She reached for the large pink towel and wrapped her self tightly in it she looked back to the sink and saw a brush and comb a smile over came her. It felt so good to know how it felt to be clean again, she wringed out her hair and combed it. She slowly unlocked the door and opened it expecting to see Erik, but did not stepping out she looked over to the bed, seeing the clothes and letter she quickly sat down and read it thinking "what kind of dream is this, I think it would be a good idea if I didn't anger him anymore its obvious he doesn't have the temper for it." The words kept playing in her head "consequences are dyer". Not even looking to admire the beauty of the dresses she set them on the nightstand and put on the nightgown and went to bed, hearing the faint sound of a melody being played on the organ.
After tossing and turning, for what seemed an eternity, knowing she couldn't take it any longer. She got up thinking it must be quite early maybe 3 or 4 in the morning. Looking around the room, her fire was finally turning to a dim. Looking to one of the dressers she reached out to open it, "locked" she muttered turning to the other end of the room to see a door she hadn't noticed earlier that night "let me guess . . .locked, what is he hiding, why so secretive, well maybe I'll find something in a different room" she whispered under her breath. She quickly went to see her choice of clothing "these are quite beautiful" glancing at her filth-covered dress sitting in the bathroom "very beautiful". After putting on the light pink dress she gazed at herself in the mirror, admiring how the dress clung to and fitted to her every curve she quickly fixed her hair wondering who she was preparing to dazzle, giggling at her self.
As soon as she opened the door she nearly went into shock it was freezing, forcing her self to walk out of the room she quietly tip toed through the hall leading her self to a grand room with huge pipes covering up a whole wall as she shifted her eyes lower to the keys, she saw scattered papers of notes and music all over the keyboard and bench, on the side of the couch and even on the floor. Hastening her pace she picked up the music looking it up and down, she didn't know very much about music but she did know that she had never seen such an assortment of notes like this.
"Well, it seems you are up quite early, and snooping around by the looks of it now aren't you". Said Erik
"Snooping? Of all words why would you say snooping?" she replied, quickly turning her head to look over her shoulder nervously.
"Is that not what you are doing, or isn't it don't make a fool of your self while lying caught in the act" now approaching her slowly.
"Fool, please don't refer to me as a fool caught snooping, I was merely looking, and you don't know me especially not well enough to call me a fool . . . Erik"
Stopping at the mention of his name, he slowly sat down in the chair which was conveniently at his side, "you must be right mademoiselle, I clearly have no idea what I'm talking about." Replied in a mocking tone.
Now not able to look up at him, which unfortunately happened a lot when she had conversations with Erik. Shot a fierce glare and then withdrew her view to the pale carpet, which she stood on. After a few moments of silence he silently uttered "my apologies" he sighed, "do you remember anything, before you came to the opera popular, anything at all?"
She managed to choke out a "no". Making a motion with his hands, he submitted another question, " you don't even know your own name, this does present a problem doesn't it".
Now sitting down on the piano bench thinking to herself " he obviously didn't furnish this room for comfort" shifting all around for a comfortable spot to satisfy her, as she simply replied " remembering the past is difficult, in so many words it is a blur . . . do you know how terrible it is to forget."
"Its all I ever think about" he confided with a tone of sorrow. It now felt as if time itself had stopped and there was only silence to fill its place.
"Oh, Christine where have gone" he gritted his teeth at the thought, and
Started to softly shake.
"I don't know what to say, I'm no one and have no name" she spoke breaking the silence.
"Emily" he whispered. "What did you say? "I said Emily I will call you Emily until you can remember again" he stated. She sat thinking for a moment and finally spoke "why Emily? Of all names"
"I don't know. Why does it displease you?" He asked as if it didn't matter weather she liked it or not, and knowing her reply really didn't matter, "Oh no its fine . . ." now feeling as if she could shoot herself for being so shy, she blushed and resumed her staring of the carpet.
"Oh yes, I prepared you with quite a nice room, up stairs I'm sure you will find it accommodating "
"What is wrong with the room I'm staying in right now I quite like it" the words slipped out, she felt like slapping her hand to her face
"Because" he now looked very annoyed "it was not meant for you" there was a grinding it the back of his throat as he stood back up.
Seeing his motion she took the same initiative and stood up, they looked as if they where trying to prove who was in charge. "And who was that room meant for exactly, why all the secrets, why do you treat me like you own me And Why do you where that mask! Are you so afraid of someone reviling your identity, someone who doesn't even know her own!" she shrieked. Her hair laid loose, golden strands escaped in front of her eyes.
"You thankless little ingrate, you have no idea Why I wear this mask! If only you knew what lay beneath it you'd be begging me to keep it on, how dare you! This is my home and I will not be treated so disrespectfully," he bellowed, now approaching her.
Again she followed his lead as she approached him, she was full of anger at the
Un-answered questions when she really knew the room had nothing to do with their argument in fact she really didn't care about the room at all. She just let her anger take its toll, as she knew he would do the same.
"Begging! Let me see who's face belongs behind that mask!" she quickly met with him face to face, rapidly reached for his mask.