A/N: Thanks to my beta, Olethros.
Episode 6
By: Elektra
Giry-Firmin Residence
"A Hydra now?" Antoinette Giry asked as Erik reported his latest battle. She sat back in her chair with a sigh, "Any idea as to what awakened these creatures? Other than 'a voice'?"
Erik shrugged, "I do not suppose Loki would give us any more information. He is having far too much fun making my life difficult."
"Perhaps Nadir would be able to figure it out," Giry replied. "You should talk to him."
Erik seemed hesitant, but realized he would have to put aside his personal issues with his new stepfather in order to find out what was going on.
Erik stood up and went to the door. He grabbed the knob, then stopped. "Antoinette…?"
Erik's voice suddenly sounded quite serious. Giry looked up from the couch. "Yes?"
"When one is… in a relationship… is it supposed to be … difficult?"
Giry raised an eyebrow. Was Erik asking her advice about his personal life? "It happens, yes. Love is not easy." She regarded him carefully. "Have there been problems?"
"Of course not," he said quickly, then paused a moment, "Though I do think the new tenor at the opera has a more-than-professional interest in my fiancée!" He began to seethe, "The way he looks at her… the way he sings to her on stage… the way Romeo kisses Juliet…"
"Erik! My door!"
Erik looked down to see the doorknob in his hand now had indentations from his fingers. He let go, "I will pay for a new one. I forget my strength at times."
"I never would have guessed," Giry muttered. "But really, Erik, if you think Mr. Pheryeus is pushing his boundries with Christine, then perhaps you should speak to him. Speak being the operative word here. Not beat him within an inch of his life, you understand?"
"Yes. Of course, Antoinette." He looked back at the doorknob, "Let me know how much this costs and I will cover it. Good day."
With a polite nod of his head towards Giry, Erik headed out.
The Populaire
"Ms. Christine…"
Christine turned around to see Oren chasing after her. "Hey there," she replied as she went to sit down in a nearby makeup chair.
"I understand things with you and Mr. Erik are a little tense right now," Oren began as he grabbed another chair and joined her. He took her hand in his, "If you ever need someone to talk to, I am here. I truly did not mean to intrude on you last week…"
"Things are fine, Oren. No worries."
"Of course," Oren replied, then glanced away and dropped her hand. "Mr. Erik has quite a temper, doesn't he?"
"Yeah, I'm sorry about that. I hope he didn't hurt you."
Oren looked back at her, "It was you I was concerned for. I heard him yelling quite loudly after I left."
"We talked afterwards. It's okay." Christine offered a small smile, "Sometimes his temper gets the best of him,"
"How is it that you feel safe with him then?"
Christine looked at Oren, "How could I not?"
"Well… I thought… perhaps…"
"Perhaps nothing. When Erik gets in his moods, I can handle him."
Christine started at the truth in her words. She hadn't thought about it before, but the Guild's most dangerous hunter and former executioner melted in her hands. The man once thought to be cold as ice could be brought to his knees with her kiss, her touch… or more.
It sent a rush of excitement through her.
"Ms. Christine?"
Christine brought her attention back to Oren, cheeks flushed slightly. "Yeah, sorry. Zoned out for a sec." She patted his knee, "don't worry about me and Erik. We're good."
"Very well," Oren stood up, "But I am here, if you ever need me."
"Thanks." She replied.
With a polite nod, Oren headed off to the dressing rooms. Christine slumped back in her chair, closing her eyes as she waited for the makeup lady to come and pretty her up for the night's performance.
"My client is rather fond of you, Ms. Daaé,"
Christine shot up in her seat, her eyes falling upon a man of average height with red hair and light blue eyes.
The man held out a hand, "Lowell Key. I am Oren's manager."
Christine frowned, "You're no manager. And poor Oren is too naïve to see through your tricks."
Lowell seem startled, "Pardon me, Ms. Daaé. But I don't understand what you're getting at."
"Are you the one who sent Oren into my shower, Loki?"
Lowell suddenly shifted, literally. His hair growing longer and brighter, his eyes shimmering silver. "How did you know who I was?"
"Erik told me."
"Ah, the Opera Ghost! So I was right then? The two of you are close?"
"You've been hanging around here for a while now. Don't tell me you haven't figured it out," Christine answered.
Loki took Oren's abandoned seat and made himself comfortable. "Hmm, I had my suspicions, but your lover avoided giving me a direct answer."
"My fiancé doesn't like to talk about his private life. He doesn't want me involved in the weird stuff he gets involved with," she glanced at him, "Stuff like Norse tricksters waking from a long sleep."
He sat back in the chair. "Ah, yes. That was … weird did you say? Meaning – peculiar? Strange?" Christine nodded. "Weird indeed then," he continued. "I truly do not know HOW I woke. Only that a voice did the waking." He glanced off in the direction Oren had left , "Though I do have a suspicion whose voice it may have been."
"I don't suppose you want to share?"
Loki let out a soft laugh, "I like you, Ms. Daaé. Straightforward with questions, honest with answers. And not threatening to kill me."
"I thought gods couldn't be killed."
"We can't. Not really. But we can certainly suffer bodily harm. However, since you offer no threat of that," he leaned forward and met her eyes, "I will tell you that Oren Pheryus is not who he says he is."
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"Read up on Greek mythology. You will find his identity."
"Can't you just tell me?"
"Oh now, that would be no fun! You will start to feel inferior because you could not figure it out on your own, then you will get all depressed and weepy like women do. I do not want that on my conscience."
Christine leaned forward, elbows on her knees, "Fine. I'll look it up." She studied him a moment, "Tell me the truth. ARE you the one who sent Oren into my shower?"
"No. And I do not know WHO did." He smirked, "Though I cannot blame him for his interest. You are a lovely woman, after all." He then glanced around nervously, "Of course, do not tell your lover I said that."
"Only if you promise to stop flirting with me, because honestly – I find you really creepy."
Loki smiled, "Yes. You are honest indeed. Perhaps TOO honest." He stood up, "I make no promises, Ms. Daaé. Not even to my Lord Odin. But I will take my leave of you lest the Ghost find me here."
Christine got to her feet and held a hand out.
He seemed surprised at the gesture, but took her hand and shook it, tugging her a little closer, "Perhaps we could be friends?" he asked slyly.
Christine raised an eyebrow, "I don't trust you any farther than I could throw you."
He let out a laugh and let go of her hand, "Smart little mortal girl. At least you are far more pleasant company than your beloved corpse."
Before Christine could respond to that, Loki disappeared into thin air.
Khan Residence
"Erik!" Madeline smiled as she opened the door to see her son standing before her. "This is a pleasant surprise."
"Is Nadir here?" Erik asked shortly.
"He went to the store. He should be back soon…" Madeline replied. "Have a seat." She gestured towards the couch. Erik sat down silently. Madeline studied him a moment, then spoke again. "Would you like some tea?" she asked.
He simply nodded in response. Madeline quickly set about bringing him a cup of lemon tea with honey. He took it as she sat down beside him. "We haven't talked in a while."
"I have had nothing to talk about," he replied.
"What about CAM?" she asked.
Erik glanced at her, then looked back at his tea, "Of course you would have heard about that." He sighed. "I imagine it has been all over the place."
"How is Christine dealing with it? She can't be too happy people are prying."
"No, she's not. But there is nothing to be done for it." He shrugged, "It was poor judgement on my part."
Madeline watched the masked man sip his tea beside her. Even as the two spoke, Erik's coldness was clear. It didn't matter that she had told her son she loved him. It had been twenty years too late.
"Erik?" a voice spoke as the front door opened.
Erik stood up, "Nadir. We have guild business to discuss."
"It's good to see you too," Nadir muttered as he shut the door behind him. "I imagine this has to do with the strange awakenings you've been dealing with?" Erik nodded.
Madeline politely excused herself from the room and let the two hunters deal with what was needed.
Erik handed the Guild detective a notebook. Nadir quickly glanced through it. "Siren, Loki, Hydra…" He looked back at Erik, "So it's not just related to Greek mythology."
"So far Greek and Norse. I am concerned as to what else."
Nadir agreed, "We need to find the source."
Erik cell phone suddenly went off. He quickly answered. "Yes, Christine?" He acknowledged the voice on the phone. "You what? Spoke to Loki? Stay away from him!"
He was silent as Christine continued to talk, "He told you this?" His voice lowered to a growl, "And Oren is involved? I told you he was not to be trusted! I told you-"
Erik paused as Christine interrupted his rant. "Very well. I will look in my books for information. But I want you to stay away from Oren!" His eyes grew wide, "What do you mean 'no'? I do not CARE if you have to perform with him!"
Nadir suddenly grabbed the phone from Erik as the former executioner grew increasingly irate, "Christine, dear? Nadir here. What were you telling Erik about your co-worker?" He waited for the information. "Ahh, Loki told you this? He seems rather forthcoming with you."
Nadir let out a soft laugh, "Yes, the fact that you did not attack him probably DID have a lot to do with it. Very well, if you can keep dialogue open with him, he might prove rather useful to us. Thank you for this, dear. Break a leg now. Good bye."
Nadir flipped the phone closed and handed it back to Erik, "Angering your fiancée and telling her you do not want her doing what she was born to do is not the way to keep her heart, Erik."
Erik frowned and grabbed his phone back, "I do not like her Romeo."
"That may be, but you cannot demand Christine's absence from performing unless you wish for her resentment. You, of all people, should know that she lives and breathes the stage,"
"I know, Nadir. Believe me, I know." Erik turned from Nadir and slid the mask from his face, massaging his temples. "If only I could be up there with her instead. If only…" he stared at the mask in his hands and shook his head, "But I will never look human enough."
"Erik..."
"No matter," he continued as he quickly raked his long ebony locks back with his fingers and replaced the mask upon his face. "There are other things that are of more immediate concern." He turned back to Nadir, "The Populaire's new tenor is not who he seems, or so Christine says Loki told her."
Nadir nodded, knowing better than to revisit Erik's comments from a moment ago, "She said Loki mentioned Greek mythlogy. Now give me some traits you have noticed about this Oren, and we will see what god or other creature may have similar traits."
Erik nodded ripped a piece of paper from his notebook, his left hand moving furiously as he wrote out his observations.
Populaire parking lot – after the performance
Christine was in the parking lot heading to the car when a woman suddenly joined her side, "Ms. Daaé? Christine Daaé?"
"Yes?"
"I truly would appreciate it if you would stay away from my husband!" the woman snapped angrily.
Christine furrowed her brow, "What's this now?"
"CAM. He is MINE. We've been together for years now, and he's the father of my child."
Christine studied the woman before her. She was tall, far too inflated up top, and her golden hair had come out of a bottle – though Christine could not hold that against her, considering hers did as well.
"CAM isn't your husband." Christine outright dismissed the woman's claims."And there's no way your kid is his, if you even have one." She added, knowing very well that Erik was not able to have children.
"Did he tell you he was single when he picked you up at whatever bar you found him?"
Christine laughed, "At a bar? Is that where you think we met? Lady, you have NO idea, do you?"
"With his good looks, charm, and that voice, he could get any woman into his bed." CAM's wife insisted.
Now Christine felt tears from laughing so hard. Good looks? Charm? Erik had neither.
The woman was not impressed with the response she was getting, "And considering his skill in bed, it's not difficult to make a girl feel like she's the ONLY one!"
Christine's stomach began to hurt from her laughter. Apparently CAM's so-called skills had taken their dear sweet time kicking in, for it had been a few weeks before he truly figured out what her body had needed.
Of course, he had figured it out very well… and had even improved upon it since.
"I don't understand why you would find all this so humorous!" The woman snapped angrily. "I am telling you the man you're engaged to is MY husband."
"Okay, okay…" Christine stopped to catch her breath, wiping the tears from her eyes. "Fine. What does he look like then? The only time he's been out in public, he was wearing a mask – so you and I are the only ones who know what lay beneath it."
"I told you he was good looking."
"Right. Good looking. Male model material." Christine rolled her eyes.
"You think I'm lying?" the woman frowned.
"Lady, I know every inch of him." Christine stared at the woman pointedly, "And I mean every inch. You have NO idea what he looks like and NO idea why he wears that mask. Heck, you probably don't even know where he got his stage name from!"
"Short for Cameron!" She answered quickly.
"Except the radio revealed his real name was Erik. CAM is an acronym. If you're his wife, you should know that."
"Cameron is his middle name," the woman answered snidely.
"I think I'm losing brain cells talking to you. Excuse me." Christine pushed past the woman and made her way to the car. There was only so much stupid she could take for one night.
Daaé-Garner Residence - later
Christine entered the house and kicked her shoes off at the door, tossing her bag on the table beside the entrance. She glanced around the living room, but didn't see any sign of Erik.
With a sigh, she climbed up the stairs and entered the bedroom.
An unmoving figure lay flat out on the bed, white mask hiding his poor face, bared torso reflecting the glow of a nearby lamp, bringing out the blue-black lines beneath the surface of his alabaster skin.
It was far too tempting to pass up.
Christine crawled on the bed and pushed away the opened mythology book that lay beside him, noting a name highlighted – Orpheus. She would ask him about that later.
"Hello, beautiful…" she whispered as she slid atop him. Once she was comfortable on her human matress, she closed her eyes and let out a content sigh.
"Shame on you, angel…" a silky voice breathed against her ear, "Using my body for your own personal needs,"
"It isn't the first time," Christine muttered sleepily. "Your body is nice to use."
Erik slid his arms up around her waist, "I am glad you find it so."
She chuckled quietly, then let out a soft breath, "I met CAM's wife as I was heading through the parking lot tonight."
Erik swore under his breath. "This is getting rather tedious. This is… what… the third woman this week claiming to have intimate relations with CAM?"
"Fourth. But Firmin and André love the attention," she replied as she kept her head upon his shoulder. "Now that CAM's been outed, and his fiancée place of work has been advertised, they're getting bigger crowds, and more reporters. Heck, they even said you… or rather… CAM… comes in to help the opera on occasion. Apparently, I have a list of people wanting to interview me as well."
"I do not wish for you to be famous because of THAT," he replied. "You have your own skills and talents. That is what the interviewers should be focusing on,"
"Opera isn't exactly mainstream," she replied. "CAM is."
"That is no excuse. You have worked hard to be where you are," he let out a frustrated breath. "I only wish I had forseen all this, but I was not exactly in my right mind when CAM began." He paused a moment, then spoke again, "Yet, with my reprehensible ego, I could not help but continue, and in my blind jealousy I could not help but show myself."
"It's ok," she answered, her fingers absently trailing over his ribs, "I wouldn't want the world to be denied your talent, Erik, even if this is the result."
Erik did not know what to say to that as he gently played with the soft golden curls splayed out over his chest, "I love you."
"I love you too." She replied, "I just wish I didn't feel like people were watching us all the time now."
"Is that what concerns you?" he asked. She nodded. "That explains much then,"
"How so?" she asked.
"It has been some time since we -" he stopped.
Christine raised her head and met his eyes, "Erik?"
His voice grew low, "Christine - you have no idea how very difficult it has been to feel you curled up beside me every night and not have my shameful way with you."
"Oh!" she gasped. "Erik, I hadn't even realized…"
"I thought you were still angry," he interrupted gently. "There are usually at least two nights a week where you make it clear you do not wish to … sleep. But yet, since the incident at the club, you have chosen ONLY to sleep. That was three weeks ago."
Christine brushed her lips against his cotton-covered cheek, "Poor Erik. It has nothing to do with you. It has to do with them." She slid off him and glanced over at the window. "I've seen them hiding out there, and I'm not into voyeurism."
She shook her head, "It's amazing they haven't gotten close enough to catch you without your mask yet." She shrugged, "Then again, you've been wearing it a lot lately. Even when we're supposed to be alone."
"I have taken to sneaking into my own home through the sewer tunnels because I know they lurk around outside. And considering that some lenses can see right into a man's window, I have not felt comfortable taking this off," he said, brushing a hand over the white material covering his face.
"But…" Erik suddenly pushed himself off the bed and shut the blinds and drapes, then turned off the lights, sending the room into darkness. "I am growing rather desperate for your attention."
"Erik, I can't see."
"Neither will they."
Christine felt him gently grasp her wrist, her right hand being raised to graze against the mask on his face. Christine curled her fingers beneath the edge and pulled it off.
"But I want to see you," she pouted.
"Feel me instead…" he replied, allowing her little hands to travel over his horrid features before grasping her chin and bringing his mouth down upon hers.
An arm came around her back, another beneath her legs as she felt herself lifted, then lowered down onto the bed. "I can hear your heart pounding," he whispered in her ear as he moved himself over her.
"Erik…" she gasped as she felt strong fingers grasp the hem of her shirt, tugging it up over her head and tossing it away.
"They won't see…" he reassured her as he slid his mouth over her pulse. Those same fingers then glided beneath her, deftly unclasping and removing the lace and wire that kept her from his travelling kisses – kisses which left no part of her body untouched as his wandering hands made quick work of the rest of their clothing.
Christine was quite beyond coherent thought at the moment, quite sure that while their unwanted visitors may not be able to see them, they could no doubt hear them.
And quite certain she really didn't care.
End of Episode 6