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Portrait of the Soul	By : sirenofsaturn Category: M through R > The Phantom of the Opera > Het Views: 2723 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own The Phantom of the Opera, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Well, I just can’t believe it…People are still reviewing. I’m so happy/sobs into Erik’s cloak/
Erik: Lovely
Oh come on, half the reviewers gave you kisses/watches Erik attempt to remove lipstick from his mask/ Thank you all for reviewing, and I hope you continue to do so after this next chapter, Erik don’t tell me…Eight!
Erik: Brava!
On with the story! Oh and Erik, do it for me, you do it so well!
Erik: She owns nothing, but a few Original characters! Do not steal, do not sue!
Isn’t he great at that?
A look of puzzlement found its way on Nadir Khan’s face that night, as he stood out front of Erik’s door. True around Erik things could get rather confusing, however the Persian had yet to even encounter the man in almost a week! He had knocked several times, and waited in patient intervals before raising a fist to the door again of the house on the lake.
Deciding not to wait all night, Nadir invited himself in. Taking a quick glance around the house things seemed to be in order. Items were housed in their normal place, and Ayesha eyed the darker man briefly before returning to her nap. Everything in Erik’s home seemed to be there, except for Erik. Walking deeper into the drawing room the Daroga noticed the samovar was bubbling unattended. Wondering why Erik would leave the item so carelessly unsupervised, he risked a call. “Erik?” He called gently.
A few moments later Erik stumbled out of the room that led to the bath chamber. Seeing a damp rag in Erik’s hand and a spare mask in the other Nadir did not have to guess what happened.
“The withdraws are still making you ill?” He asked.
“Oh, how clever you are! Even after all these years as a retired Daroga your wit continues to astound me!” Erik snapped. He was already angry with himself at the lack of control of his body. He had been wearing his full-length mask when the nausea had taken him. He made a mental note to continue wearing the one that he wore now. The one that left his mouth bare, to avoid ruining his shield because of his poor self-control when it came to vomiting.
“No need for hostility, my friend.” Nadir sighed, already reaching in his coat to hand Erik his temporary relief.
“Say what you will.” Erik sighed, moving to the samovar to get the tea he had left. “But, I do have my reasons for being hostile. I do not mean to be hostile at you, but do keep in mind I have few people to vent on. You are here, and dear Ayesha is asleep. I would take it out on Mia, but I do not wish to scare her just yet! Precisely the reason I avoided seeing her for the past few days!”
“Mia?”
Erik cursed, slamming his cup down. Why did the human race feel so inclined for therapist to tell their secrets? Getting off a drug addiction was the best way to confess things you did not mean to! God knows he was doing things these past few weeks he would not normally do under any influence!
“Who is she, Erik?”
“My set designer!” Erik snapped turning around to face his opponent. “Mademoiselle Sclar, Mia! It is all the same woman! Is there such need for your alarm, Daroga? I asked her to call me by my first name, and she insisted on the same. You’ve been to Russia; it’s what they do over there! Is there so much need for your panic when I interact with someone who is not familiar to you?”
“It is when the last time something like this happened, the woman you called by her given name was Christine Daae.” Nadir shot back without giving full thought. The next thing he knew glass had broken near his head. Looking down by his foot, he glanced at the broken pieces of the china cup Erik had been drinking from.
Bending down to pick up the pieces of glass, Nadir froze at the given command.
“Leave it!” Erik hissed. “Be glad my hands are shaking or I grantee you that that glass would be imbedded in those dull, brown, Persian eyes of yours!”
Nadir stared, taking in a quick breath. As sharp as the glass in his eyes would have been, Erik’s tough was even sharper.
“Everywhere I go.” Erik muttered, beginning to pace like a caged tiger. “Everything I do, she is still there! I try my best; do know that I try to move on! I see Mia and talk to her; I am intrigued by her mind and her genius! However, I can converse with her, and listen to her, but she is still there! Not a lot! Oh no, I am getting better, but a little bit. A tad, a memory can be found anywhere I do not purposely set my mind to. However, Nadir I am trying! Then in my bit of success you try to, you dare to, accuse me of having the same infatuation with Mademoiselle Sclar? Christine betrayed my trust at one point, Nadir. Please do not tell me that you will do the same.”
Nadir’s mouth was slightly agape when the words finally sank in. Had he in his rush to protect his friend misjudged Erik completely? He was only worried that Erik would make the same mistake twice. However, he had no evidence that anything of the sorts was going on. He was once a great detective, and now he was leaping to conclusions without any evidences whatsoever.
“I am sorry, Erik. I spoke without thinking.” Nadir apologized walking up the European, who had sunk to the ground in his moment of ranting. “I was merely worried that history would repeat itself.”
“It can.” Erik reminded. “But not always. I do try to learn from my mistakes. I admit it took me almost half a century to realize I was not met to get along with other people. Then look what happened.”
“That’s not true.” Nadir objected sitting beside Erik. It was not very civil to sit on the floor, but now was not a moment that the two were feeling proper. “We get along. That is when you are not behaving like a lunatic.” The Persian joked, motioning to the broken teacup that had been thrown.
“So what you are saying then, is that we never get along?” Erik chuckled shortly, switching moods. The misshapen lips making a small smile that Nadir had not seen in a long time. “I guess you do have reasons to be concerned though.” Erik sighed, his light mood changing to a darker shade. “You have known me long enough, and are familiar with my work.”
“Yes, but I was wrong to judge. Please forgive me.” Nadir said. “I just-you’ve been though so much this past year already. I did not want to see you hurt again.”
Erik was silent a moment before replying. “Well…you were wrong to judge.”
Nadir smiled briefly, acknowledging Erik’s strange way of forgiveness. “I was, and I admit it.”
“You don’t even know her.” Erik mumbled standing to fix his guest tea.
“Well,” Nadir considered taking the offered cup of steaming liquid with lemon. “Then tell me about her.”
Erik turned to his friend. Nadir noticed that the gold held the majority of his irises, however the small specs of emerald were gradually taking over his eyes. The French man sighed as he sat back down. Taking in a good amount of air, Erik opened his mouth, and began his tale.
He spoke of Mia’s brush with death, and his ‘small’ act of helping her. He spoke of their encounter in her room and her great hospitality. He began to tell his friend of every detail of her designs, how incredible and detailed they were. He even began to speak of his brief Yiddish lesson that he had received from her.
“Can you believe this?”
“Well, it does look like you.” Nadir commented, starring at the portrait.
“Not that it looks like me!” Erik corrected. “Her detail, and perception are incredible, I admit. But, what I cannot understand even now is why she drew this!”
“Erik, from what you’ve told me you should know this by now. She said it was to thank you.”
“So? Do people give gifts, just to say thank you?”
“Yes.” Nadir answered simply. “In fact in some cultures it is terribly rude not to. However, from how you have described Mademoiselle Sclar, I do not think that was her motive. She wanted to say thank you, because she wanted to say thank you. I really think that is all.”
“She treats me so differently though. Like I was a normal man, without a mask.”
“It sounds to me that you might have another friend, Erik.”
“Yes…perhaps.” Erik mused, adding peppermint to his tea to ease the nausea. “Does it come off that way?” He inquired.
“You just speak so differently about her.” Nadir stated. “When you spoke of Mademoiselle Da-her.” Nadir stuttered.
“You can speak her name here Daroga. I will not throw anything at you…at least for the remainder of this visit.” Erik added.
“You speak differently of Mademoiselle Sclar. Do you trust her?” Nadir asked.
“I trust no one.” Erik reminded feeling confused as feeling of guilt entered him. Was he feeling guilty for saying this to Nadir or because he was speaking of Mia?
“Right.” Nadir sighed. “I remember, yet she has not asked one question about your mask?”
“No.” Erik stated. “And she can ask a lot of questions.”
“Too many?”
“No.” Erik smiled. “I ask back, so we are even.”
“A trade off then?” Nadir commented.
“Sort of, but I’m sure I am boring you with all this. Care to tell me of that Parisian woman in your life? Seen her recently?”
“You actually care to know?” Nadir asked shocked. “I always thought you never cared for my private life.”
“I can tolerate it.” Erik compromised. “Besides you confide in me, I figure the least I can do is listen. I think besides me, Darius is the only one you talk to.”
“Ah, but can I continue to confide you?” The Persian inquired. “How do I know you wont say anything, now that you are conversing with Mademoiselle Sclar?” He joked.
“I do not care to tell Mia of such things.” Erik answered missing Nadir’s humor. “Besides I can not seem to remember if in all our inquires if I have even mentioned you.”
“Does she know of anyone else you confide in?”
“Who else? Just the only other soul on this wretched earth that I talk to.” Erik confessed motioning to Ayesha.
Rolling his eyes, Nadir took a sip of tea before confiding in his friend. “I was with her last week in fact.” He began.
During the rest of the conversation that night Nadir did the majority of the speaking. Erik continued to listen throwing in the occasional comment, and the morphine stayed on Erik’s inn-table, for that night, temporarily forgotten.
Whew! That one really poured out of me. How did you phans like the dialogue? Let me know, okay! Once again, reviews are great, they give me inspiration to keep going, and they give me great encouragement. Also in general…they make me feel loved!
Erik: God is there a bigger fool on this Earth?
Just think of the people you’ve encountered after all these years, and ask that question!
Erik: Maybe you’re third.
Maybe I am, but admit at times you can be first!
Erik: Excuse me? Are you looking for a new muse! Because you’re about to be in need of one very shortly!
I was just kidding! Just like you were, about the bigger fool stuff.
Erik: I wasn’t kidding…
Jerk.
- 7
- 8
- 9
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Portrait of the Soul