Chapter 3: Pure and Simple, Dark and Dreary
Charlotte opened her eyes and sat up, she looked around with a lost look on her face. She had forgotten that she was now in the estate of The Comet de Bellamont. She got up and draped her robe around her, then walked out into the dreary hall ways. Charlotte walked downstairs stairs and felt the stillness run it's finger up her spine. The servants were up preparing breakfast, she walked into the dinning room and saw Erik sitting down. He was looking over some paperwork, then stopped and glanced up.
" Ah, Mademoiselle, you have awaken," he said
" Yes, Monsieur," she replied
Erik snapped his fingers and two servants came and picked up his work from the table.
" Are you hungry my dear?" he asked
" No, not really," she replied
" I see a little homesick," he said
Erik stood up and Charlotte looked up at him as pondered over something. He then gave a chuckle and Charlotte gave a small tilt to her head.
" May I ask what is so funny?" she asked
" There is nothing funny my dear its all serious," Erik said
" I see," Charlotte said, " Monsieur your servant Gabriel, why do you and he wear a mask of similar content?"
Erik looked at her and traced the mask and Erik shook his head.
" You're a very curious child, I respect that. My mask carries a past with me and so does what lies underneath," Erik answered
" Oh, I see," she whispered
Erik looked at Charlotte and walked over to her. She looked at him as he approached her. A chill ran of her spine as she felt his hands rest on her shoulder.
" Breakfast will be ready, go make yourself decent," Erik said, " We wouldn't want the servant boys getting ideas."
Charlotte looked straight ahead and stared at her reflection in the mirror, on the wall. She also looked at Erik's seeing a look of deception and a slight bit of lust. She stood up and Erik stepped back and Charlotte straighten up.
" Monsieur de Bellamont, I will be back in a little," she said
Charlotte walked off and Erik smirked as she walked off. He walked to his chair and had the servants lay out the paperwork.
Charlotte pulled out a pretty simple dress and got dress. She sat at her vanity and put her hair up into a braided bun, but as she pinned it up she saw tears running down her face. She wiped them away with her hand and sighed.
" Why do I feel that this teacher wants something from me?" she whispered, " He wears a mask to hide from his ideas of power over a woman. A cruel man in the shadows. Cold as his estate and unwilling to open up. He is a beast."
She stood up and walked out, she heard the large door shut and heard footsteps. She walked down and saw Gabriel walking in, he walked into the dinning room, where Erik was. Charlotte walked towards the dinning room, and entered without a word. Erik handed Gabriel some papers and a leather pouch with money in it.
" I shall deliver these right away," Gabriel said
" Very good," Erik said
Charlotte remained by the door way as Gabriel left with haste. Erik signed another paper and wrote a letter, then looked up.
" Are you hungry now?" he asked
" Yes, a little," she said, " Monsieur, when will I start my lessons?"
" Today my dear, you will sing today," he answered
Charlotte looked at Erik and gave a nod and then sat down. Servants came out and served Charlotte and Erik. Charlotte ate a little and poked at the rest of her food, Erik looked at her and shook his head.
" Where was Gabriel going?" she asked
" He was off to deliver something, do not worry he will return soon," Erik said
Erik ate and then stood and left the table and Charlotte watched him leave. She sighed breathing a little easier once he did leave. She felt uneasy with Erik in the same room, and could only imagine what her mother felt when she was younger. Charlotte got up and went to go back to her room, when Erik walked out.
" Come my dear we'll start your lesson's early," Erik said
She nodded and walked with him to the music room, still startled by the gargoyles in the hall way. She looked at Erik and studied his face and became curious on what laid under his mask. She breathed deep and shook her head, then Erik looked over at her. He opened the door and let her in, she walked into the dimly lit room and Erik locked the door. He slipped the key in his coat pocket and looked at Charlotte, she walked to the windows and went to draw back the curtains.
" Don't touch those," Erik ordered
" Why, I can't see?" she said, " It's so dark in here."
" You must trust your other senses to understand music," Erik said, " I have, now you will learn."
Charlotte looked at the curtains and gently let her hand drag over them and Erik looked at her. She walked by the piano and Erik looked at her as she leaned against it. Erik began to play it and he warmed up her voice. He played a familiar song to her, one that she had sang in her last performance. Erik looked at her as she sang the song and Charlotte closed her eyes and pictured herself singing in front of hundreds at the theater. Erik joined her in the duet part and she looked at him amazed at his voice. It was mesmerizing and she could feel herself being drawn into his voice. The same voice she had heard in dreams, Erik looked at her as she sang and Erik turned back into the music. He continued with another song and stared at her as she turned around. Erik told her to continue to sing and he stopped playing, he listened to her sing with out music. He walked over to her gently wrapped his arms around her, she was surprised, but then realized he was making her stand up straight. She relaxed and did as he instructed, her uneasiness melted away after he continued to hold her. He placed his hand on her stomach and she tensed up.
" Don't tense up," he whispered, " Put your hand here."
She put her hand where his hand laid and Erik instructed her to breathe in and out. He looked at her as she did and once he found she was breathing right he made her sing again.
" Stand up straight," he said, " If you slouch then you will lose that power to put out."
He continued to stand behind her as he helped her stand up straight and breathe correctly. Charlotte found herself relaxing in his hold, but he would find away for her not to relax.
His lessons continued until about noon, when lunch was served. Charlotte stopped singing and Erik gave her a little nod to dismiss her. He got up and unlocked the door and walked out with her.
" Come my dear, let me escort you to the dinning room," Erik said
Charlotte nodded and wrapped her arm around his. He looked at her as he walked her down the dinning room. Her uneasiness returned when he kissed her hand. He sat down and nodded to the servants to bring them lunch.
" A glass of wine my dear?" he asked
" Please," she answered softly
Erik took the bottle from the servant and poured her a glass of wine. She looked at him and she looked forward to avoid eye contact, with him. Erik set the bottle down and took a seat and Erik sipped the wine and Charlotte tasted it. She continued to stare out instead of looking at her host.
" So, quiet my dear, what is the matter?" he asked
" Nothing Monsieur I was just thinking," she said
She took a few bites and another sip of wine and Erik looked at her.
" Perhaps you may speak of something that you wish to see," Erik said
" It's alright sir, there is nothing I wish to see," Charlotte said
After lunch Charlotte walked out into the veranda and stared out. The cool winter breeze blew through her cloak, she pulled it tighter around her.
" I feel so empty," she thought, " Coming here might have been a mistake."
A door shut and she turned around, but she didn't see anyone there.
" Hello," she called
She turned away and stared out again and what she didn't know was she was being watched. A shadowed figured watched her every move and tried see into her eyes.
Gabriel looked at Erik as he leaned against the mantle of the large fire place.
" Did the lesson go well?" he asked
" Very well," Erik answered, " Her voice is just as perfect as her mother's."
" Did I not tell you that?" Gabriel questioned
Erik looked at his apprentice and tossed the excess wine into the fire. The flames rose from their settled stature. Gabriel slightly jumped back upon seeing the flames rise up. Erik chuckled at his apprentice and asked him for the responds to a letter he had sent. Gabriel removed it from his coat pocket and handed it to Erik. Erik took the letter and nodded seeing a lovely responds to it. He stuck the letter in his coat pocket and poured two glasses of wine.
" Here, to a bright new future," Erik said
" Yes," he said
Gabriel took the wine and drank it down like Erik did. Erik placed the glass on the mantle and looked out at Charlotte. Gabriel looked over at the girl, who leaned against the railing watching her day go by.
" She's an angel," Gabriel thought
He gave a bow and walked off and went out onto the veranda and Charlotte looked over.
" Good day mademoiselle," he said, " May I join you?"
" Good day Monsieur Gabriel," she said, " Please, I could use the company."
Gabriel looked at her and saw a peaceful look on her face and then sighed.
" Your lesson, I heard went well," Gabriel said
" Yes, it did," she answered, " I just don't understand your master Gabriel. He seems different when music is concerned and then when he is not around it, he's different. He's very strange to me."
Gabriel looked out and watched as the fog remained on the lake, behind the estate. He leaned his head down and rested it on the railing.
" I can not speak of his moods," he said, " He is the man who raised me and I remain as his humble servant."
Charlotte looked at Gabriel and jumped up onto the wall. He looked up at her and she smiled softly.
" You're his son?" Charlotte asked
" Adopted son," Gabriel replied, " I was a wander in the city, I couldn't find work, not the work I wanted. My face and one of hands prevented me from receiving work from normal people. I worked for people by being their errand boy."
Charlotte looked at Gabriel and reached over, touching the mask. Gabriel grabbed her hand and shook his head.
" No," he whispered, " Not even a woman should see this face."
Charlotte dropped her hands and Gabriel turned from and headed back inside. He looked up and saw Erik watching from his private study. Gabriel entered and Charlotte sighed and walked to the gate and opened it. She went out and walked down to the lake and Erik looked at her, he kept an eye on her.
The door opened to Erik's study and Erik looked from the corner of his eyes.
" She is alone, why did you leave her alone?" Erik questioned
" She won't leave master, she is to afraid too," Gabriel answered
Erik smirked and leaned towards the glass of his window. He watched her touch the lake water and smirked.
" So pure and simple, in a dark and dreary place," he thought
Erik turned around and Gabriel looked at Erik.
" Master, what are you going to do?" Gabriel asked
" Nothing at all, your dismissed," Erik said
" Yes, Master," Gabriel said
Gabriel walked off and his cloak followed behind him. Erik looked at himself in the mirror as he left the study. He locked it and walked downstairs, then outside towards the gate. He watched Charlotte stare into the water and occasionally throwing stones into the water. Erik walked to his stable and pulled Cesar, black stallion out and got on. He rode up to the lake and jumped down. Charlotte looked at Erik and for the instant he looked rather dashing just standing by Cesar.
" Let me take you around," he said, " Then we will continue our lesson."
Charlotte stood and nodded and Erik lifted the young girl up onto the horse. He then got up, he wrapped his arms around her, as he took the reins. Charlotte looked at him and he nudged the horse in the sides. The horse took off in a trot, then got a little faster. Charlotte slightly gasped, never really rode a horse at the fast pace they were going. She smiled, feeling the wind blow all around and Erik looked at her. He pulled her to him and she looked at the lands he owned.
" These many farms are mine," he said, " Land beyand the last farm will soon be mine."
" How did you get your wealth Monsieur?" she asked
" Money I collected over the years," he answered
Charlotte didn't want to ask him anymore questions incase it offended him. Erik showed her the land and then turned around and went back. Erik got off and reached up and helped Charlotte, she stumbled and fell into his arms. She breathed deep and then pushed away.
" Forgive Monsieur," she said
Erik did not reply to her apology, he just gave a nodded, then escorted her inside. Erik walked with her to the music room, where Erik once more locked the door so there would be no interruptions. Charlotte walked to the Piano and looked at the piece of music.
" Is this what I'm singing?" she asked
" Yes," he said
He sat down and played it and then got up, he lifted her chin and straighten her back.
" Now sing," Erik said
Charlotte began to sing and Erik looked at the piece and played it a little. He watched her posture as she sang, making sure she was straight and not slouching. Erik stood in front of her and sang the duet with her. She listened to his voice and he stared at her watching her dreamy eyes just fall into a complete stare. He got close to her as he sang the part and she put her heart into the song. Erik touched her face and as if they were truly performing the duet, Erik kissed Charlotte and she did not pull away, she returned it. Charlotte placed her hand on his hand and closed her eyes and Erik kissed her deeply.
Someone knocked on the door and Charlotte jolted and opened her eyes. She pulled away and looked at Erik. She felt tears fall from her face and she backed off.
" I'm sorry," she whispered, " I'm sorry."
She ran to the door and found it locked, she fiddled with the key and unlocked it. Gabriel stood there as she ran out the music room. He looked at Erik as he turned away slightly licking his lips.
" What do you want?" he questioned
" I'm leaving for town, I'll be back in a couple of days," Gabriel said
" Safe journey, you may go," he said
Gabriel left and Erik stood there wiping his lips onto his sleeve. He closed his eyes and balled up his fist.
" She was there before me," he whispered, " She is young and naïve."
Charlotte laid on her bed and felt herself sob.
" How could I?" she whispered, " How could I let him do that and not listen to myself?"
She sighed and wondered, what would happen next. Would this be the beginning of a new tale?