+ C h a p t e r 2 +
The room was small and sparsely decorated, housing only the simplest collection of a bed, desk and wardrobe. On one wall hung a crucifix, the sole decoration in the room. The only positive aspect of the room was the large window directly across from the door, which allowed a steady stream of sunlight to pour inside.
Having lived in a convent for most of her life, Robin didn't mind the spartan room. In truth, it hadn't occurred to her that she could have spent time decorating the room until the day of her departure. She had more serious matters on her mind. Or maybe it was just because she had been raised by the Catholic Church's sisters to eschew unnecessary personal effects.
Robin concentrated on the task before her. She had yet a few more items to pack before she could leave. There was another reason, however, that caused her hands to move swiftly. She didn't want the Rev. Mother to persuade Amon to leave her at the chateau. The longer she left the two together, the more her fears grew. Amon said he had found them a safe residence, so he wouldn't leave her behind a second time…would he? After all, he had seemed very interested in her, if the rose garden incident was any indication. On the other hand, that could mean he was more willing to leave her behind. Maybe, this time for good.
She dropped a blouse into her suitcase and clutched her stomach to quell the metaphorical butterflies. Robin could not push Amon's expression out of her mind. The way he had stared at her and only her. As if they were the last two people on Earth…and he liked what he saw. Until today, Amon had usually looked at her with a distant look in his eyes or sometimes a bored expression. Never with such an intensity. Robin's stomach tightened and she raised a hand to cover her warm cheek.
She had waited so long for Amon to take her seriously, show more interest in her--something. Maybe today her wish had come true. It was true that Amon had spent much of their time together looking after her and it was further obvious that he felt, at the very least, some residual sense of camaraderie towards her, but sometimes she wondered if he even liked her on a personal level. It was quite possible that Amon acted solely out of duty and held no real affection towards her. He could be so loyal sometimes.
Sighing and finding no answers, Robin resumed packing. A noise at the open door caused her hands to pause.
"Are you leaving now?"
Robin turned around to find Elizabeth sucking a thumb and staring at her with wide blue eyes. The younger girl was small in stature--still shorter than Robin--and had a large stuffed bear clutched to her chest. Fifteen years old and still sucking her thumb. Robin had to suppress a sigh. Everyone in the chateau believed Elizabeth had finally ridden herself of the habit, leaving only Robin to know the truth. She had done everything in her power to help the girl and proved less than successful. In the end, Robin couldn't blame Elizabeth for relying on thumbsucking and stuffed animals. At the young age of ten, the girl had watched from a hidden room as Solomon agents killed her entire family. Since coming to the chateau, Elizabeth had formed a close relationship with Robin and had blossomed under the older girl's influence. Elizabeth was the one reason that caused Robin to question her decision to leave the chateau.
"Yes," Robin said, shutting her suitcase. "I've just finished packing. All I have left is to bring my suitcase downstairs."
Elizabeth pulled the thumb from her mouth. "I saw a man coming across the garden," she said with eyes gleaming. "Was that Amon? He was so gorgeous, I just had to assume."
Robin's breath caught and her cheeks flamed again. "Ah, yes." She turned away before Elizabeth could see her embarrassed expression. "What I mean is, yes, that was Amon," she corrected herself, rendering further.
"You're such a lucky girl." Robin turned around to stare at Elizabeth. The girl was by nature one of those romantic types. At the moment, her expression was coy. "I wish a gorgeous older man like that could rescue me from the chateau," she sighed with one hand clasped over her chest. "It would be so romantic."
Robin nearly laughed outright at the idea of Amon storming in to sweep her away like some of Elizabeth's fantasy stories. Instead, she smiled. "It's not like that," she said, shaking her head. "Amon only thinks of my as a child."
Elizabeth's head jerked up, her face full of surprise. "Really? Even when you look like that?" She gestured at Robin's outfit and the latest addition of a fuller bosom.
"Well…" Robin began, looking down at herself.
"What did he say when he saw you?"
At the question, Robin froze. She had difficulty finding her next words. Instead, she turned to pile her suitcase, one small bag and purse near the door. "We haven't spoken much since he arrived," she said with a frown. "Actually, we haven't even said hello properly."
Elizabeth walked over and plopped down on what had been Robin's bed during her stay at the chateau. "Well, that doesn't sound very romantic," she said, looking disappointed.
Robin smile. "As I said before, Amon thinks of me as a child." She thought for a moment. "He's not really the romantic type either."
Elizabeth rose from the bed and threw her arms around Robin in an awkward hug. "Maybe you should be the one to do something first."
"Do something?" Robin asked as she attempted to separate the younger girl from her body.
"You know, convince him." Elizabeth wiggled her eyebrows suggestively at Robin, who had grown uncomfortable with the conversation and its current subject.
"Convince…him?"
The younger girls face grew positively devious, so much so that Robin became fearful. "You could kiss him."
With one swift push, Robin managed to separate herself from Elizabeth. She took the opportunity to busy herself with pulling her purse over her shoulder as a diversion. "I couldn't do that. Amon is my guardian. It wouldn't be appropriate to--"
"But don't you want to?" Elizabeth whined, cutting into Robin's words. She had returned to her place on the edge of the bed. Her eyes probed Robin for an answer.
Robin was left speechless, her face on fire once more. "I-I don't think it's a good idea to mix fantasy with reality," she stammered.
Elizabeth looked sullen. "You didn't answer the question." Robin was terrified that the girl would try asking again, but to her immense relief Elizabeth's attention shifted to her former room. "Your--I mean--the room looks so bare now." She paused as her eyes returned to Robin. "But then again, I guess it didn't really look much different when you lived here." Her attention turned to Robin's suitcase still waiting by the door. "I can't believe you can fit everything into one suitcase--and it isn't even that big!" She sighed. "When I leave here, it will take a whole lorry to move everything out."
"I'm surprised the sisters let you buy so many things when you're in town," Robin said with a smile, coming over to sit on the bed next to Elizabeth.
To her surprise, Elizabeth's face grew sad. "They're lenient because of what happened to me as a child." Her eyes began to tear and she threw her arms around Robin. "I don't want you to leave," she said, her voice coming out in a choked sob.
Robin placed her arms around Elizabeth in a motherly gesture, pulling the girl close to her side. She rested her cheek against the younger girl's head. "Do you want me to stay?"
Elizabeth stopped mid-sob and turned her tear streaked face up to Robin. Her eyes revealed her surprise. "You would stay just for me?" Robin smiled and nodded. Elizabeth looked away and shook her head. "No. I can't ask you to stay. Not when you need Amon." She smiled as Robin froze. "Isn't that what you've waited for all this time? For him to come back and 'rescue' you from this place?"
"It's not like that," Robin protested, raising her hands.
Elizabeth sat up and stared at the hands in her lap. "No," she said, closing her eyes and shaking her head. "You need to go with Amon." She reopened her eyes and smiled. "But I'll miss you." A tear escaped her eye. Elizabeth hurriedly turned away and stood up. "Oh, I'm crying again." When she turned back to Robin, she once more wore a smile. "You shouldn't keep him waiting."
Though it pained Robin to leave Elizabeth in this manner, she was still concerned about leaning Amon and the Rev. Mother too long. She needed to hurry back before Amon changed his mind about taking her back. She walked over to her suitcase and the small carrying bag.
"Is it all right if I meet him?"
"You want to meet Amon?" Robin asked as she picked up the smaller bag.
"Oh please, may I?" Elizabeth rushed over and grabbed Robin's arm. The older girl fought to retain her balance. Elizabeth buried her face in Robin's arm. "I really, really, really want to see him in person. I mean, I know he wouldn't be interested in a fifteen year old girl, that would be silly! But still…"
Robin's breath caught, remembering the fateful day two years earlier that Amon helped her escape Solomon through the well in Raven's Flat. She had still been fifteen at the time. To cover her surprise, she bent down and scooped up her suitcase. "Um, sure. I don't think Amon will mind."
Elizabeth noticed Robin's encumbered state. "Here, I'll help you." She wrested the smaller bag from Robin's grasp and bounded for the stairs.
"Wait!" Robin called after the girl. She managed only one backward glance at the room she had inhabited the past year before she hurried after Elizabeth, lugging the heavy suitcase with her. She managed to catch up with the younger girl about halfway down the main stairway. Elizabeth had suddenly become bashful and it didn't take Robin long to discover why. Just in the foyer, the Rev. Mother stood with Amon and another priest, but they was still too far away for Robin to hear the conversation clearly. The Rev. Mother was the first to notice Robin and Elizabeth walking down the stairs.
"Ah, here is Robin now," she said. "We've been waiting for you."
"Sorry," Robin apologized, feeling another wave of butterflies assault her stomach when her eyes met Amon's. This time, however, his expression was more guarded and distracted. She couldn't help but wonder what Amon and the Rev. Mother had discussed in her absence. His eyes traveled to the suitcase in her hand.
"Is that all you have?" he asked, his hand outstretched and waiting for the suitcase.
"Um, yes, but I can carry it myself."
"It's fine. I can take it for you."
"No, it's all right. I have it."
Robin was taken aback by the subtle look of frustration upon Amon's face. She was further puzzled by the disapproving look on the Rev. Mother's face. Confused, she thrust her suitcase at Amon and looked away. Elizabeth, standing just behind Robin, shuffled closer and nudged her back.
"Ah, yes. This is Elizabeth," she said quickly to hide her discomfort. Robin pushed the girl forward.
"Good afternoon," Elizabeth stammered. She turned bright red, but still bravely raised her hand. Amon's expression barely changed as he shook Elizabeth's hand. To Robin's surprise, he didn't appear bothered by the wide grin plastered on the younger girl's face. With a pang, she realized that he had a lot of experience with Amon-obsessed teenage girls.
"Good afternoon," he returned. "Do you live here at the chateau?"
"Yes," the Rev. Mother answered. "Elizabeth arrived shortly after Robin."
A look of understanding crossed Amon's face as he glanced back to Elizabeth, but it quickly passed. His attention turned to Robin. "We need to leave soon," he said.
Elizabeth threw her arms around Robin, nearly knocking both of them to the ground. "I'm going to miss you, Robin. Good bye!" Before she had a chance to respond, Elizabeth had already ascended half of the stairs. She quickly reached the landing and raced down the hallway. A moment later, the sound of a door slamming echoed down to the foyer.
"Elizabeth," Robin said in a voice barely above a whisper.
"She'll be fine, Robin," the Rev. Mother said and gave her a compassionate smile.
"I know." Robin turned her gaze towards the ground. Knowing didn't change the pain Robin felt for abandoning Elizabeth.
"Robin."
Amon's voice interrupted her thoughts. She lifted her head to find the three watching her carefully. She dug within herself and found a cheerful smile.
"It's all right. We can leave now."
"And you are sure this is what you want, Robin?" the Rev. Mother asked.
Robin smiled again. "Yes."
Both the Rev. Mother and the priest standing a few paces away returned the smile. "Very well. We will abide by your decision." She walked forward to embrace Robin. "We will miss you very much. You are always welcome here."
"I know," Robin whispered back. "Thank you for all you have done for me. Good bye."
"Good bye, Robin."
Robin gave one last smile then looked at Amon, finding him standing awkwardly to the side, still holding her suitcase. She nodded to him, then led the way to the front entrance. He followed without a word.
"Be sure to take good care of our Robin, Amon," the Rev. Mother called after them.
She wasn't positive, but Robin thought Amon stiffened at the remark. He stopped and looked to the Rev. Mother, his face even.
"Yes," he said, nodding. Amon turned back and pushed Robin's back firmly towards the exit.
Once outside, she felt the first wave of relief wash over her. She had not been a prisoner at the chateau, rather the opposite. Still, she felt much better leaving the place behind. She was finally with Amon. Robin paused as she walked and glanced up to the second story set of windows. A figure blurred by the old glass stepped back into the darkness of the chateau. Amon noticed as well, but said nothing.
+ Author's Notes +
Well, this was supposed to be a longer chapter, but I felt guilty for not posting. I also didn't expect the conversation between Robin and Elizabeth to be so long. By the way, that scene is inspired by one of the boarding school episode in Blood+ when Saya's roommate asks her if she's ever had a boyfriend and Saya recalls Haji kissing her, blah, blah, blah. Cute scene.
Anyway, I'll try to have the next chapter up a little faster…