Hey y'all! I apologize for not uploading in soooooooo long, but yeah, same excuse as before... busy school semester:( Thank GOD summer is almost here! Then I PROMISE that updates will be MUCH more frequent in this and other stories.

Originally I have planned the entire flashback to be in one chapter, but seeing it as pretty long, I've divided it into 2 chaps. So here's the first part.

ENJOY AND REVIEW PLEASE! :D

Chapter 12

OMNISCIENT POINT OF VIEW

Persia, 1868 (roughly two years before Erik met Christine, about twelve years before the scene below the Opera house)

"Quite on the contrary Daroga, the Shah was insistent for me to continue with the design for the torture chambers, though I still believe my original one using the mirrors is still my best work." Erik Leroux leaned back onto his chair as he set down his glass of whiskey. Almost subconsciously, he re-adjusted his mask as to ensure he looked absolutely as perfect as possible.

Nadir frowned as he took a good look at his friend, eyeing especially his overall composure. No such luck, Erik showed no apparent hint of remorse, remaining cold and solid as always.

"You enjoy your work then?" Nadir chose his words carefully, bringing his hands together and setting his elbows on his legs, tucking his fists under his chin shifting dangerously near to the edge of his seat.

Erik raised the eyebrow on the unmasked side of his face, and aside from that and the sudden flash in his eyes, Erik showed no change in expression. "And is there a reason why I should not?"

"Erik…" Nadir paused and pressed his lips together in a line so thin that was almost undetectable. Unsure of how to go about the topic without enraging his easily-angered friend, the Daroga has finally met his match in the matter of interrogation.

Just around twenty-three years of age, Erik Leroux managed to become a very powerful man, second only to the royal family themselves. There is a lot you can say about Leroux, aside from being the Shah's right hand man, he was an architect, a magician, a musician… there is so far nothing Erik was unable to do. It is rumored that he was a fallen angel from heaven, for his voice alone was enough to enchant even the most stubborn man.

However, God's job was not to simply put a perfect angel on Earth. And in counteraction to all of Erik's talents, he was forever laden with a cruel curse. Some say God gave him his talents to make up for his curse, and others say that his curse was there to prevent him from being perfect…either way; Erik Leroux did not and does not lead an easy life.

And this curse, this curse that haunts even Erik himself, is hidden under the white porcelain mask on the right side of his face. A horrible distortion; said to resemble death itself. No one could ever describe it, for no one had ever had a proper look at it. Not even the owner himself, who shatters every mirror the instant it ever graced his unmasked face.

And such a pity it was, for his left side is near perfect. Smooth flawless skin, strong jaw, and piercing blue-green eyes with hints of gold, no one could ever guess the disfigurement just centimeters away. Such a small weakness it was, for a man such as Erik Leroux. Who knew appearances could have such a profound effect on one's life. And it is because of this distortion, that Erik was forced to live his life facing hatred from others, even his mother herself.

Ah yes, Erik had quite a childhood. Never so much as receiving a single kiss from his mother, all he got was hatred and fear. His first piece of clothing being a mask, as even his mother dared not look upon his face. Locked in the attic for his entire childhood, Erik was forced to entertain himself with books and music. Music, no one could argue against that if there was anyone who was born for music, it was Erik. Even as a small boy, Erik Leroux was undeniably a genius. Nevertheless, because of his face, Erik never got even a small token of love from his mother. It's not like he haven't tried, Erik remembers his fifth birthday clear as glass, though he always prayed to forget it. Little Erik had asked his mother for a birthday present, seeing that he had never gotten any before. He didn't ask for much, just two simple kisses on the cheeks. He's mother responded by slapping him and shoving him in front of a mirror, seeing that Erik had took off his mask earlier in the day, and screamed that she hated him. Erik had screamed as well as he punched the glass, shattering it while injuring his own hands, it wasn't until later that he realized that the monster he had seen was no one other that himself.

Much has happened since then, after his mother sold Erik off to the Gypsies when he was eight, Erik was the freak show attraction of the Gypsy camp. Constantly beaten and prodded, Erik was under the mercy of his Gypsy master Javier. Close to ten times a day and sometimes twenty, Erik was put on show. Behind a cage in front of a laughing crowd, Erik was whipped and kicked around, until Javier tares off the sac which covered his head, revealing the star attraction; his disfigured face. Christened "The Devil's Child", pour little Erik lived four years as the human attraction, bringing in more money than all the other attractions combined.

It wasn't until Erik turned twelve, that the Gypsies arrived at France. Under one moonlight night in Paris, Erik was once again put on display. As the crowd roared with amusement and mockery for the poor boy, only one fifteen year old girl felt pity for him. Afterwards she stayed behind as all her friends left, mentally torn as she saw how terribly the Gypsy master had treated that little boy. Determined to give him even the slightest amount of peace, Antoinette Montclair ran back to the cage where the boy was held.

And what she saw that night, Antoinette could never forget. The Gypsy master's sickening laugh crackled through the air as the poor boy's cries and pleas fell on deaf ears. Antoinette flinched as she hid behind a stack of crates as Javier's whip slashed against the boy's back, creating new scars on top of hundreds of others. And then Antoinette heard the most heart wrenching cry from the poor child as the whip came down on him harder than ever before. Against her better instinct, Antoinette peaked out of her hiding spot and almost screamed in horror at the sight in front of her. There laid that pitiful little boy, unmoving and covered in blood, his face twisted in agony, his non distorted side looked just as bad as the right. Javier laughed once more as he tightened his grip on his whip, just as another slash was about to fall upon his victim, the boy grabbed the end of the whip just before it made contact on his chest and with a roar he tore the whip away from the Gypsy master. Startled for a fraction of a second Javier stood dumbfounded, but that was enough time for the boy. Jumping up with the speed of a lightning bolt, he kicked Javier and as the Gypsy master stumbled back he found his own whip lassoed and tightened on his neck. And with a swift crack, Javier fell limp onto the ground.

Panting heavily, the boy turned around and saw Antoinette, who without a second's pause asked him to hand her the keys in the dead Gypsy's pocket. Erik did so, and still shaking from the night's ordeal, he grabbed the straw sac and pulled it over his face. Unlocking the cage with a satisfying click, Antoinette quickly grabbed the boy's hand and ran, leading him to the Paris Opera House. Opening a small door that leads to the underground structures that was abandoned from construction, Antoinette led Erik down there, giving him a secure place to live; a place to call his own.

And the bottom of the Opera Populaire became Erik's playground. Single handedly he designed and built the catacombs and created a lair on top of an underground lake. Antoinette being the only friend in the world visited him frequently; she being just a minor ballerina of the Opera House had plenty of time to check up on Erik. She was amazed at how talented he was, as the once inhabitable basement was transformed to an intricate maze and save haven. Soon the two grew close, and Antoinette viewed Erik as her own little brother, one she must protect and comfort. And Erik had finally known peace.

For a few years, everything went well. Erik managed to transform his home into a mystical paradise, filled with his own inventions and multiple musical instruments, one being his beloved organ. However, this perfect haven was shattered one day when Antoinette announced that she was to be married to Jules Giry. Though happy for his friend, Erik felt that once again he was left to be alone in the world. After giving his congratulations to Antoinette, fifteen year old Erik decided to travel the world. Perhaps if Antoinette could accept him despite his face, maybe some other people will too.

Across all of Europe and even some countries of the Middle East, Erik traveled to almost all places worth visiting. Along the way learning vast knowledge in history, science, mathematics and architecture; Erik was a fast learner, mastering anything and everything he laid his hands on, and talented too. He was also a magician and ventriloquist, applying his new experiences with those he learned with the Gypsies. Unfortunately his face prevented him from settling down or even finding a job. Such a pity it was, that so much brilliance was wasted simply due to a flaw in appearance.

Then came that one rainy day in Rome, Italy. Frowning upon his newest construction project was none other than old time well-known architect Giovanni D'Angelo. Signing in defeat, unsure of how to go about advancing on the building, as his client had requested something modern and out of the ordinary, he shook his head in frustration. Deciding to return home to his daughters, Giovanni turned to see a young man standing there; apparently analyzing the construction just as Giovanni had two seconds ago. He was quite strange, the young man. Tall and perhaps a little too thin, dressed formally in black from head to toe, and the strangest thing of all, was that this young man was wearing a white mask that hid the right side of his face.

Raising a hand in greeting, Giovanni approached the masked man. Erik was stunned for a few moments, as the elderly man walked up to him, seemingly without fear. Talking to Erik as if there was nothing out of the ordinary, Giovanni asked about his opinion on the hopeless construction state, and from that day, Erik's talent was finally recognized. Impressed beyond all reason, Giovanni hired Erik to work alongside him without a second's pause after Erik gave a few ideas.

For a good six month Erik worked for Giovanni, though ridiculed by the other workers, Giovanni treated Erik as his own son. The Old Italian man was compassionate and kind, he knew Erik hid a disfigurement behind his mask, but he never forced him to reveal himself, and Erik was extremely grateful. However Erik also faced another problem; Giovanni's youngest daughter, Lucinda; who apparently decided that she's entranced by Erik. Following him almost everywhere he went and constantly nagging, Erik once again had to put up with a blabbering teenage girl, the young senorita was able to give him headaches after five minutes of entering the room…and he had thought that Antoinette was annoying.

Nevertheless, the time that Erik had spent living with Giovanni and his family was one of the very few best times of his life. Recognized as an aspiring architect and designer, Erik finally had a future to look forward to. However that was quickly shattered on one moonlit night.

Erik was on the roof of the house, taking in Rome's scenery and clearing his mind from the day of work. He had heard Lucinda following him but paid her no attention. Frustrated, the sixteen year old girl demanded for Erik to take off his mask. And what happened afterwards was all a blur. After refusing Lucinda's request, Erik walked quickly pass her towards the door. Grabbing the handle and pulling it open, Erik came face to face with Giovanni. One look at his daughter, Giovanni took her side, demanding Erik to take his mask off. And that's exactly what he did, feeling that he could trust Giovanni; Erik hesitantly reached up to take off his mask. Suddenly Lucinda's piercing scream rung through the air, she covered her mouth with her hands, fear and repulsion in her eyes. Backing up one step at a time, not knowing that the railing was weak, and before Giovanni or Erik could run to help her; Lucinda tumbled back and fell off the three story house.

Replacing his mask in a fraction of a second, Erik followed her path, though landing gracefully on the ground with the swiftness of a cat. A sharp stabbing pain of guilt shot through Erik as he realized that the girl was dead. Not being able to face Giovanni, Erik fled.

Meanwhile, the word of a travelling masked architect and magician across Europe did not go unnoticed. One of the few that took interest in the young man was none other than the Shah of Persia himself. Deciding that he wants a palace of his own desire to be created, the Shah ordered his finest officer, chief of police Nadir Khan to go retrieve the masked genius.

And retrieved the mask genius he did.

Till this day, Nadir still believes it was God who intervened and allowed him to find Erik that faithful night.