That night was graveyard silent. I lay back on my bed, staring into the darkness behind the glass window. I didn't know what I was doing, staring outside endlessly waiting for someone that would probably be far away from where I was. I thought of him every second, wishing that my thoughts might somehow create a miracle and make our paths crossed once more. But it had been almost a month since I had found the letter and there was no single sign of him. Not even a glimpse of him on the window, or his shadow from the distance. I felt like a big part of me was missing too.

Diana had been so worried about me. She could not understand why I seemed to be lost in my own world most of the time. I think my body also knew the grief inside my heart that my condition became worse despite what the doctor had tried to give me.

"I do not understand …" the doctor said this afternoon. "She had been coping really well when she first came here. All of the sudden she became worse."

"Selena … what is it?" Diana asked me privately after the doctor went away. "Is there something bothering you?"

I just shook my head, tried to smile to put her at ease, but failed. Diana sighed heavily, her face still filled with worries.

"Perhaps once we move to London, we would find a good sanatorium for you to live." Diana said.

Her words felt like a gunshot on my ear. "London?" I gasped. "Are you… moving?"

Diana nodded. "Jonathan had been thinking about selling this house since he saw the appearance of the horrible creature who tried to harm you. He started to get in touch with his friends in London, to see whether he can get a job somewhere. Three days ago his friends had found him a job in a government's office. It would be much safer for us to live in a big city."

"There is a rich man who wanted to buy this house too. He had three big lads and all of them were so good at hunting. They said the fact of there is some kind of threat in this place sounds so thrilling for them … what are they like!" Diana chuckled, didn't notice that all the blood was practically drained from my face. When she saw my face at last, her smile faded. "What is it? Are you in pain?"

"No!" I said a little too loudly, my voice trembling. "D-Diana, you don't understand … that creature, he is my friend. His name is Theodore! I didn't know why Jonathan could think that he was intending to harm me, but please believe me that he would not hurt anyone … not even the weakest creature."

It was Diana's turn to stun. Her eyes widened in shock and her mouth moved soundlessly, like she could not find any words to say. "I … I don't understand …" she finally stammered. "That … thing, that creature … he carried you …"

"Yes. He was trying to save me. I was caught in the middle of snow storm and he was the one who had rescued me. If he wasn't there, I might be already dead." I persisted.

Diana stood up, shaking her head.

"Diana, please tell Jonathan about this …"

"No …" Diana whispered weakly.

"Diana, please!"

"No, Selena!" she said firmly, looking straight into my eyes. "I cannot do that!"

"Why?!"

Diana closed her eyes tight shut and took a deep breath before she spoke. "I am not supposed to tell you this … but … you see, when my father began the rumor about your father had made a pact with the devil to steal their land, everyone around this land trusted him. They still do, until now. When Jonathan had found you and he knew that you are one of the Leonard's family, he wanted to shove you out of this house as soon as possible, because he was afraid that you might bring evil to this house."

I stared at her in disbelief. "But that's not true!" I said. "You know that's not true!"

"Yes, I know … but Jonathan does not. Do you know why the villagers became very angry of your father?"

"It's because that demon, is it not?!" I glared at her.

"Don't, Selena, please …" Diana said softly. "He is still my father."

"What did he do?!"

"He and one of his friends; spread a disease around people who are close to the Leonard family. He put them on their land, their water source, so that they became ill and some of them died. With that, it would be easier for him to make them believe the rumor. Jonathan's parents … are one of the victims. Jonathan had sworn in front of his parent's grave that Leonard would be his lifetime enemy …"

Diana lowered her eyes; she couldn't even look straight into my eyes any longer. "I told Jonathan that, you might be the only one who is free from the curse. I mentioned the fact that even though all your other family died, you are still alive. Jonathan was only half-trusted me … he told me that if there is anything happen to this family due to … the curse, it was me to blame, since I was the one who persisted him to keep you."

"… that is why, I cannot tell him about your creature-… I mean, Theodore. Do you think that he will be pleased to hear that the creature, which he tried to chase day and night; have something to do with you?" Diana's voice quivered and when she lifted her head, her face was filled with tears. "Forgive me, Selena … I did this to protect my own family. Despite his gentle appearance, Jonathan was a very stone-hearted man. He might take Olivia away from me and throw me out of this house, if he thinks that …" she shook her head and ran outside the room, leaving me who was still sat frozen on my bed.

Maids were the only people who came into my room ever since. They didn't bother to say a word to me. They just put freshly cooked food on my bedside table, carried the previous meal away even though they were still practically untouched and left me alone in the room all day. I spent most of my days lying back on my bed, staring outside the big glass window.

The letter from Theodore was still tucked secretly on my pillow. It was crumpled now, since I re-read them everyday until I could remember every word by heart; by a wounded heart …

What was he doing at the moment? I thought bitterly. Where was he? I closed my eyes and saw him standing before me. I pictured him so vividly that I was amazed that he wasn't still there when I opened my eyes. I remembered each of his awkward gesture when he tried to help me during our times on my cottage. He seemed to be very nervous and yet it was sweet too. I remembered one day I showed him a flower that I used to taste for a drop of honey in the forest. I wasn't actually felt like tasting them, but we were on search of fire woods and neither of us said anything. I only tell him that so I can find a reason to hear his voice.

"Here, you try it. It is nice." I gave him one flower to try.

He awkwardly took the flower from me, placing it carefully in his palm like he was holding the most precious crystal ornaments. He lifted the flower carefully, examine them in childlike wonder. I couldn't help smiling at this adorable sight.

He tasted the end of the flower clumsily and ended up with yellow flower dust on his nose. His face looked puzzled when I giggled.

"Here …" I gently removed all the yellow dust from his face.

"I look silly, don't I?" he lowered his face bashfully.

"No, I think you look sweet … the yellow dusts brighten up your pale face a little …" I joked.

And then … I saw it; his very first smile. His bright blue eyes twinkled and his lips turned into the sweetest smile I've ever seen. My heart filled with warmth when I saw his smile. He smiled sweetly at me, his eyes met mine, but only for few seconds before he turned back into his usual timid self. I felt something lost for some reason, like seeing a fading rainbow … I wanted to make it appear, but I didn't know how.

I smiled at the memory, although tears started to prick behind my eyelids. I just realized how badly I wanted to kiss his pale cheek that moment. Why didn't I? If I did kiss him that time, would I be realizing this strange feeling towards him sooner?

A tiny cough from the door made me jumped. I glanced towards the noise and saw a maid standing there; she was holding a candle to help her see on the dark winter day. "Mrs. Brighton wanted me to tell you something." She said quietly.

"Oh … yes, please." I replied.

"She wants you to be prepared for your movement to St. Bernadette's Sanatorium the day after tomorrow. We shall gladly help you to pack all your belongings …" the bony girl spoke.

I swallowed. I knew that this would come sooner or later, but it still came as a blow on my head. I nodded and with great force managed a weak thank you.

After she left, I moved from my bed and walked towards the glass window. I touched my fingertips on the icy cold glass, trying to see through the thin ice. All I could manage to see were the lights from the night guards' lanterns and that made me even more frustrated. There wouldn't be any chance for me even to see a glimpse of him. The guards would see him first. I turned my back, pressed my back against the glass before I slumped down on the floor.

A phrase from the letter echoed in my head: … I was afraid that you might died, so I did what I had not done to my creator to save him. I took you to a place where you belong ...

Where I belong … I thought bitterly. I remembered when my father was thrown out of our house. Few days before the villagers came; Aunt Annabel and Aunt Lucy came to our house. Both of them were my mother's sisters. My mother told me to let them talk in private, but I couldn't help overhearing.

"Move with us. You know that the city council will soon throw Patrick out of this house. You'll be safer if you're with us …" Aunt Annabel whispered quietly.

"Thank you for your concern, Annabel … but I will stay with Patrick no matter what." My mother said gently.

Aunt Lucy became so angry that she forgot to whisper. "Do not be stubborn, you foolish girl! You might not survive after you're thrown out of this house. Think about Selena … think about little Gracie!"

"I am sure that Patrick and I will be strong enough to defend our family – despite what the others think. I will stay with my family, no matter what will happen. I belong to be with them."

I felt new courage filled my heart. I stood up and turned to face the window once more. I saw the lights from the distance … I knew that after midnight when the guards can no longer bear the cold, they would just hung the lanterns on the gate and they would went back to their posts to drink up liquor until they fell asleep. I had watched them many times from the forest before. Despite Jonathan's concern, they only stay awake for a week or so, before they were back to their old habits.

I felt my heart started to beat against my chest. I knew it was so senseless of me to run through the frozen night, when I had a chance to be safe on a Sanatorium, where I could get a good care for my health.

I breathed heavily, but what would happen afterwards? Would I still have a chance to see Theodore again? Diana had made it perfectly clear today that Jonathan did not actually want to have me with their family. Diana had been so kind to me and I still loved her as a friend, but I couldn't think of me being with their family forever … or even forced to marry someone else just so I wouldn't burden Diana's family …

My fists clenched. I was a Leonard. I still had the courage of a Lion despite my weak health. I didn't know how long my two feet could carry me through the forest … that was if I could manage to escape through the front gate … but I would take my chance.

I waited until the lights stopped moving and the chattering voices from the distance were no longer audible. I began to search around my room for my hood, but all I could find was just a cardigan. I didn't know how much it could help me through my journey, but I kept it on anyway.

I took the letter from Theodore and tucked it under my night gown. I wrote a short letter for Diana and put it on the bed after I tidied it. I pressed my ear against the door, to hear whether any maids were still walking around, before I took a deep breath, clenched my Leonard's pendant tight on my palm and opened the door as silently as I could manage …