Chapter 34

I sat at the table watching the two men glare at each other like children. I endured a few more moments of immaturity before I threw down my fork in frustration.

"If you two don't stop staring daggers at each other…!"

The men broke eye contact and stared at their plates. I took a few more bites before pushing my own plate away.

Erik eyed Morgan's plate in disapproval. She had hardly touched her food. Erik pushed her plate back in front of her.

"You need to eat more," Erik insisted. Nadir looked up in interest.

"I'm not hungry, Erik," Morgan replied. Erik sighed. With a scraping noise, Morgan found Erik sitting at her side. Taking her fork, Erik speared a bite of food and raised it to her lips. Morgan raised a hand between her mouth and the fork.

"Erik, I'm not a child. I can feed myself," she protested. Morgan felt herself grow red as the Daroga observed Erik trying to spoon-feed her like an infant.

"Erik knows you can. The question is: will you?"

Erik knew the answer to that question. He had started to predict my actions; our lives had become a giant game of chest. I couldn't bring myself to eat anymore. I had no appetite.

Fervently wishing I had not invited Nadir to stay, I obediently parted my lips. Erik was able to persuade me to eat until my plate was half empty.

"Better," Erik said, approving my efforts.

"Don't you think you should be concerned by her lack of appetite, Erik?" Nadir muttered in Farsi.

"Don't be stupid, Nadir. Of course Erik is concerned!" he spat back. Morgan listened to the men's unintelligible bickering.

"Hey!" Morgan shouted over the apparent gibberish, "Can we just stick to English or French from now on?" The two men stared at the girl, shocked at her outburst.

"You two bicker like an old married couple!" I snapped. I was getting irritable. I had been cooped up for so long, I had no patience left for anything.

"Are you feeling alright Morgan?" Nadir asked. He spoke with the caution of some one walking through a minefield.

"I feel perfectly fine Daroga," I said tersely, "What isn't fine is that one of you can't say a word to the other without starting a fight!"

"Daroga is judgmental. Erik is only defending himself," Erik protested.

"Defending what? Your right to lock a girl away from the world until she fades to nothing?" I didn't dare say a word to that. If I did Erik would immediately know I agreed.

"It is none of your business Nadir!" Erik spat through gritted teeth.

"But it is Morgan's business! If she is too timid to tell you that you are killing her, then I will!" Nadir shouted.

"Erik only thinks of Morgan! He-" Erik froze He realized that Morgan was quietly crying to herself. He immediately took her into his arms, muttering comfort, not caring what the Daroga thought.

"I-I want t-to leave," she gasped, now crying freely, "I w-want to l-leave the lair!" Erik pressed Morgan even closer to him, trying to calm her.

"You see?" Daroga remarked. He was quickly silenced when Erik gave him a look that threatened death.

"Why do you want to leave your Erik?" he whispered.

"I don't want to leave you Erik! Just the fifth cellar! I'm dying down here!"

Erik paused for a moment to consider this. Morgan was very pale, and she was getting thinner every day. Perhaps she did need to leave the house by the lake. Maybe, the Daroga was right.

"Ange, Erik cannot find it in him to let you leave his domain," Erik confessed. Morgan sighed, conceding defeat without a fight.

"But," Erik continued, Morgan looked up with surprise, "The Opera House is Erik's domain."

"What are you saying, Erik?" Morgan asked, barely daring to hope.

"Erik would like some help running the Garnier," Erik said, grinning.

I sat dumbstruck. Slowly a smile started to spread across my face. Finally, I flung myself on Erik, with a squeal.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" I cried over and over.

"You're welcome," he said, chuckling softly.

"Neither of you should be trying to control the managers!" Daroga protested.

"Please, Daroga, don't ruin my only chance to leave the lair, please," I implored.

"You don't even know what Erik has been up to, mademoiselle," Nadir insisted.

"Of course I do. Erik is famous for his meddling," I remarked.

"And that doesn't bother you?" Nadir asked. I paused to think. For the most part Erik didn't cause any harm. I could certainly help control the chaos he did create by working with him.

"Nope!" I chirped with finality. The Persian's face was still clouded with worry.

"Don't worry Daroga," I reassured him, "I'll keep him in line."

"Erik is sure you will," he laughed, "Now you need to be getting to bed. You have a big day tomorrow."

"How can I sleep now that I'm all excited?" I asked.

"Would you like Erik to play something for you?" Erik offered. He chuckled as I nodded like a demented bobble head.

"Come along then," Erik purred. Morgan hopped up eager to listen, but Nadir interrupted with logic.

"Perhaps she should change into her nightclothes first, Erik?"

Morgan froze eyes wide and cheeks red.

"Oh! Yeah!" she stammered, "I-I'll go do that." With that, Morgan ran to her room to change. She threw on her nightgown and tied her robe. She ran back to the Louis Philippe room, eager for Erik's music. Erik laughed softly, as she excitedly took hold of his arm. As Erik led Morgan to his bedroom, he paused to speak to Nadir.

"Make yourself comfortable Daroga," Erik said with a look that told the Persian not to interrupt. Nadir sat down in the nearby armchair, fully expecting to hear things he did not need to hear.

Erik, sat down at the pipe organ in his room, and Morgan took her place along side him. Gently draping his fingers over the keys, Erik began to play. Morgan contentedly closed her eyes as the music enveloped her. Before long, she fell asleep. When Erik was sure he would not wake her, he carried her off to her room.

Erik passed Nadir passed without noticing him, focusing on the little bundle in his arms on whom he shed every ounce of his affection. Daroga stood up and followed his friend to the girl's bedroom.

"Would you pull back the covers Nadir?" Erik whispered, finally noticing his friend. The Persian complied and Erik set Morgan down on her bed. When he had tucked her in, Erik slinked away to his armchair. He collapsed into his seat by the fireplace with a ragged air.

"Are you alright Erik?" Nadir asked, alarmed by the sudden change in Erik's disposition.

"She's killing me, Daroga," Erik explained, "Killing me with affection! Erik tries to not let Morgan see, but every look, every touch she gives tears me apart! It's almost as if the joy she gives is too much for Erik. Erik has never experienced something so painful and yet so pleasurable! She gives Erik so much, but I am always left wanting more," Erik sighed heavily, "She is an addicting little thing."

"Have you?" Nadir pried. Erik grew even more haggard at this.

"No… somehow," Erik sighed, "She is so weak now, Erik is sure it would kill her. Morgan is dying before my eyes, Daroga. She is Persephone and this is Hades," Erik lamented.

"I'm sure she will improve when she is allowed to leave her," Daroga assured.

"Erik can only hope."