Even in the darkness of his box, even through the stage makeup, Erik saw the ravaging ruin kneeling in front of him. He gave her a hard look and seized her hand from his knee. Without preamble, he turned it upward and shoved up her sleeve. Her skin told him much about her condition. Frowning, he leaned down to her dark red hair and whispered in her ear, "And you should not be performing."
A second later, he pushed himself out of his chair and stalked out of the box, being certain to seal the curtain behind him before he opened the door into the dimly-lit corridor. As he always should be, Erik found his assistant waiting. "Send Enigma's understudy on for her next scene and tell her she will perform until further notice."
That done, he returned to his box. Masking his weariness, he moved with dangerous grace to his chair and sat down again. With a glare, he pointed to the chair beside him -- a command, not an offer.