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

Precious Symbols

Christine

I felt the mood in the room change. Erik was stunned into silence by Nadir's admission, but already I could see his mind working quickly behind his bright blue eyes.

"Of course. You know who I am because you talked to Manelli," Erik said to Nadir.

"No. Not even when I interrogated him did he reveal your hidden identity."

"How then?"

"I was at the Don Juan premiere. The Paris one. I sat in one of the boxes close to the stage when Christine unmasked you and the fire broke out. I saw you there, Erik, and so I recognized your face in Venice. The deformity and the incident of yet another theater disaster... It all fit in."

"Then you should have left me in that alley."

"I needed you captured, to make sure you don't escape to do more harm, but I wanted to help you as I would help any wounded man. I was also fascinated by the legend surrounding the phantom of the opera, and I wanted to see what kind of a man you were."

I could sense Erik's temper flaring, but he held himself together, probably due to my presence. I dug myself deeper into the chair, ready to insist that I stay if they tell me to leave, but none of them paid me any attention.

"So you played a game with me," Erik sneered.

"No! You surprised me when you gave your identity as Erik Dessler, and when Cesare Manelli confirmed your story, I began to wonder. You seemed to present no danger to anyone, and I felt I could let you go with clear conscience. I used to be a daroga, but no longer, and never in Europe. I had other things to take care of here -- such as Rosier," he waved around with his hand. "And then it amused me endlessly when you returned to ask to travel with me. I was intrigued even more... Well. We are where we are, now. So what if I knew you are the Phantom of the Opera? What difference does it make?"

"It makes all the difference," Erik said quietly, then got up, turned away, and calmly walked out of the room before I could even understand what was happening.

Nadir sighed.

"I admit to being cautious and studying his nature with some fascination, but I meant no harm," he said, shrugging in a helpless gesture.

"I know. I must go after him."

"Of course. Christine?"

"Yes?"

"He did kill those men in Paris, didn't he? The public reports have always been vague..."

I couldn't say a word, so I just nodded.

"But he is different now. I promise."

"I am not sure that this is a promise you can make, but after what I've observed, I am inclined to agree with you. Go to him, and leave me to fend off all the vultures who want to get their eyes on him. And I suppose I will have to talk to my servants as a measure of precaution. Some of them must have talked to Garten about Erik wearing a mask. I will find out which ones, and send them away," he finished sharply, and for a second I could glimpse the dangerously capable Daroga behind his typically benevolent exterior.

"Thank you, Nadir," I said and left him to do as he planned.

Now, where could Erik be? Rosier was a large place, with enough small staircases and angles within the west wing alone to make maneuvering it tricky. I stopped a passing maid carrying linen and asked if she knows where to find Darius, but she couldn't help me.

I entered Erik's room thanks to the spare key he had given me, but he wasn't there, so I stopped by the open window to lean through and at least feel the fresh air on my face. The noon sun outside shone brightly, spilling traces of the upcoming summer across the gardens below. Wherever he was, Erik wouldn't venture outside on his own on a day like this.