Ah well, I'd like to thank those that have reviewed so far. I applaud your willingness to read this. Don't tell me that you've actually enjoyed this! Did you even realize it's taken 4 chapters to actually get Erik to finally say, "Okay, I'm willing to think about revealing my darkest secrets"? You people…But I love drawing things out, so if at any moment you get tired of the pace, do tell.

I may be the only person in the world to find this chapter particularly hilarious. I accidentally placed subtle hints of sarcasm in Erik's character. Oops.

A Gargoyle To Polish

The Daroga eyed me warily, sensing my attachment to the current subject of conversation. I shifted a bit, grumbling under my breath about how it was he that brought it up in the first place.

"Get your eyes off of the fireplace like it's about to suddenly disappear. Look at me, Erik," he said.

I did as he said, refreshing my mental image of him clothed in a rich red colored tunic. It contrasted nicely with his brown skin, giving off a mental reflection of the warm climate he had been born and raised in. Nadir's gaze had a false sense of calm about it, I had discovered over the years. Those brown orbs may appear to be bored but behind the initial layer, he was calculating every hitch in a breath and every muscle contracting to make a hand or leg move. He had only ever watched me with this intensity, never trusting me, poor Erik, to enjoy a simple afternoon of tea and talk.

Of course, I had the exact opposite problem with staring, I remembered as he had to momentarily lower his eyes. My bright eyes made no effort to hide their intent to dig through the mind of whoever was being viewed.

After a while (we two could go entire days without speaking, that's how closely we observed each other), Nadir cleared his throat and said, "Tell me about Christine."

I laughed, surprising even myself with the shrill cackle of obvious insanity. It had been a very long time since I had laughed-even in mocking. "Do not play this game with me, Daroga."

"I'm playing no game. I simply want to know what is going on in your head."

"As if you didn't know what was going on before," I snapped. "You and that idiot boy had it all figured out before you fell into my chamber didn't you?" With practiced restraint, I managed not to go on and lose myself in another fury. Instead, I picked up my cup of tea and enjoyed the fading warmth of the liquid while I could. "Yes, mad Erik had gone off and kidnapped some poor girl to satisfy his baser needs, is this not what you had assumed?"

Nadir leaned back and ran a hand through his black hair. I noticed that it had long ago began the receding process and revealed more of his furrowed brow. I knew my presence could not be helping the situation.

"That is what I had assumed, yes. The vicomte made it quite clear that she was his fiancé-" I hissed "and that she would never return to you of her own free will."

"And of course, I could only take her for some monstrous reason. Surely I would only rid the poor innocent thing of her virtue and then kill her later. Am I right again?" My internal patience timer was ticking. In approximately two minutes, if the flow of speech didn't turn or cease completely, I would explode.

My companion looked truly depressed when he sighed and said, "I knew that you thought you loved her. I also knew how obsessed you could become. I could only predict the worse."

"Ah yes, you can only predict the worse of Erik. He is not on the same scale as other men."

"That is why I wish for you to tell me what was and is now going through your head. It is obvious that you are in some half-formed state of living. You are even thinner than I remember," he miserably joked.

I did not laugh.

This was it. My chance to clear the slate and to redraw the correct image of myself upon it. Of course, it would still be hideous-I was never to be anything other than that-but it would be the one without mar of lies or injustices. I could retrieve what little honor I had left and live the remainder of my life knowing I had defended it fiercely.

But would I take advantage of the miraculously placed chance? I was never one to seek pity or forgiveness from anyone other than myself and one other person. I knew this was all that the Daroga could offer and that the "one other person" would never be present in my life again.

"Daroga," I began, voice shaking with a sudden burst of emotion as I realized my previous thought. 'She will never be present in my life again.' Personally, I didn't want my companion to see me cry (what self-respecting man does?) but I could feel the tears coming with a vengeance born of years of being ignored. I pulled off my mask, careful to turn away from him. I heard him gasp and move.

"I am dying."

Nadir (why I go back and forth between Nadir and Daroga, I don't think I will ever be able to find out. With my twisted mind and all, I could never attempt to explain everything I'd ever done.) moved again and I heard his breath coming in my direction. He'd actually turned to face my hideousness, my words had surprised him so.

"Erik?"

I did not (and could not) reply, chocked on tears as I was.

"Erik?"

Why did the man have to push me? Did he not see that I was overcome with something at the moment? Let me have room and time to breath!

"Erik-"

"Damn it, Daroga! Give me time to be dramatic!" I roared, hardly feeling the humor painfully forced out of my throat.

But that was the truth wasn't it? There was exaggerated drama in every aspect of my life from where I lived, to what I wore, to how I interacted with people. I couldn't even fall in love like a normal person.