Chapter Seventeen: Promise kept

"Erik, are you listening to me?" Nadir tried to get the attention of his friend, who looked rather worryingly dejected.

"What?" Erik replied absent-mindedly, his face still buried in his hands.

"I asked whether you were listening to me." Nadir kept trying to reach Erik. "I was saying that the opening night had been a big success and the critiques had loved the performance. You made it Erik. It was the night of your triumph."

"Ah… that." There was no enthusiasm in his voice.

"Erik, what is exactly wrong with you? You didn't even turn up to see that opening night performance."

"She didn't come… Now leave me alone and just go."

"Who? Christine?"

"No, not Christine… My wife..."

"I didn't realize you were married," said Nadir.

"I gave her a ring, and she accepted it. That makes her my wife. Now, can you just kindly remove yourself from my house? Or is that too much to ask?"

Nadir detected a clear sign of anger from Erik's voice but didn't leave. He didn't want Erik to sink back into the pit of despair once again. Against his better judgment, he decided to press for further conversation. He had to play the only card that would get Erik's full attention.

"Is her name Hannah?"

Hannah! That was her name. Erik smiled and felt a sudden urge to hug his Persian friend. Instead, he asked, doing his best to disguise his excitement, "How did you come to know her name?"

"I heard it while you were sleeping." Nadir winced at the prospect of suffering rather unpleasant outbursts of anger.

Erik simply nodded, much to Nadir's relief.

Erik's mind raced with thoughts of what must be done. Since Hannah no longer visited his dreams, simply transferring himself to her world didn't seem to be a viable option. Seeing that she was not willing him into her world, the only way for them to be together was, he figured out, for him to call her to his side. He was certain that she would come to him, once she understood how serious he was about his promise. He firmly believed that she would stay with him after she arrived. She should be able to see how much misery she had caused him through her absence. He had to believe in his ability. He had to trust the power of their connection. There was no time to lose. He refused to plague his mind with any kind of negative thoughts.

Nadir cleared his throat a few times, each time a little louder, trying to remind Erik of his presence. He was quite sure Erik had forgotten all about it. He didn't find it exactly entertaining just to watch someone thinking frantically. Being forced to acknowledge his friend's company, Erik looked at Nadir in slight annoyance. What is he still doing here? Haven't I dismissed him already? Does he ever take a subtle hint? He sighed, realizing that he better deal with the business of his opera house before sending Nadir away.

"Employ an assistant manager who will look after the affairs of my opera house. I will make a set of instructions for you to give him but he is not to know where they really came from. Tell everyone that I went back to England for a while. I am moving back into my lair, where my wife will join me. You have my permission to move into this place. In the cellar, there is a hidden device, which will reveal the underground passageway for your use. I will show you how the device works once the war starts. You are allowed to come to my lair, but only when your life is in a mortal danger. Otherwise, I will be the one who will initiate any future contact between us till my official return to my opera house."

"You will keep your wife there? For… how long?"

"Where else do you suggest, Nadir?" Erik snapped. "It is not a good time to be in France. She will be safe there with me at her side."

Nadir didn't argue. What Erik said was true, except that Erik could have chosen to leave France. Nadir couldn't see, for the life of him, that any right-minded woman should desire living in a place so completely devoid of sun light. Then again, where Erik kept his wife was none of his business; that particular decision was perfectly within Erik's rights. He decided not to press the matter any further. He was just glad that Erik finally got over Christine and that his mood greatly improved for whatever reason.

"Is there anything else that I could help you with?"

"Look after Madame Giry and Meg on my behalf. I would not like to see Meg's talents wasted, and I'd rather see both of them live comfortably. However, they will not be allowed into the lair, under any circumstances. I no longer hold a grudge against Madame Giry. Nevertheless, she has proved herself to be weak and I shall not risk another betrayal. She is never to know that I was the Opera Ghost."

"Am I not mistaken in thinking that… you trust me?"

"Of course, you are the only person I trust, apart from my wife." Erik's voice was warm, as he gestured Nadir to leave.

Nadir nodded with an appreciative smile and turned to make his departure.

"Oh… and Nadir," Erik added causally. "Thank you, but don't ever do it again. I do not usually take invasion of my privacy kindly."

Erik ran his fingers down at the keyboard of his new organ, striking one key after another with passion and precision. Memories of Hannah that his unconscious mind faithfully stored flooded to the surface. He let his longing for Hannah run through each and every vibration of his music till he could no longer tell them apart. His lair had been beautifully restored. He had purchased clothing items for Hannah, which would fill a huge mahogany wardrobe and a matching five drawer chest. He deliberately had chosen a dozen of Artistic dresses as they did not require the use of corsets. Although dry fruits and nuts had amply been stocked for the harder times ahead, he purchased fresh fruits for Hannah while he still could. Satisfied that the place was ready to receive Hannah, he towered over the bed in his now pleasingly furnished bed room and stared into the space where he wanted to watch Hannah's form emerge from an empty space.

He closed his eyes and focused his mind on the ring he had given her, his inner voice calling her name. He was in his lair, a place which they both loved. Here he had composed music to celebrate the power of the night and reveal the secrets of dreams. Here Hannah had reached him and abandoned herself completely to his desire and his longing. The candle lights were illuminating the beauty of darkness, instead of fighting it. If his plan had any hope of success, it would happen here. He would not give up his attempt to bring her to him till he would faint in exhaustion. If he had not achieved it by then, he would try again as soon as he awoke. He stood still for hours, never once breaking his concentration. Finally he sensed her coming to him, breaking through the time barrier, slowly succumbing to his iron will. He opened his eyes and saw her lying on the bed, wearing nothing but his gold ring. He smiled and wrapped her curled up body with his cloak, before collapsing next to her in overwhelming fatigue.