Secrets left behind

The second round robin is underway with the penname of Round Robins. The title of the story is Mask Behind the Mask, a period piece. I have been assigned chapter 2 and am nervous about my first attempt at something historical, so please read and leave me kind reviews. I should have my chapter up later this weekend. KayBlueEyes has started us off with a fantastic chapter one. Tory

Chapter one - ToryD

Chapter two - Terpsichore314

Chapter three - KatieKay90

Chapter four - MJ Mod

Chapter five - LostBluePhantom

Chapter six – Moonshine's Guide

Chapter seven - Phantasmarose

Chapter eight - Splendorous Night Unfurled

Chapter nine - Hatred Behind a Mask

Chapter ten – ToryD (we start over again)

A.N.- Wow, Phantasmarose has left me with quite a little turn to work with. Oh the possibilities that this story could unfold, but I'm afraid I must keep it at a safe level; nothing will happen in this chapter to warrant raising the rating or anything of the sort. Well, I've had some very wonderful authors go before me in this round robin and I hope to live up to their work. Let me know how I do!

Chapter 8

The storm outside continued to rage. Rain drops pattered loudly against the windows as Erik carried Christine into his room and placed her on the bed.

Christine's trembling had slowed and her breath was coming easier as the adrenaline from the broken window began to wear off. But her concentration was not focused on herself, but the male before her; or more importantly, the unmasked male before her.

Through the flickering light of a single candle in the far corner that Erik had lit before going to bed, Christine could see nothing but shadows of the left side of Erik's beautiful face.

The right side, however, was a very different story.

The light flickered off of skin that was so badly wrinkled and scarred; Christine couldn't even begin to guess what had caused them. The corner of his lip was disfigured enough to see a few of his back teeth, even with his mouth firmly closed on the left side. His nose was invisible behind the swaying shadows, but Christine suspected that it too had been affected as it was usually fully covered by the mask.

But through all of the wrinkles and the deep scars, one thing caused Christine's gaze to linger; his eyes. No matter how horrifying the features seemed, Erik's eyes were both perfect, looking at her with a mixture of want and fear.

It was in that moment that Christine realized the one question on Erik's mind.

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Does she still want me?

Erik watched Christine's face for any change in expression.

He was horrified. How could he have forgotten about his mask?

The one thing he absolutely refused to go anywhere without. That first unfeeling scrap of clothing from his childhood.

But the longer he watched, the more he realized that Christine didn't seem afraid, just curious.

He continued to stand utterly still, wanting Christine to make the first move, no matter what it may be.

Ever so slowly, Christine stood and moved as close to Erik as she could without touching him.

He watched as one delicate hand slowly reached up and came to rest on his deformed cheek. The feather-light touch sent waves throughout Erik's entire body, but he didn't pull away. He only continued to stand and gaze at the young woman before him.

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His skin was much different than she had expected it would be. Instead of rough and rigid as it had looked, it was soft and warm under the many wrinkles.

Christine looked up and met Erik's gaze, returning all of the feelings without hesitation. "You're beautiful."

The words whispered around the room like a phantom, filling every corner with its feelings and power.

Erik's hands quickly moved up and covered Christine's where it cupped his disfigured cheek gently, but his gaze never left hers.

"Christine." The fear in his voice was evident as he tried to speak the jumble of thoughts rushing through his head.

Christine slowly shook her head and lifted her free hand to take one of his. She brought it to her lips and placed a feather-light kiss on his knuckles, then his palm.

"I love you Erik Demetrius."

Before he could even finish registering the statement, Christine stood on her toes and placed a kiss on his lips.

Erik couldn't help but immediately stiffen in surprise and shock before he closed his eyes and deepened the kiss. Time seemed to stop as he wrapped his arms around Christine's waist.

The room was suddenly filled with a blinding light and was automatically followed by an extraordinarily loud clap of thunder.

Christine's eyes snapped open as she broke the kiss and clung tightly to Erik, her face buried in his chest.

As soon as the noise dies away, a new one filled the room; that of a screaming baby boy in the next room.

"Oh no, Ben!" Christine quickly pulled back and tried to move toward the door, but Erik gently ushered her to sit back down on the bed.

"Don't worry. I will go fetch him."

Erik turned to leave the room when he heard a frightened whisper behind him.

"Please. Don't leave me alone."

Erik turned back around and saw the wide-eyed fear in Christine's eyes as she trembled violently.

Erik's brow furrowed in slight confusion.

Another bright flash filled the room and Christine covered her head and quivered as thunder once again cut through the air.

She is afraid of lightning and thunder. I hope that this fear was not a result of something that vulgar man did to her or Ben.

The baby continued to wail as Erik quickly moved back to Christine. He carefully took both of her hands and helped her to her feet.

"Come along. Your little brother needs you."

Christine smiled sadly as the two exited the room and entered another.

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Ben lay crying in the crib they had brought along on the opposite wall to the window. Everything in the room was as it should be, proving that the child had been awakened by the storm.

Christine quickly released her hold on Erik's hands and moved to her brother. She lifted him out of the crib and whispered quietly to him.

"It's all right Ben. No more crying. Ssshhhhh. We are right here."

Erik smiled slightly from the doorway. He wasn't fully sure if Christine had meant for the statement to include him or not.

Christine made her way across the room, still gently shooshing the crying baby. She looked up at Erik with a sheepish little smile.

"I don't believe Ben much likes loud noises either."

Erik smiled as he wrapped an arm around her waist. "Come. Let's get some sleep."

He gently led her back to his room.

Christine seemed hesitant at first, but she gently set the now silent Ben in the middle of the large bed and climbed in on the right side.

Erik waited until she was situated before he lay down on the left side. He rolled to his side and looked to Christine, who had done the same.

"Good night Christine. Do not worry, you are both safe here."

Christine reached over Ben's tiny frame and placed her hand on top of Erik's laying on his hip. "Good night Erik. And thank you."

Erik smiled as he rubbed his thumb over Christine's knuckles. She is wonderful. How did I ever find someone like her? I will explain everything to her tomorrow; hopefully she will still feel the same way after she sees my face in the light.

Very soon, all three were asleep; the storm now nothing more than a far away memory.