On a ship to Persia

Eric lay on a small rickety bed feeling the gentle rocking of the ship. He tried to sleep but it never came to him, the Persian was snoring gently in another bed beside him. It had been a long few days Eric was excited for this adventure but he was completely terrified also.

Glancing out the ships window he could see the blue green mass of water up until the earth gently rolled blocking what was beyond that from view. The weather had got much warmer the farther thy traveled from France almost to where it was unbearable to him.

The preacher had given him some history books one of which had information of Persia. Eric was worried about not knowing the language, he had gotten from the daroga that the shah was a harsh man.

The Middle Eastern man stirred and mumbled something in his language. Eric hated the fact that that man had to stay with him but, he had no choice he was practically a prisoner.

"Teach me your language." Eric demanded when he was sure the daroga was awake. The man groaned rolling over. "The Shah speaks French he's the only on you will need to listen to." The Persian said rolling back over and facing the half masked boy.

"You never told me how he heard about me." Eric stated leaning up against the wall. "I don't know. The shah has his collections of masons, magicians and…" the Persian stopped lowering his head. Eric raised an eyebrow at the man. "And?" the man sat up but lowered his head, "And freaks." He said speaking no more than a whisper.

Eric was disgusted, "I see, so they will put me on display his majesty." Eric said mockingly but there was evident pain in his voice.

In France

The preacher leapt up the steps to the large stone building holding Eric's blueprints in his hand. A small line was inside all famous well known designers. "William?" a tall thin man questioned. "What are you doing here?" the preacher smiled "The same as you, Cloutier." The man laughed "Now I know you, you can't even put together a pulpit."

William was next up in line, he handed the papers to a big gruff man at a desk. "Fill out these papers and return them right away." The man grumbled before yelling 'Next'. William sat down and filled out the papers.

About 20 minutes later the preacher walked back up to the desk. The man glanced at the papers. Raising an eyebrow he looked at the preacher. "You need to put the designer's full name." the man said pointing to a spot on the paper. "His name is Eric… Just plain Eric" the man sighed glancing at the papers. "And you want me to believe that the designer is 14 to! This opera house is not a mockery." The man yelled pounding his fists on the table. "Please just look at the blue prints. The designer is a genius; sadly he was killed in an accident and unable to submit the papers himself." William hoped that his tale would convince the grumpy man.

On a ship to Persia

Eric and the Persian were silent for the next few days. "How could have I been so stupid" Eric thought "I should have fought back, I should have never returned home." Eric couldn't believe that he would ever miss his home the cold dark basement, out here he felt so vulnerable. People were talking to each other walking past his room the only thing that separated him from them was a thin door.

"Eric" the Persian said his voice pleading "I'm sorry I had to trick you, but we can outsmart the shah." Eric didn't want to talk to the man. Eric had been designing an escape plan already. "Daroga, Eric does not want your help." Nadir groaned "I know all of the shah's ways; I know how the man's sick brain works." Eric was getting frustrated he could not trust this man, he could trust no one. "Eric doesn't care. With all due respect it works better for me if I don't trust you." Eric said as he walked out the door.

Eric stepped out into the ship's deck; Eric tilted his hat shading the white mask. The crew was running around speaking and yelling in their Persian language. Eric studied them trying to lean how the people in the country he would be in acted.

Eric heard a voice in Persian yelling at him but Eric kept walking around undisturbed by the man yelling. A strong harsh hand grabbed Eric's shoulder and spun him around. Eric fought back turning his scarred hands to fists as he threw punches at his attacker. The man reacted much quicker to Eric's attack than he predicted, a heavy fist came in contact with Eric's stomach causing him to buckle over gasping for air. The man took the second that Eric was distracted trying to breathe to hit under Eric's chin nocking his head up, Eric fell backwards his hat flying off his head when he hit the ground.

With a foot on Eric's chest to keep him down the man bent over the boy and reached his hand toward the mask. Eric thrashed about the foot on his chest placed more weight on him Eric gasped before he threw his voice behind the man laughing at him. The man whipped his body around as Eric grabbed his ankle and pushed throwing him off balance.

Eric's attacker fell to the ground, Eric jumped up and ran to his room slamming the door and leaned up on it while placing his hand up to his bloody lip. "What happened?" Eric herd as Nadir walked over to him. Eric glared at Nadir "sorry I asked." Nadir said sarcastically.

France: Christine's home

Christine sat on her bed. Her uncle should be home soon from his meeting about the opera house. People were suspicious about this mysterious designer they were announcing the winner of the bid today. A nock came at the front door since Eric left she wasn't feeling much like talking to people.

Christine opened the door two open arms, greeting her with a huge smile embracing her in a hug. "Raoul!" Christin said with a renewed energy "what are you doing here?" Raoul smiled my "father had a business trip so I convinced him to let me go." Christine wrapped her arms around Raoul "Oh Raoul, I've missed you so much."

And now Raoul has come in oh joy.

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