A/N: I apologise to anyone who's still reading this for the lapse between updates. I promise I'm still involved in finishing this project. You might want to read Interlude I before this one. Kisses to Leroux and Kay. This story is a 'work-in-progress', and I really hope you enjoy it! Please read & review!

Erik 1853: Interlude II

And what an exciting game of cat and mouse that raged within the walls of my palatial estate after that meeting. In the mornings she easily lost her male shadow. Reports from him were vague and infuriating. My brother — yes, I had made him a eunuch as soon as I knew I carried the heir to the throne of all Persia — could not be bothered to chase after a white-skinned girl. I threatened him with his life.

'Sister,' he spat back at me, 'you have already denied me my manhood and a future incarnation through heirs. Taking my life now would be a blessing, not a curse.'

'Ghassān, I could see to it that your death took weeks,' it was a promise I knew I could keep. 'Keep better watch of my playthings.'

'Keep watch of them yourself,' he turned his back and slammed the door in the antechamber with such force that a vase of chrysanthemums shattered against the tile floor.

I screamed and beat my fists against my thighs. Blood be damned; I will have his head! First, I have to contend with my slippery eel, Nājia. Just then, as if by sorcery, a knock sounded against the door. Hardly dressed for mixed company, but caring even less, I sauntered to the heavy oak and trusted to the one advantage I had over my guest — deadly feminine wiles. On the other side stood Nadir Khan. Curious that he should come to me when I needed a male with skills outside of a woman's bed.

'Your Most Exalted Name Be Praised,' he prostrated himself in controlled reverence. Seeing him gravel always did bring a kind of joy to my heart. I let him lay against the floor as the seconds flitted by like torturous minutes. His obeisance must have given him some discomfort, for when I finally acknowledged his presence he rose flushed and sweating.

But such joys are fleeting in the face of genuine need. 'Nadir, how good it is to see you. To what great honour do I owe this visit?'

He threw me a questioning glance. 'My Lady of Light and Mercy,' inwardly I was giggling at his forced flattery, 'you summoned me to report to you once the palace neared completion. It is almost finished.'

'Delightful news,' I clapped my hands. 'I have another matter of state security for you to oversee, daroga.'

'My service is yours to command,' he said, but his eyes told me differently. A great deal of fear sat on his brow. His discomfort permeated the air between us and tasted like a delicious bite of summer's first melon. I savoured the flavour as I ran my tongue — hoping to tear it and finally taste blood — over the sharp point of my incisor.

It would serve me well to have him en guard, so I did nothing to assuage his growing concern.

'Do you know of Nājia,' he quickly nodded in recognition of the name. 'I wish for you to follow her during the daylight hours. Report every movement outside of my jurisdiction, every person she speaks to, and most importantly, any type of gifts given freely to, or from, her person.'

Nadir raised an eyebrow and regarded me with quiet civility. 'My Lady, your son requires me to observe Erik more carefully now that his work comes to a close.'

'The matter involves Erik as much as it involves her, so don't worry about what my son has commanded.' To see him fidget uncomfortably before me caused my mouth to salivate. For a split second I wished to feel his tongue on my body. Torture always filled me with powerful sexual heat.

Instead, I turned struck out at him. 'Do you watch him now as carefully as you watched him while he poisoned your son in your own home, Nadir?'

'Reza didn't feel … I mean … my son died peacefully because of his illness,' he finally managed. 'Don't let unfounded palace gossip sully Your Majesty with falsehoods.'

At last, a game in which I could really sink my talons!

'Don't let yourself be swayed by the false friendship of the man who murdered your son at dusk,' I countered. Details were power. 'Forget not that I have informants farther than the farthest corners of my son's kingdom. My reach goes well beyond your ability to weave simple lies.'

His fists balled and clenched at his sides, but he said nothing — only cast his eyes down and waited patiently for any further berating I might bestow. The game was over more quickly than it had began. Disappointment flooded my wicked heart. I dismissed him with a broad flick of my wrist.

'Remember where your loyalties lie, dear daroga,' I warned him coolly, 'for you don't want to be on the receiving side of my wrath.'

The sound of the door clicking behind him stood as his answer. A man with no wife, no son, and no hope could be a dangerous man indeed. Perhaps I had played the wrong hand at last. Only time would reveal any misjudgements. And those would be easily rectified. They always were … with death and the iron smell of blood.

My appetite for destruction had been whetted.

Dressing in something more befitting to the mother of the Persian Shah, I left my chambers and followed the garden paths to my son's throne room. For the time being, it seemed empty. I studied the jewels, due to a sudden trick of the light, in the Peacock Throne. One of them didn't catch the light the way the others did. Much to my chagrin, I discovered one of the larger stones was loose in its casing. The moment I pressed my fingers against its smooth face it fell out.

What had passed as a gem smashed against the floor and broke into several sharp pieces … of glass. Horrified at the theft, I searched the throne over and over until I discovered three more pieces of glass masquerading as precious stones. Outrage filled me and I was reduced to grinding my teeth. Erik would pay for this! He would pay for denying me my amusement and stealing for his own!

A flurry of movement in the main hallway forced me to appear calm as my son and several of his advisors rushed into the room. They began to fall over themselves trying to outdo the title bequeathed to me by the man before him. I waved them away impatiently.

'Mâhter,' he took my hands and kissed me quickly on the cheek, 'with what do I owe your dazzling presence here? I was just discussing the feast to christen the Garden of Echoes later this month. Any sumptuous ideas to inspire our guests?'

I let him indulge in his childish fascination with a pile of stone, but only until I had calmed myself. 'I believe we have a thief in our midst. And … I believe that thief is our very own Master Magician.'

He stood with his mouth agape. I watched as the colour rose to his face and he tried several times to speak without shouting out obscenities.

'Tell me you haven't suspected it all along. Nothing ever went missing before he came to us. First it was the Glory of the World's collar, and now I've discovered several expensive jewels have been replaced in your very own throne with glass.'

'Glass? Are you sure?'

'Yes, darling, glass,' I opened my hand to show him the proof.

He still didn't move. It seemed as though he was torn between blaming me that his favourite toy was irreversibly broken and disbelieving me all together.

'You know I speak the truth. That man has never given you any gesture of respect for your position. He never acknowledges any of your proper titles, such as Shah of the Universe,' I cooed and coddled. 'And now, he spits in your most generous face with his treachery. Erik's lack of fealty is found in his insolent manner. It must end … and soon.'

He nodded slowly. I knew he wasn't ready to give Erik up yet. I needed to be understanding and firm. The boy I had raised to conquer kingdoms looked as though he were on the verge of crying. Such weakness should have been bred out of him generations ago. It came from his father's side surely, but seeing as I'd killed his father years ago I'd never get the chance to strike him down for this defect in character as well.

'What do you propose we do now?' he whinged. 'Do we torture him and keep his genius alive? Tell me what to do, Mâhter, for I trust your judgement in this matter.'

Rashly, I advised, 'Have his eyes put out at once. He should be punished for delighting in taking whatever he sees and thinks beautiful. Taking things that do not belong to him for sport; I'm sure that's just the beginning of his crimes against you.'

'If I have his eyes burned from his skull,' he was thinking aloud, 'then Erik won't be able to tell others what he's seen. He won't be able to design another ruler's palace.'

The boy in him would never die. He had commissioned a beautiful toy on a grand scale, and now the thought that someone else might have one threatened him more than the fact that he was being robbed. It almost sickened me. Sickened yes, but also made me think.

'Darling,' I stroked his back, 'I have a better plan.'

And I laid out for him exactly how I intended on torturing Erik, while hiding the fact that it would give me gratification like I had not known since the introduction of the Punjab lasso.

Erik, dark and dangerous Erik, why did you deny me the wonders of your flesh? Now you would suffer something Persia has never witnessed: a most exquisite death.