong."

"Exactly, so he shouldn't be feeling bad, right? I need you to let him know how you still love him and don't care about what he looks like, can you do that for me?"

Lotte smiled and nodded. "Yes, of course!"

They finished dinner with small talk and then Christine took her upstairs to tuck her in. "Mommy?"

"Yes, angel?"

"Does daddy look like that too? Is that why Gustave looks like that? He got it from daddy?" Lotte asked softly.

Christine sighed, thinking for the right answer, "That is something daddy has to tell you. Now, get some sleep," she smiled and kissed her daughter on the forehead before leaving the room. She went to check on Gustave, but she found the door was locked, and she sighed.

She got back to her bedroom and closed the door behind her, "Erik may I speak to you?"