(( ok i lied i just cleaned off my old computer and found my original chapter 14 that i had finished before it is much better so i replaced it sorry ))
Chapter 14 When it all comes crumbling down
The ball was going quiet well, despite a few bad spells where the tranquility of the ball had been disturbed. On numerous occasions Cathy caught the look of boredom come across Trowa's face but she was reluctant to go to him. Too afraid that he would know it was her, and not one of Noin's relatives. 'Come on, you have faced hundreds of tasks but why does this one seem so much harder then trying to balance on the edge of reason.' She shook her head sighing and silently glad that she had this time to herself. Trowa always seemed so tense when she was around, like holding up some iron wall to keep her away. His eyes held some warmth, but that small fragment of humanity was locked away by cold bars of reality, keeping the curious at bay and out of reach. Again she sipped her drink in her gloved hand and yet again she denied someone her hand in a waltz. 'I do not feel much for dancing at this time.' She lied knowing fully well that if he were to ask her she would gladly except. Ever since she was a child, Cathy had been alone and he had shown her what having someone there for you actually felt like, and she liked it. Liked the feeling of having someone to care and worry about, someone to protect and nurture, he had given that small thing to her and she did not know how to repay him. Maybe breaking away that cold shell would let him see exactly what she felt, if not giving him the chance to love another in return and be happy.
"How are you enjoying the evening?" The cool voice was like a dagger cutting any warmth she had had inside of her away. "I do not believe I have had the pleasure of knowing your name." Those lips curled in a smile like Satan as he studied the woman before him. Eyes went over her form, taking into respect the well curved hips that were hidden under the dress, which showed off her cream shoulders. "That is quiet a stunning dress you have there." Vincent's eyes traveled over her form yet again wondering why she so drew his attention. Everyone else seemed so much more appealing then her, more flesh for the eye to appeal to, more curves to wrap your arms around. Perhaps it was the simple fact that she seemed the only one that denied him attention openly. All the others had simply tolerated him and then moved on glad that he was away but she simply ignored him.
Her hands stilled as she heard the cool voice interrupted her warm thoughts. "I was enjoying myself, now if you will excuse me." Cathy stood up making sure her mask was firmly in place as she walked past him but paused, something had held her back. A firm hold on her arm had her fixed in place.
"You remind me of someone. Maybe it was that woman in town…" He trailed off trying to think of what her crimson locks and sky blue eyes reminded him of. "Would you have this dance with me?" He asked bowing over her hand as a gentleman would but eyes of a hungry tiger looked at her hand. "I would love it if you would."
Something compelled her to accept but then the minute she nodded her head and sighed she regretted it. Vincent's arms wrapped around her like she was a piece of gold, keeping her at his side. "No I better not I was feeling sick earlier sir and I would hate to ruin that expensive suit of yours." She lied as she tried to pull herself out of his arms but he knew better and smiled.
"I know who you remind me of, you remind me of that girl that is blind, but I know you can not be her. She can not see. Or is it you Cathy, hiding under that mask with different locks." They had danced away from the crowded ball and onto a balcony as he questioned her. "You know what reminded me of who you are? It was the thrashing, the high pitched voice that I heard before. And do you know where I heard it before?" Vincent wet his lips as he smiled his mouth at her ear as he said three words that said it all. "I did it." Simply stated. "I am the reason she was in there in the first place, though it was a tragic accent. It was mostly for fun anyway, well mine to be exact. It seems she was not having a grand old time with me. Maybe next time…" Vincent snickered and watched her with hungry eyes. "Shall I tell you how I did it? Why I choose her and not anyone else?" Though they were silent words they cut through her mask of innocence and the true horror could be seen on her blue eyes.
"I… I… I must be going my cousin is looking for me." Cathy tried to pull herself away from him, even as she felt his hot breath on her neck and could feel the smile that lingered in his hideous eyes.
"It was her eyes, the very same that made me commit that act of sin, but if it was really a sin then why did I enjoy it so very much?" His face was a mere foot from her own as he read her eyes. "And they are the very same that made me want to come and kidnap you from the rest of the party, or did you not notice that we are alone out here?" Vincent's grip tightened on her arm pulling her closer. "They say never mix business with pleasure, but from my experience, it has made the deal somewhat sweeter. It was just a little harmless fun, I never knew I would run into her again, and to be blind, that makes it all the better. Maybe pleasure and business do go together, right Cathy?"
Finally after what seemed an eternity she was able to pull her grasp free of his, and backed away panting as she relived the entire scene from before. The sound of her clothes being ripped, of pain all over her body and then of total darkness. Cathy turned away from him and fled not caring if she did cause a scene she had to get away, away from those eyes that seemed to steal her very soul, her very innocence. Everyone was still dancing even if she was trying to disappear, as her world fell apart. 'Why is this happening…?' She questioned the air around her as she left the crowded ballroom and tore off her mask and gloves, tossing them aside as she hugged herself and leaned against the wall whimpering silently and trying to be quiet. 'What did I do?' Shaking she headed towards her room and took the dress off throwing it in a good hiding place as she collapsed on the bed, naked, hugging a pillow and crying into it, make-up smudges coming onto the soft fabric. "Maybe if I go to sleep I will wake up and this will have all been a terrible nightmare." She curled up under the blanket covering her entire body and cried herself to sleep.
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Trowa yawned, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, even if Duo could not figure out where Hilde was. Which it was easy to tell, just look for the one with the evil glare and you could tell. He had grown quiet bored of this affair and was about ready to leave when he saw the woman from before, except this time she seemed distressed, more anxious to get out of there then he was. Silently he followed her watching her slumped against the wall hugging herself and sobbing. She had been off with that Vincent fellow before, perhaps he did something. Trowa froze as he saw her enter Catherine's room. 'Catherine??!' He began to see the similarities between the two even if he had not seen them before. When he looked back again she was in bed crying and he almost went to her, compelled to at least comfort her to some degree. 'Maybe if I wait for a little while she will not think I knew where she was.' Silently he waited for a choice moment and when it came he moved forward, his footsteps as soundless as a cat's paw against a marble floor. "It does not befit you to be crying." Trowa stepped into the room coming to stand beside her bed.
Catherine stilled her body, feeling his presence around her. "What makes you think I was crying?" She kept her face turned towards the pillow willing her vision to go away just then so she would not have to see the look in his green eyes. "Why are you here? You should be enjoying the ball with everyone else." Cathy coughed a little feeling a little better.
"I came to see how you were doing, but I see you do not want my attentions I guess I will leave." He turned to go but a dainty hand held onto his wrist and blind eyes looked in his direction pleading him to stay. "I will stay." He smiled at her and sat beside her on her bed. Cathy put her head in his lap and he quietly ran his fingers through her hair. "Shhh…. It will be ok you will have your sight back in no time." Trowa hummed to her silently trying to sooth her. "You are so tense, what has made you so stressed, my friend." His hands strayed to her shoulder gently rubbing it and kneading it with his palm.
"I…. I was just remembering something… something terrible." She wrapped her arms around his waist her face relaxing and she sighed. "But when you are here I feel safe." Her blanket fell a little revealing her nude back, her hair over one shoulder. "Thank you, Trowa for watching out for me, I sometimes feel you are the older one between the two of us." Cathy arched her back like a cat and Trowa's hand stilled.
'She does not have any clothes on.' His eyes raked across her back marveling at its perfection and flawlessness. Gently his hands caressed her back, barely touching her skin but every place he touched her seemed to set off his senses. 'Why does she affect me so much?' He leaned over, having no clue what he was doing, his lips pressed to her shoulder, kissing her clean skin and smelling her faint perfume that she insisted on wearing. "What is happening to me, Cathy?" He asked that silently stilling his movements and letting his hands massage the base of her neck, long fingers running through her hair. Trowa sighed against her back wishing she were facing him.
Cathy moaned and tightened her back, not ready for these advances. "Trowa what are you doing to me?" She arched her neck her hair falling to her back. 'This can't be happening, I'm dreaming.' She rolled over her blanket coving her chest as she stared at Trowa and put her hands on either side of his face looking into his green eyes. "I'm dreaming right? This is some sad attempt at redeeming myself right?" She closed her eyes and stretched her arms, weary from crying and running. Opening her eyes she still saw Trowa staring at her, something different in his eyes.