A Phantom and His Family

Chapter 9: The Trouble with Guilt

Madeleine's POV

I sat at the dining room table the rest of the night, my mind taking in all of what Erik had said.  I had always had my suspicions that his life would be hard, torturous even, but never had it ever crossed my mind that it would be that bad.

I would have never suspected that he was violated and almost raped at such a young age. 

Instant regret and sadness had consumed me at that moment and all I could do was to tell him that I looked forward to him and his family leaving. I really didn't mean to say that, I really didn't! I wouldn't wish that on my worse enemy. I was just so shocked and the guilt was so great that I couldn't bear the sight of him anymore. 

The sun had risen when I decided to get up from my seat and head back upstairs towards my room and I was almost there when I noticed two children sneaking into the hall, a toy shaped as a monkey sitting on a box with cymbals in his paws in the boy's hand and a book in the girl's. Erik's children. My grandchildren.

It felt so strange to call them that. I always thought that he would spend his adult life all alone, never to know of a woman's love or caress, much less be able to father children. And yet, here they were, their skin a caramel color as a result of having a dark-skinned mother. Their features were unlike Erik's and more like his wife's, but I could still tell that they were blood. Mainly because their eyes were close to the same hue as his. 

Curious as to why they were in the hall, I hid in a corner and observed them from afar. 

"Is daddy and mommy awake yet, Ozzie?" The girl asked as she cracked open her book and began to read. 

"Not yet, Tia," he replied as he began to wind up a crank that was placed at the side of the box.

The boy finished turning the crank and the toy came to life as the monkey clashed his cymbals together while a merry tune played. They sat in silence for a few minutes as the music continued and the girl continued to read her book, oblivious that I was watching them. Suddenly, the boy spoke.

"Tia, why do you think daddy doesn't really like Miss Madeleine? I mean, she said that she is his mommy and we're supposed to love our mommies and daddies." 

The girl paused as she marked her place in the book and placed it next to her. 

"I don't know, Ozzie. Daddy said that he didn't really have a family before he met Mommy. He said that his mommy was a very mean lady and that he ran away from home when he was little."

"So, you think that she's really his mommy?"

"She is," She replied as she began to take her book up again to read, "I can tell." 

My blood ran cold as I felt my heart sink into the pit of my stomach. It seemed that at least one of his children had inherited his inquisitiveness. The girl seemed to be able to see through my soul and find all of the things that I wanted to hide. It was as if every hidden, wicked thought was as plain as day to her, just as it was with her father.

I continued to watch them as the door to their parents' room opened to reveal their mother as she clutched a nightrobe around herself. I didn't feel at all comfortable with having a daughter-in-law, much less one with brown skin, but I had to admit that he had good taste. She was a very beautiful woman. Strong too if she was able to fell one of our strongest villagers that were a foot taller than her and twice her size.

"Tia, Ozzie? Why are you two up so early? And why are y'all in the hallway?"

"We were bored, mommy. Is daddy up yet? I have a question." The boy asked, peeking behind her to see if he was awake.