And see him I did. After a few more rounds of Toymaker executions, the man invited me to play chess. I was never very good at it, but after five years of chess matches, the toymaker admitted I could beat him any time now. He had become such a bastard in the time I've known him.

He was mysterious as ever. All I had learned about his past was that he was originally from Normandy, but ran away to join the circus. I had also learned about his other interests. His skill in architecture was evident in his maze of mirrors. But his true passion was music. I had only heard a few pieces, but each piece was the most beautiful thing I'd ever heard. I was still amazed, five years later.

On this particular day, I actually had a chance of winning our chess tournament. The toymaker wasn't letting me win, he wouldn't insult me like that. It would be nice to surprise him for once. He still stared at me intensely every time I visited him. It felt like he could read my soul. I don;t know if I could fully read his, but beating him at chess seemed like a good start.

My final move ended the game in ten seconds flat. With a few jumps, I checkmated his king. The toymaker laughed in surprise.

"Well, Daroga. You finally did it."

"I have you to thank. My chess skills were miserable before."

"True. But it was an impressive move. Care for another drink?"

"Yes, please." He took my glass to what was his rather extensive collection of wine and spirits. We had been drinking this delightful Italian red, which is what the toymaker handed me now.

"Mmm. Your wine collection is truly the eighth wonder of the world."

"It's nice to know my travels with the circus produced one good thing."

"Only one? Of all the places you've been?"

"My life isn't as spectacular as you think, Daroga."

"How do you know what I think, monsieur Toymaker?"

"Erik… my real name is Erik." I gave him a small smile and extended my hand.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Erik." He chuckled in response and accepted my handshake. Our hands lingered for a moment or two longer than necessary, perhaps. The warm feeling that I had come to associate with him returned to my chest.

I couldn't imagine my life without his friendship, but there was still so little I knew about him. Learning his name had been a major lead, but Erik was still a mystery I was nowhere near to solving.

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The hours passed. Erik and I drank and talked about nothing in particular. He liked to hear stories of my childhood and my time in the police force. Erik was not as keen to share. Instead, he would share the plots of his favorites operas and ballets. Europeans came up with the most interesting stories.

My head became more muddled with wine. I blamed it for the sudden urge that came over me to rid the Toymaker of the cloak covering his face. In the five years I'd known him, he had never taken it off. The Mazandaran heat could be unbearable.

"Why… would do you always cover your face?" I slurred. "It gets so ‒ hot here."

"Well, I rarely leave my cold little lair, and masking one's face adds such a theatrical mystery to my line of work. Besides, my good looks would frighten you." I chortled in response, perhaps a little too loudly.

"Well, monsieur, I thank you for the wine and conversation. But I'm afraid I must be going."

"You'll be back next week, I hope?"

"Provided no one commits any crimes. Why do you ask?"

"You finally won a chess game. What other purpose would you have to visit?"

"Believe it or not, I enjoy your company, Erik. Are you trying to get rid of me?"

"No! I ‒ I mean… I also enjoy your company. I just don't…"

"Just don't what, Erik?" I grabbed his collar in frustration. "Enough with the riddles, damn you!" Our faces were inches from each other. For the first time in five years, I saw fear in the Toymaker's eyes. Fear of what? Fear of me?

I released him and apologized for my outburst. Erik only responded with a nod. I hurriedly left the palace dungeons. It wasn't until I had locked the door of my home that I released a sigh of relief I didn't realize I had been holding. A thousand thoughts were running through my head. Did Erik share my feelings? Had I been coming back to him in the hopes that our friendship would be more?

We would most likely never speak of this moment again, but we would definitely never forget it.