Eric woke up to the sounds of dishes banging he had fallen asleep on the divan in the living room. Sitting up groggily everything rushed back to him he was married to some woman he didn't know. Eric stood up and reached for his shirt on the table. A dish broke behind him "Oh, Master I'm so sorry. I did not mean to wake you up! Please have mercy on me."

Eric was confused did women really have this much fear of men here? "No Rajja, It is all ok he responded sort of frustrated at the whole situation. "Please don't call me master." She looked at him confused, "What do you mean sir?" Eric laughed sitting down and motioned for her to do the same.

Rajja nervously sat. "I mean that where I'm from, a man treats his wife with love and kindness, she is not a slave." Eric could see she was very confused at the shock of a different lifestyle. He smiled and continued, "A man's wife is more of a friend and companion than a piece of property to show off."

Rajja was awestruck "But what will the shah have to say?" Eric leaned back "We will have to hide that belief away from him; I don't want him to hurt you."

"Eric?" she said looking down at her hands that were in her lap. "You are a good man."

Eric shook his head "No Rajja I am not."

She grasped Eric's hand causing him to draw away nervously, "I have watched the way the shah has treated you, and the fact that you are not bitter and treat people right amazes me."

Before Eric could reply a nock came at the door and Eric rose to answer it. "You answer the door instead of your slave woman?" the man said glaring harshly at Eric. "I'm sorry Cyrus I am new to your customs." Eric really disliked this man and he knew he was no good "The shah has sent me to ensure him that you have taken your wife." The Persian messenger grumbled. Eric crossed his arms "I don't see why our personal life is any of his business." Eric knew he was treading on thin surface now. A strong first came to Eric's jaw, "The shah ensured all of his workers that if you have not taken her we can do it for you, I promise you and your slave will pay for your disobedience." Eric was sickened what kind of place was this that a king would even think of allowing that. "I have taken care of it Cyrus, now please leave us." Eric lied.

France- the Paris opera house

"That was disgrace girls! Now do it again" Madam Giry scolded pounding her cane. The girls sighed, starting the dance again.

"Better, ok girls go on." The girls squealed running off with a newfound energy. "You are improving Christine." Madam Giry said walking over to Christine who was taking off her point shoes. "Thank you Madame, but I don't feel like I am good enough for opening night." Madam Giry smiled and sat next to Christine. "You work longer and harder than any of the other girls, but your talent is not in dancing is it?" Christine hesitated then shook her head.

Madam Giry was being oddly supportive of the girls; she was normally cold and harsh with them. Christine walked down the marble stares of the opera house, the final decoration details were still being made and brought in but it was beautiful.

The crew was very respectful of Eric's design, every inch was exactly the way he had planned it. "Oh Eric you would be so proud of this." She whispered to herself as he glided down the stairs in into the great ball room. Looking up at the ceiling there were beautiful stained glass windows, at the highest peak was a massive red rose with a black ribbon. Christine wondered what the black meant to Eric.

Christine walked out into the street. Christine hugged her shawl tighter as she cruised the snowy streets.

"Ah Miss Daae" A pudgy man said as she walked into the bakery. "What would you like today?" Christine looked at the sweets. "I think you will get a lecture form Madam Giry if you have any of those" the man laughed

Eric's home Persia

"I've got to go to work." Eric grumbled lacing up his boots "Will you be ok here?"

Rajja nodded. "I will go into town today and get some food, do you want anything?"

"Not at the moment. Ugh that son of a bitch." Eric cursed placing a damp rag on his already bruising lip.

"Here let me..."

"I can do it myself woman!" Eric shouted. She drew away nervously Eric tried to apologize but she refused to accept it. She said a man should never apologize to a woman. They both had a lot to get used to.

"Ah my master mason! How was your first night a married man?" Eric rolled his eyes at the sound of the shah's voice behind him.

After shouting some orders at the workers he turned around and faced the man.

"Fine sir" The shah raised an eyebrow "Does she not please you? I can send you another woman, more skilled if that's what you want."

Eric shuttered "No sir, I'm just not used to woman?"

"Oh, I see you like men, I understand."

"No! That's not it at all."

"I swear you are an odd man." He said before walking away.

Eric walked home several hours later dusty and dirty, "Dam crew." He mumbled to himself rubbing his bleeding hands together. "Can't do anything right, do I have to do everything myself?"

Eric paused before opening the door to his new home, there was singing inside. Eric listened to the sweet gentle song for a moment, before walking in.

"Oh I'm sorry I did not mean"

"Mean to what?" Eric questioned walking to the washbowl.

"Be singing." She said in a near whisper. "Why would I mind?"

"Well you are so talented in music. I thought I might disgrace you."

Eric was confused at this custom these people had.

"On the contrary Rajja, your voice is beautiful." She smiled her olive skin radiating, Rajja pulled her raven black hair back nervously. "Eric? Do you sing?"

Eric's mind went back to so many years ago; he had accidently sung for Carlotta she had passed out cold from the beauty of his voice.

"I much prefer accompanying someone on the piano." He lied, if his voice could harm someone he didn't want it to be her.

"You should go take a bath I'll finish making our supper." Eric nodded before walking into the other room to clean up.

A table was set in the main room with a setting for two. Eric hesitated thinking about his mask covering half his face; his couldn't eat with it jacketing the deformed side of his mouth.

"I'll eat in the other room." He grumbled.

"If it's your mask Eric, I don't mind it at all. You don't need it around me."

Eric was in awe, this girl didn't care? His face even terrified him how could she not mind?

"Please Eric; If we are going to be together I want to be a normal family. You can't keep hiding from people, you need to face then, show them you are better than who they make you out to be."

A tear formed in Eric's eye, he was speechless how could she be so kind to him?

Rajja stood up walking over to his frozen form. Gently she placed her hand on the mask, Eric drew away. "Eric please trust me" She begged. He nodded.

Before he knew it the mask was off and in her hand. Tears streamed down Eric's cheeks "How? How can you stand it?" he whispered his voice cracking.

She placed her delicate hand on his face, feeling each discolored lump, and the hole in his face where a nose should have been. Eric fell to his knees and broke down, "why must you be so accepting? How can you show any form of kindness to a worthless demon like me?

"Oh Eric, what has the word taught you? You are none of the such." She cried kneeling down to the broken vulnerable man at her feet.

Eric looked up at her his sea blue eyes red and blood shot tears staining his cheeks.

Rajja pulled her husband back upon his feet and lead his to the living room. They talked far into the night. About everything, his past, her past, music, and how the construction was going.

"Rajja you can't even keep your eyes open. Go on to bed, I'll sleep out here." She nodded wearily she was overwhelmed at hearing everything people had done to him.

"Could you be with me tonight? They're going to be watching us, and I don't want to be alone."

Eric froze, sleep with her. His face went pale, but she was right. "You go ahead I'll be in soon." She nodded and went into the room wearily.

Eric stood watching the door; she was so kindhearted and precious. "Go in there Eric, she wants you. Somebody wants you." Nervously he placed his hand on the door knob.

Paris France

"Uncle William, I'm back." Christine announced pushing the door open while trying not to drop her groceries "You would not believe how beautiful the opera house is coming along. Eric did a spectacular job."

Christine paused something wasn't right.

"Uncle?" she choked. Madam Giry walked into the front room, a worried look on her face. "Christine, he is gone." Christine froze, gone no he uncle was such a wonderful man he could not be gone, her father was already taken from her.

Madam Giry walked over to the pale young woman. "I'm sorry, the fever was too much on him, he was sick for far too long."

Christine embraced the woman, and sobbed.

"Come Christine. I don't want you to be on your own." The woman extended a thin elegant hand to Christine.

That night Christine lay in a strange bed, even the Opera House her new home felt strange and lonely to her.

"Angel of music
Guide and guardian
Grant to me your glory"

She sang, but it was no comfort to her 11 years it had been since her father died. Christine rolled onto her side her father before he died promised to send her the Angel of Music, why hasn't he come was she not worthy?

Christine buried her head in the pillow muffling out her cry.

Author note- What do you guys think of Rajja? I'd really like to know you opinions.

And if I ever display a character wrong or I have bad grammar I want you to call me out on it. I don't want to post low quality work.