Chapter 9: Secret Garden
Pacing back and forth, Slender felt his nerves kick into high gear. He couldn't just sit on the bench and do nothing.
"She said she would be out in a few minutes. Calm down." The demon reassured him for once in his four hundred years of existence. He sighed flopping down on the bench, gazing over his beautiful rose garden. After three hundred years, they've grown to the most beautiful heights, but increasingly darker. His roses became so dark; they shifted to a charcoal black. Though still alive and thriving, their petals radiated death, emptiness and darkness. The deep scar that loneness left him happened to be surprisingly deep.
Just like his heart; empty, cold, deserted, and gone. At least the roses were beautiful when covered with dew. The rain that had fallen the night before left a radiant glow, he never once complimented himself on his gardening, but looking at his beautiful rose garden he couldn't help but feel his cheeks warm, and the smile grow. His roses were radiant, he couldn't help but be proud of what years took him to master. He found himself slipping into a world of his own, something he hasn't done in months, maybe years…he couldn't recall.
"When do you plan on marrying her? She would be absolutely beautiful with these roses as a bouquet…walking down a stunning isle, with an amazing dress…." He had to stop thinking, marriage already? Really?
"Yeah, what the fuck are you thinking?" The Demon snapped at him. He almost growled out loud, making fists again. This was getting ridiculous, he couldn't even let his own guard down for his own mind all he wanted was someone for him, someone he didn't have to fight for. But in the end, he would die for her. He stared at his roses contemplating on what to do. He looked up at the large water fountin, wondering…maybe this was the right decision.
"She's been with me for the last three months, and decided that she wouldn't leave. I just have to believe her on her word, that I'm not a monster, which I mean something, I'm worth something even…" His mind whispered.
"Slender?" Her voice as beautiful as it was startled him from his mind. Yet when he saw her, in a beautiful lacy summer dress, his heart almost stopped.
"What? How can a already dead heart stop again?" The demon asked, Slender chuckled to himself.
"When it starts beating again." He replied. Roslind shifted her weight, his eyes kept glued to her face, moving down her voluptuous frame. Without warning she started giggling, he felt himself blink at her sudden laughing fit. Her glossy lips covered by her finger tips as she giggled; she never came out to be a girly girl to him, but she seemed to be acting like one at the moment.
"I didn't know the Slenderman could blush!" Is what she was giggling about? He blushed? Suddenly her demeanor changed when her eyes opened again, and graze over their surroundings. Her eyes were wide in surprise as she stared at some of the climbing roses that seemed to wrap around the window panes.
How did she not notice this before? This beautiful garden…hidden away from everyone else, but she had the chance of a lifetime, to see Slenderman's green thumb! And boy was it shocking at how amazing his gardening skills were. Beautiful black roses surrounded her, and stretched out almost thirteen meters.
"Oh my…" The words slipped from her lips, plummeting to the rich soil her bare feet touched. She heard Slender stand, she could smell the strong pine scent melting off his clothing, off his skin…she turned to face him for a second, and she was surprised to see him smiling.
"Do you like it Roslind?" He asked, his voice almost seemed…coy. Shy even. She gave a slow nod, her eyes still wide and speechless at the beauty surrounded her. He placed his hands on her shoulders, turning her around to the water fountain. Some of the vines wrapped around the beautiful blue marble, water lilies grew without a worry in the deep water.
"How long…did it take you?" She whispered finally after a few long tense moments of silence. Slender gave a soft chuckle, gently squeezing her shoulder.
"It took me a long time to get it the way I desired. The roses always gave me a sense of beauty. The worlds outside these walls…are dreadfully colorless, and hideous. Sometimes, these roses give me the feeling that if I'm the monster, I'm the ugly creature that lurks in the dark…I might give some beauty back to the world. My dear Rose, you are the first one to take a step in my garden, the first to…enter my heart and see through my eyes, what I believe the world should be…" He admitted it, finally admitted to someone what he thought the world should have been like. Not what everyone around him MADE it look like; he murdered out of spite. He slaughtered those who came to harm this beautiful forest. The forest he made home, the forest that made him…human.
Roslind took a step forward, softly touching the petal of a very lively rose. She could almost feel the radiant life forms around it. She couldn't help but smile, being in the garden with Slender made her almost forget the horrible attack she had suffered…HE helped her forget. The love she felt for him, the undying passion she wanted to give him, her heart started to pitter patter at the thought of him holding her.
As if reading her thoughts, Slender wrapped his arms around her waist, placing his chin on her shoulder and softly nuzzled against her. He felt warm, fuzzy and comfortable for the first time in a long time around anyone. Even, in love. He felt like someone cared, someone mattered, that his heart was finally safe. He felt as if, he was no longer in danger of losing his heart to another phsyco bitch.
He noticed the small blush, the increase in her heart rate when he wrapped his arms around her, and the sudden excitement when his breath brushed passed her skin.
"Roslind, do you know what the rose symbolizes?" He whispered, gently pushing a stray hair from her forehead. Her stomach started to flip and turn all over again.
"The rose: it means love, passion, romance, purity and the state of the heart." She smiled, leaning her head back. He leaned down placing a loving kiss on her neck.
"Do you know why my roses are black and no longer red?" He purred against her neck. She shivered and shook her head no.
"These roses symbolize my heart; they have become one with me. When one's roses turn black over time, their heart has died, passion no longer resides there. And they no longer seek the company or romance of others." There was a flash of pain crossing her face, followed by sympathy. That's when she looked up at him.
"Did she make your roses turn black Slender?" She asked, there was a hint of anger hidden in her voice. Had to give her answer some thought.
"Yes and no. Not only was it her, but it was humanity in itself. There's more to my story, then what I EVER let on." He stopped, realizing what he was doing. His jaw clenched, but it was time she knew.
"Roslind, because of the demon that lurks deep inside of me, my heart has been dead for some time. About thirty years ago, there was a woman I found stumbling around my forest. I was going to hurt her, I knew something wasn't right with her, but my heart somehow started to beat. I let her in, I fed her, I bathed her, I nursed her back to life. It was all a set up. I was going to show her the garden, till I found the marking on her, the one Jeff left on you. She was doing nothing more, than spying. She was Jeff's proxy, and I should have known better. I told her to leave, and without hesitation she did. She went right back to him, and ripped my heart into pieces. The demon took over, and I went on a killing spree, I enjoyed the beautiful reds and deep crimsons that contrasted against my skin; I loved the way their screams filled my hunger…but…there was a spot in my heart, which could never be filled. No matter how many souls, how much fear I took in. I could never fill that need, that hole that was there. The night you came into my forest, and I saved you…was originally out of pity. But then…I looked into your eyes, and your soul…was singing to me…and then you looked at me, you didn't see a monster but another being." He seemed to be letting his heart go, and Roslind closed her eyes, just listening to his beautiful voice.
"It's been such a long time since I've ever found someone, who looked at me and not been afraid. Looked at me, and showed me that I can be human too. Even if I'm a demon from somewhere...most would never venture too…it's been even longer since I even considered making someone mine, saying that…I…" He swallowed back his pride, his heart was an open chest, and he had to spill it.
"That I fell in love with, and claimed as mine…and wanting…to pass my heart and soul on to." Flapping of wings, made Roslind open her eyes; a beautiful strong raven perched on the top of the water fountain. A glimmer on its talon.
"That's why…" He pulled himself away from her, and lifted her chin locking eyes with him.
"That's why Roslind, I need you to know everything about me. When I'm around you I start to remember things the demon had locked away from me. Even some that the loneliness had taken away from me, forcing me to forget what I had, had a long time ago. You have opening up memories I tried so hard to forget. My name; was Adrian Mitchell, long before I lost my name to the monstrosity commonly known as man. I had lost my identity to the video games, the stories…but no one ever knew Adrian. They only knew the child stealer…the murderer-"
"-The monster…and not the actual person I had used to be. What I'm about to tell you, you can choose to believe me or not, I'm leaving it up to you. Your mother, Mary-Anne I see a lot of her in you." He watched her eyes simmer out, waiting for him to continue. The raven sat there, watching, waiting cawing once in a while.
"What is it Slender…tell me." She replied, with a sigh he nodded. Grasping her hand, holding it.
"Your mother wasn't human. I know you've known you're not Michael's daughter…I've been watching your mother for much longer than I should have. I know. But she interested me; when I saw her become with child, I knew something was off…you're a half breed Roslind…I know your past. I know what happened, even before you were born, your biological step-father used to beat her, rape her even. Yet she still couldn't bare him a male child. So, she cheated on a demon with a Nephilim. A higher power, higher being then he would EVER be. You know, what your mother is right?" He had to ask, eyes peering down at her. Roslind took a second to think, to a minute to breathe and an eternity to understand.
"No. What was mother?" She asked. Slender sighed, shaking his head capturing her face in his hands.
"She was what most would call a fairy. She was an extremely powerful being...till Michael sucked her dry of her essence. He was a cancer, killing her from the inside out slowly; he was going to do the same to you Roslind…but you escaped. You got away…do you remember when you were six and came into this forest? You sat in the middle of that clearing, and painted away your sorrows?" He asked, she bit her lip and gave a light nod. She was an amazing listener.
"I was there, I was watching you paint. I was going to harvest your innocence…but that was the reason why I didn't. And your mother asked me to look after you, if she had gotten killed. She…she once was what a lot of people would call strange. A mythical creature of sorts, she found her way to my cabin one night running away from Michael, she was about seven months pregnant with you…and I…I agreed to take care of you. I didn't know, I would fall in love with the child I was supposed to be protecting." He sighed, shaking his head.
"Do you know who my father is?" Roslind asked, her eyes tearing up. Unfortunately, even he didn't know. She tilted her head, giving it a moment's thought, flashes of that time she ran away from her parents fighting…into this forest, the clearing. Brightness of the sunlight, the warmth of the sun touching her skin; she felt alive.
"I vaguely remember, but yes…there was a voice calling to me and I ignored it because I didn't know how to respond. I felt bad, because this man…this man had such sorrow in his voice. I always…always loved his scent, he smelt of roses and pine. Now I know it's you…I regret never replying to you, I regret never following you. I wasn't afraid, I stepped up to him, giving him a painting of a red rose, and he accepted it without hesitation." She replied lowering her head, he lifted her chin again and she looked up at him. More flashes of memories, the vague fight between Slender, and Jeff. Her lips made a perfect O for a second.
"You fought off Jeff that night, and you erased my memory of you…forcing me to forget…" She softly whispered, he had nodded.
"I protected you from Jeff, erased that we had ever existed because…because I wanted you to be safe. I thought I completely erased all those memories…I guess somehow the fairy side of you…clung to them, just in case you needed them." He was slightly lost in thought for a minute. What he didn't expect was her reply.
"Or…maybe I just refused to let you take them, and all you did was locking them up." Her touch was more than welcomed; he smiled when her fingers gently caressed his cheek bones. A soft mist cascaded from the darkening skies; the coolness sent goose bumps flourishing her skin. Silence filled the area around them for a moment or two.
"So, the roses are your heart…" It was a statement rather than a question. He nodded.
"Yes, this is the secret garden I come too…when I need answers or hope." She giggled, giving him a soft kiss to his chin.
"Then…let me turn your black roses red." Whispering to his lips, the soft satin skin of her lips touched his. Hands cupped her cheeks, as her soft hands touched his chest. He pulled away from the kiss for a moment or two.
"I love you so much Roslind…you actually understand me…you understand my troubles, you put fourth an effort to try…and help me." He was speaking the truth; he was tired of not speaking his heart. Now, he will.
"I love you too…my Slenderman." She replied.
A deep pressurized headache touched her temples; pulling away cringing in pain. Slender grasped her wrists trying to hold her still.
"What? What is it?" He asked, she shook her head…that image…of that shadow sent chills right down her spine. She sighed.
"That night you went hunting…there was something outside the house…I don't know what it was…but whatever it was…there was something there. Watching." She chewed her bottom lip.
"And then that night, I had that attack. I believe it was Jeff and Jane who was watching me." She gave him a small look.
"Slender, I need to go back my house. I need to grab something, I swear I'm not leaving for good, I never will. I love you too much…it's the last thing I need before I move completely in with you." He gave her a look.
"I'll go with you; I'm not allowing him to harm you…" The static made her cringe; however she was able to control the pain she felt. She sighed softly before nodding. The way the mist fell, made Slenders' dress shirt cling to his chest, she almost licked her lips at how he looked…skin glistening with the rain, roses surrounding him…it almost gave her an idea of a new painting. Slender took a step back, smiling just slightly the anger dissipated quickly. Roslind tilted her head in wonder.
"I have one more question to ask you…" She looked up at him, as he let out a slow sigh. He was nervous, had been since they stepped out here. She watched him turn his back to her, with ease he reached up to the top of the water fountain and grasped something that had glimmered.
"Are you sure about this? Is this what YOU want?" The demon asked him, without hesitation he answered him clear as day.
"Yes." Was his reply; holding the object tightly in his grasped he turned to Roslind, who still had her head cocked to the side. Kneeling down on one knee he took her hand into his, opening his hand a single 14 karat gold, princess cut blood diamond ring. Her eyes widened as she took in a sharp gasp.
"Roslind Rose Helmwick, will you do me the honor of taking my last name?" He couldn't finish the sentence before she was screaming with joy.
"YES! YES! OH YES SLENDER I WOULD LOVE TO!" She screamed, her voice filled with pure joy. Her eyes filled with tears and over flowed; placing the ring on her finger he stood, pressing his forehead against hers.
"My beautiful, stunning bride…" He whispered tears of his own flowing down his face.
