Thank you to those of you who have left reviews and suggestions. I have taken these and implemented the suggestions into my writing. Please make note that although my goal is to follow Leroux, I have taken several liberties in writing my fic. Research and other obligations have prevented me from writing longer chapters, but as promised, updates will be done once a week. Once again thank you for your kind words and critiques.
Disclaimer: I do not own The Phantom of the Opera, characters, places, etc. All rights belong to Gaston Leroux and their respected owners.
Journal Entry 10
1As Erik gained favor with both the Shah and his daughter, it came to my attention that Erik had made quite a few enemies within the court and a bounty was conspicuously put upon his head.
His abrupt attitude, lack of reverence to those of higher standing than he, and his eschewing of centuries old traditions made him the ire of many officials, despite the fact that Erik was gaining prominence with the Shah.
A handsome reward was covertly placed upon his head by those wishing to advance their positions.
Both Erik and I knew of these plots.
Despite the recompense promised for eradicating Erik's life, he seemed neither bothered nor worried.
As a service to the Shah, I labored to keep Erik alive; first to insure that the Shah's prized exotic magician, executioner and confidant's life did not expire before his time and secondly to ascertain how much Erik knew of the Shah's clandestine plans for the kingdom.
Placed in the position of protecting a life that cared not one bit whether he lived or died, my hand was forced to dispatch quite a few souls.
Erik made sport of the fact that he knew I was committed to securing his health. Often times he put himself into predicaments that seemed to test my strength as well as his would-be assassins convictions.
Recalling those incidences with defined clarity, I suspect Erik found hilarity in observing to what lengths I would strive to save his demented soul. During this period of time I found myself to be both emotionally and physically weary, alas, I could not let my guard down. My profession and my existence depended upon the satisfactory accomplishment of my tasks.
Erik was quite capable of protecting himself from attackers. Since arriving in Persia, his time fluctuated between serving the Shah, entertaining the Sultana, and gaining knowledge of self-defense.
Among his other talents, Erik was also quick to grasp and analyze the specifics of any object, lesson, or principle. It was with this uncanny ability that he was able to quickly take up and effectively use his catgut lasso. One could say he was a genius at causing violence wherever he tread.
Erik's obsession with perfection extended to everything he touched or set out to accomplish.
In my dealings with beings of all walks of life, I have concluded that persons who are deficient in one area of their lives are inclined to seek precision in another. Erik and his clear discomfort over his appearance made his mastery of lasso all the more compelling.
In an effort to further advance his practice, Erik began testing his skills with the catgut lasso on condemned political prisoners.
The Sultana, having tired once again of her surroundings encouraged Erik to make a public spectacle of his quick work of dispatching lives. It was not long before an arena was constructed.
Of the occasional brawls I witnessed, Erik was armed with nothing more than the lasso, his opponent was given protective armor, which in the end did nothing to save his life. One quick flick of Erik's wrist sent the lasso through the air and around his foes throat. A swift rotation of the wrist caused instant asphyxiation and a severing of the neck. Death was instantaneous. As Erik's skill became widely known, a multitude of men visited the palace all in the hopes of finding Erik's weakness. As their bodies were carried away, Erik shrank back into the shadows. He made no movement to show any emotion.