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Portrait of the Soul	By : sirenofsaturn Category: M through R > The Phantom of the Opera > Het Views: 2723 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own The Phantom of the Opera, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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I’m back! We are so close to 200 reviews! I could die of shock!
Erik: You say that, but you don’t mean it…
No way, the story wouldn’t get done! I would like to think all of you for your continuous reviews and support! Thank you! Please remember I own nothing except any original characters and this fiction based plot! Thank you all so much!
Chapter twenty-eight
Erik could not help but continue to stare at the kitchen door. He was not Jewish. This one reason had been the main concern Mia’s mother had held. A masked stranger had shown up with her middle daughter. A complete stranger from another country, that’s relationship to the daughter, was unknown. Yet the mother’s main concern had been Erik’s religious background? All she cared about was that he, the ‘stick’, was in fact a gentile!
‘I truly did misjudge how this visit was going to turn out.’ Erik realized.
“Just ignore those two, my daughter will get over it!” The old woman waved off. “Now, let me see your palm.”
Before Erik could get a word in, the glove of his left hand had been pulled off. “Your hand is freezing…Good thing you got in before sunset. Your French blood might have frozen.”
Mia was grateful that Erik was not in the room to witness this. She knew she looked horrid. The artist had been forced to resume her normal posture that she used around her mother. The narrowed eyes glared into the equally brown depths of her own mother's. Her back remained tense as Mia drummed her fingers across her hips, were her hands rested, waiting for the next assault.
“This has to be the biggest mistake you have made besides leaving Russia.” The middle aged woman sighed.
“Mother! How can you say that! You do not even know him!”
“I know he’s not Jewish. No man that thin or that tall can be a Jew.”
“How long has this been going on Mother?” Mia demanded. “How long have you been judging people by their physical appearance? This is a new thing. Besides what does religion matter? Grandfather was a gentile!”
“That’s your problem Mia-la. You are too much like your Baba.” Nitsee sighed.
“You are ashamed of your mother!” Mia accused.
“I am not!”
“Then you are ashamed of me.” Mia whispered. “Then I shall leave. I will not subject Erik or myself to your traditional narrow-minded beliefs. Goodbye mother.”
“Wait!”
The designer turned back around to face the woman.
“…Don’t leave again.” Nitsee said taking a deep breath. “You just got here. I don’t know who this man is…so I will try not to judge him…until I can speak with him a little longer…So if you would help me with dinner now.”
“Apology accepted.” Mia sighed. That was the closest her mother would ever get to the words ‘I apologize.’
“So. Why is he wearing that mask?” Nitsee asked beginning to chop up the vegetables for the stu.
“It’s his matter.” Mia replied casually. “His face. So do not give him any questions or grief…and that goes for everyone in this house.”
“Alright, alright….”
“You’ve traveled a lot I can tell.”
The withered hands continued to trace the long lines on Erik’s hand. The short nails occasionally tracing the fainter creases. The magician was truly impressed that a woman who seemed old and simple could posses the knowledge of a skill Erik had learned from a true gypsy fortuneteller as a boy.
“That is correct.”
“But these two lines. These are what I find interesting.” The Baba smiled gesturing to the lines around Erik’s smallest finger. “This short line right here, is faded. Something that seemed good in mind did not work out as planned. This line means nothing for you now. It is all in the past. This line, long and deeper, it is a road. A road that has many good things before you…Or they could simply be wrinkles. Do you hold your pinky under when you play the violin?”
The warm feeling of clarity quickly faded from Erik’s mind and was replaced with a substitute resembling a bucket of cold water. “I beg your pardon?”
The sound of the floorboards being trampled over only echoed Erik’s question. Eyes catching the stairs all Erik could make out were two young girls toppling over each other trying to be the first one to make it to the bottom floor.
The tallest one landed on all fours before picking herself up in a mess of hair and skirts. “Baba! Hali keeps repeating everything I say!” The taller girl pouted pointing a finger at the smaller girl who had just finished climbing down the last step.
“Baba! Hali keeps repeating everything I say!” The youngest smiled.
“Stop it! Can’t you say something else?”
“Stop it! Can’t you say something…who are you?”
The sight of the two girls hawk wide eyes was almost comical to Erik. The youth of a child was something he envied. The age when a simple visit from a stranger could make you forget any recent event that upset you.
“Erik.” The grandmother gestured. “My great-grandchildren, Mia’s nieces, Lena and Hali. Girls this is Erik a friend to your Aunt Mia. He is here all the way from France.”
“It’s very nice to meet you.” Lena smiled giving her best curtsy.
“It’s very nice to meet you.” Hali mimicked.
Erik nodded his head to the two girls. He could not remember the last time he had interacted with children this young. The last time could have possibly been when he was around Jules’ home. The times before would have found children of this age cleaning to their mother’s skirts as he unmasked himself in front of an audience for money.
“Your from France?” Lena smiled. “Baba use to live there didn’t you Baba?”
“Didn’t you Baba?”
“Yes, for a time…That was a long time ago.” The old woman remembered. “I was probably close to Mia’s age…”
“Sir, did Aunt Mia come here with you?”
“With you?”
“Yes.” Erik stared still not use to dealing with such a young audience. “I believe she’s in the kitchen…”
Erik continued to stare watching the two youths take off before he could finish the last word of his sentence. A moment later Mia was being dragged out of the kitchen by her skirts.
“Ta-da!” Lena smiled pointing to Erik.
“Ta-da!”
“We found your friend!”
“Friend!”
“I can see that.” Mia laughed. “I hope you girls haven’t been torturing Erik.”
“No!” Lena smiled. “We just met!”
“Just met!”
“I’m glad.” Mia said smiling at Erik. “Erik, I don’t know if you can believe this, but-“ Mia bent down till she was at eye level with her nieces. “These little ladies have grown up so much during my time in Paris.”
“I’ve grown the most!” Hali boasted standing on her toes.
“I can see that!” Mia gasped giving her niece her full attention. “You two look more and more like your mother everyday.”
“Papa thinks so too.”
“Were is your Mommy?” Mia asked.
“Upstairs with the new baby.” Hali pointed. “You haven’t seen him yet! He’s bald and smelly!”
“That’s not very nice.” Mia said pretending to scold her. “After all that is how you were when you were just an infant.”
“I was not!”
“Yes you were!” Lena teased. “I remember! Aunt Mia’s right.”
“No she’s not!”
“Yes she is. Aunt Mia’s always right.”
“Lena always was my favorite.” Mia whispered to Erik who just shook his head.
“I’m surprised at you, lying to a mere child.”
Mia gently elbowed him.
“You two look funny together.” Hali suddenly observed.
“Mr. Erik looks really different from you.”
Erik stood frozen. His first instinct was snap at the child, but he had been feeling quite uneasy for a while and remained silent. Mia’s response on the other hand was the complete opposite.
“Oh, how are we different?” She challenged, crossing her arms over her chest.
“He so much taller!”
“He’s probably taller than Papa!”
“Taller than Grandpa!”
The day went on to be one surprise after another. Erik was beginning to wonder if this was all some sort of dream. He had not checked, but he knew he was wearing his mask. Had Mia’s entire family been born with some sort of trait? A strange sort of heredity perhaps that allowed her family to remain oblivious to the obvious shield on his face? As strange as the day seemed to be going, nothing in the universe could have prepared Erik for that night’s events that were about to occur.
Yeah! Cliffy…kind of. I hope you phans enjoyed this chapter. I also hope you will keep reading for next chapter when the rest of Mia’s family returns for a dinner that Erik will never forget.
Erik: For those about to die of curiosity, so few of you, I’ll give you a clue. If you have ever tried to compare fine French wine with black berry garbage you will know what to expect.
Your giving away only a little bit. That is only a minor event! Thank so much for all the reviews! Please remember the disclaimer from above and have a lovely weekend. Please read and review! We’re almost at 200!
Erik: Anyone stealing or suing will face death by the Punjab lasso
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Portrait of the Soul