NOTE: Shea-haba means beautiful, I spelt it phonetically so you can imagine

Sara gave Christine murderous looks as she marched up towards them both. Erik caught her before she could reach Christine, who gasped at the rage she could see imprinted in the woman's face. The pretty woman was trying to get past Erik, screaming things in her direction. Erik was shouting back at her, in fluent Persian. Christine had never heard him speak like this before, yet it still sounded familiar, with the same deep rumble deep from his chest. Yet this voice had no softness to it. He was speaking quite harshly to the woman, or as far as she could make out.

"Who is this! Why was she touching you!" Sara was yelling at Erik, yet keeping a deathly glare at the young girl behind him.

"It's none of your business!" Erik snarled at her. Sara stopped struggling and looked hurt. She backed away from Erik, looking at him painfully from his harsh words. Erik almost regretted it, but he couldn't forgive her for just interrupting what was just about to happen.

"I…I thought…we…" Sara stammered; her massive dark eyes full of pain. Erik sighed.

"There was no 'we'" He was forced to admit. He had enjoyed his time with Sara, she had been a good comfort to him, but he had slept with others before her, and felt no different to her than the others, he just admired the compassion she would show him. Even though his feelings were none existent towards her, he felt a rush of guilt, as he had had his fair share of rejection. "Sara, I thank you for your time, but I told you, our acquaintance has to stop."

"I know, I just…I just thought you may…" She cast a look back at Christine. "Does she know about us?"

Christine was watching from behind Erik, and grew worried at the seriousness of the conversation. When the woman looked back at her, and muttered something, silence came. Christine took a step forward.

"Erik…what's going on? Who is this woman?" Erik didn't turn, and kept his gaze on Sara's face, which looked back at Christine when she spoke, and then back at Erik. Erik was frowning and breathing through his nose heavily.

"No one, Christine. Sara is…is another lord's maid in Persia, she… she delivers messages for me."

Christine did not believe his story one bit. She frowned and cast a questioning look at Sara, who held hatred in her eyes for Christine. Why would she be looking at her like that if she was who Erik says she was? All arrows pointed to this woman having feelings for Erik...

The woman muttered something to Erik in a menacing voice before turning on her heel, and making towards the doorframe to the corridors. Before leaving she turned back, and to the shock of the both, spoke in heavy accented English.

"I am no messenger. This man has spent many a night in my company, and now thinks he can just turn me away. I wish you good luck, pretty girl. Maybe you will tame him."

Christine's jaw was wide with shock, as Erik cringed at her words. He gawped at her as she disappeared into the darkness. He didn't turn, and Christine didn't move. She clutched the letter in her hand hard, as if it may give her more advice. None came. Her mind was a blur. Erik had a lover? Her heart began to sink, sink lower than ever. This hurt her more than his rejection. She felt complete sadness and maddening jealousy all at once. She moved in front of Erik slowly. He didn't meet her eyes for a long time, keeping his glued to his feet. She reached out her hand and lifted his chin up slowly.

"Is this true?"

He nodded solemnly. She felt the tears well up again and brim over the edge. As they fell, she looked to the ground, unwilling for him to see her tears over him. She brushed them away angrily.

"It's not like it makes a difference to you." He said to her spitefully. "You don't love me."

Christine clenched her jaw. Should she admit it? Should she deny it? Should she just leave him and not say a word? How could he be so cruel, after allowing her to be taken away by him again, not to long before? She could take no more of this.

"….Ok Erik."

She lifted the note from her father to her chest as she turned and left him in the courtyard.

Erik swore loudly, and knelt on the floor, curling into himself. He twisted his fingers into his hair and clutched at it violently. Why! WHY! WHY! Why the hell did he say that? She was about to…to… he didn't know, but it was not an act someone would do out of not loving. He had just thrown Christine's and Sara's recent compassion back in they're faces. Then again, Christine had done the same to him. It just seemed that he was doing it a lot more to her than she has done to him. Once again, the battle raged in his head and heart as he retired to his room. Forgiveness was not something he expected from Christine, and now lost faith in it ever happening. He had just lost her all over again.

- --

Tap. Tap. Tap.

"Christine…"

Christine was laid on her bed, ignoring the quiet knocks on her door.

"Christine, I'm coming in, dear. I've brought you some breakfast."

The door was opened slowly and Hadjira moved into the room with a large tray of mixed fruit, and an array of breads and things Christine hadn't recognised till she had arrived in Persia. She set the tray down and sat on the bed with Christine, brushing some silent tears from her cheeks.

"Oh dear dear, what is the matter, shea-haba? What is worrying your pretty head?" She stroked her hair comfortingly. Christine sniffed a few times, and sat up slightly.

"Eri…Hal-tef…he…he has a…a woman…"

Hadjira frowned.

"Madame, he 'has' no woman, or to say, he does not own a woman. Of course not."

Christine sat up further, rubbing her eyes angrily.

"That's not what I meant! You know…you know who I mean!"

Hadjira knew Christine had not forgotten the woman she saw leaving the house that day, but she did not know what Erik had now told Christine about Sara, or others. Hadjira decided that the truth was best in this situation.

"Hal-el-tef has many a beautiful woman for company, Madame, like a lot of lords in Persia. Sara is…"

"A whore. I know." Christine said angrily.

"Madame! Don't let me hear you speak of such a word again! Sara is a concubine, but recently, her visits have overstayed her usual time. May the master have a certain fondness for her, then so be it."

Christine half sighed, half sobbed at this. Hadjira watched her quietly for a while, handing her wipes for her tears. She hugged the young girl warmly.

"If I may be so bold, young Madame, forgive me, but the master seems, well… I know it is not my place…but he seems a little…besotted with you?"

Christine looked at her through blurry eyes, frowning a little.

"I…but, I cant, I …left, he doesn't care." She babbled. The thing Christine was finding so very strange was the way Hadjira would talk of Erik. Christine had never been able to talk about him to anyone before, as he was her angel, her personal mentor, and to everyone else, The Phantom of the Opera. A ghost. Talking about his feelings for her, like he was…human, was a new feat for Christine. She found it a little over bearing.

"He…he scares me sometimes…" To her surprise, she found herself talking to the smiley maid, with the huge heart, telling her for the first time about her emotions. "He scares me to the point of terror. I…I spent nights lying in bed, hearing his voice in my head, waiting for night to end. And yet…I was pulled to him for a reason I don't know why…I don't know. And I know that what scares me is what...attracts. I'm sorry, I'm making no sense.."

Hadjira patted her arm comfortingly, and kissed her forehead. Christine felt a huge release leave her, that she could finally state her confusion, than keep it stored confusing her to the point of constant headaches and rapidly changing emotions. She felt a strong serge of gratitude towards Hadjira.

"Listen, my dear." She held one of her hands as she talked. "You will know when you see the world in their eyes, and their eyes everywhere in the world."

Christine was moved by her words, and smiled at her slightly, as she left the room. She did see him everywhere she went, her thoughts, her dreams, her waking moments, and she saw her whole self, her life, the world in his eyes. But what did that mean she knew?

These thoughts ran through her head as she approached that large iron door at the end of the corridor. Tonight, she would finally confront the emotions of Erik and her past, present and future.