Nadir POV

After what seemed like an eternity, we finally reached the manor. We didn't have the time to carry him upstairs to his room so we chose the nearest one, a guest room. Once I laid him down, I took off his cloak and jacket while ordering Christine and Meg to fetch a bucket, towels and a basin full of water. Antoinette looked for medical supplies. I once again put my hand on his forehead and frowned. His fever hadn't gone down as we hoped. I then placed two fingers on his neck to feel his pulse. It was racing and his breathing was still labored. I loosened up his shirt to help him breathe. Erik's earlier cries were now reduced to mumbling and occasional coughs.

"Is he going to be okay Nadir?"

I glanced up and saw the two young women offering the things I needed. I accepted it and began to wipe the exposed part of Erik's face and neck with the wet towel.

"I cannot truly say. Were it any other man they would be dead by now. "

"That is not very reassuring, Monsieur." The ballerina sighed.

"Yes I know"

There was an awkward silence. Not one of us wanted to speak. Fortunately, Antoinette chose the moment to appear. "I have found some of his medical supplies. It's not much but what would you expect from Erik?" True, the small box contains bandages, disinfectants and a few antibiotics. This doesn't surprise me at all; Erik doesn't take his health seriously.

"The antibiotics will be useful; however I don't want to put anymore drugs in his system until I know for certain that the poison is gone."

"How will we know that the poison is gone?" asked Christine.

"We don't. We are going through this blind. I don't know the full effects of the poison therefore I can't really say whether it's over or not, his body is weak right now and it would be best if we could somehow lower the fever."

I gave Antoinette a look and luckily she understood.

"Meg, Christine come and help me in the kitchen."

As Antoinette ordered the two young women I saw a brief longing in the eyes of the soprano. She quickly covered it up and hurried to the kitchen. I sighed. It was obvious that she felt something for Erik; I can only hope it would overcome her fear of him.

I gently took Erik's mask off. Even though I practically ripped it off since the last time I met him, his face still somewhat unnerves me. It doesn't frighten me and it also doesn't make me want to vomit but it is just so unbelievable that anyone could have such a face. Half of it wasn't really all that bad; it was a fairly normal face. The other half though was not quite lucky. It had a sunken cheek and hollow eyes that appear to glow in the dark like a cat's. Half of his nose was long and elegant while in the deformed side it looked like it collapsed and caved in. His body was pale and thin. Scars decorated it mostly in his back.

I continued on wiping the towel down his face while being gentle on his deformity. I heard him groan and I paused.

"No, maman please don't do this!"

The whisper nearly made me drop the towel. My breath hitched as I listened.

"Please maman, it hurts! Please stop it!"

I heard him choke out dome of the words and I was filled with rage. I could never fathom how a mother could hurt her child. He continued to moan softly as I resumed my task. Once I finished, I checked his touched his forehead and sighed. It wasn't as high as before but he was still burning up. I silently left my friend to what I hope is a peaceful rest.

Once I reached the kitchen I was met with a mouth watering aroma.

"Nadir" Antoinette greeted me as I leaned on the doorframe. "We're almost done. Would you mind setting up the table?"

"Not at all. What is it that you are making?" I asked as I began setting the table.

"Not much. I just threw in a few vegetables to make us some stew. This place isn't exactly well stocked you know." I smiled at the comment and helped her serve the food as the two girls sat down.

I looked longingly at the seat in the head of the table. I was just right next to it. Christine sat at the opposite side with Meg beside her and Antoinette beside me. She must have seen me looking t it as she asked. "How is he?"

I haven't heard her voice for awhile and as our eyes met, the young soprano turned her eyes at the vacant seat. "He's holding on. His fever isn't as high as before" She nodded.

The rest of our meal was spent in complete silence.

I offered to do the dishes since they cooked. When I was finished I saw them all sat down in the sitting room with a big roaring fire. I sighed and sank into a nearby chair. They seem to pay me no mind and continued to stare at the fire. I cleared my throat to get their attention.

"Meg, Christine, I know that Antoinette and I owe you a lot of explanation. Her brief recollection of Erik's past couldn't begin to satisfy any of your questions I suppose?"

Both of the girls nodded.

"Well then, ask away."

"How did you two met?"Meg asked.

I blinked, she had been uncharacteristically quiet for a long while and I was somehow wondering when she'll start asking questions. I smiled.

"It was a few years after your mother met your father. Rumors were flying in Persia about a masked magician in Russia. Apparently he was very good and very mysterious. This had caught the Shah's interest and I was ordered to go fetch him.

Nadir

"I want you to go fetch that masked magician, daroga. The court magicians are beginning to bore me."

"But your Highness, my son is very ill-"

"No! Do as I say or your son would be dead come morning!"

"Yes your grace."

My son, Reza was very ill at that point. The Shah forced me to go fetch Erik for him in Russia. I didn't know much about the language but I knew enough to survive a few days there.

"You are Persian, no?"

I was very surprised that he knew my language. It made it easier for me to talk to him.

"Yes. I come here in the name of the Shah of Persia. He asks that you come with me and be his court magician."

The masked man barely looked up at what he was doing,

"No"

I nearly wanted to punch him then. He was so full of himself.

"The Shah of Persia does not take no for an answer. He ordered me to bring you to Persia.

"Then surely this Shah of yours needs some lessons about proper etiquette"

"Be careful of what you say about him, men has faced death saying lesser things."

The magician stopped what he was doing and turned to go.

"I would very much like to see him try to kill me. I am after all a magician aren't i?"

I was getting desperate then. If I didn't convince him to come with me, my son would be killed in a few days time. And if I returned empty-handed, we would be both be executed.

"Please, I am begging you, my son's life is at stake."

The masked man paused and continued walking. "Be here tomorrow. I'll think about it."

Normal POV

"He was there the next day asking about the architecture in Persia. He said he would be willing to come as long as he wouldn't be forced to wear the Persian robes. I couldn't really imagine how he could continue to wear his suits in the Persian heat."

He paused as he looked at the two awe-stricken young girls. Antoinette just smiled at him.

"He later became the Shah's court magician. He entertained the Shah and his mother, the Khanum. When those two grew tired of his tricks, they threatened to 'dispose' of him until they found out that he was a wonderful architect. He helped build a better palace for the shah while entertaining the Khanum and following her orders. That became a very dark period in Erik's life."

"What happened to him? Was he hurt?" Asked Christine.

"At times yes, he was at one point poisoned by a politician after performing. Being that high in Persia's political food chain would not be the safest place to be in. Especially when the Khanum found out about his other 'talents'."

"What talents?" The young soprano once again asked.

Nadir cursed himself.

"That period in Erik's life, we call it 'The rosy hours in Mazanderan' It is a story he, himself must tell you willingly."

I could see chills running up the three women's spines as they try to imagine the horror of the rosy hours.

"Best not think about what you don't know. It might just give you nightmares"

Madam Giry warned them.

Just then, an idea went into Megs mind.

"This reminds me, you couldn't possibly know about my two 'uncles' that send Christine and me a gift every Christmas now could you?"

Something in her tone made them realize she was only joking. "Yes, you couldn't possibly know about those two now could you?"Christine joined in.

Every year, on Christmas, Meg would receive two gifts from her two 'uncles' Antoinette said that they weren't really her' uncles' just close friends of her mother. One would always have a silver ribbon and bow while the other had green. When Christine came along and became Meg's best friend, she too received gifts from them. Some of the other ballerinas grew jealous and wanted to have gifts as well but try as they might, the two 'uncles' wouldn't give them any.

As time went by, Christine's Angel of music would sing with her or sing for her during the holidays. He would always give her a red rose with a black ribbon around its stem.

Nadir seemed shock. This seems to be the lightest moment they've had for a while and they're teasing him?

"Well… it could very well have been a … a certain masked man and a special, handsome Persian but you have no proof to say otherwise."

Antoinette nearly choked on his statement.

"Well dear friend, I have never seen you stutter, except for the time that you were bitten by a rather small do-"

"I think its best that we all retire now. All of you deserve a good night's rest. We will continue our reminiscing on such fond memories tomorrow." He looked at Antoinette sharply who only smirked at him as the girls try to hold their laughter.

"Just out of curiosity, which present did you like better hmm?"

Meg and Christine shared a look of amusement.

"Definitely the one with the silver ribbon!" Nadir fortunately controlled himself to yell 'What?' at the top of his lungs.

Christine went to find her temporary room. As Meg skipped to her 'uncle's' side. "We were kidding. We liked them both! Night!" she kissed his cheek and Nadir could have sworn he heard a faint 'uncle' in there.

Christine opened the door to Erik's room. It was dark save for a lone candle; his shirt was slightly open, revealing some old scars in his chest. His rapid breathing was the only sound she heard.

"I learned a lot about you today. I just can't believe that you have this many sides of you. An angel, a brother, an uncle!" she nearly laughed at the last one.

"I wish you would wake up Erik. I want to know all about you. I want to laugh with you, Madam Giry, Nadir and Meg like what we did earlier."

She grabbed his ice cold hand and brought it to her cheek.

"I know you could make it, please Come to me, my angel of music."

A/N: I'm AAALLLIVEEEEE! Wow, I know it's been a while so hopefully, Erik would wake up before Christmas so I could make a Christmas chapter on this story. I hope you're not mad enough to kill me! I'm really sorry. Don't worry; School will end at Friday so hopefully, I could write up a few chapters before Christmas or the end of December.

So how did you like my take on how Erik and Nadir met? Meg's two 'Uncles'? I Was so close to making this a Christmas special but I remembered that the story is in October, I think? Anyway, please Rate and Review! :D

Your obedient servant,

E.M.