Delarioux

Chapter 4

-Present Day-

Michael looked on in distaste at the end of his very expensive black cloak. Grime and muck from the snow covered streets clung to the hem as if were some sort of black, stitched lifeline. He examined the bottom, trying to determine how long he would have to let it soak in warm water before he would even attempt to scrub. Maybe he could sweet talk Suzanna into doing it for him. With this thought he entered his home, making sure to cover his tracks, as he hid the day's newspaper behind himself. He wanted a chance to read it for himself before anyone else could get their dirty little hands on it. He peeked inside the living room, checking to see if it was indeed vacant. David was nowhere to be seen, and he assumed he hadn't finished sulking in his room after Erik had called him a "disease" or some such nonsense. He rolled his eyes. David had always been soft, his brothers teasing him whenever they got the chance.

Michael stepped inside, careful not to disturb the arguing that, at the present, was getting so loud that he was surprised that they hadn't ruptured their ear drums yet. He threw his cloak over the back of a chair, making his way to the kitchen. Throwing the paper onto the counter and flicking through the social section with an annoyed glance. It looked like the DeChangy's had finally plucked up the courage to announce the engagement. He got the mental picture of Christine limping down the aisle and couldn't help the chuckle that escaped him. What a wedding that would be. Then she'd be bound to that cursed family forever. He flicked over a couple of more meaningless pages about aristocrat gossip before his eyes hit the headline (he got a kick out of reading it backwards). His eyes drank in the information like a dying man in the desert.

"...investigators say.........body found.....opera ghost is no more...."

Well. Wasn't this a strange turn of events. He grinned, this would help his plans nicely. Moving was always something that he had intended to do, as Paris was becoming dangerous for them, and the last thing he wanted to hear was that one of his siblings had been arrested. Despite his cold exterior, he did care for them, though he often times didn't show it. This past year had been hard for all of them, Erik and Suzanna especially, and he didn't want to prolong their torture by staying in a place that held too many memories. A fresh start was what they needed. Where, he had no clue. But he had already made up his mind about leaving. He didn't care about the resistance he'd get, his decision was final. He heard a door slam on the far side of the house followed by the sound of a curtain practically being torn from the wall.

Ah, so one emerges.

He can't say that he was surprised to see Hugo run in, maskless with a bite mark so deep in his arm that the teeth marks were easily visible and broke skin. Blood ran down to his fingers where he clutched white tulle. His eyes were wild, he was obviously not in a stable frame of mind, however, Michael couldn't find the energy to care. His golden eyes peered over the newspaper as he drank in the sight. Hugo was now busying himself with stuffing the veil into the oven, movements rushed. Erik was no doubt chasing him, he wasn't one to give up easily. He lit a match with shaky fingers, igniting the wood. Michael looked on with a bored expression as the veil disappeared, as if it had never existed.

"Why did you do that?" Hugo turned, haggard eyes locking with his.

"Why would I let him keep something of hers? She's a disease!" he spat. Frantic angry footsteps could be heard making their way into the living room, making Hugo cringe. Erik emerged from his room from the first time in a week, though it wasn't in the circumstances that he would have hoped for.

A (hopefully verbal) sparring match was about to ensue.

"Where is it?" he hissed. Erik looked no better than his brother, as there were angry pink claw marks on his upper arms.