Chapter 6

Eloise's Pain

I opened my eyes and found Sasuke by my bed looking at the door with a sword in his hand. I sat up slowly taking my time while looking at him with tense features. I hate it when he does this. It means someone has broken into the castle to kill the royal family. My parents will be guarded by ten elite guards, while I just get Naruto and Sasuke.

"Who is it this time? The kingdom of war?" I asked making him nod and look at me oddly. "Where is Naruto?" I continued noticing my dolls were missing. Even Eloise. A white feeling rose through me as my eyes widened and I began to glare. It was deeper than just a stupid glare.

"He's outside the room. Gaara ordered me not to let him in here. Why do you look so angry?" He asked looking innocent and upset. I stormed past him and shoved open my door. Someone stole her! How dare someone steal Eloise from me! Naruto tried to grab hold of my arm but I gave him a single look making him stop in his place. That's when I heard the crash.

It was coming from a room at the end of the hall. I ran toward the dark room but once I entered I saw something I didn't expect. Gaara was sitting on a black bed with all my dolls. Eloise was in his hands while he stared at the shattered remains of one of my dolls. My blood froze in my veins and I couldn't think.

"I love you." He growled and placed Eloise nicely on the bed. I saw his hands begin to shake and noticed the darkness within him rise until it was crushing us all. I stared at him for a moment then fell to the ground in front of my shattered doll.

"What have you done?" I whispered and looked up at Eloise. She's not scared. I don't know why but she is mad about the doll's death. Why would he cross such a stupid line? I hate this! Suddenly he was in front of me pressing me back until I was lying on the ground. I looked into his eyes evenly with partially parted lips. I don't like this man anymore, why… how could he do such a thing?

"I love you too." I muttered and then closed my eyes feeling my eyes begin to burn. I hate it. Gaara kissed me harshly. I could feel his rage and passion in each angry crush of his lips. Finally I pushed him away softly but he still moved. I opened my eyes and then stood up and grabbed Eloise. When I turned to him I could feel the cold cruelty in my eyes.

"I hate you!" I screamed and looked down at my poor doll once again before running from the room. How could he betray me like this? My dolls are now tainted! He's touched Eloise without me there and killed another one! This isn't his right! It's mine and mine alone! There is no way I can forgive him.

When I got into the hallway Naruto ran up to me looking worried. "Don't let Gaara into my room, or anywhere near me. No one is to enter my room, and he cannot go over my orders as you know because we are not married yet." I said and then ran into my room. Sasuke was already gone letting me relax by slamming my head into the wall. Blood trickled down my face from my forehead.

"I hate him." I whispered and then collapsed to the ground and slept next to my perfect Eloise. I'm just so happy he didn't break her. If he had then he would have been thrown out of the castle. I wouldn't have had a moment's regret. He's worse than my murderer if he hurt poor Eloise. My sleep was disturbing and kept me up a lot but I didn't mind it. When my head began to throb in pain… I cared.

"Why won't you let me past?"Gaara growled from outside my door. I gasped then hid under my bed taking Eloise with me. I hate him too much to play nice and greet him now. If he wants me to be his then he must allow me time to heal. This was just… too much. I need someone now! If only he let me be alone before he did this… if he had then perhaps I would be okay with being alone now. All those years of being all alone and well I guess I'm out of practice.

"The princess has ordered that you are not to enter her room." Sasuke said clearly, his voice ringing with the authority I had given him. If not then he would have had to bow and succumb to Gaara's whims. Now he has the freedom and the power to play his part as my guard in full. This must be very exciting for them.

The air felt hot but I ignored it. "Then at least give Sakura these and tell her they are from me." He said sounding tired and frustrated. I knew what would happen next and had to hold back a smile for fear that he would know I had planned this all. That would only enrage the poor dear. Well that's what the murderer gets for betraying me so harshly the day before.

"We can't. She doesn't want anyone to enter her room." Naruto informed him, sounding smug. I laughed to myself and let them know I'm listening. That's when I crawled out from under the bed and brought Eloise with me to her precious stool. She feels a bit angered too but not enough to where we will allow him inside to hear our rage.

"Please Sakura! You don't understand what was going on! I can explain it all to you!" Gaara cried into the door but I ignored him and began to brush Eloise's hair. She's such a pretty doll with such an empty head. I wonder where all the stuff went that should have been there… did someone eat it?

"Why don't you go away and play with my dolls? You did go through all the trouble to steal them." I said innocently and smiled at the door even though I knew he couldn't see me. It would be odd if he did. If he was able to respond to that then I would be shocked, as it were he broke open the door. I stared at my shocked guards and enraged boyfriend.

"You started this Sakura." He hissed making me glare and stand my ground in front of him. I won't let him try to pretend he has power over me when he doesn't. If he did then I would be at his feet now begging for forgiveness from whatever sins he believes I have committed. I am pure though he is not. My insanity does not go against that purity.

"How did I start this?" I asked with a smirk. He scowled and looked at the ground letting me see the darkness in his heart. Right now his hair looked darker than I've seen in a while. Gaara's eyes were like ice though and now… they seemed to get even colder if that's possible.

"You started it when I caught you with Naruto. Perhaps even before that if you had more secret meetings behind my back." He growled making Naruto's face go blank while Sasuke's turned to him in curiosity. I knew then that Sasuke didn't know about the blond haired boy's crush until now. I ran a hand through my hair and then smiled slyly at him.

"Why do you care? We didn't do anything wrong. He came in to give me advice then left promptly when you showed up." I informed them all and gave them an amused smile and put a finger to my lips. "Were you jealous? Poor little boy thinking I had chosen someone else to play with." I laughed.

"Stop playing games Sakura!" Gaara growled but it was whiny and made him sound as though he were in pain. I like him being in pain when he's wrong. He deserves it. He was my precious Gaara but now he's just a murderer of dolls.

"I like playing games." I pouted but that's when Naruto walked forward and I knew he would tell the poor pathetic baby the truth. I almost turned around in disgust but before I could do anything at all Gaara was behind me with his arms around my waist holding me against him tightly. Ah so he is jealous.

"We didn't kiss or do anything. I was making advances on Sakura but she ignored them. I think she was only interested in the fact that I was acting different from normal. If I was average Naruto then I would have been kicked out pretty quick." He informed us. I smiled slyly at him letting the soldier know that he got it right.

"Sasuke, take Naruto and go find a servant to fetch another door for my room. A pretty white one." I requested feeling like my old self. Eloise stared at me from her stool and then the world went black. I fell down a dark hole and saw everyone fade in the background.

You are such a fool.

I recognized the voice but couldn't figure out who it was. I still felt as though I was floating in space. My eyes closed so slowly while I tried to figure out where I am. I'm not in my pretend palace anymore. Am I finally dead? Did he kill me? No… that's not right. I'm still only fourteen.

Do you even know who I am? Are you that confused?

My eyes adjusted to the darkness allowing me to see Eloise as a human walking around me. Her blue eyes were bright and almost glowing. I stared at all the cracks along her then took a step back.

"You are so much more beautiful here." I whispered in shock then reached out to touch her. Instantly she pulled my hair back so I wound up bending backwards a bit but not too much. I could feel her pain and rage deep within her. She still hasn't forgiven Gaara. No matter what he says she still won't forgive him.

Become strong enough to where he will no longer be able to hurt us.

I nodded but said nothing. I can't keep this promise. He makes me feel and do things I never thought to do before. I can't help it. He's just the one I love. Eloise will just have to accept the contradictions. I smiled kindly at her then watched as she let go of my hair. I grabbed her wrists and pulled her forward then kissed her on the forehead.

"Goodbye sweet Eloise." I said softly then woke up in my bed. I feel as though that wasn't a dream. Gaara was looking down at me looking worried, but that just made me angry for some reason. I don't want his pity, what I want is to live. I can't do that with him breathing down my neck. Sooner or later he'll have a knife.

"Are you okay?" He asked making me roll over with my back to him. I don't feel like talking to the man who ruined my game. I played the monster and the dolls played the damsels. I would come up with reasons for them to die and then kill them. The real monster is not allowed to play this game. If he does then… what am I supposed to do?

Tears are something I haven't seen in a long time but Eloise is crying right now. There are tears on her cheeks as I held her to me tightly. "Poor little Eloise. Don't worry. We will make it through somehow." I whispered then began to fall asleep.

"Will you ever forgive me; I was just being so stupid." Gaara sighed making me close my eyes tight willing myself not to drown in his words. If I do then I don't know what will happen to me.