Erik's POV
I didn't need a doctor, and I knew we weren't going to find one anyway. I slept that evening, waking a few days later feeling weakened and sore. We were already settled in our next town and my employees were setting up for the evening's performance. I rose from my bed and freshened up, knowing that I needed to stay clear of anything that would cause myself another attack. I wrapped my cloak around my body and took a seat outside, knowing that the cold air would do me good. I took a seat around my fire pit and threw some wood onto the fire that Nadir had obviously started for me.
"Master?"
When I heard that familiar voice, I turned to find Reha walking towards me with a steaming bowl in hand. I barely observed the woman on a daily basis, but by the looks of her large stomach, it was obvious to assume that she was seven months pregnant.
"Yes?" I questioned. "What is it?"
"Nadir went to make sure that everything in the camp is set up to your liking. I brought you a bowl of soup. It will keep you warm."
There were times when this woman tested my patience, but I knew I needed to keep calm. The last time I argued with her, Nadir attacked and threatened to leave me. No, this was his wife and soon to be mother of his child. Therefore, I bit my tongue and tried to find the kindness that was buried deep within me.
"Just set it down on the table," I said, clearing a small spot on the makeshift table that was beside me. "I'll eat it a little later."
Reha did not question me and did as I told her to do. There was a seat beside my own and I was surprised when she asked to sit down.
"You don't want to sit beside me, girl," I said. "You'll catch your death out here."
But the woman insisted. I didn't like company, especially the company of a woman I didn't care for, but the woman was brave, I had to give her that. There weren't many of my employees who would willingly sit beside me. The woman placed her hands over the flames of my fire to warm herself up and looked at me while doing so.
"This is nice," she began.
"What?" I began. "The fire or sitting beside the monster who owns this camp?"
"You may be many things, Master, but a monster is not one of them. Christine admires you…"
"She does not admire me, and I sure as hell don't admire her. She is a pest, one that I can't trust."
"And what makes you say that? I saw the two of you walking beside one another just a few months ago…And then, you purchase her a horse."
"She is an employee. I do that for anyone who works for me."
There was an awkward silence, and then, the woman said the words I never expected to hear from her very lips.
"Master, my moon and stars told me that you and Christine have a history. What happened?"
My heart constricted, and I found it too painful to talk about. Just thinking about what Christine had once done to me was enough to give me another attack.
"Nothing happened between us. It's none of your business either way…"
"It's your face, isn't it? You are afraid, afraid that she will one day wake and regret being with you."
Part of that was the truth. Yes, Christine insisted that she would look at me without fear, but there was a huge part of me that believed she couldn't stomach it.
"I am your camp's fortune teller, Master," Reha stated. "And yet, you've never let me read your fortune."
"Because you are all nothing but lying thieves. I don't believe in fortune tellers."
"If that is true, then why did you let me become a fortune teller in your camp?"
"Because it brings in money and crowds. No one can tell the future, Reha, no one but God. I am his punching bag… I've always been just that to him. I tried to pray, but after praying for something he would give me just a little taste and then, take it away."
"Let me help you, Master…Give me your hand."
My hand was shaking, and I was going to give in when I felt the first few snowflakes fall from the sky and land on my face. I shivered and stood up, knowing that it was time to go inside.
"If you wish, I could tell you your fortune inside?"
I don't know why, but I nodded and allowed the woman to follow me inside my caravan. Once inside, I took a seat at my kitchen table and the woman sat across from me.
"Give me your hand…" she said again.
I swallowed hard and slowly placed my hand into her own. The woman's hands were soft and inviting, much like Christine's. She looked at my palm, her finger lightly tracing each line as if reading a map.
"You have many lines in your palm," she stated.
"Is…Is that a bad thing?"
She shook her head. "No, that's a good thing. It means that you are well traveled."
The woman looked down at my palm once more and began tracing a line with her finger.
"This line right here is your lifeline… It's really long, meaning that you will live a long life."
The girl smiled and ran her finger along another line in my hand. "Ah, look at this… This line here means that you will have one great love in your life."
What happened next stopped my heart. The woman was following a line in my hand, tracing it all the way up my palm and stopped when she reached my wrist.
"This is a peculiar line," she said, rubbing the cuff of my shirt gently. "It goes from your palm and seems as though it continues past your wrist. May I see?"
"Pardon me?" I gulped.
"Well, if you want me to continue reading your fortune, I have to follow the lines."
"No," I said. "There are no lines, just scars…"
"Sometimes, they mean something…"
My heart was beginning to race, especially when the woman reached out for the buttons of my shirt and began undoing them. Never had anyone ever seen me without my shirt except Nadir and a few other people. When the garment was undone, she gently rolled it off my shoulders. Her eyes widened when she spotted all scars my body was covered in. I expected her to run, but instead, she gasped and I spotted tears rolling down her cheeks.
"What happened to you?"
"Y…Your people did this to me. Gypsy fortune tellers."
"I am not a gypsy," she cried. "I am Persian. Gypsies are horrible people, and if they did this to you, then they are the true monsters. But what I'm concerned about is not the scars…"
The woman began tracing her finger along the same line, following it up my wrist and to my chest.
"This is a heartline… It's very rare."
My heart was racing as I felt her soft finger embracing my arm, shoulder and then ending up in the center of my chest. From there, she placed her hand flat against it, my heart thumping against her palm.
"A heartline is very rare…"
"What does it mean?"
"That you have a strong heart."
"It's not true, I have a very weak one. That's why I'm ill all the time. Your reading is false…"
"But it's not… You may have a weak heart, but you also have one love in your life. The two of them will combine and create one strong heart."
"I have yet to find love… No one loves me, not even my own mother."
Reha's finger traced from my chest to my mask. She was looking at it filled with curiosity, and then, I felt her fingers attempting to lift it.
"No, don't…Please, I beg you."
"And why not? My moon and stars has seen it and I know Christine has as well. There is no need to run and hide, Master."
"You will be cruel…"
"I will not be cruel. When have I ever been cruel to you? I wish to see it…I wish to see what you hide every day from the world."
I wasn't sure why I did so, but I granted this woman permission. Her fingers then lifted the mask from my face and placed it aside. I was afraid to look at her, afraid to see fear in her eyes.
"Your God is a foolish man." She finally said while gazing at my hideous face. "He has given you the talents far beyond anyone's wildest imagination, and yet, he gave you the face of a demon. You could have been a king if not for this."
Her words hurt, but she was right. If I had been born handsome, there was no telling where I would be right now. Perhaps I could have been a sultan or a famous composer, but no, I was running from the world. Reha lifted her hand and embraced my emaciated cheek.
"It is bad," she began. "But not enough to shut out Christine. She has seen your heart…I see it in her eyes every day. The pain of the past will always be there if you continue to ignore her existence. You need to pretend that you've never met her before…start over from the very beginning. Only then will you be able to be happy."
The woman handed me back my mask and I placed it on, astounded by this woman's kindness. And all this time I had been calling her a whore…
"Forgive me," I began. "Forgive me for treating you so horrible in the past."
The woman smiled. "There is nothing to forgive, Master… I will leave you alone now."
When Reha was gone, I slipped on my shirt and cloak before heading out into the camp. The show was over for the evening and I decided to begin my rounds. I was just entering the tent, when I heard someone singing…Oh, I knew that voice anywhere! I came around the corner and spotted Christine standing in the center of the arena singing a beautiful song as if she were singing for an audience. I stayed hidden and took in the beautiful sound of her voice, knowing all too well how much she missed the stage. I had promised to let her sing again, but I did so only to ensnare her voice for my own enjoyment. I couldn't let her sing in my show, for doing so would endanger not only my life, but hers as well. When the woman was finished singing, I clapped my hands, causing her to gasp and jump back.
"You were perfection as usual."
"I…I didn't think anyone was still around," she began. "I was just cleaning up the costumes when I began to sing. I'm sorry…"
"Don't apologize. You've always gone by the saying "The only way to spread lots of cheer is singing loud for all to hear. Isn't that right?"
The girl nodded. "You know I love singing, Erik."
"And yet, I know deep down that you resent me every day for making you mend costumes."
The girl sighed. "I am grateful for your generosity, but I want more out of life. You promised that I would sing for an audience again, and that was a year ago. Have I not proven myself trustworthy? I haven't stepped outside of this camp for more than an hour."
"It's not about trust, Christine, it's about life and death. You know I can't put you on my stage…What if someone recognized you? I cannot risk the safety of my camp and the employees."
The girl picked up her costumes and pushed past me. "Right. Because hearing me sing again would bring you great pain."
Oh this girl was impossible! Here I was trying to protect her, and yet, she was making it seem as though I didn't want to hear her sing. But if Reha believed that I would find love I knew it wouldn't be with anyone other than her, that being the reason why I couldn't let my temper get the best of me. No, I needed to keep calm if only for tonight.
Hey everyone! Sorry I haven't updated in a while. Been busy getting my Phantom novel out. Ordered my proof so it should be up for sale on Amazon soon. It's titled The Scorpion's Kiss. It's going to be a series, so check it out! I will also be selling it at Phantomcon this summer.