It had been a lovely day down in the lair. Erik was preening himself, as usual as he signed posters of himself. Scores of women sat at his feet, ooohing and aahhing at his majesty.

Well it was good that he had help, the lair would never be clean without her, she thought sarcastically. Ayesha growled at all the women in her house as she swept the floor with her tail, just dreading the thought of having to dust. Wasn’t this some form of animal abuse? Forgetting her for those floozys!

Just because they happened to posses a female body he suddenly was enamored with them, scores of them. Why he didn’t even have to sing or wear his mask and there they were, practically on top of him. He never petted her anymore, or let her sleep on his stomach. Ayesha meowed at all the women as she pushed her way around them, trying to ignore the smell of their heavy perfume. Suddenly the smells of lavender, rose, and even musk overwhelmed her and she passed out, exhausted.

Nadir entered the lair, noticing some disturbance. A lot of women were swooning and catcalling? At Erik? He did a double take. Oh come on, this was too rich, Nadir thought pleasantly. It looked as if Erik had a harem running here. Several women in revealing clothing came and cooed around him, muttering “it’s Nadir! He’s touched Erik!”

Nadir threw back his head and laughed, sending women scurrying out to see him. “Well Don Juan, have you lost your mind?”

Erik stopped for a moment, hugging each willing woman he could find. “It’s wonderful isn’t it?”

Nadir arched his eyebrow, wondering if the whole medical profession should be called in, to take Erik away to the asylum. The women, too! “Are you the ghost of the opera house or a ghost of a brothel? Just how much Opium have you injected these past few weeks?”

He paused and put his finger on his chin, thinking for a moment. It hurt. “Well, I don’t think I really know where to begin. You see, I had been mourning Christine, and here these women came, all sorts, it didn’t matter! And they cuddled me, loved me.”

“ Would it be so hard as to pick one? “ Nadir inquired, watching the women outstretch their arms to gesture for Erik to pick them. Nadir sighed and rolled his eyes dramatically, nudging women out of the way . It was then when he came across Ayesha, who seemed to be passed out. He massaged her face gently, getting her to awaken, and Ayesha rubbed her body up against Nadir’s in recognition and gratefulness.

“No, I don’t think it would be too hard to, “ Erik’s eyes flew open wide when he saw his cat, “Ayesha! I have wondered where she had gone to.”

Nadir took off the little broom that was attached to her tail and hung it up in Erik’s face scornfully. “Are you really that enamored with the brothel that you’ve created here Erik that you’ve forgot your kitten? She’s been cleaning her home, poor thing. You would have thought that one of these, women would do that for you. Too lazy? Erik, I hate to say this, but I think they only want to..well, we don‘t say it in polite company. ”

Ayesha hissed at the women, pawing and scratching to get out of Nadir’s embrace. She ran to the bookshelf and stood on top of it, sputtering at everyone.

“And what if we weren’t in polite company?” Erik asked, walking over to Ayesha and trying to get a hold of her.

“Well Erik, I’d say they only wanted to get in your pants. “ Nadir shouted. The women clamped their ears shut and muttered softly, as if in heavy denial. One by one the women left the lair, streaming out as if their back ends were on fire.

Ayesha meowed loudly in compliance and hopped into Erik’s arms, rubbing her face against his chin. She still smelled like water and vinegar used to clean the lair, and it should have repulsed Erik, but it did not. He loved her and that was enough.

Erik moaned as he saw them leave, calling them back. They did not seem to be returning. He looked around, stroked Ayesha’s back and then sat on his divan, defeated. “Alone again on a Friday night!” He mumbled.

Nadir sat next to him and chuckled as Erik resumed his devotion to his cat. “Chess?” He asked, bringing out the set from Erik’s bookshelf.

“Yes, I suppose we should. Who knows when they’ll return?”

Nadir chuckled. “I’m sure there will be more of them once they find out how to get here.”

Ayesha growled at the portcullis, ready to defend her home from the invaders if need be.

Nadir reached over and rubbed her chin. “Don’t worry, my dear girl, I was only kidding. You are the only woman who resides here.”