Beauty Of Music

Chapter 20

Catherine awaited Erik's return, but how long she had actually been waiting was unclear since there was no way of telling how much time had passed since Carriere had left her or if it was morning or evening. She spent a majority of her time standing by the window looking out onto Erik's home and there was deathly silence all around. That is until, Catherine heard a faint sound in the air that seemed to be growing louder and she soon realised it was flute music being played, the tune was calming and almost hypnotic. She looked all around to try and find the source of the music and it seemed to be coming from down a dim lit hallway, next to the entrance to the room, and she decided to follow it. On her way out she grabbed a candelabra from a pedestal with her right hand then proceeded on her way down the hallway with caution. It wasn't long until she came to a black, wooden door with a brass handle and without knocking she pushed the handle down with her free hand and pushed the door open slowly. The room she enter appeared to be a music room with a grand piano, but there was also a dressing table on the right with an array of different masks hanging above it. Erik was standing on the right side of the room with his back to Catherine and she knew why when she noticed his mask resting on top of the Piano. He was wearing a white shirt, a golden colour waist coat, black trousers, and black boots.

He stopped playing his flute the minute Catherine entered the room, placed it on the music stand in front of him, took a few steps back, grabbed his mask from the Piano and placed it on his face, before turning around to greet Catherine.

"Good Morning, did you sleep well?" he said as he tied the ribbons of his mask behind his head.

Catherine didn't speak but nod her head 'yes' as she stood in the threshold, holding the candelabra in both hands.

"I like that room. Good cozy bed, pleasant water view" Erik commented.

Catherine nod her head 'yes' again and smiled softly.

"Well, what should we do today? Hm?" asked Erik.

Catherine shrugged her shoulders.

"I have an idea, how about a picnic?" asked Erik in an enthusiastic tone.

"A picnic?" asked Catherine in an incredulous tone.

"Yes! Down through the woods there's a quiet little spot I know. We won't be interrupted there and while we stroll, I can show you where I live, my domain" said Erik with enthusiasm as he walked towards the dressing table.

He picked up a straw boater hat with a back ribbon around it.

"Hat, do you think? Formal touch?" he asked as he held it up for a moment then placed it on his head.

Catherine entered the room as he spoke and placed the candelabra on a table. She turned to look at him wearing the hat, tilted her head a little and smiled at him because she thought it suited him very well.

"Hm? Yes, I think so too. And of course, a walking cane" he said as he picked up a walking can from an umbrella stand, next to the dressing table.

He then walks over to the other side of the room.

"And to complete our little outing, viola!" he said, tapping his walking cane onto a premade picnic basket before picking it up with his left hand.

He walks over to Catherine and stands to her left side, holding his arm out to her to take.

"Shall we go?" he asked.

Catherine linked her arm with his and smiled up at him.

Erik leads her towards a set of double door with stain glass windows, to her astonishment the doors opened on their own to reveal a huge cavern, violin music was playing from an unseen source and to the right there was opening that appeared to lead out into a forest, which was impossible since they were five stories underground. Once the doors opened all the way, Erik led her towards the entrance to the underground forest.