Disclaimer: I don't own the Phantom of the Opera in any way. If I did, the song "All I Ask of You" would be banned in context, but that is a different story. I don't own the Persian, either, which is disappointing because he is one of my favorites. I do own Danielle, though.
Three cheers for the Persian!
A/N: I am celebrating today. I have more than 30 reviews and more than 1500 hits. I am on 11 favs lists, 15 alert lists, and I am in 2 c2s. Thank you all for being so supportive. You all rock!
Chapter Ten: A Protector
Danielle
Danielle woke up the next day and was a little disappointed that she was completely alone in her bedroom, though she mentally denied it. It's not as if she had expected him to stay or had wanted him to stay. That would have been singularly ungentlemanly of him. Erik was certainly a gentleman. She bathed, dressed, and then sought out her teacher. It didn't take long. All she had to do was follow the sound of organ music.
And there was Erik, working as usual, dressed as usual, with his back to her as usual.
You see, everything is completely normal, she thought, ignoring the fact that, after his usual greeting, he seemed to eye her more furtively than was typical or necessary.
Nevertheless, his voice betrayed no emotion when he asked, "Are you ready for your moment to prove everyone else wrong?"
"Not at all," she answered truthfully. "But I'll do my best to make you proud of me."
"Good," he said. "If you do your best, you can't fail. I'd hate for all of our hard labor to come to nothing."
"I think the only way I'm going to be able to sing at all when the time comes will be to remember you during the song."
Erik didn't answer, but turned away to hide the unnatural blush creeping over his features.
Danielle did think of Erik during her audition and sang perfectly. Who better to inspire her when singing as the Queen of the Night than the king of the night? The last notes of her song were greeted by the cheers of everyone in the room, and, though none could hear it, the whisper of the word "Brava" echoed several times from the darkness surrounding Box Five. Danielle felt that her eyes must have been such a dark green that they were nearly black.
Erik looked very proud when he met her in their old music room. Danielle threw her arms around his neck in her excitement. She closed her eyes and simply enjoyed their closeness for a moment before pulling away, a bit embarrassed that she had ignored his personal space in such a way. She didn't want to appear forward. Danielle gazed into his eyes, silently begging for his approval.
"You sang excellently today, Danae. Only a fool would refuse to give you a lead after that spectacular performance. I know you will soon shine for all of France."
Danielle smiled at the pet name he had given her. She used to feel that it was a little risqué, but now it just seemed to fit somehow. She had even started calling herself Danae in her own head. She also smiled at the compliment Erik had paid her. His approval had come to mean more than her father's.
They went back home and had a celebratory dinner. Unbeknownst to them, someone was very close to their home.
Erik
After singing a few duets, Erik thought that it would soon be time for Danielle to retire. It had been an exciting day for both of them, and she needed her rest. The cast would be announced the next day, and she would probably on edge. It would be torture to go through the wait if she weren't well rested. Unfortunately, just as he was about to suggest this very course of action, the most insufferable human being in the country, no on the planet, landed on their shore in a little wooden rowboat. Danielle, of course, had no idea who this dark-skinned personage in the long frock-coat was, but Erik knew him all too well.
"Daroga," he shouted as the Persian clambered out of the boat. "What do you think you're doing here?"
"I came to see if you were still alive, Erik. It's been a long time since I heard from you," the stranger retorted.
"I don't want you here," Erik said.
"Well, I am here, so there's very little you can do about it," he said, apparently unhindered by Erik's rudeness. The Persian finally caught sight of Danielle. He continued apprehensively in his native tongue, "Who is this young woman, Erik?"
"This," said the Phantom, following Nadir's example, giving them a language barrier and, therefore, some privacy, "is my student, not that it's any of your concern."
"Anyone you hurt is of my concern; you know that. You became my concern when I saved your life," the Persian spat at his old "friend."
"I have no intention of hurting her, Daroga. You should know that," Erik snapped.
"You may not have any intentions of hurting her, but that doesn't mean that you won't cause her pain in some way," Nadir sighed.
"She is perfectly happy here with me. She is also perfectly safe," Erik growled. "I would like to hear that from the lady herself," the Persian said evenly.
"Very well," Erik said in French. "Daroga, this is my student, Danielle D'Artoi. Danielle, this is an old acquaintance of mine, Nadir Khan."
"It is an honor to meet you, Mademoiselle," Nadir said, taking her hand.
"Please, Monsieur Khan, call me Danielle," she told him with a charming smile.
Nadir looked to Erik for approval before responding. When Erik nodded for him to speak, the former daroga said, "Then you must call me Nadir. After all, we should all be friends here." Erik snorted sarcastically. Without missing a beat, he continued, "Danielle, how did you come to know Erik, if I may ask?"
"He found me singing in an abandoned dressing room and asked if I would allow him to give me lessons. I couldn't refuse after hearing him sing," she replied with another coy smile. "It was all just like a fairy tale. Like having a fairy godmother, of sorts."
She and Nadir both found Erik's subsequent glare highly amusing. Nadir was impressed by the girl's bravery. Anyone else would have been killed for such a statement, him included. The girl, however, was not only immune to the Trap-Door Lover's threats; she knew that she was.
Erik broke in, "Nadir and I have much to say to each other, I'm sure. Perhaps you should go to bed now, Danielle."
"Oh, but we never have visitors, Erik. I am anxious to learn more of Nadir," she pleaded.
"I'm sure you will in time," Erik assured her. "Now that he knows there's a pretty girl here, we won't be able to get rid of him." Which is quite true, Erik thought ruefully. He'll constantly pester us about the "danger posed by my attentions."
"Then I'll leave you two gentlemen to talk. Good-night, Erik. Good-evening, Nadir," she said as she headed for her door.
Once they were finally alone, Erik and Nadir retired to the drawing-room. Erik took a seat in his favorite armchair and gestured for Nadir to do the same. The former daroga merely stood in a disconsolate sort of way, his shoulders sagging.
The Persian asked solemnly, with a hint of fear, "What is she doing here?"
"You know very well what she is doing here. She is taking voice lessons," Erik said evasively.
"There is more to this story than either of you are telling me. I also have a feeling that there is a great deal more to the story than the girl is aware of. I want a very detailed explanation of why you are living with a beautiful young female singer. If you have no intentions of hurting her, what intentions do you entertain?"
"I heard her singing one day in Christine's old dressing room. She was writing a song, actually. I heard her singing on the rooftop a few days later. I decided to offer my services as an instructor. She accepted. End of story."
"Does she know who you are, what you've done," Nadir asked desperately, walking about the room.
"She knows who I am," Erik returned, ignoring the second half of the Persian's question.
"Does she know that you are a murderer? A torturer? Does she know about the Vicomte and Vicomtesse de Chagny? Erik, you can't keep her here without telling her what kind of man you are."
"She will know when the time is right for her to know."
"You mean once you have hypnotized her to such a degree that she won't care about your past?"
"I am not hypnotizing her," Erik said indignantly.
"Then what are your intentions," he demanded once again.
"I intend to make her a star," Erik answered sharply.
"Are you telling me that you have no romantic interest in the girl," the Persian asked dryly.
"That is exactly what I am telling you," Erik lied. "Do you think that I'm stupid enough to try to woo another woman? Only a fool would make such an attempt with a face like this one."
"You have no feelings for her," Nadir asked, coming to a halt directly in front of Erik's chair.
"Of course, I have feelings for her, you dolt. What man wouldn't? She's intelligent, beautiful, talented, and extremely kind. Because of those attributes, I can't imagine troubling her with my fondness for her. She doesn't deserve the pain of knowing that a monster thinks of nothing but her." He ended despairingly. "I care for her too much to hurt her like that."
"Then why keep her here?"
"Because I want her here."
"Does she want to be here?"
"I'm not forcing her to live with me if that's what you're asking," Erik said stiffly. "She can leave whenever she wishes to leave. She understands that. Furthermore, she didn't have to come here in the first place."
"Is the girl innocent, Erik?"
"Is she what," the Phantom shouted, rising angrily.
"Have you taken any liberties with her?"
"Of course not, Daroga. Danielle is perfectly innocent. If I had taken any "liberties" do you think that she could stand to look at me? Do you think that I would be so cruel?"
"I shouldn't have mentioned it, I know. I just worry about you sometimes and, consequently, about those around you. You don't always keep your self-control, especially where your heart is concerned." He paused. There was a question he felt was nearly as important as his last, but potentially more dangerous to pose. "Is there anyone else in Danielle's life," the daroga asked delicately.
"She has a father and a brother. She also has one friend, Madame Giry, the ballet mistress."
"That's not what I meant, Erik. Has she any suitor?"
"None that she would seriously consider marrying," Erik scoffed.
"How do you know?"
"There are a few actors who wouldn't mind spending a pleasant night with her, but she wouldn't do such a thing. No one else has given her a second glance."
"But there may be several men vying for her attentions once you've made her a star," Nadir reasoned. "What happens then?"
"Daroga, you tire me," Erik said wearily. "I insist that you leave me to my peace. I also insist that you don't confront Danielle alone. It would be very dangerous for you if you did." And for me, he thought.
"I can't leave you alone, Erik, and I certainly won't leave the lady alone. I am responsible for your actions since my misguided pity is the reason that you weren't destroyed years ago. I won't rest until I know that she and those she cares about are in no danger from you."
"She doesn't need a protector, Nadir. She has me for that."
"That isn't a very comforting thought, Erik," the Persian said as he climbed back into his rowboat.
Soon Erik was left to his thoughts. What would he do if Nadir told Danielle too much, too soon? What would Danielle do? It made Erik nauseous to think of the things Nadir could tell her, would tell her, given the chance. His situation suddenly seemed much more complicated than it had this morning.
