Juti's POV:

I woke up to the sensation of something ice cold thing touching my forehead and right eye. I opened my left to see what was happening. I was placed at the drawing room's couch and my glasses were removed. Erik put some ice on my face, and was examining me worriedly.

- Now look what you've done! – An accusing voice broke the silence. – You hit her!

- It was meant for your Persian butt head. – Erik growled, while turning back to the Daroga.

- Ewik naah… - I tried my best to speak, but the ice made it kind of hard.

- Do not speak. –He ordered. – You are very silly one, why did you have to jump between us?

- To ftop ya fwom huwting the Dawoga. – I explained.

- The Daroga should not follow me all the time, I just wanted to give him one slap which served him right. Now is it better that your face is going to be swollen and you will have a black eye for days, eh?

- Stop blaming her it is your fault.

- Shut up. – Erik growled again then he removed the ice, looking at me.

- Why did you kidnap this poor girl?

- He did not kidnap me. – I said. – He saved me.

- He should save you from himself the most. – The Persian went on.

I turned my head in his direction. He walked closer and I could only see he wore some kind of hat and had a nice beard. He leaned closer and examined me too, and as he was only centimeters from my face I saw most of his features. He seemed to be a kind man, a bit of too curious, to his own misfortune. This man was nearly drowned in the torture chamber some months back, and he was clearly afraid of Erik, as when my Phantom moved, the Daroga nervously took a step back, and still, he came here to see what was happening between Erik and me, and he wished to save me if it was needed.

- Daroga, it is time for you to leave. – Erik stated as he looked at his pocket watch, really checking the time. – Soon it will be dark outside… and very dangerous things happen in the dark.

Erik's tone made me a bit of unsettled, it sounded so threateningly deep and ominous.

- Erik, don't hurt him, please I beg you not to. – I sat up, but he pressed his hand against my chest, forcing me back in a laying position.

- Don't move. – It was also scary how his voice changed from ominous to sweet and caring in a split second. He changed emotions quicker than Liszt in a Rhapsody.

- Promise me you won't hurt the Persian, please.

- I won't. – He nodded.

- Don't believe him, he is manipulative.

- Shut up, and go to Hell Daroga.

- Not until I find out the truth! What is happening here? Should you not be dead? Mademoiselle, why… does he keep you here… in male clothing?

- Firstly, male clothing was my special request, as I am used to wearing pants. Well, Daroga… so you won't really believe, but I am here because of a coincidence. I time travelled back here from the future, and…

- Oh Allah, she hit her head very badly.

- No, it is the truth… yet I knew it will be hard to believe, but I have proof. More of them.

I asked Erik to carry here my phone, my ID card and the money I kept on top of the dresser in my room. He nodded and returned with the items. I handed them to the Persian, explaining.

- The brown piece of paper is money. It has no value here, but in my time and in my country we use it for paying. And that small booklet, if you open it, contains my identity card with my name and date of Birth. As you can see, I was born in 1989, so 108 years from now.

The Daroga was examining the card which was made of plastic, and I am sure he wasn't able to identify the material. He was turning it between his fingers for a time, then looked at me to compare the photo with my face. As he found them identical, he nodded and cleared his throat in surprise for some times.

- You are telling the truth… and what is that box for?

- It is her phone and it is really fun to mess with. But I suggest you not give it to his clumsy hands as you can say bye-bye to the glass on it. He is clumsy and an idiot, really.

- Erik! – I shook my head in dismay. – Don't talk to the Persian this way. Ask for his forgiveness.

- I won't.

- Then you will disappoint me. I thought you were a sweetheart. Don't make me lose faith in your goodness.

- In his WHAT? – The Daroga asked in disbelief.

- Oh… - Erik blinked in astonishment, then he turned to the other man and brokenly muttered: - My apologies, Daroga, for what I said.

- What? – The Persian had a jawdrop.

- I said I was sorry. – Erik repeated with a sigh.

- You… never apologized to me before… not even for nearly murdering me. Can it be you… did not kidnap her?

- No, he saved me and cured my illness. I had pneumonia and my head was wounded. And my ankle got dislocated after I arrived here. I woke up in these cellars and Erik took care of me.

- When was this?

- The day I visited you. On May, the 11th.

- So that is why you disappeared.

- Disappeared? I must laugh. I was going on and about just fine, and you did not notice me, yet I looked the same as before. Now that I disguise myself, you find me right away.

- I recognized your voice. – He admitted. – And I found out you had company… Mademoiselle, how can you… tame him so much?

- Easy. I love him.

Erik went on his knees next to the couch to these words and took my hand, pressing it against his chest. I could feel his heart pounding and he taking so short breaths. I realized it was the first time I admitted I loved him in front of someone else, and he got surprised I did not feel ashamed of it.

- Do you? – The Persian asked with disbelief.

- I do. – I nodded.

- I have to ask about something. – He scratched his head as he took a seat at the armchair across the small table. – Why did you want to get here? Or was it a… mistake?

- No. I wanted to see Erik. – I slowly patted his back as I heard he was silently crying.

- How do you know of Erik… and me?

- I read a book about Erik.

- Book?

- Yes, you narrated the last chapters.

- Did he? – Erik lifted his head up suddenly. – Filthy traitor.

- Erik, don't say that. In a way I can thank him for knowing you.

- But why did ou want to… meet him? Did I not tell about his past in the book?

- You did. – I replied softly.

- And you wished to meet a monster? – He gasped.

Erik cringed with pain, so I chose to give him some affection before replying the Daroga. I stroke his hair and asked his permission to remove the human mask. He softly agreed with the condition only I was allowed to look at him, and he stays with his back to the Daroga. I nodded and removed his mask to kiss his face.

- Allah above… - The other man whispered in disbelief.

- You are not a monster. – I stated, looking into Erik's eyes deeply. – You are not.

- I would like to know… how much do you know about Erik's past in Persia? – The Daroga continued. – I am sure if you knew… you would say he is a monster.

- Daroga… - I started softly. – I have to tell you that I know a bit of it. I know about the Torture Chamber and that he was an Assassin. I know he committed murders, but… I am sure he wasn't the most evil person ever. I am not saying what he committed is… good. No, not at all. I am not saying either that the hatred surrounding him in all his life excuses his actions. It just explains them. You know a lot more about him, and I am sure you have the reason calling him a monster. I would call him so if he tried to kill me they way he did with you. But… you see I have read about very evil people in my history book. I think they did much worse things than Erik. For example… did he burn a whole city down for his own amusement?

- No. – The Daroga replied shortly.

- Did he separate and torture and finally kill people because of their religion?

- No. – The Daroga replied again.

- Did he murder thousands or millions of people?

- I don't think it is about numbers. Murder is murder. That ONE person had just that ONE life. – The Daroga's tone changed to be a bit of more passionate. – But if you wish to know, he did murder a few hundreds.

- Actively?

- Not always. – He sighed. – But it was because of HIS invention.

- Oh come on, Daroga. – I snorted. – With this logic, if one designs something that is CAPABLE of killing people, but can be used for other things as well, will all the deaths occurring by that object becomes the inventor's fault?

- What do you mean?

- Let's say whoever invented the knife is a murderer of millions because many people get stabbed. But knives are for mainly cutting things.

- Your logic is flawed. – The Persian shook his head firmly, pointing at Erik. – He knew exactly what the Torture Chamber does and it was used for bad things. He knew it. He did it on purpose.

- The Torture Chamber's idea is used also in theme parks. It can be used for good as well. It wasn't him who wanted to design it in the first place, was he? If I am right, he was commissioned to do so.

- He was. – The Daroga sighed again.

- So the True Evil isn't him, he is only the implementer of the idea. The evil person is the commissioner who knew what the device was going to do. Am I right if I say it was your… government?

- Touché. – Erik grinned.

- Stop it Erik, you are guilty too. I only informed you two that you are not the only one guilty here, and not the worst of the group. If I am right, he might have been sentenced to death if he refuses to design and build the Torture Chamber?

- True, yet I did not care about my life being taken, it wasn't my reason to obey. – Erik said, with surprisingly much honesty.

- Well, to sum it up, I know it does not excuse his actions that there were people who did worse things, but I can't help, but say he deserves a chance to be loved. He was begging for love and acceptance, and I am willing to gve him that, until the very point he turns violent against me. It did not happen so far. Not even when I removed his mask for the first time.

I closed my eyes after the speech, waiting for reaction from any of the men. Erik crawled closer and put his head on my lap while I patted his shoulder. The Persian cleared his throat a few times, then he stood up.

- I understand your logic and accept your reasoning. You are a kind and naïve girl who thinks everyone is good and deserves chances… even Erik. I am not saying I agree though. But if it is what you want, I give him another chance as well, and won't do steps in telling everything to the press… IF he acts what we agreed in. I would accept this one happening as an accident as he really did not intend to hurt you this time. But I am going to keep an eye on him, and if you, Mademoiselle, suffer another hit by his skeletal hands, then I am going to assume there is no help for him, and he deserves nothing but contempt. I only do this for the sake of you, not him. But… as I see you seem to be safe now, I leave.

- Don't worry, Daroga. Erik is another person now.

- I would like to believe so. Well, don't bother to lead me out, Erik, I am fine finding the way. Good evening, Mademoiselle, Au revoir Erik.

Erik did not reply to any of the talking any more. He was just kneeling in front of me, while I comfortingly patted his shoulder and back. He was silently weeping and he squeezed my wrist in his cold hands to make sure I wasn't going to leave him. I leaned closer to the top of his head and laced a soft kiss on it.

He looked up with a hopeful expression, and opened his malformed mouth for some times, just as he was trying to say something and he was shaking from head to foot. Yet he came closer, put his hands on my shoulders and pulled me close to himself and hugged me tight, rocking back and forth. As I stroke his ear with my thumb, he took a very deep breath, and suddenly I heard a soft humming. He never hummed to me before. I smiled as I heard his voice, and this made him even braver as he looked into my eyes and touched my cheek. With another deep breath, he started singing, now with lyrics, and not only random notes like before, but an existing Beethoven song:

Ich liebe dich so wie du mich,

Am Abend und am Morgen.

Noch war kein Tag, wo du und ich

Nicht teilten unsre Sorgen.

Auch waren sie für dich und mich

Geteilt leicht zu ertragen.

Du tröstetest im Kummer mich,

Ich weint' in deine Klagen.

Drum Gottes Segen über dir,

Du meines Lebens Freude.

Gott schütze dich, erhalt' dich mir,

Schütz' und erhalt' uns beide.

His voice was truly much more beautiful in singing than in speech, yet his speaking voice was already enchanting enough. But I wasn't able to imagine such a sound, not in my sweetest dreams. It caressed my ears and soul, and the passion he performed it with made me sure he meant every single note and syllable of the song. As he finished, I hugged him tight and he kissed my hand with a relieved sigh.

Erik's Diary

13th July, 1881

I simply can't believe the happenings that took place today.

Firstly, the whole day which passed so peacefully, I finally felt like a normal person. I was able to walk with her, and nothing bad happened. No tragedies, no screams, no horror! Just a peaceful day I spent with Juti. I took her for carriage ride, and she loved it. She was so happy and each of her smiles made my heart beat faster, and I began to feel thankful for her precious being.

But the most touching thing which made me lose my mind was her forgiving and kind heart that forgave me even the sin of accidentally punching her in the face. Oh how I loathe myself for doing it, even if it wasn't her I wished to hit. And yet, she isn't angry! On the contrary. She explained the Persian that she… she… loved me. She did not feel shame of my presence and having to admit she had feelings for me. She kissed me in front of the Daroga! She did! She KISSED me, and she wasn't disgusted that the other man saw it. She OPENLY kissed me. And… she said she loves me until I hurt her. She even made the nosy man leave! Oh how could I hurt such an angel? She is really so naïve and sweet… she does not imagine I could do terrible sins, with her heart, she simply can't see someone would do things of such nature. Oh did I deserve her?

It surprised me that after such a happiness I just survived, and the act of pure love and acceptance she showed me, I did not have any more trouble with singing. I started humming to her unintentionally, then confessed love with the Beethoven Liebeslied. Oh how she smiled upon hearing my voice… how she smiled!

I love her.

I really do.

Thank you for your reads and reviews! They mean a lot to me. Here are the English lyrics of the song I included in German:

I love you as you love me,

in the evening and the morning,
nor was there a day when you and I
did not share our troubles.

And when we shared them
they became easier to bear;
you comforted me in my distress,
and I wept in your laments.

Therefore, may God's blessing be upon you,
You, my life's joy.
God protect you, keep you for me,
and protect and keep us both

If you are interested, search it on youtube - it is a beautiful song.