How surprising, he told himself. The Viscountess fleeing in the middle of the night. Those would not be too much pleasant news for Emma and Marie but he was delighted to say the least...
'Oh, do not worry Mademoiselle. It was not my intention to frighten you… I was on my way to my working place and I reckoned it was odd to see someone like you wandering alone so early in the morning...".
She frowned. What was that man trying to do with his babbling? 'I think that is not any of the concern of someone I do not know, Monsieur. Now, if you excuse me, I must go…'.
He sighed, giving her a kind look. 'I only intended to offer you help...'. His gaze turned to the façade of the residence. 'Do you live there? I'm telling you this because it's the only relatively decent place to live around here at times like these...'.
She nodded slowly. 'I lived there... but please, I can't waste more time. I must go'
'You must not have a place to go...I insist, if you'd let me I could offer shelter for all the time you need'. He looked at her carefully, pretending to be worried about the black and purple beating marks she showed. 'Lord, you've been badly beaten…'.
She read worry in his light eyes. Even though a part of her was really scared and intimidated by his presence, there was something in him that made her believe that he would never hurt her. Unaware of her own movements, she came closer.
She watched him with a mixture of fear and utter sadness when she was reminded of the way she had been treated in that house. 'Certainly not...I do not have a place to stay, it's true. If you'd be so kind…', a small tear escaped from the corner of her eye. 'It would only be for tonight, sir…'.
He smiled broadly and as warmly as ever, giving her a sense of safety. 'The time you need, Mademoiselle. You'll be able to calm down and take shelter from the freezing cold in my home if you so wish...'.
Her timid steps carried her near the stranger, yet there was that fear which whispered in her ear the possibility of meeting another person who might lead her to a new hell. However, in that moment, the real intentions of that man really mattered little to her. She had lost everything, why should she care about finding her end when trying to scape her own misery?
As they walked away from the residence, the man could barely hide a grin while he gave a last glance to the place...
The chatting while she had the cup of coffee and the brioche that he had so kindly bought earlier that morning had been one of the best awakenings she had ever had. For a moment, while she finished cleaning the dishes in the kitchen, she thought that maybe there was a slight chance that he felt something special for her, though a part of her kept snorting at her daydreams. She had no doubt that the person who had made him suffer so much had been a woman, yes, she had heard him whispering low her name... She had not been completely sure but he had told her something over breakfast that had confirmed her suspicions.
'Sometimes you feel that the past chases you everyday, like a shadow that falls upon you as the memory of someone who left you broken, and that memory never really goes away'. His voice broke and eyes darkened with fury turned suddenly in a soft smile when he looked once more to her. 'But you are a pleasant company, Angie'.
Perhaps those words should suffice to know she was at least a part of his life but there was still a fear in her and it concerned that horrible passed event he wanted to forget forever.
Erik watched her putting in order and clearing the tableware used in their breakfast. Her hands were worn out with time and the unlucky life which had been forced upon her since a very young age. The girl had shared with him her personal history from before she had started working in that hostel. He felt truly touched when he heard her story. She was just a 18-year-old girl that deserve to be in a better place, not serving him as a housemaid. However she did not seem to complain and felt better than anywhere else. An ironic gesture crossed his face, even though she could not have seen it. Perhaps the moment of showing Christine Daaé what her 'angel of music' had achieved without her, had come sooner than planned. He wished to see her eyes, her face, full of sadness, when she realized that the only person who could have welcomed her back in his arms, did not need her anymore. Oh, the terrible sweet irony of it all, to see her suffering the same he had suffered when he witnessed a similar scene up in the rooftop of the Opera. A scene he would never, ever, forget. Her. In the arms of another man, saying the words that had stung like a knife twisting through his bleeding soul.
He decided to leave before she noticed he had been watching her. He took everything he needed and got ready to get out of there, to the streets. It was time to surprise his infatuated friend once more...
Xxx
The house was spacious enough and had a very characteristic air of elegance. The floors were wooden, like the most part of the furniture. She kept inspecting her surroundings from where she was sitting, waiting for the return of the person who had saved her.
A couple of minutes afterwards, he came back.
'You must be hungry . If you want I could prepare you something light…'. He stopped midsentence, realizing his greatest mistake. 'Oh, excuse my forgetfulness, Mademoiselle. We have not been properly introduced to each other when we first met. My name's Édmond.'. He extended his hand and held hers lightly. 'And you are…?'.
She looked at him for a moment, hesitating whether to give him her real identity or not. 'Christine...Daaé, sir'.
'Good... Oh, forgive me for leaving you here alone but I must attend several important matters this morning. Do not worry about anything, you will not be found nor harmed here, which is what I suppose has had you so frightened since we got here', he smiled. 'There is coffee and enough food in the kitchen, so you can very well help yourself whatever you like'.
She nodded and offered him a thankful smile. Once he left, curiosity invaded her, as every time she got to a new place. She still remembered the high price she payed for her curiosity the last time. He had trown her so furiously when she had unmasked him...
You little prying Pandora!
That was the name he had called him. And it was in that same moment when she had deeply regretted what she had done. That had been the first time she had caused him real pain, and unfortunately, not the last. She regretted having realized that too late, just when she could have not been able to tell him everything with a single look to his eyes.
She entered the kitchen. She was really hungry…
He rang the bell of the residence, waiting for one of them to quickly answer his call. Emma did not take long to open the door.
'Gods, Édmond, what's happening now?'. She did not look too happy to see him and he sensed why.
'Ah, maybe you do not want to know where's your little Viscountess?', he said, half a smile forming in his lips.