Erik and Adriana made to leave the dance floor, only to find themselves blocked by an uptight Raoul de Changy.
"What are you doing here?" he hissed at Erik, who straightened, Raoul glanced at Adriana who still had her arm nestled in the Phantom's elbow.
"Come away from him my lady, quickly. This monster will likely rape then kill you!" he beckoned eagerly to Adriana, who stood still.
With a snarl, Erik started forward, Adriana placed a restraining hand on his shoulder and stepped forward instead.
"For a start, Vitcomte" she began in dangerously quiet tones, "I am not your lady, nor any other man's for that matter. And secondly, who is to say I have not killed myself? To kill a person, really is a small thing, but to destroy their heart and soul," she glanced at Christine, who flushed, "That is a far worse accomplishment, and, incidentally, one of my many talents."
"Murderess!" Raoul hissed angrily, sounding shocked, "I will have you brought to justice!"
Adriana laughed scornfully, "Ah, but do you know who I am, Vitcomte?" she spat the title with contempt, "That's the trick with a masquerade, you never know who it is your speaking with." Ignoring the sputtering Raoul, she turned to Christine,
"I hope you are happy, Christine," she said without malice, "I believe you made the wrong choice, but I hope you find joy in what you now have." She spared a glance at Raoul,
"Goodnight fop," she smiled sweetly, "I hope you can't sleep at night because of the thought of a dark figure climbing into your window with a sharp dagger gleaming in the moonlight." With that parting shot, Erik led her back towards their hidden entrance, leaving both Raoul and Christine white-faced and shaking.
"An interesting little interlude," Erik remarked as they made their way back to his temporary hideaway.
"I thought so," Adriana replied, as he offered her a chair. With a sigh, she reached up and untied the black ribbons on her masque. She removed her masque and looked at it fondly, stroking the flowing contours gently, before placing it beside her. She looked up at Erik expectantly, "You dance incredibly well, by the way." She complimented him, Erik was looking at her in amusement, "Thankyou, my dear, but if you don't mind me saying so, you do not appear eighteen years of age."
Adriana sighed and propped her head up on her hand, leaning her elbow on the back of her chair, curling her ankles below the seat, Erik was momentarily reminded of a self-satisfied cat, purring comfortably. "If you tell me I look younger, I will scream at you," she told him calmly, Erik chuckled, "No, not younger, more…ageless"
Adriana considered this, "I can deal with that," she shrugged.
Erik sat across from her, on the same chair he had occupied earlier, crossing his arms, "So where are you from?" he asked. Adriana raised her head from her arm,
"Would you believe me if I told you I was from the halfway around the world, and about one hundred and twenty odd years into the future?"
"It would explain why you speak with such a strange accent," Erik replied guardedly.