She was staring up at the sun, watching as a shadow passed over her. Was it the Shah? Had he come to punish her again?
He knelt down and Nadir's face came into view as her surroundings melted away into the chamber around her.
"Adellade? Adellade? Can you hear me?"
"Hm?"
"Here. Can you sit up? Slowly now, slowly. That's it."
"Nadir? What-what are you doing here?"
"We fell in together, remember? Can you move? I know the heat is starting to get bad, but I need you to move-to stay awake for me. Can you do that? Here. Turn your back. Easy now, slowly. I'm not going to do anything-just going to see if I can loosen these-try to cool you off some."
"I don't remember falling in," she murmured. "Did he put you in here too?"
"We fell in, Adellade," he reminded.
"The Shah? Did he put you in here too? To punish Erik again?"
"No. We fell in. We were searching for a way to get to Erik, remember? You're not in Persia, Adellade. You're not in Mazenderan. You're in Paris. Below the opera house. Try to remember."
Erik paused, hearing a bell go off. He turned toward the entrance of the lair, closing the door behind him, peering out into the water, seeing no sign of a boat-no sign of her making her way along the wall…. He eyed the water, hoping that she hadn't fallen in.
If she wasn't here, then why did that bell sound? He wondered. His chest tightened as he hurried off, already knowing the answer. Curse the Daroga for having led her into a trap! If she's harmed because of him, then Erik will ensure that he never sees the light of day again!
Nadir lightly tapped the side of her face, leaning over her. "Adellade? Adellade? Can you hear me?"
He held his fingers against her neck and then pressed an ear against her chest, just barely hearing the sound of a heartbeat.
"Adellade! Come on! Wake up! Wake up!"
Her eyes slowly blinked open as she looked at him and grinned, laughing. "Why do you look so worried, Nadir? I was only sleeping! The Shah will come for us when Erik's finished! You'll see! It won't take too much longer!"
"If you say so," he growled, crawling over to continue his search.
The heat was beginning to take its toll on him, the energy being drained from his legs so that he could not stand for long periods of time. He thanked his mother and father for giving him Persian blood-blood that could withstand the immense heat of the unforgiving sun.
Adellade though…. She was hardly able to move with what little energy she had, constantly falling in and out of consciousness…. Her mind had fallen victim to the heat, placing her in the delusion that she was in Persia once again, having fallen prey to the Shah's cruel hand. He had to get them both out of here-had to find a cool spot to take her to so that Erik just might have a chance of seeing her alive once more even if her mind couldn't remember him….
He came upon the wall, recalling what was beyond. Erik ran to the door, prying it open with his hands, thrusting up an arm to shield himself from the heat that rolled over him, escaping into the cool air.
"Erik!" Nadir called out.
He walked inside, stopping in shock as he saw Adellade lying on the floor with the Daroga kneeling over her.
"She just lost consciousness again," he explained. "I've been trying to wake her, but-"
"Move!" he barked, going to pick her up in his arms. "Follow the river back to the lake and to the far shore. Knock twice on the wall."
"Careful with her!" he warned. "I-I don't know about what sort of state she's in-she's been talking nonstop as if she believes herself to be in Persia once more…."
"Twice, Daroga!" he called out over his shoulder. "And be grateful that I am willing to spare your life."
He carried her back, walking slowly so as to allow for the cool air to relieve her of the heat. She believed herself to be at the Shah's mercy once again…. To be a thing for him to use as Erik's punishment….
He stepped into the water once the current was no longer a danger and lowered her into the water, keeping her supported with one arm as he worked to cool her off with the other.
He should've suspected that the Shah had made use of his torture chamber the first time…. Ah, but he had been too concerned about her-about how close she had been to dying. He lowered himself onto the stones, sitting so that the water only came up to his waist, yet kept her afloat. The water should cool her down the fastest-should help restore her….
"Any progress?" Nadir asked.
"Very little," he muttered without turning around. "You are back on your feet?"
"I am more adapted to the heat than she is," he pointed out. "Can I do something to help?"
"Christine is in the lair. She will be needing company, I would presume. There is a switch to open the door. You'll find it along the wall. There's also a jar of labelled herbs that should help with the dizziness you're trying to hide."
He turned his attention back to her as the door opened. He stared at her, feeling the heat left in her skin, the way the water he swirled around her gave the illusion that she was still moving….
He sighed and stared out at the darkness around them, opening his mouth to sing her lullaby.
He woke, aware of her clutching his shirt, her body curled around his side. He could feel the wetness from her tears through the fabric as he looked at her.
"Another nightmare?"
She nodded. "I can't sleep. Not after that. I'm too scared."
"Shall Erik sing you to sleep?"
"I'm too scared. I can't sleep. I won't sleep."
"You can sleep, Adellade. No one will harm you now. Erik is here. Erik is always here during the nights."
"I'm too scared."
"The darkness is not so bad. Your mind can be free to wander in the darkness. Free to fly away on a dream to whatever land you choose." He wrapped his arms around her and gently stroked her hair as he sang. "Nighttime sharpens, heightens each sensation. Darkness stirs and wakes imagination…."
"That was lovely."
He turned, seeing her standing in the doorway. "Christine."
"I've never heard it before. Where did you learn such a thing?"
"It's an old song." His grip around her tightened almost reflexively. "One I composed a very long time ago."
"Nadir-he told me-told me what happened." She sighed and wrapped her arms around herself. "Is she going to be alright? Adellade? Is she going to be alright?"
"The water helps." He sighed. "She-the heat took its toll on her-both her mind and her body."
"You're worried about her? I-I didn't think you would be."
"Very much so." He gently stroked the side of her face. "Erik is very much concerned for the poor little angel who fell into the demon's hand…. And he hurt her…. He hurt her so much."
"Adellade mentioned something like that. She said her brother had told her stories about a demon. But that's impossible, given that he's dead-that she imagined the entire thing."
He sighed. "Erik Destler, correct?"
"Yes. How did you-?"
He plucked out the letter from his shirt pocket and held it out for her to take. "It is not her fault for concealing the truth, Christine. It's better this way…. Better that she not recall the monsters that dare to haunt her past…. For both our sakes…."
DoctorPhantom: Honestly though: what other song would I have chosen?