I didn't bother to flip myself back over. There was no point really. I couldn't tell if I was still crying or not. What the hell was wrong with me? Just because I accidentally hugged some demon douche doesn't mean I have to go on shut down mode. I better get my shit together before Veni comes back. This would be way too hard to try to explain to her.
"How long are you planning to stay like that? Where is a person supposed to sit?"
"What the f-" my words were cut short as I turned too quickly. I flipped myself off the couch. I sat up immediately and still couldn't believe my eyes. That wasn't Veni or her potato bastard. Roderich sat himself down on the now empty couch.
"What do you think you're doing here?" I tried again. I sure as hell didn't invite him. I pushed myself back to an upright position.
"I came to have a little chat," he said. He had brought a teacup with him. He took a small irritating sip.
"With me?"
He rolled his eyes. "Of course with you. For goodness sakes, sit down already."
I resisted for as long as possible. He just sort of glared at me as I stood there awkwardly. I shifted about before I actually decided to sit down but as far away as the couch would allow.
"I thought I might share some of my experience with you. So we don't have to go through something like this again."
Something like what? Wait, he couldn't mean...
"This happened a long time. Hundreds of years before were you were born."
Oh this was going to take forever, wasn't it. Couldn't he just get straight to the point? I crossed my arms and settled further into the cushions.
"Life was a lot more conservative back then. People had secrets and kept them that way. Anything shameful was kept in the dark. That's where I found her.
"Most of my comrades would have been shocked to see me there. They would have thought the infectious darkness would have gotten me as well. It may have been chance. If my carriage hadn't been lost, this could have all been avoided, yet when I saw her, I couldn't help but do something.
"'Miss!' She had barely looked up. Her skimpy red dress was ripped at the sleeve. The hem was frayed. She looked like she had just crawled up out of the sewers. Her long brown hair was matted and stuck out in various directions. The paint on her face was smeared and uneven. As soon as her eyes met mine, they shifted quickly back to the ground.
"'With all due respect, sir, I really don't think you'd want the company of me tonight. Men like you usually don't require my services. You've all got a wife holed away somewhere. You want nothing to do with the likes of me,' she said.
"'Miss, I didn't inquire about what services you might offer. I am in need of your assistance,' I said. I remember being a bit irritated that she had assumed something of that nature from a person like me.
"She laughed at that. 'I think I could use your help more than you could use mine, mister.' She slowly got up and made her way over to the window of my carriage. 'It's going to cost you.'
"'I figured as much.' I reached into my wallet and handed her the first bill. She looked at it, checked the streets to make sure no one was watching, and stuffed the money down her worn bodice.
"'You'll want to head down the alley that way, then take a left and a right at the place with the red door. That will get you out to the main road. I would recommend you not stay out here too much longer. Pretty faces like yours usually don't last long.'
"'Wait!' She was already leaving to sit at her spot by the drain. I opened the door and paced quickly over to her. I took her wrist and she flinched. I adjusted my grip so I was holding her hand gently. It was blistered and rough. Her wrist had several dark bruises on it. 'I want you to come with me.'
"'What?' she exclaimed. 'Sir, you really don't want me to come with you!'
"'I think I can decide that for myself, thank you.' I pulled her toward me gently. She followed easy enough. 'I'm not going to force you to come with me. If you have a prior engagement this evening, I'll leave you to it.'
"She shook her head and came with me the rest of the way to the carriage. I opened the door and let her inside first. She hesitated before she stepped in. She slid herself along the seat. I followed and sat across from her.
"She didn't look at me during the ride. She ran her hands along the upholstery. 'Where are you taking me?' she asked quietly.
"'We're going to my apartment,' I said.
"She nodded as if she figured as much. She leaned forward so that her hands were on either side of my seat. She closed her eyes and lifted herself so that she was mere inches from my face and getting closer. I put my fingers to her lips. She blinked open in surprise.
"'That is not why I have engaged you this evening,' I said calmly.
"She still had the confused look on her face as we pulled up to my place. The driver opened the door for us and I stepped out first. I supported her hand as she stepped down.
"Her face was full of awe this time as she stepped into the world of light and luxury. She couldn't quite believe it. She followed a few steps behind me as I stepped through the door.
"'Welcome back, Mr. Edelstein,' one of the maids greeted me.
"'Tell the valet that I'll want to get dressed for the party immediately,' I said.
"'Very good, sir,' she nodded. 'And your guest...?'
"'Prepare something suitable for her to wear. She'll accompany me tonight.'
"The girl looked from me to the maid and back again. She couldn't quite figure out what was going on. Why this was happening her. Why I was showing her mercy.
"'Of course, sir,' the maid nodded again. She turned to my guest. 'Please come with me, Miss...?'
"'Hedervary. Elizaveta Hedervary,' she said almost in a trance.
"'Miss Hedervary,' the maid confirmed. She led the lady up the stairs to one of the empty rooms.
"When she came back down, she had made a complete transformation. The maid had done a nice job of cleaning her up. All the paint was wiped from her face. Her hair was put up, but some locks fell and curled along her face. Her dress was a forest green, just a shade darker than her eyes. She blushed prettily when she saw me waiting for her.
"'I'm sorry you had to wait so long,' she said. 'Are we going to be late?'
"'Just late enough,' I said. I held out my arm out for her. 'Come along, Miss Hedervary.'
"She enjoyed the rest of the night as if she were living in a dream. I danced with her a few times. The other men at the party danced with her to be courteous. The women chatted with her. No one knew where she came from. It didn't really matter. She came with me. That was all they needed to know.
"'Roderich!' One of my old colleagues came up to me. I shook his hand firmly. 'Congratulations! I heard that the King is your new patron.'
"'Yes, that has been decided quite recently,' I allowed.
"'You must be enthralled! Think of the concerts! The orchestras! The fame, the glory! Everything you could have ever wanted!'
"'It's never been about that. I've always done this for the music.'
"'Ah, of course, of course! Would you care to honor us?'
"'Oh yes, please Rodderich!' His wife came to join him. 'I would so enjoy to hear one of your sonatas again!' she enthused.
"I bowed my head to her. 'If my lady insists.'
"I found their pianoforte in their sitting room. Very few people could afford one of these newly constructed instruments.
"'A very good investment if we are to keep entertaining esteemed guests such as yourself,' my friend said.
"Quite a crowd had followed us, laughing loudly from the sophisticated drinks. I saw Miss Elizaveta's eyes on me as I made my way to the pianoforte. After that, the world was gone. I had thoroughly escaped from the passage of my music. When I was done, there was thunderous applause. I tears in Elizaveta's eyes. I smiled and she clapped more enthusiastically.
"'Really my dear, it isn't becoming for beautiful women to cry.'
"'I'm sorry. No one has ever shown me such kindness.' She wiped the droplets from under her eyes. 'Do I really have to go? I don't want to leave.'
"I opened the door of the carriage from the inside. She sobbed a bit harder. I took her hand and kissed it. The crying slowly came to a stop. 'Perhaps, we'll meet again, Miss Elizaveta. Perhaps when our world's are a bit closer together.'
"She nodded. 'I understand.' She stepped down onto the street where I had first come across her. 'I will try. We will meet again, Mr. Edelstein. I know it.'
"I nodded my head to her as we drove away. I had thought that would be the end of it.
"That night was the last concert of my tour. The hall had been sold out for months now. There was a knock at my room backstage. I adjusted my cravat one last time. 'Come in!' I called out.
"The door opened just a crack. A familiar pair of green eyes peered over to me.
"'Elizaveta?'
"She smiled and entered all the way. 'Mr Edelstein, I was afraid you wouldn't remember!'
"'I never forget the people I meet. What are you doing here?'
"'I worked very hard, Mr. Edelstein. I saved up for months to be able to afford to come here.'
"Her face flushed. 'I didn't work like that! I don't...do that anymore. I have never let another man get away with touching me like that since I met you.' I remember thinking that sounded a bit ominous. Her face ha gotten a bit darker at that moment. 'I work as a bar maid. Over on the other side of town.'
"'The other side of town?' I squinted my eyes. 'Isn't that a bit dangerous?' There had been a string of murders lately. A psychopath who cuts off the fingers of his victims.
"I went to my drawer and found my wallet. 'I'll pay for a taxi so you can ride home safely.'
"'Oh really, Mr. Edelstein, that won't be necessary...'
"'My money's gone,' I found as I flipped through the folds.
"'What!' Elizaveta said with concern. 'How much was taken?'
"'Not much. Just 57 kreuzer.'
"'57 kreuzer!' she exclaimed. I forgot that would have seemed like a small fortune to her.
"'It won't be much trouble. The concert will still continue as scheduled.' I folded up my wallet and put it back in the drawer.
"'I swear, Mr Edelstein. I'll bring justice.' Elizaveta cracked her knuckles. A viscous look was on her face.
"'Elizaveta!' I exclaimed. She looked up in surprise. 'That is a horrible habit for a lady!'
"I took her hands in mine. 'It's best to just let these things go, Miss Hedevary. I'll be performing soon, so you should probably go find your seat.'
"'But...' she started. I gave her a look, and she nodded in submission. I was left to prepare for the beautiful music I was about to make.
"'Hey there, bitches!'
"My aria was interrupted by an obnoxious voice. The sound still haunts me. The room was filled with gasps and I was forced to stop playing.
"'Any of you whores want to come home with the awesome me? Kesesesese!'
"The concert hall was filled with loud mutterings. This was a disaster. How dare that man barge in on my concert?
"'No volunteers?' Some of the men were closing in on him. 'Alright then!' He pulled out a gun and shot in the air. 'How about now?'
The room was filled with screams. Even from the stage, I could see his twisted smile. His red eyes gleaming. 'Now that's more like it! Keep on screaming, ladies!'
"'Gilbert, you son of a bitch!' Elizaveta got up from her seat and went towards the white haired man.
"'Lizzy! I thought I heard your voice! Finally change your mind? Are you going to be the first volunteer for this evening?
"'Why do you have to ruin absolutely everything? You know how long I've been looking forward to this!'
"'Oh yes, the one man Lizzy's holding her cookies for. Can't get them cheap anymore!'
"She slapped him. Gilbert only smiled wider. 'You going to cut my fingers off now? I didn't technically touch you like all those other sleaze balls. Maybe I should. Just once...'
"He reached for her, and she pulled out a knife from her skirt. 'Oh, I'll cut off yours for free. Then you can just go ahead and kill yourself!'
"His eyes went wide. 'You thought I didn't notice?' Elizaveta continued. 'That everyman who touched me at the bar ended up dead? A bit too convenient if you ask me. I knew it could have only been you, Gilbert Beilschmidt.'
"He raised his hands in the air. 'You caught me! Yeah, I killed them. You know why I did, too. Couldn't stand anyone besides me touching you.'
"'Gilbert, you're deranged!'
"'You think you love him?' Gilbert continued. 'Just because he helped you out that one time?'
"'Gilbert, you don't understand...'
"'You've obsessed over him for months. You've stalked him and learned everything you could. It's really creepy. Why would he want a freak like you?'
"Her hand started shaking. 'Lucky for you, I like it freaky,' Gilbert continued. 'Always have. I've loved you for years. Since we were kids growing up together.'
"'You know nothing about Mr. Roderich! He thinks I'm beautiful! Despite what I've done!' she screamed.
"'I know he touched you,' he turned his gun toward me. 'And that he used to have 57 marks in his wallet. Pretty disappointing for a celebrity. I could have gotten more bullets. And really, would he think you were so beautiful if he knew everything? Not like me. He doesn't know you like I do. He doesn't love you like I do.'
"I could have ran. I could have escaped the stage, but I have never left a piece unfinished. I wasn't going to start.
"Gilbert, I swear if you...' Elizaveta warned.
"'Any last words, piano whatever guy?' Gilbert addressed me.
"'Are you quite finished? I have music to perform.'
"And those were the last words I ever said."
I was stunned. I had just exaggerated when I expected that to last forever.
"Do you know why I shared that with you?" Roderich said.
"No clue," I said quickly.
Roderich sighed. "You met one today, am I correct? A prostitute."
I nodded. It was close enough. technically, I had stopped her from becoming one. I still really couldn't see where he was going with this.
"Fundamentally, they're no different from you or me. They have their reasons for the sins they commit just like we have. We shouldn't be afraid to guide them to the light like everyone else before it's too late. In my life, she may have been to far gone, but i believe you have a real chance of helping them. It'll be tough. I don't want to see anymore tears from you regarding them, understood?"
I nodded. Anything to get him out of here faster. He was being strangely sympathetic, and I didn't like that.
"Good. I expect you to be fully prepared for work tomorrow." He got up and went towards the door. He almost ran into Ludwig as he was leaving.
"Ludwig," the piano bastard nodded in greeting.
"Roderich," the potato bastard nodded back. He looked a bit surprised. Ludwig turned towards me once the boss angel left.
"What was that all about?" he asked.
"I don't know. He just came barging in here bragging about some insane prostitute he hooked up with," I said and laid back down on the couch. He thought I was crying because I had to deal with a whore. He'd probably explode if he knew I had touched a demon. He'd throw me into the pits of hell himself.
"Tina! Luddy I'm home!" Veni rushed in and excitedly greeted both of us with a kiss. Ludwig blushed furiously but didn't go running out this time, though he did look a bit woozy. "You'll never guess what happened at work!"
"What? Did you paint the biggest plate of pasta you ever saw?" I asked in teasing.
"No...well, yes, but that wasn't what I was talking about!" She bounced onto the balls of her feet. "I met a demon, a real demon!"
"What?" both Luddy and I roared.
I scrambled off the couch. Luddy got to her first because she hadn't really left his side. He grabbed her shoulders and searched her face.
"He didn't touch you, did he?" he asked, concern written all over his face. It made me want to barf.
Veni shook more head, and I tore her away into my embrace.
"I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill that demon bastard!" I muttered angrily as I kissed my sister's head. I had to keep reminding myself that she was here and safe. They hadn't taken her away from me.
Veni laughed. "He wasn't all that bad. He was actually pretty nice! And cute!"
"Demons can't be nice," Ludwig muttered. He almost seemed as surly as me. "Or cute," I barely heard him say. "He must have been tricking you. You can't trust anything he says, Veni."
I was getting a rotten feeling in my stomach. It would be my sister to call a demon nice and cute. It wasn't necessarily him, but that demon bastard was the only one that came to mind. I warned him if he went anywhere near my sister I would...
"He liked to watch me paint. He said the dreams were really pretty." Veni smiled up at me. "He liked you the best. He thought you were really beautiful, sorella!"
I hugged her tighter against my chest. Veni wrapped her arms around me. I could feel the pit in my stomach twisting and toiling in rage. I wouldn't let him get away with this. "I swear, if I see him, I'm going to kill that demon bastard."
AN: Here it is! The backstory! Some of you were wondering what had happened. This is it! How they all know each other! I hope you enjoyed! Oh! And I have a poll! You should vote for the story I'm about to write. So far PruCan is winning. What do you have to say about that?