Raise your hand if your an awful authoress *raises hand* I cannot apologise enough on regard of my lack of updates, I wont be surprised if you're all angry at me! I promise to make it up to you, Diamonds in Persia is just getting into its main part, once that kicks off, it will run smoother and I will be able to write this more! I promise!

I just want to take a moment to say WOW at purple99sg, she is a complete angel is going to draw me up some pictures of scenes from this story, she is super talented, and keep an eye out as I'm planning on using her work as my story icons!

Thank you all!

*once again story belongs to Christine Stein (my wonderful friend)*

Chapter 7-Erik's POV

He was in my dreams as always. He was so beautiful, so very beautiful. His hair was a deep brown, which was always perfectly side parted, that matched his perfect eyes, both of them rich a deep, with long lashes that were much like little fans. His smile was big, chiselled almost upon his face, framed by two perfect dimples, that sat on the round cheeks, which were covered in skin so milky white and unblemished it looked as if it had been carved from stone, he was around 5 feet six tall, an average height, normal. Everything about him was sickeningly normal.

This man, this perfect model of a man, with his sweet words, and soft laugh, was my tormentor. One who made my gypsy master seem like a sweet man. He had not hit me, well on occasion he had threatened. But the reason I was caged, beaten, flogged, tied and bound like a beast was all due to this man.

Julian De Chagny.

It was always the same, it wasn't really ever a dream, but a strange memory or recelation. But whatever it was, it had happened, and came back every night to torment me.

I was hiding, huddled in the corner of my attic room, trying frantically to hide my face, I hadn't meant it, it had seemed like a good idea at the time, my mind had told me to show Mr Chagny, who I had seen kissing my mother, what she was hiding, my face. But as soon as I had stepped down the last step, and seen my mother break away from Mr Chagny's lips that was when I knew it was all a mistake.

Why I hadn't run quicker I didn't know. Something had kept me on the stairs for a moment too long, my shirt had been grabbed and then, my mother's hand had fallen down onto my face, my bare face. The mask was gone, and my sensitive flesh was open to her abuse, and she let it rain down upon me, one slap after the other upon my high cheek bones, the skin screams, as did my mother.

'Beast! Foul beast!' she had leant down, she was completely gone now, utterly deranged, as the abuse came from her mouth like poison, drowning us both in hate, it was the last straw, as if all the abuse, the hate, the pain, had all bubbled up like a giant ugly boil, that had now burst and drowned us both as she screamed. But then the soft voice had come, that charmingly soft voice, that made every word sound like butter softly melting, I hated that voice more than anything, more than my mother's beating's.

'Madeline mon armour, let him go. I will deal with him.' He said looking at me with those burning eyes, he held my mother's kissing her lips before me, as I turned and fled. Now I wanted to get away as fast as I could. I wasn't able to do it anymore, tripping up the stairs, bashing m shins, I ran in fear from Julian de Chagny, who hastily followed me. I had to hide. I had to! He would hurt me! He would hurt me with his wicked words, the thing was unlike Mother, Julian had this way, this wretched way of making me hate him, and making me believe every little word he said. His perfection, his beauty it had all startled me. He had shown me my face, his first torment had been a scientific investigation, leaving me in a room full of mirrors, that was when I had found my ugliness, that was when I had realised, and m world had come crashing down, that was when reality had struck. Julian had pulled down m hopes that my Mother would grow to love me, but by him showing me my face it brought me a reality check. My mother would never love me ever, I was ugly, beyond ugly, and no matter how hard I screamed, no matter how many mirrors I smashed, or how long I banged at the door for, I would always, always have this face.

Tears had smothered my sore cheeks as I had desperately looked for somewhere, anywhere to hide, to get out of Julian's reach, if he could not see me, he would not hurt me. He would not torment me. But my attic room was less than bare, and all that was in it was my straw bed and my toys of metal, nowhere to hide.

Then the door had shut, and that had been it, the signifying of an ending. I had backed up, as Julian had walked, the floor boards creaking under his perfect shoes, and his perfect outfit of navy and white. Perfection, perfection, perfection! Whilst here I was an ugly monster!

'There you are.' Came the soft voice, walking towards me. I scrambled back.

'N-no.' I stammered, twitching.

'You're to come with me Erik.' He reached down trying to take my hand, I hit the wall I moved away so fast.

'No-no!' I panted again.

'Cover your damn face then come with me.' his voice grew now, making me shake.

'No! W-where ar-re you taking me?' I had screamed, as with his two perfect hands he had picked me up by my cut wrists, and dragged me across the floor. I had screamed, and screamed, mainly for my mother, though I knew she would never come. Julian said nothing, but kept his soft hands deadly tight around my wrists as he tugged me down the stairs.

'Stop screaming!' Julian's voice was now ugly, yes! He was ugly like me now! In my fear I gave on last scream to my Mother, but that was when Julian's fist had come down onto my face.

'I told you to stop it!' he said but as I had looked up, blood coming from the gap in m face that was my nose, I saw that he was still smiling, that perfect smile woven on his cheeks happily, that terrified me more than the beatings.

I had curled up into a ball, trying to get away.

'Mo-mother merci, mer-merci!' I had sobbed.

I thought perhaps my mother would see and take pity, but as always in the dream as she had done in reality.

'Erik, how many times have I told you to not call me mother.' She would always whisper, I was not sure if that was part of the dream or had happened.

But I know for certain, as Julian lifted my wrists again, she had turned away.

I had screamed all the way through the forest, Julian didn't seem to care, he just tugged m arms tighter, then we had come to a clearing. With a hard shove, I had been thrown to the floor.

'Isn't it strange, how you're so ugly, you're slightly appealing to me.' Julian had purred, running his hands across my cut arms. I had frantically scrambled back, but he let me know there was no escape by clutching to m wrist. I had been so confused, why was he saying such a thing, I never understood and still didn't.

'Ohh, you fear me! Strange as I should fear you, you're face is hideous, yet I wish to touch you, to feel you, to see your bare skin.' He whispered in a strange voice.

'P-please take me h-home, I p-promise to be a good boy.' I had begged, I knew I hated home, I hated this man, but something had told me I was not coming back out of the dark forest.

Julian had thrown his beautiful head back, and laughed, sickeningly, how I had wished to hurt him, to hit his beautiful face and curse him a thousand times, with a face like mine!

'Mon diue, my little fool you are not going home, never again. You have a new home now.' He smiled down at me, his thumb rubbing circles on my inner arm, I never took my eyes of his hands, hating them, and their beautiful softness.

'No-no!' I had screamed a new home? I wanted to return to my home, or no home, or to be free in the wild.

'Qui, my little friend. You must understand, your mother does not, and will not love you ever. You're a beast. This new home is much more suited to people like you. Here they are now.' He had lifted me my arm from the leafy floor, I screamed, but was silenced quickly as I watched the trees almost part themselves, and saw the gypsies for the first time. For a moment I had been fascinated, but as I was dragged by Julian, who smiled happily and all but skipped to the large and strange carriage, then I had realised this situation was worse than my old one.

I had closed my eyes, believing that it would all go away, but it didn't and the soft voice of Julian was met by one so cruel so loud and bellowing that I had the urge to cling to Julian, and to never let go.

'Monsieur! Here he is, as promised.' Julian said almost happily, throwing me to the floor. I felt my face go bare, the cover pulled away, as I had curled up and trembled, unable to think, to move, there was a gasp, then a gruff laugh.

'Qui, he will do nicely. Thank Monsieur.' The bellowing voice filled the woods.

'You're most welcome, Erik I shall give your regards to your mother.' His soft voice then disappeared.

I had tried to run, got up and tried to flee, anywhere but here was a good place, even home with m hating mother. But as I had tried, two hands had grabbed me, not soft perfect hands like Julian's, but rough hands, ones that clutched to my ankles, and dragged me to my cage, that was to be my home.

I don't know how long I wept for, sobbed, screamed, and shouted, but I was thrashed harshly, chained and bound like a wild animal. As I was tied, as the rain had fallen soaking me, freezing me, I learnt to hate Julian, my mother's lover, the man who sent me away and began the real pains. I knew his face, that beautiful face would haunt me until I die.

I sat up quickly, Julian's deep brown eyes burnt into my head, I was sweating, a soft dark all around me. I then noticed the cover over me, the quilt, the pillow, the bed. Where was I? With a quick panic I realised this was not the cage. I went to jump out of this strange bed, it seemed strange trying to flee comfort, but I was used to pain, and discomfort now and knew that no master would ever be kind to me. I knew in the cage I was relatively safe.

I went to leap from the bed, every inch of my body aching, I put my hand to my face, sighing with relief at realising the material was there, covering my disgusting face, the one that had led to my mother's hatred. The one that made me a freak, a monster. But as I went to leap away, m body screaming in agony, I noticed I was not alone.

My breath stopped. I looked across from me, and realised I was in a large tent, on one of the small beds was a tiny figure, covered in a white quilt to her petite chin, was Christine. Why was she here? I didn't understand. I began to panic, but found myself strangely drawn to her, and without a thought I was limping to her side. Each step ached, and I wheezed, but still I was drawn to her, the pain seemed like nothing, she was mesmerising, I stood beside her now, shaking all over, I was terrified of her for some reason. I watched her sleeping, fascinated at how peaceful she was, she didn't shake, she didn't sweat, or even twist and turn, but she simply lay still, tucked beneath the sheets, a small smile playing on her perfect lips, I touched my own when I looked at Christine's, how horrid mine seemed.

'Ch-Christine.' I whispered, stammering. I hated my stammer, so much, I knew Christine thought I was a fool because of it, I just struggled so hard.

'Ch-Christine, Chh-Christine, Chris-tine.' I stammered again and again, whispering, tears were formed in my eyes, why couldn't I just say it! Why was I hideous all over, and even my speech was stammered and ugly. I let out a sob. Tears fell down my face for some reason, I scrambled back, everything ached. I turned away from Christine, hating how my ugliness, stained her beauty, even being in the same tent as her, I was so confused, so hurt, so emotionally worn, I just wanted to sleep forever and never awaken. I then felt a slight breeze on the back of my neck, making me turn, I then saw that the tent doors were slightly open.

That was my gate to freedom. I was not chained, I was not barred, or tied, but free, it was as if I could run now, as if freedom waited before me, it called to me, to run now, and be free. But for some strange reason, I found myself looking at Christine again, she was so beautiful, I felt so repulsed thinking of her beauty, but she was, and she had shown me nothing but kindness. I jumped back from her, no. I was a beast; I needed to run, before I hurt her and anyone else.

I limped to the door, taking deep breaths. I was shaking now, with pain, with anticipation, the two metal rings still remained around my wrists, so tight the skin had grown around them holding them in place, as if they were part of me now. Showing I was nothing but a slave, a chained beast for now and ever. I needed to get away. I gave one more glance at beautiful Christine, then limped through the tent doors.

Once outside, I was terrified, it was silent, I knew it was dawn, not yet morning, the sun was beginning to show her face over the trees, but she was still an orange not yet her morning attire of finest yellow. There was a nip to the air, that made me clutch to my bare and beaten chest. It was strange being free, I had not been out the cage in a very long time. So freedom was making me scared, m head was slightly hazy, and my limbs ached. But I sighed at the feeling of the dewy grass beneath my toes. I wriggled them, it tickled slightly. These feeling were so strange, as if I was learning to feel again.

Everything felt so new, so strange, so scary, the air smelt somehow different from outside the cage, less like m own urine and more fresh and beautiful, everything seemed so perfect. I crept, well limped through the tents, praying no one would hear, and especially not Timon, I didn't dare think what would happen to me, if he saw me out the cage.

Why was I out the cage? I didn't understand, why was I in a tent with Christine? Then with a gag, I remembered, I had fainted, well passed out, everything had blurred, but she had seen, I remembered seeing her terrified face, and her Papa's, Christine had seen m face. I let out a sob into my shaking hand, how awful, she would hate me, despise me, be sickened by me, as would her Papa, but then why was I in the tent with her, perhaps a trick of Timon. I wasn't sure, but I now had the desire to run and run fast, to get away, to forget everything.

I moved like a shade, an injured spirit that moved like a shadow against the dawn and the tents. I would not be heard, though tears washed down my face, and I wished to sob and weep, I held it in, I had to get away.

The tents were behind me now, and I was at the beginning of the tree line, and there I saw my escape. My breath caught, and I stopped sobbing, I forgot my pain, as I saw the three tethered horses. They had been my only friends since my arrival, I would sit for hours and talk to the beautiful creatures, one was a bright chestnut, one a grey and the other jet black. The one with the black coat was my favourite, she was beautiful, slight and very spirited, she was known for biting and kicking at Timon, which would always make me laugh, but she would then nuzzle me gently through the bars. I would run away on her.

On seeing me the horses whickered, their ears shooting forward, as I limped to the horse of black, running my shaking fingers along her nose, her face, for so long I had wished to stroke her properly, to love her without the restriction of bars. I for some reason found myself sobbing into the horses mane, the softness of her hair catching my tears, finally comfort came, though in the form of a horse, she did not run, did not care of my face, of my ugliness.

'W-why d-do I h-have to be u-g-gly?' I sobbed each word into her neck, the mare gave a little knicker and a nuzzle to my back.

Then I felt a hand on me, I spun so quickly I fell to the ground, scrambling away.

'Mer-merci, don't hurt me!' I cried out, covering my head.

But no blows came, I felt two strong hands lift me to my feet.

'Erik, mon diue, are you alright?' I looked up at the voice, and saw Christine's Papa looking down at me, his cocoa eyes looking confused.

I froze, why was he asking, why had he not dragged me back to my cage? He knew of my face, he would be like Julian, with soft words, and good looks he would destroy me. But in fact he put a hand to my shoulder, I flinched wildly jumping back.

'Erik, I won't hurt you.' He promised, with a soft voice. 'Did you sleep okay? How do you feel?'

My mind was spinning, why was he asking?

'P-please d-don't take me back to the cage.' I cried out.

'I won't, however I asked a question, how do you feel?' He said again, wondering about how I was. I was confused, why did he care.

I simply raised my wrists, where the metal was being sucked into my flesh, it stung, throbbed and ached like hell.

'I saw that, perhaps I can try and get them of later.' He said simply. 'Do you want some breakfast?'

I nearly fell to the ground, what had he just asked?

'Erik?' he said looking concerned.

I staggered back, I was beyond confused.

'W-hy are y-you h-elping me?' I asked, tears in my eyes from frustration.

'Because, you are my responsibility now. I saw you last night Erik, I saw what happened, and I'm now in charge of you, obviously Timon still owns you, but I'm going to teach you to play the violin, if that's okay, you will stay with me and Christine, so no more cage, and I will look after you.' He said with a big smile.

I was violently sick for some reason, this was all too much to process, and water came from my mouth, with sickening gags.

'Oh my boy, take a breath.' He said kindly, going to touch me, I nearly dived to the ground.

'Y-you're going t-to t-teach me?' I asked in wonder.

'Qui.' He smiled.

I couldn't believe this! He was going to look after me, no more cage, no more pain, he was going to teach me to play properly, to enjoy my music.

'Y-you s-saw my fa-ace Monsieur.' I said quietly.

'Qui.' He replied.

'B-but y-ou st-till wish to help?' I was

so confused.

'Qui, it's just your face.' He said simply again, he reached forward, and put a hand on my shoulder, I shudder, twitched and my eyes clamped shut as I whimpered.

'It's okay, I won't hurt you.' He said sadly. 'I'm Gustave, b the way Erik, what were you doing anyway?'

'I-I-I was t-rying to r-run away.' I whispered. 'But the h-horses...' I turned away, and ran my long fingers through the black hair of the beautiful mare.

'Oh, you like horses?' Gustave asked me, with a smile, not caring I had said about my trying to run away.

'Q-ui.' I nodded.

'Christine adores them, I wish I could get her one, one day perhaps.' He smiled with a sigh.

I smiled at the thought of Christine, beautiful Christine. She liked horses too.

'Are you going to come for breakfast Erik, or are you running away still? I know Christine has a little present for you.' Gustave smiled, walking away from me.

I stopped and watched him, my head cocked. Here he was giving me the choice to run, but yet I followed him, limping to his side, I wasn't sure why. Perhaps it was a desperation to be excepted, to finally be wanted, to be appreciated as a being, not a beast. He said he would teach me to play the violin, that he would care for me. Not only that, his beautiful daughter had a gift for me. Me! The Living Corpse, the one who was thrashed on their fifth birthday for wanting mothers kisses. I was intrigued.

Scared, yet intrigued. What where my choices, to run and be caught again, by god knows who, or try and put my faith in people one last time.

I turned away from the mare, letting her mane fall, and walked beside Gustave, I was certain he smiled as I did so.

Thank you so much!

I hope you liked it, please let me know!

*reviewers get to cuddle erik*