Holy shit, it has been a while, hasn't it? Is anyone still here? (echoes)

I'm back with a new chapter! I can't promise not to take forever to write the next one, but I can promise not to abandon this fic. This chapter is a bit chatty, but the next will be far from that. The upcoming events are ones I've been waiting to write since I first brainstormed this monster. Onward!

Chapter 12: feed

Christine gave a little cry, startled by how quickly the stranger – Nadir Khan – had vanished before her eyes. The air around him had pushed outward like he had vaulted away from the space he had inhabited as surely as he could have leapt off a wall. Christine threw her arms up to shield against the wind that whipped at her face and hair and pushed at her skirts. She was almost thrown off her feet by the force of it.

The rush of wind left as soon as it had swept up, and when she lowered her arms, there was no trace of the man who had stood there.

Erik.

She dropped her gardening supplies, grabbed fistfuls of her skirts, and ran toward the house. It was just now transitioning from dusk to nightfall; Erik would be emerging from his bedroom in the basement. She took the quickest route there, bursting through the small red door that led in from the courtyard. Before she could make it to the winding stairwell, she heard a crash, and the sound of twisting metal echoed throughout the house.

"Erik!" she cried, panic surging.

Chest heaving from exertion, she fled to the staircase. The door to Erik's bedroom lay blown wide and hanging from a hinge. She could hear noises within the basement, but before she could make her way down the spiral stairs, two dark shapes streaked by her, flattening her against the curved stone wall.

Darius emerged from the top of the staircase, bleary-eyed and wearing his navy sleeping robe. "What is it?"

"Oh, thank God, Darius!" Christine cried. "This man showed up in the garden. When I told him my name, he came inside the house, and I think he attacked Erik." She pointed in the direction she thought they had gone. Another crash sounded somewhere from the second floor.

"A man?" Darius perked up and quickly pulled her back into the large room beyond the staircase. "What did he look like?"

She bit her lip. "Um, like you, actually? Slightly darker skin with a beard. He said his name was K-Khan."

"Khan. Nadir Khan?"

"Yes!"

To her surprise, Darius's face split in a wide grin. "Stay here," he said to her.

She grabbed onto his arm. "Where are you going? They were fighting!"

"Yes, probably."

Darius needn't have tracked them down. Soon, two bodies entangled in a brawl sped back into the foyer. They moved so quickly they were a blur until Erik was thrown against the wall, white stone cracking at his back. The stranger had a fistful of his suit jacket at the shoulder. Somewhere along the way, Nadir Khan's hat had been dislodged, and it was the only sign that Erik had tried to fight him off. The rest of his clothes were unwrinkled, and not even his hair was out of place.

Erik himself was in rougher shape. His coat was torn where Nadir gripped it, his shirt untucked and bunched around the bottom of his waistcoat. His black hair, normally so carefully in place, was askew in such an odd manner. His golden eyes blazed, and his fangs… he bared his fangs at the other man and hissed like a snake desperate to strike.

Despite the fact that Erik was nearly a head taller, despite the animosity flowing off Erik in waves, the stranger did not seem at all concerned. He easily dodged any attempts Erik made to thwart his hold.

"Back off, Daroga," Erik growled, "lest I fight back for real."

Nadir Khan threw back his head and laughed. "Let's be truthful, friend. If you could push me off, you would have done so already."

Darius darted from Christine's side. "Master!" he cried, voice cracking.

Erik had not seemed to notice Christine standing there at the far end of the foyer. His attention remained rapt upon the other man. He reached up long-fingered hands to grasp onto the forearm holding him against the wall, but he made no move to wrench himself free.

"Darius!" the intruder replied. He let go of Erik and swung around to receive Darius's welcome, clearly not worried that Erik would retaliate from behind. Darius hugged him fiercely, the affection like that of long-lost friends… or family.

"Oh Master," Darius said, clinging to the older man. "I had begun to lose hope that you would ever return."

"I know, youngling. I am so sorry my journey lasted this long." Nadir Khan pulled back and wiped at the wetness upon Darius's cheeks. Then his brilliant green eyes widened. He pressed a hand to Darius's chest. "Your heart beats!" he said, wonder in his voice.

Erik cleared his throat, eyes darting over to Christine for the first time. "We are not alone," he said.

"Indeed. We will find time to speak together later, Darius." Nadir Khan patted Darius's cheek affectionately, then swung back around to Christine. "The woman from the garden. We have met."

Even though this was her home, even though she was not the one who had just attacked her husband, she felt like she was the one out of place, the invader in this moment. Three pairs of eyes were upon her, but her worry overcame any awkwardness.

"Erik, are you hurt?" She rushed over to him where he still leaned against the wall, the stone splintering behind him. She wanted so badly to embrace him, to straighten his clothing and smooth his hair, but he had never shown her affection in front of others, and she did not want to breech any of his boundaries in front of the others. Her hands lifted, then clasped each other instead. Despite his disheveled appearance, he was not bleeding nor bruised anywhere. Erik spared her a glance, but most of his attention remained on the man who had assaulted him.

She swung around to glare at Nadir Khan. "You should be ashamed of yourself of the way you have behaved toward my husband!"

Green eyes growing round, the man looked back at Erik. "So it is true, then." He turned back to Christine and held open his hands, palms up. "My apologies, madame. When I heard the news, I must admit that I didn't react well. I was quite shocked to find Erik had wed in my absence."

"It doesn't matter how you felt about it," she snapped. "You had no right to barge in here and start throwing things around. Someone could have been seriously hurt."

Nadir Khan murmured another apology, looking actually subdued by her chiding. "I thought I would return to find the two bachelors I left behind."

"People move on, Monsieur Khan. I have half a mind to ring for the police at once."

"Is that necessary, madame?" Darius said, turning to her. "The fight is over, and I doubt Maestro will press any charges. A lot has happened in the time since Master Khan left. I think he is a bit disorientated."

"Indeed, a lot has happened," Khan said. "I have been gone too long, and it will take some time to set things right." He hefted his shoulders, carded a hand through his salt and pepper hair. "I lost my temper. Perhaps it is my hunger – I haven't eaten since I arrived in France."

Christine looked him over. He truly seemed apologetic, and he had been pleasant enough in the garden. She did not understand why he had fought with Erik, but Darius's delight at seeing him again threatened to become infectious.

Her manners overcame her caution. "My dinner arrived a moment ago, and I have not yet been able to eat. There is plenty if you would like to join me."

Erik had been quiet for some time. Now he stirred, thin lips turned downward. "Our uninvited guest will need to dine out."

Monsieur Khan gave a gracious bow. "Madame, I thank you, but Erik is correct. In fact, old friend, you should join me tonight. We have much to talk about."

"Any discussion can be tabled until you return."

"No, I think not. Your company would be most appreciated." Erik opened his mouth to protest again, but Khan turned his back on him, clapping Darius by the shoulder. "I should like to meet your bonded. Would you bring him round later?"

"I would love to!" Darius said. "I was about to head over to his apartment."

"Go on."

The two men embraced again. "I am so happy you are back, master," Darius said. He gave a low bow and headed toward his own chambers to get dressed.

"Already ordering him about, I see," Erik clipped without heat.

Nadir Khan's expression contained so much mixed emotion that Christine felt again as if she was intruding on a private moment. "Go get yourself cleaned up, will you?" he told Erik. "I am famished."

Erik pressed his lips in a thin line. He gave Christine another glance, and she thought surely he would not leave her alone with this stranger. However, he said nothing, heading toward the stairwell that led downward to his bedroom.

Christine looked at the wall where Erik had leaned. The stone there was fractured. It seemed impossible to think that Erik could have slammed into that wall without coming away injured himself, but there was no sign that he was even winded from their tussle.

She folded her arms. "You will pay to have that fixed and any other damage you caused."

"Gladly," the man replied.

"I assume your name is indeed Nadir Khan?"

"It is." He gave a long-suffering sigh. He strode over to where his hat had landed and picked it up, brushing off any dirt. She watched him warily.

"Darius called you master."

He placed the hat carefully atop his combed salt and pepper hair and retrieved his cane from where it had landed against a far wall. "He was my servant in Mazandaran, which is where we both are from. I left him here with Erik when I had to travel… for business."

"Is that where you met Erik? In Mazandaran?"

"Yes."

"He called you Daroga."

"It was my title there. My position. I was the chief of the palace guard, a sort of security advisor. I no longer go by that name, but Erik… well, he has not quite let that go. Despite appearances, Erik and I are on good terms."

Christine hugged her arms around her middle. "Then why did you attack him when I told you I was his wife?"

"It has nothing to do with you, I assure you." He sighed again. "I have known Erik for a very long time. We have been through much together, and because of this, we know each other quite well. I would never have expected him to take a wife. I was surprised. More than surprised."

"Disappointed."

He let out a rueful grunt of a laugh. "Not the word I would use."

Erik stepped back into the foyer. He had changed his torn clothing, and he was back in his usually neat state, including his black traveling cloak and hat. He glowered at Nadir Khan. "Have you been accosting my wife, Daroga?"

"Not at all," Monsieur Khan replied easily. "On the contrary, she has been interrogating me as good as any officer."

Christine felt herself flush. Was he being genuine or poking fun at her? "I would find Monsieur Khan's company easier to stomach if he would be more explanatory with his answers."

Nadir Khan tipped his hat to her in reply. "Shall we be off?" he said to Erik.

Erik nodded. He gave Christine a long look. "I will see you tomorrow evening," he said at last.

"A-All right."

She watched as the two men headed out the door into the night. The door closed behind them, leaving her alone in this vast mansion. She blinked by the sudden rush of tears, straightened her spine, and went into the dining room to eat her supper.

"She is a pretty thing," Nadir commented. He strode across the courtyard, heading toward the gate that would lead to the streets of Paris.

"Yes."

"How long have you been married?"

"Almost a month," Erik grunted.

Nadir gave him a long look. "Perhaps it is still the newlywed glow, but she seems quite taken with you. It's rare that I see a human willing to step between two vampyre engaged in a sparring match."

"She does not know what we are."

"Why not?"

Erik stopped walking, forcing Nadir to stop as well and turn to face him. "There is no reason to tell her, Daroga."

He hated the warmth in Nadir's eyes. "You could. I see Darius had no qualms against inviting a human into your hoard."

Erik snorted. "Darius is young and idealistic still, and his bonded human matches those qualities. However, Christine is too…" Pure, he wanted to say. He could not – would not – taint her with the mess that was himself. Not any more than he already had.

Nadir studied him a while longer, then let the matter go, at least for now. They reached the edge of the courtyard. Erik could feel the moment Nadir put up his glamour, a mild aura that simply aimed at making passersby forget. As they stepped onto the sidewalk, glances rolled off the Persian. The streets were busy, the evening mild enough to call out the throngs of Parisians wanting to enjoy a mild night.

Erik clung to the shadows, his form as inky as the night itself. They made quite a pair, the two of them. Nadir was as relaxed as any human out and about this evening, one hand tucked into his pants pocket, the other placing his cane alongside his foot with each sauntering step.

"You could join me, you know," he said. He nodded at a pair of women as they passed by. "Your glamour works perfectly well. No one can even see your mask."

"There is no point to this for me," Erik muttered. "I want to go back."

"We have only just begun," Nadir said, bidding another couple "good evening" in the next breath. "Plus, we have much to discuss – such as the fact that you do not use a glamour around your lovely human."

"I tried at first," he admitted, "but it seemed to affect her negatively. I was too afraid to hurt her if I continued, so I dropped the glamour entirely."

"The mask does not bother her?"

"No."

"And your bare face?"

Erik cut his eyes away, not replying, and Nadir continued their casual stroll. "Ah," he said at last. "Even so, how have you managed with no glamour? She doesn't know you are a vampyre, so you must be doing something to prevent her finding out."

Erik frowned. "She believes I am a magician, a man of many tricks and slights of hand. She trusts others too easily, and so she has been easily fooled."

"Oh, my dear friend," Nadir said, throwing him eyes too filled with sympathy. "I saw the way she looks at you. You are fooling yourself if you think that girl isn't sitting right now and trying to put the pieces together. How many other clues have you given her?"

Too many, Erik knew. He didn't like admitting these things to the Daroga, but what choice did he have? There was no other vampyre he would trust with Christine's well-being as much – or even more – as he would trust himself.

"Ah," was all Nadir said in reply after he had explained. He indicated his head to the right. "That couple across the next intersection. The man and woman with the plume on her hat."

"No, Daroga."

Nadir only flashed him a smile. "I am hungry," he said. "And two men out for a stroll are less suspicious than one. Come on."

Erik clenched his teeth and followed at a distance, watching as Nadir turned up his glamour even further, luring the couple into a shadowy section of a nearby garden. He met up with them in time to hear the woman's carefree laugh. Daroga had always had an easy way with charming humans; even Erik had fallen prey to his charisma in the beginning, eventually agreeing to come back with him to Mazandaran.

"Thank you for the suggestion," Nadir was saying. He turned to Erik. "This fine gentleman was just letting me know where they had dined tonight."

"The duck was especially delicious," the woman said. Her rouged lips were smeared on one side, her face flushed with too many glasses of wine. "I highly recommend it."

"I appreciate it." Nadir leaned in. "You must have lived in France for years. Your accent is near perfect."

The woman laughed again. "Did you hear that, Ernest?"

"I moved here for work," the man said, clapping Nadir on the shoulder like they were already close friends. "Luckily, my parents insisted I learn French."

"You two are married?"

The woman touched his forearm. "A few months, actually!"

Nadir smiled. "Well, you make quite a lovely couple."

This was the way of a vampyre such as Daroga. The woman laughed, lured into feeling at ease with this kindly gentleman in need of directions. The man was comforted by the wedding ring upon Daroga's finger and his fancy hat, as well as the flattery about his position or pretty wife. It was a con that Erik had seen dozens of times, but it was one he had never used himself. He had never had a taste for the drama of it.

They were now discussing the woman's jewelry, the fine bobbles upon her wrist. She let Nadir take her hand, and his glamour shown even brighter, the heady sweetness of it masking the scent of a predator about to claim its prey. In the middle of their discussion, Nadir's lips parted, his fangs gleaming long and ready. Erik glanced at the man in case he needed to distract the other human, but the woman's husband was busy running his mouth about the latest trading scheme he had secured with Germany.

Daroga pierced her skin just above her bracelet. Her brows drew together, the only indication she made that she had felt any pain, and he began to drink quickly, drawing heavily upon her vein. Her chest heaved, and Erik sensed only a flash of fear from her, quickly felt and quickly smothered away by the glamour.

The man chattered on about his latest enterprise, oblivious.

She sucked in a sharp breath when Nadir excised his fangs from her wrist. The scent of blood hit Erik's senses, salty and warm and everything he craved. He stepped a few paces back.

"I didn't take much from her," Nadir said, extending the woman's arm toward him. "You can draw for a moment."

Erik shook his head, pressing himself against the far wall of the small space. "I cannot."

"You need it, my friend."

"Finish her so we can be off!" Erik snapped, spinning away from the sight of broken skin. He could feel Daroga's measured gaze upon him. Then the scent of blood eased as Nadir pricked his own tongue and licked her wound closed.

"I believe I have had a bit too much to drink," the woman said, fanning herself.

The man caught her by the arm. "Shall we go, Marie? I don't even quite remember why we stopped here."

"Thank you for the directions," Nadir said, tipping his hat to the both of them. "I appreciate it."

"Oh yes, that's right. Good evening, gentleman." The man looped his wife's arm around his elbow, and soon, the two humans disappeared back into the streets of Paris. Within moments, the last trace of memory about the men who were not men they had encountered would vanish.

"I am going to return home," Erik said, shrugging his cloak closer around his shoulders. Daroga's cheeks above his beard were now a healthy reddish hue. His diaphragm pulled and pushed one breath from his lungs and then another. Envy stabbed cold and sharp within Erik.

"No," Daroga said, eyes turning hard. "We have much to discuss, Erik. And I am still hungry. Let's proceed."

When the other vampyre left the stairwell, Erik watched him go. He could refuse. He could force Daroga to physically subdue him once again.

Once, Erik could have beaten the older vampyre in any sparring match. Blood had flowed fresh inside his veins with an abundance of willing humans in Mazandaran. He had even sampled Darius before the young man had been turned. The Mistress had loved to watch Erik, had loved to test his physical strength and prowess, both of which he had possessed in abundance.

And then everything had fallen apart.

Erik lifted his hands, stared at the broad palms and spindly fingers, their bony shape visible beneath his white gloves. These hands had killed so many, had done her bidding both willingly and unwillingly, had pinned down hundreds of humans so he could drink. Once, he could have lifted a hand and made others scream in terror at the mere thought.

But Christine had not screamed, had she? She had stripped off his gloves and allowed him to touch her hair, her body, her lips. She had watched as these hands had brought her joy in music or wrung pleasure from her flesh. She had smiled at him and possessed him and not pushed him away. She had promised to be his wife, and every part of himself he had revealed to her, she had merely accepted it and waited for more.

Erik could refuse to follow Daroga, to ignore what he knew was coming. However, he had more than just himself to consider now.

He followed.

"Have you truly had nothing to drink?" Nadir asked when Erik returned to walking by his side.

"A sip here and there," Erik confessed. "Enough to keep the craving at bay." And to keep Christine safer from himself.

"When you first made that vow, I thought perhaps you would only last a few months. I am both impressed and appalled, my friend. However, you will have to rethink this choice."

"Why is that?"

Nadir held up a silencing finger. "Not here. We can discuss things further once we are inside."

They headed in the direction of the Seine, then turned north. Erik knew these streets well. Once, he had walked them often. After the events at the Palais Garnier, he had given the task of upkeeping Daroga's apartment to Darius. The rue de Rivoli was teeming with people enjoying the shops and restaurants, but their presence went unnoticed as they slipped through one of the doors into a narrow stairwell.

Erik had never understood Nadir's insistence on keeping this apartment. The windows lining the front of the living area let in too much light even with the shutters and heavy drapes. The neighbors were far too close to guarantee much privacy or daytime quiet. And yet Nadir had not lived anywhere else but here during his time in Paris.

Nadir waved a hand, unlocking the many bolts within the door. Erik had stopped paying for the electric lights some time ago, but it was easy enough to light a few candles. A fine layer of dust had settled in the two weeks since Darius's last visit, but everything else was as Daroga had left it.

"You have not been here," Erik noted. "Where were you hiding from the sun earlier? Somewhere out of the city?"

Daroga fingered the white cloth covering an armchair. "I arrived two days ago, actually. I spent most of that time beneath the opera house."

"In my old home?" Anger surged within him. He should not care that someone had stepped inside his old haunt, especially since he had abandoned it so long ago. And yet.

Daroga leveled his eyes upon him. "We need to gather all of our resources, Erik. Everything was surprisingly well-intact there, include many of your traps. I don't intend to go back there, but I wanted to make sure it was an option."

"Whatever for?" When the other vampyre did not answer, Erik gave his shoulder a shove. "Goddamnit, Daroga, speak plainly for once!"

"I never wanted to be gone for so long," Nadir said at last. "I thought it would be an easy task to return to Mazandaran, spy on the new vampiric governing body, and move on with my life. At first glance, things seemed fine there. None of her supporters remained when we left, and none had returned to claim her throne. In fact, the current ruler is a man elected by those still there. Everything seemed… peaceful."

"Until."

"Until they caught wind of the fact that I was there. They thought I wanted to take over, to seek revenge against them. Many of them are descendants of her, as so many of us are, and rumors had circulated that we intended to wipe out her entire bloodline."

Erik snorted at that.

"I let them imprison me for a while. Five or so years, I think. They were kindly enough about it, keeping me fed and safe well below ground. Eventually, I grew tired of waiting around and dug my way free. They didn't like that much. I spent several more years trying to smooth things over. I assured them that all I wanted to do was check her tomb, and then I would be on my way for good."

Erik pressed his lips together. "A foolish thing to do, Daroga."

"I had to, Erik. Despite the peace in Mazandaran, everything felt wrong. There was an odd aura about the place. They had torn down much of the old palace grounds, but I felt as though its cursed walls still stood. I went to the ruins and found the place where we had buried her. Everything seemed to be the way we had left it."

"Did you… dig her up?"

Nadir shook his head. "I was too afraid of finding her awake once again, to find we hadn't finished it properly after all. I checked that her tomb was still secure and then left just as I promised. But on my way out of the country, I noticed I was being followed. By a human."

"Who would be foolish enough?"

"Who indeed?"

Erik crossed his arms. He was being forced to recall too much of the past tonight. The smell of blood was still acrid in his nose, and his stomach was coiled into a knot of thirst.

"The blood consort," he said at last.

Nadir nodded. "The very same bastard."

"I knew we should have killed him when we had the chance," Erik said, snarling. "He was too entrenched in the Mistress's madness, too brainwashed into doing her bidding. Leaving him alive was not as merciful as you thought. What did he want with you?"

"My help to uncover the tomb. I pretty much laughed in his face, and it was easy to escape his notice when I tried. He was quite old at that point, and very much driven mad by the thought that no one had deemed him worthy enough to turn. Eventually, I decided to follow him back to the palace grounds, but I wasn't quick enough. I found him dead by his own hand, his wrists slit, his blood leaking into the ground of the tomb itself."

Erik's hands drew into fists. "Daroga…"

"I cleaned up the area the best I could, but I still didn't dare check for certain. I stayed, Erik, I stayed for a long time afterward until I couldn't stand being there anymore. Finally, I had to leave and return here." He put his hands upon the taller vampyre's shoulders, forced Erik to meet his worried gaze. "So you see why I was so concerned that you had taken a human wife, why I am furious that you are still not feeding. We need you strong, Erik." His voice dropped to a whisper, words coming out strangled with feeling. "What if she comes back? What if she-"

"Stop it," Erik said throatily.

"It is the truth, my brother in blood. If the Khanum, the Mistress of Mazandaran, our sire, has managed to survive, we and everyone we love are in danger."

Erik snapped his shoulders, shrugging off Nadir's grip. "Do not speak of her aloud."

"You have to pull the shadows from your eyes! Darius and his bonded are in too deep to separate from us now, but your human, Christine – there is likely still time to put her up in a place far from here. You can set her up with a pension under a false name that will keep her comfortable for the rest of her life. Erik-"

"No!"

"Then tell her the truth and make her yours in every way. You need the strength, and she needs to know the danger she is in if she stays."

Erik swung away, chest heaving as his lungs sought air that his muscles could not deliver. He wanted to rip something apart, to go back in time and sever that Khanum bitch's head from her shoulders when he'd had the chance, to slink back beneath the ground and hide away.

"I cannot give her up," he said between clenched teeth. "But I cannot make her mine. She deserves so much more than this wasted body and corroded mind. I will not sully her with myself."

"You are in love with her," Nadir said softly, marveling.

Yes, he was. Desperately, tragically, horribly. He understood why Daroga had been so furious with him. He had tied himself to a human he could not have yet could not push away. If he continued along this path, he would rip himself apart during the ensuing struggle within himself.

And maybe that had been his plan all along.