Chapter 5: Check Mate
Nadir had raced to catch up with Erik whom he found mounting a black stallion,
"Erik, wait!" Nadir yelled, rushing to the horse's side and saw how his masked friend glared down at him,
"You told me that you would watch out for her. She's broken, bruised and terrified... Do you call that watching out for her?!" Erik yelled,
"My friend, you must listen to me. What you saw back there was not what it seemed..." Nadir tried but Erik remained stubborn,
"She's terrified of me, Nadir... She thought I actually whipped her that day because I..." Erik struggled before looking down sadly but Nadir shook his head,
"Believe me, Erik. I have made good on my promise these past five years and I have watched out for her as best I can... I feared that the shah had succeeded in breaking her after his first obedience lesson with her... She was so quiet and her cheeks were covered in dry tears but during my rounds of the palace prison I saw her looking at... I know it might seem strange but she was looking at a chess piece. A rook. I'm not sure what it means but I've always had a feeling that it had something to do with you" Nadir explained and Erik soon developed an expression of realization as he slowly dismounted from Caesar; Nadir watched his friend's face curiously,
"... Does this mean something to you?" Nadir pressed,
"In the weeks leading up to my and Claire's plan to flee Persia... We carried out our normal routine throughout the day and we would play chess. She was determined to beat me..." Erik said with a slight chuckle, closing his eyes as he remembered that evening so many years ago.
Claire had smiled brightly as she examined the chess board before her,
"Oh I have you now" she announced smugly causing Erik to chuckle with a smirk,
"You say that every time we play" he teased but looked stunned as Claire moved her piece, claiming Erik's black rook and she smiled brightly,
"Check mate!" she declared proudly and Erik could only smile brightly as they both began laughing; A gentle form of celebration for Claire's first win in a game of chess.
Erik held a soft smile on his face as he remembered the happy times,
"She kept my rook as her prize for winning... If what you say is true then this means that she hasn't fallen for the shah's lies" Erik reasoned more to himself before looking at Nadir,
"I need you to sneak me into the dungeon. I need to see her" Erik told the Doroga whom smiled brightly,
"I am at your service my old friend" he assured and Erik held a smug smirk before both he and Nadir began planning their break in to the palace prison.
It was the dead of night that found Nadir and Erik making their way from shadow to shadow that the darkness helpfully provided them with; Nadir carefully timed the guard patrols as he and his masked friend made their way to a gate that defended the stone staircase that descended down into the palace dungeons;
"It's locked but have no fear. I brought these" Nadir assured as held up a set of lock picks but was stunned when Erik simply struck the gate with a heavy kick of his foot causing the lock to break and the gate to swing open and quickly descended,
"... Or you could just kick the gate right from its hinges" Nadir mumbled sarcastically before following his friend down the staircase.
Claire was sitting within one of the corners of her dark, damp cell and softly brushed her fingertips against the small black rook in her hand which she quickly hid when she heard someone coming but was stunned when Nadir appeared and smiled at the sight of her,
"Nadir..." she said in confusion,
"I've found her" Nadir called and Claire smiled brightly, standing when Erik came to Nadir's side and she rushed towards the bars,
"Erik... You're here" she whispered, cupping his cheek through the bar causing him to smile,
"I wasn't about to leave you behind... I must confess I almost did due to your fascinating skills as an actress but Nadir was able to inform me of your strength to refuse the shah's mind games" Erik explained as Nadir went off to find a key to the cell; Claire looked up at Erik softly,
"... I have missed you" she told him as Erik brushed a tender thumb across a bruise on her cheek,
"I have missed you too, my dear friend" he replied, collecting the key from Nadir when he returned to his side and quickly opened the cell, chuckling when Claire hugged him tightly,
"Now we must away from this place. It is taking me every strength not to go and make the shah pay for making you his mistress... Plus we have a rematch chess game scheduled, my dear" Erik told her with a teasing smirk causing Claire to giggle as they all quickly fled the prison.
Erik found it very irritating that it took a whole five hours to reach Nadir's home due to the fact that they had to wait long amounts of time so that they could pass through the marketplace safely without being caught by any of the guard patrols; Nadir and Erik quickly started packing provisions with Claire's assistance,
"There is a ferry we can take once we make it to the nearest port. All three of us should make it safely to Paris within the week" Erik informed,
"Paris?... Is that where you have been all this time?" Claire asked curiously and Erik smiled,
"I have been everywhere but Paris is the place I chose to settle down. I have built a safe haven where no one shall ever harm you again, Claire... You have my word" Erik told her, cupping her cheek as she smiled softly before providing her with a nightgown and a trench coat, instructing her to go and change out of her court garments.
An awkward silence developed between Erik and Nadir as they continued to pack provisions,
"... Erik? What exactly are your feelings for Claire?" Nadir asked causing Erik to look at him confused,
"What do you mean? Claire is my friend" Erik answered simply and Nadir rolled his eyes in amusement,
"No, Erik. I am your friend. What does Claire truly mean to you?" Nadir pressed,
"I would class you more as an unfortunate acquaintance... Claire is someone I am very thankful for. She doesn't judge me or look upon me with uncertainty because of my mask... She does not pressure me about what hides beneath it" Erik admitted and Nadir couldn't help but smile softly,
"She is still your wife despite what the shah says... Do you not love her?" Nadir asked, watching as Erik looked at him stunned,
"Love her?... No why would you ask such a thing?" Erik replied,
"Because I believe a part of her heart might just love you" Nadir told him simply but Erik chuckled,
"Believe me, Doroga. If you knew what lies beneath this mask then you would know that not a single person in this world can ever love me" Erik told him before going off to check on the patrols outside.
Erik could only thank silent forces for the fact that he, Claire and Nadir had been able to reach the nearest port from Persia; Erik was amused to discover that Nadir had sea sickness causing him to spend most of his time up on deck and offering his digested lunch to the sea creatures lurking beneath their ship. Erik turned his head to see Claire sleeping peacefully with her head rested against his shoulder and he gently brushed a ginger curl from her face, watching as she smiled softly within her dream filled sleep; Erik thought of the question that Nadir had asked him... Could he love her? Surely not. After all he had been told many times that a monster like himself was not capable of loving someone never mind being loved by someone else. No, Claire was simply his friend whom he vowed to protect... It was no surprise that Erik still couldn't help but wonder if a love between himself and Claire would ever be possible.
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TheAuthor1996