Erik sighed and ran his hand through his hair. He had realized several things that night, the first being that it was not going to be easy to get Christine back, and though he liked a challenge this was one challenge he would be happy to skip. He knew her weakness, she wanted him. She might be a virgin but she wanted what he promised, and he hoped that he might be able to use that to gain her trust. A sexual type of relationship could draw two people closer together and perhaps he could learn something from it as well.
"You know, you really should learn to get better locks, you never know who might show up," a voice said from the shadows of Erik's study. He looked up and the man he saw was the last person he wanted to see or deal with at the moment.
"If you value your life I warn you to tread lightly with whatever reason you came here with," Erik said. The Persian sat down across from Erik and crossed his legs, a calm and collected look on his dark features.
"I was told that you are in a bit of a predicament..."
Discussions with a Black Knight and a Daroga
"I am really too tired to kill you, Khan, so why do you not do us both a favor and get out of my house?" Erik suggested with a sigh. The Persian said nothing, looking at Erik with a curious look, trying to discern what was the matter without asking.
"I was invited," Nadir informed him. Erik's only visible brow rose.
"Obviously it was not I who invited you, so I must assume that you are lying," Erik said.
"No, but your wife did," Nadir said. Erik cursed under his breath. Leave it to Christine to go behind his back and invite a man Erik would happily see dead. She really knew how to get to him and it was rather annoying.
"And how did she manage that?" Erik wondered, pouring himself a shot of brandy.
"She wrote me this," he said, handing Erik a piece of parchment. Erik read it quickly and would not admit how impressed he was that Christine had thought to contact Nadir for help. It really was smart. Though Erik hated to even think it, Nadir was the best man to help him find this man. He was a Daroga in Persia, and knew how to catch criminals. But Erik would not accept his help. He could take care of himself and Christine.
"Contrary to what my wife thinks, we do not need your help," Erik said. Nadir sighed, he knew Erik was going to be difficult, he was never anything else. That was why he thought it might be a good idea to talk to Madame Desslar, she was more agreeable and she had also been the one to write the letter in the first place.
"Perhaps I can talk to your wife?" Nadir asked. Erik stiffened slightly and Nadir knew he was treading in dangerous waters.
"My wife is not here at the moment," Erik said. Nadir frowned only slightly.
"Will she be here later tonight?"
"No."
"Tomorrow morning?" Nadir persisted. Erik growled.
"No, she will not," Erik said. Nadir waited for a moment for Erik to elaborate but when he did not he cleared his throat. Obviously something was going on between the couple, and it could not be good if Christine was not with Erik.
"Do you know where I can reach her?" the Persian asked.
"Why do you wish to speak with her?" Erik demanded, becoming moody.
"Well if she thought there was a need for my help I would like to hear it from her," he said.
"Well I am her husband I told you that we do not need your help," he said. Nadir sighed sadly and shook his head.
"What has happened to us, Erik?" Nadir asked softly. Erik froze once more.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"This animosity between us. We once were very good friends," Nadir explained. Erik said nothing for a moment, because he knew all to well what the other man was talking about. They had once been like brothers in a sense but events of their past had changed the feelings towards one another. And Erik found that a lot of the central conflict had to do with Emma Daae. His little Emma, he missed her terribly. He hated himself for not being there when she had died but he knew that she hated him for the things he had done and he could not face her. He just hoped that she forgave him now, wherever she was, looking down on them.
"Our past. It is what haunts us, Khan," Erik said very softly. Nadir said nothing, he did not have to.
"But do you not think that we cannot put past conflicts aside for now? It is not only you that this mysterious killer is after, it is Christine. She is Emma's daughter, Erik," Nadir said.
"I know very well who she is, Nadir, you do not need to remind me," Erik snapped.
"Then you know that Emma would want us to protect her from whatever is out there, put your pride aside and let me help you," the Persian pleaded.
"I can protect what is mine, Khan, you worry about yourself. Christine will be safe for as long as I live," Erik swore.
"And if this man or woman gets to you, kills you? What will Christine do then? We need to catch whoever is doing this and stop them before something miserable happens," Nadir said. Erik's pride was warring with his need to protect Christine. He wanted to know who the hell it was that had already caused them so much trouble, and why they were doing it. But he knew he was afraid of the answer. What if it was someone who did not care what happened as long as the two of them were dead? A past enemy. He would not have Christine killed for something he had done years prior. But he would not admit that he needed help. He had taken care of himself for years. He could take care of Christine. If there was a need to protect her then he would, he did not need the Persian's help.
"I do not think I will be needing-"
"Where the hell is she?" Anthony demanded, bursting into the room quite unexpectedly. Erik did not have to ask who Anthony was talking about. Christine.