Problems Have a Way of Fixing Themselves (Vladimir/Syerren/Christine)

In the study with his body arched forward in regret from all the challenges facing him, Vladimir thought constantly of ways in which he could get by Mildred. While refraining from telling Syerren or anyone detail of what was to occur, he sighed raising his head and stared at the blazing fire. Hearing then a knock on the door break his concentration, Vlad leered back towards the door as Syerren came in. “Brother, are you alright?” Sinking down into the chair he nodded, “Yeah . . . I just hope . . .” he paused, hearing the clock chime a new hour.

Seeing Syerren glare at him peculiarly, Vladimir shook off his worry and grinned, “Never mind, everything is fine.” Vanishing before him and then reappearing at the top of the stairs, Vladimir stared at the door leading to where he placed Mildred. Feeling it was time, he smoothed out his hair knowing it was time to perform a deed most vile. Knocking then opening the door, half expecting the room to be engulfed in candle light, he was glared inside finding it completely empty. Slightly worried that he did something displeasing and now is facing punishment, Vlad moved in looking around for her but didn’t find her. Calling to her he looked around felling no trace at all of Mildred Attenburgh.

Not liking it one bit, Vladimir left the room but glanced back once more to be sure. “How strange,” he thought to himself. While slightly relieved that no act of adultery had to occur, a slight fear came upon him that his brother was dead. Quickly running down the stairs he only bumped into him and grinned. “Syerren . . . you’re alright.” “Yes . . . I’m fine Vlad. What’s wrong with you?” Putting pressure on his head as he moved towards the drawing room he spoke, “I don't know.” “What happened with Mildred? That was a matter of life and death?” He looked back grinning “I don't know what happened. I just feel as though everything is over and done, except I fear for your mortality.” Smiling then approaching him, Syerren patted his shoulder, “Try not to worry brother. I’ll be fine. I’m sure of it.”

The following morning, Syerren woke from his bed looking around then grinning that he got to enjoy another blessed day of being mortal. Only then recalling Vladimir’s strange behaviour, he tried not to let it get to him, knowing how protective he was. Coming downstairs after getting dressed, he soon left hastily, making his way towards the winding road into town then to where Christine was staying. Hoping she was alright after the mess that had occurred, Syerren looked around at the shops passing and then had an idea. After spending an hour or two he looked down at the certificate he had purchased of a new grand piano that only had to be picked up. Approaching her home while surprised it looked a little better kept than before, Syerren knocked on the door hoping only, Christine would want to see him again.

After getting a slim amount of rest for fear of intruders returning while she was asleep, Christine had awoken early and started cleaning up her house, unable to bear to look at it so messy. Sweeping the place where her old piano used to sit, she sighed, feeling tears come to her eyes not for the loss of the instrument, but for the loss of her lifetime dream.

Going over to her sofa, she sat down and lay back, staring up at the ceiling, having half the mind to call Syerren, but then figuring that if he had wanted to talk to her, then he would have done so already. Plus, she hadn't recalled him giving her a phone number strangely. Jumping then as there was a knock on the door, she got up, wiping away the stray tears on her face, then walked towards the door, opening it and to her surprise, seeing Syerren.

Without holding back, she jumped forward into his arms, nearly letting go and crying as he held her close. Pulling herself together, Christine stepped back inside of her house, smiling at him. "It's nice to see that you have come to visit me this morning. I was actually just thinking of calling you but . . . well, that doesn't matter now."

Relieved in seeing she was in a better state than before and happy to know he was thought of, Syerren grinned at her then then moved inside. “Well I came to check upon you as last night, I didn’t want you to leave but . . . I guess my brother had a point as he had a lot on his mind these past days." Feeling slightly awkward, he leaned against the wall, "So . . .” he paused looking around at the place. “I’m surprised you’ve managed to clean up after everything you’ve gone through. Has there been any word of robber?” Seeing Christine give a sigh then shake her head while staring at the empty space where here piano was, Syerren smiled slightly taking out of his breast pocket an envelope. “Dear, with all the troubles you’ve gone through . . . I, and well my brother too thought we would give you this. I know it won’t be anything compared to your old one but I only hope that it . . .” then grew silent as she opened it.

"I . . . I don't know what to say," Christine spoke, gazing up from the piano receipt as she smiled. "Why . . . how did you manage to pay for this? Not even I have this kind of money to spend on a piano," she continued, feeling tears come to her eyes as she gazed up at Syerren, then wrapping her arms around him. "You don't know what this means to me and I don't know how to thank you."

“Please it was nothing really,” Syerren beamed, happy that Christine loved it. “Money means little to the family but when I learned that this happened I just felt it was the right thing to do and my brother and me were honoured in purchasing it.” Looking around the place picking up a few thing that were still on the floor, Syerren grinned back at her, “I’m sure it will look brilliant in here, once everything is straightened.” Sighing he crossed his arms, “So care to go pick it up? In case it might not be to your liking,” he laughed.

"Oh, I'm sure that I'll like it," Christine smiled, going and grabbing her bag. "I guess we'll have to get one of the delivery people to deliver it for us, since well, neither of us have an appropriate vehicle to transport it in," she smiled.

As they arrived at the musical instruments store, Christine quickly followed Syerren to the piano he had picked out, running her hands across it. "Wow, it's so much more than I expected," she spoke, walking around it and then rejoining Syerren as they waited on a clerk to help them with transportation. "Thank you again," she said, giving Syerren a quick, last minute peck on the cheek before diverting her attention to the store clerk.

Laughing slightly by her excitement, Syerren stared at her happily then back at the piano. “I’m very happy you are thrilled with it, my dear and here . . .” he moved over towards the front of it, “You haven’t seen the best part of it,” then gestured towards the engraving he had made with her name on it. Moving back Syerren watched Christine further examine it remaining to smile by her joy while just wanting everything to be perfect for her.

As the clerk returned with papers and spoke to him of transportation of it, Syerren quickly signed the paper then looked back to Christine as she was eager to get it. “Right . . . well we’ll have it shipped sometime this weekend or next week.” Syerren glared at the man, “Next week? Can’t we get it any sooner?” The clerk shrugged, “I’m afraid our transport can’t get here until then. So unless you have your own method . . .” Syerren turned around thinking what to do then saw Christine expression towards it, remembering her talk of a recital this weekend. Turning back around towards the clerk he glared, “Could it be possible if I pick it up early this evening?” The cashier shrugged “I . . . I suppose we can arrange something.” Syerren grinned nodding, “Excellent,” then turned around towards Christine. “I’ll get my brother and others to help and we’ll get it over to your house somehow.”

"That's so nice of you; but I could have waited if this is going to some how inconvenience any of you." Seeing Syerren dismiss the thought, Christine smiled, as the two walked from the store. "Well, I'm really at loss of words after all of this," she laughed. "What a great way to start my day. Would you like to come back to my place and have an early lunch? I was going to experiment with something new and it'd be nice to have a second opinion; or do you have something else you should be doing instead? It's ok if you do."

As it was arranged to pick up the piano later and that Syerren would have to somehow convince Vladimir to help him, he dismissed the thought for now listening to Christine consider another activity back at her place. Thinking for a moment as he looked out into the distance, Syerren shrugged knowing he didn’t really have anything else to do on such a nice day and grabbed her hand. “I’ll gladly come with you Christine. It’ll be fun; I must confess cooking was rather one of my great skills back when I . . .” he paused staring at her and shrugged and laughed, “well I guess it still is but nevertheless I’ll be happy to see what you come up with.” Moving from the store the two walked along the sidewalk to further their day.

~End Scene~