Chapter 9

Nadir closed the door of his study, and examined the dark room. In the corner, his eye caught a glimpse of a white mask.

"Ah, Erik, old friend. To what do I owe this visit?" He lit a few candles that sat on a small table, and pulled a chair over to Erik. He took notice of an open bottle of brandy, half gone, and an empty syringe sitting on the stand next to the chair Erik sat in.

"What do you think God is punishing me for? Murder, or lust?" When Erik spoke, Nadir knew he must have been drinking more than just that bottle, because his voice was slurred, and it smelled heavily of alcohol,. His usual tense and poised body was slouched carelessly in the chair, most likely the morphine was kicking in. Erik ran his hand dawn the side of his mask, "Or is it still for my looks?"

"And what punishment are you taking about?" Nadir took a sip from the open bottle.

"Life." He shook his head. "You would think someone like me would have died by now? But no, I have to live on. I'm to old to still be alive." He coughed horsely, then laid his head back against the back of the chair.

"You forget I'm the same age, old friend."

"Yes, well, life has been good to you, my lucky friend. Your happy, and getting married to the little Empress, while I live in this hell, everything is against me, and now my voice flees like everything else I've ever cared about, with this damn cough."

"What about your organ?"

"The one in my old home? That I've sworn I would never go back to?" He sighed, and dropped his head into his hands.

"Why again did you leave it?"

"Christine." He took a sip from the bottle.

"She thinks your dead."

"Oh, and you know that how?" He asked sceptically.

"Why, Meg Giry. Christine tells her everything and besides," Nadir paused, unsure if he should continue.

"Besides what?" Erik picked up on his hesitation.

"Well, Christine left. She lives in London. Raoul and her moved there, after she had another child, a rather beautiful baby girl, Sasha..." Nadir wanted to finish telling him about her, but something in his heart wouldn't let him. Erik looked up into the eyes of his old friend.

"So, she won't come back, to Paris? Even if she did, for Little Giry's wedding, she wouldn't come looking for me? Is she believes me dead, there would be no reason for her to back to my home."

"No, there isn't, and besides, I'm assuming you don't plan on dieing just anywhere." Nadir joked, he could tell a smile crept across Erik's face.

"Oh no, I would rather die in my little hole in the ground."

"Actually I am surprised for how long you have stayed away. fourteen years, that is a long time to be away from the only place you find comfort."

"Your right, I guess."