Chapter 1: Gaining a Daughter
Erik fled from the burning opera house and watched it burn. He breathed deep and looked at the bundle that Madame Giry gave to him: money, a mask, and clothing. Erik tied the bundle on his back and used his heals to get the horse moving. The black stallion and his master rode off through the streets of Paris, unseen like a shadow. He spoke nothing of this incident ever again, for his new life laid ahead. Erik breathed deep and road for miles until he got to a farm house. Erik slipped the cloth mask on and rode up to the front door, where he knocked on the door.
" What do you want?" the farmer asked
" I mean no harm, I've been riding for hours, I need food for my horse and a place to sleep," Erik said
" Do you have money?" the farmer asked
" A little," Erik replied
The farmer looked at his wife and she went off to prepare a room for Erik. The farmer led Erik to the stables to let his horse rest.
" Anna, see to this horse," the farmer said
" Yes, Monsieur," a soft voice said
A young girl about 14 came in carrying a bucket with water and a brush. Erik looked at her as she stared at him.
" Don't stare you little brat," he said, " Do as your told and hurry."
" My horse does not need to be brushed…if you don't mind monsieur I will do the tending, he's very wild," Erik said
The farmer looked at him and shrugged and snapped at the young girl. She backed away from the horse and Erik tended to his stallion. The girl looked at Erik and then she went inside to tend to other chores that the farmer had her do. Erik looked at his stallion and the horse neighed.
" Yes, I know," Erik said, " she is a servant."
The horse drank the water from the bucket and Erik brushed his horse. He checked the horseshoes of the horse.
" Your doing well old nag," Erik chuckled
" Monsieur," the soft voice came
Erik looked up and saw the young girl and stood. She held a tray with food and Erik walked towards her. She lowered her head and Erik slightly tilted his head to the side to see her face.
" Your young to be doing the work," Erik said
" No, Monsieur, I'm 14, only paying my debt for the hospitality of the Madame and Monsieur," she said
Erik took the tray and cut half the bread and cut half the cheese.
" My payment to you, eat," Erik said
" I can not," she said
" Go on," Erik said, " I don't eat much…I live off sleep."
The girl took the half loaf and half cheese. Erik sat down and cut some and ate it, she sat down and looked at him.
" You look like you have a story," she said
" All travelers have stories," Erik said
Erik sipped the cup of wine and looked at her, her sharp blue eyes matched her blonde hair. She ate the bread and cheese and walked to the horse and brushed him.
" What is his name?" she asked
" Caesar," Erik said
" He's beautiful, where are you from?" she asked
" Far from here, I am returning to my home," Erik said
She looked at Caesar and fed him oats and smiled. She looked at him in his eyes and Erik looked at her.
" Caesar, you are a king if you have a master like him," she said
Erik stood and the girl looked up at him.
" What is your name child?" Erik asked
" Anna," she said, " and yours Monsieur?"
" Erik," he replied
Anna smiled as she finished brushing Caesar. She then sat down again and looked at Erik seeing the mask upon his face.
" A mask, why do you have to wear a mask?" she asked
" A flaw in my identity," Erik said
" Anna," the wife called
Anna sighed and she stood up, then said good night to Erik. He nodded and looked at Caesar as the horse fed on oats, he got up to return to the house. Erik walked in carrying his belongings and the wife of the farmer showed him the room.
" There is a wash basin," the wife said, " Anna can pour hot water in a tub to wash your body if you wish."
" Thank you Madame," Erik said
The wife nodded and started to go then Erik stopped her to ask her about Anna. There he found out the truth about the young girl.
" I see," Erik said
" She's but a troubled child, so her parents sent her away to us," the wife said, " she will be old enough to marry off soon…clean her up and let the fine gentlemen have their ways with her."
Erik nodded and the wife walked off, then washed his hands and removed the mask. The sweat on his face rolled down off onto his shirt. Erik removed the damp shirt and sighed. He removed his shoes and laid back on the bed and listened to the sounds within the house. Erik pulled the bundle close and undid it, to reveal a letter and the bundle of clothing and money. Erik laid back and read the letter that Madame Giry wrote to him bidding him farewell and more than enough money to begin a new life. Erik also found within a coat some papers. There another gift from Madame Giry was left to him to start over.
" She's given me everything," Erik said
He folded the papers up upon hearing footsteps on the hard floor. Erik tied the bundled up and slid it under the bed. Someone knocked and Erik called back to them to enter. Anna stood there and wiped her hands on her apron.
" Your bath is ready Monsieur," she said
" What do you wish for?" Erik asked
" I don't understand," Anna said
She flipped her blonde hair over her shoulders and stood there.
" What is your deepest desire?" Erik asked
" Only freedom Monsieur, away from here," Anna said
Erik nodded and stood, she looked at him as he walked to her.
" Then it's yours," Erik said, " Go on and pack your belongings."
" But Monsieur!" she gasped
" Do it or I will not be able to take you," Erik said
She nodded and walked off, Erik looked at the bundle and nodded. He went off and bathed the smells of his past. Erik dressed for the night and rested with easy waiting for the morning light.
The next morning Erik dressed in clean clothing and carried his things out. The farmer and his wife invited him for breakfast.
" Monsieur, we ask for 100 francs for your stay," the farmer said, " Hard times."
" I will give you 1000 for the servant girl," Erik said
Anna looked at Erik and the farmer looked at her. She returned to her work and both his wife and himself shook their heads.
" Not enough 2000," Erik said, " I wish for her to leave with me now."
" But Monsieur Anna is our family," the farmer said
" 4000 and that is my final offer," Erik replied
He held the 4000 francs and the wife nodded.
" She will be packed, Anna you heard what the man said," the wife said
Erik sat down and ate some breakfast and Anna came with her bags packed. Erik looked at her then the couple, he paid them and they were off. Erik held onto the young girl and rode down the gravel rode.
" Who are you Monsieur?" she asked
" Only a man of power," Erik said
She smiled and held on as he guided Caesar to the nearest town.
" You will not address me as Monsieur, you will address me as father or papa," Erik said
" But why?" she asked, " you are not family."
" I am now," Erik replied
She nodded and Erik looked at her, he guided her away from her past. They were two unlikely stranger breaking away.