Thank you so much for your reviews, they're all so touching, and sweet! I've taken on all the constructive tips you gave me. Thank you for those, I totally agree with the paragraphs, I looked back and was like whoa, steady there Mia! So I hope you can see a difference.

Now, about Miss Christine I'm glad you think she's not too spineless, though I think you're finding her a little childish, I promise she will get stronger as her relationship with a certain someone progresses, I get abit carried away sometimes, but I just write her POV from how I would act.

Ohh big thank you to FantomPhan33 your reviews were heavenly, wow, thank you so much for taking so much time on them! As a reward you get your own Erik *gives him too you* love him and look after him!

This chapter does get a little dark, this is your first REAL taste of the Shah, it is a little gory, so please if you don't like it let me know, I can do a clean copy

Hope you can continue enjoying this!

*no known characters go are mine, only my ideas belong to meee*

Chapter 7-Erik's POV

I had saved the girl. Christine Daae, I could not believe it, she was the daughter of the violinist. He was a great musician, I had only heard him play once, and that was from the chains of my cage. But I remembered him playing beautifully. Making the temperamental instrument sound like the easiest thing to play ever, I remembered lying on the floor of the cage, the chains and gag eating away at my soul, but then the music of the violin had taken away some of the pain, only momentarily. But for that moment free of pain I would always be thankful to Gustave Daae.

Now I had saved his daughter. I knew I should have let her die, but I could not have done that. No, I was a monster, but I would not yet someone so innocent be in pain and simply die. I had felt her pain before; the fear in her eyes had taken me back, that pain that fear, that misunderstanding. When she had spoken to me, she had regarded me as a normal person, she hadn't shown fear, yes there was misunderstanding in her eyes, but the blind hatred wasn't there. Of course she didn't know about my face, but still she had, without knowing me fully accepted me and acted gratefully. It took me by surprise, she didn't know me, couldn't she see that I was not doing a mercy by saving her, that I had actually acted more cruelly then I would of by letting her die? She had shown me kindness, and understanding. I felt like such a fool, she had heard me sing, she had heard me weeping. Oh god, how weak she must of thought of me, her beautiful presence was almost suffocating, as she had stood before me, her coco curls that danced down her shoulders framing her perfect face. She was beautiful, more beautiful than anything I had seen before. However, I still kept my distance from her, I needed to, I had been told long ago that 'anyone you touch will be spoilt. Will be made ugly.' No I desired no contact with anyone. No one would ever touch me. No one. Being touched for me only ended in pain.

I had just left her side and flew down the corridors, the hot air taking my breath, and making the mask on my face stick and rub against the sweat. My mind spun, I was heartless, inhumane, I did not have feelings, I knew only two hatred and sadness. But this girl, Christine, she sparked something deep within me, a desire to protect her. To make sure she was okay, to try and limit her pain and suffering and if I could make her comfortable. It was strange, I had known her for such little time, yet she was making me care. Me, care? I had never cared in all my life. No, never. No one cared for me in my life, no one, so I never knew what caring felt like, so was this what I was feeling did I care for Christine? I was spooked by this; she was having an impact in me already. Was this natural? I didn't know, I was so confused, but as I raced on, twisting and turning through the corridors, I still had that feeling, that worry, I wanted to know if she was okay, to protect her. She was too sacred for this sinners paradise, it was too late for me I could never escape I was a creature of hell, this place was my cage now, but the girl, Christine, she was pure, unstained, innocent, unlike so many things in this distorted place. But that was the problem, all of those things, the things which made me want to help her, to get away, they made her extremely desirable to the most disgusting of men. I rounded the corner, facing the blood red doors. I sighed and pushed them open, finding myself facing that disgusting man, the Shah sat on his throne at the top of the court, between two pillars.

I took a deep breath, taking in my anger, as I walked up the large stone court, either side was giant pillars, all of them incrusted in diamonds, I allowed myself a smile as I looked at them, I had replaced most of the diamonds with false ones. The pile of real rubies beneath my bed was growing larger by the day. The room was huge, and held a feeling of immense sadness, it would of once been beautiful, a room where great decisions would have been made, now it was a place where a boy was entertained, whilst outside the doors his country rotted. I reached the three steps, and found the white togaed politicians all huddled around, a table, which was placed in front of the Shah who looked away bored. I stood looking down onto the table, the politicians bickering amongst themselves. They didn't notice me, or chose not to. The table was covered in white paper, it was white, and on it was thin drawings, I recognised them straight away as plans for a building and from what I could see the building would be grotesque. I ran my long finger across the lines of the drawing, I had abandoned building in such a long time, it seemed years ago since I let my emotions be released onto stone. As I looked upon the drawings, I filled with memories.

'Magician, do you know these works? You can understand them?' I was ripped from my thoughts with the Shah's soft voice. The politicians all went silent as they turned to snarl at me, their eyebrows raised.

'Yes, I can.' I said, lifting the paper up. The Shah grinned, rising from his seat, his clothing was ridiculous, he was all but wrapped in layers of peacock blue, gold's, greens, blacks, the fabric seemed never ending, and around his head he had a white diamond incrusted head band, that glittered and gleamed. I saw him smile sickeningly, and give his hands a clap.

'Magician your talents are endless! My friends I think we have a solution to our problem!' The Shah smiled at the disgusted looking politicians, they put no guard on their hatred for me, but I didn't care, they were no better than me, when I had my mask on we were equal, all of use slaves to a stupid boy.

'You see Magician, my leading masonry; he has failed me, him and his boys. He let the project be put to side for more personal problems. He has been dealt with now, he's no matter.' He sat back down, waving his hands as he spoke. 'You can take on the project. It is a gift for my mother, a small palace for her, nothing much, it is nearly completed or so I'm told. You shall finish it. Your taste of entertainment is exquisite, I hope your taste in masonry is too. You shall entertain me also, but I wish for you to have the build done for when my mother arrives, you have three weeks. Give him the plans.'

I took this all in, I was to build this? My head spun slightly, but that sounded better than simply entertaining. It would give me freedom slightly. I wouldn't be simply restricted to this damn palace; I could let my emotions out. I could be at one again, building was like music but on a much larger scale. I had the papers shoved into my hands.

'Do this correctly Magician and you will be rewarded, you will have your choice of any gift.' The Shah nodded, how I wished to pull him from his seat and beat him. I nodded at him, and turned back down the steps, my eyes taking in the notes and scribbles on the paper. I heard whispering from the politicians.

'Ah, yes, Magician, rumour has it you saved my white girl. She is a dull and quiet thing; I will give her time before I give her, her real job. But for now, do you know if she has any talents? She is very beautiful, just what I desired, but I wish for her to entertain me.' I stopped as he said this, my fingers clenching into the paper, making it crease, my breathing stopped, and my eyes fluttered shut. How dare he speak about her with such hunger in his voice! Had he no shame? Anger filled me, I was ready to hurt someone, I needed to release this pain, this anger. This confusion, at why I was so angry. I needed to save this girl, to by her time before her 'real job' was put into play. Talent? How the hell was I to know if she had a talent? Then it hit me. Her voice, her beautiful singing voice. The voice which was so full of emotion I had stayed up and wept over it.

'Yes, she has a wonderful singing voice, it needs work. But has talent. Give her time, she will be the greatest singer of all time.' I didn't even turn as I said this, I didn't want to see the grim boys eyes.

'Oh perfection. I always liked a girl who could sing. She is your responsibility now Magician, I will give her two weeks, then she is to have the greatest singing voice as you said. Oh, she will be a surprise for mother. I want her perfect Magician.' The Shah's voice filled the room, my body was shaking with emotions I couldn't name. I nodded still not facing him, then walked away, slamming the doors behind me.

I needed to clear my head, so much had changed in that brief time with the Shah. Now, I had several new responsibilities. Christine was now one of them, I was to have her singing perfectly in time for the Shah's mother, she was to be perfect. I didn't doubt her, but would she want me helping her, teaching herm, guiding her? What if she rejected my help, then we would both be in trouble with the Shah. We both would be on the death list. To me this was no problem, but I would not have Christine suffer. There it was again! The feeling inside, the feeling of wanting to protect and wanting to help. I had never had it before. I sighed, tucking the notes into the horse back packs, well they belonged to the Shah's. The mare who stood before me was beautiful, I had nursed her, she arrived at the same time as I did, and was a wreck, her coat was dull, her mane long, but now she was perfection. Purdy was my pride and joy, and the connection I now had with her was perfection. Her large brown eyes would light up as I came near her and she would shake her beautiful almost blue mane. The Shah didn't know Purdy like I did, he pinned her down with leather, was heavy with his hands on her beautiful soft mouth, making it foam and bleed. It enraged me, all he seemed was determined to ruin beautiful things.

I sighed and leapt onto Purdy's bare back, she gave an excited rear and a little neigh of happiness, as I laughed and pushed into a gallop. It was perfection, galloping away from the palace, the sand kicking up beneath her pounding hooves, a nonexistent breeze hitting my mask, even though my sore skin was covered I could imagine the cool wind on my skin. I didn't allow myself to think as I let my fingers entwine in Purdy's soft mane. I galloped her through the twisting streets, the people leaping out my way as I pushed Purdy on further, further, until there was nothing more then me, Purdy and the sand. I never wanted it to end. To just have the beautiful rocking movement beneath me, and the sound of Purdy's panting.

Then it came into view, the mass. The giant mass of a working site. I drew nearer, until I was in the huge shadow. I jumped off Purdy's back, taking the papers, I rubbed her neck. Then entered the site, I didn't need to worry about her running away, she trusted me, and wanted to be around me. The site was hard to explain, The door was a giant arch, made of a strange grey stone, I entered and gasped, the place was a labyrinth of stone, and wood, a miss match of strangeness, I could not help but find it strangely alluring, I looked up and in each corner of the large room was a twisting iron stairs. There were few things more beautiful than a site in its state like this, the white dust that covered every inch, it looked beautiful. I was pleased, and wondered what the Shah was on about, then I opened one of the side doors, and staggered back. What a mess! Stone, wood, iron, it all lay everywhere, smashed, broken, the beginning of a wall lay crumbling to the left side. Good god, worked needed doing however there was a lot potential, but also a lot of drastic work. But nothing beyond me.

I sat for what felt like hours, my knees crossed and the papers lay out before me, my pencil in hand as I drew and redrew the plans, I loved to draw even from a young age drawing was my passion. I was able to allow my imagination be free, as I corrected and re made the designs, my old love returning to me. I felt a nudge in my back, I jumped slightly and turned and saw Purdy with her nose down to me. I smiled and rubbed her nose against my hands. The feeling was so soft, it tickled my long fingers. I bit my bottom lip, at what I was going to do next. I made sure no one was around me, before removing my mask. I held the leather in my hands; the inside was spotted with blood. My face felt free, I closed my eyes, and felt Purdy's breath on my distorted cheek as she reached down and ran her soft nose against my extremely sensitive skin. My bloated lips opened slightly and I trembled, it was such a lovely feeling, my soreness was tickled by Purdy's velvety nose. Tears rolled down my sore cheeks, making them sting. So this was all I could have. This was the only contact my face would ever have, I looked up into Purdy's face, her beautiful eyes showed no fear, it was almost laughable, only a horse would look at me without hatred or disgust.

I wiped away my tears. Shoving the mask back on it rubbed against the blisters on my high cheeks. It made me wince with pain. But as I had always been told ugliness was punishable by pain. I picked up my drawings, stuffing them into the packs, then leapt onto Purdy's back. I would make this palace beautiful I had little time, but I could do it. I would work day and night if I needed too. I began to gallop away from the sight, the evening now closing in around me like a curtain, either side of me the purplish light of evening began to enclose. I let Purdy gallop at a steadier pace now, my cheeks stung behind the mask, but I pushed on further until the grim palace was in view again. I sighed, as I place Purdy back in her stable, giving her a final rub down making sure no sweat remained on her beautiful coat, I walked back through the corridors.

Now I had find my other new responsibility. My stomach went cold and my mind spun as I walked through the now quieter corridors, twisting and turning through them as people looked relieved that the day was at an end. But what was I to do? What if the girl didn't want me to help her? What would I do then? I couldn't force her. I sighed, I was a mess of emotions. I reached the door of the mistress of the girls, I hated the woman, she was cruel and beastly, but I knew behind that she was just as scared as anyone else. I gave it a knock, and it opened slightly, just a crack. Two huge navy eyes peered from it. It was her. My stomach went strange.

'I'm not here to hurt you. May I come in?' I asked, I saw her nod and pull the door open, I entered facing her. I wanted to run from the room, my palms were sweating, my head panging. I wanted to be sick. She looked a lot better today, her face less pale. But still the fear was there in her eyes, it was still there.

'I'm here with a proposition. The Shah has plans for you, but he feels you are-well that you are not ready. So what he has proposed is that you sing for him, until you are ready. I shall be your tutor, if you allow it. I will guide you and help you. You do not have to. It is just a proposition. You have a clear talent in your voice, and it may just be your way of getting out of this hell.' I said whilst pacing up and down the small room, I tried to not too meet her eyes. I couldn't dare to look her; I didn't want to see the disgust in her eye at my offer, or the rejection. I couldn't take it. I was about to turn, the silence was killing me, did that mean she had made her mind up, that she didn't want my help, she didn't want to have my help. I could understand it completely.

'You will teach me?' She said, her voice beautiful, I looked down at her and nodded. Her lips burst into smile and her eyes glittered, making her look like a creature of fable, a unicorn perhaps, magical and elegantly beautiful, that was trapped in this cruel land far away from its fairy tale.

'Yes Angel! Yes please! Let us go!' She said, going to the door.

But I didn't move. What had she called me? Angel? The girl must of been clearly confused. I was no angel, but I knew then and there I would have to play that angel role and guide her from here on out.

XXX

Nadir POV

I felt sick. I always felt sick. But it wasn't a sickness that could be vomited up, and then forgotten about. No this was a sickness that could not be cured, this was my emotions sick of hating. The hatred was directed at the Shah. He walked before me, his peacock robe flowing out behind him, dragging on the floor. The diamante head band glittering in the sun as we walked. Two politicians were beside him, whispering words into his ear. I didn't know what the situation was, but I knew where we were going and what happened at this place. We were going to the execution square.

I walked with my head down as we passed through the arch into the sandy square. Around it was a balcony, people watched in their white togas, they bowed as the Shah came into view, he waved his hand dismissing them casually as he all but jumped with joy. In the middle of the square was three posts, to them was tied three bodies, each had a bag over their heads, but from their robes I knew who they were and nearly collapsed with grief. They were three boys, the working boys on the latest building, they were no older then seventeen I had seen all of them grow up, and saw their fathers pride when they were signed up to this great job. But now here they were, awaiting their fate that would be death. I nearly crumbled. This was injustice. This was too much. No, surely he wouldn't kill these boys, sweat dripped of my brow. No surely. I watched as the Shah called some people forward, I barely listened. But from the door opposite came in a group of arrowed armed guards, they dragged a man with them, and my stomach plummeted even lower than it had before, making me feel even more sick, and making the vomit actually nearly come from my mouth, my had spinning and making the heat I was so accustom too seem unbearable. I knew this man also, he was around my age, respected amongst all the Persian people, he was a hard worker and a good man. He was the leading mason in the city, and he too had been offered the job of leading masonry at the building site of the palace. He would make it beautiful I knew it, and when he had been cast as leading masonry, I had never seen a man so proud and so happy with his own work then he was.

But now, now he tossed and turned against the hands of the armed guards, sweat poured of him as they threw him at the Shah's feet. I had to resist with all my might not to go forward and grab him, to take him away.

'Kahn, you are here before me as you have committed a crime. You told me a lie. I will not tolerate it!' The Shah almost purred in enjoyment as the man before him sobbed.

'No, your highness! I just need more time!' Kahn's sobs filled the square, each one making my stomach jolt, the politicians stood beside me looking pale faced and sickly.

'Oh, more time! What time do you think I have? You told me it was your workforce that let you down! You told me they were too young! My, my, what lies you have told me!' The Shah said his hands on his hips, sighing and shaking his head. 'Now, you told me it was your work force, so I shall remove them for you.'

The guards now stood by the three posts, the removed the bags of the boys heads, and I clamped my eyes shut after only a second of looking at them, their faces were pale, their mouths gagged, but it was their wild eyes, each of them wide and crazed, their whites on show, as they thrashed and tried to scream. It was sickening.

The guards moved into position in front of the three boys, they tightened their bows with their pointed arrows. My heart was racing; Kahn screamed no, he screamed for justice. Little did he know this was the worst thing he could have done. The Shah turned, his eyes sparkled momentarily.

'No, in fact you shall remove them.' His voice dripped with a strange amusement. The guards dragged Kahn to the Shah's side, their spears warning him not to move. The boys thrashed even harder, as they looked at their old master who sobbed. The Shah walked behind the posts, standing between the thrashing boys. He raised a hand and stroked one of their young cheeks, the boy thrashing away.

'Such a shame. But if you lie, then more people will lie, then my country will be filled with liars. I ant have that. Now say the order!' He shouted, taking a step back. Khan sobbed.

The armed guards, were straining to keep their bows, the wires so tense now, I watched as their muscles twitched in trying to hold them still.

'Say it! Or I will have them tortured and you shall watch!' The Shah screamed.

The guards were straining now, their arrows just ready to be released. My heart raced, the boys thrashed and Khan sobbed.

'Say it!' He screamed again.

'Fire.' Came in a sob, and with a whistle of arrows the three boys thrashing stopped. My heart stopped, as I watched their body's go still, the blood poured from where the arrows pierced. A politician beside me began to vomit quietly, wiping his chin frantically as the Shah approached. He stopped beside the now still young bodies. He shook his head and sighed.

'This is your entire fault. You know that. Now you shall carry their body's, then explain to their parents how you said to fire, how you are the reason they are dead.' The Shah said in a soft voice, it made every hair on my neck stand up on end, and a chill run down my spine. Kahn lay on the floor, a broken man, weeping and sobbing, the guards lifted him to his feet.

The Shah walked towards us, splattered over his lips was blood obviously from one of the boys. He raised his tongue and licked it away.

Thank you for reading! I hope you are finding the pace okay (:

I wanted to show you the Shah's darker side, I would love to know what you thought on that.

The same with Erik, please let me know what your thoughts on his character are.

Thank you so much! You're all my angels!

*readers get to have their own lessons with Erik!*