by Pet TorreS
“I'm afraid.” Confessed her some time after and my afflicted eyes ran about everything there. To talk about that subject was something I didn’t desire on that occasion.
“Why afraid?”
“I’m afraid of his reaction,” Finally I said, in anguish and my hands passed lightly over my long black hair. My eyes went down again. Sometimes I felt angry at myself for being so shy. I should raise my head, look for Eros and confess him my love for him.
“And if he feels the same for you?” Valeska insisted. I tried to fix my attention on her question.
“If he feels the same for me ... I must expect him to express his feelings for me.”
“Eros will never do it,” Valeska shook her head as she affirmed rapidly. She looked to be familiar with Eros. That was possible because they lived collectively in that castle. Maybe Eros should have had some strong feeling for somebody and Valeska came to know about it. Even so, she preferred not to declare about her affirmation.
“How do you know?” my eyes expanded. I asked astonished as I feared he could never confess me his feelings.
“I’ve known him for a hundred years ... He’s never confessed his feelings to anyone.”
At some stage in that, I glanced down, “Do you really think he feels something for me?” I asked with brightness in my eyes.
“I cannot say ... but he behaves differently in front of you as if he was favorably impressed by you,” she supposed and gave me a short smile.
So I gazed up and about. Those words came from Valeska’s mouth. They encouraged me to face my fears and confess to Eros, all I felt for him. These feelings were born inside me the first time I saw him in my classroom.
Valeska made me feel different. She gave me the courage to face everything with vigor and determination. She had convinced me that Eros could give me his love in return. That he could feel for me all that I really felt for him. I would need to tell him about the existence of my love for him.
Then I imagined it would not be an easy task but also not impossible.
CHAPTER 13
Valeska
I saw Eros alone in his dark costume. He was standing on the castle balcony. His confidential thoughts looked to be so away as much as his coldness in love. Eros was a vampire full of resentment. Sometimes, he looked not to be so happy after being a vampire. Even he was the right arm of Vincent, but something prohibited him from being so pleased with it.
“Alone as always.” My voice broke the silence there and Eros ended up looking in my direction with an inflexible countenance.
At this moment, I started to walk up to him with my attractive walk and stopped standing beside him. Eros kept gazing away from my feminine reflection, but his ears paid attention to my words serenely.
“Sometimes it is indispensable a time for ourselves.” He finally declared with frostiness. His gray eyes reached the desiccated tree away from the big palace. “Don’t you think that?”
“Oh, yes, I do.” My cold hands were deposited gently on the castle parapet. “Really we always need some time for us.”
Other unnatural silence came over us, and however, I tried to break it up with another kind of converse. After that, I was just there for that. I really wanted to be alone with Eros for a mature talk. That was some that we didn’t do for a long time ago.
“Eros, actuality, I have come here just to have a conversation with you.”
“With me?” he looked at me quite surprised.
“Yes.” responded back. So my voice became prepared to begin to speak then. “It is about Valkyrie.”
His eyes were down as he glanced at the floor. His face made an inexpressible grimace. He looked not to want to talk about this theme, or saying better, about Valkyrie.
I perceived her name always made him tormented. That was as if Valkyrie was something very unsafe to him, all because she was our master’s daughter.
“What happened to Valkyrie?” He insisted, after raising his supernatural eyes.
“Nothing.” my lips forced a short smile. “But I think you should know that.”
“To know what?” gazed at my face during that.
“I think that Valkyrie is in love with you.” My voice came out with softness.
His head trembled from side to side. He almost liberated a sarcastic smile at it.
“Why do you think she is in love with me?” his face challenged mine. “Has she told you that?”
Now my head shook at my argument. “No, she has not.” made a short pause in my voice. “But I can sense that she feels something very strong for you. Her eyes shine every time she looks at you or then when hears your name.”
“I think you are paying very attention to Valkyrie. You sound to keep guard over her all the time.”
I tried to smile at his words. “I want to see Valkyrie happy and then I think you should give her a chance in love. You and Valkyrie could become an adorable couple in Neptune. Have you really thought of that?”
His head shook with more force. I looked to say mistakes.
“Valeska, why do you look so interested in our union?” he ended up facing me with severity. “What do you win with that? Some throne?”
My shoulders shivered perpetually. “Wow Eros, I confess I am shocked at your suspicions about me. I am here just to try to help you and Valkyrie in love. I really like Valkyrie and want to see her very happy. But for that, she needs to be loved by you.”
“I think you know many things about that.” His lips made a strange arc in anguish. “I don’t like anyone interfering at my amorous life.” he faced me with ferocity, “After all, this one life that I don’t have after I turned into an arctic vampire.”
He insisted. “You should know that very well, in view of the fact that you know me from the hundreds of years ago.”
“Yes, in fact, it is a truth.” My eyes descended and I finished my eyes on the balcony floor. “Okay, you are really right. I will not more get in the way of your loving life, I promise.”
“I think that sounds good.” His voice lastly said. “I prefer things to look like they are currently.”
Other pause came from him. “I don’t want anyone suffering in support of me.”
His mysterious gray eyes got in touch with the shady clouds in the sky while he confessed. “I am a free vampire in love and want myself to be like this ceaselessly.”
After that, Eros’s body elevated a little more and he threw himself from the top of the balcony. His body flew in the air and then faded away from there and also my eyes.
My head shook at all as my thoughts were about Valkyrie.
“Poor Valkyrie! Her way will be very hard to conquest Eros’s love.” I had spoken softly again. “Eros has made it very clear today.”
CHAPTER 14
I sat gradually at the long dining table next to Valeska. Eros sat facing Valeska and Bizak was at his side facing me. My father sat on a chair near the table’s edge.
The menu was just raw meat.
Finally, I tasted the drink made with blood. My father demanded a toast among us. It was the first meal I shared with them in that exotic style, where the blood was the main dish. We were all with our gray eyes and sharp teeth.
The glare reflected from lit torches on the walls of the corners made us see each one clearly. The first person that I faced was my father monitoring our dinner. Then I looked at Valeska, who whispered into my ear after she ran her curious eyes over Eros.
“Remember what we talked about,” she said quietly, just for me to hear.
I said nothing and looked at Bizak after that. I noticed he was facing me with his huge eyes over my picture.
Automatically I swerved my look to his left and saw Eros keeping his head down. He was quiet all the time, as avoided looking at everyone sitting around the dining table. That banquet didn’t make him interested in anything. All there sounded so stupid to him.
I looked at a jar on the table, near him.
“Eros, can you hand me that jar?” Soon I a
sked with a tranquil voice.
He looked up into my gray eyes. I gazed fearlessly at his face as I believed in the possibility he also felt something for me. Soon, he made the jar come up to me only with the power of his mind. I was shocked at how quickly the object came towards me.
“You can also do it Valkyrie,” my father articulated as he saw how amazed I was at that.
“I cannot do it,” serenely I said as my voice lost energy.
“Try to do the same,” he insisted on being my master and father.
He put the jar back in its original place, in the same way as Eros has placed it in front of me.
“You can do it!” my father persisted then.
I tried not to disappoint him and did what was suggested to me. I stared at the jar, placing all power in my mind as I tried to get something to happen. After several unsuccessful attempts, I gave up, embarrassed.
“I cannot!” I whispered.
“Okay dear,” my father said. “When your powers become more precise, you will not fail at it.”
Even saying these words, I noted my father expected more from me. He wanted to see me as a big vampire who was worthy of being his daughter.
“I also took time to learn how to do this,” Bizak commented at smiled lightly in the direction of my chair.
It improved my mood, listening to Bizak saying he went through the same difficulties as I did. It was a sign the problem was not just with me.
I would eventually be able to. It was just a matter of time.
~~~
After the dinner, we went to a salon called the ‘Melody Room’.
My father snapped his fingers and a melody invaded the room. It was in absence of musical instruments and musicians. But the music was perfect.
The sound of the violin clearly sounded into our ears. It was a soft music and pleasant to hear. Vincent went with the melody. He ran through the room, grabbed my hand and made me dance with him. We went off the ground, our bodies levitated. I was a little dizzy from so much moving in a circle, but it was fun. Our heads almost touched the ceiling of the castle.
Valeska and Bizak did the same and joined us to dance too. Eros remained standing in the corner. He seemed to be in no mood for festivities. I noticed he had scowled all the time. Nothing made him relaxed.
Several melodies paraded through our eardrums until the hour came and we had to go to bed.
Then everyone was sleeping in their bedrooms.
I was the only exception. I stayed in the great hall for a few moments.
Silence reigned in that dark place.
I walked toward the balcony of the castle. I saw nothing in that darkness but an uncontrolled wind. Soon I closed my eyes to feel it with more spirit on my face.
I opened my eyes when I felt a cold breath blow into my ear and then my heart ran in a hurry at his unmistakable presence.
Eros was behind me.
In the first moment, I had no reaction as I kept my gaze straight ahead.
“You’re still awake?”
I recognized his voice, and then I turned to face him.
“I thought ...”
“This could be Eros,” he completed. His voice sounded light to my ears.
My lips squeezed. I glanced down.
Bizak looked at my confused face and noticed my disappointment by not being who I expected.
Actually, I went to the balcony in the hope Eros would appear and I could reveal my love for him. We could be alone, just he and I.
I lowered my chin being disappointed at not being true when I felt the presence of Eros there, behind me, breathing into my ear. All I wanted at that moment was to be with him.
“Everyone is asleep ... Even ... Eros,” Bizak said still looking at me. His gaze was so light gray.
“I think we should do the same,” finally I said, trying to escape.
But I was prevented from moving forward when I felt his cold hand clutching my arm. At this moment my stare met his. Nevertheless, I remained voiceless. Bizak looked to know actually my feelings for Eros.
“If Eros was here you wouldn’t be in a hurry to sleep,” his voice insisted and consequently he released my arm. Soon I pulled it back to me.
“I do not understand. Why do you rely on Eros and suspect me?” his head vibrated for some time as he asked.
“I’ve known Eros the longest,” merely I responded him.
“Eros knows perfectly how to dazzle people,” Bizak whispered and his gaze met the darkness.
“What do you have against him?”
“Me?” He put his hands on his head and took two steps forward, going against the wall. “Nothing against ...just I see he is featured in everything he does. Everyone notices him!”
He raised his arms up into the air.
So I approached the wall, remaining close to Bizak. Our conversation became interesting. After all, it was all about Eros. I longed to know more about him.
We stared into the darkness, as we remained silent for a time. Both had different thoughts. Then, I felt his hand on top of my head. It was sliding through my hair with the greatest of care.
“He'll make you suffer ...” he declared, looking at my expression without any reaction on his part.
His assertion challenged my expectations about what Valeska made clear to me hours before. I was again unsure in relation to the feelings of Eros.
After that Bizak turned into a snake and it was dragging on the floor of the balcony. Its swift movements made it disappear immediately. I stayed there for some time, hoping Eros would wake up and come to me.
CHAPTER 15
I spent my last few hours of rest in despair. My doubts and concerns chased away my sleep.
I was lying on my back, watching the ceiling of my bedroom with precision, where I deposited several images of Eros, several scenes imagined by me.
In my imagination Eros corresponded all I felt for him. How easy it was to love that way.
~~~
I got up the next morning. My window curtains were open. I changed my clothes and I was in my long, wine -colored dress.
I walked through the castle. Everyone was sleeping.
I decided to take a ride in the vicinity of my father’s dwelling. The overcast sky punished my vision. I walked to the edge of the lake. It was one of my favorite places, since everything there was so adventitious. I looked at the lake’s water. I could no more see my reflection on it and at that moment I realized I was no longer human.
I was condemned for all eternity to never again be able to see my own image. I did not exist any longer...
I moved away from the lake as I was anxious and then I walked toward the forest of dry trees. They were burned by the snow. The landscape consisted of dark colors. I was standing on a rock and I looked up at the immense sky.
Seconds later, my vision had detected a black figure coming down from the heights. It was so fast I had no time to follow its movements ... This same thing was already at my side. It fell on its feet upon the rock. Our eyes met and there was a silence.
“You’re awake so early!” A male voice said, breaking the silence between us.
“I could not sleep last night,” I said retracted as if he could know the reason I could not close my eyes last night.
“What disturbed your sleep?” he asked looking at the lifeless trees.
His question sounded unimportant to him. It was a way to continue our conversation.
“Oh…I...in fact ... I went to bed thinking about how ...”
Soon I looked at his face and he stared at me waiting for me to finish my sentence.
Our gaze met. I became dumb. The courage fled from my heart. Confused, I shook my head.
“I would talk to ... you.”
Even so I kept my head down as it was difficult trying to declare my love for him. Eros remained peaceful, gazing toward me.
“What's so important that you have talk to me about? To the point it has made you restless.”
He proved to be comp
assionate.
“The love I feel ...for you ...”
My stare met his during my words. I felt a strange reaction in my body as I said those words. It was kind of relief mixed with despair.
“So that's what you wanted to tell me?” he asked looking to his left and shook his head softly. His indifference shattered all my expectations with regard to his feelings. Soon I bit my lips.
“I already knew ...” He acted with more coolness and fixed gray his eyes on my pale face.
“Did you know all this time?” quickly I raised an eyebrow. I asked as I stared at him. However, he continued looking in the other direction.
“I always knew ... from when we were on Earth,” he confessed to me and bowed his head.
“And why have you never told me anything?” But I insisted and asked, crushed. My head shook as well.
“I thought it was not necessary for you to know I was aware of it,” he explained and his voice sounded as cold as much as his indifference.
“It would have made things easier ...I would not have lost so many nights of sleep trying to find a way to tell you this,” My head turned to the side , I looked at him as I revealed.
“It would have been worse.” His voice was insensitive and his gaze was away.
For a second time I frowned at him as I was confused. Yeah, things needed to be said, but not that way. Basically Eros was compressing my heart and my feelings. That wasn’t right.
“You would not only lose your sleep at nights ... but also would have lost your taste for life!” His voice sounded aggressive and he faced me gravely.
“What do you mean?” negativity came over me as I asked him.
“I cannot return what you feel for me.” His voice was filled with anguish.
I sensed it hurt him to say those things. He did not want to see me suffer. So he did not let it show that he knew everything. He, being impartial, would have been easier for him than trying to convince me to give up that platonic love.
“Why?” I demanded. Things were not clear to me yet. What was his objection?