A Little Piece of Heaven

Chapter 12: Heater

Another two full weeks of November have faded without my notice. I am busy, engrossed, and distracted. And it would seem, all at once.

I'm so very close. I can feel it. Smell it, taste my one wish not to far from my grasp. I want to know where it is. I need to know, but the books won't show me, and neither do my findings. The frustration fuels my seething, and foul nature. I accommodate by entertaining myself, or I become obsessed with something else before I find myself distracted again.

My side experimentation has dragged on longer than I expected it to. But, I don't think I mind watching the squirming and aching just a bit more. I find myself falsely excited when I can observe another thing gone wrong, but that's what happens when you resist the darkness. How it's done halfway and unconsciously is out of my understanding. Don't take it, and don't leave it? The darkness doesn't operate in such a fashion, yet, as of now, it does. Perhaps it's the gender, or something else that's prolonged such dormant suffering.

I plan on finding out in due time. If only due time would arrive for everything. I'll remind myself not stick my nose in too far. I realize I'm too fascinated to let it be and run its indefinite course. I've gotten hungry for something I'm not supposed to have, or give away myself. The only thing I should want is what has always been eternal. But, I've developed the smallest of physical needs.

It's the man in me that does twisted things making me yearn and crave. The impulses to touch, to feel, to tamper are overwhelming. I often abide by my disciplined self control to prevent myself from doing something unfavorable.

I've thought and this is enough. I'm wasting time. I leverage myself from a leather chair stationed close to my work desk. I sense a visitor will be arriving soon and I'm not one to be a sitting duck.

Fresh rain batters harshly against the metal compounds outside. There is no lightening, therefore there will be no thunder. Still, the down pour leaves the skies dark and baleful. All the more reason for the female to lay idle in her room. I observe her still body, and shake her till she stirs.

"Get up. Someone is coming," she doesn't move as fast as I want her to. I pinch the soft skin of her exposed shoulder. She gives a groan, rubs the newly formed red welt, and lethargically crawls from under her sheets.

"What?" Her voice is grogged heavily from sleeping the afternoon away.

I don't like repeating myself, and I don't.

"Move," I pull on her legs and she falls out of the bed onto the floor. I leave before she stands.

Behind me I can hear the tap of her bare feet against the cold floor. As I had expected, we meet our guest half way.

"Sorry, to pop in unannounced," Maleficent drums her finger nails against the worn surface of her staff. Her head is held high showing a pathetic excuse for confidence. The heartless become agitated at our encounter and sink in inky pools on the ground.

"Why are you here witch?"

"Following up on our arrangement," her eyes dart behind me, and for a split second she's taken back.

"Still alive are you?" Maleficent is no longer speaking to me.

"Yeah, hag," The topic of interest murmurs from my side. Maleficent doesn't hear.

The crow perched on her shoulder screeches loudly. Its sound leaves a long echo. I scowl at her.

"If you have no other business, leave," my patience grows thin. I don't enjoy company.

"I wanted to speak with you privately about our other negotiations," her brittle wall cracks in pieces when ever she twitches. I can smell fear. Her nervousness is carved haggardly into her deceitful face.

"What makes you think you can request me when ever you feel the need? I have no interest in you now,"

"Very well," Maleficent's body slowly dissolves behind folds of green fire. "Oh, and Phoebe,"

"What?" The woman answers from behind me. She's in a half step to walk away. One eye brow is raised obviously interested in whatever else Maleficent has to say.

"Your mother's been looking for you dear," she sneers before dispersing completely.

I squint a suspicious eye. She doesn't come here unless she wants something, or something done. I'll make a round to sniff out any sabotage the witch may have planted.

"Come Phoebe," I have somewhere to be.

Nothing.

"Come," my voice grinds on authority.

Still nothing.

I reach to yank on her hair and gain her attention, but something stops me.

Her back faces me; ridged and frozen like ice. A whiff of anxiety laces with the surrounding air. I can hear her breathing low and staggered.

Curious...

What about her mother again?

Tonight, I don't feel too well. I am sick to my stomach. Sick with worry, and regret. I'm reminded just when I begin to forget one of the most important things. I don't know whether or not to believe Maleficent. She lies just like every one else has. But, Mamma…

I made dinner. I even fixed my own plate only to realize I'm not hungry. So here I am sitting on the floor in a corner of Ansem's study nearest to the doors. He said I could stay if I remained quiet. I really haven't talked all day. He also told me not to touch anything. I've only been tempted once or twice.

I prop my chin on my knees and hug my legs. The rain that started yesterday brought in a strong cold front. As a matter of fact everything is cold. The floors are cold. The walls are cold. My room is cold. I'm cold. I don't know how Ansem can stand it, but there he sits in his chair with no shirt on, again. I suddenly wonder if he ever gets sick. Probably not, but you never know.

What time is it? Last time I checked it was far past midnight. I would ask, but I'm not supposed to say anything lest I break his 'deep concentration'.

I look up because I get tired of blank floor. Ansem holds that red sketch book in his hands etching something elaborate. From what I can tell it spans the whole entire page. Maybe it's important.

He sighs through his nose and sets it down. He glances at me from over his shoulder. I know what he's going to say before he even says it.

"Go to bed,"

He turns out a lamp with the click of a button and gets out of his chair. Why do I get the feeling that he's not going to retire himself? I suppose I'm something that needs to be kept out of the way. Whatever, I do what he says. Getting up is hard when you've got so much weight on your shoulders. I wouldn't be here if I had listened to Mamma.

I leave and I don't put up a fight like Ansem wants me too. I head one way, and he another with not a much as a glance back.

I return to my room with a violent shiver. I stare sideways at my bed sheets. They're probably not thick enough to keep me warm. I sit on the edge of the mattress and curl up on myself again. I focus on the outside. I can smell the scent of freezing rain seeping through the window seals. Something lurches on my insides and I want to scream. I almost do. I feel so dark. Maybe a little helpless.

"Everything is...ugh," I bury my face under the mass of my hair. I sigh.

Crawling, I pull all of my blankets from their edges. I fold each one and double them up. Yeah, I'm going to sleep so awesome tonight.

No, no I'm not.

I lay under them. I can't feel my toes. Sleep comes when I force it on myself.

I am done for the night satisfied with my confirmed suspicion. Maleficent left a trail behind. I crush the unknown device in the palm of my hand and discard it on the floor. Wretched traitor. It's a good thing I'm careful with those I associate with... more or less.

At two in the morning, the hallway is chilled, but I don't feel it anymore.

Hmmm?

A figure stands still only a few feet down. This is not a first. I've noted that she's started to sleep walk in the darkness, and stop in mysterious places leaving me to return her to her room. I'll do something different this time.

She's shaking, and I know why. It seems I just can't stop myself from being interested. I do what I normally won't do.

Milliseconds of snapping-my-eyes- open terror. I get that petrifying feeling of falling down deep in my stomach.

Where am I now?

I wobble in a disoriented fashion. Something grabs my arm, or is this just the wall again? Rating? A chest? A door? There's not enough light to see, or enough alertness to focus. I'm being consumed, and led. You know what? I'm tired.

Do I even feel like running the other way? I'm just so accustomed to letting the force take me in each every detection it wants, so I let it.

I don't feel that worried anyway.

I don't think I'm doing a good thing, but neither is it bad. The opportunity is too great to pass up. Besides, we've been here before.

I lead her to my room and she follows like a good girl. When I lay the bed creaks under the weight of another shifting body. Crawling on her hands and knees she settles on the other side. Then it's still.

But, she's still shivering, and I don't like it. For the sake of peace I wrap an arm around her shoulders.

It stops.

If I was brave I'd turn around. I'm not, so I won't do that. Someone is in the bed with me. Or am I in the bed with them? Either way, we are both in the bed at the same time, and I'm way too scared to look and see who I already know is there.

I stare at the pale patches of light scattered on the floor. Rain still attacks all that's unprotected outside. When it rains in Hollow Bastion (which doesn't happen often), it pours with vengeance. I move in millimeters.

I stifle a cough and sink my head into the fluffy sheets. What am I lying on?

A large russet arm.

What's laying on me?

We are going to go with a rock because that's what half of his body feels like. Ansem's other arm is clamped tight around my waist spooning us together. I wiggle a little bit. My leg is lodged high between his. I don't even want to tell you what I think I might feel there. I attempt to move from under him. His chin twitches above my head and I stop. Me getting up and running away isn't going to work, or happen. I'm going to be stuck here for a while.

At least I'm not completely uncomfortable, and it's warm…