Poor Erik, he just wants to have peace and enjoy his family. Don't we all hope for the same thing. Keep reading and dropping me a line. I enjoy hearing from you.

Chapter 11

The train pulled into the Gare du Nord, where Christine waited for him with the two children in tow. Erik looked at his wife beaming with both pleasure and surprise she seldom met his train at the station. He wrapped his arms around his whole family and kissed each one of them. They walked to their Carriage which awaited them in front.

When they were seated and on their way home Erik smiled at Christine and asked "To what do I hold this high honor of you coming here to greet me?"

She smiled at him "Severine wired me and told me that you had been feeling out of sorts. I wanted to come and cheer you up and remind you that you have a family waiting for you who all love you a great deal."

Erik observed "My sister has a big mouth. I am not all that bad, but I did miss you all terribly. The Comte and Comtesse are good company, but they are not you. How is the soon to be bride holding up? Has she made you crazy yet?"

Christine laughed "Not quite, she is like a hummingbird flitting around with one idea and then another never quite knowing where to land. This wedding is getting bigger all of the time. She decided to invite the whole world because she didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings. At the rate that she is going she is going to have to switch the location to Notre Dame. She has invited most of the Opera, half of the nobility and some distant relatives from Brittany that she has never even met. I am fairly certain that as we speak that she is inviting the entire French army to come as well."

"It is a good thing that we have been generous with the Giry's over the years or poor Julien might find himself in pauper's court." Erik observed.

"Were you able to buy them their gift?" Christine asked "I still cannot believe that after all that you have done for them that you would give them so much more."

Erik smiled "The Baron has always wanted to regain his family's lost lands. The Chateau has become run down and the vineyards have been under-producing for years. It was not hard to persuade the current owners to part with the land for a fair price. I will leave it up to them, but if they would like a partnership with us, I think that we could invest a tidy sum into restoring the vineyards with the proper care. The buyers' agent assured me that the terroir of the estate has an excellent blend of limestone, chalk and sand to produce a vintage almost as fine as Lafite. Unfortunately the estate has fallen victim to the phylloxera and mildew that has ravaged Bordeaux. Even Baron Rothschild has had to withdraw several recent vintages, but I recently read that some vintners have been importing some American vines and grafting them onto our French ones. These methods seem to be working."

Christine looked at her husband in astonishment "Is there a topic left in this world that you do not know something about? You never cease to amaze me with your endless knowledge."

Erik told her "My favorite area of knowledge is how to pleasure you my love."

Christine glanced at the children who were seated on both sides of Erik. Both of them had fallen asleep with their heads in their father's lap. Her blue eyes promised him that he would receive much more affection from her when they were home and the kids were in bed. His eyes met hers affirming their future rendezvous. Christine looked into his eyes and reaffirmed her love for him. It was amazing how, after knowing each other for so long, that they could conduct an entire conversation without words. Erik's worries vanished, for the moment, into the fifth cellar of Erik's psyche. Severine's reminder that he was no longer alone tamed the Phantom for the moment. Not so long ago, Erik would have retreated away from the world of humanity to protect himself from those who would destroy him. This time he was going to stand his ground with his loved ones beside him. He was eager to find out what had been uncovered in the past few days regarding Buquet. By this time, he hoped that he would have gained some knowledge about him.

Erik softly and gently ran his fingers between both of his children's hair. While he was caressing his daughter he was suddenly pricked by a sharp object. Startled, he looked at the object in her hair. It was some sort of inlaid enamel hair ornament of Persian design. Erik blanched. He had seen something like it once before but that was long ago. He owned some Persian objets d'art that he brought with him when he left Persia, some years ago but he did not recognize that piece. He had no use for hair ornaments, at the time. He had never come close to securing a woman's affection so he did not bring such items with him. To Erik's knowledge, Nadir never bestowed such an item on either Christine or Caroline. Nadir had been in Persia for nearly a year. He examined the item and it was gold with inlayed jewels which looked quite valuable. He pulled it from Caroline's hair and showed it to Christine.

"Where did you get this? I don't recall giving you such a piece." His eyes bored into hers.

"Gustave found it somewhere and gave it to Caroline. She has not taken it out of her hair." Christine replied.

Erik looked at her with concern "It is important to know where he got it. It is a valuable piece; I have only seen such exquisite work in Persia, long ago. The quality is such that only someone of great stature there could afford such a thing. The question is how did it end up in our daughter's hair?"

"Don't wake up Gustave yet, he is tired. I am sure that it can wait." Christine told him.

Erik nodded "I will not do so, but it is a matter of importance to me. If he found it at someone's house he must give it back to its rightful owner."

Christine replied "No he has not been anywhere but home, since he found it. We had a couple of children over our house."

Erik looked at her "That makes even less sense. Who would leave such an object in our house?"

When they arrived home, Gustave stirred. Erik held up the ornament. "Gustave where did you find this?" he asked sternly.

Gustave looked at him with sleepy eyes. Christine cautioned "Not now Erik, he is tired."

Erik looked at her and insisted "No now since he is awake. I must know. Gustave it is important."

The boy rubbed his eyes and looked at him "It was on the floor near the piano. I found it and thought that it was a treasure. I gave it to Caroline because she wanted it badly. Are you mad at me, Papa?"

Erik smiled at him "Of course not son. I love you."

He gave him a pat on the head. Erik looked over to Christine. "Did you have any company while I was gone?"

She answered "No, only Meg. We have been too busy. Why are you so upset about this? I am sure that there is a reasonable explanation."

Erik shook his head. "It is nothing, it's just that the ornament reminds me of something from my past, but it must be a coincidence." He suddenly became quiet he did not want to upset Christine.

She looked at him closely. "No Erik, I can see it in your eyes, there is something about this ornament that upsets you."

He looked away from her "No. It's only that I am surprised that there would be something of such value lying on the floor near the piano. I need an explanation."

The carriage pulled into the driveway of their Paris home. They all went into the house.

Christine looked at him with a worried frown. "Would you like to put the children to bed they miss your stories"?

Erik shook his head "No mon ange not tonight, I have a headache. I will do so tomorrow for sure."

That was not like Erik. As a boy, who had never had anyone put him to bed or tell him stories, he usually loved to spend time with the children. Many times Christine would have to come for him; he would fall asleep holding one or both of them in his arms. She loved that about him. Erik was always grateful to both show and to receive affection from wherever it came. This was the first time that she could remember him not taking advantage of the moment to do so.

Erik quickly went to his study and closed the door behind him. He took the ornament and stared at it. The memories quickly took over. He was suddenly transported back in time to another place.

Mazenderan, Persia June 12, 1868

Erik had been in Persia for several years. The palace at Mazenderan was almost finished and both the Shah and the Khanum were extremely pleased. Erik was proud of his accomplishment. All that met him were shocked that someone so young could build such a masterpiece. He had reached the pinnacle of his power in the Persian court but despite their admiration for his masterpiece, he could sense the fear and hatred of him from all who he encountered. It was well known that the Shah's vizier did more than just design and construct palaces, and perform feats of magic.

Several stories below the floors of the great palace were torture chambers designed by the same man. He also was particularly skilled in the art of assassination. Erik knew that he was referred to as the 'Angel of Death'. The Shah and Khanum would force him to carry out only the most sensitive assassinations because he was a Frenchman, and therefore had no familial or tribal ties to anyone at court. Also as a non -Muslim it was not sinful for him to kill Moslems. For his loyalty, Erik had been awarded riches beyond his wildest dreams. At first he did not mind this aspect of his job, humanity had never been kind to him; a few traitors were of little consequence. But as he grew to understand the language and the culture of Persia, he began to realize that many of his assignments had done nothing wrong other than have a potential claim to the Peacock throne. He was killing the Shah's own cousins.

In the beginning his victims were all men, but then one day the Shah summoned him in private and told him that he had a new assignment. He was to kill an entire family. Erik did not know what to do. He had never killed women or children and he did not want to start.

The Shah saw his discomfort and told him "If you do not kill them all, you will die in their place, and I will kill your friend Nadir Khan, as well. I know that you care about him."

Erik looked at the Shah in shock.

The Shah smiled at him. "You have been a good friend to me and my mother. I will reward you with even more treasure and power, more than you could ever hope to earn in one lifetime, but in return we expect your unquestioning loyalty. This will be the test of your loyalty to me."

Erik was dismissed.

He went to Nadir in dismay and told him, "Daroga, you brought me to this place. I am not a murderer of innocent women and children. I do not want to do this."

Nadir replied "Erik, this is not your country. Here, in Persia, whatever the Shah wants is the law. You do not have the luxury of choosing what you want to do. You are his servant and you must do whatever you are asked by the Shah and the Khanum, or you will be tortured and killed in their place."

Erik looked at him "I have the face of a corpse already, my life has never been important to me, but he has threatened your life as well. I do not want to be the cause of your death but I cannot kill innocents either."

Nadir looked at him sadly "I am sorry that I brought you here, doostam. Either way you choose you cannot win."

Erik looked at him "Would he still harm you if I took my own life?" he asked.

Nadir replied "I cannot be certain, doostam. The Shah is a man of his word; he usually follows through with his threats. He cannot take the chance that he will look weak in our eyes."

Nadir put his arm around Erik's shoulder "You are young, and underneath your mask of indifference, you are a good person. You must follow your own conscience. Allah will not forsake you if you follow the path of righteousness."

Erik looked at his friend bitterly "Your Allah has never cared for me, doostam. He has left me to fend for myself."

Nadir shook his head "No doostam, in this life we sometimes are put to the test, for what purpose we do not always know, but if we true to what is good and right, our trials will end eventually."

The next day Erik dressed in dark Persian robes and a full mask, only his emerald eyes revealed who he was. He crept over the wall into the Chahar Bagh (garden). He could hear a man playing with his son. His wife was watching and smiling. As he approached them he recognized the man as the Mirza Farzad. The Prince had always looked at the masked man with suspicion. He knew what his role was in the court. Erik approached him undetected; he was already a Phantom in those days. Before the Prince even knew it, Erik used his Punjab lasso and had him in a chokehold. He tried to struggle against him, but Erik hissed softly

"Do not resist me. I must kill you, but I will give your wife and child time to escape. I have been ordered to kill all of you."

The man looked at him and nodded in understanding.

Erik loosened his chokehold on him and told him. "I will give you a chance to say goodbye to your wife and son, but then I must kill you. If you call out, I will have to kill all of you."

Farzad did as instructed. His wife Mahvash came over to them, a boy of around eight was holding her hand. She was a beautiful woman. Erik had seen her at many functions in the past. She was wearing a stunning blue and gold khalat but she was unveiled. She wore a beautiful jeweled ornament in her beautiful ebony hair.

She looked at Erik contemptuously and spat "What are you doing here Biishaaraf? You dare to disturb us?"

Erik bowed "I have been ordered by the Shah to kill all of you. If I had truly been Biishaaraf, you would all be dead by now, but I do not kill women or children. I will give you five minutes to get out of my sight before I begin to look for you. If you value your life and that of your son, you will go now. You must flee separately from your son, so if you are caught only one of you shall die. Go now."

Farzad looked at his wife and son "Do as he says, azize delam. Insha'allah, I will see you both in paradise."

Erik watched as the family embraced one another for one last time. The boy looked up and for a moment their eyes met, Erik could see the hatred in the boy's eyes.

The boy spat "When I grow up, I will make you pay for this, sag."

Farzad looked at his son "No Yousef, I want you to live a full and happy life, do not waste it on vengeance for me."

Erik turned to him "Please, tell them to go. I am sure that I was followed here. I will give you a swift and merciful death."

The condemned man nodded. "Go now."

Erik waited until he could no longer hear them. "You may pray to your God one final time if you wish."

Farzad looked at him gratefully and chanted "La elaha ela Allah Muhammad rasoul Allah." He looked Erik in the eyes "May Allah have mercy on you."

Erik pulled the lasso around Farhad's throat and snapped it. The man died instantly. It was at that moment Erik knew that he could not do the Shah and Khanum's bidding any longer. It was time for him to leave Persia and return to France. He returned to the Shah and told him that the mother and child had not been there when he visited the palace.

The Shah smiled evilly and told him. "The woman did not get far. She was apprehended near their palace. The boy is still missing."

He watched Erik closely for a reaction. He dismissed him. "Tonight you will find a gift from my mother and me. A reward for your loyalty. Enjoy it well, doostam."

That night a girl was delivered to him, as a gift. She looked at him fearfully, but he sent her away. The next day he was called before the Khanum, who looked at him angrily.

"You rejected my gift and have displeased me, wasn't she beautiful enough for you?" She accused.

Erik replied "No majesty, she is very beautiful but she is repulsed by me."

The Khanum smirked "She is not repulsed by you any more". She pointed to a sack on the floor. "Open it now."

He complied and saw what she had done. He turned away in disgust.

She laughed at his reaction and mocked him. "Behold your bride, if you do not want a living bride I will give you a willing one."

The next day Nadir approached him before dawn. "The Shah and Khanum have ordered me to kill you, doostam. We must leave here now. You must never return to Persia or you will be killed."

Erik clutched the familiar ornament between his hands. He wanted to forget Persia forever, particularly those final terrible days there. Perhaps it is a coincidence or perhaps not. Whatever the truth, Erik did not want to burden Christine with this knowledge just yet. How he missed the Daroga, the only person who he could discuss this with who would understand.