Sorcha’s reaction to the lake was not as I had expected it to be.  Here was a child of light and space, and my home was not exactly abundant of either.  But, to my pure pleasure, she seemed as impressed with the beauty of my little lake as I have ever been.  She even managed to ask an intelligent question.

    “Where does the light come from?”  She turned her face up to mine as she asked, and I saw her eyes widen as she caught sight of my little skiff.  I had designed it myself and it is one of the many items I’ve made that I’m most proud of.  I lit the lantern so she could see it better and was rewarded by her approving gaze following the curves and carvings on my little masterpiece.

    “I’ve never been able to figure it out, either.  Call it one of the mysteries of life.  Anyway, come on, my dear, my home is across the lake.”  She refused my help into the craft, though in her state she probably could have used it.  She was still limping, and bruises were beginning to stand out on her all over.  She is going to be very sore in the morning.  I hope she has the wits to take a hot bath tonight. 

    As I began poling us across the lake, Sorcha made some small noise or comment.  My mind had been wandering, as it so often does when I’m on the lake, and I asked her, “What?”

    “I look atrocious.  Bad enough to scare a goblin.”  And she scooped up a handful of lake water to begin scrubbing her face.  If she thinks she looks bad enough to scare a goblin, I wonder what she thinks I would scare.  Her, surely enough.  I seem to make a habit of scaring people.  The curse of my face, I though bitterly, I’ve just let it into other portions of my life.  And well should I!  What has the world ever done but hurt me?  But, I have my safe little haven here below the lake where I can escape the world…except…   I stared at Sorcha’s back as she worked the water over her face.  This part of the world was coming into my home, my sanctuary.  It was no longer as safe for me.

    WHY hadn’t I learned this lesson before?  Every person I’ve ever brought into my home has found a way to see my face, some through trickery and some out of simple curiosity, and never after has life been the same with any of them.  Nadir began thinking I was a monster again after he came bursting unannounced into my home one day, while I was dressing, with some rather unimportant news.  Madeline… I must not think of Madeline.  What right do these people have over me to take my closest secret and use it to judge me so!?  And this child, she must be planning to do just the same.  Of course she is!  How could she be any different?  Erik, you have been a fool!!!

    She turned around to look at me, and I thought I could just see that malicious glint in her eye.  She was so innocent as she asked, “Is something the matter?”

    “So, why don’t you just ask, I know the question is burning on your lips.  Or are you planning on being especially cruel and just ripping it off when I’m not looking?”  I was not going to deal with that treachery later, perhaps after she had made me think she was my friend.

    “What?”

    “Oh, don’t try to play coy with me!!  Everyone wants to know what’s under the mask.  So why don’t you ask?  Hmmm?  Everyone else who’s ever entered my house has made me reveal my face at one point or another, so why don’t we just get it over with.  Then you can see what a terror you have resigned yourself to for a week!!”  Her mouth opened and closed as she tried to form a believable reply, but I was not having any of it.

    “Aren’t you dying to see my face?” I bellowed at her, not caring if we got dumped in the lake in my rage.  I was never going to allow this again!  I would keep my end of the bargain as she would hers, but my face would NOT be revealed to another person, not without consequences.

    I was about to inform her of this, at the top of my lungs, when she replied quietly, “Not particularly,” as if the thought had never even crossed her mind.

    That simple answer baffled me for a moment.  “What?”

    “I said, ‘not particularly.’  There’s obviously a reason you wear the mask, and it’s none of my business why or what’s under it.”  She shrugged.  “You’ll reveal either your face or your reasons to me in your own time, and until then I’m not particularly concerned with either.”

    All my anger flowed right out of me like air from a deflated balloon and I leaned on my pole to replace the support the anger had given me.  I wasn’t quite sure what all this meant.  “What exactly are you saying?”

    “I’m saying that I have no desire to see your face until you want to show it to me, since you obviously don’t want it seen.”  And then she smiled at me again, that pure smile and I knew I had been imagining all the maliciousness and terrible things about her.  But some things had to be perfectly clear.

    “I will never show you what is beneath me mask.”

    “And, that may be.  Like I said, I’m not concerned with it.  You’ve got your reasons, that’s good enough for me.”

    I was so shocked that I just stood there staring at the door to my home.  Was someone actually going to respect the sanctity of my mask, let me protect myself from the world?  It appeared so, but why?  I knew Sorcha wasn’t without curiosity.  That’s what had gotten her down here in the first place.  Perhaps she was actually telling the truth.  How unique.

    “You said your house was on the other side of the lake?”   She hinted, gently.  I picked up my pole and resumed our journey, resolving not to let my moods get out of control like that around her again.  So far she had been nothing but sweet, truthful and caring, and it looked like she would continue in that vein.

    We finished the trip in silence, and while I tied up the skiff, Sorcha hauled herself painfully out of the craft, tugging her pack with her.  I wish she would let me help her, but she seemed more than determined to do it herself. 

    While she got her pack on, amidst many small gasps of pain and pauses, I walked up to my door, and paused a moment, laying a hand on the plain wood.  Well, Erik, there’s no going back now.  I sighed, then straightened up and smiling at Sorcha opened the door.  “Welcome, Mademoiselle Sorcha, to my humble home.”

    I gestured to her to enter first, and as she walked past her skirt whispered past my ankles, making me shiver involuntarily.  Her little wash in the lake had improved her disheveled appearance somewhat and under the new bruises I could see she was as beautiful in her own way as my Madeline was.  Erik, you’re a fool for beautiful women, that’s all there is to it.  It’s going to get you killed one of these days.  Almost has before.

    She stopped in the middle of my foyer, and I looked around trying to see things through her eyes.  It was a small squarish room with black marble tiles on the floor, charcoal walls with light grey crown moldings, baseboards, and chair rail.  The only furniture in the room was an antique vanity I had converted to a table.  It had a white and grey marble top and a large mirror spotted with age and framed in an elaborately carved, black lacquered frame.  A few lit candles shone bravely out from atop of it.  The mirror reflected silver chrome hooks on the other wall.  It was really terribly dark.  I shrugged out of my cape and hung it up on one.

    “You can leave your things here.  There is much to see.”  She dropped a shoulder and rolled the pack off with much less difficulty than it took to get it on and leaned it against the table.

    I opened the door in the next wall for her and she passed through eyes drinking in her surroundings.  As I thought about them from her perspective, I thought they must look awfully old-fashioned and stuffy, but I had decorated it myself, and was rather proud of it.

    The centerpiece of the room was a long black sofa covered in the softest leather I could find.  In front of it sat a low coffee table with a stone and crystal chessboard that I had carved myself and a few more candles.  To the other side of it was an old fashioned wing back chair which was very comfortable for reading and a small round table next to it and another candle.  Electric light is so harsh.  Behind that was my bookshelf.  It held books of every variety: fairy tales in all languages, philosophy, Greek and Roman myths, Shakespeare, the great love stories of all time, anything for inspiration.  Next to that was the door into the hall.  On the wall right by the door we had just entered was a writing desk with another bookshelf atop of it.  More books here, but these were science, physics, mechanics.  My magic.  All the skills I had learned to be an effective ‘ghost.’  Straight across from the sofa was my pride, a large stone fireplace that the living room, dining room and kitchen shared.  The doors to my dining room and kitchen flanked it.  The colors were all deep rich reds and golds, no white anywhere.

    She wandered about the room without a word, running a casual hand along the back of the sofa and smiling at its texture.  She picked up and examined a chess piece, turning it over several times in her fingers, and set it gently back in place, then went to the bookshelf and perused the titles.  I heard her chuckle under her breath several times, and wasn’t sure weather to be insulted or pleased.  Sorcha was taking in the room all around her, but still no comment.  Then she turned around and leaned her arms and head atop the back of the chair.  “It’s lovely here, Erik.  May I see more?”  She cocked her head and smiled at me, so genuine and something leapt inside me.  She likes it here?  No one but me EVER likes it here.  Is she actually going to stay, happily?  Can I trust her to be my friend?  Maybe more?

    Damnit Erik, don’t be foolish.  She just appreciates classic tastes, it has NOTHING to do with you!  I would not let her see my turmoil, of course.  I remained the gracious host.  “Of course, my dear.  This way.”

    As I led the way to the kitchen I wondered where exactly this week would take me, and if I’d ever be able to return from it.