It was early in the morning when Eliza woke in Evan's arms. She glanced at the balcony and the sun was just starting to rise, then she rolled over on her side and looked at her hand admiring the small ring Evan had placed on her finger last night when she said yes. She smiled at the thought of being married to him. Then Evan began to stir rolling over and taking her back in his arms and kissed her shoulder. Eliza laughed a little bit. "Go back to sleep." He mumbled.
"Evan, you need to get up. If my father were to come in here it would mean the end of us both." She said laughing.
Evan groaned pulling away from her. "Fine." He said a little annoyed and it made her laugh. Evan quickly dressed and so did Eliza. As she stood in front of the mirror pulling up her hair Evan came up behind her hugging her. She smiled at him in the mirror, "I love you." He said making her blush a little.
"And I love you." She replied. Eliza and Evan went out onto the balcony talking and laughing, then at some point Eliza thought it might be a good idea for Evan to unlock the door. After he did Evan was right back by her side laughing with her. It was awhile later when the door opened and they looked up to see Erik.
Erik glared at the prince and pointed to him. "You, out." He said pointing to the door.
"Papa," Eliza called reminding him with her tone how rude he was being.
"It's alright Eliza." Evan said looking to her. He looked at Erik for a moment then left.
"Gustave said he was going to talk to you. Explain everything to you." Eliza said not liking how angry he still was.
"He did." Erik said trying his best to calm down. "But I want to hear all of this from you."
"I trust him Papa." She said simply
"Yes and I trusted Darius, and we all know where that led us." Erik said irritated.
Eliza glared at him shaking her head. "Don't you ever compare him to Darius. If Evan was even the slightest bit like Darius he would have thrown you in prison as soon as he saw you and kept me in the dark about you being here until you were dead. And you know that." Eliza said making Erik think a little. "He won't turn you in Papa. Evan isn't like the others. Believe it or not men like him do exist. Take yourself for example."
"Are you honestly comparing me, to him?!" Erik asked annoyed.
"Why not? I'm sure that even Christine could see it in him." Erik scoffed at her comparison, then looked down at her hand seeing the ring. Eliza was quick to cover it with her other hand.
"Well it's too late now." Erik said to her trying to hide it. "And when was I to know of this?" He asked irritated.
"I was hoping you would see things differently after Gustave had talked to you. We were going to tell you and Gustave over breakfast." Eliza said calmly.
Erik sighed and shook his head. "I feel like I don't even know you anymore Eliza."
"That's because you don't father." Erik looked at her shocked. "I feel as if ever since you and Christine were expecting the twins; I was just put aside for awhile." Erik was about to protest then Eliza continued. "I'm not saying that I was ignored by you or Christine, because I wasn't. I was raised and cared for, but father, you still see me as that little flower girl in your wedding. You still think I need you, but I don't. I have faced many challenges of my own and gotten through it just fine without you. You were so focused on Christine and what family you had with her that you didn't see me grow up." She said with a smile and a shrug. "You always hoped that I would grow up to be the next star of Phantasma, but that's not me. I don't know who I am, but I'm fine with that." She chuckled looking down at her ring. "I want to find out who I am, and being here is the closest I've come to that. I don't know if Evan and I will last honestly. But right now it feels right. Maybe I'll end up with some American dancer, or Spanish painter, or an Italian cook." She said laughing. "But that's tomorrow. I'm here, and now, and so are you. I don't want to think of any of it now. You always knew I was a free and wild sprit. Maybe it's time you let me be just that."
Erik was in awe at everything she had just said. Had he honestly been so blind as to miss so much? Did he really never see how much like Kasey his daughter had become? It was everything about Kasey he had fallen in love with, and then there were parts of Christine he saw in her, then after awhile of looking he finally saw himself in there. And the one thing he knew that all three wanted was to be free. And even though it pained him Erik knew that he would have to let her go.
A few days passed and Erik slowly began to accept everything that was going on; he still didn't like it though. Gustave and Evan had figured out a way to get word to Nadir and Raoul letting them know everything was alright. Gustave had been there long enough to be able to leave without suspicion, so long as he had a good excuse. Mostly his excuses were errands being run for Eliza.
The only down side to anything was Evan's father. He was stubborn when it came to him dying. Evan was tempted to kill the man himself just to get it over with, but he wasn't sure how well he could play that out.
It was late afternoon on this particular day; Evan and Eliza were found walking in the garden's talking about this whole mess they had gotten themselves into. "What will happen to Jason?" Eliza asked.
Evan sighed "I'm not sure. Kasey won't leave without him, and I don't want to leave the girl fatherless." Eliza nodded. "I'll think of something." He assured her.
"And your father? Surly you will tell him of us before he dies." Eliza said.
"I will, it's a matter of time I suppose. Next I see him I will. Who knows maybe the shock will give him a heart attack." They laughed.
"One can only hope." Eliza said laughing. As the two began to walk inside a servant came to them and bowed low.
"Speak," Evan said.
"The Shah has requested your presence in his chamber, sir." There was a certain look in the servants eyes that Evan didn't really like, but he knew better then to ignore his father's requests.
Evan slowly nodded and said "Very well. Allow me a moment to escort my guest back to her room." The servant bowed and walked off. Neither of the two said a word to one another as they walked back to the room.
Once they entered the room Eliza knew something was off. "What's wrong Evan?"
"I don't know yet." He said moving away from her "Gustave, Erik." He called. As they walked into the room Eliza still looked puzzled. "Follow me." He said leading them to a secret door next to his bed. "Please don't ask questions. I have a bad feeling about something, Erik I need you to hide in here. This is one secret passage that no one knows about you will be well hidden."
"And why is it I need to hide if you said we would be safe here?" Erik challenged annoyed.
Evan sighed deeply. "Please, all I'm asking for is that you trust me this one time. No matter what happens don't come out of there." He then looked to Gustave. "Keep that knife I gave you close." Then he looked to Eliza. "And you, try not to piss anyone off." Eliza giggled a little. Evan looked back at Erik, "The longest you can wait to hide is ten minutes after I leave this room. Please just trust me." There was a worried look in Evan's eyes and a small hint of sadness. Erik wasn't sure how he knew but Evan knew something was about to happen and it wasn't going to be pretty. Slowly Erik nodded to Evan. "I'll be back shortly, hopefully." Evan said mainly to Eliza then he left.
Evan walked down the hall to his father's room hoping, no, praying that this was about the fact he had yet to inform him of a choice of a bride. With a deep breath Evan pulled on his princely act and opened the doors. With an arrogant stride he went to the bed his father laid in. He stopped and bowed. "I know this is about the fact I haven't found a bride yet father, but the thing is I have. My guest from London, Eliza, she has agreed to marriage." He said with a slight smile.
"So, you have decided to marry Erik's daughter, have you?" Evan's smile vanished.
He let out a harsh laugh. "No, no father. I'm afraid you are mistaken. Erik's daughter-"
"Is who you have been sleeping with." The Shah said cutting off his son.
Evan became very angry. "Why would I ever betray you in such a way? Am I not your son? Am I not the heir to your throne? Why would I betray not only you but our people as well? I would never disgrace our family in such a way!" Evan yelled. "I am-"
"A traitor and nothing more!" His father yelled back. There was a long angry look shared between the two. "You have brothers, and you have sisters, all of them would be more than happy to take your place as heir to the throne. And I know for a fact none of them will disappoint me. Now I want the truth Evan." For the first time in a long time the Shah had his threatening demeanor back. He spoke firmly and held an evil scowl that in a way dared Evan to lie to him again.
Evan was no fool he knew there was no use hiding. He almost asked how he had found out but Evan knew how his father found out. Detric. Detric was smart and cunning as much as Evan hated to admit it, and the smirk he had on his face as he stood in the shadows of the Shah's room made his blood start to boil. Evan stood tall and strong "I have nothing to say." He said firmly to his father. With a snap of the Shah's fingers two guards were at Evan's side holding him still as Detric came forward.
"I've been looking forward to this for a long time." He said with a twisted laugh as he then punched Evan in the gut sending him doubling over in pain but neither of the guards letting him fall to the floor. Detric grabbed Evan by the hair and made him look up at him then punched the side of his face. Each time Evan's head would go down Detric would grab him again and repeat his punches. Eventually Detric stopped and moved behind Evan grabbing his hair again then yanking his head up so that Shah could look him in the eyes.
"Where are he?!" The Shah demanded.
"You're going to have to be a little more clear, father." Evan spat blood coming out of his mouth.
"Loosen his tongue Detric." The Shah demanded. With another twisted smile Detric threw Evan's head forward and went to the other side of the room. The guards forced Evan on his knees; he knew what was coming next. Even though he had never personally dealt with this punishment he knew better than to think it would be quick and easy just because he was the son of the Shah. Detric came back to Evan with a whip and if it was possible an even more sickening smile. Detric positioned himself behind Evan and to the guards surprise Evan didn't struggle not one bit. "Let's start with five lashes."
Evan looked away from his father and stared at the floor bracing himself. Five long painful lashes and the Shah asked again. "Where is Erik?!"
Evan opened his eyes and looked up. The Shah could see them filled with not pain but rage. "I'm not telling." He said his voice still strong.
"Ten lashes." The Shah said. Nearly twenty lashes later Evan still refused to talk. The whip was now dripping with Evan's blood; weak and with barely any voice Evan was held up by the guards. His clothing drenched in his own blood and the back of it now gone, torn to bits by the whip held by Detric. With a snap of the Shah's fingers the guards brought Evan closer. "I'll ask one more time. Where is he Evan?"
Very slowly Evan opened his very weak eyes and said in a hoarse but firm voice. "Go to hell." Spitting a small bit of blood out as he said it.
"He's under house arrest until he decides he wants to talk. Maybe the look of him will scare some sense into his little slut." Evan wanted to lash out at what his father just called Eliza, but he decided to save his strength. The guards dragged him to his room. Thankfully Erik stayed hidden and from his spot in the passage he jumped at the sound of the door being flung open. There was a small two way mirror next to the door and Erik peaked through to see Evan being flung to the floor a bloodied mess.
Eliza, who sat across the room with Gustave, jumped to her feet. "Evan!" she cried as the guards threw him down. As they backed away she ran to his side kneeling over him. "Evan." She said stroking his hair out of his face.
"The Shah will more than likely want to question her. She is after all Erik's daughter." One of the guards said. Erik almost burst from the wall at that exact moment; Gustave with the knife in hand was coming to them as they moved to take Eliza, but then Evan got up.
Evan roughly pushed the two away and said "Trust me that is the last thing you want to do." They looked at him amazed he was even standing let alone willing to fight them. "You take one more move
and I promise you that you will die." He said weakly but with an evil determination in his eyes that the guards seemed to fear. After a moment they left shutting and locking the doors behind them.
With a groan Evan fell back to the floor. Eliza caught him keeping him from going forward. "You stupid, stupid man!" She yelled at him as he finally looked at her. "You aren't allowed to die." He gave her a weak smile, but a smile. With that Erik came out of hiding.
"Gustave help me get him on the bed." Erik said. Eliza looked up at her father shocked that he was actually wanting to help.
Hours later everything had somewhat settled down. Erik and Gustave stood in the small living room trying to figure out how to get word to Nadir and Raoul. Evan lay on his bed finally asleep. Eliza sat on the side of the bed cleaning off what blood was left on his back. Erik walked over to Eliza after a while. "Are you alright?" He asked her.
"I will be." She replied staring at Evan's injuries for a moment longer then looking to her father. "I don't see how anyone could do this to their own child." Eliza said with a small tear in her eye. Erik wanted to tell her that this is why he wanted her home but decided against it not wanting to get into that argument with her now. Eliza knew it would just be better for the both of them if she just changed the subject. "Have you and Gustave figured something out yet?" She asked.
Erik slowly nodded. "That passage. From this room it leads to two different places. One is the Harem and the other is a bedroom."
"A bedroom?" Eliza asked completely confused.
"You already know I designed this palace, well this room at the time was to go to the wife of the Shah at the time. And let's just say she had a thing for me." Gustave who was now next to Eliza couldn't help but chuckle. "Shut up." Erik said making Eliza laugh a little. "Anyway, she wanted a passage from this room to the bedroom that was supposed to be mine. Obviously I left before she could even think of using it. But those two rooms are our best options."
"How do we know if your old room is safe?" Eliza asked.
"That's where the Harem girls play in." Gustave said. Eliza gave him a sisterly look. "Hey, shut up. I can have a life." Eliza rolled her eyes and shook her head. "There is one Harem girl I am certain will help us."
Ok so what are your thoughts? Reviews are amazing remember that! Until next time my lovelies! ;)