Giant apologies! I've had this finished for almost a month and just realized I never uploaded my word document.

I'm going to consider this part two of Goddess Noir and I'm calling it Shringaar, which means "The power of beauty" in Hindu.

Shringaar3

Darika walked to the end of the street alone. She was exhausted from a sleepless night of walking up and down the street, constantly passing the Levesque House. Twice she'd found herself on the doorstep, and just as quickly as she found her hand inches from the doorknocker she was halfway down the street, running as fast as she could.

But now she had met him, and as much as she had hoped to ease her heart and mind, she found herself only trembling more. Glancing back, she looked at the closed door and remembered his eyes. Cold, pale eyes. He'd wanted nothing to do with her. It shouldn't have come as a surprise, yet still it had stung. She'd wanted him to invite her for tea and insist that she ask him anything and everything.

At last she rounded the corner and found her companion browsing the windows. The dark-haired giant seemed surprised to see her.

"It wasn't him?"

"No, it was."

"But he didn't answer the door?"

"No, he answered." She exhaled and considered slapping his fleshy face. "Would you listen to me, Alin?"

The young man turned back to the window, his eyes narrowed. "We both know you never have anything of interest to say."

"You are here to protect me," she snapped, wishing his father—the original daroga—had agreed to accompany her. He, however, had expressed his need for a holiday, one which did not include hunting down the Levesques. With no other choice, she was accompanied by a grinning giant who found his own jokes more amusing than anyone else did.

"I was here to protect you, but I quit."

"You cannot quit."

"No, not while I'm within the palace. But I have quit…once in Bombay, once in Cairo—twice in Rome, if I remember correctly, and once before we reached the harbor in New York. I'm sure I quit half a dozen times in Paris alone, but I won't dwell. I know how you simply despise dwelling on anything…or is it that you despise dwelling in the same place for more than a day?"

"You must tell me honestly," she said, ignoring his words.

"I beg your pardon?"

"When you see him. Us. Together. I need to know what you think."

Alin shook his head. "You saw him for yourself. Wasn't it enough?"

She frowned and grabbed his arm, tugging him down the street. "My opinions are biased."

"Well, what does your heart tell you?"

She refused to look him in the eye. "What my heart wants and what I feel are two separate entities. I cannot decide."

"Shall I break down his door and rough him up a bit?"

"Alin—"

"Fine, fine." He gave a heavy sigh. "Dark and imposing. I shall mind my tongue and crack my knuckles."

"You're impossible," she sighed.

"No, you're impossible. I'm sensible and quite entertaining."

A laugh escaped as they turned the corner together. "No one has ever said you were entertaining. Annoying? Yes. Entertaining? Never."

"Fine. I quit."

Her eyes narrowed. "You may quit after we have enjoyed Mr. Levesque's tea and hospitality."

"It better be damned good tea."

-o-

Erik coughed into his handkerchief and then stuffed it into his pocket. He didn't need to look at the white linen to know his stomach bled with anxiety. He could still taste it in the back of his throat and it sickened him.

"Erik," Corinna called. "Where are you?"

"One moment," he muttered.

This felt like complete madness to invite this woman into his home. He paced the landing and thought about how he should have told her to meet him in the park.

"Or not at all," he mumbled to himself.

Eleanor walked past the stairs and glanced up at him. She carried a tray in her hand, which she nearly dropped as she sated her curiosity.

"Erik, what are you doing?" Corinna called out.

He braced himself and opened the door to find her sitting in bed with her feet on the floor and the baby in her arms.

"You shouldn't be out of bed."

"I wouldn't have to be out of bed if my husband answered the first time I called him," she snapped.

Her eyes were red, her hair mussed. She frowned at him and shook her head.

"I apologize."

"Is that woman gone?"

He rubbed his forehead and inhaled. "Not yet."

"Please, Erik, I'm absolutely exhausted. Come to bed with me. I cannot sleep unless you're close to me."

He walked to her bedside and motioned for her to lay back.

"Don't you want to hold her?" she questioned as she looked from him to their daughter.

"Of course I do."

"Then why aren't you here? With us? She's not even a day old and you're out of sight."

"Corrina, I've been downstairs for…for twenty minutes at the most."

She scoffed and squeezed the infant to her chest. "Then do as you wish."

His lips parted and he shook his head. "I want to stay with you. But—"

"But?"

"She's here for tea."

"Who is she?"

"Her name is Darika. She is the Sultana's daughter."

Corrina's eyes widened. "And what does she want with you? To finish what her mother started?"

He reached for her hand and squeezed her fingers. "She's looking for her father?"

-o-

Corinna stared at Erik with her mouth agape. "No," she breathed. "No, you tell her to leave at once."

He blanched and looked away. "I don't know what to tell her."

"Is it true? Did you--?"

"No, I never…I don't know why she thinks this could even be possible."

"Then tell her to leave."

"I can't."

"Why?"

"I don't know," he growled. "But I can't."

"You're prolonging the inevitable."

"I'm trying to do what's best."

"For whom? For her or for us?"

"For everyone."

"Why do you care for her?"

"I don't care for her."

"Is she beautiful? Is that what it is? A beautiful young woman with a trim figure? Not…not this—this mother of your first born child! How dare you, Erik. How dare you!"

"Corinna, stop it. For God's sake, she's come here looking for her father, not a lover."

She turned away, her face burning with anger. "This was supposed to be behind us. Our lives, our home…we've left everything in France…in India! Why is she here? Why did she follow you?"

"I've told you."

"I want a better answer."

The baby stirred in her arms which made Corinna finally break down. She struggled to hold onto her daughter as Erik pried the baby from her arms.

"What now?" she questioned through her tears. "What else can she do to us?"

Erik made no reply. He kissed her forehead but she didn't look up or return his affection. With Sorinji in his arms, he walked from the room. The door closed and her family was separated once more.