Chapter 10. Hide Your Face So the World Will Never Find You
Louis was still holding her when Count Philippe walked over.
"So sorry, my dear," he said. "Too much wrist. You may return her to me now, Monsieur."
"I think not."
Count Philippe blinked several times, clearly surprised by his answer. "What? I don't believe you know who-"
"Oh, I know perfectly well who you are, Count," Louis spat the other man's title. "But I'm cutting in. Surely you can spare me one dance with the lady. Perhaps you'd care to fetch a drink?"
Count Philippe looked at Louis, then her, and back to Louis. "If you'll excuse me for a moment." He stalked in the direction of the punch bowl, throwing glances over his shoulder and muttering the entire time.
Corinne gulped. Louis spun her around to face him and they were soon swaying to the music. His brown eyes burned intensely into hers.
"I cannot believe that you would attend such a ridiculous event and on the arm of Philippe of all people!" He spoke through clenched teeth.
"Excuse me?" Corinne glared at him. "You're the one who's been cancelling our lessons for the past week. And why is it your business who I'm here with? Are you jealous of Count Philippe, Louis?" A small part of her wished he was.
Louis growled, pulling her closer. For a moment she thought he might kiss her. Instead, he grabbed her by the arm and dragged her from the ballroom. They made quite a pair; she in her shimmering, jeweled gown and he in his garish red marshall's ensemble with a matching cape billowing behind him. His stark white mask was crafted to resemble a skull.
La Mort Rouge. The Red Death, Corinne realized.
Once they were out of sight, Louis touched a spot on the wall and it opened. He thrust her into the passageways. Corinne clawed at his arm, shouting curses as he continued to drag her. He merely huffed in annoyance, throwing her over his shoulder before continuing his descent.
He dropped her rather harshly in their training room.
"Louis offers to teach you!" He shouted, chest heaving. "To take you under his wing and guide you! And you betray him!"
"I have not!" Corinne screamed. "I've done everything you said! You were the one cancelling our lessons!"
"You were with him!" He hissed.
"You mean Count Philippe?" Corinne was confused. "I don't see why that's an issue right now!"
"You belong to me!"
Corinne reached for a sword. "I am not you possession!" She lunged at him.
His cape fell from his shoulders. He pulled out a matching blade. "Yes!" He laughed maniacally. "Let us dance!"
With a resounding crack their swords met. Above them, the fireworks show had begun. For the most part Corinne dodged Louis' attacks. He swung wildly and with such force that when their blades touched, it sent reverberations throughout her entire body. She couldn't take much more of this. Seeing a chance, Corinne struck his forearm with her sword. Blood trickled to the ground.
Louis dropped his weapon. "That was a dirty move, D'Artagnan." He spat.
"You deserved it."
"I know."
Silence. She watched as the fire drained from his eyes. She also saw blood still flowing freely from the wound she'd caused. Feeling only slightly guilty, Corinne stepped towards him and began undoing the buttons on his jacket. Louis immediately jumped back.
"What are you doing?" He shrieked.
"Trying to help!" She explained. "I can't do anything about your wound with that ridiculous outfit in the way. Unless you'd prefer to bleed everywhere."
He continued to eye her suspiciously. Arms crossed, she tapped her foot waiting.
"All right," he sighed. "Fine. The washroom is this way." She followed him through the corridor, a triumphant smile on her lips.
Corinne was surprised by the size of the washroom. It was larger than she'd expected. A huge wardrobe sat opposite to an enormous tub against the far wall. There were taps on both the tub and sink, and she was shocked to find that he had running water below the castle. Another thing she observed was the explicit lack of a mirror. She shook the thought and set about her task, quickly dampening a rag.
When she turned to Louis, he had removed his jacket and shirt, both neatly folded on the countertop. She blushed a little at seeing his exposed chest and he smirked. Resisting the urge to hit him again, she touched the rag to the cut. Louis hissed.
"Look, I'm sorry, okay," Corinne said. "I wasn't thinking and-"
"Corinne, stop. You shouldn't be apologizing. I should. I was out of control and I let my temper get the best of me." He shuddered. "I hate to think of what I might have done if you hadn't snapped me out of it."
"How about we call it even?"
"Deal."
"One more thing though. What exactly is your problem with Count Philippe?" Corinne asked.
Louis shook his head. "That's a story I'd rather not get into at the moment."
"Fine. But you will have to tell me eventually."
"Not if I can help it."
...
At the masquerade ball, Philippe walked back to where he'd left his date and the strange gentleman, two drinks in hand. He would have liked to return sooner, but a conversation with Monsieur Treville and the fireworks display had detained him. He was eager to return to his date and perhaps inform the gentleman the proper way to address royalty. A few nights in the dungeon would certainly do the trick.
The gentleman was gone, however, and so was his date for that matter. Philippe cursed. A quick scan of the ballroom yielded no results. Neither were anywhere in sight. Refusing to be spurned by a mere maid, Philippe stalked out of the ballroom in search of the blonde maiden and her masked companion.
...
Apparently there's a character limit for chapter titles. And this one broke it. :P That's why your notification only shows half the title. Anyways, I just really love this chapter. So many things happen! Corinne and Louis dance together. Louis may or may not have "kidnapped" Corinne from a formal event. Corinne practically stabs Louis. And Philippe gets ditched! What a night! Wonder if they'll be any serious repercussions to some of what went down...?