France

Christine shuffled about the kitchen making a pot of tea for her and Raoul. "Christine it is so wonderful to see you." Raoul said with a boyish grin. "You to Raoul" She laughed placing the tea on the table with some sweets "How long will you and your father be staying?" Raoul leaned back in the chair, "I'm not sure."

Raoul told story after story of his home south of France, his aunt who helped raise him. "Have you started singing again Christine?" He asked suddenly changing his conversation about himself to Christine. Christine lightened up, and then saddened a little. Raoul was worried that the topic of music was still hard on her. Christine recovered her smile "Yes, I have sung once for the Resurrection service. Eric helped me get my confidence up when our main Sunday singer left and I was the only one who could sing." Raoul was happy but confused. "Who is Eric?"

Christine told him of how Eric came to the church and played the organ. "He listened to me when I told him of my father No one has ever really seemed to truly listen to what I had to say about my papa. He left a few weeks ago."

Raoul sensed there was something she wasn't telling him about this Eric character he actually felt offended that Christine would turn to this random person and spill her heart out to him.

Christine turned her head when she herd footsteps coming up the porch. She darted up to greet her uncle who opened the door. Christine was worrying Raoul she seemed so preoccupied she wasn't concentrating on anything he was saying. "What happened with the bid Uncle William!?" Raoul herd her say with a newfound excitement. "Did Eric get it?" Raoul grunted and walked to the door to hear better. He really did not like how Eric filled all her thoughts.

"They loved his design and the way he made it cut the opera house overall total in a quarter. They are building the opera." The Preacher said hugging the squealing Christine.

Christine gasped and drug the preacher to the next room "Raoul is here! He is visiting for a few weeks!" the preacher smiled and gave the blond boy a firm handshake.

Off the coast of Persia

Eric prepared for the ship to dock. Eric placing his hat on covering his thin blond whisks of hair, Eric was still dressed in his Sunday attire. He was terrified Eric knew that Persia would be a living hell for him.

Eric could hear the crew up above him preparing. The door of the room opened, Eric growled to himself. "We will be docking soon." Eric couldn't do more than nod at the man. "Eric, I'm sorry for all of this that has happened to you." Eric clenched and unclenched his fists. "I don't need your sympathy." He hissed.

A short time later Eric and Nadir walked off the boat and through the streets. The people watched the young French boy as carefully as he watched them. The people were dressed in beautiful bright robes there were tapestries of all colors and designs.

They arrived at the palace Nadir coached Eric on how to act. "If you don't please him" he whispered to Eric, "he will give no second thoughts on beating you." Eric shook, "He sounds like a real charmer." Eric grumbled darkly.

They approached the shah's throne Nadir and the man exchanged conversation in their language as Eric studied the man. He was a fat man dressed in beautiful robes sitting on a throne made of gold. The man was decked out with the finest gems. The Shah's voice was high and wretched he had no control of his pitch wile speaking. A woman fanned the king and sang to him. Eric looked around the building. It was beautiful but the way the flooring was lined out irritated Eric, it did not complement the building at all. The Persian rugs were almost carelessly laid across the floor.

The shah yelled at Eric in French causing him to jump. "Take off your mask and let me see what is under it!" The man squeaked. "I apologize but I cannot." Eric herd Nadir gasp at his refusal at the shah's command.

Eric felt a sting across his back, Eric gasped in pain and surprise as he fell to his knees. He quickly jumped up and faced a man who had been standing behind him with a whip. Eric's blue eyes raged with an icy fire. The man yelled something that Eric could not understand as he thrashed Eric again, Eric stood his ground and bit into his lip to keep from making any sounds of pain.

"When you are beaten you scream and cry! You are a slave of mine and it pleases me so to see your pain!" the shah said standing up. Eric took a deep breath and glared at the man, "I will not surrender to a beast like you!" Eric felt another sting but he refused to let it bother him. "Why do you treat THE chief architect of France like this?" Eric felt all the eyes stare at him Eric herd Nadir scold him quietly.

"Don't lie to me demon!" The shah screamed lunging at Eric. The fat king's fist crashed into Eric's mask snapping it in half. Everyone gasped at the twisted face of the French boy. "That's better demon child" the Shah growled. "Oh" He said with an evil grin picking up the broken mask, "You won't need this anymore. Now take the monster to his cage."

Months went by, Eric spent his days preforming for the shah he hated this disgusting man. The Shah command that Eric was to be drugged at all times they controlled Eric's mood swings and violent outbreaks with it. At first the shah's men had to shove it down his throat, but now he found himself begging the guards for it.

Eric lay in the cage staring at the door the effects of the drug had started taking place the guards should be coming soon to disgrace him.

Eric hardly heard the sounds of footsteps walking towards the iron cage. "Eric" the familiar voice whispered. Eric rolled his head to face the Daroga. "Ah what a pleasure it is for the Devils Child to see you Daroga." Eric mumbled sarcastically. Nadir looked at the boy, his eyes dilated hardly able to focus on him.

Eric had not seen the man sense he came, he had been packed with work. "Eric, what do they have you on?" Nadir asked worried about the boy's health and sanity. "What would you care Daroga, You are the one who brought me here." Eric slurred his voice saddened.

"Alright monster" One of the guards announced walking towards the cage "time to get to work." The man unlocked the cage and pulled Eric out and led him down the hall filled with animals in cages and other freaks.

"I've changed my mind." The shah announced his repulsive voice hurting Eric's head. "I want him to play music for me." He said pointing towards a piano. The guard that had ahold of Eric said something like "He is on too much to" Eric couldn't figure out the rest.

The shah stood up "I don't care" he roared before summoning the man to be beaten.

Eric closed his eyes and sat on the piano bench concentrating on trying to steady his shaking hands; the drug was taking a different effect on him than he was used to. Eric cursed the guards for their drug experiments on him.

Eric began to play he had no control of his nerves his hands played the wrong keys. "Are you making a mockery of me Demon?" The shah screamed at Eric. "No sir. I can't play today." He said holding his shaking hands up for the shah to see.

"Nonsense, Nadir comes teach this boy a lesson!" The shah hissed handing Nadir a whip. "Make him scream and plead for mercy!" Eric looked up at Nadir now shaken by fear. This man was the closest thing to a friend he had.

"Just plead and cry for the shah and he will go easy on you," the daroga whispered. Eric shook his head "I will never submit to anyone." He whispered his voice shaking slightly.

The first sting came upon Eric's bare back; Eric sat on his knees his hands clutching his pant leg. Raising his head he stared the Shah in the eyes he only felt a strong hate for this man.

Eric could not bear the pain he soon found himself face first on the ground, but he would not make any sound of pain. "He can't take any more." Eric barely herd the Daroga say. "I'll let you know when he is done, keep going."

Everything went black for Eric after that.

Poor Eric. I was not to happy with this chapter, I had a bit of writers block when this was written. Sorry if I disappointed, please review and let me know what you think:) I want to know your Ideas or Tips

Misha