Authors Note: The reason I labled this story M was for the graphic descriptions and intense dialogue. I do not mean to offend anyone with the situation. The following chapters are rather extreme. Remember, this is a story about drug addiction and withdrawl. Later on things will get nicer and more pleasant. Thanks.
After breakfast Erik stayed in his bedroom for several hours while Nadir sent Darius for some shopping. Every so often Nadir would check on Erik, but he appeared to be calm as he wrote, read, and tried hard not to lose his senses as his body demanded morphine.
Nadir did not pressure Erik to leave his room, but started up a game of solitaire. Late in the afternoon Erik finally emerged, trembling and exceptionally pale. "I don't feel well Nadir." He said, his voice shaking. Nadir stood up and guided Erik over to the chair. "You have not eaten today. Would you like a late lunch?"
Erik shrugged indifferently. He began to finish Nadir's game while Nadir went to gather some small morsels. He knew Erik would not eat a large meal, but he often ate snacks and other small items. When Nadir returned he sat the platter down and noticed some small cuts on Erik's neck. "What are those?" He asked concerned.
Erik replied quietly, "I was a little agitated, I tried to pet Ayesha but was too hard and she scratched my neck trying to jump off." Nadir nodded as he watched Erik's nimble fingers shake tremendously. Erik reached out for a small piece of cheese, but his agitated hand knocked the platter sideways.
"Dammit!" He suddenly screamed. Nadir hushed him, saying "It's ok, it's just an accident." Erik began to pick up the dropped food and Nadir noticed how his body trembled and shook. It was not hard to miss. "Erik, you have been without any type of drug for over fifteen hours. How do you feel right now?"
Erik twisted his hands together and replied, "Like shit." Nadir smiled at his honesty. Erik told him, "I know I don't really need the drugs, but I want them so bad!" He bit his lower lip and Nadir replied, "Things will get worse before they get better. But remember what you have waiting for you if you are willing to tough it out." Erik nodded as he thought of the wonderful dinner he had planned for Christine when he returned to the Opera.
The two men talked for awhile until Darius returned with several packages. Darius bowed at them and went into the kitchen. Nadir told Erik, "I don't know what sort of food you give Ayesha, dry or wet, so I got a few different types." Erik shook his head no and said, "I don't give her that stuff, I give her milk and caviar."
Nadir raised his eyebrows in astonishment but said nothing. He had also kept quite about the shah's old diamond collar. If Erik wanted to spoil rotten a simple cat, it was his business. Erik suddenly groaned and Nadir looked at him sharply. "Do you need anything?" He asked concerned. Erik only stood up and retreated into his room.
Nadir felt sure that their conversation had taken all of Erik's self-control. He could be a patient man, but when that patience ran dry, he could be horrendous. Nadir went into the kitchen to see what his servant was doing. Suddenly they both heard a loud, shrieking scream. Nadir grabbed Darius before he could enter the room. "It has been nearly eighteen hours since he last had his dosage. His body is experiencing severe pain. Our best course of action is to not irritate the man further. You do understand how Erik is when he is irritated?"
Darius nodded and under his breath he said, "khaunum" Nadir and Darius left Erik's door as he screamed, and suddenly they heard him shout, "It's so fucking hot in here!" Nadir felt perfectly fine but he doused the fire a bit just in case. He went to his bookcase and got down an old music box. Returning to Erik's door he gently tapped, but Erik did not reply.
He knew better than to barge inside, but he wanted to make sure Erik was all right. Slowly he cracked the door, peeking inside. In a flash, the door slammed shut, barely missing Nadir's nose. "Get the hell away from me Nadir." Erik menacingly growled behind the door. Nadir began to wind up the music box, and placed it on the floor as the twinkling song played.
Slowly the door opened again and Erik clung to the wall. He was trembling so bad his legs could barely support him, but he swooped up the music box and looked at Nadir. Nadir glanced at Erik, knowing full well no other man had looked Erik squarely in the eyes. Erik pushed the door languidly and motioned for Nadir to come inside. Just as he was walking towards the desk Erik collapsed on the floor.
Nadir rushed to grab him as the music box skittered across the floor. Ayesha began to mew loudly as Nadir picked up Erik. Darius had come to the door and was watching as Erik mumbled incoherently.
He clutched at Nadir suddenly and said, "It's hard...me..I want khag so bad...oh..the sweet intoxiaction...moiunge...moupoi..." Erik had completley stopped making sense and was simply repeating vowels. He had also slipped from French to Spanish, and then began to say something in English.
Nadir noticed that Erik was sweating profusely. He motioned towards Darius to bring some towels and ice water, while Erik continued to mumble in English. Suddenly, as Nadir was smoothing the blanket over Erik's prone body, he lept up and reached for the chamber-pot. Nadir turned his back as Erik retched horrifically.
Darius returned, threw the towels at Nadir, and raced to the kitchen for the mop and bucket. Erik lay on the floor, trembling as his legs twitched. His mask had been thrown across the room and Nadir bent to pick it up. He hoisted Erik up and laid him on the bed again, adjusting his mask back.Darius and Nadir began to clean the mess.
Erik attempted to help but all he succeeded in doing was to fall off the bed. Darius picked him up this time and commented on how exceedingly thin Erik was. Nadir agreed, but knew that Erik's skeletal frame was not a result of too little food. They cleaned the room and Nadir continued to mop Erik's sweating body with a cloth.
He had begun to shiver and was mumbling about the cold, although his body was fever hot. Ayesha was standing at the door, mewing and hissing. Nadir called for her and she lept up into the bed. Erik reached out for her as his body twitched. Darius returned with a pitcher of ice water and a clean chamber-pot. Nadir dismissed him and told him not to worry about dinner.
All he wanted was a cup of strong tea. Nadir knew he would be up all night with his sick friend.