"What raging fire
Shall flood the soul?
What rich desire
Unlock its door?" –The Point of No Return
Chapter 8: Repelling Passion
"Now that we know what to do, I must figure out a way to wire the chandelier so that I may cause it to fall at will. Give me a moment of silence to think of something." Erik pursed his lips in thought.
"Perhaps you can wire the support and cut off the main rope. The chandelier will swing as a pendulum would, causing wild discord among the people below. Then, one of us could sever the rope and cause the massive thing to fall." Nasrin leaned over his shoulder, rubbing a model's severed arm. Her warm body was pressed against Erik's, her chest against his shoulder.
He looked over his shoulder at her face shimmering with craftiness. He stood up and faced her, his eyes wide.
"You . . ." He pulled her close to him, his hands rough against her smooth skin. His eyes darted from her enchanting eyes, to her pouted full lips, and finally landing on her sloping neckline. In a moment, he pressed his lips against hers, overcoming her mouth with his.
Nasrin gave a small whine and was forced to take a step back to retain balance. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his head closer to hers. Her eyes fluttered closed as his tongue pushed against the barrier of her teeth. Instinctively, she opened her mouth and allowed Erik to draw her into a more passionate embrace.
"Erik . . ." Nasrin moaned as his teeth closed on her lower lip.
When he pulled away, he looked shocked at himself. "That . . . was meant to be a short . . . chaste kiss."
"Obviously, you need to refine your definition of chaste," Nasrin whispered seductively.
"I just lost control is all." He swallowed and exhaled, taking shaky steps back.
Nasrin narrowed her eyes, examining him closely. "I just figured out what type of person you are."
"Oh?" Erik sounded amused. "And what type of person am I?"
Nasrin cleared her throat. "First, a question: You are a virgin too, aren't you?"
"Yes," Erik growled, gritting his teeth.
"Why is that? Before I was given to you, you could have walked down a few blocks and bought yourself the whore of your choice. You have enough money. Why didn't you?" She was testing him.
"No one, not even a desperate whore, would bear to look at me, even if they needed the money," he replied glumly.
"No, don't lie," Nasrin scolded, "that isn't it at all."
"Oh really? Prove me wrong," he challenged.
"You are a complete romantic, one who would refer to sex as love making." She began to walk around him slowly, gauging him as a predator does its prey. "You believe that sex should be not only a union of bodies, but of everything: hearts, minds, souls. It is the most tender and loving of dances in your eyes and you wouldn't think of joining with anyone other than the woman you love. You would shower her with roses and affection, write songs for her, draw her portrait, each one more loving than the last. You would love her more than life itself. Your lair is full of roses, music, and drawings of Christine; I am no fool. Now tell me, am I right, Erik?"
His sallow face had paled to an even sicker yellow and his nostrils flared. "I . . ."
"Just say yes so we can change the topic," Nasrin growled, "because obviously I will never know how any of that feels like."
"Yes," Erik concurred, his eyes finding the floor quickly.
"I thought so. Christine . . . doesn't know how lucky she is . . . to have some one care that much about her." Nasrin turned away from him, glancing fleetingly at the model of Christine in the wedding dress.
"Now, I think it is in our best interest if we retire. We'll draw out our plans and perfect them in the morning," Erik said, dutifully changing the topic.
"You can tell when it's morning down here?" Nasrin asked dryly, feigning emotional recovery.
"The water rises in the morning and goes down at night. Right now, the water is low, telling us that it's night."
"Erik . . . Monsieur Andre and Monsieur Firmin give you twenty thousand francs a month and you haven't gone out to buy a pocket-watch?"
His expression darkened. "I haven't needed it. This system works fine."
She snorted disdainfully.
"I'm going to bed," Erik mumbled as he stormed off towards his elegant swan bed. He lay down on the silky covers and lowered the curtains.
"Am I to sleep on the floor again?" she asked darkly.
"Yes, you aren't sleeping with me; of that I am certain," came Erik's dreary voice.
Nasrin spat in his direction and walked over to her small nest of pillows and sheets, her only nighttime comforts. She lay down and peered up at Erik with narrowed eyes. His eyes fought to remain open.
"Good night Nasrin Fire Rose," Erik said, slurring his words in his exhaustion.
"Good night Erik Phantom," Nasrin cooed with poisoned sweetness, seeing that he had already fallen into slumber.
The next morning, Erik woke up on the floor while Nasrin slept in his bed, a smug look of victory on her face.
A/N: Thanks to all my reviewers!
Videociraptor: Don't worry Vi-vi-kins, I'll keep Nasrin away from your sister, I know how she gets. O.o;;; But yes, it was Nasrin's idea. Clever little thing, ain't she? (is shot for having bad grammar) X.x
Nasrin: o.o;;; Uh oh! (revives)
Shade: Huzzah! Thanks Fire Rose!
Nasrin: (walks away)
Shade: (nervous laughter) In any case, here is your update Vi-vi-kins! (bows)
Maidenhair: YAY! Happy you liked it, and I will most certainly keep going. Here be proof! (is shot again for bad grammar) X.x
Nasrin: Stop it!
Shade: Sorry! I'm better, really! Thanks for the review!
DragonheartRAB: Yes, "Nasrin certainly is an evil little thing" pretty much sums up most of the reviews I got for chapter 7. XD! Yes, she is, but she was treated just like Erik in a sense, so she has no real sense of life or of what she is really taking away by killing some one. Come to think of it, her and Erik do make a good team. (nods) They work well together. Here is your update! Thanks for the comment!
Thephantomscookie: Oh if only phantasies like that could come true. (dreams with you) Oh! Just pictured Erik eating the chocolate chip cookies with me, THAT is a good vision my friend. (drools for both aforementioned) Glad you like it so far, and yes, Nasrin is an evil girl. Perhaps as bad as Erik, you'll see if she's worse. (wink wink) (nudge nudge)
xxXGoddessXofXdeadXloveXxx: Hey, weird people are yay. Come on, look at me! If you haven't read my humor fic, (even if you never saw the series) oh yeah, you'd be very certain of my partial insanity when high on sugar. . Here is your update!
LadyofLegends: SCREECH! It's Shade Sunbean Slayer the Pterodactyl here! (for anyone other than LadyofLegends reading this, it's an inside joke, lol) Wow, thanks for the great compliment, I am of the flattered nature. (bows) For you my Sunbeam (un-naturally large smile) an update! Huzzah!
Maska: Yurp, it was Nasrin's idea. I wanted to take a different spin on the play/movie/book that no one (that I read) had done before. Glad you're liking it. And as for Nasrin being there when Christine leaves . . . oh boy . . . you will be stuck on an emotional roller coaster for the next few chappies after that. I can promise you that!