Chapitre 9
Estelle's View-
Slowly I opened my eyes, the room was dark but a slight weight was resting on my stomach. I looked over to see the head of the Count resting on my stomach; I gasped but then rested my head back on the soft pillow. He gave out a moan and awoke, sitting back up. I felt his hand slip into mine, I squeezed it gently.
"Hey…" I whispered. He looked at me in surprise, but then breathed a sigh of relief.
"I was so scared that you wouldn't wake up." He took my hand, making my knuckles brush against his icy cheek.
"I'm here now, you don't have to worry-" He closed his eyes and sighed, trailing his lips against the soft skin of my inner wrist. I sighed at his intimate touch, carefully sitting up I pressed my lips to his. He tensed up but kissed me back, caressing my hair and neck. Carefully avoiding my bandages, his arm wrapped around my shoulders to support me. His lips traveled from mine to the corner of my mouth, my jaw to my neck. I gasped as I felt his sharp teeth rake along my neck; he pressed his chest against mine.
"Estelle." He whispered huskily in my ear, I moaned as his tongue flashed against my earlobe. Lying back down, he hovered above me; nibbling down on my sensitive neck. I ran my fingers through his hair, moaning as his lips traced my collarbone.
"Count…" I whispered, caressing his head with my hands. Waves of pleasure rippled my body as he nibbled on my neck, just under my ear. He pulled away, making me sigh and rest my arms back on my chest.
"I need to go out for a few hours-" I sat up, a little too quickly. Flinching I felt a sting in my side, my ribs. "Rest, I will be back before morning. I just have something to take care of." He kissed my forehead. I smiled and closed my eyes, just as he left the room.
'He's such a good man.'
Count's View-
I sat in the carriage, watching from the shadows as a few people passed. A smirk washed over my face as I saw a familiar silhouette waddle down the street. I removed my top hat and placed it next to me.
"I will be back in a few minutes." I said, Gankutsuou's voice echoing my own. I stepped out of the carriage.
"Of course Master." Bertuccio said as I shut the door behind me.
I took careful steps behind her, watching her silently. The streets were practically deserted, except for her and I. In her arms was one of her hideous dogs, I smiled wickedly as she turned down a dark street.
'Good evening Madame.' I started to speed up; Gankutsuou's eyes appeared on my forehead as I reached out for her. I froze as I heard a loud yelp from her dog; she turned around. Quickly pulling my dagger out I killed the dog, separating its head from its body. She opened her mouth to scream but I was too fast for her, thinking quickly I pushed her into a back alley. I clasped a hand around her throat, tears started to form in her eyes.
"Count, p-please don't do this. I don't wanna die. I can't die." I smirked and ran my claws along her face, she shivered in the cold. There was a rumble and rain started to pour down, making my hair and cloak stick to my body.
"Oh don't worry Madame, you won't." I brought the dagger up, narrowing it in on her frightened eyes. She started to cry, blubbering and whimpering.
"You made a huge mistake, messing with her. You should have just left her alone. Now you shall feel the pain that you gave her." I slashed her across the face, tearing out her eyes. I clasped a hand over her mouth to silence her. Blood ran over her face, I smiled. She fell to floor; I crouched down next to her. Grabbing her mouth I cut her tongue out, throwing it to the floor. Pinning her hands above her head with one of mine, I cut her face with the dagger. After making her hideous to look at and beyond recognition, I released her. The rain made the blood flow down her face faster, the lamplight made the setting even more sinister. Sticking the blade in her mouth I pressed my lips to her ear. "Now you understand what happens to those who hurt the ones I care about. If you're smart, you will never speak of this again to anyone. Understand?" She didn't do anything. I slashed the blade upwards, making her lips split up her cheeks. Before she could scream, I put the blade in her mouth again. "Do you understand?" I whispered again. She nodded shakily. I smirked and kissed her slashed cheek. "Good." I slashed her other cheek open, this time letting her scream. I left her there, alone and bleeding in the alleyway. I cleaned the dagger on a scrap off her dress. I got in the carriage, Bertuccio was waiting for me.
"What next Gankutsuou?" I smiled.
"Take me to the Cutter Estate; I need to deliver a message." We drove off into the night.
Lottie's View-
I looked over the city of Pairs, then back at the clock.
'Where is she? Mummy said she'd be back an hour ago.' I looked at the mirror that hung next to my cupboard, brushing my hair. My long violet nightdress swept the floor, I heard a creak and my balcony doors swept open, letting in a generous amount of rain. Swearing, I closed the doors and locked them. I turned back to the mirror, brushing my hair again. Something moved in the dark behind me, a tall and shadowy figure loomed out of the dark. I yelped as the stranger clasped a strong and wet hand over my mouth, a sharp object was pressed against my throat. I felt the figure press their lips to my ear, their wet hair dripping down my nightdress.
"If you scream, I'll tear your throat out." The voice was male, but it sounded like two voices at once.
'Wait, I know that voice!' Turning around, I came face to face with the Count. On his forehead were intricate symbols that looked like eyes, they shone pink in the darkness. "Count?!' I whispered, he walked behind me; the knife dragging along my throat lightly. Gulping down a lump in my throat I felt a bead of sweat run down my brow. "What are you doing here?" I whispered. He pressed the blade a little harder.
"You know what you have done Mademoiselle Lottie, what the consequences of your actions were." I started to tremble.
"I didn't-" He growled.
"Don't try to deny what you have done; you knew what your mother would do to her. That she'd hurt her." Suddenly he pressed my face against the mirror, holding the knife against my back. I yelped and tried to struggle but he was far too strong.
"W-why didn't y-y-you say anything th-that night?" I asked, my voice trembling. I sighed as I felt the knife slip.
"I don't know myself; I wanted you to know what I felt for her and how you couldn't see it. If I said anything, I would have spoiled the perfect moment between her and I." I whimpered as he dragged the blade over the crook of my elbow. "Though you did not harm her physically, this is for all that you have done to her and to stop you from continuing it. Now, for your foolish tongue." He clasped a hand over my mouth, making a deep cut in my arm, dragging the blade deep and hard along my arm. I tried to scream but he stopped me, tears rolled down my cheeks. I squirmed as his lips pressed against my ear. "Remember, one scream and death comes swift." He removed his hand, I cried against the mirror. My shoulders shook with heavy sobs; he pressed his thumb into the cut. Biting down on my lips I tried to endure the pain, feeling the blood ooze down my arm. "Now, you are to never hurt Estelle ever again." I nodded slightly.
"Y-yes your E-Excellency." I felt the blade on the back of my hand.
"You will never speak of this event to anyone, or you'll die by my hands. If anyone asks, you did this to yourself." I nodded meekly.
"Y-yes your E-Excellency." He spun me around, clasping my hand tightly.
"I'm glad we have an understanding, but just to make sure-" He slashed an 'X' on the back of my hand, I whimpered in pain. Falling to the floor I looked up at him, I nursed my bleeding hand. He bent down close to my face; I stared at the glowing marks. "I will see you in a few days Mademoiselle Lottie." He kissed my cheek, his icy lips on my skin. He opened the balcony door and jumped down, I sat there on the floor; blood running down my arm and staining the carpet. My breaths came shallow and fast as I tried to stop the bleeding. I didn't try to stop the tears, they couldn't stop.
'I mustn't let anyone know, if I do… he'll kill me.' I trembled in fear, fear of a man who my step-sister was in love in. Fear of a sadistic Count.
