A.N Thanx to everyone for your kind reviews. I'm going to say thank you to a few of your personal but I really appreciate all of them. Oh and Aleeza- I've tried to follow your advice in this chapter. Thanx for the suggestion and your review was very encouraging!
Thanx to everyone who tried to help on the Nadir thing. I've decided to go for my own interpretation of him. Oh and in the book, I think he helps Raoul to get Christine back. Well, I've never read the book so I'm going to assume that didn't happen. I just need him as a character, someone who knows Erik.
Disclaimer: See first chapter.
Forgetting
Nadir crossed the silent street, blending in to the shadows. Although he shouldn't have worried. This side of the city was quiet and almost desolate; there were hardly any shops and there were parks or gardens at all. You only lived here if you were the poorest of the poor…or if you needed somewhere to hide.
The house that Nadir entered was one of the few on the street that hadn't fallen into disrepair. It looked almost grand compared to the others. But on closer, it looked just the same. Cold draughts blew though the gaps in the doorframe. The walls crumbled and the floorboards creaked with every step you took.
Nadir stepped into the hallway. The house reeked, as if someone had died.
Which isn't far off the truth, Nadir thought.
He opened the door to the sitting room slightly to see what his friend was doing. As usual, he was sitting at his organ, writing something down on a piece of manuscript and then playing it, stopping suddenly when he thought of a new idea.
Nadir was just about to close the door again and knock when Erik spoke without even turning around.
"Your early, Nadir."
Nadir signed and opened the door fully. He stepped into the dimly lit room and looked around, hoping to see something and changed.
It hadn't. Sheets of music still lay on the floor, crumpled and yellowing. The walls were bare and everything was covered in dust, except the organ.
"I would have thought you would have learnt by now, Nadir. I always catch you." Erik still hadn't lifted his head from his music.
"Well maybe one day I'll catch you doing something other than sitting at that organ!"
Erik looked around at his friend slowly and then turned back to his music. He was obviously not amused.
Nadir was to use to his friends coldness to be offended. In fact, every time Erik did something like that, he just felt more pity towards his friend.
Nadir signed and stepped out into the kitchen. He washed up the mugs he had used on his last visit and filled up the kettle. Erik's haunting melody came from the organ. It was a mixture of hate and betrayal. But then again, it always was.
Erik had never felt much joy in his life. He was always alone and full of anger. His only chance for happiness had been ripped away from him by that girl, Christine. From what he had seen of her (and from what Erik described), she seemed a sweet, innocent and beautiful girl.
But she tore Erik and his heart to pieces. She left him, broken and alone in his lair, which was already filled to the brim with despair.
He didn't realise who she was when he met her early that day. He recognised her vaguely, but it was only after she said she lived in the de Changy household that he realised it was Christine.
Nadir wasn't sure if Christine recognised him, but she was trusting towards him. To take her mind off the pain on the journey home, Nadir talked to her. She was witty and sweet. She said thank you hundreds of times and was very apologetic about stopping him from going about his business. Of course, being a gentleman, Nadir said it was no problem at all.
For the short while that he was at the de Changy house, he could how much she loved and trusted the Viscount. She allowed him to carry her up to her bedroom, her head on his shoulder. She really was a sweet girl and being happy was what she deserved.
But Erik did not deserve sorrow. He had had too much of that in his life.
Nadir sighed again as he poured the hot water into the cups. He really wanted to help Erik. He just didn't know how.
He carried the two cups back into the sitting room. He put one on top of the organ. Erik didn't say anything but Nadir knew that he was grateful.
Nadir sat down in one of the dusty chairs. Usually, the two friends sat together without talking, just grateful to be in the others company. But today the silence seemed uncomfortable with Nadir and he knew the reason why. It was because of his encounter with Christine. He felt slightly guilty about being friendly to her now, after seeing again what she had did to his friend.
He had to tell Erik. Maybe it would help him move on to know that she was happy.
Nadir took a deep breath. It was worth a try.
"I saw Christine today."
Erik's reaction was not what Nadir was expecting. He stiffened and stopped writing for a few seconds, but then carried on.
"Who?"
Nadir was puzzled.
"Christine. I saw her today. In the park."
"I have no idea who you are talking about. Now if you would be so kind, I would like you to leave. I have a lot of work to do."
Nadir sat in the chair for a few moments longer, just staring in bewilderment at Erik, not quite sure to believe what was going on. Erik's manner had not changed at all at the mention of her. He was still working on his precious music, not even glancing in Nadir's direction.
Nadir stood up slowly and walked over to the door, his eyes never leaving Erik's face. He wanted to say something but knew better than to carry on. He silently left the house and back onto the street.
As soon as heard the front door slam shut, Erik's façade melted. He held his head in his hands for a few minutes and took a few deep breaths. He then carried on with his work.
He had ignored every fibre in his being not to jump up and ask Nadir how she was. But he knew the only way to forget her, was to pretend she never existed.
A.N I'm not too sure about this chapter. Please review and tell me what you think.
Katy
