Chapter 25

I stood there glaring into the eyes of the khanum. I had never been so enraged nor so terrified in my life. Suddenly, the khanum reached out and slapped me. Pushed beyond all sanity by now, I screamed in rage and threw myself on her. I was satisfied to hear a screech of surprise before I began raining blows on her. I was determined to get in all the damage I could before the guards dragged me off her. I hit, bit, kicked and scratched until I was dragged bodily from her. I was pleased to see that her lip was cracked and bleeding and I was fairly certain she would awaken with a black eye in the morning. That was in addition to the many scratches on her face and neck.

I quickly learned that I was not the only one enraged. The khanum climbed to her feet, her eyes filled with a terrible rage. I knew retribution was coming and I welcomed it. I lifted my chin and glared at her defiantly as one of the guards pinned my arms behind my back. I didn't know how long I could hold on to my defiance in the face of whatever punishment she would devise for me, but I drew it about me now as one would don protective armor. The khanum's breathing was ragged and I expected that I would die right then and there, so great was her fury. She approached me and spat out quick orders to the guards, then, to my surprise, turned on her heel and stalked from the room.

The guard that held me dragged me back to the bed and threw me down upon it. The other guard had approached from the other side of the room and now they both held me down while Ahmad tied my wrists and ankles securely to the bed. Though I struggled, I knew it was only a token gesture. I could not escape. Once I was secured, the guards went back to their corners and I lay there in stunned surprise. I knew it was not possible that my attack on the khanum would go unpunished, but I was completely taken aback by her apparent restraint. The sheer volume of her hatred for Erik was becoming clear to me. It seemed that she was willing to wait and have her revenge on both of us at the same time. Or perhaps she was only toying with me. I didn't know and that, possibly, was worse than a swift punishment.

I turned my head on the pillows and the tears once again began to fall from my eyes. The utter hopelessness of the situation pressed upon me. I had Erik's promise that he would find me, but I realized that it would not be possible for him to escape. He was weak and injured. Erik, I'm so sorry, I thought as I fought to hold back my sobs.

"You should not have attacked the khanum, my beautiful flower." Ahmad's voice was soft and I turned my head toward the sound. He stood beside the bed looking down on me an expression of deep pity on his face as he regarded me. "You are right to cry, for your crime will not be forgotten. I admit that it was very entertaining, but sadly, it will cost you dearly."

Ahmad sat down on the bed and placed his hand on my leg, caressing my thigh. I shuddered and he smiled tightly at me. "You shudder at my touch? Ah, but that is right. I am far too handsome, too human for your tastes, am I not? Your tastes run more to beasts. How could I have forgotten? It is no matter, though. Soon I will show you what it means to be touched by a man, my dove."

"He is not a beast," I said as my tears ran down my face and spilled onto the pillow. "Somewhere deep inside you must know that. There must be some part of you that realizes how wrong this is, Ahmad! Surely there is mercy within your heart, perhaps buried, but there nonetheless." I tried to keep the desperation from my voice.

"I wonder, my precious jewel, are you really as innocent as you seem? It seems so unlikely, but I believe it is so. Really, your innocence is what made all of this so easy, you know. The khanum wanted to bring you here immediately once we had the beast safely imprisoned, but I knew that was not the way to go about it. The khanum lacks patience, you see. She craves wanton violence. I, on the other hand, feel that one can enjoy one's victory much better if it has been won over time. Like fine wine, vengeance should age and grow more...refined. I almost pitied you at times, you know. Poor Christine, you thought you were going mad, no? You wondered if your mind played tricks on you when you saw the beast in darkened corners or in a crowd of people. How I loved to watch your face during those times! You looked so hopeful as you searched frantically for it, then the disappointment when you didn't find it. I hoped that Nadir would soon confess the beasts last known location to you and he did not disappoint me. It is a shame that he is dead. He was very useful to us."

"Dead? Nadir is...you killed Nadir? YOU are the beast! Erik is more a man than you could ever hope to be! He will kill you for this!" I had begun sobbing in earnest then. The thought that they had killed Nadir was too much to bear. It was all my fault! I should have known better than to trust Ahmad. Oh Nadir!

Ahmad reached out and stroked my cheek gently. I tried to pull away, but it was no use. There was nowhere I could go. "My poor Christine. It has all been too much for you, hasn't it? I admit that I would like to keep you for my own. It is such a waste to kill you. Perhaps I will ask the khanum for you. As long as the beast believes you to be dead, that would be enough, surely." Ahmad looked at me while I sobbed for several minutes, then he stood. "Well, you have a long day ahead of you. I will leave you to your rest. Enjoy it while you can, my beauty."

I paid him no heed and eventually I heard the door close as he left the room. I lay there crying softly until I must have fallen asleep from sheer exhaustion. I don't know how long I was actually asleep, but I was awakened by a loud commotion coming from outside the door. I began trying desperately to loosen my bonds, sensing this may be an opportunity to escape. My wrists were sore and my muscles fairly screamed in protest as I pulled and twisted first one direction, then the other. I had just realized this was not going to work when the door burst open and the khanum ran inside, her face a mask of terror and, just under the surface, insanity. The two guards came forward immediately, swords drawn as she shouted orders to them. One of them grasped my hands and held me still while the other untied the ropes holding me. When I was free, one guard picked me up and carried me, following the khanum as she ran to a section of the wall and felt around until she found some switch or plate that I could not discern. I heard a click and the wall slid open and she hurried down the darkened passageway, the guards following close behind with me.

The passageway led down and the air became damp and cool, as it had been in the dungeon. We came to a small chamber with stone walls and stopped there. There was a door on the opposite wall and the khanum was frantically searching for a release, I assumed for there was no knob on the door. I could see that her hands were shaking. What was going on, I wondered.

The guard that had been carrying me set me down on my feet, but held me tightly against his body, assuring I couldn't move. I heard the khanum give a cry of triumph as the door opened. Light poured out from beyond the door, nearly blinding me in its intensity. She shouted to the guard holding me and he shoved me forward into the room. The door slammed shut behind me and I turned, but the door was gone. I looked around in a panic and barely registered that I was in a mirrored chamber. There was a single tree in the chamber, but it was reflected thousands of times, making it seem as if it were a forest. I looked down and noted that even the floor was made of mirrored glass! I reached up to wipe perspiration from my brow and suddenly realized how incredibly hot it was in here. This must be Erik's torture chamber. I had never seen it, but I knew that this must be it. I tried to think clearly, but the heat was unbearable. I beat my fists upon the mirror that I thought had been the door and screamed, but I could hear nothing from the other side. I continued my futile beating for a good while before my arms grew too tired to continue.

I began a circuit of the room, feeling along the mirrored walls for some kind of switch or opening, anything that would provide a way out. The mirrors were growing hotter as the minutes passed and it was soon all I could do to continue touching them. My feet were beginning to blister in the heat, so I sat down and began ripping at the pantaloons that I was wearing. I managed to pull several strips of cloth from them and wrapped my feet. Standing, I realized the cloth would not relieve the burning for long. I doubled my efforts, moving as fast as I could.

I went around the chamber again and again, calling for help, feeling everywhere for any kind of release or latch. I found nothing, and grew more and more frantic. I tried to calm myself and think methodically. There had to be a way out. Surely there was, just in case someone was locked in here by mistake. I dropped to my knees and crawled along the floor, feeling along where the mirrors met. My hands were soon bleeding from numerous cuts I sustained feeling along the edges of the mirrors. I ignored the pain and kept looking, refusing to give up.

My skin grew red and my hair clung to me as the perspiration poured from my body. The clothing I had on was drenched, but it brought no relief. My mouth grew dry and the heat began to sap my energy. I sank to the floor, exhausted. I found my eyes drawn to the barren tree. I had not noticed it before, but now I could see the noose that hung from the limbs. I felt as if my body were on fire now and the walls and floor were burning my skin through the clothing. There was no escape from the terrible heat. I don't know how long I stayed there in that position, staring intently at the rope that hung from that horrible tree. It may have been minutes or hours. I had no way of knowing.

I heard someone calling my name and tried to answer, but my throat was so parched I could no longer make any sound. I tried to stand, but my body refused to obey. I tore my eyes from the rope and turned my head toward the sound and saw a figure standing near the tree. I blinked to clear my blurred vision and saw that it was my father. He held his violin in one hand and with the other, he beckoned me. He was not parched like I was and I noticed that behind him I could see a cool spring bubbling.

"Papa?" I croaked, barely making a sound. He smiled at me, the same special smile that was only for me. I would have cried, but my tears were gone. I tried to smile back at him. He held out his hand to me, and I began to crawl toward him.

"Christine!"

I stopped, frowning slightly. "I am coming Papa," I tried to say, but could not make the words leave my throat. I pushed to my feet slowly, each movement excruciating. I took one unsteady step toward him and nearly collapsed again, but I was determined to make it to him.

"Christine, no! You must listen to me now!"

I frowned again, feeling torn. Someone was calling me. I turned and looked behind me, but no one was there. I turned back and my father was still standing before me. He was so close! He no longer held the violin, but a rope in his hands. He held it out to me. I pushed everything else out of my mind and concentrated on him, taking another painful step toward him.

"You must find the panel, Daroga! Quickly!" The voice ceased to hold any interest for me as I reached my father. I took the rope from his outstretched hand and looked at him questioningly. He gestured toward the tree. I looked from him to the rope and back to the tree, not understanding.

"You must place the rope around your neck, my love. That's a good girl. Soon we'll be together again. Papa loves you, Christine. Come to me now." Papa spoke in his lovely melodious voice and I obeyed him without question, longing for his arms and that cool stream behind him.

"Here it is! Quickly, now I will help you!" Those pesky voices again nagging at the back of my consciousness.

Once I had the rope around my neck, I looked to Papa for guidance once again. Through gestures, he indicated that I was to climb the tree. I looked at the tree and saw that the limbs were low so that I could easily reach them. I was not certain that I could pull myself up, however, but my determination remained in full force. I placed one hand on the bottom limb of the tree and the other on a limb slightly higher. I put one foot on the trunk of the tree and pushed myself up. I found the strength to climb into the lowest branches and looked back to my father who still stood by the tree. He pointed up and I knew that I must climb higher. My limbs were trembling from exhaustion now , but I reached again for a higher limb and began to pull myself up even farther.

I heard sounds coming from somewhere. I couldn't make out exactly which direction and I pushed the thought away. It didn't matter. Soon I would be with my papa and all would be right again. I climbed higher and higher until I had nearly reached the top of the tree. I looked down and saw myself reflected from far away. I looked to my papa again and he told me that I should tie the other end of the rope securely to the large limb that I now sat upon. I did as he commanded, making sure the rope was secure before I looked back to him.

My father held out both arms to me and smiled. "Now jump to me, my love! Papa will catch you! Jump!" I knew a moment of fear, as my mind went back to when I was five. I had climbed into a tree outside our house and didn't know how to get back down. I had been crying and screaming for Papa for what seemed like hours, but he finally came. He had tried to suppress his amusement when he saw my predicament. He had guided me until I reached the lower branches, then he had held his arms out to me and told me to jump. I had been too terrified, but he had insisted and, finally, because I loved my papa more than anything else in the world, I had jumped. I had expected to land hard on the ground, but Papa's strong arms had come around me and caught me. "You see Christine?" He had said, laughing. "You can always trust your papa. I will always catch you when you fall, my little sparrow."

I gathered myself and glued my eyes to Papa's and just as I pushed myself off the branch, the mirrored wall seemed to burst and two figures ran in. I fell into my papa's arms and everything went blessedly black.

A/N: I would like to take just a minute to thank all of you who have been reading and especially those of you who are reviewing. I'm sure you all know this is my first fanfiction ever, so I really appreciate you all taking the time to read and review. It is so important to me and, if I could, I'd send flowers to every one of you!! Your support is priceless. Thank you all again and keep reading! Drop me a PM if there is anything in particular you'd like to discuss. Thanks! :)