Chapter 1: The Masked Magician
The Shah's court watched in amazement as the masked stranger took a bouquet of exotic flowers and tossed them into a golden bowl that contained blue flames that the magician had conjured only a moment before; The crowd erupted into applause as they saw the flowers remain perfectly intact despite the burning flames that surrounded them.
A servant girl stood by the left side of the shah's throne holding a jug formed from pure marble; It was her job to make sure that the Shah's goblet was always full. She smiled in amazement as she watched the new magician's performance as The shah clapped with a chuckle and bright smile,
"Wonderful. Simply wonderful my masked pet" the shah praised,
"Tell me your name and remove your mask so that we might know you" the shah said but the magician held a firm expression after offering a polite bow of his head,
"I have only ever been known by the name, Erik and this mask is the only face I have. I'm afraid I must refuse your request" Erik explained causing the Shah to smirk,
"... I wasn't requesting" he replied before clicking his fingers causing two guard to approach Erik and force him to kneel despite his attempts to fight against them,
"Either you remove your mask, Magician or it shall be fifteen lashes of my guards whip upon the flesh of your back to entertain me instead" The shah said with a chuckle... The servant girl by the Shah's side could only watch stunned as the masked magician looked her ruler dead in the eyes with burning hatred and refused... She could only close her eyes tightly whilst the rest of the court laughed whilst the masked magician was whipped for the shah's entertainment.
Nadir; The Shah's Doroga had helped Erik back to his apartment within the marketplace. He had laid Erik face down on the bed so that the wounds on his back could avoid any painful pressure but Erik's cries of pain could be heard throughout the city as Nadir tended to the wounds to the best of his ability.
It was a whole five weeks until Erik's back had fully healed and the shah requested another magic show,
"My friend... If the shah asks you to remove your mask. Just do it... Make things easy for yourself" Nadir begged due to his concern for his masked friend but Erik only looked at him firmly,
"I will not so easily give him the satisfaction" he growled before storming off ahead to the palace and Nadir could only sigh before following after him.
The shah had once again demanded that Erik remove his mask at the end of his performance... Erik once again refused with the same firm tone that he had previously used. The shah then ordered his guard to use a pair of golden tongs to press a burning piece of coal against Erik's wrist causing the magician to cry out in pain despite his trying to stay silent... The court dispersed and Nadir quickly rushed to his friends aid whom looked upon the horrifying fresh burn that now plagued his friend's wrist... He tried to help his friend to stand but the Shah's water girl came rushing over with a basin of Fresh cold water and a clean cloth. Both men were stunned as she took Erik's injured arm in her tender hand before soaking the cloth in cold water and applied it to Erik's wrist causing him to cry out but he soon nodded before looking up at the woman before him,
"... Thank you..." He murmured and hid his surprise when he saw the woman smile in relief before continuing to tend to his wrist.
Nadir kept look out whilst the servant bandaged Erik's wrist with a caring hand,
"... Do you speak English?" Erik asked after a moment with a curious expression and watched her smile but she didn't answer him causing Erik to become confused; Nadir turned towards his friend,
"She's a servant, my friend. You must give her your permission to speak" The Doroga explained and Erik looked outraged,
"Surely you must be joking" he demanded, watching as Nadir shook his head,
"it's the law" he reasoned lamely and Erik could only grumble quiet profanity before looking back at the Servant girl with a reluctant expression,
"You... You have my permission to speak" he mumbled and watched the servant girl smile,
"Thank you, My lord... My apologies for not answering your question right away but... I do not wish for another 5 lashes from the shah for speaking without consent" she explained timidly and Erik saw the light pink lines upon the palm of her hand... He felt his blood boil in the knowledge that the shah himself used a stick of bamboo to strike servant girls across the palm of their hands,
"... Do you have a name?" Erik asked in attempts to calm himself down,
"My name?... The shah just calls me girl but... My birth name is Claire" she replied timidly as she tied the bandage and watched with surprise as Erik lifted her hand and expected her palm that the shah had struck only the other day for accidentally speaking out loud when she asked if he would like more wine... Claire watched with a curious expression as Erik picked up the cloth she used earlier to cool down his wound... She watched as Erik tended to her own small wound,
"... You have my permission to speak to me whenever you wish" Erik told her and Claire could only smile softly,
"... Thank you, My lord" she bid as she took the cloth from him and collected the basin of water and fled before any guards could catch them.
It was a few days after Erik's wrist had been burnt that the Shah requested another magic show. Erik once again performed a magnificent show that resulted in loud applause... As well as the Shah once again demanding that Erik remove his mask; Erik looked up at the shah firmly,
"You may ask me one thousand times and I shall give you the same answer every time... I will not remove my mask" Erik said firmly and the shah smirked, chuckling before taking a sip of wine from his golden goblet,
"... Take the magician's hand" the shah ordered smugly, causing Guards to rush forward and restrain Erik whom struggled in vain against their hold,
"NO!" a voice yelled causing the court to gasp as the Shah turned his head sharply towards his water girl whom quickly placed down her marble jug and knelt at the shah's feet,
"Please my lord shah. I beg that you show him mercy... Let me take his punishment" Claire begged and Erik looked horrified as the Court began whispering gossip but the Shah held up a hand making them fall silent,
"... You would so easily take this monster's punishment?" the shah asked curiously and Claire kept her head bowed in respect,
"Yes, my lord shah" she answered... There was silence as the shah stood from his throne with a thoughtful frown on his face as he began to pace back and forth... Claire suddenly cried out when the shah grasped her by the hair and held her face towards a basin of fire,
"YOU DARE TO MAKE A FOOL OF ME BY SPEAKING IN MY COURT WITHOUT CONSENT?!" the shah yelled and Erik fought against the guards' hold as best he could,
"NO PLEASE!" Erik yelled, earning the shah's attention,
"I... I want her" Erik murmured causing the shah to smirk whereas Nadir in the crowd looked horrified; The shah pulled Claire away from the fire basin but still kept a tight grip on her hair,
"So... My beast of a magician does have the urges of a man after all" he mocked causing the court to laugh and the shah signaled his guards to release Erik as he threw Claire forward but Erik quickly rushed and caught her before she hit the ground,
"My freak has chosen a bride! I believe this is cause for celebration so... I shall pardon both his and his bride to be's disrespect... For now" the growled smugly with a smirk before leaving and the rest of the court soon followed.
Erik looked at Claire in concern,
"Are you alright?" he asked, watching relieved as she nodded,
"W... Why did you do that?" Erik demanded,
"... Because you gave me permission to speak to you so... I decided to speak for you" Claire explained as Nadir came rushing to their side,
"I suggest we leave for the apartment before the shah decides that he wants to watch not only your wedding but also your wedding night for entertainment" he insisted and Erik looked horrified,
"Surely he wouldn't" he demanded,
"I'm afraid he would, my lord" Claire confirmed with a sad expression and it didn't take long for the three to flee from the throne room.
Claire looked around Erik's home at the many music scores that littered the floors as well as the table. She also admired little clockwork inventions that sat upon the shelves that lined the walls,
"... Do you like it here?" Erik asked timidly causing her to turn towards him to find him standing in the doorway with an awkward expression,
"I do... All of these things are fascinating" she told him,
"Thank you... The Shah will expect you to stay here with me now... Due to my having said that I..." Erik struggled whilst rubbing the back of his neck,
"I shall have an extra bed made up. I need you to know that I don't expect you to..." Erik tried,
"My lord, it's ok. I understand why you told the shah that you wanted me... You were simply trying to protect me because I protected you" Claire assured, watching as Erik nodded in relief,
"You... You can call me, Erik" he told her,
"As you wish" Claire replied but jumped when Erik turned back to her quickly,
"NO!... I... I meant... You may call me Erik if you wish to do so... There should not be any formalities if you are to be..." he tried,
"... Your wife?..." Claire assisted gently and watched him nod,
"Yes... My wife..." he agreed, turning away and made his way into the small kitchen,
"... I do not wish for you to think of me as the shah but... I do have rules" Erik told her and Claire nodded in understanding,
"I know my home my seem messy but it is how I like it so I ask that you do not touch anything. This is my first rule. My second is that if you ever need anything then you need only ask and it is yours... A wife of mine will want for nothing" Erik told her bashfully,
"... My last rule is the most important. You must... You must never bring up, ask about or request nor attempt to remove my mask" Erik told her firmly as he made them both a cup of tea before turning back towards her,
"Am I clear?" he asked,
"Yes my... I mean... Yes, Erik" Claire replied before accepting the cup with a soft smile,
"Thank you" she told him as they both began enjoying their cup of tea.
It was sometime later that Claire slept peacefully upon the couch; A temporary bed until Erik could acquire her her own. Erik groaned in frustration as Nadir enjoyed a small glass of whisky,
"You need not worry, my friend. The shah cannot mix in now that you have brought her to your home. She is your wife and therefore your property" Nadir reasoned,
"My property?!" Erik demanded loudly with an expression of horror on his half masked face,
"A man's wife is not his property, Nadir. A wife is a man's companion in life who is respected by a man just as a wife respects the man in return... She is not my property. She's... She's my wife" Erik mumbled in struggle before sitting down and sighed, burying his masked face in his hands,
"One thing I never thought I would be... A husband... What am I to do now?" Erik mumbled to himself hopelessly.
Yay or Nay? Let me know if you want chapter 2!
Kind Regards,
TheAuthor1996