A.N. This is the concluding chapter of Erik's Prisoner. Hope you will not be disappointed with the ending. Many thanks to darkhearted rose for helping me to make better this fic. She's always made me feel more comfortable about posting and has been a wonderful beta. And a big thank you to those who have been reading and reviewing. Your support meant a lot to me. :D

Chapter Twenty Three

Nadir's eyes narrowed to examine the young man seated in front of him. Exquisite. He thought with slight resentment. Such a pretty face was wasted on men. Yet, he could not help but feel that he was looking at the very cause of Erik's positive mood that had been almost surreal lately. Nadir felt his mouth dry, and a creeping sense of dull ache made its way into his chest. Nadir had never regarded Erik with sensual desire. He, however, prided himself in the fact that he was the only man with whom his reclusive friend ever bothered to communicate with some semblance of civility and trust. This young man's existence deprived him of even that meagre consolation in their ever one-sided relationship. And judging from the fact that he was finally introduced to his friend's mystery lover, he was about to be asked a favour regardless of his feelings for their relationship. It took him a while to realise the significance of the name Erik had announced.

"Oscar Ferré? Not the son of General Ferré, surely," Nadir said, throwing a deadly glance at Erik.

"It is entirely my own fault that you have been kept in the dark, Monsieur Khan," Oscar stepped in, with a charming smile stretching her full lips. "I have made Erik promise that he would not reveal my stay here to anyone. You cannot blame me for seeking my own safety. As his loyal and sensible friend, you would have tried to dissuade him from keeping me here."

"What is it that you want my help with?" Nadir asked wearily, half-heartedly inhaling the scent of his Persian tea.

Whatever he felt about the pretty officer, he had to admit that his friend's life had turned for the better. It was time to let go of his role as Erik's conscience and move on with his own life. But it was hard to keep a cheerful appearance when he had been forced to admit that Erik had found peace without his help.

"We are moving to England," Erik declared nonchalantly. "Oscar will need a new identity."

"That I can help with. May I enquire why England, among all the places?"

"Simple. Where would you suffer the least of the sun?"

"You do understand that love between men is less acceptable there."

Erik smiled at the irony of Nadir's remark. Oscar would probably never forgive him if he informed the inquisitive Persian of the truth.

"As far as I understand, the English only object to it when not being discreet. I have no desire to make public our relationship."

"You might need that," Nadir said, eyeing the heir of a formidable General with a sly smile. "Lieutenant Ferré could be recognised before boarding the ship to your chosen destination. It's a risk neither of you care to contemplate."

"What are you suggesting?"

"I advise that Lieutenant Ferré be disguised as your wife and remain as such till you safely arrive in England," Nadir said with as much serious tone as he could muster, trying to avoid the young man's gaze for fear of bursting into laughter. "I can produce two identities. One for a temporary use and the other for a more permanent one."

Erik worriedly watched Oscar's expressions. Her cheeks seemed to be burning with indignation, and he could feel the heat invading his space. They did, however, cool rapidly, releasing him from the need to intercept. When she finally spoke, there was no trace of uncomfortable feeling. Her eyes were laughing, finally finding humour in the situation.

"Though you seem to draw amusement from my plight, I have no doubt that your advice is given for my benefit, Monsieur Khan," she said, her cool gaze searching for Nadir's reaction. "While I would love to have the honour of playing Erik's bride, I am afraid time is against us. I do not think my voice or mannerisms would pass as those of a woman. Wouldn't it help my escape from France if I rather played his servant? As you are aware, no one pays much attention to the appearance of servants."

Nadir's mouth opened with incredulity. He had been expecting a display of outright hostility, which he had considered a fair price to pay for his little entertainment. He had underestimated the young officer. A little smile leisurely crossed his face. He was dealing with the heir of General Ferré, after all. Judging from his temperament, Erik would be in good hands.

"Oscar will not act as my servant. Nor will he pose as my wife for that matter. We will board a ship that will depart in the late evening. A little stage make-up should suffice for necessary precautions," Erik spoke his piece, bringing the uncomfortable subject to a closure with indisputable authority. "I appreciate your help, Nadir. But I advise you to show more respect for your business partner in future."

"My what?" the former police chief gasped, nearly choking on the tea he had been overindulging himself with.

"Your business partner. You are coming to England with us."

Nadir could not believe how it happened. By the time he had left Erik's lair, not only had he agreed to be the co-owner of an art gallery in London with Oscar but also volunteered to go to England first to find a suitable business location and an accommodation to his friend's particular taste. Grimly, he realised that he would never be free from Erik as long as his service was required. Even as this reflection somewhat troubled him, he was unable to suppress the sense of relief and joy that had crept into his vein. Even now, he had a role to play in Erik's life; his friend still needed him.

"Come here."

Oscar grinned at his words, putting down the book that she had been religiously reading for the past hour or two.

"If you keep interrupting my study, I will not be able to produce any profit for your investment," she put up the appearance of protest, seating herself next to him on the comfortable chaise longue.

"I am not going to invest that much. Besides, I will be the one who will choose the artists and paintings for the first six months. You will have more than enough time to learn the subject."

"Are you going to let us exhibit your paintings?"

"You can display any of mine, bearing in mind that my drawings of you are not for sale."

"Never?"

"Never."

She leaned her head against his shoulder, feeling his strong arm encircling her waist. She could hear their soft breathing in perfect harmony, creating an atmosphere of serene contentment around them. Nothing other than their togetherness mattered in moments like this. Even their respective pasts melted into oblivion.

"Were you really not disappointed in my turning down Nadir's proposal? Did you not want to find out how awkward I would look in a dress?"

An impish smile crossed Erik's lips. The image of Oscar wrapped up in an evening dress and a silk gown felt almost surreal. He would be lying if he said that he never wanted to see the sight, not even once. But the figure trapped in feminine outfits would not be the same Oscar he had fallen in love with.

"Not in the least," he replied steadily, meeting her probing gaze squarely. "I would not let Nadir - or anyone else for that matter - have the pleasure of seeing the heir of General Ferré pursuing women's fashion. Your feelings are far more important than my curiosity."

"Is that why you rejected my suggestion, too?"

"I've never made a secret of my desire for your submission to my will. I still demand it and always will. However, that side of our relationship must remain private," he said reflectively, after planting a soft kiss on the top of her head. "In public, you will always be my equal. I will not let anyone look down on you in my presence."

Her quiet contemplative look turned into a delightful smile. At times, he seemed to know her better than even herself. She would always feel at home with him, wherever she was. Slowly, she took hold of his large hand, bringing it to her lips reverently before placing the cool palm lovingly on her cheek.

"You remind me of the Moon Knight," he whispered, his soft breath brushing the tip of her ear.

"The Moon Knight?" she asked, remembering one of his drawings, in which he wrapped her in shining armour. Her hair was longer, flowing gracefully in the wind. The soft moonlight showered her features, favouring her proud stature on the high horseback and leaving the surroundings in contrasting darkness.

"It's a mythical character although the origin is rather obscure. The knight was born between a king and the moon goddess. After the king's demise, the new king, his half brother, seeks his help to restore the former glory of his land and obtains it. The knight becomes a good friend and protector of the young sovereign. But his friend never finds out his secret."

"The secret sounds important to the story."

"It is. The knight turns into a beautiful lady during the full moon period. The king falls in love with her, never realising why his friend becomes curiously absent during this time of the month. He asks her hand in marriage, but she refuses the offer. In the end, he dies of a broken heart."

"You think that the woman in me might not have accepted you?" she asked, not knowing the answer herself.

"The female side of you is unwilling to come out, let alone to commit. I'm lucky that your male side is so pleasing," he replied playfully, watching a vague unease dissipating from her eyes. "Ultimately, however, your sex - be it biological or social convention - is of little importance to me. It's Oscar that I have fallen for."

Erik smiled at the unreservedness of her embrace, the aching trust in her eyes and the sensual, quietly demanding lips. He could watch her endlessly and hold her without ever getting tired. He did not know how long they could live amongst men. It didn't matter. They would be together, no matter what the future held for them. He murmured into her slightly parted lips.

"You are perfect for me."