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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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Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday to Amanda, happy birthday to me!
Erik: Cheer up; you’re a year closer to death.
Well if that isn’t comforting…Thank you so much for the reviews! We passed 200! I cannot believe this story has come this far, and still has more to come.
Erik: Will this madness never end?
Please remember I own nothing except any original characters and this fiction based plot! Please review after reading!
Erik: It is the woman’s birthday…
Chapter twenty-nine
Erik could not sleep. True he had very rarely in his life found quick departure into the land of bloody nightmares. However, after his relations with Mia continued to progress, Erik had been growing accustomed to a more human sleep schedule. “Hell, I slept better on the bloody train…” The phantom muttered lying on the poor excuse for a cot, which he had been given to sleep on.
Dinner with Mia’s family had been something Erik was convinced he could never have been prepared for even in his wildest dreams…
It did not take too long for the rest of Mia’s family to arrive. For a good five minutes all Erik did was listen to the two girls compare Erik to the rest of the men in their family. He was, apparently, very different. As if on some Jewish schedule the men of the household came in right at sunset.
Mia’s father, Bernard, looked like any other Russian man you passed on the frozen streets. Dark hair that was slightly graying, to match his over grown beard and eyes that Mia had no doubt inherited. ‘Almost all Russians have dark eyes though.’ Erik remembered, feeling slightly out of place with his cat yellow orbs.
The brother-in-law, Demetree, would in time resemble his father-in-law. He was taller and leaner but would eventually round out thus was the nature in their chosen life. Erik did feel slightly guilty judging these people by first glance, especially for what they must have been thinking after gazing upon him! However, knowing what lay behind his mask Erik felt he had a small right to look on normal men with vague judgment.
Peter, Mia’s brother, however immediately caught Erik’s interest. The way he carried himself, tall and with pride that screamed for attention, caused Erik’s lip to twitch up ever so slightly. Peter’s very presence seemed to somehow set him aside from his blood, much as Mia herself did. That almost over prideful arrogance reminded Erik vaguely of that De Changy boy…they were around the same age.
“Who are you?” And they had the same curiosity.
“It is very nice to see you again too Peter!” Mia said, her tone scolding.
“Forgive me, my favorite sister! I was so taken by the surprise of your arrival that my manners flew right out the window.” The young man apologized meeting his sister to embrace her.
“Mia-la! So good to see you again, Peter out of the way!” The older man pushed bringing his middle daughter into a hug. “How are you?”
“I’m very good Papa. Good to see Mother has not drove you into an institution while I was away.”
“Not yet…Are you eating enough…You have enough money to I mean…”
“I am fine, and am doing quite well.” Mia smiled.
“Good…Then lets eat!”
“Papa, Demetree, Peter I would like you all to meet a very dear friend of mine. This is Erik.”
“A pleasure.” Erik stated simply, stepping slightly closer to Mia as the room crowded.
“We can talk more as we sit down.” Nitsee stated, coming out of the small kitchen. “Lena, Hali? Would you two be angels and go get your mother, and tell her we’re about to have dinner?”
“Yes!” The two girls replied in unison detaching themselves from their father to run back upstairs.
“Now Erik.” Nitsee started. “Why don’t you sit between Mia and-“
“Baba!” Mia interrupted, leading her lover towards the long wooden table. “You two have gotten rather acquainted haven’t you?”
“Yes, quite.” Erik played along, silently grateful for not having to sit next to Mia’s mother yet.
Chairs were moved, places were taken, and Erik silently watched Mia’s grandmother recited the Shabbat prayer. It was when the stu was being served that Erik took the time to look around the table. Mia’s elder sister, Alexandra, had come down to introduce herself to Erik, but quickly went back upstairs when her newborn began to cry. That left one person a stranger.
“Erik? Is there something wrong, you’re not eating.” Bernard observed.
“Oh, no!” Erik shook his head. “I see were Mia gets her talent in the kitchen, Madam.” Erik charmed, nodding his head in Nitsee’s direction. “I was just wondering though, I thought Mia also had a younger sister?”
“Nette is having supper with Joshua Valash and his family. You remember him, don’t you Mia-la?” Nitsee raised her eyebrow.
“…The shoe-maker’s son? Yes.”
“He asked me about you not to long ago…” Mia’s mother trailed off.
“…I find that odd…I have not really conversed much with him since I was twelve.” Mia stated.
“…Well…maybe he was curious.”
“Let him be curious with Nette. She is the one having supper with him, is she not?” Mia stared.
“Monsieur Erik?” Peter asked almost instantly. “What is it that you do in France?”
“I beg your pardon?” Erik clarified; too engrossed in the women’s assaults to notice he was being called.
“I’m-um-changing the subject.” Peter whispered. “What is it you do in Paris?”
“Ah-I…do…a lot of things.” Erik answered.
“I bet.” Nitsee mumbled.
“Among my various hobbies.” The phantom continued unfazed. “I have done work from contracting, architecture, and other things that fall under the category of the arts. I was also one of the original contractors that built the Garnier Opera House, were Mia is now employed.”
“Quite a few accomplishments.” Bernard nodded. “It all sounds very impressive, what is it you do now?”
“I have…influence…at the Opera.”
“Influence?” Peter asked.
“…I assist the managers with almost all the theatre’s needs…They really would be lost without me.”
“It may interest you to know this as well Peter. Erik is also a very talented musician and composer.” Mia smiled pouring some wine into Erik’s glass.
“Really?” The boy brightened. “What types of music do you compose sir?”
“All sorts…I have once piece I worked on for over twenty years.”
“…For a piece that took you so long to work on, hopefully it won’t take you as long to sell it.” Nitsee said, taking a sip of her wine.
“…I do not think I shall ever sell it…It would be to overpowering for any sort of audience.”
Erik’s fist clenched as the woman laughed. “I hardly see how music could be overpowering.”
“Of course it can be Mother!” Peter interrupted. “It just has to be played by the right person!” The boy insisted.
“Peter, you’re too much like your sister. Getting all swept up those mashugina dreams. Nesh get! You have a future here with your family. You wouldn’t run off and follow her example.”
“At least Mia had the courage to break away from your narrow minded tradition and do something that meant a great deal to her.”
“That tradition, young man, has kept food in your stomach and a roof over your head since the day you were born. Might I add that it will continue to do so, when you take over the shop as soon as your father retires.”
“I have no such intentions…Excuse me.” Peter mumbled, making his way outside.
A few moments of awkward silence passed before Mia broke the silence.
“Please excuse me.” The artist whispered, standing up.
Erik rose as well, and remained standing until Mia left the room to venture outside.
“Why are you standing?” Bernard inquired. “She can go outside alone, she’s a strong girl! Have a seat and finish your meal.”
Erik sighed as he sat back down. Chivalry was not dead; it just had not migrated as far east as Moscow.
After much debate about sleeping arrangements Erik found himself in Mia’s old room, while she was, deliberately, placed down stairs to share Nette’s room. He continued to lie on the old cot fully clothed with mask in place. He always removed his mask when he slept, but he was slightly afraid that Mia’s curious nieces might venture a midnight peek.
He continued to lie on top of the wool blankets debating about the possibilities between scaring two innocent girls and suffocation. As he decided to take off the mask and sleep away from the door, he heard footsteps approaching his room.
Quickly sliding the mask back, Erik waited patiently and he watched the doorknob slowly turn…It was Mia.
The artist crept into the room wearing only her nightshift. Giving Erik a small smile she closed the door softly behind her, before coming to lie next to him on the small bed.
“Have you been scared for life yet, darling?”
“Yes, but not before tonight…May I inquire as to how your brother is?” Erik asked, fingers absently playing with Mia’s dark hair.
“Stubborn as always…but Mother is more stubborn than he and I put together.”
“You did not tell me he was musical.”
“You did not tell me you knew he was.” Mia’s eyes stared into his full of curiosity.
“It was not that hard to figure out. Artistic tendencies do tend to skip a generation, my dear. It did from your grandmother to you. It skipped your mother and sister obviously…and went directly to Peter.”
“Such a wise observation.” Mia mumbled, wrapping her arm around Erik’s torso.
“I do not think your mother would approve of you sleeping here with me…” Erik teased.
“…Mother can go to Hell.” Mia whispered, removing the mask to kiss Erik fully on his lips.
Yea! Okay that dinner scene really did have a mind of its own…I changed a lot of things I planned on doing…So you guys will have to let me know what you think! Please remember the disclaimer from above. Do not steal, and do not sue!
Erik/Swings Punjab Lasso/ And please review.
It’s my birthday!
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Portrait of the Soul