Chapter 51 The Persian

Review Replies:

Kiss of Darkness: Thankyou! for once I got to be descriptive and it sounded right! I hate people reading what I'm writing, but i had no paper and didnt want to get caught and have it confiscated.

trisana: Yeah, Psychology, Biology, CHemistry, 2 in Further Maths, English and Literature...I pass them and I graduate in 6 weeks! God help me!

fantome de l'Opera: Its not that I dont want to reply, I just dont have TIME right now! Look up year 12 VCE in Australia, its a damn hard thing to do when you're doing extra subjects! I'm sorry for ignoring you, forgive me? (puppydog eyes)

Miss Black Shadow: Thankyou! Yes, and he works with my Dad (Principal of the primary school next door) so you would think woulndt you?

AngelicFlutist: So do I, my mum would kill me if she knew though, I'm not even sposed to be writing that much at the moment with exams, let alone on my arms (she hates when I do that)

daughterofdarkness87: Thankyou! Short work is often some of my better, I find it hard to write long chapters spontaneously.

Cap'n Meg: Holidays! I love Holidays! Drinks all round!

Phantom'sJediBandieGirl: Heh, No I had to use a European phrasebook to find the words, but I always loved Madeline

mrs. malfoy: Wow, if this is all you've got, you musnt have much more of a life than me...your reviews are all ive got to life for at the moment!

Sapphirearia: Naomi is naomipoe, she writes "Attack of the Muses" and is an allround fun chickadee, Lily of the Valley is May, small plant with little white and green flowers

Phantomluvr: Use your imagination...even I havent figured it out yet!

Sirruis's Sister: Aww! Thanks! I blush!

Ethalas Tuath'an: My problem is I dont want them in love yet, because then I would have no story...if you want love and fluff, try The Healer if you havent already, that's where i rid myself of all my hideously fluffy notions. Love is a very strange thing, you cant just expect it to happen, its something that cannot be contained, captured or defined, let alone forced, if i forced Erik's love, it would be like keeping a 10 year old in kinder, and the characters and story would never develop or mature properly, they would be trapped like dolls in stasis for me to play with rather than having a personality of their own. Ok, I've rambled enough now, I'm shutting up.

sugar high pixie: Thanks! your making me blush!

Phantomfreak07: Ha! You're american or European arent you? Southern Hemisphere baby! Australian! School holidays for spring! 2 weeks off! I loooooooove doing suspense...its so much fun to make people squirm

MasqueradingThroughLife: Wow! Thankyou! I tried, very hard, the kiss was actually inspired by the term "hypnotic poison" which is a perfume I found in the chemist, I didnt like the smell, but I loved the phrase.

Adibugs Fact for study to pray she wont fail:

Photosynthesis: 6CO2 + 12H2O - C6H12O6 + 6H2O

and a quote "Conscience is the little ma inside your head who tells you not to do things-only I havent got one" Border Crossing

With a gracious step, Erik and Adriana glided into the foyer of the Persian, a small ornately decorated room, the walls were dark crimson and edged in gold, hanging plants climbed over one wall, half obscuring a mural of a garden with vines and flowers. A mahogany lectern, with a hulking Persian man bowed low over it, stood by a pair of carved doors, closed, but engraved so that diamonds of viewing space could be looked through and into the main dining room within.

The doorman looked up as they entered, his eyes widened in shock as he took in the Phantom's long black form commanding all eyes in the small, richly painted room. His gaze flickered to Adriana, standing haughtily in quiet observance beside Erik, cloaked in shadow, but with streaming mouse-blonde hair framing her grey eyes as she looked around with unabashed curiosity.

"Darius," Erik greeted the large Persian curtly, "I require a private room for myself and my companion, and your master's presence when he sees fit to join us," there was a mocking, arrogant tone in the Phantom's beautiful voice, and Adriana's eyes were drawn to him curiously (OMG! Major déjà vu experience just then! I've had this in a dream before! Freaking out here!).

Darius nodded slowly in fear, and politely bowed his way out, Adriana caught his eye and dropped one lid in a slow wink, terrifying the Persian servant even further, "Smooth," she commented, glancing up at his golden eyes, Erik raised an eyebrow behind his mask, she grinned pertly at him, "You're so much fun when you're all intimidating and scary,"

"A pity it never works on you," Erik replied.

She sniggered in reply, "Oh it works all right," her eyes danced mischievously, "Not the way you'd be expecting though,"

Erik blinked, her absolute frankness and willingness to share every gruesome detail of every little thing unnerved him sometimes. He was saved from having to answer by the reappearance of Darius, who bowed to them and motioned with one large, gold-cuffed hand, "If you will follow me?" he said in heavily accented French, Erik nodded once and offered his arm to Adriana. She slipped her and through as Darius made a motion to two black skinned servants on either side of the doors to pull the painted mahogany open.

A huge room, filled with Paris' finest greeted them decorated in traditional Persian colours, strong bold tones offset with heavy amounts of gold. They were standing on a three sided dais, with a trio of short staircases leading off, one to the centre of the room, and the others to the left and right, where corridors branched off to curtained rooms, where golden lamplight spilled through the gaps between curtain and floor.

Erik tensed, his long frame as stiff as a broomstick, positioning himself immediately behind one of the large vases, filled with lilies, which broke up the platform. Darius gave a curious half bow and motioned to the right, Erik followed quickly, his black cloak and coat frock flying behind him as his thin legs ate up the red carpet quickly in an effort to find the shadows again. Adriana hurried to keep up, half running under her skirts to match the Phantom's pace. She looked around curiously at the many people there, dragging back on Erik's arm so that she could better see. Erik paused and looked down at her, golden eyes burning, he shook his head slightly and she bowed hers in apology. He set off again, more slowly this time, as propriety dictated, until they reached the corner corridor, Adriana followed him, still glancing around curiously, certain she had seen Odile at a table somewhere, deep in conversation with the managers.

They were led down a sandstone coloured hallway, set out with more lilies on teak and mahogany tables, and set with mirrors, reflecting the view of the dining room back into the rooms, so that private diners could view the main dining room, and yet remain unseen. It was quieter here, the noise of the crowd and small quintet of Persian musicians muffled by the deep carpet, the scent of strange drugs and euphoria's pervaded the air and Adriana's nose twitched at the smells, they continued on, led by their silent Persian guide, until they reached the final curtain of plush amethyst velvet.

Darius held open the rich purple curtain that shaded the doorway to one of the most opulent private rooms, he entered after them and with a slight genuflection, took Adriana's crimson lined cloak. He glanced questioningly at Erik, who shook his head sharply, drawing back further into the shadows offered in one corner, Adriana stepped backwards, indicating he could go. The large Persian bowed again and backed out of the room, holding the curtain open for Nadir, who came striding in, his jade eyes shrewd and curious as he entered, Darius let the curtain drop as he left, cloak over his arm, and the view of the main dining room was cut off from sight.

"Erik!" Nadir cried, the Phantom nodded to the daroga, Nadir's jade eyes glanced sharply to the blue-dressed Adriana standing beside Erik's tall frame, "Mademoiselle," he inclined his head courteously, "I see you are still keeping company with our friend,"

Adriana dropped an extravagant curtsey, "Nice to see you too, Nadir," she replied, her casual remark offsetting her formal appearance.

"I would ask daroga, that you would not speak of me as though I am not here," Erik cut in, a trifle irritated. The short glimpse, however brief, of the large dining room with the brightly coloured Parisian crows and peacocks, had set him on edge. He longed for shadows and sweet blessed darkness, while Adriana on the other hand, absorbed every colour and delight the above world offered. Nadir sighed in reply to Erik's scathing comment and made a short bow in apology, "Of course, my friend," he acquiesced, he straightened and looked at them both, "I must admit I did not expect to see you here my friend, especially not with such…rumours, as there have been lately,"

Erik sighed and removed his fedora, and swept off his cloak, revealing his dress attire, "That, my dear daroga, is precisely why we are here," he replied, he offered Adriana a low settee which she sank onto, wriggling her toes uncomfortably in her shoes, then reclined onto a couch of his own, Nadir sat cross legged on a deep silk cushion and looked at them guardedly, "I have already told you all I know," he said, jade eyes serious in his swarthy face. Erik's golden eyes bored into the Persian's from behind the black porcelain of his mask, Nadir shifted uncomfortably for a moment and crossed his arms, "The police force will tell me no more tan I already told you," Still Erik waited only his eyes and mouth visible, yet he still gave the impression having an eyebrow raised, Adriana looked back and forth like a tennis spectator at the staring match, Nadir moved again, "I tell you truly my friend, whatever else there is, is of no concern or makes any sense," Erik's long hand tapped thoughtfully against the wooden carving of his headrest, "Such as?" he purred, Nadir's dark face shone with sweat, "There is the stench of chloroform on the bodies," he said, "and," he glanced at Adriana, who gave him a look as if to say, "I don't think you could shock me," "There are signs the women have been…misused," he hesitated again, "But the marks appear to be of the victims own doing,"

"Like?" Adriana pressed, Nadir's face was pale with illness, "Mademoiselle, I do not think as a woman you would care to face such things,"

"Try me," she retorted, Nadir glanced at Erik who nodded once, "I have utmost faith in Adriana's ready acceptance of things we would deem not worthy of a woman's attention, Daroga," he said softly, Nadir heaved a sigh and opened his mouth to reply when a soft cough at the doorway drew their attention, Nadir rose and peered through a gap in the curtain, he sighed again and slipped outside, "Yes Darvon?" he asked, Adriana leaned to one side to see a different Persian man, talking to Nadir. The other man bowed and left and she quickly righted herself as Nadir re-entered. "There are matters which require my attention," he apologised to Erik, "However the reports are in my office, I shall fetch them for you," Erik shrugged an acquiesce and nodded briefly. Nadir made a short bow, "Shall I order as well?" he asked Erik glanced at Adriana who gave a quick smile, "Why not" she replied, Nadir looked at Erik, "I trust your diet has not changed my friend?" he jested.

"What? Shadows and Music?" Adriana quipped, Nadir gave a short laugh, "And for you Mademoiselle?"

Adriana shrugged, "I have no idea, anything without cashews is fine,"

"No cashews?" Nadir echoed incredulously, "But they're-"

"Delicious, or so I'm told," Adriana replied self-deprecatingly, "And call me by my name Nadir, please?"

Nadir smiled, teeth white in his swarthy face, "As you wish, Mademoiselle,"