"He will burn you
With the fire of his eyes!" –Magical Lasso
Chapter 10: An Unfortunate Fate Sealed
"You're becoming feverish. Are you falling ill?" Erik asked hesitantly.
"Not at all. Just . . . that ride is . . . rather . . . awakening." Her face flushed scarlet.
"Oh, and how so?" he asked tauntingly.
"Curb your tongue and let's get moving," she spat, growling. She grabbed the ropes and stomped past him, vanishing into the damp cave.
He sniggered. "You're going the wrong way!"
She emerged from the underground fog soon after, her eyes narrowed into dark, glittering slits.
"If you are going to storm off, at least make sure that it is in the right direction," he jeered.
Her cheeks darkened in a blush. She mumbled incoherent curses under her breath, but did not swear to his face. She was thankful that the white mask the Persian had allowed her to purchase hid half of her face.
"It's this way. Come," he murmured. He grabbed her arm and pulled her in the right direction, his pace quickening. His heavy footsteps resounded off the stonewalls, making it seem as though an army of determined men followed in his wake. Nasrin fought to stay beside him, not used to wearing clunky, heavy shoes.
"Can you slow down?" she called as she stumbled.
"If you fall behind, you shall stay behind," was his sharp answer.
"This was my idea! You can't wire it without me!"
"Oh yes I can. It will just take a little bit longer."
"You think so? I have the rope." She waved the rope above her head.
He stopped running and turned to her. His bright blue eyes flashed a mixture of irritation and impatience. His cape swung elegantly around his torso, gently caressing the cool floor.
"Give it to me," he commanded, holding out his gloved hand.
"No, because then I'll be left behind."
"You'll be left behind anyway," he commented dryly.
She growled and her upper lip quivered in ire. She clutched the ropes tighter. "No, I'm not giving it to you."
Erik rolled his eyes. "We don't have time for this!" He grabbed her around the waist and hoisted her up in his arms. She gave a cry of surprise. He began to run again, this time carrying Nasrin and her heavy shoes along. His heavy, ragged breath in her ear made goose bumps rise on her flesh.
"We're here. Now get down," Erik hissed in her ear. Nasrin released her vice-like grip on him and stood on her own two feet. She looked up at him first, then around her. There was a door in front of her, a portal to a world she had never known.
"What lies beyond that door?" she asked him,
He put an arm on her shoulder, squeezing it gently. "That is a door that leads to the upper level of the opera house. No one but Buquet comes up here. Once you open the door, you will be level with the chandelier. I surmised that you might need to see it to know what you and I must do to cause it to crash."
"Monsieur Buquet? Who is he?" Nasrin asked hazily.
"He is the man who spreads stories of my whereabouts. He also is responsible for scenery changes during the performances put on here." Erik's voice was black with hate.
"I see. Should we teach him a lesson as well, should he find us now?"
"Only if he comes too close," Erik assured. "Now come, let me show you the extent of the labor ahead of us." He strode past her, his arm still on her shoulder. He looked down at Nasrin and opened the door slowly, wanting to avoid an outcry from the hinges that would betray their location.
When the door swung open to its fullest, Nasrin gasped. She cupped her slender hand over her mouth as the majesty and splendor of the chandelier met her view. Her eyes glowed as the twinkling jewels sparkled in the light given off by the hundreds of oil lamps. It illuminated the theater in a dazzling rainbow of light. But the size of it . . . its remarkable bulk was in the center mostly, for both the top and bottom were thinner. She began the scrutiny quickly, sensing unease and eagerness from Erik, who stood by her side.
Each detail was memorized carefully, and soon a perfect picture of the chandelier was stored in Nasrin's mind. She nodded to confirm her completion and Erik closed the door.
"Now, to the supports. Do you know what we must do?"
"Yes."
"Good, follow me." He swished his cloak and walked through another door. Nasrin eagerly followed him, ropes still clutched possessively in her arms.
They climbed up an old flight of stairs, stirring dust as they caused a breeze in their passing. Nasrin sneezed, sniffling pitifully and her eyes watering. Erik doubled back and covered her mouth with his black-gloved hand. His eyes were darting, his expression wary, yet poised.
"I hear him; Buquet. He's looking for me. Can't you hear his stumbling steps?"
Nasrin paused, listening for any movement. She heard some one walking unsteadily in the corridor before them, crashing into various wooden objects and cursing vehemently under his breath. The slurring words he spoke were the apparent results of liquor. She sniggered quietly to herself, shaking her head at the deplorable man.
"Allow me to take care of him," Erik implored. He stepped up to the highest step, catching a glimpse of the bumbling figure amidst the shadows and piercing sunrays, which were alive with dancing dust specks. His upper lip curled back in spite, revealing gritted teeth.
Nasrin looked up at Erik, watching as he vanished over the top stair. She craned her neck, straining to hear him. Everything was silent, save for some of Buquet's stumbling.
"Inebriated fool! You moronic, bumbling imbecile! Leave this place at once!" Erik's voice boomed through the room and Nasrin jumped, stifling a scream. This voice was so dark, so evil and hell sent. It did not sound like her Erik at all. After his command, all Nasrin could hear was the frantic steps of Buquet as he stumbled about, trying to vacate the area as fast as his wobbly legs could muster.
"The Opera Ghost!" he cried, and Nasrin heard the footsteps drawing closer to her. Immediately, a palpable sense of dread filled her and she rose to her feet, intent on escaping into darkness unseen.
As she searched around for a safe hiding place, she felt someone's body barrel into her. She gave a grunt of pain as she crashed headfirst into the step. She felt the white mask fly from her face and land out of her view.
"No," she murmured, her eyesight blurring in front of her. The stench of liquor surrounded her like poisonous smog. She gagged.
"Hey! You're a gurl! But the voice I just heard was a man's! Who's the Opera Ghost, him or you?" Buquet's irritating accent made it difficult for Nasrin to understand what he said. Nevertheless he continued, and this phrase was clear as day. He pointed at Nasrin. "There are two of ye! Two ghosts up here! A man, and a gurl! Gah!" He stood up and backed away from her, knocking into a wooden pillar.
Nasrin turned to face him, her head throbbing. She clutched her scalp in an effort to stop the throes of pain, but to no avail. She looked up at Buquet helplessly, unable to gather her thoughts.
"I have too tell the others!" Buquet stumbled down the stairs and through the door, slamming it shut. His footsteps became progressively quieter.
"Nasrin," Erik murmured from beside her. She could feel his arms wrap around her waist and tighten in concern. "Nasrin, are you conscious?"
"Yes," she answered softly. "My head . . . oh Allah it hurts." She winced and grabbed her injured skull. Something warm and sticky coated her hand and she groaned.
He closed his hand over hers. "You're bleeding. We have to get you back down below."
"No!" she cried, "I want to set this up. If we don't do it now, we never can. I can stand; I'm all right." She stood up on wobbly legs and fell back against the wall. She groaned as her head pains became sharp and consistent, a symphony of drums in her ears.
"He will pay," Erik hissed, his body shaking with unfulfilled rage. "He knows about us, and for that, he will die." A gleam appeared in his eye. "I will kill him myself during the performance instead of before. The perfect addition to a night of torture and fear."
"A sublime idea. Come, let us begin." Nasrin shrugged away the support of his arms and regained her own balance, clasping a rag from her side to the gash on her head.
"You're not even walking straight," Erik said, clasping her to him again. She moved to strike him away, but missed his face completely. "That's it; I'm taking you home." He picked up her mask out of the darkness and put it in the pocket of his night coat.
"I said no! I'm going to help you with this! I mean what I say, so do not attempt to falsify my statement!" Nasrin fought to stay on her feet. She grabbed his hand and yanked it brutally off her body. "Let's get moving." She picked up the large coil of rope and lurched up the stairs. "Come on. Don't waste time."
"Sometimes statements and promises must be broken," Erik pointed out.
"Not mine," she spat back, "Let's go, I don't want to stay here all day. We need to finish this, and now."
He followed her warily, readying his arms in case her legs failed. At the top of the stairs, he began to guide her safely between the pillars and to the support for the chandelier.
"Let us begin then," Erik implored, grabbing the rope from her.
"All right." Nasrin looked at the weaving supports for the chandelier and began her arduous task.
Below, the rehearsals for Il Muto commenced, Carlotta's whining voice rising and falling with the aria she sang. She was playing the Countess, scorning the Phantom's word, and thus increasing the need for his dark intervention.
A/N: Thanks to all my lovely reviewers!
Erik's Apprentice: Marysue? Sure, Nasrin is well educated and pretty, but she isn't perfect! Give it a few chapters and you will not think the words "Mary" or "Sue" could even slightly personify her. I admit, she is unusually bright and talented in dancing for a woman of this time period, but the flaws she does have (i.e. singing, rage, jealousy, deformity, temper, judgment, stubbornness, bluntness, cockiness, murderous tendencies, etc.) she has them very bad, and they come out in full in a few chapters, so don't label her a Marysue just yet! I do hope you continue with the story, however, and continue to tell me what you think. Thanks for the review!
Maidenhair: Yes, Nasrin is married to Erik. That was in the first few chapters. It's the whole conflict of the story. Nasrin is forced into marriage with Erik, ergo she doesn't want him to associate with Christine. That would be adultery. Meanwhile, Nasrin has fallen in love with Erik and is trying to get him to love her in return. But yes, they are married, so it's natural for a husband and wife to have sex. Fortunately or not, Erik doesn't want to do it with Nasrin and it's irritating the hell out of her. Hope you understand now. Thanks for the review!
Videociraptor: 'Ello, Vi-vi-kins! Yes, Nasrin's craftiness comes into play . . . unfortunately, she doesn't get struck with anymore brilliant ideas for a long while. The chandelier was basically the only one, lol. And don't feel bad about Erik sleeping on the floor, he'll get over it. XD! Glad you figured out the murder thing. (For anyone thinking she named the person in the review, she didn't. She e-mailed me.) So yay for Vi-vi-kins! Snaps for her! (snaps) Here is your update!
DragonheartRAB: Thank you! Yes, flustered Erik's are amusing and adorable. (pictures it) (squeals in child-like delight) Oh yes does she want Erik to work his charm on her. Who doesn't? Well, she is entitled . . . they are married after all, lol. I found it amusing when she came back with the whole, "I know how to please you" and he is oblivious about it at first, never having anyone offer him anything. So cute, Erik! So happy you like her, and I am extra specially flattered since you said you're picky about E/OW stories. YAY! (dances) Thanks for the review!
jessiejo: Thank you, glad you like it! It's nice to hear from you again. Here is your update!
xxXGoddessXofXdeadXloveXxx: LOL! I know! I thought I would get more comments on the pocket watch. But oh well, some one thought it was funny. And your friends liked it too? YAY! XD! Here is your update! Thanks for the review!
Maska: Glad you liked it! Nasrin sings, but she isn't good, she's terrible actually. When Erik said the whole, "ethereal singing" thing, he was making fun of her. Sorry, should have made that clearer. I'll clarify it in a few chapters anyway, though. And yes, Nasrin is a little blunt, so I would back away too. (shrugs) she's just like that. As for the person Nasrin murdered, think back a few chapters. It will be stated plainly in chapter 12, so if you don't understand who it was, Erik makes a comment in which he says it. Thank you for the review! Here is your update!
Ethalas Tuath'an: Oh, your name is very pretty! I like it. Thank you for the lovely review. I am so happy you like Nasrin! She appreciates it.
Nasrin: Thank you! (bows)
Shade: Anyway, I'm glad you really liked the story so far! I hope I don't disappoint you later on. (But for the most part, I believe Nasrin's actions closely correspond with the movie and play, so if you ever saw the play and/or the movie, you will be able to follow the story very well.) Thanks again for the review and here is your update!
Norma Jean the Dancing Machine: LOL, that is a funny name! I like it! I am pleased that you like it so far. Thank you! Here is your update!