Behind the Looking Glass
Elliot Nightray was in that place again. It was the large mansion that reeked death around every corner. He knew that if he looked up, he would find bloodstained walls and scorched, raggedly scattered bodies. He kept his eyes closed and his head lowered, willing himself to escape from the horrendous scene around him. But a sadistic laugh, (the noise bordering on insanity,) caused him to raise his head. He met the mismatched gaze of two distinctly different, red and gold eyes.
"It's not my fault," the boy in front of him whimpered. "It's…It's…" the boy's face contorted into a scornful grin. "They were meant to die."
His ghostly laughter made Elliot's skin crawl as the boy suddenly disappeared from view and he was forced to gaze upon the destruction before him. Distant burning firelight illuminated a hallway of distorted bodies; their cloaked murderers hovering above them with oozing red weapons. Elliot moved to bury his head in his hands and found a bloodstained knife clenched tightly in his right fist. Gasping, he dropped the sharp metal; backing away in a zombie-like horror.
"Why…" Elliot turned upon hearing the small cry to find a young girl lying amongst the carnage. Her silver hair was splayed wildly and her angelic white dress was torn and bloodied.
"Why." She repeated. "Why did you do this to us?"
Elliot took a step away from her. "What are you talking about? I didn't-" He jumped as a cold hand wrapped around his ankle. It was the body of a man whose legs had been torn completely off. The bloody stumps that remained gushed red as he used Elliot's ankle in attempt to pull himself up.
"How could you do this?" the man moaned, blood trickling from his mouth and eyes.
More and more mutilated bodies began dragging themselves toward Elliot. Their accusations stabbing him and trapping his escape.
"I didn't…" he shook his head vigorously. "This isn't my memory. I couldn't have…I…" The bodies closed in and he let out a horrified shriek.
Leo opened the door to Elliot's bedroom as quietly as he could. Despite his efforts, the old wooden door emitted a loud creak. Holding his breath, Leo waited for his master's angry reprisal for waking him. But when no angry remark came, he whispered, "Elliot are you awake? I thought I heard a noise in here."
Still there was no reply. Leo had turned to leave when he heard a quiet whimper from across the room. He slipped past the heavy wooden door, closing it behind him. He neared the bed to find Elliot tossing and moaning in a mass of tangled sheets.
A wave of pity rushed through Leo as he realized that Elliot was ensnared in another indescribably frightening nightmare.
"Elliot…" he whispered, his hand reaching to caress the boy's sweaty forehead but he stopped himself.
Elliot suddenly jerked unnaturally in his sleep, emitting a bloodcurdling scream. The animalistic noise sent shivers down Leo's spine. He stood by the bed helplessly, trying to restrain his master's violent thrashing.
Elliot lurched forward, gasping for air and thankfully opening his eyes. His vision was blurry and his body shook in a cold sweat. Several minutes passed before he noticed Leo hovering uncertainly by the bed.
"What are you doing in here?" he tried to growl at the boy, but Leo could tell fear had tainted the bite in his words.
"I came to open the windows for you master," he replied nonchalantly. "It's a very hot night and I assumed you would be working up a sweat." He hated lying to Elliot but Leo knew if he told his master about overhearing his night terrors the boy would become angry. He didn't think the boy could handle any more emotion at this point.
"I'm fine," Elliot said curtly, but it was clear he was far from okay. This dream seemed to have shaken him even more than the others. "You can go now," he dismissed the boy with a shaky hand.
Leo started to leave, but hesitated. He knew that under Elliot's tough act, the boy was on the edge of a breakdown. He couldn't leave him at a time like this. "Master," he stalled, "are you feeling well? You seem rather ill." He reached to touch Elliot's flushed forehead but the silvery-brown haired boy flinched away from the contact.
"I said I'm fine you idiot!" Elliot yelled angrily. "You stu-"
"You had another nightmare," Leo cut him off, surprised at how easily the words had slipped out. Elliot's face turned red in either anger or embarrassment.
"Want to talk about it?" Leo asked softly.
"You're the last person I would talk to!" Elliot roared. "Leave me the hell alone!" He turned to lie on his side, facing away from Leo.
Leo had learned long ago to ignore the stubborn boy's hurtful way of lashing out. He stared at Elliot's trembling back, grateful that his thick glasses hid his worried expression. His concern would only upset Elliot even more. He stood by the bed for a long time, knowingly waiting for Elliot's temper to cool. Then he left the room and returned with a cool washcloth and glass of water.
Elliot had moved to curl in the fetal position and was trembling fiercely. Leo set to work. He placed the damp cloth over Elliot's bloodshot eyes and pushed the boy into a sitting position. Despite Elliot's growls of protest, Leo succeeded in getting him to drink a few gulps of water. Once Elliot's tremors began to decline, Leo pulled back the white sheets and crawled into bed next to him. They sat for a long time in eerie silence, only briefly interrupted by Elliot's slight trembling and heavy breathing.
"I was in the Tragedy of Sabrie from 100 years ago."
Leo was startled; hearing Elliot's voice whom he was sure had fallen asleep by now.
"I was one of the Baskervilles," Elliot continued. "I killed so many people…" his voice cracked with pain.
Leo said nothing. He was at a complete loss for words.
"Leo?"
"Yeah, I'm here," he replied, still searching for the right thing to say. He could sense Elliot's tension in waiting for him to answer. "It wasn't your fault," he said finally. "After all, it was just a dream, and that wasn't even your memory."
The all too recent remembrance of him shouting those words to the relentless bloodied bodies made him shudder. And the way that girl had looked at him… Her eyes were different from the others. They seemed more sad than accusing; as if she wanted him to end her suffering. It was as if she could reach through his chest and pull out his heart, leaving him cold and open for the world to see.
"I thought I was the last person you would tell your dreams to," Leo sarcastically interrupted his thoughts. He hated to admit it, but Elliot's words had hurt him a little.
"Of course you are!" Elliot snarled, gladly taking Leo's bait for a subject change. "I wouldn't have said anything about the dream if I knew you were going to get all whiny about it. God Leo, sometimes you're such a…" he trailed off, searching for the proper insult. He turned to the dark haired boy, finding no expression on his face.
"Then why did you tell me?" he asked plainly.
"Because you're the only goddamn one that..." Elliot had meant his words to be harsh but the unsaid ending left him baffled. He hated how he always seemed at a loss for words in response to Leo's cunning remarks. He's the only what? Elliot wondered what he had been about to say. The only one I can talk to? Who understands me? The words sounded cheesy and unnatural.
He coughed uncomfortably. "I'm going to go take a shower."
"You should stay and rest a bit longer," Leo advised. "I think you may have contracted a fever."
Elliot muttered something unintelligible and stood up, swaying as the room spun around him. Leo caught his arm and steadied him, surprised at how muscular Elliot had gotten.
His master pushed him off roughly and headed towards the bathroom. He glanced back over his shoulder, finding all traces of Leo's expression hidden frustratingly behind his thick glasses.
"You should take off your glasses sometimes." Elliot's tone was surprisingly soft. "It's easier to tell what you're thinking that way." He turned and stalked out of the room, leaving Leo red and confused.
"Elliot…" Leo blushed fiercely. Since when had his master become so strong? Elliot had never been scrawny, but his slight build seemed to have increased quite a bit lately. Though that boy never ceases to worry me Leo thought with a sigh. Elliot hadn't been eating and the nightmares were becoming more and more frequent as well as terrifying. He sighed again, needing a distraction. Leo crawled out of bed and headed towards his favorite room, knowing Elliot would find him when he was done showering.
Once Leo entered the piano room, he felt a deep sense of calm and relaxation rush through him. Elliot had never cared for the Nightray's luxurious lifestyle, but had invested quite a bit in his music. The room was simple, with wooden floors and bare walls, but in the center stood a shining grand piano. Moonlight filtered through the stained glass windows, creating shimmering patterns on the ghostly white keys, beckoning Leo forward. He sat on the familiar wooden bench and flipped through Elliot's music. He stopped when he reached the flawlessly handwritten piece of sheet music. The fancy swirling letters at the top read "Lacie." Leo remembered the countless hours he and Elliot had worked tirelessly over the masterpiece. Elliot was a perfectionist when it came to his music and had re-written the song over twenty times. His fingers worked mechanically over the keys as his gaze settled on the title. Leo remembered that after a particularly horrifying nightmare, he found Elliot writing the name over and over in psychotic determination all over his precious sheet music.
Leo paused; his right hand still hovering over the keys. He took off his glasses and stared into the thick lenses. Elliot's remark about them still played in his mind. He blushed at the memory and shook his head.
"I've worn these to hide my emotions ever since I was little. I never would have thought-" his sentence was cut short as a figure emerged from the darkness behind him. His surprised yelp was smothered by two thin, pale hands. A sickeningly sweet scent overwhelmed him as the figure's long hair brushed his face. The person knelt beside him and gave a quiet chuckle.
"Silly boy," the voice was distinctly feminine and her playful tone hinted at sick amusement. "Getting caught in this web of lies and destruction. I bet you wish you were never affiliated with the Nightray family."
She pressed her lips against his, forcing Leo's mouth open. The sweet scent overwhelmed him as he tried to pull away without success. The room spun and his vision faded. The last thing he saw were his glasses perched atop the piano. The moonlight glinted across the looking glass lenses that were forever unable to convey his feelings.