Chapter 8

Completely caught off guard at her outlandish comment Vincent couldn't hold back a chuckle. He was about to reply to her when Mary came into the chamber.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything, I dropped by to change Catherine's bandages, but if the two of you are busy…" she trailed off as she looked at their hands linked.

Vincent seeing where Mary's gaze rested, tried to pull his hand away, however Catherine wouldn't let him go.

"We were just talking, Mary. You can change the bandages now if you like," Catherine told her.

"I will just go and see if Father would like a game of chess," Vincent quickly stated, as he rose from the side of the bed where he had been sitting and started to take a step towards the door, only to find the Catherine hadn't let go of his hand.

"Vincent please stay," she implored softly.

"I…can't," he uttered in surprise.

"Why not?" she asked, and then rushed to add, "You've let me touch your hand. I know that you are different…please let me see you!" she begged.

"Catherine, I don't want to frighten you."

"I'm made of sterner stuff than that Vincent. There's no way that someone as gentle as you could frighten me!" she insisted.

"He makes too much of his differences, we all love him just the way he is!" Mary spoke up, reminding the two that they weren't alone in the room.

"So you'll stay?" Catherine persisted, tugging at his hand to bring him back to the bedside.

Looking between the two women, Vincent knew that he would get no support for his leaving at this point. So, with a resigned sigh, he returned to the bed and sat next to her once again.

"Go ahead, Mary," he told her.

With a serene smile Mary moved behind Catherine and began to gently unwrap the bandages. When she was down to the last strip over Catherine's eyes, she said, "You should open your eyes slowly, my dear. You won't be used to the light after so long in the dark."

Catherine simply nodded her head as she closed her eyes and felt the air caress her face as she was freed from the cloth.

Vincent tried to keep his fear at bay, fighting it back for all he was worth. He wanted to run, but her delicate little hand held him in place. He wanted to hide, but he knew that he couldn't do that either with Mary there and Catherine waiting to see him. Vincent could sense excitement and anticipation from Catherine through the Bond, but she hadn't seen him yet. He knew that would change as soon as she opened her eyes and had her first look at him. He knew that the friendship that they had been building since she had awakened would be forever changed, if not gone for good.

The anticipation built in Catherine she didn't quite know what she expected to see when she opened her eyes. She knew that he would look different from touching his hand, but how different? Would he look like a wolfman like the movies she seen as a teenager? What would she do if he did? How could she keep the shock from her face? Maybe he would look like someone who could have been in that movie, "The Exorcist"! All of these thoughts raced through her mind as Mary had been unwinding the bandages and now finally the moment of truth had come. She was free and it was time to open her eyes.

At first all she could see was fuzzy out of focus shapes, and then her vision began to clear. She knew right where he was, she was holding onto his hand after all. Dare she look at him now?

Vincent felt all of this turmoil through the Bond and wondered if he should break away from her and run after all. He always thought of himself as brave, but right this second he was terrified.

Her eyes were open, but she was staring straight ahead at first until she adjusted to the light. He could feel the instant that she decided to turn and look at him and he held his breath as she did…

To be continued….