The Persian's little flat in the Rue de Rivoli was opened grandly by a man. I did not recognize him, but he seemed suprised to see Erik and bowed lightly begging us to wait for a moment in the front hall. He left silently and I wondered if indeed the man was floating rather than walking. What a curious man he was indeed, nearly as curious as the Persian himself. When he returned he explained that he would recieve us. Erik stood in front of me, my cloak was drawn around me, obscurring my face. I stayed close to him, reluctant to leave his side as I had heard tales of the magic of the strange Persian. I was sure that it was nonsense started by the little rats of the opera house, but I could not be sure. How could I be afraid when the very ghost of the same opera was my husband? I was less than a full woman you must remember, my cheeks still rosy with childish blushes, my eyes still naive to the true nature of the world and all its cruelties.
We were recieved in the most charming room, at a window overlooking the garden of the Tuileries. The man rose and attempted to get a better view me but I remained hidden by lowering my face and refusing to look at him. "I was under the impression you were dying," he spoke quietly and calmly to my companion, "Who is with you? Surely you have not kidnapped another woman," he was inquisitive and seemingly amused, his voice holding an authorative tone.
"Do not be a fool, I have done nothing of the sort," He chuckled and asked politely for me to step out and not to be afraid.
"Leave her be, daroga," Erik warned dangerously low. The Persian took several steps backward in compliance and than inquired once more as to the health of the man in front of him. "Do you wish me dead?" Erik's voice was cold and finally he gave a strange sort of huff.
"The last time I saw you, you were ill and speaking of dying. I was only concerned," Erik laughed madly causing me to shiver at the very sound.
"I doubt you were so afraid for me. If you must know, when I last saw you I was in the middle of a very serious panic attack. I had resolved to return home and lay in my coffin never to wake again. Had I not taken so long to return the money I had taken from the managers I might well be dead. I managed to calm myself and go back and who do I find in my home..." I felt my lip quiver thinking about what poor Erik must have felt when I left him. I was so cruel sometimes.
"Daroga, I thought you would very much like to thank Mademoiselle Daae for saving your miserable skin," he laughed again and turned to grip my shoulder's thrusting me forward. My cloak fell and my face was exposed, I heard the Persian gasp at the very sight. I tried to smile, but it was hard. His eyes were the most brilliant jade, the strangest eyes I had ever seen...next to Erik's that is. His head was covered in his usual astrakhan cap.
There was nothing spoken for several moments, I finally managed a small apology. I was feeling strangely timid and gave a look up hopefully. The smile I recieved caused a bit of confidence in me, "I am relieved to see that you are feeling well after all that has happened." He looked between the two of us, standing in front of him.
"Erik..." he searched for the words to ask a question I was sure was burning in his mind.
"She returned of her own volition as you can see," he laughed madly and tightened his grip reassuringly.
"This is the truth than?" He looked at me as if expecting me to suddenly scream for help, instead I confirmed it with a slight nodd. The man who was towering above me leaned forward catching my lips in a long kiss. A slight show of victory for him, the Persian lowered his eyes from our display of affection, and I was released to fix him with a shaky smile. I had my doubts about our relationship, I did not know if it would ever be as normal as I longed for it to be; but I loved him. Besides no other man in the world would want me after I had allowed my innocence to be taken...no I had given my innocence, hadn't I? He needed me to give him light, he needed me as I needed him. Perhaps if I had never heard his voice I would have lived happily ever after with Raoul, but as it happened I could no longer breathe without his love.
"Indeed it seems you are quite well again, I suppose I will not be informing the young couple of your death by way of the Epoque?" Another remark I would have rendered ill sarcasm if from the lips of any one else.
"Do not fear, daroga, I will still send you the papers that Christine has written, if she consents of course."
"That was hardly what I meant," he commented with a frown, "However if you still intend to give me such papers and relics, though perhaps Mademoiselle Daae will have need of her gloves and pocket-handkerchiefs again, I would be grateful."
"One small request?" The Persian's eyes sought my own, although they were cast at the floor, I could hear Erik speaking to him.
"What would that be?"
"I wish to withdraw from the life that we have known here, I do not wish for anyone to attempt to find us..." those jade eyes narrowed inquisitively, one eyebrow slowly raised as there was a pause, "therefore you will not include this in your cursed narrative. Poor Erik is dead to the world, as is Christine Daae! You will tell no one, should anyone ask, that you have seen us. If you include anything in your narrative it will end at my previous visit."
I looked at my feet listening to the silence as the man pretended to consider it, "I agree." There was another silence in which I attempted find a hand to hold onto, but Erik pulled his fingers from me and shrank away. "I have forgotten my manners, forgive me. Would you care for anything?"
"Forgive my asking, but would it be too much to ask for a good cup of tea?" I asked needing something to still the beating within my breast.
"I would not recommend his tea," Erik whispered finally. I was barely able to supress the giggle that rose in my throat. I silently reminded myself how rude it would have been to laugh at the poor man's expense. Instead I only awarded him with a secret smile.
"I am afraid Darius does not make the best tea, but if you still desire a cup..." the man paused and I was unsure of what to say.
"I do not believe I will mind, my throat is awfully dry...as I have said if it is not too much trouble."
"No, no trouble at all, mademoiselle." After a few moments I held a cup in my trembling fingers, thanking Darius, the manservant, kindly. I sipped it and sat the cup down on a small tray that had been offered to me.
"Tell me...are you wed than?" I flushed slightly and Erik chuckled.
"Nadir, you should well keep to your own affairs, however I will...indulge your morbid curiousity, no we are not." I could not even force my eyes to meet the man in front of me. It felt very much like admitting that I was a lady of the night. All of the good, god-fearing teachings of my past screamed at me to reassure him that we had not engaged in anything improper...however the bible did protest such lies. Instead, I chose to keep my mouth closed and glance helplessly at my lover, hopeing that he would say something at our defense. To him however, our lifestyle needed no explanation or promise.
"We will marry as soon as possible, I swear as I wish to be saved, we will! Its only that well someone in Paris might recognize me and..." I was muttering excuses with wide, pleading eyes. I felt an arm drift cautiously around my shoulders and pull me against a shoulder.
"Mademoiselle, you missunderstand. You owe me no explanations, it was simply a curious question." I felt a hot, fresh wave embarassment wash over me at the way I stumbled over my words. I glanced up at him and smiled faintly. "I apologize if I embarrassed you." I did not say anything. There was an ackward silence over the three of us, though perhaps it was only me that thought it ackward. It seemed perfectly natural for the two of them.
"Are you visiting merely to tell me that the efforts of the Vicomte and I were in vain?" Erik smirked but did not reply. "Or do you have something else in mind?"
"Simply a friendly visit...also I thought it a good opportunity to bring Christine out, she needed the sunlight as you can see. It is sort of a farewell you see, you have done many things for me and I thank you. The last goodbye was not proper at all, I was grieving much too hard over my angel," he gestured to me.
"Where are you going, Erik? Sit down!" He insisted, "You have not told me anything at all! You say goodbye, I assume that means you are leaving the opera house behind, for if you were to stay surely you would visit on occasion."
"It is impossible to stay here safetly," he spoke quietly.
"Yes, it is wise for you two to leave this city," he was calm though I was sure it affected him as much as it did me. Afterall he and Erik were friends, even if it was a strange friendship; he surely must have been sad to see his friend go. I admired him for the calm, unemotional facade he held.
"Most of the furniture sadly, all I have left of my mother, will be liquidated; not that it is much of a loss to me." I looked into his eyes seeing that perhaps it did matter a bit more than he let on, "Passage has been booked, a home has already been purchased, and the items we are taking with us will be leaving shortly. Just days afterword, we shall also depart and leave all of this horror behind us." He sat back sighing dramatically as if it was the most magnificent scheme he had ever conducted and I had to laugh. He looked up at me, I knew he was smiling although at times it was rather difficult to tell, I was sure he was pleased that he had such an effect on me.
"How will you be travelling?" asked the ever questioning Persian man.
"The train, of course." He treated him like no more than a child who had asked a stupid question. "Christine is afraid to travel by sea." I had only mentioned that once in the time he had been my teacher and it had been only a slight remark. I was suprised at the way he had remembered it and been careful to assure my comfort on our adventure. In my mind I always referred to it that way you see...an adventure! It was just like a fairytale that Papa would have told me, in fact I could almost hear his voice narrating our actions.
Erik smiled at me and I had an urge to throw my arms around his neck and tell him just how happy I was that he loved me so. "I cannot believe that you took so much trouble because of something I said once. Really Erik, I must have the most wonderful betrothed in the entire world!" The daroga or Persian as I was not sure how to refer to him..silently let a sad smile creep onto the corners of his mouth. He was obviously lost in his own thoughts.
"Nadir?" The name spoke of friendship and rang with compassion, the likes of which I did not often seen from Erik, "It does you no good to weep over the past. It will only make you miserable to dwell upon it." He nodded vaguely and his eyes once again focused upon the man in front of him.
"Forgive me for my aloofness at the moment, I despise farewells, as you know all too well." Erik took a deep breath and let it out slowly, attempting to show no care at all for the man. "I do not mean to dim this joyous occasion for you. Allow me to congratulate both you and Mademoiselle Daae on your engagement and wish you the best at your wedding ceremony. I hope that your future is bright."
"Yes, well no one is fond of goodbye, I am sure at some point we shall return to Paris. So do not sulk as if it were a funeral! Besides weeping does not suit you, daroga." His now cold tone suprised me and I realized that he was trying to remain composed.
"Are my eyes not dry?"
"What heaven are you leaving for than?" He spoke with strain as if he were already growing tired. At last I finished my tea and sat the cup down, putting my full attention on the two men, neither of which seemed to notice my silence. They sat staring at one another, I was unsure what was going through either's mind.
"Its just to the east of Uppsala, on the coast of Sweden." The Persian, or Nadir, I was not sure what to refer to him as, twisted his mouth in thought.
"It is a far travel from here to Sweden alone, you are taking the train? Is that not the longer route? You could take a ship through the North Sea and it would be much faster."
"I do not want Christine to experience any discomfort..and it is not as if we are in a hurry to arrive at our new home, we have time."
"I see." I had started to feel bad listening to the delays I was causing. I did not at all mind that I was being spoken of as if I was not present, afterall women were seen and not heard. I uncrossed my ankles and kicked my feet; recieving a curious glance from the Persian, and a scolding one from Erik I stopped abruptly. I stared hard at my hands feeling like an impatient child. Indeed I longed to get out and run about, walk the streets arm and arm with my lover; something exciting and fun. However I knew as soon as we left the small flat we would return to our own underground palace.
"Christine, are you growing weary? If you like we could return home." His suggestion was welcome but I would have felt rude had I accepted the offer.
Instead I shook my head, "If you are content to continue your conversation I am able to wait."
"Thank you, my dear, I will only be a moment longer." His hand touched my own happily and I sank back into my chair attmepting to appear interested in their words, but my hands twisted in my lap occupying themselves with finger games, when that ceased to amuse me I twirled my hair and daydreamed. This must have lasted another half hour, for Erik gave a sigh and looked over at me like a father who was wearing thin on tolerance of his daughter's squirming. "We should go, we have much still to do this day. It is the day when the liquidation is to begin and I have much to do, as of yet. Besides I believe that Christine has a reletive she must also bid farewell to."
I glanced up, my eyes widening. I had a relative to say goodbye to? Could he possibly be speaking of Mamma Valerius? Afterall he was not the sort of person to lie simply to escape from someone's company. He was much too bold to do that, he would only explain he could no longer stand the person's company. I rose to my feet and the Persian kissed my hand kindly. "Mademoiselle Daae, it has been a pleasure."
"Please, Monsieur, call me Christine, I insist." he nodded and thanked me for the gesture.
"I hope you will deliver the papers yourself," he put a hand on Erik's shoulders and than withdrew it with an apologetic smile.
"Of course I will." There was no sad parting words, with that last movement we turned and left. I have him a small smile over my shoulder.
"Goodbye,..Christine, Erik." His words were so soft that had I not read his lips I would have had no inclination that he spoke at all.
"Thank you for the tea, Monsieur Darius," I added seeing the manservant. His mouth turned up slightly in the corners and he thanked me. I knew that I need not speak formally to him, but it felt right to do so and I had no idea of his last name so I called him as I saw fit. I was still a foolish girl in some ways and my manners mirrored that innocence greatly I was sure. We clambered into a cab.
"Rue Notre-Dame-Des-Victoires," he ordered looking at the face I wore. Surely we were going to see Mamma Valerius. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed his masked cheek several times suprised by the cold. "Are you suprised that I would allow you to say goodbye to your benefactress who is partly in responsible for your relationship with me?" I pressed my cheek to his shoulder, suprised as he let his fingers draw across my chest teasingly. "You must think me an evil monster!"
We were so wrapped up in one another that we scarecly noticed when we arrived. I smiled at him as we slowed to a stop. I was anxious for Mamma to meet my Angel of Music. Instead of following me, he gave me a small kiss on the forehead and spoke, "You go on ahead, I must get back and take care of things." My mouth automatically drew into a disappointed poute and I gave a huff.
"You are not coming to meet her than? What am I to tell her? How am I to explain where I have been and where I am going? Do you expect her to just let me go with a man she knows nothing about!" My words echoed so loudly that the driver had turned slightly to catch the conversation.
Embarassed Erik tugged his hat lower over his masked face, "She knows all about me I am the Angel of Music afterall, your tutor."
"You expect me to allow her to believe that? You want me to decieve her? You know I cannot do that! She cares for me and I cannot let her believe a lie. I plan to tell her everything..." Well near everything at least, but I left that out. The drama of my exclamation astounded him and he stared hard at me. I could feel the burning of those golden, flaming eyes under the hat, had I been able to see them I would have shuddered.
"Do as you wish, but I will see you in a few hours time, see that you return to me and do not send me looking for you." His voice was cold and serious, dangerous even. "Erik would find you, Christine. Erik would be very angry if he had to search for you all night!" He growled the last part so low that I had to lean in to even catch it. I leapt back from him and widened my eyes.
"I assure you, I will return to you." I turned and fled, not daring to face those eyes again as they watched me. I felt as if they would burn through my clothing, still I walked, nearly running to the door of the small flat.
