Chapter Fourteen

Sly Secrets

A/N: I was thinking about becoming a beta and if anyone is interested please feel free to let me know! Thanks for all the reviews! I am so glad everyone likes this story! I will update Haunted Melody for any of you who are interested in a few days because I am in a bad case of writers block with that story. And so, without further ado, chapter 14!

Christine swallowed nervously as she checked to make sure Erik was as fast asleep as Rupert claimed. He was and she sighed in relief. With hurried movements she went to the trunk and bent down before it. She opened the lid and winced when it creaked loudly. She stilled and waited for Erik to wake up and was relieved when he did not.

Her shaking hands rummaged through the various items of clothing both hoping and dreading that she would find something. She stilled when she saw what was lying at the bottom of the trunk; a small, wooden box. Christine reached in and pulled it out slowly. She opened it and found several pieces of paper. Making a hasty decision she pulled the papers out and stuffed the box back in the trunk.

Erik had yet to stir and Christine tucked the papers into the bodice of her gown as she quietly slipped out of the room. Rupert looked at her in surprise.

"That was rather quick," he said.

"I know, but he is sleeping soundly like you said, I am sure if anything changes you will inform me immediately?" she said. The man nodded immediately and Christine thanked him before hurrying to her room. The papers felt like bricks against her heart, reminding her that what she was doing was very wrong.

When she entered her rooms she stoked the fire and pulled a chair close to it so she could read what the papers said in the darkness. She laid them all out on her lap and saw that there had to be about ten different papers. Christine scanned through them briefly and found the earliest one to start out with, hoping that they would tell her something. The other ones looked like simple love letters.

Erik,

I have until this moment been a very vain young man. How could I have not seen what it was your mother and my father did? I know about such things but never thought that your kind, innocent mother could be such a heartless hussy! You have no idea what it is like to hear your mother cry herself to sleep every night, wondering when her husband was going to come home and where he was at that moment. My father hardly ever speaks to me any more and yet he talks of you like you were his only son! You and your mother are destroying the people I love and so help me I will repay you for it.

Philippe Francois

Christine frowned in confusion. What was going on between Erik's mother and Philippe's father? These letters would obviously explain much about why the two men loathed each other so. The next letter was signed Firmin Francois and she assumed that it was Philippe's father and it was addressed to a Madeline.

Madeline,

We can no longer in good conscious continue this affair. My wife is heart broken and I do not want to put her through and I no longer wish to put her through any of this any longer. My own son hates me now and nothing will ever be the same again. I hope you know that I do not regret our time together and I will always treasure it so, but we cannot continue. I hope you forgive me.

With all my love

Firmin Francois

An affair! That explained much but it seemed that Philippe's father had stopped it before things could get worse. The next letter was from Philippe and was dated two years after the letter from his father. She had never read such hatred in a letter to anyone in her life.

Monster,

You fucking bastard! Do you relish the fact that my father's blood is on your hands? My mother's blood is still warm on the cold stones of her chamber because she could not stand living after finding out that my father slept with your whore of a mother. She killed herself and I blame you for it entirely. I can only be glad of the fact that my father managed to kill your mother before you killed him; there is some satisfaction in that! I know what lies beneath that mask, freak, and before my days are through I will have your head, if it could be called such. You will regret your actions when I watch you die slowly, always knowing that you helped destroy my family.

Philippe Francois

Christine gasped and covered her mouth. Erik had murdered Philippe's father! But Philippe's father had murdered Erik's mother and Philippe's mother had committed suicide. So much blood shed. Was there any just person in this whole incident? It was so horrible to think about. Both men losing people they loved. But this also showed her that what Philippe had told her was true. What else could he possibly know about Erik that Erik would never tell her?

She knew it should not matter, Erik meant nothing to her and his life was his business. But that was not entirely true. By forcing her to stay with him his life had also become her business. But Philippe did not sound like an honorable man either. She did not like the way he called Erik a monster.

God! She had no idea what to do, she was just so confused. These letters did not help with her confusion either, they only seemed to heighten it. A loud knock on her door caused her to jump and hurriedly hid the letters under her bed. She opened the door to see Rupert staring at her with a glare.

"Mademoiselle, I really like you, but I must insist that you give me Erik's letters," he said. Christine gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. How had he known? She blushed crimson and he tried to smile reassuringly.

"If you give them to me now I will not tell Erik, agreed?" he said. Christine hesitated a moment, very embarrassed.

"Agreed," she whispered. This was mortifying. She got the letters and returned them to Rupert.

"You know?" she wondered. Rupert sighed and nodded.

"There are a lot of things that Erik has done that I do not agree with, but it is not my place to pry, or is it yours," he said. Christine looked down at her feet, feeling just like a little girl being scolded.

"I know, I am sorry…I am far too curious," she said. He smiled. Rupert turned to go but stopped and turned to look at her.

"Mademoiselle, even under the circumstances I am glad you are here," he said. Christine smiled.

"Why is that?" she wondered, becoming fond of the older man.

"I think you will be good for Erik."