Eric's Home
Eric woke up his entire body ached. Groggily he walked out of the room seeing Rajja, making breakfast and Nadir sitting on the pillows by the table waiting for breakfast.
"Well good morning." Rajja said smiling, Eric grunted and sat down. "What happened last night?"
"Well first off you got quite drunk and then you proceeded to try and take on the whole bar."
"Here this should help with the hangover." Eric looked up at Rajja as she handed him a cup of tea. Eric took the warm cup silently.
"Eric says thank you." Nadir chuckled, Eric shot a warning glance at the man.
"I can provide my own thanks, daroga."
"Well you are not to good at it, Eric." Nadir mocked.
Rajja approached Eric, "May I go to town master?"
"Why would I care?" he snapped.
Rajja shot a hurt look at Eric's mask, "I'm sorry" she cried leaving.
Nadir glared at Eric's mask. "Eric that was cold."
"Well I'm sorry im not a very warm person."
"Eric please take me seriously, she cares about you; how she does I don't know but she does!"
Eric's jaw tensed, "I have stuff I need to do, you can show yourself out."
Nadir arose opening his mouth to speak but seemed to change his mind as he walked out.
Eric sat at the table for a few moments before getting up stiffly. He walked over to the far corner of the room, running his thin long fingers across the piano keys and sat down.
Eric pressed the first key gently and then a second, soon enough his fingers danced gracefully across the beautifully polished black and white keys.
Eric smiled his fears seemed to vanish, grabbing a score sheet he began writing rapidly the noted and words that came to his head.
Tears came to his eyes as he played the enchanting melody
"Don't be afraid to be weak
Don't be too proud to be strong
Just look into your heart my friend
That will be the return to yourself
The return to innocence
If you want, then start to laugh
If you must, then start to cry
Be yourself don't hide
Just believe in destiny
Don't care what people say
Just follow your own way"
(Return To Innocence by Enigma)
Rajja stood outside the door listening to the piano, she waited till the music stopped to walk in. Eric turned around in the piano bench his mask flashing a warning glance.
"That was beautiful" she smiled. Eric groaned, "What song is it?"
Eric shrugged, "Eric I'm sorry for what ever I did to upset you."
"No, it's I who should be apologizing, I have been a less than honorable character to you."
Rajja put down her basket of supplies from the town.
"Eric, you need to leave Persia. The shah he's taking your soul, your dignity he is going to steal all that you stand for."
"I can't leave, I have nothing to go back to."
Rajja approached the piano bench and set herself down beside him.
"Eric please, he is turning you to something you are not, He is turning you into a murder, and a drug addict."
Eric looked down at his hands rubbing them together. "I have to go." he grumbled as he got up. Eric moved to the kitchen and opened a drawer, Rajja gasped thinking of the pills that she threw into the river.
A scream of rage came from the kitchen Eric stormed out of the room, "Where are they!"
"I dumped them."
Eric began shaking, "You, dumped them! Why Rajja, why would you do this to me!"
"Don't you see Eric! The shah has you hooked, he is controlling you."
Eric fell against the wall holding his trembling hands, "Rajja," he panted "I need those."
Rajja buried her head on her hands and cried.
"Why are you crying Rajja?"
She looked up her black eyes turning red from the tears. "Because Eric, you have a gift." she said looking to the piano. "You are wasting it in this room, playing to yourself."
Eric calmed down a bit taking deep slow breaths. "And" she continued "I think I love you."
Eric stood in the doorway awestruck, no one has ever said that to him.
"How?" Eric asked his voice cracking tears threatening to fall.
Rajja walked towards Eric wrapping her arms around his waist. Eric gasped trying to move away. "Trust me." she whispered before giving him a tender loving kiss.
Eric didn't kiss her back for a moment he was in awe.
A spark was lit with that tender kiss, his heart burned for more.
They embraced tighter, moving to the bedroom. "This is the Eric I love" she whispered.
The Shah's Castle
"Nadir what do you think of the masked man." The shah asked, his voice lowered and darkened.
Nadir was worried he didn't like where this conversation was going. "He is a good man, a genius to."
"No he is a monster, and a killer" the shah screamed. "And I want him dead, now!"
Nadir gasped, "And bring him to me."
The man nodded and left.
Eric's home
Eric rubbed Rajja's back tucking his face into her neck, "Eric." she whispered kindly "I love you."
Eric moned warmly. Rajja turned around facing him giving him another kiss.
A pound came to the door, "I'll get it." eric grumbled not wanting to leave her side.
Eric rolled over grabbing his trousers, he was just putting on his shirt when he answered the door.
"Ah Nadir what do I owe the pleasure." Eric remarked sarcastically.
"Eric, you have to leave here, the shah has given me orders to kill you."
"What?" Eric asked alarmed.
"You heard me right Eric, he wants me to bring your body to him immediately."
Eric glanced at the bedroom door, Rajja emerged nervously. "Eric, what's wrong?"
Eric looked towards Nadir, "The shah has requested my death."
Eric couldn't breath he never was afraid of death but he was married, had a good job, he was almost happy.
"Eric you can get away, I have a man that was burned horribly in a fire. I can deliver him to the shah in place of you."
Eric shook his head. Rajja came over and wrapped her arms around him. "Eric go, I will find you when I can escape."
"Why can't she come with me?" Eric pleaded.
"You know full well what the shah is like." Nadir reminded.
"Go Eric, I will find you when its safe." Rajja cried "I love you."
Eric wrapped his thin arms around her. "I will see you again." Eric whispered into her ear.
Eric felt a deep pit in his stomach as Nadir and him walked down to the ship docks. Nadir grabbed his shoulder gently.
"Here is your boarding pass, you are on your way back to France, Here is some money to get you started."
"Thank you." Eric mumbled solemnly.
"Keep your head low, you can't risk anyone recognizing you." Eric nodded and shook his hand firmly.
Nadir turned around to leave. "Keep her safe." Eric cried as Nadir walked away.
The persian turned around and nodded his face was solemn and afraid.
Eric threw his bag on the cot, this was a new start but he was alone again.