She holds his face in her hands and kisses him, forcing him to respond, pressing her lips hard against his, her tongue entering his mouth, breathing her life into him, "I love you. I love you."

The truth of her love and compassion reaches to the depths of his pain and calms him. He relaxes and holds the back of her head with his hand, returning her kiss – bringing her closer to him. "I love you." Tears flow from his eyes. "I cannot bear this pain anymore."

"Tell him, my darling. Free yourself," she pleads with him.

Erik helps her back into the coach. He returns to his seat, pressing his head into his hands. His hat falls to the floor, Christine picks it up and places it on her lap.

She smooths his wig, then massages his neck and rubs his back. Her eyes meet Pere Mansart's in a plea. "He would like to make his Confession."

Pere Mansart nods, then removes a purple stole from his pocket, after kissing it, he places it around his neck. "Monsieur and Madame, I cannot express sufficient sorrow for intruding into your life like this. What I hope is, this is one of those mystical meetings assisting us on our respective journeys."

Erik lifts his head to face him, his voice harsh as he growls, "I was born a monster. That is what I was told – not in those words, but the truth, nonetheless. My mother refused to touch me or let me touch her. I was a child – her child, but she would not kiss me. I first saw my face when I was 5 years old, on my birthday – she gave me a mirror. I saw a monster in the mirror and was terrified. The broken glass nearly caused my death – but dear Marie took care of me. Still I wanted my mother. She told me what I saw in the mirror was me. I thought it was a mystery – the mirror hid my face and only showed me the monster. Then I realized the face was mine. I was the monster.

"This face." He removes his mask. "Older, wizened, but you can imagine this face on a child. Imagine further if you were that child."

The barest twitch of his left eye and the faintest intake of breath are the only indications Pere Mansart gives to suggest that Erik's revelation is anything more than someone frowning or grimacing at him. No shock or fear is evidenced on the priest's face. Soft brown eyes are sad, years of seeing the pain of others is reflected in the gentle way he gazes at the burden Erik carries – has carried.

The priest's lacking the expected response of horror takes Erik aback – assuaging much of his anger. The recitation becomes almost rote, a litany of sins expressed without emotion. "After I ran away, I became a true monster. I was beaten, mercilessly at times, scarred by others, later I stole and I murdered for hire – life meant nothing to me – neither mine nor anyone else's. Life was pain – that which I experienced and that which I could inflict on others. I would eventually create tortures for people so they would die the harshest deaths possible – at the whims of a Persian princess…and to keep this ruined body alive.

"Then I met a dying child who loved me." Golden eyes soften at the memory of Reza. "And a man who saw some remnant of humanity in me – who would ultimately risk his life to save mine, thus freeing me from the bondage of the Persian palace.

"I tried to become human again. It was difficult with this face. From childhood I was taught by experience that my face was enough to engender hatred. To your uncle's credit, he tried to help me. I stopped believing in him or any sort of merciful God, but that had nothing to do with him – his heart was pure – he saved my life many times after I left when remembering his counsel. Ultimatel, I learned that there were other people who could care about me. Had I not known him or Marie Perrault, I would not have experienced any sort of human love as a child."

He turns to face Christine, her smile hopeful. "Then, this incredible woman came into my life and somehow learned to love me – as raw and rough as I was in my treatment of her. Not knowing how to love anyone, I just took her. Her response was to kiss me, the first person to ever kiss me, and tell me she loved me… and married me." He sighs, exhausted. "That is my life, emptied here in this carriage at your feet. Are your questions answered?"

"Yes, they are. He believed that he betrayed you. I am happy to know that he did not. My prayer is that he somehow had an awareness of that before life left his body."

"He did what he knew…the exorcism…" Erik's voice drifts off. "He wore a similar scarf during the act."

"This is the stole for both the Sacrament of Confession and for exorcisms – purple is the color of healing," he explains. "I must ask you: do you regret the times you felt you had no soul – your acts, whatever they may have been? It appears that this is the case – you 'tried to become human again' are the words you used."

"Yes, I suppose I do." Erik responds. "When I thought I was going to lose Christine and she showed me compassion instead of hate for my behavior, I knew I had to let her go. She had to be free, even if it meant I was to be alone. I could not hate anymore. There had already been too much pain."

Christine shifts closer to him, her arm in his, clutching his hand.

"I absolve you of your sins, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," he says the words while making the sign of the cross, blessing both Erik and Christine.

"What was that?"

"You made a confession of your life and those things you were penitent about and I, as an ordained priest, absolved you," Pere smiles at him. "You said that your wife wished you to receive the sacrament of Confession. You have fulfilled her wish."

"That is all?" Erik is astounded, relieved. He replaces his mask and hat. "There are no prayers I must offer? Acts I must fulfill?"

"There is a prayer, called the Act of Contrition, would you be willing to pray? I do not want to force anything on you. I realize that the Church has not been kind to you."

Erik looks to Christine. She nods.

"My wife seems to think that this might help me, so I am willing to say this prayer."

"Fine then, just repeat the words after me: O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve with the help of thy grace to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life."

Erik follows Pere Mansart's lead, murmuring, "Amen" in unison with the priest.