Spirit

Bridget stared at me intently as she stood by the fire, her eyes blazed with intrigued.

"Derick?" she asked as she saw a note addressed to me lying on the mantle above the fire. I did not have time to answer before it clicked in her head that it was my name.

"Who is the boy?" I asked gruffly as her thoughts wandered from me name, my voice became shallow as I walked from her to my book shelf where a few wild roses bloomed.

"Who?" she asked, her face filling with confusion.

"Do not try me," I barked, "You know who!"

Shock filled her now tearful eyes; she had never heard my voice filled with so much anger before.

"He... is... my friend..." she said, stammering, the tears ceasing for a moment.

"Friend?" I laughed, "FRIEND?!?! My dear lassie I am no fool. There is something more than friendship on his mind. Do not lie to me. Who is he?" I walked over to her and grasped her hands.

The tears resumed as she bowed her head, released my hands, and turned from me facing the fire, she sobbed faintly.

"Answer me!" I yelled grabbing her wrists and closing my arms tightly around her waist.

She gasped at this and tried to pry loose from my hold. I felt her feeble wrists begin to weaken as I clenched them tightly.

"Let me go! PLEASE!" She cried in terror and agony.

I held tightly onto her, the rage controlling me.

"Stop moving!" I barked. She shuddered as my voice passed through her and began to gasp for breath as my arms closed even tighter around her waist.

She soon tired out and I quickly spun her around to face me, my hands still firmly clasping onto her wrists. I felt my fiery blood chill as I saw the terror in her eyes.

Tears poured down her face and I gently released her wrists. Her left wrist was badly bruised. As I gently cupped it in my hands, I noticed a cut on her finger.

"I'm sorry Bridget." I said as tears began to well in my eyes. I bowed my head from her, I was so ashamed. I let my anger control me.

She gently touched my face with her right hand and I gently placed my hand on it. I slowly looked up at her and did not believe what I saw.

She was smiling, faintly. Her eyes filling with tears of joy and sorrow I suppose.

We slowly walked over to a nearby couch close to the fire and I tended her wounds.

I gently bandaged up her wrist; she winced as I began to wrap the cloth around it.

I stopped and stared at her waiting for a cue of some sort as if to go on or stop. I did not want to harm her anymore.

"You should go with him." I said as I finished wrapping her wrist.

"Why?" she asked with a strange looked sweeping across her face.

"You will be safe with him. He won't..." I sighed and then continued, "He won't hurt you. You deserve better." I bowed my head from her as I gently tied her bandage together.

I felt her stare so deeply at me that it felt as if she was reading my thoughts; tears fell from her eyes like leaves that fall from the autumn trees and gently coasted down her smooth dress.

"Oh Derick..." She breathed as she gently pulled my face towards hers. Her eyes glittered as she moved her face close to mine and kissed me tenderly.

I held her close to me as she gently rapped her arms around my neck. As our lips parted, she lay her head gently on my shoulder and we sat in an embrace filled with the only comfort I have ever known.

"My dear sweet angel, my beautiful lassie, How could I have treated her so."

I then heard a sound in the corner of my home, it echoed throughout my chamber.

"We are not alone. " I whispered.