The Phantom Ascending |✔| [Phantom of the Opera Fanfiction]

The Persian Plot

Erik

For several hours after the visitor's arrival, I played with the idea of manipulating the situation to ensure Daroga goes back to his post and I get the castle for myself and Christine. While my funds have multiplied over the last couple of months thanks to La Fenice fees and some of the investments I made on the solstice, a home this secluded and large was still out of my reach. However, the more I thought about it, the less comfortable I was with the idea of delivering Daroga to that man.

I observed the man -- Arash -- at the party, and he had the look of someone who was certain in the outcome and was now just waiting for the events to unroll. Also, he seemed perpetually pleased with himself, and that was never a good sign on a man with an unknown agenda.

I would have likely left everything to chance, were it not for the party events surrounding Christine. They served as a crude reminder of how malicious people can be. Nadir... I could not trust him with my secrets, but so far he seemed to be a reliable ally. One I wouldn't need if I was on my own, but who could come useful in the whole wedding affair.

And there was the fact that he saved my life in Venice. I will feel better once I repay him... And rub it in his face.

I chuckled.

Dressed all in black, except for my mask, I went to Arash's room. There was some risk involved: since he refused to drink anything at the party, I had been unable to dose him with a sleeping drug. Still, after picking a lock and entering his room, I was lucky enough to find him fast asleep.

This lack of guard was not something I've expected, but I was thankful for it -- hypnotizing him would be a lot easier this way. Noticing a flask by his bedside, I took a sniff out of it and smiled. Ah. So the man secretly drank alcohol despite his religion, and someone -- doubtlessly Nadir or Darius -- made use of that weakness, secretly spicing his flask with Valerian and making sure the uninvited guest stays put. My opinion of Nadir improved.

I prepared a chain with a shiny silver pendant and sat on the chair next to the bed, spending minutes on just being  motionless and matching my breathing rhythm to his. Next I began to softly, silkily hum to him.

"You are asleep, but you can hear my voice," I sang to him, repeating similar mantras in Farsi until I had him fall into a trance. It took me over half an hour before I was sure that his subconsciousness is safely anchored to my voice.

"You will now answer my questions, but you will have no recollection of this. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

"Why have you come to seek out Nadir Khan?"

"To have him rejoin the shah's service."

"Why does the shah need Nadir again?"

"Because I convinced him so."

"Why?"

"Nadir used to be an influential man. I had managed to make many officials suspicious of him before, but the shah himself still thinks highly of him. Nadir is perfect."

"Perfect how?"

"To be blamed and executed for the assassination plot."

My eyebrows shot up, but my voice kept its cool.

"Ah yes, the assassination. The shah's upcoming assassination?"

"Yes."

"Very clever of you, Arash," I said soothingly to buy myself some time.