A/N: Ok, so, updating on Sunday may not be my best option (I forget how busy my Sunday mornings are). Against my better judgment, I am planning on changing update days to Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Those are days I work, but I should still have plenty of time to get this story out. I apologise for not thinking this through better, but hope you enjoy this chapter!
The next morning proved to be rather similar to the previous with Erik waking up a bit confused as to his whereabouts and why he was sleeping in a proper bed. It was an odd sort of comfort for him as his tent at the fair had only really allowed room for a bunch of throw pillows. Having something so evenly soft was something of a novelty and one he intended to enjoy. He found a bit more pleasure in walking to his balcony and spying the garden below for the chance to see Christine. Oh, how her name still rang with heavenly beauty. Sure enough, he saw her. She was sitting by the edge of the pond, dressed this time in a robin's egg blue and leaning over the water slightly.
Once more making haste in his journey to meet her, he found himself frozen in place by her beauty. Still in the shadows, he felt like a letch for just staring at her, but he could not help but to be entranced by her simplest movements.
'Good morning, E.' She said out of nowhere. Her back was to him and there was no possible way she could have seen him.
'G-good morning, Christine.' He stumbled over his words, still surprised she had known he was there. 'H-how did you…?'
'Sneaky though you may be, a bird always knows when a cat approaches.' She grinned at him slyly as he came to stand beside her.
'I'm a cat, am I?' He asked, though he instantly saw her reasoning. He had been likened to a feline on more than a few occasions, and the creatures did seem to like him.
'Hmm, yes, I think so. Do I not seem like a bird?' She asked with play innocence.
'In form, perhaps. But I'm beginning to believe you more like a fox in spirit.' He observed. This gained him an eye brow raise and continued grin.
'Do you hear that, Petit? He thinks I'm a fox.' She told the little ball of grey fuzz that was slowly wobbling its way across the water to them.
'You named him Petit?' Erik asked, eyeing the cygnet doubtfully.
'Well, since I call him little one, I thought it would fit nicely. Even though he won't be little forever.' She sighed adoringly as the bird clumsily crawled into her hands.
'Am I to assume you speak French as well as Persian?' He asked, switching over to his native language with ease.
'And Swedish.' She answered, also switching effortlessly. She looked up to his confusedly impressed eyes. 'What, you don't think I got this skin colour from Persia, do you?' She asked incredulously as she held out a milky white arm as proof.
Placing the cygnet back in his protective brush, she turned her full attentions to Erik.
'Now,' she announced, folding her hands in her lap formally. 'I think you owe me a letter.' She looked at him expectantly.
'R.' He begrudgingly revealed.
'E, R. Hmm, the plot thickens.' She told him deviously. 'I shan't guess though. I'd hate to ruin the surprise, if I'm to learn it.' She added quickly, remembering the reluctance that brought on this game. 'So, what question do you have for me?'
Damn, he thought. All that preparation the day before and it had completely left his mind. He looked away as he bit his lip thoughtfully. He did not want to lose all thought to her misty green eyes.
'Do you happen to have a terrarium, or know where I could find one?'
Christine looked at him with amused surprise. 'That's your question?'
'No, I just…needed to ask you.' He looked away in frustrated defeat. Here he had just wasted one of his precious opportunities because of his own foolishness.
'Well, I don't think I have one, but I'll see if I can find you one, if you would like.' She offered, feeling a bit bad for her minor ridicule. He seemed hurt by it. 'Do you have anything else you'd like to ask me?' She watched him look at her in surprise. 'I'm not cruel. I'll give you another go.' She promised.
'What is your favourite colour?' He asked at length.
She grinned at this. 'Blue.'
'Same as your outfit.' He observed.
She looked down to see it as if his noting it would have changed it any. 'So it would seem.' She told him with an airy shrug. 'I've always loved it. It's the same colour as the sky.' She looked off at this, suddenly becoming lost in the morning sky with its vast emptiness.
'Christine,' Erik started, about to ask her why she was here in Persia, when they were both interrupted by the appearance of Nadir.
'Nadir!' She called to him, waving the reluctant man over. 'It's so good to see you again. Why do you follow E around so? Afraid he'll get into trouble without you?' She eyed her masked companion with playful suspicion.
'E?' He looked to Erik questioningly.
'Yes, we're playing a little game.' Christine quickly explained. 'He's going to tell me a new letter of his name every time he sees me. In return I will answer one of his questions.' She smiled up at the Daroga happily.
'Is that so? And I am to assume you've gotten to the second letter.' This earned a proud nod. 'I see, well Christine, I'm afraid I shall have to part you from E, for he has been called to court.' He looked to Erik purposefully.
Christine looked up at her companion worriedly then back with growing concern. 'Why?'
'I'm designing a new palace to be built just outside of Ashraf.' Erik explained, not picking up on her apprehension of political involvement of any kind.
'Oh,' was all she said.
'Yes, now, if you will follow me, E, I think it best not to keep the Shah waiting.' Nadir put extra emphasis on the name Christine was now giving the man.
Erik held back a grumble at the idea of leaving her, but consented.
'I'll see about finding you that terrarium.' She called after him as he left. He turned back to wave and nod thanks.
'Why do you serve such a childish fool?' Erik demanded angrily once mostly out of earshot of the guards of the court.
'Because I like my head right where it is: attached to my neck. Besides, you didn't seem adverse to his requests or company a moment ago.' Nadir observed, earning him a growl from his shadowy companion.
'I do what I have to, to get what I want.' Erik told him shortly. 'I don't need to remind you that the chance of gaining power was what sold me on this whole venture in the first place.' He explained as they came into his apartment.
'No, but fuming about it all in the hallways is only going to gain you an execution, and I don't think that's what you had in mind. I'm actually impressed you've made it this long.' He was only half joking, and judging by the dry laugh Erik gave, he knew it too.
'Yes, well, I guess you'll just have to wait another day before you are finally rid of me.' He retorted.
'Erik, do you honestly know how close you are to death on a regular basis?'
'Why would I tempt it if I didn't know? What amazes me is that you actually care.' Erik turned and leaned back against his desk to look at the Daroga with a suspiciously critical eye.
'Of course I care! I camped with you for weeks on end to get you here, and I'm not going to just give up on you simply because you're too stubborn to care.' He threw his arms up in exasperation.
'And that is why I'm sorry.' Erik said suddenly and very softly.
Nadir turned to look at the pure sentiment in the previously furious man's eyes. It always amazed him how he could be so vicious one moment and then full of heart the next. Nadir took the meaning of Erik's words, however, and lowered his head.
'Yes, I know.' He said solemnly. 'And Reza is why I must continue to look out for you. He would never forgive me if I let anything happen to you.' Nadir knew just how much his son valued Erik's company, even if he would not be able to enjoy it forever. Magician though he may be, Erik had grudgingly shown he was not miracle worker, despite Nadir's desperate hopes.
'Then I shall do my utmost to see that my head remains intact.' Erik vowed with only the hint of a grin.
Nadir nodded and turned to leave, seeing that it had become quite late with the sun's dying light peeking in through the window behind Erik. A thought occurred to him as he opened the door, however.
'I just want you to remember something, Erik.' He looked back to make sure the masked man was listening. 'I warned you about not growing attached to Christine.' He gave him an intent look before exiting the apartment, leaving Erik to wonder at his cryptic warning.
This thought puzzled Erik for many hours and long into the night while he sat in the doorway of his balcony, enjoying the cool night breeze on his exposed face. From what Erik could tell, Christine was perfect. She was kind, caring, rather mischievous at times, and very friendly. What flaw could the Persian possibly find in her? Erik certainly could not see a single one.
Watching his lizard try vainly to climb the wall he wondered idly if she would honestly find him a terrarium. He was not entirely sure why he had asked her for it, but something about her suggested a better knowledge of this place than he had. Once again he found himself questioning her presence in such a country. As she had pointed out, she was clearly not a native, so why? Maybe she was a part of those religious missions he had seen in the city on his way here. It was possible she had come here with them and been brought into the palace to become part of the harem. God, he hoped not. She was certainly beautiful enough to warrant the desires of a man, but it was the idea of anyone touching her in that way that made his own flesh crawl. He would skin them all alive if he found this to be the case. Christine was like an innocent bird, not to be touched by the filthy hands of humans.
He caught himself within these thoughts and groaned at his own possessive tendencies. He had somewhat promised Nadir he would try not to steal her. The darker side of his mind now reminded him that it was more that he had accepted the challenge to fight such wants, and that he could hardly be blamed for giving in. He turned these thoughts away, battling down those animalistic urges he so despised. What was it about Christine that made him think this way? Since the moment he had seen her he had been enchanted by her beauty and grace. Well, no more!
Rising to his feet, he made within him the promise to break this spell before it made him into an even bigger fool. If she was what Nadir had unknowingly threatened she might be, then he had no chance to claim her in any way. He would distance himself from her and not let her charms affect him.
Erik's resolve surprised even him as he woke up the next morning, and though he saw her outside, he only turned away from her admittedly stunning sight and went to his desk to work. The day passed quickly and before he knew it, several more days had passed without his giving Christine a single visit.
Unfortunately, his visits to the Khanum only increased and the witch's claws began to leave marks in him. He came back to his chambers more and more tired after each of his calls upon her. She had found out about his abilities in designing, but more frightening than that, she found the darkness that hid in the shadows of his fairly shaded soul.
It was after one of these appointments where he felt like he had been picked apart with insults added to his injury by having to endure it all without the protective shield of his mask to hide his true emotions behind. He felt raw and weary, but with the lit fire and drive to build her something to blow her away. Perhaps then he would gain some reprieve. Just make the woman a new toy to interest herself with.
This was what he had planned initially. What he ended up doing was completely different, however.
Looking out his glass French doors that led out to the balcony, he saw the brilliant sun already starting to set over the wall that bordered the Rose Gardens. This was nothing unusual. What stopped him dead in his tracks and threatened the health of his heart was the figure of a young woman walking along the wall seemingly without a care in the world.
Rushing out of his apartments and down the suddenly familiar path to the Gullistan, he found he could not move fast enough. He had to get to her before something happened.
'Christine!' Erik called up to her with great worry as she looked out at the sky and not at her narrow footing.
At the sound of his voice, her face instantly broke into a smile. 'Hello, E! I wasn't sure I'd be seeing you again.' She looked down at him happily.
'What are you doing up there?' He asked urgently, fearing for her lack of concern about the height. 'How did you get on the wall?'
'There's a lovely tree back that way,' she pointed to her right as if it were nothing for her to be several feet from the ground. 'You should come up, it's a glorious view.' She turned back to the sky.
'Christine, please come down.' Erik watched as she rocked from her heels to her toes like a child.
'Everyone always wants me to come down.' She muttered quietly to herself with a tinge of sadness.
'What?' Erik looked at her confusedly.
'What's my next letter?' She asked, turning to look down the rest of the wall.
'I. Now please come down, you worry me.' He begged.
Instead she did a beautiful arabesque, holding the graceful position for a few moments before stepping down and turning, her hands resting beautifully in front of her.
'Why do you worry? Do you think I'll fall?' She asked with a hint of a challenge in her tone.
'Yes.' Erik answered honestly.
Christine let out a laugh. 'Silly thing, this wall is not what it seems.' She told him before stepping backwards off of it.
Erik felt himself lunge forward, though he honestly could not have reached her as she was on the other side, a cry resting upon his lips when he saw her fall. Yes, she fell. About two feet.
She giggled lightly at him as she rested her elbows on the wall and looked down at him.
Erik could have died. He leaned against the wall as memories from Italy flashed before his eyes. Luciana, screaming, falling off the roof. He let out something between a groan and a cry as he sunk to his knees.
'I'm sorry, E. Please, I didn't mean to upset you. I'm sorry.' Christine pleaded, her face filled with worry. 'I'll come down. Please don't be upset. It was a stupid joke. I'm sorry.' She watched as he slowly dragged himself to his feet and looked up at her with a mix of pure fury and despair. Running along the wall, she eventually reached the corner with the tree and climbed down. She was almost out of breath by the time she made it to Erik.
'Don't ever do something like that again.' He told her darkly, his voice shaking with guarded anger.
'I'm sorry.' She said, taking a step back, curling back her fingers which had tried to reach out to him.
Erik sat down hard on the edge of the pond, trying to regain control over his emotions and his still racing heart. Christine merely stood there, looking at the ground and fighting back tears.
'Do you have a question for me today?' She asked, looking at him meekly.
Erik watched her a moment, observing her small stance and pleading expression in her eyes. She looked like she would flinch if he moved towards her. He cursed himself for scaring her like that. He would never hit her, but his snap had done the same amount of damage.
'You said you speak Swedish,' he watched her unfurl just a bit. 'I am assuming that's where you're from.' She nodded timidly. 'Would you tell me about your family, or you home?' He immediately corrected, afraid she might not have any family to tell him of.
'Well, I did not know my mother as she died when I was very young, but my father always boasted that I was the spitting image of her with the exception of my eyes, those I got from him. She was French, so my father made sure I learned both languages. He was a good man. I think you would have liked him. He travelled a lot, playing violin for a few fairs and the like. I would sit and listen to him for hours.' She got misty eyed at the memory. Erik enjoyed how she smiled when talking about her parents, and even more so when she felt comfortable enough to sit a little near him. Her face suddenly darkened, however, and he grew concerned. 'It's been five years since he died. He caught a horrible fever and…I survived on my own for a bit, living off the good nature of some of the people he had befriended over the years, but eventually my luck ran out. I joined a group of Christian missionaries and they brought me to Persia. I was found and picked to come here.'
'Why?' Erik fought back his growing dread of the answer he had come to a few days previous.
'I sing, and the Khanum enjoys hearing me.' She explained modestly. 'I've been here four years now.' She noted darkly.
Erik watched her as she hid her face from him to wipe away a stray tear. He wanted nothing more than to shelter her in his protective shadow to keep her from ever crying again. She deserved only to smile.
He stopped himself in these thoughts, feeling her spell working on him again, after all his work to release himself of its hold.
Christine felt him tense and quickly decided to change the subject.
'I have a terrarium for you.' She told him suddenly. This gained her a surprised look. She smiled and dashed off to retrieve it.
Erik watched her go, mesmerised by her effortlessly graceful movements. She really did look like a bird flitting off from place to place. When she came back, she was carrying a clearly weighty, glass box.
'It's a little heavy.' She warned, handing it off to him carefully. He was amazed to feel how right she was and wonder how such a slight girl could have carried it as easily as she did.
'Thank you. This will serve quite well.' He assured her, gauging the size of the new home for his lizard approvingly.
'May I ask what it's for?' She looked at him hopefully.
'I have a lizard who broke a leg, so he needs a home. I've been keeping him in one of my dresser drawers for the past week or so.' Erik explained, feeling something of the ridiculousness of his words.
'Well, I'm sure he'll appreciate his new home.' She smiled as if it were nothing unusual, making Erik marvel at her.
She walked with him as they made their way to the portico that lead off to the apartments.
'Will I see you again?' She asked innocently. 'Not that you should feel obligated, or anything.' She quickly put in, looking down at her pretentious thoughts.
Erik felt something of a soft smile touch his face as he watched her.
'Yes, I think you shall. Though I do have a lot to do in court at the moment.' He thought somewhat tiredly. 'There are a few things the Shah has requested my opinions on.'
Christine stopped walking. Erik turned to see hurt and fury in her eyes. He said her name, confused by her change of temper.
'I thought that maybe if Nadir liked you, you would be different, but you're not. You're the same as every other power hungry man in this damned country!' She exploded at him, tears springing to her eyes. 'I was wrong about you!' She nearly wept. 'Let me tell you something, real power gains you friends, not enemies!' And with that she was gone. She ran off to he knew not where, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Erik stood there, dazed by her words and hating every bit of them. What did she know of him?! Nothing! She was just some silly child!
Turning, he wondered how she had been so right about him. How could she have known his intentions so well?
He went up to his rooms, never intending to come back or to ever see her again. What did it matter? She hated him now and she had not even seen his face. She would never wish to see him again. Now he would finally be free of her damned spell and torturous words.
A/N: Oh dear! Poor things. Erik's really hard to get along with in this, but dammit, I still love the man. Sigh, I guess it's my lot in life to fall for these sorts of characters. Let's see if Christine agrees with me in his irresistible-ness.
Thank you to ciaramarie1028, SwimFreak2018, Child of Music and Dreams, NoCookies4U, iris2312, RoseandWine, and Melstrife for favoriting/following this story! I appreciate all of the reviews and attention this story is getting, so I hope you all continue to like it!