Phew another chapter finished! I take an opportunity each day to write out a chapter in scratch paper before I post it wherever I may be so I won't have to spend so much time and effort at my house when I have chores to do. I am in cross country in the college and have had painful injuries on my knee. I was told to be out of practice for several weeks while it heals. It really bums me because I love to run and I feel so left out that it makes me feel lonely, but instead I have to go to this modified training program for it to get better. So while I am waiting for the trainer to stretch me out, I take the initiative to do something productive like writing the next chapter or do as much as I can while waiting for them to open up. I'm glad I do, otherwise I'd have to look forward to writing it from scratch when I get home! :p

Chapter 10-Tough Decisions…Playing the Proxy

Lyra didn't know what to say as she heard the end of the sentence. Should she sign the documents that Fausto had ordered? If she didn't, then somebody would get hurt…

"I'll do it," she blurted.

Fausto gave an ugly grin knowing that he had managed to get his way, "Wonderful, I'm glad you are finally doing the right thing," he drawled.

Lyra longed to punch him to a pulp, even if she would get hurt; instead she clenched her teeth to stop herself. She thought of the time when she had been running from him and his henchmen and how scared she had been when she thought they would do awful things to her. She certainly didn't want anybody to have the same fate as her. Fortunately she had avoided that by running away, so nothing happened to her-but what about her aunt?

"Fine, I'll sign your damn papers, but only on my conditions!"

"What are those conditions?" he asked through narrow eyes.

"You can't let anything bad happen to her and-I'll accompany you today, but first I have to get a few things done, then I'll follow you to the place."

Fausto looked at her scandalized, "what exactly are you going to do-Do you think I am stupid? You'll probably run off before-But Lyra cut him off.

"Oh you can have that damn fortune, I won't be stupid enough to be a coward like last time while somebody gets hurt on account of me!" she said half putting on an act, half meaning it.

Fausto looked taken aback for a moment, but then snickered as he showed his cruel smile, "well it seems you finally realized that I am right and it won't solve you any problems to run away like last time-Fine I consent, but be quick about it-Go and return here!"

Lyra walked around him, her heart pumping but before doing so heard him say, "If you decide to double-cross me by trying to kill me, I have specific orders to my men to kill your aunt if I don't return or am blackmailed in any way!"

Lyra hurried away deep in the woods where she knew she was a mile from his position, all the while teeming from the information she had just heard.

So she had an aunt-and a fortune! The mere thought of it sent such a shock to her that she was now only registering it. An aunt? Why hadn't her parents told her when she was younger? Maybe she had been too little to remember it herself.

"Safe Return" She breathed, heart pumping.

She was back on the marble steps outside the manor and without a word; she strode over to the entrance doors to knock. But before she could do so, the doors sprung open as if on command to reveal Slenderman who looked as though he was just about to go outside.

"Oh, I see you have returned," he said with a soft chuckle. Then his face seemed to have adjusted to one of concern. "Is everything al alright?"

Lyra noticed that her face might have betrayed a look of horror mixed with distress. She said nothing, shaking her head.

"You don't look well, and your face is almost as pale as mine!" he said with a brief chuckle. Lyra tried to adopt a different expression that showed cheer, but she knew that she was failing miserably.

"No…I...I'm fine," she stuttered.

Slenderman looked at her still deeply concerned. "You say you are, but your eyes tell differently, you almost look like you're in tears." He put a slender comforting arm around her.

It was too much for her. She didn't care that she must have looked like a child when she felt so hopeless. She sobbed into the arms of a bewildered and sympathetic Slenderman who hugged her tightly in response.

"I…I c…can't stay here anymore!" she almost wailed as she clutched into black suit. Slenderman, who was rubbing small circles on her back soothingly while over her shoulder, suddenly stopped and looked at her, still hugging her. An unfathomable expression crossed his face. What happened?" he asked slowly dreading the answer.

"I…I can't tell you-you shouldn't know!" Then Lyra's tears stopped as she gazed up at Slenderman with her bright green eyes. The single last tear rolled down her left cheek and Slenderman reached a single finger to wipe it away softly. When she didn't answer, he bowed his head and slowly turned away, fearing for the worst, "w…what did you find out?" It was the first time she saw him get uneasy. Usually he was always eloquent.

Dawning had suddenly come to Lyra. She had suddenly realized that he might have known that she was in his room and found out the truth.

"No…it's not that!" She said. Slenderman turned away as though to look at the view of the forest dejectedly.

"No…I…look: it's not about that, but I…I know about her." she ended.

Slenderman turned quickly towards her. If he had a face as discernible as a human's, it would show guilt, insecurity, and fear.

"How…how did you-" But Lyra cut him off.

"I know what you did to the girl you loved-Alianor. I'm…I'm sorry I found out…I just wanted to tell you that-

"You don't have to apologize for anything" he interrupted, "I should be the one asking for your forgiveness" he said turning away once again.

That's it he thought with deep sadness. She'll never love me at this point. After all, she probably didn't even feel the same as me. It's my entire fault for not telling her the truth in the first place-I mean, who would fall in love with someone like me who cuts the heart of the one he used to love? He closed his eyes wishing death could take him sooner.

"I had just wanted to tell you that I don't care if you did."

Slenderman froze and opened his eyes to find Lyra looking at her solemnly.

"I…I just wanted you to know that…that…even though I know you ripped the heart of someone long ago and you shouldn't have done that…I just wanted to tell you that even though you did something like that long ago…it..it…

Lyra paused as she wiped away another tear that had fallen, "I just wanted to say that it won't change anything between us…"

Slenderman stared at her with the most incredulous expression he could muster. He was thrown back-what did she mean?

Lyra walked towards him, her heart starting to beat faster and faster as though it would burst from her chest. "Even though you made that mistake…I want to be with you always…" then she seemed to whisper loud enough for him to hear:

"…Colin…"

He turned, surprised at hearing a name he hadn't heard in over two hundred years. She had just said his name and was right in front of him. Then she suddenly did something he never expected from her: she tugged his red tie down making him bend a little, surprising him, pressed her lips-

And kissed him on his pale cheek.

Slenderman could feel himself blushing madly; and it was only when he looked up that he saw her eyes-her amazingly green eyes meeting his face so that it reflected back in her orbs, than his brain etched in harmony with the words. She kissed me…she kissed me…she kissed me even though she knows what I've done…

"I just wanted to tell you that…I love being with you ever day. I love you for saving me days ago when I had the men after me…I love your company always and long for your return…I love you for-

Slenderman didn't let her finish as he suddenly as he crashed his lips upon hers in kiss. It was a hot passionate kiss that took her by surprise before she returned it, a swooping powerful feeling in her heart. He was kissing her as if he would never do so again. His hand caressed her check as he continued to do so, with one hand behind her back in a hug as his hand searched her back….they were pressed up together…both their hearts –or at least her heart thumped in his chest…

They broke away breathless and they had eyes for one another (or at least, gazes)-then she remembered the deal with Fausto.

"That's not…that's not why I need to go, I needed to go for another reason." She said breathless as she pulled Slenderman into a hug then broke away to look up at him.

"I don't have that much time; all I can tell you is this: the men who were after me had told me that I needed to do something important."

"The men…are they the same men who had threatened you?" he said in a growl-but not directed at her, "where are they, they will pay rightfully now that they are in the forest!"

"No! You can't kill him; I have a deal to make!" She hurriedly told him, "I have a family fortune and they said if I don't sign the documents, then his men will kill my aunt!"

Slenderman's furious gaze thinking of the men who had dared threaten her coursed through his veins like a wildfire, but he calmed enough to hear her, "what if I just kill him?"

"Don't do that-he said that he gave his men specific orders to kill her if he were to not come back alive!" she said frantically.

"Then in that case, I'm coming with you!" he said firmly. But Lyra shook her head wildly, "No! He mustn't see you or he might call the deal off and hurt her, I've got to settle this once and for all. I don't want him to get the money or kill my aunt, so I have to do this once and for all-I've got to stand up to him and fight!" Lyra ended with a sigh, clenching her hands firmly with a determined look in her eyes. Slenderman considered her for a moment then seeming to come up with something, he drew her into another kiss.

Bewildered, Lyra felt his smooth lips against her once again. This kiss however, was oddly different: It was hot and more passionate than the ones he had given her and somewhere in her heart she began to feel a strange, incredibly pleasant tingling feeling that was gone as quickly as it came. Lyra looked up at him confused for a moment, before the eyebrows on his face revealed a lovable expression.

"That was called the Proxy's Kiss," he said, taking hold of her hand in his and gently holding it to his face, "I have given you some of my power to help you fight them." He tenderly, brought her hand up to his face to give it a kiss. "However, if you ever find yourself in a difficult situation, then call my last name-Silvestri, as you know: and I will find you."

The pair looked at each other sharing one last time together. He brought her into another kiss-well, more like kisses. His face searched for hers as he gently kissed her forehead, her ears, and nuzzled around her neck, earning soft moans from her.

"Good luck, I love you" he whispered in her ear.

"I love you too," came her reply before disappearing from the slope.

Coming up next, what will happen to Lyra when she gets back to the men? Will things turn out alright? Or will Lyra get into trouble? Stay tuned! xD