They stepped off the boat. The woman opened the door to the house.
"Enter please." her voice was as soft as silk.
"Thank you mademoiselle." Raymond said, entering. She entered behind him. The room was decorated with pictures and furniture. He got close to a picture, and to his surprise, he saw himself staring back at him.
"Keep going, please." she said.
He walked toward the empty sofa.
"What is your name", Raymond asked, "And why are you wearing a mask?"
"My name is Erika, and I am not an angel, monsieur." she sat at his feet, sobbing.
"Madame, it will be okay." he grabbed her hand.
"I am a monster!" she said.
"No you aren't. Would it calm you down if we sang?" She nodded, and led him to a small furnished bedroom. In the middle was a coffin.
"That is where Erika sleeps, one must get used to eternity."
The sight of that made him sad. He turned his head away as she approached the organ. They started the duet. She was singing, a despair he had never heard before. And at that moment, he had to know the face behind the mask.
He pulled off her mask, and gasped loudly at what he saw. Her face was ugly. It looked like someone had took a knife and cut her a thousand times. Where a nose would be, there was nothing. Her eyes burned with a fire that was everything but earthly.
"You have seen Erika's face! No one should have to look at this ugliness! Even my poor father, sir, never looked at me! You don't like Erika's face either!" she sobbed, and lead Raymond to his room.
"Erika", Raymond said, "I think you are beautiful." And that was one of the worst lies he had ever told.
"Erika loves you more than life itself and has, and will, kill for you!"
Raymond backed into the wall. He also remembered the poor fool who had ventured towards the third cellar and had been found hanged.
"How long will you imprison me here?" he asked.
"For two weeks sir!" she cackled and slithered away toward her room.
While that was going on, Emily had heard that beautiful music display.
"Raymond!" she burst into the room. But no one was there.
"Where has he gone?" she asked as she left the room.
Second chapter was fun. Haha. Hope you enjoy it.