Chapter 10: Guilliame's Secret

In the dead of the night, nothing roamed the streets of Paris. A few rats scurried in the alleyways and the voices of drunken men mixed with the shouts of the prostitutes in the saloons. Only one decent living human being roamed the streets. Her cloak flew out behind her as she ran. She knew where she was going and no one could deter her. Along the streets she raced until she came to the dark Opera House. She slipped in through an unlocked door. Cautiously, she made her way to the back door to the Phantom's Lair.

When Caroline opened the door, she realized how dark the passage was. The lanterns that lined the way down were unlit. She found a match left out by the crew and found a lantern to light. Upon getting a fire going, she made her way to the lake. She hung her lantern on her boat and began to go across.

Music reached her ears; someone in the lair was playing the organ. Upon hearing it get louder, Caroline realized it was the piece Guilliame had played for her their first lesson. Erik had written it for one of his students. Raoul had mentioned Erik trying to take Christine away from him. In the trace-like state the music was placing her in, Caroline could still put the two together. Christine was Erik's student, whom he had obviously fallen in love with .Christine; however, did not feel the same way and left him heartbroken, for Raoul. Caroline wondered, as the song ended, whether or not the same would be true of her and Guilliame.

The boat landed and Caroline got out. She entered the lair and lost her breath. She struggled against whatever was cutting of her oxygen as she tried not to panic. Relief and air swept through her system when she heard Guilliame say her name. Upon realizing that the intruder was Caroline, he removed the rope he had placed around her neck. After a few deep breaths, Caroline found the voice to ask, "What was that?"

Guilliame smiled and replied, "The punjab lasso, Used by Erik on intruders and enemies." The two stood there staring at each other for a bit before Guilliame questioned Caroline's presence.

"We need to talk," Caroline replied. "I have all night."

Guilliame nodded and motioned for Caroline to sit down in the chair across from the organ. He himself sat down at the organ. "What do we need to talk about?" he asked.

"Our relationship," she replied. Guilliame's heart leaped. He nodded, signaling her to go on. "That song Dove performed tonight struck both of us. It started to make me question all my feelings for you. Where does our relationship stand? How important is it to me?" Caroline explained.

"And?" Guilliame asked.

"It is important to me. Very important," Caroline said.

Guilliame smiled. "Apparently, since you came at an hour only God knows in the night to talk to me about it." Caroline smiled at this statement. "What I mean is, what about our relationship?" he asked.

"I think it is at a changing point," she replied. Upon his confused look, she explained further. "A changing point. Meaning it is time for us to start deepening our relationship."

Guilliame was in utter amazement over Caroline's feelings. "But-but we've only know each other for nearly three months!" he stuttered. Caroline agreed.

"But in those three months, you've learned more about me than Raoul has in two years" she said. "Besides, what I feel around you is different than what I feel when I'm with Raoul." Guilliame just sat there, trying to think. He needed to sort everything out. This was helped when Caroline kissed him.

Everything was cleared from his mind and focused on one thing: Caroline was kissing him! He kissed her back with all the longing he felt from the moment he had heard her sing. They pulled apart and just stared. "So what about Raoul?" Guilliame asked. 'Idiot. The girl kisses you and you ask about her lover. Smart,' he thought as he watched Caroline's face fall.

"I'll deal with him later," she said. "Right now, let's forget he exists. Let's just be together." Guilliame agreed excitedly. Caroline smiled and snuggled into Guilliame's arms.

They sat in silence, just enjoying each other's company. This was something she and Raoul never did. Normally by now, she and Raoul were in bed making love. But she knew she and Guilliame respected and loved each other too much to not talk and just jump into bed together every meeting. What type of relationship is that? Raoul knew next to nothing about her; he had never even attempted to learn. She wanted things to be different with Guilliame. Without realizing it, Caroline was soon telling Guilliame about her life.

When she was done, Guilliame sat staring at her. Caroline had just bared her soul to him. In return, he did something remarkable: he took off his mask. The only people to ever see him with it off lived on his father's estate. He placed the red velvet mask in her hand. Caroline stared at it before looking into his face.

Guilliame's blond hair fell over his forehead messily from having been pulled back for so long. Caroline put her hand up to push back his hair. As she made contact with his skin, she could feel it was very rough. Pushing the hair back, she could see why. Scars networked the upper portion of his head, giving the impression that his eyes sat surrounded by blackish-red cobwebs. Caroline just sat there staring, taking in his face. "I know it must look bad, but I wanted you to see it," he said.

"It's not that bad," Caroline said, still clutching his mask. "I don't know why you have to wear a mask anyway!" Guilliame too his mask from her hands and placed it on the table next to him. She was then led by him to a chair. They sat together and he began to explain.

"I wasn't born looking like this. These scars came from a fire in my father's summer house. But my parents sill saw me as beautiful. I really didn't scare anybody on the Estate. From the time of the fire to my father's death, I wore no mask and went out freely. I couldn't stand looking at myself in the mirror, but my father said I had no shame to have about my face.

"The he died and part of my self-esteem died with him. My mother grieved night and day, so I didn't have anyone to push me outside. The servants felt it best that I grieve and even followed my orders to take down my mirrors. During this time, I really concentrated on my music, which my mother had always prided in. I would play or sing for her and I wrote compositions. Anything to cheer her up and prevent me from having to face the world.

"I was twelve when my father died and fourteen when my mother remarried. He was a widower with a son around my age. The two moved into my father's estate—left to my mother and me—an we began a new life. This was around the time I began to notice girls and I would enjoy going to the Sunday picnics our Church had. I would play the church organ and girls would come over to listen to me sing. Music seemed to make all of us forget what I really looked like. When Jean-Philippe came with us, the girls seemed to notice my scars more. Soon they flocked around him and I was left with all the little children, whom I formed into a choir.

"Mother had private tutors come in to teach me, especially with my music. The Admiral sent Jean-Philippe to one of the best schools to prepare him for his naval career. The two of us never really saw each other and I was closer to our half-sister Elisabeth. One summer, Jean-Philippe came home and the Admiral announced he was engaged to a young girl of good lineage. He, Mother, and Jean-Philippe were gone most of that summer, leaving me and Elisabeth home alone on the Estate.

"After that, Jean-Philippe bragged about you all the time. HE and the Admiral kept telling me how ugly I was and how I would never marry. He began to forbid me from going to town, even to church. Jean-Philippe took over the choir, which was a disaster, according to Elisabeth. My mother's health was failing and she was bedridden for most of the time. She was unable to stop the Admiral. In town he said both of us were deathly ill. Upon the death of my mother, I was forced to wear this mask. People were told I, too, was dead.

"When the engagement ended, I was treated worse. The mask had to remain on at all times. I couldn't speak to anyone, go outside or even stand near an open window. When my uncle died, the Admiral gave me permission to go to his funeral. After the funeral, I spent some days with my aunt and cousins before slipping past my guardian. I came here; my aunt told me about Erik. He took me in and I have been free ever since."

Guilliame's story ended and he realized Caroline had moved. She was now staring at him. "Why?" she asked. "Why did the Admiral start telling people you were dead?"

Guiliame shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine. Come now, its' late. There is a bed here, you can sleep on. Plus some dresses Erik made Christine. Good night," Guilliame said, kissing Caroline.

"Good night," she whispered.

A/N: Wow, another chapter updated in one day! -Please, please review puppy dog eyes and adorable pout. Thanks! Mac