"I suppose you are right," he said dejectedly. Christine gave him one last smile before slipping out of the room. Sienna's chambers lay not far from her own and when she reached them she knocked softly on the door. A soft assent greeted her knock and Christine silently made her way into the room. Sienna smiled at her from her place on the floor in front of the roaring fire. Her black locks were loose and Sienna was coming the thick mass as she stared into the flames. Christine went and sat down beside her, not saying anything for a moment.
"I am sorry it has taken me so long to come and see you," Christine apologized. Sienna shook her head.
"That is quite alright, I know you have been spending time with your husband. Besides, Monsieur Daae has been most kind to me," the young Roman girl said softly. A dreamy expression crossed the young girls olive green eyes when she spoke Anthony's name. Christine wondered if Anthony was as taken by this young girl as she was with him. Sienna turned to her, a happy expression on her face.
"Oh, Christine, you are so lucky to live like this!" Sienna said, her voice full of awe. Christine smiled and said nothing.
"Sienna, my husband is taking me back to our home here in Rome, would you like to come with us?" Christine asked. She would like Sienna to come with them because she truly liked the young girl but she wanted her to choose.
"Your husband would not mind?" Sienna asked. She had never talked to the man but he seemed rather frightening to her and she did not want to go if he did not want her.
"If you do not mind leaving your home," Christine said. In truth she had not discussed it with Erik but she would make him agree. She knew his weakness now, her body. If he did not let Sienna come she would not let Erik touch her. It seemed fair to her.
"I have no one, Christine. I would like to stay with you if I would not be imposing," she said. Christine laughed softly.
"In a house as big as this one I am sure no one would be able to impose!" Christine assured her.
"Then I would very much like to go with you," she said, although she was saddened by the fact that she would not see much of Anthony. Christine smiled and hugged her tightly.
"I think of you as a good friend, Sienna," Christine informed her.
"The same with me," the Italian girl answered. A knock on the door interrupted their conversation and both women were surprised to see Anthony come in.
"Oh...pardon the intrusion, ladies," Anthony said, surprised that his sister was there. He had not seen her since earlier and it angered him because he knew all to well what she was doing with her husband. He had hoped to find Sienna alone but obviously that was too much to ask for.
"Sienna, I had hoped that perhaps you would do me the honor of coming with me to supper tonight?" he asked, not quite looking at her. Christine had to hide her small giggle at how boyish her older brother looked. Sienna glanced at Christine who nodded her head urgently. She would not let her friend ruin such an opportunity.
"I would be honored, Monsieur," Sienna said. Anthony's shoulders visibly relaxed and both women noticed.
"Will an hours time suffice?" he wondered.
"I will help her to change," Christine said and Sienna nodded. Anthony gave a small bow and left the room. Both girls erupted in a mass of giggles.
"He looked so nervous!" Christine laughed. Sienna could not even answer.
Flashback
Paris
The Delauney Manor
December 1859
Erik's small hands covered his ears as he pressed his face into the pillow, trying to block out the sounds of her screams. He had been with the Delauney's for a little over three months and he had found himself blessed to have been given such a wonderful gift. He had come to think of Emma as his older sister because she was always there whenever he needed her. He often had nightmares about different things he had seen in the streets of Paris, the first time he had had such a dream he had woken up to Emma's arms wrapped tightly around him, shushing him back into sleep. Now, whenever he had a nightmare all he had to do was go to Emma's room and knock on her door and she would let him sleep with her and he would not have the nightmares.
Only one thing caused him dread in his new life; when Isaac came home drunk. When this happened he would find Emma where ever she was and he would beat her. Sometimes it would be for mere momentsuntil he passed out or, like now, it would be for a couple hours. Isaac had noticed quickly the sibling relationship Emma and Erik were beginning to share. Emma stood up for him whenever Isaac began to taunt or push Erik around and it always ended up with Emma getting punished. But on nights like this when he came home drunk Isaac would make sure that Erik was present to watch his 'beloved sister' as Isaac called her, get beaten.
But tonight was too much. It had been going on for over an hour and Emma's screams were becoming more pained and tortured. He knew the whole house heard it but no one ever came and did anything. Erik hated all of them because of it. Erik rallied his courage and lifted his head from the bed so he could look at Emma. She was at Isaac's feet and although she still had enough strength to scream her body was limp and lifeless. He kicked and hit her and sometimes used objects near him to hit her as well. In his hands at the moment was the cane he sometimes carried around with him. Erik could see blood and he knew that he could not let this continue, no matter how afraid he was of Isaac and his beatings. Scrambling from the bed Erik ran to Isaac and grabbed his arm.
"Stop! Stop!" he screamed. Isaac flung him off of him easily but Erik persisted and ran to him again. This time when Isaac threw him from him he hit him roughly with the cane. Erik cried out and collapsed beside Emma.
"Stop! Leave him alone!" Emma pleaded. This only caused Isaac to hit her again and Erik picked himself up and barreled into Isaac. This might not have been enough to knock a grown man over in most circumstances, but Isaac was extremely intoxicated and already had trouble standing up. So when Erik, even with his small body, ran into him, it effectively knocked him to the ground. Isaac growled angrily and bodily grabbed Erik and threw him from him. His small body hit the wall and crumpled to the floor. Emma's scream was blood curdling this time. Isaac picked himself up and grabbed his cane, this time heading for Erik. The door opened and Michael came in. He went to his son and took the cane from his hand and grabbed his arm.
"Enough, son, enough," Michael said, not even glancing at his daughter or Erik. Isaac wanted to protest but Michael lead his son from the room. Erik could not believe his eyes. Emma's own father did not care that she was being beaten by her brother. How could that be?
"Emma?" Erik whispered, crawling over to where she was lying, a heap of bruises and blood. She raised a arm weakly and caressed his cheek before her arm fell limply at her side. Erik curled himself up next to her and allowed himself to cry.
"You're a good boy, Erik, and I love you like my brother," she whispered before succumbing to the blackness.
End of Flashback.