Chapter Two

It Is Always Night

The little girl woke suddenly from a nightmare and found herself in a cheery little bedroom. She was lying in a soft bed wrapped in many blankets. She wore a grownup lady's white nightdress bedecked with many colorful ribbons and there was a dull ache in her arm where someone had carefully dressed her wound in a clean bandage. She was surprised and frightened to find herself in a place that she'd never seen before and began to run around the room, crying fitfully. She ran to each of the two doors in the room, one of which she opened to discover a bathroom, the other being locked shut. There was no door out of the place and this frightful idea made her cry all the harder.

Suddenly she heard the sound of footsteps coming from beyond the wall. She attempted to run back to the bed and hide beneath the covers, but the nightdress was so long that it tangled around her thin legs, causing her to fall on her face. She looked up as she struggled to get to her feet and saw a dark figure standing in a third doorway that until that moment had been absent from view. Its arms went quickly around her, untangled the dress, and set her gently on her feet. It then stepped back to study her. The child recognized it as the creature who had saved her the night before. She approached it timidly and it drew further away as if it were afraid of her touch.

"Who are you?" she asked, trying to sound brave. The shape didn't answer but came further into the room, where she could see him better. The little girl was relieved to find that he was a man, dressed in a long black cloak that seemed to have a life of it's own with a hood that covered his head in shadow. She judged that he was young man, by his size and step although she couldn't tell for certain as he wore a strange cloth mask, which covered nearly his entire face.

"Thank you for saving me, monsieur. Did you bring me here?" The figure was non-responsive, though the dark holes in the mask were looking her over in a way that assured the child that he would speak to her, when he chose to do so. She took another step toward him and he took another step back.

"Is this your house?" she asked him and the man nodded slowly and then looked to the side as if he were thinking.

"I'm Suzette," the little girl continued, "How shall I call you, monsieur?"

"Erik," the man said in a voice that was cold and gentle at the same time, "My name is Erik."

"Shan't I call you by your family name, monsieur?"

"No, little girl," he informed her in a mocking voice, "I have no family name. I have no name at all. But someone once called me Erik and you may do the same if you wish."

"Alright." She replied sadly. What a terrible thing, not to have a name!

"Are you hungry?" he asked her.

"Yes, Monsieur." The man cocked his head at her. "I thought you were meant to call me 'Erik'."

"Yes, Erik."

"Now get yourself dressed as you've already slept away the morning. I will make you a little lunch." And with that he disappeared, leaving the panel slightly open so that she could come out when she wished to. Having nothing else to wear, she put on the old black dress and made her way to explore the rest of the house. She stepped out from the bedroom and found a little drawing room, full of many interesting things, and decorated with many flowers. Adjoining the drawing room was another space, which was home to both an organ and a pianoforte. Suzette went to the later and climbed up on the seat. She began pressing the cool shiny keys and was delighted by the sound, which seemed to echo through the house. She was enjoying herself that she didn't notice Erik, who had come in rather quickly when he heard the racket.

"What are you doing?" he demanded. Suzette looked at him sheepishly.

"I wanted to see what it sounded like."

"Well stop it," he snapped, "I do not like noisy children." He lifted her from the seat and set her on the floor and she followed him through another panel that had seemed to materialize for his convenience. He led her out to a little table that was set up by an dark lake which seemed to stretch into infinity. It was rather pretty with light reflecting on the dark water. Above them, tiny lights, an endless sky of stars, shone down and echoed on the lake's mirror-like surface.

"I thought you said we were having lunch," Suzette laughed as she sat down at the table, "Looks like it's about time for dinner." Erik didn't laugh. He took out his watch and handed it to her.

"It is just after one in the afternoon. It is always night here, little girl." He sounded so sad and suddenly the millions of lights in the sky weren't so pretty anymore.

"Why do you wear a mask?" she asked him after a moment.

"Because I don't want anyone to see me."

"Not even me?"

"No."

"Take it off, please. I want to see your face."

"No.

"Please?"

"I said no, so leave it alone. You don't want to end up like the last girl who took off my mask."

"What happened to her?"

"How old are you?" he asked, changing the subject.

"Nearly ten," she answered.

"Where do you live?" This innocent question brought a most unexpected wave of tears from the little girl. Erik watched this for a moment in horror and then patted the child on the arm.

"Don't cry little girl," he said to her, "I'll take you home right now. Don't be afraid. I like children even though I've never really known a child before. You're a nice little girl. You're a pretty little girl. I'm sorry that I yelled at you. You shouldn't stay here. I'll take you home right now, just tell me where you live."

"I don't have a home now," Suzette wailed, "Some women came one night and took me away. They said that my papa was dead and that I had to live in an orphan home because there was no one who wanted me. So I don't have any place to go except for there and I hate it there because the ladies smacked me for being 'ungrateful' and they only eat bread with no butter. And I want my papa back but God took him to heaven now and I am all alone."

Erik was astounded. He hadn't ever felt sorry for anyone else but he found himself deeply saddened by this little girl's pain.

"There, there, you dear little thing. I will take care of you for now and everything will be just fine. What can I do to make you stop crying? I know lots of tricks that children like." He was silent for a moment and then Suzette had to stop and listen for his voice was coming from the other room!

"Come in here, little girl. I will show you how to play the pianoforte!" Next, the voice came from the middle of the lake.

"Don't cry little girl. Would you like to ride in the boat?" Then the voice seemed to come from under the table.

"I know many fun games, little girl!"

"Yes, many, many merry games!" said her fork.

"And some magic tricks too!" said her knife.

"Do stop crying, little girl," the voice implored from somewhere above here, "We shall have lots of fun!" Suzette smiled and dried her tears.

"Will you call me Suzette, please?" she asked Erik and all the voices in his house.

"Very well then, Suzette."

"Will you take off the mask?"

"Absolutely not." She smiled at him and took his hand so he could show her the rest of his house.