He returned two hours later to the sound of Elisabeth singing Juliet and playing his organ. Her playing wasn't as good, but her voice was beyond words. He placed the bags in the kitchen except for two, which he brought to her. As soon as he saw her he gasped. She was wearing nothing but his bathrobe and her hair was piled up in a towel turban. "Do you have any decency?" He screamed. "My dress is beyond ruin, and I have nothing else!" She screamed back. "Well now you do! Go put on something more modest." He grumbled. She huffed into her room. The truth was he had been shocked at seeing her. In thirty-seven years he had never come close to a nude woman except for paintings, and Elisabeth was no painting. Even though the robe had been tied tightly, and nothing showed except her face, the thought of what lay beyond that robe had sent him reeling with desire. He barely knew this girl! He heard her exclaim in her room and smiled, It was nice to spoil people.
He'd spoiled Reza before he passed, and was now spoiling Jules and those brats of his. Soon Elisabeth entered the room and said, 'It isn't proper for a lady to pass through a gentlemen's bedchamber on the way to the living room." He smiled. "This is no ordinary house, and I am no ordinary gentleman." "But you can't possibly be planning to stay here, how will you pull it off? The management will find you, and you'll end your days in a cell." He chuckled. "I have taken many precautions against getting caught." With that he stood up and disappeared.
Well of course he hadn't really disappeared; He fell through the trapdoor in his bedchamber and landed on the dirt path that led straight to the Paris Catacombs. It was an escape route should he ever need it. He heard Elisabeth screaming, "Damn you Erik, where did you go?" He reappeared beside her, careful not to reveal the secret door. "Very funny, what other tricks are you hiding up your sleeve?" He produced from his sleeve a small box of chocolates. "You fool" she laughed; He handed her the box and asked, "Would you like to see some more tricks?" It was fun playing with her. He'd forgotten the simple joy of companionship, and never really realized how lonely he was. They laughed and practiced magic until late into the evening, when he bade her goodnight. Suddenly Elisabeth did something unexpected. She reached out and hugged him. Erik stiffened, his instincts told him to fight her, but he held still.
"Goodnight" He said sternly, and walked off. He watched her from his seat at the organ as she crossed his room to hers, and he felt a little sorry. He hadn't meant to make her angry, but no one had ever willingly touched him, not even Nadir. Now here was this young, lithe female reaching out to hug a troubled soul and he had pushed her away. What was he going to do? It might have been easier to leave her alone and go about his business; yet, if he'd had she would have been caught, raped, and killed. Erik had saved her life but now he couldn't figure out what to do with that life. He picked up Ayesha and slipped into his coffin, never removing his mask or dress clothes. He didn't want her to wake up and find him there, a corpse in a coffin. She hadn't asked about the mask, but he had noticed her looking at it every so often. That was fine as long as she didn't ask to see his face. He could not bring himself to admit that the minute she knew the truth she would run from him in fear.
He remembered Julianna; annoying, sweet, curious Julianna. He could not have that same mistake happen again. The next morning he made sure to awake before Elisabeth, and set about making breakfast. He had pancakes, bacon, sausage, omelets, and fresh orange juice. Ayesha was licking her whiskers. Elisabeth came into the kitchen and he almost dropped his pan. She was gorgeous, her golden hair shining and wearing the light blue dress he'd picked to match her eyes. She smiled and he did drop the pan. "Ssory." He stammered. She picked it up and handed it to him. "Can I ask, do you sleep with that mask on? What exactly are you hiding, a royal lineage?" He laughed.
She thought he was a prince or king hiding out until the war was over. "No, I'm not royalty; the truth is I am deformed. I don't want you to suffer my grotesque face, please don't ask." She nodded. "I respect your privacy." Respect? When had anyone ever respected his face? Everyone wanted to know, wanted to see the monster beneath the mask. This damn girl was joking him, had to be! He glared at her. She seated herself at the table and Erik calmed himself. She obviously wasn't planning anything. After breakfast they talked. It was wonderful to have a conversation with someone after so long. He told her about his travels in Russia, Italy and Persia. She told him about her family, and how they had been caught in the bombing of Paris. She had escaped only to find herself homeless, penniless, and lost.
She cried as she told this, and Erik moved to the couch beside her. Against his better judgment he placed his arm around her, and she laid her head on his chest. They sat like that for a few minutes, enjoying each other's warmth.
