The phantom's daughter

Chapter nineteen

Victoria ran out of the house and into the street. She ran into the middle of the road, men in carriages yelling at her to get out of the way, but she quickly dodged them as she crossed the street. She stopped short, her heart beating rapidly in her chest. She gasped for breath, grabbing the the wall but she grabbed nothing and fell forward. She stayed there, curled into a small ball of brown curly hair. Her breathing became rapid. "Merde." she huffed under her breath.

"tsk, tsk, that is no way for a young woman to speak." someone said coming up behind her. Victoria breathed into her hands to keep them warm. she didn't acknowledge the voice, the voice placed a hand on her shoulder, she smacked it away with a hiss. "don't say you don't remember me Mademoiselle Destler." the voice laughed softly, she looked up with a look of confusion.

"Elijah." she gave him a watery smile as she sat up. He nodded with a smile and took her hands to help her stand. He stroked the side of her mask with confusion. she closed her eyes tightly, knowing what he was going to ask next.

"Why are you wearing a mask? Do you have a masquerade to attend to?" He asked. She sadly shook her head. "Then why?" He asked looking her in the eyes as if he could see straight through her mask.

"you wouldn't want to see, I'm hideous." a few tears rolled down her cheek. He cocked his head to the side in confusion.

"now how could a young woman such as yourself be hideous?" Elijah questioned, placing his hand on the back off her head where the string held up her mask.

"you'd be surprised." she whispered. She let him take off her mask, her eyes closed tightly waiting for him to scream. But she was confused when she heard nothing. She opened her eyes to see Elijah standing there, stroking her face with his thumb, both of them too close for comfort. Victoria blushed a bright red. "you're not afraid?"

"why should I be? You're beautiful mademoiselle." he smiled, a few tears fell down her cheeks. He wiped them away and smiled.

'oh that smile is going to be the death of me.' Victoria thought as Elijah took her hands. "where are we going?" she asked innocently.

"first where going to get out of the cold. Get you into something warmer than that nightgown you're wearing. Then if you wish so, spend the night with us." Elijah explained as they walked into an old yet reliable building. The place was filled with people her age, some younger than her as well. Young people with no other place to go to. " welcome to la maison de la perte." ( I believe that means home of the lost, I apologize if that's wrong.) He opened his arms out toward the whole place.

"this is your house?" Victoria looked around at the dainty little house.

"sure it's bit dingy, but hey it's home." Elijah chuckled. Victoria giggled as he took her hands and lead her up the stairs. He lowered his lips to her ear and whispered. "if you keep going down this hallway and make a right. The room you'll be staying in is the first door on the left." he smiled as she did as she was told. As opened the door she was greeted by a friendly face.