Author's note: This chapter contains references to Susan Kay's Phantom, but you do not need to have read it to understand the story.

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Erik watched Tess disappear from the room and, ostensibly, his life, before he had a chance to reply to her goodbyes. He felt an inexplicable desire that he should see her again at some point, though he did not know why. She was plain in appearance and she couldn't sing. Still…

Oro cleared his throat noisily and Erik turned to him. It was difficult to read the fine details of Eranae facial expressions under the plating, but Oro seemed to have regained his good mood.

"If you are especially tired from your journey, I will have one of the servants lead you to your bedroom, but I would like to invite you to join me in the bath house, where I had been planning to spend the afternoon before you were dropped on my doorstep. There are natural hydrothermal springs underneath the estate and the hot mineral water is quite pleasant."

Erik was sorely tempted to request the offered bedroom, though he was not particularly tired. He was going to be living in this house for an unforeseen amount of time, though, and it would do no good to spurn the hospitality of his newfound family. He found himself oddly determined not to give in to his antisocial nature and botch this one last chance at a semi-normal life.

Oro led him through the hallways of his large home and down an outdoor path to a smaller structure. The building was made from some sort of pinkish-yellow marble and the architecture was unusual but not wholly unpleasant (especially after seeing what passed for architecture in large cities) and Erik was tempted to ask about it. Oro pulled him into the bath house before he had a chance. They passed a large communal bath being used by several servants and Erik was slightly appalled to notice that both sexes walked about naked save for their natural plating in front of each other without shame. A couple children were even present. One was an older female child whose plates were still small and soft but rapidly growing in, but the other was a younger male that was still bare-skinned and he had to stop himself from openly staring at what fairly looked like a shorter version of himself. The children, however, didn't seem to mind staring at him, though the servants paid no attention to the passing of their master and his odd guest. Oro noticed his hesitation and put a hand on his back to coax him forward.

"The family has its own private bath this way. You may socialize with the servants some other time, if you wish."

They arrived in a smaller room lit poorly by gas torches set high in the walls. A servant shortly arrived with towels, clean clothing, oils and soaps and laid them on a table against the back wall. Oro walked over to a low bench beside the door and quickly stripped. He walked toward the bath before giving Erik an enquiring look.

"Is there something wrong, child?"

Erik shook his head and walked over to the bench to copy the older man's movements. He all but ran to the water, concealing himself up to the neck as quickly as he could and thanking God for the dim lighting. He could feel the blood rushing into his cheeks at Oro's chuckle.

"You're an odd boy, aren't you? Well, no matter. The hot water will calm you well enough, I suspect."

Oro leaned back against the side of the stone tub that had been cut directly into the limestone bedrock and sighed as thin wisps of steam curled around him. Erik had to admit that the bath was the best he'd ever been in and he was soon lulled nearly to sleep. He was drifting halfway between sleep and waking, letting the sounds of Oro's ablutions go in one ear and out the other and was nearly gone when the light splashing grew closer and a soft cloth began rubbing gently at his neck and chest. The sensation was not unpleasant, but it was unexpected and Erik blinked a few times as consciousness returned. He squinted at Oro in confusion and stilled the movement of the cloth over his collar bone.

"I assure you I am perfectly capable of bathing myself..."

Oro blinked back at him before giving a wry smile and dropping the cloth. His expression turned sorrowful and he leaned back against the stone.

"Yes, of course. Forgive an old man's foolishness. We Eranae have a bad habit of coddling our young ones before their plating hardens… I know you are not a baby, no matter how you look… Well, Ohte always wanted to do things on his own too, I suppose you'll be the same..."

Erik swallowed thickly against the feeling of shame settling in his stomach and slumped down in the water until he was covered up over his chin. He was suddenly ashamed at the knowledge that he was more like Ohte than the old man imagined. Erik shut his eyes and wanted to disappear. He wished he knew how to deal with this old man's strange affection. Even to Erik, it was obvious that Oro was looking to replace his lost son, and apparently saw in Erik a potential candidate.

Erik had no clue whether he should allow the relationship to continue in this odd vein or not. Would it cause more trouble with the man's real son? No matter how desperate he was for a normal family, he could no longer bring himself to help pull someone else's apart. He'd nearly destroyed Christine trying to force her into a role she'd never wanted to begin with, and that dreadful passive blankness of her face after turning the scorpion haunted him still. He'd been forced to let her go and give her back to the Vicomte, if only to see the light of life back in her eyes again just one last time.

Also, even if it could be a harmless arrangement, he'd never really been anyone's child before. His mother had provided him with food and clothing, but he could not remember a time when he wasn't expected to take care of himself. She had always been loathe to touch him in any way, to the point of running from him the one time he'd been foolish enough to try to kiss her. The time he'd spent with the old architect was the closest he'd ever come. The old man had been more a father to him than any one before or since, but their relationship had ever been strained and alienated under Erik's own crippling fears. And then his impudent daughter Luciana came into the picture, and had died, after being frightened by his face (why, foolish girl did you demand I remove my mask? Why, father, did you demand I comply?) and falling to her death. Giovanni would not have blamed him for it, but how could he have stayed after that? How could he have faced the pain and disappointment in the eyes of his father? Would he only end up a disappointment to his grandfather as well? He didn't think his tired old heart would bear another rejection and survive.

A hand passed lightly over the crown of his head and he looked up at Oro's concerned face, his strange gentle eyes ever glowing out from the shadows.

"Erik? I am deeply sorry if I have offended you somehow, such was not my intent."

Erik sat up and shook his head.

"No, you have not. I was simply… a bit startled."

Oro considered Erik's answer for several moments.

"You do seem to startle easily. I can't help but feel that someone has been rather cruel to you. Several someones, in fact…"

Erik squirmed under the Eranae's intuition. He was more shrewd than he let on, Erik thought.

"Perhaps it would be best if we dressed and returned to the house. It nearly time for dinner to be served, anyway. You will sit beside me, and do not worry yourself over Endo's prejudices."

Oro rose from the bath and held out a hand for Erik. He hesitated, but eventually took it. Oro passed him a towel and took the other for himself, drying quickly. Erik was drying his face when a finger traced over one of the many scars on his back and he froze like a spotlighted deer. He had been trying to avoid letting Oro see those, but apparently he'd forgotten about them in the midst of his confusing emotions.

"How creatures with such a soft hide manage, I will never know. Even our armorless children have thicker skin."

Erik stepped away from Oro and breathed deeply until the tension in his muscles slowly began to seep out.

"We manage. Damaged skin heals."

"Yes, of course it heals, but it leaves such marks… Well, no matter. The past cannot be undone. Dress and come with me."

Erik dropped the towel on the bench and pulled on the simple blue robe left for him by the servants quickly. His own clothing had been taken somewhere, presumably to be laundered. He fingered the material, finding it to be quite coarse. It was warm and likely comfortable to a thick-skinned and bone-plated Eranae, but it chafed against his shoulders and under his arms and he found himself pulling and scratching at the cloth on the way back to the house. Oro glanced at him from time to time, but said nothing if he found Erik's fidgeting unseemly.

They walked into the dining room and Erik hesitated upon seeing Endo already seated at the far end of the table. Oro guided him forward and set him at the table across from Endo and seated himself at the head of the table. Endo scowled at both Oro and Erik but said nothing. A female Eranae entered the room and sat beside Endo, giving Erik a tentative smile.

"Good evening, Erik. I am Anora. I apologize for my husband's earlier rudeness to you and his own father. I do not know what has gotten into him, he usually gets along quite well with the rest of his family."

Anora stressed the last word and gave Endo a pointed look. Endo simply gave her a cross look and turned his attention to Oro.

"Despite my wife's good-natured foolishness, still I must implore you to send that boy away. He will bring us nothing but trouble."

Erik's annoyance grew at being spoken about as though he were not in the room and his hand unconsciously searched for his lasso. He looked down when he did not find it, realizing that it must have been taken along with his clothing. It was probably all for the better, anyway. He doubted Oro's generosity would continue if he strangled his son at the dinner table.

Anora pinched Endo hard between the thumb and fingers, earning a growl from deep in his throat. Oro took the opportunity to intervene.

"That's enough, from the both of you! I will not have discord at my dinner table. If you cannot be civil, you may eat in the kitchen like misbehaving children."

The tension in the room was palpable, but lessened as food was brought. The servants filled four plates and set them before each of them. Erik recognized nothing on his plate, but watched as the others began eating and copied their manners. The food reminded him vaguely of Indian cuisine, being heavily spiced and lacking meat.

"Have you reviewed the Chaga bid yet, Endo?"

"Yes, father. I believe we could get a bit more from them."

"They are a relatively poor outpost, Endo. Their offer is quite reasonable where it stands. We would make an acceptable profit without burdening them greatly."

"You're too generous father. That is not a good trait in a businessman."

"In case you have forgotten, son, I built this family's fortune."

"With your brothers' aid."

"That is beside the point. Their philosophy on the matter was the same as my own. We will accept their current offer."

Endo clearly did not agree with the man's decision, but did not argue further.

"Yes, father. I will close the deal tomorrow."

Their empty plates were removed from the table and small bowls of something cold and sweet were set before them. No spoons were offered, and the Eranae picked the bowls up and drank directly from them. Erik followed suit, finding the drink to taste somewhat like caramel.

Oro stood up after finishing his dessert.

"I will be in the garden for the rest of the evening should any of you wish to join me. Erik, a servant will show you to your bedroom. It is next to mine, should you need anything from me during the night."

Endo turned very cross at that pronouncement.

"You can't give him my sister's room, father! It's bad enough you allow him in our ancestral home at all—"

"Your sister rarely visits anymore Endo, and there are plenty other bedrooms should the need arise. There is no reason not to put Erik there. Honestly, Endo, this primitive territoriality is quite unbecoming of you. Erik will stay there and that is final."

Oro turned to one of the servants and pointed in Erik's direction as he spoke to her.

"Shira, take him to the bedroom next to mine… And see about finding a robe of finer material for him to sleep in. His skin appears to be rather sensitive."

The servant motioned to Erik to follow and he gladly went with her, escaping the burning glare of his uncle.