A/N: All right, back to the old and more broody Erik.
After much pleading and mild arguing, the three were finally released from Reza's loving hugs and allowed to journey back to the palace. Erik had ignored the tears that glistened in Christine's eyes as she finally turned away from the child who stood waving on the balcony. She set her sights far ahead and Nadir solemnly did the same.
Most trips, the way back always seems to go by faster, but not this one. It seemed to Erik that Christine was purposefully avoiding going back. He was not entirely sure until they had passed once more through the great gates of the surrounding wall of the palace. She had seemed like a bird allowed to finally spread her wings after years of captivity on the ride to Nadir's home, but now her very spirit sunk. All of the carefree light that surrounded her dimmed, and though still stunning, she had lost a little something of her charm.
Erik felt a jab of pain at this realisation. She was like a precious diamond, meant to be admired in the sunlight not hidden away in a dark cave.
This revelation truly hit home when they were walking Christine back to her apartment. Erik had offered, but Nadir had annoyingly insisted upon accompanying them. The Daroga had offered to take her one bag into her apartment for her rather suddenly, placing himself between Christine and the glass doors. Erik took too long to understand the man's pleading and desperately urging eyes so Christine was allowed to see what Nadir had hoped to keep hidden from her.
A look of pure terror and incredible sadness came over her beautiful face as she saw what lay on her doorstep and Erik felt something within him sink. Her milky white fingers flew to her gasping mouth as her grey-green eyes filled with seas of tears as she sank to her knees.
Nadir, who had practically kicked the door open, threw her bag into the awaiting wicker chair and then hurried to her side as Erik stood paralyzed behind her.
On her doorstep sat a rough, silver domed cage. On the floor of this cage, legs curled to its upturned belly, lay a black and yellow bird with flares of orange on the insides of its wings. Erik looked down at the poor creature pityingly.
'It's all my fault.' Christine wailed, shaking with sobs, and shaking her head away from Nadir's consoling words.
'Christine, there's no way you could have known.' He told her, awkwardly holding her as he sat on the ground beside her. 'You know the Khanum, she probably sent it knowing you would not be here to care for it. It's not your fault, Christine. You couldn't have known or done anything about it.' He assured her.
'It died in a cage, Nadir!' She wept, suddenly standing. 'Nothing deserves to be in a cage!' She told him, tears of sorrow turning to fury. 'I should have been here to free it, so that it didn't have to die in a cage; alone!'
Erik was completely amazed by this. He had known she was almost ridiculously compassionate, but this was beyond even his own assumptions. She echoed his own feelings so perfectly. He felt himself take an involuntary step towards her as she went over to the cage. He was stopped both by the look of disapproving supervision from Nadir and by what she was doing.
Crouching down, she opened the door of the cage and gently removed the little bird's corpse from its cruel confines. She carried it a ways away to where the fresh soil was still soft beneath a bush of orange-red roses. She set the bird down and used her fingers to dig a hole. Reverently, she lowered the body into the hole and covered it.
Nadir and Erik watched this oddly beautiful and shining burial in partially stunned silence. The surprise was Erik's, while Nadir watched as if she did it every week.
'Where did the bird even come from?' Erik asked at length.
'The Khanum. She pays Christine in them. They're not exotic or particularly valued, but it's the message that matters. She sends her songbird little companions in cages.' Nadir explained, standing and brushing off his knees.
'Why?'
'Because that's what Christine is.' He told him with a flicker of something Erik had never observed in the man. It was hate.
Nadir left the conflicted Erik to battle his emotions. The Daroga walked over to rest his hand on the still crying girl's shoulder.
'It died in a cage,' she repeated. 'Just like me.' She reached up and took his hand, squeezing it though neither gained any reassurance. She had whispered her words, obviously not wishing Erik to hear.
'Is that why you like him so much? Because he lets you out?' Nadir asked, following her lead and keeping his voice down.
'No. He makes me forget.' She told him, sobering some. She finally rose, walking resignedly back to where Erik stood more frozen than waiting.
'I'll get her back for this.' He promised as soon as Christine was close enough. He had a dark gleam in his eye that made Nadir worry for the first time of her being in Erik's company.
'No.' Christine urged him desperately. 'Please don't. Just let it be. Please, Erik.' She looked up into his eyes as if searching for the man she knew. She reached out for one of his hands, but he only stepped back, hiding his eyes from her.
'I should get back to my work.' He told them lamely as he walked off through the archway and to his apartments.
Christine watched him go with a flicker of fear in her heart. She looked to Nadir and saw what she assumed to be a similar expression on his face.
'Nadir,' she said pleadingly. 'Try to keep him from getting himself killed.'
Nadir snorted a dry laugh. 'No promises.' He looked at her as if to say, "Come on, this is Erik we're talking about, here."
Christine grinned with that little hint of mischief that she got every now and again. 'Fair enough,' she sighed as she turned back to her door and went in.
Nadir stood outside a moment more, debating on whether going up to visit Erik was wise or would simply get him berated. Shrugging, he decided to go on up. It would not be any different from any other day with the man.
A few days passed without Christine seeing Erik. Though she had run into Nadir, who assured her that there was nothing for her to worry about, she was not entirely convinced that her wish had been heard and obeyed. She knew better than to try to tell Erik what to do, he was far too stubborn to hear of it, but she still hoped to put in a helpful word here and there. It would do no one any good to have him trying to get back at the most powerful woman in all of Persia simply because she had shown how much of a cruel witch she could be.
She may not like it or have ever wished for it, but Christine accepted that her life was meant to be full of these degrading little tortures. She had come to realise that there were worse things than slowly being broken down emotionally by a vindictive old hag. She had had her wings clipped long before she even opened her mouth to sing for the wicked woman, so really there was nothing more to be taken from her.
Early on in their acquaintance, they had found what worked on each other and what did not. Death threats, though once a bit daunting, had ceased to mean anything to the young songstress –mostly because she was notoriously good at calling the Khanum's bluff- while threats of never ending torture did make her flinch slightly. The thing that scared her beyond reason, however, lay in her friends. She had always been careful not to show any deference to anyone. The Shah would never actually kill Nadir on her behest, so there was no worry there, Reza remained out of all conversation when at the palace for the boy's safety, no matter how little time he may have left. But now…now there was Erik. He was clever and quick, but Christine worried desperately about him. She could see the way the Khanum looked at him went unnoticed. He was as innocent as a child when it came to the woman's disgustingly lustful looks. Christine watched him sneer at the Khanum's little passes, thinly veiled by derogatory comments about his appearance, but he was completely unaware that he needed to lift the veil. She prayed he never would.
Christine could see that there was a bit of darkness hidden within him, no matter how well he hid it around her, and she knew the Khanum wanted it. It fascinated the horrible woman in a disgustingly macabre way that made Christine pity Erik. That darkness would be pried from him by force if the ruler were to have her way. He would be forced to show the side of himself he clearly did not want to give in to, much less display.
She thought of how happy and gentle he had been in their pillow fight at Nadir's and how wonderfully childlike his eyes had been when he had examined the fort. She wondered what his childhood had been if such things were foreign to him. Every time he smiled at her, it was like it was a new experience. Nadir insisted that the man did smile at him, but not in the same way. Christine had somehow managed to earn a smile no one else was worthy of. She felt her own lips spread at the thought. That was one of the more selfish things she adored about Erik. He smiled for her.
A darker thought clouded her mind at that, but she shoved it away. She did not wish to think such things. Not now. She wanted to enjoy him for a little while longer before he fled her company in disgusted disappointment. Yes, that was what would happen. And it would be all her fault. She nodded. She would have to live with that.
Walking up to his apartment, she knocked on the door, but received no answer. Oddly, the door opened just a little bit at her rapping, so she pushed it a bit to poke her head in, calling his name. Still no answer.
She was about to close the door and leave when a plaintive squeak from Noir caught her attention. She thought for a moment, questioning whether it would be wise to go in, but the big brown eyes of the bat urged her forward.
'I don't have any food for you, Noir.' She told the bat. 'And really I shouldn't be in here without Erik. It's terribly rude of me.' She explained, rubbing the amber fur between the creature's shoulder blades. He gave a few happy chirrups at her affectionate care.
'Hello, Fred.' She said to the lizard who was limping his way along the branch in his terrarium to join in her visit.
Suddenly, she felt something rub up against her shin, making her jump backwards in surprise. Her shock was quickly abated, however, when she realised it was only a cat. It looked up to her and mewed, showing where a bandage covered one of its wide blue eyes. It was a Siamese, but thankfully not one of the Shah's. None of his cats would ever have come into such injury, and none were this friendly.
'Bonjour, mademoiselle,' Christine curtseyed, picking up the cat to hold at eye level. It seemed to enjoy this, so she adjusted to hold it to her more securely. 'And what might your name be? I'm thinking perhaps a spice or flower.' She told the feline lovingly. She did not get the chance to settle on one before she heard a voice behind her.
'Christine,' Erik stood in the doorway, down to his shirt and trousers, both dotted and shining with crimson blood. His expression, though mostly hidden beneath the mask, was harried and his pupils oddly small.
'Erik,' she whipped around guiltily. 'Your door was open and Noir wanted to see me so I-' she hurriedly tried to explain.
'Get out.' He pointed somewhat frantically to the doorway he was quickly moving from, making her exit clear.
The cat had jumped from her arms the moment he had spoken and now hid in the corner, looking at him as confusedly as Christine was.
'Erik, you're bleeding.' She took a step towards him, but he only stiffened and glared at her.
'Leave.' He ordered, letting in a bit of that darkness that she had always known hid just below the surface.
Christine moved to the door, eyeing him sadly. She opened her mouth to say something, but he only shouted at her.
'Go now and leave me!'
She jumped and quickly fled at his uncharacteristically sharp and angry tone.
Erik stood by the door long after she had left, just running the look on her face through his head over and over. He eventually staggered over to one of his plush chairs and collapsed down into it. His mind was still hazy from the hashish he had taken earlier, but that one expression she had worn when she left stuck with him. Fear. He had scared her again.
Putting his head in his hands he groaned. How was he supposed to let her trust him if he kept scaring her like that? Also, why did he care what she thought of him?
Groaning again, he pushed off his knees and bit his tongue as he removed his shirt which was starting to stick to him a bit with the blood. Most of it was not his, but that was not really a concern to him. He let the slightly tattered cloth drop to the floor as he stiffly walked through to the bathroom to get himself patched up.
His shoulders slumped, somewhat painfully, when he realised he had a cut on his back that he would not be able to reach himself. He would need someone to help him. Of course it was the deepest one he had. He cursed himself for being sloppy enough to allow this to happen. He had gotten cocky and now he was paying for it. The drugs the Khanum gave him did not let him feel the pain in the moment, so his injuries did not affect him until it started wearing off. He knew most people would consider it wrong, which was why he made Christine leave, but he personally did not care enough to question it. He knew it made him angry as Hell, but what he did in that time was a bit of a blur, which was probably for the best. Except if there were a chance he could hurt someone he actually cared about.
Erik stopped there. He could not hardly believe he had fallen into the same trap of caring about someone again. He had done this before and been hurt because of it. Familiarity only creates pain. In his experience, it was more pain than the momentary happiness was worth.
Finishing with his other injuries, he looked at the troublesome one which was now drying and caking with blood. If he did not do something about it, it could become infected, but no matter how he turned, he could not reach it on his own. He weighed his options of begging Christine to do it or simply taking his chances and leaving it. His problem was quickly solved, however, when a third option presented itself.
'Erik!' Came Nadir's voice from the living room.
'In here,' he called, still cleaning the rest of his wounds a bit.
The Daroga came in, breathing fire and shooting daggers from his eyes. 'What in the Hell did you say to Christine?!' He demanded.
So this is what an angry bear looks like, Erik mused. Though the Daroga did not truly have the body build for a bear, he somehow managed to resemble one quite distinctly at this moment.
'I simply told her to leave my apartment, which she had entered without permission.' Erik told him lucidly.
'She said you yelled at her and is extremely worried about you. She said you were bleeding profusely.' Nadir said, clenching his jaw from the calm way Erik seemed to be taking this.
'I wouldn't say profusely is an accurate description, but yes, I suppose she would be correct in that. Why is she worried, though?' He cocked his head, genuinely confused.
Nadir muttered some curse that Erik did not know, oddly enough.
'As for why I yelled, I was trying to protect her. I'd just come back from the Khanum's little chamber of fun, and you know how I can get after that.' He looked at Nadir pointedly.
The Daroga sighed, muttering again, only this time about being too old for something. 'Yes, you were right to protect her, but I think you could have done a better job of it. I had to keep her from marching up here to give you what for, herself.'
Erik caught himself smiling, rather liking the idea, but quickly shook it off. 'Well, perhaps before she does, you could make good on that favour you owe me.' He said, turning to hear the sharp intake of breath from Nadir at the sight.
'I'm not sure my favour counts anymore, by the way.' Nadir said, gently examining the cut.
'How's that? Just stitch it, don't prod it.' Erik cursed when the Daroga poked a bit of tender flesh.
'You still met her.' Nadir told him tightly.
'What is so wrong about that, and if she's as strong willed as we both seem to agree upon, then there would be no stopping her from meeting me.' Erik told him, clutching hard at the counter he was leaned over as the Daroga started to stitch.
'Yes, well, I had rather hoped to get to one of you first before that happened. But I suppose it's too late now.'
Erik tried not to shout or turn around and simply strangle the man as he continued to patch him up. He would have to remember not to allow this scene to repeat. He was not sure he would be able to control himself the next time.
'There,' Nadir told him, wrapping a bandage around it a few times for good measure.
'Tell me,' Erik turned, looking the man dead in the eye. 'Why do you protect her so much? I know you treat her like the daughter you never had, and she appreciates that, but why won't you let me get close to her?'
Nadir sighed heavily. 'Erik, you're already far closer to her than you know.' He turned and started to leave. 'And as to the protection, I'm only that way around you. You're too possessive for your own good.' He told him over his shoulder.
'What secret is she keeping from me, Daroga?' Erik nearly demanded as the man was approaching the door.
'One that I wish I could tell you, but hope you never learn.' He told him cryptically.
Erik growled as the man left. This girl was going to drive him insane with her surreptitious insistence.
A/N: I promise the next chapter will be more revealing. Just keep that in mind before you break out the pitch-forks and torches. Also, thank you Le Violon Enchante and RoseOTMA for following/favoriting this story! I really appreciate all the support you all have given this story!