You know what, scratch Arlington's blond hair. Its always been black silly! Haha. :)
I am almost terrified. This could be a stupid idea, but it might not be. I'd best take my eyes of my shoes and resume breathing.
I look up and around to see where I am being led to.
I'm astounded, though why I don't know, for what could one presume in a manor from a prominent wealthy family in Baylor?
It is a beautiful sight. Everything, the whole foyer, is draped in sumptuous silks and brocades, and yet it melds with simplicity.
It is open, airy, and huge, with two winding cherry wood staircases that begin together and separate to two different wings. The floors are a white and black swirling marble, running with the theme of black, gold and red throughout. There are white marble pillars, dripping with red rose vines planted from pots, wines red curtains hanging from impossibly long windows that begin at the very high ceilings, shaped much like a circle with doors that re-encircle the walls, making the hugeness cozy. Ironically, there is a fountain in the middle, a cheeky little fey-cherub looking chit spewing water out of its mouth, holding a delicate carved rose.
He looks over his shoulder to make sure I am following, and then sweeps into a sitting parlour. He snaps for what I guess to be Phipps, a hulking butler. He is massively huge, with a black comb-over and big matching caterpillar eyebrows.
Arlington requests a blanket and the tea service immediately and is obeyed. I am soon curled up in a blanket in front of a roaring fire sipping tea. He sits cross legged across from me, picking at a scone and peeking up at me, through his dark curls.
You could of sworn he'd make being a bloody lion tamer normal.
"So how did you end in front of my fire?" He asks, smirking.
I say matter-of-factly, while I stir my tea. "I came here on business. Henry said, that well, I should ask, that you, if that..." I hope he hops in to clarify.
But does he ever. "And what did that damned little Malloy say, and pray tell, why did he ask that of you? The boy despises me, why would he throw his prized doll to the beast?" He asks, smirking sardonically.
"One, I say," Tipping off one finger "I am not his prized doll, nor you a beast, and two, I refused his hand." I tip off my second finger.
"Firstly." He says, mocking me. "He thinks so, and I am quite beastly, and secondly, bravo Lila!" He says with gusto, forgetting decorum and slapping me on the back. Hurrah!
Why don't I like a man that treats me as his equal?
Oh yes. He intends to steal my freedom so I may be his little pet. Right.
"So what did Henry mean, what should I know?" I ask, my curiosity peaked.
At this he roughly coughs, and his looks at his poor scone darkly. "You don't want to know. It's far too long a story anyway." In his weak defense, he looks stunning when upset.
"I am strong, I can quite take it. I've got plenty of time, Jane doesn't expect me back for another week yet." Curse myself if I live to regret this.
"Don't make me put that doubt upon your shoulders, it fills the quiet, slowly driving one mad." He states this quite simply, and I nearly pity him, for he means himself.
Some impetuous energy is driving me madly, I must understand him.
"I know." I say kindly, putting my hands against his broad shoulders, now looking quite tiny hands to me.
He waits no more, he pours forth his tale in beautiful unsure detail.
"Once, not so long ago, there was a man, driven by love and pain to find a cure for his beloved dying young wife. He met with a powerful medicine woman one day, begging anything to save his lovely bride. The usually cold woman granted this, in exchange for a price. His wife would be saved, and when she would bear a healthy child, the fey said this child was her price. The desperate man, willing to do near anything, excepted readily, not even thinking of but his love. The sickened lady miraculously made a turn for the better, much to the shock of every neighboring physician in the county. In due time a child was borne, a son. The man, much to his terror, could not lose both centers of his world. So he ran to a small kingdom, hoping to be surpassed and perhaps forgotten by the woman. Things passed normally for the boys first year as they ought, till his first birthday's night the woman appeared, demanding the boy. Much to the man's terror, his wife was told by the the cruel woman. She demanded immediate payment for her good deed, and the Mother begged to be taken in her sons place. The fey, knowing this would near kill the man, accepted the bargain. She conditioned, knowing the man would live at least for his son, that the son be aloud to live for his first twenty years peacefully. The condition was that, he must find love before his twenty-first year, or he would be her fair payment. There was one but that could be this lad's betrothed, and before his twenty-first year, he would surely find the meant lady and they be intended for each other. If this lad couldn't find his intended love, he would be forever cursed.
"Lovely tale!" I say swallowing a lump in my throat. "Now tell me, hmm; why the blazes am I supposed to believe you again?" I ask, my eyes narrowing to slits. I am taking this shockingly well.
"You asked darling!" A dark smile touches his lips. Lovely.
"So what comes next, hmm?" Perhaps I may skip off and forget my hating him will be his doom.
"Well..." He draws out, "I could let you go and forever be a cursed, or keep you and live happily ever, well at least, I would..
"I won't be kept!" I say hotly, crossing my arms upon my chest.
"That can matter very little, depending upon how I see it." He flicks an imaginary fuzz off his lapel and continues. "You know, the more you fight me, the more irresistable you are to me."
Son of a you know what!
"So I will lose you if I shower affection upon you?" I ask with sarcasm.
"No, that will suffice as well too. Just remember, do not make me angry."
"Fat chance." I am leaving here. Now.
I get up to leave, but like Henry, he stops me in my tracks, but not by force.
"And my beloved doesn't even want to know what I would be cursed with." His black curls fall over a grey-blue eye as he pouts.
"Oh, I can only be so lucky!", I mock, smacking a hand on my hip.
"It only gets better dear, haven't you always wanted to marry a vampire?"
I gasp in horror, and am running, again.
I hear him echo through the corridor as I run "I'll be in touch."
But oh, how it echoes in my mind.
Unlikely Rose
A/N: So how did you like it? It isn't over yet, but that is of course, soon coming. A big thanks to my reviewers, you taking the time means a ton to me, and thank you silent readers!