A/N: Ok, here's a little something to get you all worked up and worried. In case you had not guessed, there are feels ahead. I think they are on par with the last chapter.
Nadir had known it would only be a matter of time before the Shah and Khanum decided to turn the tables on Erik. Neither monarch wanted the masked man dead, yet, but there was something to be said for one who constantly ignored the rules and customs.
As a magician, he had proven to be a wonder, as an architect, a genius; but lately Erik had begun to show the more irksome tendencies of a man. His temper and patience were wearing thin as he was repeatedly called away from Christine's side, and as
would be expected, this did not sit well with the Khanum.
The Daroga had warned Erik not to let the witch sink her claws into him, but perhaps that could not be avoided. Were she not who she was, Nadir suspected she would have had Erik entertain her in…other ways. But, she was the mother of the Shah, and he
was a simple magician –favoured though he may be.
Nadir had heard the gossip and knew the tension was growing between the two. Thankfully, Erik's eyes were still closed to such subjects, or at least he looked away from them. For once, Nadir found himself glad that Christine had won the mysterious man's
affections unknowingly or otherwise.
This little pass, however, could not completely defend Erik against the Khanum's devious mind. She wanted him to explore the darker parts of his mind, and without Christine there to pull him back, Nadir worried the man would be lost to them forever. She
was a light in that darkness that would guide him back to reality. The Daroga had seen this power work numerous times, for deny it how he might, Erik was head over heels for the girl and would willingly do anything she asked of him. A part of Nadir's
mind had worried over this, but even if she realised the hold she had on Erik, she would never have the heart to abuse it. He would watch her catch herself trying to convince the man of something, remembering her promise to him. She had sworn never
to try to possess him. What she did not see was that she already had. Erik would move heaven and earth for her.
These were the thoughts that he tried to focus on as he made his way to her apartment. These were the things he wished for her to realise but knew he could never tell her. These thoughts were what made him hang his head at what he would have to tell her.
He came into her living room after hearing her cheery voice beckon him in. She was in her kitchen, her back to him as she arranged a glass of roses. Nadir shook his head, knowing it was as good as treason to cut roses from the Gulistan. Erik was
rubbing off on her.
'Christine, how are you this morning?' He offered, reflecting her bright smile.
'Oh, seven.' She told him breezily. She had gone to counting down. He thought this a rather morbid practice, but refrained from dissuading her. She seemed happy, so maybe it was a form of coping. 'How are you?'
'Fine, fine.' He nodded at the floor.
She stopped and looked at him pointedly. 'What's wrong?' She knew his tricks and little tactics at seeming contented.
'You'll want to sit down for this.' He gestured to her living room, not meeting her gaze. They solemnly took their places, her in her wicker chair, and him on the plush couch opposite. She leaned forward to put the flowers on the small table between them.
Seven roses.
'Do you like the flowers? Erik got them for me.' She explained.
Nadir shook his head again. At least she was not the one committing treason.
'Christine, I just came back from talking with the Shah.' He told her ominously. Her smile faded at his tone of seriousness. 'He wants to give Erik a present for his services.'
She knew what he meant. She knew exactly what kind of present he was inferring, and it made her blood boil. She knew she had no claim to lay upon the man, nor could she do anything about it, but it still hurt.
'The Khanum?' She asked, tone hard and sharp.
'She suggested it, I'm sure.' He paused. 'I'm sorry.'
She shook her head. 'Don't be. We both knew it was coming, sooner or later.' She told him in a confident tone, but she refused to look at him.
'I know how you care for him.' Nadir started, but she raised her hand in silence.
'Don't. Please, don't. It was never going to last and I needed to accept that.' She started to gasp at the sobs in her throat. 'Because I'm not going to last.' Her neck muscles twitched as they fought the losing battle against her emotions.
Nadir burned with wanting to tell her. He wanted her to know before she gave up her best friend, but he simply did not have the heart. It would hurt her more to know how Erik cared for her. Besides, Erik was not completely convinced himself. Nodding,
he simply rose, put his hand on her shoulder in what he hoped to be a comforting manner, and then left.
On his way out, he heard her muttering a mantra to herself.
'He was never mine. He could never be mine. He will never be mine.'
Nadir found the man he had half a mind to fear sitting, looking completely miserable and frightened. They were in Erik's living room, the masked man's long fingers clenched hard on the arms of his cane chair, his knuckles turning somehow whiter than the
bones they seemed to be solely made of. His piercing eyes looked anywhere but at the Daroga, boring holes into the wall with their many emotions burning inside. His mouth was a tight line, not showing anything more than the obvious frustration at
the current predicament he was being forced into.
If Nadir had not known better, he would have thought himself speaking to a statue. All personality was gone from the man's stance and he simply sat there, holding in any number of thoughts and most probable insults.
Once he had finished his piece, Nadir looked to Erik expectantly. The man nodded curtly and rose, ever fluid and elegant, but with a harder edge. Nadir gave him a look of apology, and though Erik was not really looking, he knew he had seen it.
Two eunuchs brought the girl into the room. She was small and had long raven hair that hung like a sheet of black rain down over her shoulders and back. Her skin was smooth and of a delicious cocoa brown. Her large eyes looked up at him through her veil
with undisguised fear. They were sage green.
If Nadir had worried for Erik before, it was now cast aside as mere passing thought compared to the looks he saw in the man now. Erik's shoulders hunched as his breathing caught tightly within him. He clenched his jaw as he fought the struggles of his
own desires. He fought his humanity, long since cast off, but still lurking in the shadows. Nadir heard the echoes of the words the man had spoken to him just three nights ago. He had the desires of any normal man.
He came forward, walking stiffly as his body refused to obey him. He leaned forward and removed the veil from her face, seeing the full extent of her beauty. She was a lovely creature, a virgin, trained to be a concubine, but given to Erik instead.
'How old are you?' He asked, his voice harsh and metallic.
'F-fifteen, master.' She muttered quietly.
Erik cringed from the title. 'Do you know why you are here? What is expected of you?'
'Yes.' She looked down as she whispered.
'I have removed your veil. You may remove my mask.' He told her. She looked up in complete horror. She shook her head, inching back slightly, but being stopped by her two guards. 'You refuse?' He asked steadily.
Her knees buckling, she knelt before him, crying and pressing her hands together in supplication.
Sinking down slightly before her, he let his voice grow softer. 'Lie with me one night and you will go free to live as you please, but deny me and I cannot save you from the punishment.' He offered his hand to her.
She brought her tears stained face up to look him in the eye, but only cried harder, pushing herself away from him.
'You truly chose death over me?' He asked in pained disbelief.
She continued to turn aside, shunning him.
'Take her away.' He commanded of the two now stunned eunuchs.
'Erik,' Nadir stepped forward to explain.
'She has made her choice. Tell the Shah I am…incapable of receiving his gift. Tell him whatever you will, just try to spare her.' He said harshly as he turned to his balcony.
Nadir nodded for the eunuchs to do as they were told, though he knew this would not be over by any stretch. Not if the Khanum heard about it, and she would.
Coming over to the man who now leaned brokenly on the rail, he tried to find words.
'Erik, she was yours to do with as you pleased. Why go to such trouble for a mere slave?'
Clearly these were the wrong words.
Erik roared at the man. 'A slave?! A mere play thing?! Is that all women are to you Persian fools?!' He loomed over Nadir like the shadow of death, once more becoming the Angel of Doom as so many saw fit to call him. With one more growl, he was gone from
the apartment, ripping the front door off some of its hinges.
Nadir stood in amazement for a few seconds before hurrying down to Christine's apartment. He knew Erik was not known for making the best decisions when angry, and he feared for what might happen. Pressing his ear to her door, however, brought no sound
that would suggest he was there. Nadir breathed a sigh of relief and decided to stand guard for the night, just to ensure Erik did not do something foolish.
This had been a far too stressful day for the Daroga's liking. Love was definitely for the youthful.
Christine sat by her windowed doors on the floor, knees hugged into her chest. She gazed out at the bright morning sunlight. Ever since what had happened with the swans, she had not dared step foot in the garden. She watched the soft blue sky turn paler
and paler as the sun lit its way into the day. She thought of how warm she had felt sitting out there beside the pond, talking to Petit. How soft his downy feathers had been. She missed him dearly. It was her fault his little life had been cut so
short. He could have lived if she had not…no, she would not curse that. She could not condemn the fun she had had with Erik, the smiles and laughter they had shared in. She would not regret a single day she had been blessed with. Blessed. How funny
it was to have religion slipping back into her words though she truly did not believe in it. She believed in Heaven and Hell, but not some sadistic being that created life only to snuff it out.
She heard a faint knock at her door. She knew who it was, but could not fully stop herself.
'Come in,' she called quietly.
The door opened, but she did not turn her gaze to greet the dark shadow that entered. She heard a soft rustle on the coffee table as six rose roses were placed gently down upon the smooth wood surface.
'You shouldn't be here.' She told him, eyes still focused distantly out the door. 'You have someone else to look after now. You should be with her.' She felt a tear slip down her cheek.
'Christine, I-' He started, his voice breaking part way through.
'You don't need to explain. Just go. I never expected you to stay this long anyways.' She told him, ducking her head a bit to hide the fact that more unwanted tears were falling with unusual ease.
'I-She wouldn't…I don't have anyone, Christine.' He finally admitted.
'What?' she looked up at him now. Confusion reigned in her eyes, but a glimmer of happy hope shone deep within. She could not find the strength to hate its selfishness.
'I offered her one night with me and she could walk free.' He looked down, feeling the weight of the day's events crushing back onto his shoulders.
'Oh,' she glanced at the floor.
'She refused.'
Christine's head shot back up in surprise. 'But she'll be…' she could not even finish the morbid thought.
Erik only nodded. 'She chose death over me.' He felt all of the strength left to him leave. His shoulders hunched forward and he instantly felt the fool for feeling this way in front of her. Here he was suffering over some girl and the indecent feelings
she had brought out in him while begging Christine to accept him back into her life. He was about to crumble at her feet when she came to him, taking his arm in her gentle hands. He let her lead him to her couch and urged him to sit, perching herself
almost unbearably close.
'Oh Erik,' she looked at him sadly as she fought to find words.
He threw off her hand with a growl. 'I don't want your pity.' He glared at her. 'I should have known. I've lived in your eyes too long. I've forgotten how much of a monster I am. She didn't even see my face and she knew to fear me.'
'Is that what you want from me? Is that what will make you feel better? If I fear you? Shun you like everyone else?' She asked, feeling her sadness give way to frustration.
Erik looked at her now, his momentary anger washing away. His mind showed him the look of fear that had twice crossed her face when looking at him. He remembered every bit of how much that hurt him. To be seen differently in her eyes. She must have seen
this change because she instantly softened.
'Erik, you are the most beautiful person I have ever met. You adore all that is good and beautiful in this world. Don't let the ugliness in. Don't let the lies make you into something you're not, because they will try.' She took his hand in both of hers.
She looked at him with those glorious grey-green eyes. How they saw right through him so effortlessly, he would never know.
Then the coughing started. It was just a little tickle at the back of her throat at first, but quickly she felt the hot burn of blood scorch its path from her lungs. She rose from her seat, turning away, but she only made it a step or two before falling
into black.
'Christine!' Erik yelled, rushing forward to catch her. He felt panic rising in him as a thin line of blood trickled from the corner of her perfect mouth. She was still breathing, though. His hands fumbled uselessly about her limp form, wondering what
to do as she lay unconscious in his trembling arms. He did the only thing he could think of. He pulled her close and held her, rocking back and forth as he whispered soothing words intertwined with pleas of her waking up. He eventually carried her
to bed, sitting beside it and keeping resolute vigil for any sights of asphyxiation. He found himself praying to a God he had vowed never to believe in for her recovery.
A/N: Thank you Samalexmac, Unforgiven Outer, and JulianaAraujo for favoriting/following this story and me as a writer. Your support means a lot to me, and I thank any of you who may have read Heights, or may do so in the future. I was and still am amazed by the lovely reception it got. Thank you for reading, reviewing, and just being the wonderful people you are. I have received nothing but kindness from this website, and know that with you all here, it will remain so.