A/N: Phantom Variations: Tales From The World of the Opera Ghost is now available through LuLu. The proceeds are donated and it features the work of moi as well as Waytoointoerik, Kryss LaBrynn, HDKingsbury, OperaLover, and more! See www.phantomvariations./

10.

"Well." Nadir picked up his cup again. "I don't suppose the lessons will take long, will they Erik? After all Christine was singing quite beautifully on the stage before things –you know."

Erik shook his head slowly and Nadir again felt his hopes dashed. He shot a questioning glance towards Mirielle, who had turned to watch her husband as he wore a rut into the new carpet.

Erik's pose adopted his thoughtful mien. Nadir had watched him over the years, noting every small adjustment of shirt cuffs, and tugs on his vest. When Erik was truly deep in thought, he started at the floor as he moved, always on his feet as if he was attempting to gain ground on the problem.

What raised the hairs on the back of his neck was when he'd seen Erik produce a deadly looking blade and stalk back and forth, back and forth, all the time the light running along the honed edge. He'd done it a number of times in Persia. The person he was deliberating about was never found. While the Khanum was beside herself with a malicious glee, Erik had gone to his apartment and sat in a dark corner of his bedroom, staring out of the window.

Although Nadir had always listened to Erik grouse over something—it was when Erik grew quiet that he knew something was truly bothering him. Over their time he had witnessed his illness and his loss of Christine and nearly his sanity. The man who walked behind the settee wool-gathering was not the same man. The light of love had melted the rage and forged it into an awesome weapon. Nothing on earth or in heaven would ever hurt Mirielle.

Except where it concerned the Vicomte, perhaps? It could be chagrin rather than rivalry. Nadir struggled to keep a straight face. Erik was jealous.

"Mirielle, will you be all right if Nadir and I take a trip downstairs?"

"Of course, darling. I'll just finish my coffee."

Erik placed a quick kiss upon her forehead. "We'll be right back."

Nadir held on to his cup as he got to his feet. "Is there any more of this?"

"We can ask Anais," Erik said as he walked towards the kitchen door.

Nadir took on last glimpse of Mirielle sitting with a bemused look on her face. On impulse he winked at her.

The kitchen smelled of rich spices and the coffee sat upon the large stove. The woman who had introduced herself as the maid nodded as they walked in. Erik pulled open the door to the cellar. "Come on, Nadir. It's time for strategy."

"Oh? What are we going to do?"

Erik reached the landing and turned down the last few stairs, moving unerringly thought the darkness. "We are going to perform voodoo."

"What?"

"Voodoo, Nadir. It's a sort of religion that has sprung up in the Caribbean. A lot of people think it's a lot of superstitious nonsense."

"Where have I heard that before?" Nadir mused. "The Opera staff and patrons believed the same thing about a certain Phantom."

"Precisely. I'm going to use some of the rituals to entice Christine into revealing what it is that has her in such dire straits." Erik paused. "You haven't seen her. She looks the same on the outside, but it is as if something is choking her."

"Erik, you know I ask this as a friend. Is she in fear of the Ghost again?"

"No. We are getting past that now, and have Mirielle to thank for it."

Nadir sat his cup on the edge of a work table that Erik had covered in an assortment of objects revealed by the sconce that Erik turned up. "How are you feeling about it, though? Does it hurt to see her?"

"No." Erik turned, the faint light crossing his eyes in a flash like heat lightning. "I don't understand it. It should hurt." He pointed towards his chest. "It should hurt here. I'm not sure how I feel."

"What about her?"

The dark silk covering shimmered as Erik turned his face. "She hasn't said a word. She's just as concerned as I am that something is wrong with Christine."

Relief flooded Nadir. He meant to ask after Christine, but Erik had replied about Mirielle. With his wife at the forefront of his thoughts, it didn't appear that Christine Daaé would come in and upset Erik's carefully tended apple cart Even if it was the same little wagon that nearly toppled on a rickety wheel and been driven by a misguided vendor.

"What did you have in mind, Erik?"

His companion stopped, and crossed arms over his chest. On the table lay a square of purple colored silk that he lifted at a corner. "I need to pay someone a visit, a woman that Anais has found for me. I'm going to ask her to guide me through enough voodoo to set Christine back on the path."

"All right. When can we arrange to see her?"

"We?"

"Come, come, Erik," Nadir scoffed. "There is nothing more you enjoy than showmanship. You don't think I can turn you loose in Paris looking for magic spells by yourself." He paused and finished his coffee. "I don't trust you to not pick up something noxious for Raoul."

Erik chuckled. "You know me so well. But I promise that I won't lay a finger on him. Unless his patrician fingers find their way to my wife again."

"That bothers you?"

"I'm supposed to catch her! I'm her husband and it is my God given duty to make sure she is protected. Safe. She nearly tripped she told me, Nadir." His voice quieted. "Can you imagine what would happen if I lost her now?"

"No," Nadir replied solemnly. "That is the path to madness and we have spent enough time in the land of mirrors in the night."

"Nightmares," Erik corrected.

"You are the head of a family now Erik. They will all look to you. I believe after meeting them, they would all take care of you. I held your grandson, remember?"

"Henri?" Erik seemed to revive. "Yes. I would take care of my family. I'm just not sure…."

"Ah, ah, none of that." Held help up a finger before the dark mask. "Shame upon you and your ancestors! Those young people look to you as their new father. If anything happens to Mirielle they will need you to hold them together." He paused with a great sigh. "The two of you will enjoy a happy life. Stop being a morose old curmudgeon and enjoy your life."

The mask dipped coyly. "Old habit."

"Be happy," he commanded, knowing full well that Erik would be Erik until life slowly wore this layer of him away like a storm washed stone. "And come and get me when you visit this voodoo woman."

"I have another lesson at the opera today. Will you attend?"

"I wouldn't miss it for the world."

Nadir turned to the stairs but Erik's voice halted him. "I've always wondered if you were stepping on my shadow to prevent me from unleashing more havoc, or if you were truly my friend."

Nadir shrugged. "Call me insatiably curious. Fate chains us together but it does not have to be in a dungeon."

Erik's eyes seemed to glow with fierce intensity. "Where did you get that?"

"What?"

"Fate chains us….."

"I don't know. Something I read I think."

Erik pulled out his pocket watch. "It's only just past nine. We have time to prepare."

"Oh? Do I need to do something?"

"You can help me make sure the traps are disabled."

Nadir halted on the stair, almost aghast. "Traps? Are you seeing Christine in the house under the Opera?"

"No, no. This isn't her lesson. This one is for the pair of the guards who have been lurking around the building since the attempt to blow it up."

"Surely they aren't hoping to bring you in. I thought between the managers and Percival that had been resolved."

Erik waved a hand up the stairs indicating for Nadir to continue upwards. "Perhaps everyone does not feel that way."

One foot in front of the other, Nadir pondered the obstinacies of men in uniform, and how this might mean more trouble for Erik.

Anais looked over her shoulder as they entered the kitchen.

"Thank you. The coffee was superb." Nadir sat the cup by the sink where she stood.

"You are welcome, M'sieur."

Erik stopped before the kitchen door. "Anais, I shall be going out in a moment. Check on my wife for me, would you."

"Certainly. I picked up some more yarn for her."

"Good."

Anais dried her hands as the door swung closed. For a moment, it swung inward, the tall form of her employer appeared striding away. It swung again and he was gone. Something about it left goosebumps to rise along her arms.

Clucking her tongue she picked up the coffee cup the swarthy man had used and submerged it in the dishwater. She really should know better than to be surprised about anything her employer did.

Mirielle offered a hand for Nadir, who kissed her knuckles. "Leaving so soon?"

Erik stepped forward. "I was going to take a quick look around the Opera. Nadir is coming with me."

"Is something amiss?"

"Just giving some thought to training the new security people that the managers are bringing in. Nadir has many years of experience with the police as you know." Erik held her hand a moment, looking at her as she smiled up at him. "We want everyone safe."

"Of course." She closed her eyes as Erik bent and kissed her cheek.

"Thank you for the coffee, Mirielle." Nadir sketched a slight bow. "It is always a pleasure."

"It is so good to see you, Nadir. Drop in again."

The two men started for the front hall. If it wasn't for the slight change in the temperature from the door opening, Mirielle wouldn't have known they had exited the house. She turned to look at her leg and her cursed ankle, wondering what she was going to miss.