Katherine stared stary-eyed at her reflection in the small vanity mirror as her sister played with her hair.

"Do you think we will find suitors tonight?" She quietly giggled as she played with a small diamond necklace.

"I certainly hope so," her sister replied with a laugh. "I didn't tie my corset extra tight for no reason." The two girls laughed as they continued to get dressed.

"Well, the party is for Papa's retirement, so whoever we find should already be in his good graces." Katherine laughed as she opened up her makeup case. "Brenda, could you please grab my coat?" she asked while she applied her lipstick. Brenda hummed as she grabbed the fur coat that hung over a small armchair.

There was a knock, and the door slowly opened to show a thin man dressed in a fine suit.

"You girls ready?" he asked in a tired, croaky voice.

"Coming Papa!" the sisters giggled as they made their way out of the room.

"You two look stunning" he smiled. The girls jokingly curtseyed as they headed to the front entrance of the house.

The ride was rather long as Katherine and Brenda stared out of the carriage's window. Katherine's face was in somewhat of a frown as she watched the glow of the streetlights fill the raindrops that raced down the cold glass.

"What a depressing night for a party," she mumbled. "Though I suppose the music and wine will help raise the spirits." She smiled with a sigh. The carriage slowed down as the lights of the Opera Populaire filled the darkness of their ride. Brenda, Katherine, and their father exited the carriage in relative silence, and they made their way into the crowded and loud building.

"My God, look at everyone." Katherine said as she instantly felt underdressed and tiny. She ran an insecure eye over her outfit and pulled her coat closer to her chest.

"You look beautiful." Brenda said with a smile. Their father gave her an affirmative nod before finding a group of his co-workers to talk to. Katherine looked around nervously as she and Brenda found a corner to stand in and observe everyone.

"Why do all the men look like bland breakfast cereal?" She said with an amused smile. "Look, He's a charmer," she pointed over to a pristine man who was chatting with a group of women. "He's a scoundrel" She said as she drew her attention to a man who was looking down his wife's bodes as she talked to him. "And he's a possible Mr. Rochester. You know, the whole 'wife in the attic' sort of thing." She pointed to a third man, who was pursuing a young woman whilst glancing around the room suspiciously. "It's always those three men. The only ones that have a personality and a life worth living with carry the threat of neighbourhood gossip." Katherine sighed as she clutched her side.

"You alright?" Brenda asked with concern.

"I need to get some air, before my corset breaks a rib." She sighed as she excused herself.

_______

It had been an hour since Katherine had left, and Brenda was getting slightly anxious about her whereabouts.

"Where did your sister run off to?" Her father croaked, making her jump slightly.

"I don't know, but I'm thinking I may need to go look for her." Brenda laughed as she looked around. "I doubt she's dancing." She smiled as se headed off to find Katherine.

Brenda walked down the dark, empty halls of the Populaire, softly calling out for her sister. She turned a corner, finding a shadow within the shadows. With a sigh of relief she grabbed it's shoulder and turned it around.

"Katherine, there you are-" she stopped abruptly as the shadow grew taller and light of a nearby gaslight shone upon a white mask attached to a man's face. "Y-you're not Katherine." She laughed.

"Clearly not." The man hissed. "Leave me alone."

"No need to be mean Monsieur, it was clearly an accident." She sassed the stranger. He looked at her with spite and hate in his eyes.

"You shouldn't be here, there are ghosts about."

"unfortunately for them, I don't believe they exist." Brenda blatantly stated.

"That is unfortunate, isn't it." He mumbled with even less amusement than the woman.

"Now that we're engaged in some form of conversation, perhaps we should introduce each other. My name is Brenda," she held out a hand. "and yours?"

"Why are you here?" he grew impatient.

"That's a strange name!" Brenda teased. "Well, 'Why are you here' I am looking my sister. She's yay high, blue eyes, brown hair that has been styled into a nice bun. Have you seen her?"

"Not of that exact description, but I have no obligation or wishes to help you. So, with that I bid you adieu." And with that, he vanished into the shadows once more.

"Wait, I didn't even ask if you wanted to marry me yet!" Brenda called out with a sarcastic tone, followed by a sigh.

The faint clicking of heels began to echo throughout the hallway, and Katherine soon approached her sister who to her, was just standing in the middle of the hall and staring into the shadows.

"What are you doing?" she asked slightly concerned.

"Just having a conversation with my friend Gerard." She deadpanned as she pointed to the connecting hallway which stood empty. Katherine rolled her eyes in amused annoyance. "I did actually meet someone; I don't know his name, but he was... interesting to say the least."

"Was he handsome?"

"From what I could see of his face."

"What do you mean?"

"He wore a mask, stayed in the shadows and didn't answer anything I asked him. He just kept telling me to go away or asking why I was here." The two girls looked down the hall.

"That is interesting. Do you think he's part of the party?" Katherine asked.

"If he is I can't see anyone but Papa being the one who invited him." Brenda said, her mind in the clouds.

"Shall we go see if he's in the crowd? I also just want to find Papa." Katherine giggled as she took her sister's hand.

"Yes, lets!" Brenda smiled as they began to walk back.

______

"Look , he's over there." Katherine pointed out their father across the room. He was talking to a rather tall man with jet black hair that was slicked back into a small curl at the end.

"It's him" Brenda whispered. "He isn't wearing the mask, but it's most definitely him." Katherine looked at Brenda with a smile.

"Somebody is in love!" she giggled before Brenda pinched her arm gently. "Let's go say hello, if he's talking to Papa he probably knows him outside of this party. And I doubt Papa would let him treat you like before."

Before Brenda could answer, Katherine was already pulling her through the crowd.

"Ah, girls! Just in time!" Their father cheerfully croaked. "Meet Erik, he's worked for me for just over 8 years now." Erik locked eyes with Brenda, making her shrivel up with anxiety.

"Ah, the famous twins Gustave keeps bragging about every chance that he gets." Erik joked.

"The very ones." Gustave laughed. The two girls curtseyed as Erik simply watched them.

"I found Katherine, by the way." Brenda joked to him. "Thank you for all the help" she laughed.

"What?" Erik asked with a faux confusion, making Brenda shake her head with real confusion.

"It was you, in the hallway back then. You had a white mask on... I was looking for Katherine and you just walked away..."

"Erik just got here Brenda" Gustave chimed in, Erik confirming it by looking over at his boss.

"No, he was just in the hallways, I swear it!" she began to get worked up. Katherine simply watched, grateful she didn't have to speak, until Erik's eyes met her. She smiled awkwardly, Erik shooting her a glance of amusement at the confusion between them all.

"Alright, calm down everyone." Gustave interjected. "I don't know who's met who. So just pretend nobody has met anyone until now." Brenda eyed off Erik, who seemed too focused on Katherine, who seemed too focused on her feet to notice anything.

"My name is Brenda; I am the eldest twin." She curtseyed once more. "And this is my sister Katherine."

Katherine curtseyed, still not making eye contact with anyone.

"It's a pleasure to meet you both." Erik said, his attention still skewing to Katherine's side. Gustave smiled shortly before he felt something catch in his chest, making him start coughing at a violent rate.

"Are you alright Monsieur?" Erik asked with some alarm. Gustave nodded as he pulled his handkerchief from his breast pocket and began to cough into it, taking it away intervals at a time to fold over the fresh blood stains.

"My God Papa!" Katherine gasped.

"I think it might be best if we get you some fresh air and clean water. Perhaps a medic..." Erik began as he rushed to support the man who was beginning to stumble. "Brenda, could you go find one for me?" He said as he began to help the girls' father outside. Brenda nodded and rushed to the nearest working staff member. Katherine moved around, unsure of who to follow and feeling useless as she simply buried herself into another corner of the room.

A few minutes had past, and Erik reappeared by his lonesome.

"I'm sorry, we left you alone just then." He said softly.

"No, don't worry about it. Best not to bring too much attention to the scene." She smiled.

"Brenda is keeping him company, they told me to keep you company." He looked awkward and rather shyer than what he had been before. Katherine simply hummed. Erik stood beside her, the two in an awkward silence, both afraid of a conversation, yet both with a different reason why.

'He seems like such a jerk' Katherine thought. 'Pretending he doesn't know Brenda, who does he think he is!' Her brow furrowed in frustrated anger. Erik snuck a small glance at her, slightly frightened at her expression.

'What do I say to her?' he thought. 'She does not seem like she wants to talk but I want to talk to her. What can I say? What can I do?'

"Would you like to dance?" he asked out of nowhere, surprising the both of them.

"I don't really dance..." she admitted softly.

"I can guide you." He answered too quickly. Katherine's eyes widened in amusement as she smiled.

"Alright then," she giggled. "Mr. Eager over here. Are you going to ask for my hand after we've danced as well?"

"If time and company permits me." He joked as they joined in with other dancers.

"Why did you lie back there? When Brenda claimed to have met you before."

"Did you know I was lying?" Erik asked with interest.

"I didn't see who she was talking to before we arrived, but she was pretty adamite that it was you, but with a-"

"White mask?" Katherine looked at him with suspicion.

"...Yes, with a white mask. So it was you."

"It would seem a failed joke to say it wasn't. But I had no idea she was the daughter of Gustave when we met, and her rather invasive way of asking for help didn't exactly help the situation of her assuming I was you and pulling me out of my hiding spot."

"She confused you for me? I only just reach your chin, how on Earth could she think you were me?"

"I am confused about that myself." Erik gave a small smile.

"Why were you hiding in the first place?"

"I dislike social events."

"Why the mask?" Erik pulled her closer harshly as they continued to dance.

"A question that should be asked at a quieter decibel." He hissed. "Or better yet never even asked." Katherine's comfort dropped slightly as they twirled around the ballroom.

"Sorry Monsieur." She quietly whispered. The dance was finished with an uncomfortable silence between the two, and they walked back to their corner.

'Good job' Erik scolded himself mentally as they returned to their previous position of standing shoulder-to-shoulder but being a world away from each other.

"I should apologise for earlier," he began. "The harshness of my actions wasn't intentional."

"Alright." Katherine said in stone-cold disbelief. Erik cleared his throat, shifting his feet slightly.

"May I make it up to you?"

"No." Katherine walked away with that simple word. She gave a sigh as she made her way outside and to her father and Brenda. "How are you feeling Papa?" she asked as she sat down.

"Better." He weakly croaked.

"We have to go home Katherine, I've called the carriage for us. Papa needs rest."

"Absolutely fine with me." Katherine smiled.

"Is Erik alright?" Gustave asked with concern. "We should give him a ride home as a thank you. The man walks everywhere, it can't be healthy for him." Katherine's face moved into a slight look of disgust before she quickly smiled again.

"I'm sure Erik is alright, but I shall go see with him about the offer." She said as she pushed herself off the ground and headed back inside.

______

'Stupid idiot.' Erik mentally lectured himself as he looked at himself in a faraway mirror, holding a glass of wine like it was the last one on the face of the Earth. 'You had a good thing going, and you did that? Get control over yourself it was just a stupid question. All of these buffoons are too drunk to even comprehend a word that leaves their own mouths, of course they aren't going to suddenly understand "why the mask?"' He took a rather hefty sip from the glass before a small hand gently tapped his back, making him choke and spit the wine back into the cup. He looked around with embarrassment to find Katherine looking rather angry that she has to face him again.

"We're heading home, Papa isn't in the best of shape and needs rest."

"Alright then, it was-"

"He's offered you a lift home." She interrupted.

"I- Well, I-" Erik stuttered, trying not to expose his secret. Katherine simply looked at him like she was forced to against her will. "I would like that very much." He said with a forced smile. Katherine simply replied with a hum and walked off, Erik following shortly after, unfortunately, too many and too few steps behind to raise the attention of those they passed. The other guests and flocks of women raised their eyebrows as they watched the young woman walk quickly past them with a tall man shadowing behind.

"Seems like Gustave's youngest is up to no good." A group of the working men's wives gossiped, following suit with a giggle and a gulp of their 10th glass of wine. Erik and Katherine found their way back to their party outside, Gustave waving his hand to signal them over to the carriage.

"Erik, glad to be of service." He laughed gently.

"I appreciate the offer." Erik said as he sat sandwiched between the two girls.

"Where do you live?" Gustave asked. Erik panicked, blurting out the first address that came to his mind. Gustave nodded and the carriage set off into the night. Only he and Erik shared a conversation as they rode toward Erik's destination.

"Here we are!" the driver called out. Erik looked out the window to a set of small apartment flats and gave a sheepish smile as he looked into the only window that was illuminated by a candle.

"Not a fan of houses hey?" Gustave chuckled.

"Uh- no, I find a flat is more suitable for my lifestyle. I'm hardly ever there." He lied. Gustave smiled, as Katherine exited the carriage to let Erik out. "Goodnight." He attempted to make peace.

"Goodnight." She muttered before climbing back in and shutting the door. Erik watched in the damp street as the carriage drove away. 'I am going to regret this.' He sighed as he turned back to the flat.

______

A rather tired man opened the knock at his door, his hair dishevelled and voice groggy from sleep.

"Erik?" he groaned. "What on Earth are you doing here?"

"Hello Nadir, long time no see." Erik evaded the question.

"Yes, quite. Is everything alright?" Nadir asked with concern.

"Quite. I was wondering if I could stay the night, just on the couch, or the floor if you'd prefer. But just inside."

"Why? What is going on?" Nadir leant to the side, allowing Erik to step in.

"Gustave, my boss, offered me a ride home after a gathering and your address was the first thing on my lips." He admitted. Nadir rolled his eyes with a chuckle.

"You can take the guest room. If you have work in the morning I have a spare suit you may borrow also." He said as he led Erik to the second room.

"Are you-"

"Yes I'm sure." Nadir answered. Erik gave a sincere thank you as they said their goodnights.

______

"I hate him." Katherine said as she and Brenda combed their hair on the bed.

"That's a strong word." Brenda laughed.

"Well... I don't hate him hate him. But I would consider myself the most unluckiest woman should I have to meet him again."

"Sounds like somebody might be in love with him." Brenda teased.

"I would rather marry a wanted criminal than somebody who stalks around the shadows of a party, treats a stranger like crap and then acts like butter wouldn't melt in his mouth around his boss! You should have seen how he acted around me! All "goodnight" and charming like he didn't just offend my sister! It's so frustrating!" Katherine grunted with her jaws clenched together. Brenda simply laughing.

"Calm down. I'm sure Erik wouldn't want to meet us again either." She said as she tucked herself into bed. "Anyway, I'm super tired so I'm going to sleep. Goodnight Katie, love you."

"I love you too." Katherine said angrily as she roughly tucked herself into her own bed. She slipped into sleep almost as soon as her head touched the pillow, her dreams filled with that man.