ME: Hello my lovely readers I have exciting news!
Erik: Oh? And what news is this? *looking at me suspiciously*
Me: I decided to share the story in another site. Quotev.
Erik: *gasp* Traitor! *points at me accusingly* This site is what made you an author and you're gonna abandon it like Christine abandoned me! *seethes with anger* you sicken me!
Me: *not bothered by his comment* I'm not abandoning this site Erik I'm just sharing the story in another site and see what results I get from it. Who knows maybe I get new ideas for the story and improve my writing as well. I might share the story elsewhere Erik but my heart and soul will always belong to and it's readers :D For god's sakes Erik this site made me an author and got me motivated to write this story! I will not abandon it.
Erik: Okay but I still don't know about this...
Me: It will be fine. Anyways Hope you like this chapter of Guiding Light I know it is short but I'll make up for it later though comment review and also if you haven't done so friend request me through Facebook (username is Estrella de la noche; it has the same pic as my profile) I'll be posting pictures and hints of the coming chapters and characters in the story as well as other projects I have in mind. I also like to thank the following people: Stargazer1364, Captianawesome, foxgodess07, Danish Fantasy Girl, AubriannaRose, breannapierson1990, GhostOfMyLady (love ya girl!), Guest who commented on chapter 16, EmilyDeathHeart13, Jaz, Nozomi Misaki (love ya too!), and Dragonett8 (thanks for the suggestion). Thank you for your comments and reviews they are my visible reasons to continue the story as well as the people who follow the stroy (expect a shout out the next time I post :) )
Erik: Get on with the story already Nightstar the people are waiting
Me: Disclaimer I do not own Poto sadly but I own my own OC's. Hope you guys like this chapter! :)
"Rebecca don'-" Elena, Mathew, Meg and Madame Giry alertly chanted but it was too late. Rebecca had already taken my mask off. I was helpless. I couldn't cover my face because I had her in my arms and I couldn't snap at her for fear of her loathing and worst of all her fear of me. I closed my eyes hoping and praying that it would ease the pain of the child seeing the true me. The world was silent for what seemed an eternity.
"Why, Monsieur Erik, do you wear a mask like this? It looks scratchy," Rebecca broke the silence. I snapped my eyes opened and stared at Rebecca who looked up at me with a smile. She was looking at me without fear or loathing. She, a child, looked at me as if I were part of the human raise and not a freak of nature, a monster. Tears were forming in my eyes and I looked towards Elena who was too smiling along with the Mathew and Madame Giry. Meg had been trembling but then again she heard so much about my "true" appearance from non credible sources that she had pictured something far more animalistic than my reality.
"I-I wear a mask to hide my appearance from the world," I said to her as she held up the mask and turned and observed it from every corner.
"Why?"
"Be-because I'm a monster little one," I whispered.
"You're not a monster. Monsters are scary and ugly. You are a beautiful angel, Monsieur Erik," Rebecca looked up at me and then did the unthinkable. She kissed my cheek, my deformed cheek to be exact, and wrapped her arms around me. She was hugging me or at least tried to hug me from the angle I was holding her in.
"The world thinks I am a monster little one," I said as I held the child tighter.
"Then the world is not ready for you, sir… or at least Paris is not ready," she stated softly and yawned a bit. I let the tears fall; I did not care if the others saw me. I did not care at that moment of the opinion they had of me. I simply did not care, at that moment all I cared about was that I was loved by this little girl. That she loved me as a father and that she, like her family, accepted me for the man I'd become and not the monster the world pictured me to be.
"Erik, I believe it is someone's bed time," Elena whispered as she got near me and took a yawning angel from my grasp, "and for her medicine. Will you show Mathew how to brew the leaves Erik? Please?"
I nodded and went to Mathew who was already at the door. I looked behind and I realized that Rebecca still had my mask in her possession. I was about to rush back and get it back from her, but Mathew grabbed my arm and stopped me.
"My mask I left it with Rebecca."
"I know."
"If it makes you uncomfortable I can ge-"
"It does not. Erik, as my niece said you are not a monster. All of us here do not care for your face Erik, we- I was wrong to judge you before this night. I want to get to know the man who tutored my sister, befriended her, and protected her while I was in London. I want to see you the same way as my sister and niece, that is, if you let me," Mathew Vega softly spoke as he guided me towards the kitchen. He left me to retrieve the leaves in the sitting room as rummaged to get a pot and some water as well as some sugar. This had become an interesting night indeed.