Chapter 5: Revealing Story
Colette climbed up the stairs and knocked on Erik's chamber door. She heard footsteps coming towards the door.
" What do you want?" Erik's voice questioned through the door
" I have your things Monsieur," Colette asked
The door opened and Colette entered the dark chambers and placed his things on the foot of his bed. Colette glanced up seeing the white mask glaring at her; she jumped in a startled fashion and turned away from it.
" It's devilish," she thought
She did not look up at him and walked out his room. He shut the door and she ran downstairs without looking back. Colette breathed deep and looked up at the stairs, then walked to the kitchen. Marie looked at her as she entered, slightly pale.
" You look like you've seen a ghost child," Marie remarked
" I think I did," Colette said, " I saw his mask staring at me."
" Did you see his face?" a servant asked
" No, I didn't I was to spooked to even look up at him," Colette replied
Marie wiped her hands on her apron and said, " It's a good thing you didn't, those who have seen his face become his forever."
" Have you seen his face?" Colette asked
The servants looked at her and she sighed, then leaned back.
" I guess so, how did you see it?" she asked
" I pulled his mask off his face," a servant said, " I was curious."
" We all were curious, but not Marie and Gaston," another servant said
Colette looked at Marie and Marie turned away and Gaston entered, everyone turned to him.
" What's wrong? Did someone die?" he asked
" Poor Colette got spooked by the master's mask, but didn't see his face," a servant said
" Gaston how did you and Marie see his face?" Colette asked
Gaston sighed and said, " Three years ago, it was awhile ago."
" Child why do you want to know?" Marie asked
" Because you and Gaston are the only ones that don't get scolded for anything," Colette said, " I hardly find it fair."
" Sit down Colette, I'll tell you," Gaston said
Colette sat down and Gaston sat beside her; to tell her why he and Marie are always spared from Erik's wrath.
Flashback
Marie and Gaston were traveling from Paris after the night of the fall of the Opera Populaire. They had been traveling for two days to get back home, when they came across a body.
" Stop, would you look at that!" Marie asked
Gaston and Marie walked over to the body that laid in the snow, half frozen, but still alive.
" He's alive," Marie said
She knelt down and removed her long cloak and wrapped it around the man. Gaston lifted the man up onto their horse and Marie got on to hold onto him. She warmed him with her gentle embrace and Gaston looked at Marie.
" Do you think he'll make it?" Gaston asked
" Yes, we just have to keep hoping," she said
They continued until they came to a town and got an inn, Gaston lifted the man up and Marie got a room. They laid him down on the only bed in the room and put a fire in the fire place.
" Come on we have to get those wet clothes off him," Marie said
Marie removed all the wet clothes and Gaston hung them over the fire to dry them. She wrapped the man in the blankets and kept her cloak on him.
" Gaston look," she said
Gaston walked over to Marie and she pointed to his face.
" Those look like burn marks," he said
" No, he was born like that," she whispered, " Poor thing, he was probably running from some people."
Gaston touched the man's disfigured face and studied it.
" Poor guy, probably didn't have a chance in society," Gaston said
" He's so young, well much younger than us," she said, " Maybe we can help him out, make a new life."
" Are you saying raise him, Marie?" Gaston asked
" Well, why not?" Marie questioned
" We don't even know if he's well," Gaston said
" Oh, I think he is," Marie said
Marie looked at the man as he slept in a peaceful manner and she sat there. She gently hummed a song and Gaston looked at her.
A few weeks later the man opened his eyes and sat up in fear.
" Where am I?" he cried out
Marie looked up at him and sat her knitting down.
" Your in a town about 45 miles out of Paris. My husband and I found you in the snow…you were crying out for mercy," she said
He covered half of his face and she stood up, then walked over to him.
" Don't worry dear, your face is beautiful," she said removing his hand, " Why don't you tell me your name?"
" Your not disgusted with it?" he asked
" No, it's just beautiful," she said, " Adds to your features of mystery."
" My name is Erik," he replied
" Erik, what a very dashing name, I am Marie and my husband is Gaston," Marie said, " Would you like to come with us Erik?"
Erik looked at her and she smiled so sweetly at him, but he didn't know how he could trust her.
" Where?" he asked
" Into the country, we have a house there," Marie said, " You can live with us and we'll help you start your life over."
Erik looked down and looked at the ring in his hand, something he held in his death grip.
" A new life," Erik whispered, " It sounds nice."
Few months past and Erik began to build his dark estate, talk of betrayal filled his mouth and Marie and Gaston felt worried.
In time Erik was a man of investments and wealth. He bought land around the couple's house and from there he bought their land.
" You have been to kind," Erik said
" Erik, is this land necessary?" Gaston asked
" Of course, if I wish to become a king, I need a palace. If this king doesn't have that, then he's but a peasant begging," Erik replied, " Please, work for me Gaston, you and Marie. Your benefits will be that of share holder's of my investments."
Gaston sighed and patted Erik's face and walked off.
" Don't walk away from me old man," Erik growled
" Erik, you are becoming a greedy whore for money," Gaston said, " I want nothing to do with this take over."
" Then do it as a part of my family," Erik said
Gaston stopped and turned around and Erik put out his hand.
" Father," Erik said, " You and Marie have become family."
" For your humanity Erik," Gaston said
Flash back end
" He's known nothing, but power, he told us what his past was. He told us the rule, if anyone was to see his face, they became his forever. So, these servants are all his, every last one. You, my dear have a chance to break away from his curse," Gaston said
Colette looked at Marie and Gaston and stood up.
" I'm not afraid of him, maybe he's just neglected that love, maybe your love for him wasn't enough. Maybe he needs a child in his life? Maybe he needs a wife?" Colette said, " That is why he and Meg should get married."
" Your dreams are big," a servant said, " Sometimes to big."
Colette looked at them and sat down at the table. They ate their morning breakfast and then went out to serve their humble master.