Chapter 9: Cures And Curiosity
Nadir had been doing his rounds of the theme park, making sure the performers were happy,
"How goes your morning, Miss Fleck?" he asked as he entered a tent in which birds flew freely,
"Very well, Nadir. Thank you" the lady bid with a bright smile,
"How is your son?" he asked concerned,
"Right as rain. He has a new wind beneath his young wings" she said brightly, causing Nadir to look surprised,
"I am very glad to hear that. Who treated him?" he asked and Miss Fleck pulled him to the side,
"There is a woman on the mainland... She holds powerful magic of which I have never seen before. She cured my son. I granted her a wish but yet I still feel that my debt is not fully repaid" she told him and Nadir looked around cautiously, making sure no tourists overheard them,
"Do you think she might be able to cure my Reza?" he asked after a moment and watched the woman before him nod,
"Tell me where I can find her" he murmured with a look of determination on his face.
Nadir took the ferry to the mainland and looked at the piece of paper on which, Miss Fleck had written down an address, he only hoped that this woman's miraculous magic could wake his son.
Nadir knocked upon the rickety apartment door but received no response causing him to push the door open slowly,
"Hello?..." he called, hesitantly entering the apartment and took a few steps further in but froze when he felt the point of a dagger press against his back,
"I mean you no harm... My son, he is very sick. He is plagued by a sleep from which he cannot wake. I came here to beg for your help" he explained quickly and gave a sigh of relief when the dagger was removed; A woman came to stand in front of Nadir with a cautious expression upon her face,
"Where is your son?" she asked and Nadir looked confused,
"On the isle not far from here. My son lies within the theme park of Phantasma" he told her and watched as her suspicion faded,
"Miss Fleck... She told you where to find me." she said knowingly and Nadir nodded,
"It was she whom gave me the ability to speak. She told me of how my kindness would reward me with my greatest wish... My wish for people to hear me" she said more to herself and Nadir took a step forward with a look of desperation on his face,
"Please... Will you come with me and save my son?" he begged,
"Not many people agree with magic such as mine. Including many of the people that visit Phantasma... Why should I risk my life?" she asked and Nadir looked hopeless but watched her smile brightly,
"I am just kidding with you. Of course I will help" she said and Nadir gave a sigh of relief with a bright smile,
"Thank you" he bid, grasping her hand in his own.
As the stars shone brightly in the sky, Nadir lead Hope back to Phantasma, into the concert hall and to Reza's Chambers.
Hope placed a gentle hand upon Reza's young forehead,
"Hmmm... I sense a bright mind in your son" she praised as Nadir watched with concern,
"Can you wake him?" he asked, watching as Hope stood,
"How long has he been like this?" she asked curiously,
"He has suffered within this state for the last five years. My friend rescued myself and my son from Persia, bringing us here in hopes that we would find a physician that could cure him" he explained, watching as the woman nodded,
"I visited Persia... Many years ago and I saw the horror of that place. Whoever your friend is. He is a hero" she praised gently, turning back to Reza as Nadir looked curious,
"How did you leave Persia?" he asked,
"It was not just me. I and a friend of mine escaped to the border of Persia with the help of the shah's Daroga... He was a good man. I owe him my life" she said and Nadir frowned, Could it be?,
"What was his name?... The Daroga that saved you?" he asked,
"His name was Nadir" she answered as she had her hand against Reza's forehead, searching his mind for what kept him trapped within sleep,
"Hope?" Nadir murmured and Hope opened her eyes slowly, she was still for what seemed like hours before finally turning to face the old man before her who smiled brightly and they both rushed towards one another and hugged each other tightly,
"How did I not recognise you?" he whispered, pulling back to look at her as she smiled brightly at him,
"You have got old" she teased as a happy tear fell down her cheek and he chuckled,
"You're humour still brings me a smile and I can see the delicate bud I once knew has become a stunning rose" he praised softly, Cupping both her cheeks,
"Dear child, I do not know what conflict happened between yourself and Erik but I must tell you... He is here" he admitted, watching as Hope became worried,
"I must cure your son and leave before he discovers I am here" she said, trying to pull away,
"You need not go anywhere. For Erik has missed you these past 10 years of which you have been absent from his life... He has searched for you so that he may apologise" he told her,
"Will you speak with him?" he asked and Hope was silent for a moment before nodding,
"Very well. I shall go and fetch him. Will you...?" he tried, gesturing to Reza,
"Your son shall be awake by the time you return" she assured and watched as Nadir quickly left the room.
Nadir barged into Erik's chambers as he slept,
"Erik wake up!" he yelled causing the former phantom to groan as he stirred and sat up,
"This had better be good, Nadir" he warned,
"It's Hope... She's here. She's in Reza's chambers, treating him now" Nadir told him breathlessly, having ran all the way there and Erik's eyes became stunned before quickly running out of the room with Nadir following quickly behind.
Hope slowly removed her hand from Reza's forehead and smiled as the small boy's eyes fluttered open,
"Papa?" he murmured tiredly,
"Shhhhhh... Your father shall be here soon" she assured and turned, hearing the door open and she looked stunned at the sight of her masked friend standing before her,
"Hope... Please let god be merciful and let this not be a dream" he murmured, taking a cautious step forward,
"This is no dream, Erik. Believe me, I am an expert when it comes to visions of sleep" she said firmly and Erik looked stunned,
"You... You spoke" he murmured watching as she folded her arms,
"I am quite pleased that you possess the ability of hearing, Erik. Last time we saw each other... You were very unwilling to listen to anything I had to tell you" she said and before Erik could respond, Nadir rushed into the room,
"Reza!" he exclaimed, rushing to his son and hugged him tightly as he smiled at the sight of seeing him awake,
"Thank you, Hope... Thank you" he whispered and Hope nodded gently with a soft smile before going to leave but Erik grasped her wrist gently,
"Please... Stay" he begged,
"I have no time nor patience for you, Erik." she replied,
"Please... One night. That is all I ask. So that I may apologise to you properly in the morning" he pleaded and Hope sighed, looking towards Reza whom hugged his father,
"I shall stay one night... Not for you. But so that I may check on Nadir's son's progress. Know this, Erik... Your apologies shall mean nothing to me. You took advantage of me, You treated me like dirt when I was nothing but a friend to you. I was always faithful but when the choice was presented to you... You chose a woman with a beautiful voice, whom you knew nothing about... Over a friend whom had no voice but who had only ever hoped to see you safe and well" she finished sadly, pulling her wrist free from his hold before leaving,
"There was a rather pleasant couch I saw on the way in that sat in the parlour. I shall sleep there. Goodnight" she said simply,
"Hope?!" Erik tried in vain before sighing sadly,
"Don't worry, Erik. She just needs time" Nadir comforted as he watched Erik leave the room.
It wasn't long until Doctor Gangle, Erik's assistant came to see him,
"Mister Y. There is a girl sleeping with the parlour" he told him,
"Yes, I am very much aware" Erik said with a smirk before standing and Gangle held a look of realisation,
"Is it her, sir?" he asked,
"The treacherous seer whom stole the voice of my love?... Yes... Yes it is her" he murmured,
"What is your plan, sir?" he asked,
"Hope has always been one to embrace matters of the heart... It shan't be long until she accepts my 'Apology' and once I have her as warm and fuzzy as she once was... I shall send for Christine. I shall act surprised that she has come. I shall show Hope how 'troubled' I am and her good nature shall lead to the return of Christine's voice" he said with a cunning smile,
"And until then sir?" he asked,
"Until then she is my honoured guest" he said simply before allowing Gangle to leave.
Oh Erik! How I wish I could smack the stupidity out of you sometimes!
Kind Regards,
TheAuthor1996