I awoke in the crypts of the Paris Opera House. Somehow I knew it was time. Sacree was here in Paris again and I had a physical body once more. I was disoriented for several moments not at all being used to my own weight. I had spent the past sixty-some years in a state of almost non-being. Some people might have called me a ghost.
The last thing I remembered was Sacree on a plane headed for France with a theatre troupe. I had spent the past years learning about Sacree and her world. Or as Dr. McCoy put it, "How to protect the word from her, and her from herself." It amazed me that Sacree still hadn't found out that I was following her, when almost every one else knew. I only had to keep the secret from Anakin because the two of them rarely kept anything from each other. That had been the tricky part because Anakin saw almost everything.
Finally I sat up and realized that the reason I was chilled was that I wasn't wearing anything at all. In the past when I had appeared to Sacree's friends I had always worn my traditional evening clothes or my silk robe. I had expected that that would be the case this time as well, but it was not. Since I was nearer the lake I made my way in that direction. Once I had made my way into my house I was able to find clothing. I knew Sacree had made several changes to the house. She had altered the heating, cooling and ventilation systems, improved the alarm systems, added a full kitchen and kept the whole house in good repair. I also knew she used my house on occasion.
I found everything neatly put away in my closet and all in good condition. Though I discovered several shirts missing. I could well guess where those were. I dressed and made my way through the torture chamber to the third cellar. I stopped cold when I saw my reflection.
I had forgotten about this. Before I had begun my life in my altered state I had been warned about what was going to happen. It was a good thing too, because I might have gone mad in the first year if I hadn't been warned. I had also been warned that when I did return to my physical self I would have changed. Not just in my gaining of knowledge, but in my physical appearance as well. Oh I was still my usual tall, skeletally thin self, but I looked like any other normal young man. I was no longer hideously deformed.
It took several moments for all this to sink in. When it finally did I left the house and headed upwards. I caught the refrains of music when I neared the theatre. Making my way to my box I hoped it was empty. I knew Sacree had it for the season, so I did not worry about coming upon some unknown stranger, but I did not want to run into Sacree either at the moment. I was well aware that my appearance was not going to have a calming affect on her and a crowded theatre was not the place to introduce my self. I was fortunate, no one was there. I recognized the music from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker. I took my seat and considered how I should approach the matter at hand.
The first thing I had to do was find Sacree. I knew she was in France, but not where. Then I had to approach her and whether the storm that was sure to result. I was not worried about myself, but I worried that she might hurt others or herself if she were not controlled. I decided the best way might be to lure her into the house on the lake. I knew that one of the changes Sacree had made to it was to sound proof the entire thing. Nothing short of a large explosion was going to be heard unless someone was listening for it.
I was lucky enough to find Sacree when the lights came up for intermission. She was sitting amongst the theatre people she had come with. I could almost see a glow around her. A dim shadow of the glow I had grown accustomed to seeing around her. Duncan had explained that it had to do with the ability to see magics. I thought Sacree's aura might be a little off color. I wondered if she were sick. I knew she had been pushing herself to hard recently. If I had been able to get close to her I would have put her to sleep, but Anakin had been keeping too close a watch over her recently and all I could do was watch from afar.
Once I had Sacree located I followed her, hoping for a chance to lead her back to the Opera. I never got the chance. I could tell she wasn't feeling well just by observing her from afar. She was not her usual active self. The Sacree I knew was almost never still. She often had ten things going on at once and could carry on several conversations at once, much to the distress of those sharing the conversation. Now she was barley keeping up with one conversation and managing her normal tasks. The closest she came to doing any thing extra was when she went ice-skating on opening night.
When Sebastian had to catch her before she fell one night I knew I had to move now. I could not just walk into the theatre not every one knew me, only Sebastian and Elizabeth really. I didn't want to interrupt the performance, so I went to the hotel. It was no work at all to get into the room. I waited there for them to return and so I heard the decision to let the lad become technical director until Sacree was better.
"At least she has some sense," I said aloud when Elizabeth and her father had left. Sacree had fallen asleep again.
"Do you always sit in the shadows and listen to peoples conversations?" the lad asked. He hadn't seen me clearly yet and only recognized my voice.
"Actually, yes. Though I prefer the comfort of a good book while I wait."
He laughed. "I can't say I agree with your earlier comment. I don't think she has any sense. Other wise she would have given me control before we started this run."
"An excellent point and one I'm inclined to agree with." I stood and moved to where Sacree had left her bags. She hadn't even unpacked yet.
"Good Lord!" exclaimed Sebastian when he saw me in the light. Sacree stirred at his raised voice. I quickly shushed him. She settled after a moment.
"Good Lord," he repeated in a softer tone.
"Something wrong?" I asked. I had grown accustomed to having a physical body over the past two weeks.
"You're . . . well . . . solid is the best way I can think of to describe it."
"That is one way of looking at it I suppose. Ah here it is." I found what I was looking for and pulled it out of Sacree's bag. I turned on the bedside lamp and turned to examine Sacree.
She hadn't even bothered to undress before falling asleep. She was asleep on top of the covers in black jeans, a turtleneck sweater and her black boots. The bed had not been made. Her skin was flushed from her fever. When I checked her pulse it was rapid and very faint.
"When was the last time she ate something?" I asked as I adjusted the device I had removed from Sacree's bag.
"She had some soup this morning," the lad said.
"How much is some?"
"Maybe a bowl about like this," he held up his hands. I guessed about 300 ml.
"Any thing besides that?"
"Not that I can think of."
"That's all right." I had the tricorder working by then. Dr. McCoy had shown me how to use it and I found that knowledge useful now. The readings showed what I feared might be true. Sacree had not been eating enough to keep her body weight up with her increased metabolism. She had a fast metabolism normally but when she was sick it increased further. She had lost weight over the past few days; it had dropped to an almost dangerous level. I had to get it back up quickly or she would become even worse. "I don't suppose the kitchen is open at this time of night," I sighed.
"It might be. Why?" asked the lad.
"I was wondering if it might be possible to get some ice cream."
"In this weather?"
I smiled ruefully at him. "I hadn't thought of that."
"I'll go ask Elizabeth," he left, sounding resigned.
I took the opportunity of his absence to undress Sacree and put one of my shirts on her. She had taken to sleeping in them after my death. That done I moved her to the other bed and set about righting hers. As Dr. McCoy has said, one of the key points of getting better is feeling comfortable. He also pointed out that you sleep better if you are comfortable.
"I didn't know you could do that," said Elizabeth when she and Sebastian returned. He must have warned her about my changed appearance because she seemed to take it in stride.
"I am a man of many talents," I said tucking in the last of the blankets.
"Do you do windows too?"
"No. I don't have a house with windows so I never learned that one." I picked Sacree up and after pulling back the covers I put her in the newly made bed. She snuggled down with a sigh.
"You're in luck. There's an Mc Donald's down the street," said Elizabeth. "Sebastian said you wanted some ice cream."
"Yes. Thank you."
She handed me a container of Vanilla ice cream. "Oh no problem. Dad's gonna just love this too," she yawned.
"You should get some sleep too Elizabeth, " the lad said.
"I know bout now I'm going to worry all night about Sac. I mean if Erik's here that means she's got to be really sic right?"
"I've come before when she was not sick," I pointed out.
"Yeah, but now you're real."
"She does have a point."
"I assure you my being here now has nothing to do with Sacree getting sick," I didn't want Elizabeth getting sick too. She tended to worry too much about things outside of her control. I needed to worry about Sacree now.
"I hope you're right," she sighed. Sebastian walked her back to her room to make sure she went to bed. I sat down on Sacree's bed and pulled a spare blanket off the foot of the bed. I supposed I shouldn't disturb her, but I wanted the excuse to hold her again. I moved her from the bed to my lap and covered her with the blanket before she could get cold. For a few moments I just held her. When she started to stir I realized I'd better hurry before she awoke. I fed her the ice cream slowly. The boy came back and I managed to convince him to get some sleep as well. Sacree woke up several times during the night hungry and I was forced to go out to get her something to eat. I had fallen asleep in an armchair around eight that morning after feeding Sacree again. The boy was just starting to wake up so I didn't worry that she would wake and no one would hear her. Sometime later that morning I was awoken by their voices.
"Sebastian, I don't feel good," she said.
"I know you don't. Can I get you something?" The boy had just finished getting dressed.
"I want my Mya."
"She's not here right now, Sac. Are you hungry?" he sat facing her on the bed.
"No. Yes. I don't know. I just don't feel good."
"What kind of not good?"
"I'm cold and I can't get warm."
"All right."
I wondered what he was going to do she already had every available blanket on her bed. I was surprised when he kicked off his shoes which he had just put on and loosened his shirt. I realized his intent when he pulled back the covers and then climbed in bed with her. I started out of my chair in that instant until I remembered that there was no was I could take his place, not if I wanted to help her. But that didn't stop me from becoming jealous. When Sacree cuddled up in his arms I knew I had to leave quickly.
I spent several hours walking through Paris hoping the winter air would cool my temper.
Chapter 4