A

A.N.-Chapter two. Please review, criticize whatever.

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Je veux voir votre visage...non…Je ne veux pas voir votre visage!

"I want to see your face…no… I don't want to see your face!"

Nadir paused when he heard the floorboards creak behind him. He was closing his shop and glanced around cautiously. Silence pervaded the air, and the noise was so thin that you could cut it with a knife. The Persian lit a candle then, feeling tense and as if eyes were lingering on his back. He sighed then and sat down in a burgundy colored settee.

"Oh do come down Erik, I know you are there."

A grunt was his reply and with a swift and nimble leap a figure swept out of the solace of the shadows onto the patterned rug beneath Nadir's feet. The Persian glanced up at the man, lean and lithe in stature, yet imposing and draped completely in black, with a fedora donned a top his head. The only thing that changed the suave and dire color scheme was the stark white mask on the right side of his face and those golden eyes that never lost sight of anything and gleamed with cantankerous ideas.

Nadir glanced down at the man's booted feet and frowned at the grime on them. "You've drug mud in. That is rude you know."

Erik donned his hat and flourished it, bowing extravagantly. There was a faint outline of a smirk on his face, revealing some of his old humor, yet it faded as quickly as it had come. "Come now Daroga is that a way to greet me?" He tossed his cloak and hat aside and plopped down on a chair athwart from the Persian.

Nadir shook his head in disbelief. "I'll have Darius bring some tea."

There was a long silence and soon Nadir's servant had brought the two of them tea, but Erik did not even touch his and stared off restlessly. He seemed more irked than usual and skittish like a balking horse. The Persian's eyes studied his old friend carefully, knowing something was amiss.

Erik had been bitter, inhibited, and downright inflexible since Christine had left him and the Opera House had been destroyed. He had sunk into a spiraling depression, ate little, and retreated to God knows where. He visited Nadir sporadically but it was rarely to have a friendly chat.

Something had occurred and Erik always came for a reason. He seemed somewhat excited; yet clearly bothered at the same time. Nadir looked at Erik as if reprimanding a child. He knew that look in the man's eyes however, and smiled carefully.

"You know, I ran into a certain Countess de Chagny today on the street. It was accidental and she seemed to be acting oddly. Does this mean anything to you? But then again I have no doubt you knew this already. You've not let the poor girl alone since she wed. You need to stop Erik and let her live her life. It is unhealthy."

Erik stiffened abruptly and his golden eyes glared like hot coals upon the Persian. He said nothing at first and dropped his gaze stubbornly. He scowled and cross his legs and acted as if Nadir had not said a word. "Do you have any?"

He said this quietly and the Persian's face fell. Erik was shifting in his seat and scratching at his arms. The sight pained Nadir. "Erik, I'm not going to let you continue to kill yourself."

Erik sneered then and rose from his seat swiftly. He loomed over Nadir threateningly and bared his teeth like an animal. "Give me some damned morphine Daroga, or I'll just rummage through your cupboards myself!"

Nadir relented, not favoring the man's wrath and could only shake his head sadly. He retreated and within moments brought out what had been demanded. Erik took it swiftly and rolled up one of his sleeves. He drew the drug into the needle and Nadir winced at the sight at a couple ghastly bruises left on the man's pale arm due to his addiction.

Erik had been less dependent on drugs and much healthier back when he pursued Christine's affections. Now his appetite was insatiable and he cared not the damage he dealt himself. Nadir could not watch as Erik forced the drug into his veins.

He slowly opened his eyes and had heard the man groan. Erik's eyes gradually became glazed over and the needled dropped uselessly to the ground with a thud. He sunk back in a chair and his head slumped against it. He chuckled to himself and glanced at the line of blood that trickled down his arm as if entranced.

"You know Daroga I saw her there, at the Opera Populaire. She called for me, yet I didn't go to her. The again, she doesn't really care does she? She's happy with that fop of a Vicomte. Ha! But her eyes…sad…"

Erik began to mumble to himself as he drifted under the influence of the drugs and Nadir watched his friend sorrowfully. "Erik you have to forget her."

Erik grinned unconscientiously and glanced at the ceiling. "She called me Angel." The grin faded and his eyes blinked as sleep gradually took him.

Nadir groaned in exasperation before finding a blanket and draping it over Erik. The man was like a lost child and his obsession with Christine was destroying him. He, who was such a genius of many proportions, was reduced to a pitiful, bitter, and drug-induced invalid.

Nadir glanced at Erik's masked face and the one non-marred side, which had lines of weariness collecting on the handsome countenance. "Un ange tombé…a fallen angel."

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When Christine returned home, an annoyed and concerned Raoul bombarded her. "Christine! My God, where did you go? When I woke up you were gone and there was a note…"

He enveloped her in a swift embrace and Christine was calm and weary. "It's all right Raoul. I merely went into town."

Raoul scowled. "You cannot be going places unescorted! It is not safe or proper. You know that. You are my wife Christine and a Countess. How does that represent us?"

Christine sighed. "It was just one time. Besides I am no child, stop treating me like one. I am sorry for going out without your permission."

She looked doleful and Raoul's eyebrows furrowed. "Christine, did something happen? Where did you go anyhow?"

Christine did not meet his eyes. The silence answered his question and Raoul paled. "You went there didn't you? I thought we had agreed to not return there! Christine I thought you had finally put all that behind you!"

Raoul was losing his temper now and Christine merely shook her head. "I know, but I had to see…one time at least, before we leave one day. It's so empty Raoul, yet it's like I can still feel him there, everywhere…"

She buried her face in her hands and Raoul held her fiercely to him. "He's gone now, you hear? He's dead and he can't hurt you anymore. Forget it Christine. Soon we'll be away from all this. There has been some requests for an understudy for a revered prima donna in Rome. They are going to conduct a season of Romeo and Juliet and have asked that you partake in the role. I've already booked tickets and we'll start packing. We'll leave in a month ma cherie.

"You'll be on stage again and think in the beautiful city of Rome! I've always yearned to see it."

His words cheered Christine up some and the mentioning of it all helped alleviate the memory of the desolate Opera. "That sounds wonderful."

Her words weren't enthusiastic, as she had hoped; yet Raoul smiled and kissed her brow. "That is my Little Lotte. Now come, let us dine!"

Over the next few days everything was uneventful. Raoul went on a business trip with some of his associates, leaving Christine alone in the household by herself with but some servants. She was gazing out the window on a warm spring day and daydreaming. She recalled a memory back at the Opera house when she had been having a lesson with Erik.

"No my dear, raise you head. Do not project so much sound through your nose! Keep your shoulders back and breath evenly. Yes, yes there you go…" Erik had instructed her, fussing and praising her practice.

He always showered her with praise and sharp criticism. He was a very strict, yet attentive and skilled teacher. Christine had savored when he would bestow his wondrous voice upon her.

"Now my dear, we recite the duet. I will play the lead and you'll come in after me." He began to sing, clearly and brilliantly, awing Christine and ensnaring her in his voice's gentle caress.

Her voice rang out with his own and Erik grinned widely. "Yes, yes!" He cried excitedly. There voices flowed in a striking and thunderous duet and Erik praised Christine exultantly when they finished.

"That was splendid my dear! Keep that up and they will all bow at your feet. You know this particular opera takes place in Rome. Ah, what a lovely city it is!"

Christine looked at Erik curiously. "You've been to Rome?"

Erik nodded indifferently. "Yes, yes, I was younger then. Now I suppose you should get back to your rooms before they notice you are gone. I'll escort you up."

Christine had meant to ask Erik about Rome, but never had. She regretted it and breathed heavily.

Now I can't. I don't know where he is and I will never see him again. Erik…

She could still recall his face so clearly. She did not see the monstrous deformation that lay beneath the mask but had always seen the soul beneath it.

Oh my angel, you were so very beautiful…if only you could have seen it yourself.

There was nothing much to do alone in the de Chagny estate so Christine disregarded Raoul's warning for her not go anywhere alone and took a carriage once again into town. She recalled the Persian and his mentioning of a teashop. She wasn't so sure of the idea, but the thought of tea sounded lovely, and she felt ridiculously compelled to check out the place anyhow.

Nadir Khan was not expecting a certain lovely and young Countess de Chagny to arrive at his humble and exotic little teashop that day. He seldom had customers. It fact the shop was more of a ruse. He did other forms of work that were secret and took the role of a foreign teashop owner and had a small souvenir like shop to go along with it. He liked the fact how he was often left alone and preferred it that way.

When his servant Darius brought in Christine, Nadir did a double take involuntarily before recovering himself swiftly. "Darius bring a chair for the girl and some tea, now! Here madame, do sit down."

He sounded ill at ease and Christine wondered if it had been the wrong idea to come after all. She sat down and waited patiently for Darius to prepare the tea. Nadir tugged at the coif of his shirt and stood staring at a roaring fire in its hearth as if contemplating over what to do.

Christine did not know that Erik was hidden in Nadir's rooms upstairs and recovering from a bad drug episode last night. He had passed out, so Nadir had no choice but to drag the insufferable Phantom of the Opera upstairs till he recovered himself. Erik only came out at night, but he was sure to wake up and wondered what had happened. Nadir could only hope that did not happen while Christine was present and turned around to play the host card.

Christine was handed her tea and Nadir smiled amiably at her and made a sweeping gesture with his arms. "Is there anything else I could get you Madame? Perhaps a sweet of some kind?"

Christine declined politely and her gaze became downcast. She sipped at the frothy tea and Nadir attempted a conversation. "Where is your husband? Out of town?"

Christine nodded. "He's out on business for the rest of the week. This is an interesting shop. It was hard to spot though. It took me a while to find it."

That had been the point when Nadir had found the place and made it his own. He nodded then and drew her to a more comfortable chair by the fire. He was curious about this girl and why Erik liked her so much, so he took the time to do some gentle prodding.

"I heard that you lived at the Opera for years and were becoming quite a diva. May I ask my lady, if you intend to continue your career elsewhere? Across the seas perhaps?"

Christine shrugged nonchalantly. "Raoul and I plan to go to Italy next month where I am to be an understudy in Rome. It is just a short run of a season of Rome and Juliet, nothing more."

Nadir was curious and his eyebrows shot up. "Rome, you say? I hear it is a grand city. You must enjoy singing my dear. Surely you should wish to continue doing it for the rest of your life?"

Christine frowned and a pensive look passed across her face. "Yes, I should like that very much, yet with me being a Countess…"

Nadir nodded in sympathy. "Yes well…I understand that since last year's events at the Opera that it could be difficult to go back to such a lifestyle?"

Christine's head shot up and her dark eyes flickered. "The fire?"

Nadir's bottom lip twitched. He had been silently assessing her, finding her harder to figure out. He had thought she'd been simpler and had even thought he'd dislike her, yet was wrong. She was kind, yet looked so mournful like a young doe and it moved him. "Oh, yes, the 'fire'…"

It was then that Christine saw a cat slither by and she froze. She had seen that cat before and grew cold. "Where did you get that cat?" Its sharp, narrowed eyes locked on Christine's, displaying a hostile gaze.

Nadir glanced at the cat and opened his mouth. "Ah, her?" He stared dumbly at the cat as it licked its paw. "I've always had her, why?"

Christine felt dubious and relaxed somewhat, seeming disappointed. "Oh, perhaps I was mistaken. I thought I'd seen it before."

She looked pained then and Nadir shook his head.

Damn it Erik, bringing your blasted feline around! She's already begun to live off me. Plus she hates me.

He glanced at the cat warily and she gave a little cocky-eyed look that reminded him much of Erik, before she slinked away.

(A.N. This cat is only in Susan Kay's version if I recall…sorry to confuse readers, but Erik has a cat in that book and she only likes him. I had to add the kitty. The thought of Erik have a possessive cat amuses me.)

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Erik grumbled as he came to and cradled his throbbing head. He rolled over and buried his face into the pillow with a groan. He felt something soft nudge his face and unconsciously reached his hand out to stroke the furry head of a cat.

"Aisha…by the hells…" The cat nudged him more insistently, and Erik rolled on his back before gradually rolling out of bed.

He glanced around the room, recognizing it as the Daroga's and huffed. His left arm ached and he rubbed it in irritation. He touched his face and felt the gnarled flesh of the right side.

Damned Persian took my mask off!

It lay there on the bedside table and he placed it back on his face and ruffled his hair and dressed. Erik had no idea what time it was and assumed it was day. Aisha's luminescent eyes were fixated on him and the man sniffed.

"I'll get some food for you, but no doubt the Daroga is feeding you. You are putting on some weight."

It was then that he heard some voices downstairs and froze. He heard Nadir speaking, but couldn't understand what the man was saying. There was another voice, which caused Erik to still in horror.

It can't be.

He gradually crept out into the hallway upstairs and peeked his head out slightly to see if he could catch a glimpse of who was downstairs. He saw the fleeting back of Nadir and the quick sight of petticoats and a wave of dark curls.

"This way madame. Have a good day."

"Thank you monsieur."

Erik felt the color drain from his face. He couldn't just rush downstairs and waited anxiously until Nadir returned alone.

The Persian automatically sensed the man's presence and sighed. "Yes Erik?"

Erik did not reveal himself, for his heart was racing. "Daroga, her voice…Christine, that was her, wasn't it?"

Nadir looked indifferent. "I don't know what you are talking about. It was just an every day customer that is all. Now I would appreciate if you would get out of here quickly and take that insufferable cat with you before any more customers come in and happen to see you."

Erik breathed deeply. "Perhaps I was mistaken. I hear her voice everywhere nowadays. Not that it matters…" His hand grazed the downy fur of Aisha's coat and his eyes burned. "She's made her bed, and it's not with me."

It was not long before Erik had left as Nadir asked, and the Persian found a bag of coins left mysteriously out on a table. His friend did pay his host for his services, yet would not thank him personally, for he was too stubborn for that. Nadir wanted Erik to just forget Christine and was not pleased with the fact she had actually taken his invitation to come to the shop.

She would not doubt return sometime and Nadir feared her encountering Erik once again. He wasn't sure how to prevent it, and could only hope that Christine would not return within the month before she left for Rome and that they could all forget this.

It would not be forgotten, however, and Nadir did not think of the possible chance of the two encountering in a place other than his teashop.

TBC!