A/N: Thanks to my beta, Olethros.
Episode 17
By: Elektra
Antoinette Giry jumped when the dark figure dropped down from the air ducts in the Populaire's practice room. She had been planning for the upcoming performance of Tchaikovsky's The Sleeping Beauty, her hard work now scattered all over her desk.
She looked up at her visitor, her face stoic. "Hello, Erik. How is your guest?"
Erik did not seem surprised. "I see you've talked to Christine."
"Of course. She was rather upset," Giry answered.
"Yes. I imagine she is."
Giry studied Erik carefully, "Can HE hear us?"
Erik shrugged, "I believe he's aware of everything I'm aware of. He just can't do anything about it."
"Are you sure of that?"
"At the moment, yes. Very sure."
"It's only a matter of time…"came Sytri's reply.
"Shut up!" Erik hissed.
"Pardon me?" Giry asked, eyes wide.
Erik realized he had spoken aloud, though Giry had not heard whom he was speaking to. "Forgive me, Antoinette. I have a rather annoying voice in my head."
Giry raised an eyebrow, "So you will be speaking to yourself often then?"
"It seems so. A shame no one else can hear him. I suppose it makes me look rather… unwell."
"A little, yes." Giry replied.
"A lot…"
"Who asked you?" Erik snapped.
"Erik?" Giry eyed Erik warily, unsure.
"SILENCE! Your voice is grating on my nerves!"
"ERIK!"
Erik looked back at Giry, seeing the indignation on her face.
"Pardon me…" he replied, bowing his head apologetically. He glanced away, muttering to himself, "There are many things I would like to say, you impertinent creature, but I will hold my tongue in Antoinette's presence."
"You're not doing a very good job of holding back anything, Erik…" Giry replied with a frown.
He turned his attention back to her, "I suppose you're right. Perhaps I should leave before I unintentionally offend. I'll send you a note with what I need to tell you. Show it to no one. Not even the Guild, you understand? They do not need to know what has happened." He then narrowed his eyes, "And I trust you have not mentioned it?"
"No, Erik. I know better."
"Thank you for your discretion then."
Giry nodded, and Erik quickly pulled himself back into the air ducts and disappeared.
Later
Erik walked back and forth along the catwalk above the stage, watching the rehearsals below. Christine was singing a rather powerful aria. He remembered teaching it to her only a few weeks ago – before he had made himself Sytri's new home.
"Naughty boy…" Sytri spoke. "You're thinking about the last night you spent with her."
"I'm not going to waste my time scolding you for scanning my memories," Erik replied.
"Your memories are rather interesting. I was given a nice play-by-play of your childhood. I can't understand why you still hold on to some childish love for Madeline. She wasn't exactly mother-of-the-year."
Erik sensed Sytri was waiting for a reaction. He refused to give one.
"Let's see now. What else can I trudge up? Oh… yes! Here she is. The girl you killed back in high school. Actually, you killed Laura twice, didn't you? That must be some kind of record."
Erik remained calm.
"Well, you're no fun,"Sytri whined. He was silent a moment, then spoke again. "I know what your plans are. I know what you're going to do to me. Or rather… TRY to do."
"Of course you know. You're in my head." Erik finally spoke.
He could have sworn he heard Sytri sigh. "You're worse than Orpheus. He never made me feel so… trapped…"
"He was not me. I'm very good at making others feel trapped."
"You're very good at strangling the life out of demons… and humans, as the case may be. But you never saw the difference, did you?"
"There was a time where I didn't, no." Erik answered. "As you can no doubt tell, though, the rational part of my mind used to retreat when I carried out executions - although I fully allowed myself to enjoy dusting your friends."
"Yes, you did. You're more disturbed than I gave you credit for."
"I suppose you're impressed by that?"
"Of course! You're just like me!"
"I won't deny that I seem to have a little bit of you inside me, but I'm NOT just like you."
"A shame…" Sytri was silent for a few minutes. "Have I told you what I'd like to do to your little woman there?"
"Yes you have," Erik answered as he glanced down at Christine once again. "I've gone beyond caring about your perverse thoughts. It gives you far too much power."
"And you don't like to give up your power, do you, son?"
"I don't imagine many people do," Erik replied.
"Yet you have constantly let HER take your power from you. You submit to that girl, body and soul. She makes you lose control!"
Erik chuckled coldly. "She is Christine. There is no question that she makes me lose control. This is why I've taken precautions to spare myself from being in a position where my control can easily be lost."
"So you've chosen abstinence when there is a beautiful woman willing to tend to your every male need?"
Erik scowled, "Do you think me a fool, Sytri? Such a thing would offer YOU too much of an opening. Besides… I would never allow you to be a third party to what Christine and I share privately, despite the memories you have found in my head."
Sytri's frustration only amused Erik all the more.
Opera Populaire - Lounge
Christine lay on the couch in the now-empty employee lounge. She didn't want to go home. There was no one to go home to.
At least she wasn't alone here.
Though she couldn't see him, Christine knew Erik was lurking. She was torn between wanting to see him, and fear of who, exactly, she might be seeing.
"Erik?" she called out to the emptiness. "Are you around?"
"Always…"
Christine jumped at the sound of his voice and glanced behind her. He was closing a panel in the wall that she was quite sure no one else had ever seen before.
She pushed herself to her feet and took a hesitant step towards him. "Erik?"
"Yes, beloved. He has not taken over." Erik held a hand out for her. She took it and he pulled her into a hug. "A diva needs her sleep. You should be home by now."
"It's lonely there," she replied, resting her forehead against his chest.
"I apologize, but my reasoning is sound." He answered. She nodded, and he continued. "Come. I will take you home."
"Thanks, beautiful…"
Erik suddenly winced, a scowl upon his face. "It was not a humorous comment!"
Christine looked up at him, worried.
Erik explained, "Sytri finds your pet name for me rather amusing."
Christine could only shake her head in response, "Of course he does."
Erik offered his arm and led her out to the back parking lot. "When you get home, tell Orpheus I need to speak to him tomorrow. There's something important he must do."
"Oh! He's gone."
"Pardon?" Erik asked dangerously, stopping in front of his bike. "Gone as in 'gone for the night', or gone as in you have no idea where he went?"
"No idea where he went." Christine shrugged hopelessly as she slid onto the passenger seat, "I woke up this morning and there was no sign of him. He took all his stuff."
Erik swore under his breath as he climbed on in front of her. If Orpheus wasn't returned – or released – then Martine seemed to believe things would get worse.
"Erik's bridge is falling down… falling down… falling down…"Sytri's voice taunted.
"SHUT UP!" Erik roared as he angrily as he revved the engine.
"What?" Christine gasped.
Erik shook his head, "Not you, Christine."
"Oh…" she answered, realizing that whatever she said to Erik, whatever she did, Sytri would hear it; Sytri would see it; Sytri would speak on it.
Perhaps evil was not a strong enough word for a creature like that.
Nadir's Apartment – later
"You're a fool!" Nadir snapped as Erik made himself comfortable on the Guild detective's couch. "Did you even think before you made this decision?"
"It was not a decision I came to lightly!" Erik hissed. "You think this doesn't affect me? Affect Christine? Yes, Nadir… I DID think!"
Erik eyed the older man with a frown, making note of how Nadir seemed to be keeping his distance.
"I assure you, detective, you will not find my hands around your neck any time soon."
Nadir absently rubbed at his throat, remembering the last time he was alone with a man who was housing Sytri. Erik knew the guild's detective had never been so frightened in his life.
He let it go. "I need to find Orpheus."
"Where am I supposed to look?" Nadir asked as he sat in a chair on the opposite side of the room – an action that didn't go unnoticed. "He could have gone anywhere."
"You're the detective. Find him!" Erik demanded.
"It's not as if I can just snap my fingers! Have you even told Gus about this?"
"Leroux is the last person I would tell!" Erik snapped.
"Then how do you expect me to finance this endeavour?" Nadir asked. "Suspicions would arise if I'm suddenly hired by you to look for Oren."
"I know someone willing to donate his vast financial resources and give you a legitimate reason for finding the boy," Erik replied. He had yet to ask the aforementioned donator, but Erik knew he wouldn't be refused.
Or rather, that the man in question wouldn't dare refuse him.
"Should I even ask?" Nadir raised a curious eyebrow. Erik offered no answer. The detective took a deep breath, "Do you really need Orpheus? It will not relieve you of Sytri any quicker."
"It might," Erik explained. "…if I make a trade …"
"Ah, so you finally voice your plans. Were you trying to keep it a secret? As if I couldn't read your mind!"Sytri spoke.
"Whether you know or not is moot," Erik answered the unwanted voice. "You cannot stop me, regardless."
"You keep believing that, son. You'll find yourself rather disappointed."
"Prove it," Erik challenged.
Nadir glanced at Erik, brow furrowed. "I'm sorry?"
Erik turned his attention back to Nadir, remembering that no one else could hear what heheard."I have taken to talking to myself, Nadir. Pay no heed."
"This is getting more and more unsettling, Erik…" the older man pointed out.
Erik shrugged. "I'm used to voices in my head. I've just never spoken aloud to them before."
Nadir shifted uncomfortably.
Erik suddenly stood up. "Let me know what you find out. I should leave before Madeline gets home. It's best she not find us here."
"Us?" Nadir raised an eyebrow.
"Him, rather. I assume you'll explain the situation."
Nadir nodded. "It's only right she know. You are her son, after all. And he was your father…"
Erik let out a harsh laugh. "I am a father, a son, and a very unholy ghost!"
Nadir frowned. "That's a rather twisted description of your situation."
Erik shrugged. "I'm rather twisted to begin with." He headed towards the door, and stopped, his voice growing softer. "Tell Madeline I say hello. Tell her not to worry. I will take care…"
"I will," Nadir replied, realizing it was one of the few times Erik had ever shown a hint of concern towards his mother.
Erik offered a sharp nod of his head and left the apartment.
Elsewhere
Hades sat on his ebony throne quietly.
The demon he had freed from the other realm had left the body he had wanted It to take. This didn't sit well. Hades' reasons for that were selfish and vengeful, but it had been his reasons, nonetheless.
He did not like someone changing his plans.
It was bad enough the boy's soul had been taken from him in the first place and given an Earth-bound body – no one took a soul from Hades' realm without permission - but now he had lost track of him. His only connection to Orpheus was that demon.
You weren't supposed to leave him… Hades told the rogue demon. You were supposed to keep charge of him for me!
I had an offer I couldn't refuse… came Sytri's answer.
And in return, Hades replied,you have lost any power you may have had to gain yourself a new body! I allowed you to control THAT one, and you could only do so sporadically.
Hade's comment was met by laughter, I have a connection with this new body. Far more than I had with your escapee. Besides, YOU are not my master. I answer to another - and since HE hasn't concerned himself with me, I'm pretty much free to do what I wish.
Sytri was silent for a moment, then spoke again, But you may get him back regardless. I have it on good authority that you will be receiving visitors. Soon. Very soon. You will be offered a trade. If you agree to it, you will lose Orpheus and the vendetta you hold against him. I doubt you want that.
Hades considered this. If it is as you say, I will be prepared. I imagine YOU will be with this entourage?
Sytri laughed once again, I've already hitched a ride….
Erik shot up in bed, eyes blinking at the darkness. Where was he?
Ah yes. In the basement of the opera house. In a cot. Alone.
"You're never alone, son. Not anymore."
"Who were you talking to?" Erik demanded, ignoring Sytri's comment. The Hunter had the odd sense that a conversation had been carried out while he had been sleeping.
"No one," Shay insisted. "Perhaps I was controlling your body for a few moments."
Erik let out a harsh laugh, "You did not take control of anything. I am very aware of what has or has not been done to me!"
"Is that so?
Erik didn't answer. "Who were you speaking to? I could not hear his half of the conversation, but I know it was someone far away. Someone with the ability to converse with demons."
"You really should get some rest, son. Goodnight."
Sytri easily cut the conversation, leaving Erik wondering what his father was plotting – and with what inhuman creature.
End of Episode 17