"Elizaveta…Your secret admirer has sent you a Christmas gift."
The porthole was shattered to the library, and immediately, I sat upon my knitting needles and the small flat I had managed to produce.
It was the day before I would be boarded onto the carriage for Vienna, and my fingers had completed six pairs of socks for my husband's picky feet, the current work placed under my bottom being the seventh.
"Will you get away from me?! You are not allowed to view your gifts! Especially when I'm constructing them in the quiet and windowless library!"
Roderich's feet stopped before my own, and I was admired as if I was a statue in an unseen pose, placed upon an odd little pedestal. There was a filthy smirk coding those pretty lips and a light of amusement within those jewels.
"This better be good; satisfactory at least. My bottom has been turned to a pin cushion for your sake."
"Why thank you, darling. I truly do appreciate it." A letter was offered to me with a sort of weight inhabiting its base. "As I said, it's from your secret admirer."
"Thank you…" My anger had been released as an eager hot air balloon, and I granted him a demure curl of my lips. "Would you like to see your gift?"
"No, Elizaveta. If that were to occur, you would have maimed that wonderful bottom of yours for nothing."
"Well, I'm going to show it to you anyway." I removed myself from my needles and adopted that developing article into my careful fingers. The baby blue flat switched custody and I observed Roderich as he admired my tightly construed work.
"Well…how is it? Are you happy with the consistency?"
"Yes…This is very nice. My I touch it to my foot?"
"When it's a sock you may." I claimed my small creation and utilized my back as a veil to keep his eyes from observing any more qualities. "Now go…because you're not even supposed to have this much of a preview…Please."
"I'd like to see what's inside that envelope, darling. If another man is sending gifts to my wife, I want to know what they are…"
"Well…It's not an unfair argument…" I tore a lesion within the envelope's flesh, confident it was only an article of jewelry. Gilbert was never foolish enough to send a letter without submerging it in a creative sort of hiding place. Not once had he given me open words.
There was a small golden serpent curling within the hollow innards of my address ridden letter, and gently, I retrieved with the tips of my fingers, careful not to tie its body in knots. At the bottom of this shining string, there hung a locket in the form of a heart, its body tattooed in dainty engravings that when looked at in collection formed a gorgeous fractal in the representation of a snowflake. It seemed to shimmer in the dull light of our library, the little jewels encrusted into certain areas gleaming in miniscule beams.
"Oh my…It certainly is lovely…"
"Hmm…May I see it?"
"Of course." I handed it to him, nervous he would pry the little case open. It wasn't by any means a small locket. One could easily fit folded messages of deep affection into its cavity, and knowing my darling, it was something he would certainly do.
My heart became mortified as his fingers pried at the rim of that locket, those persistent tips slipping from the amulet each time it refused. The core placed within my own chest was truly ready to explode and I could feel the sweat beginning its life upon my nervous brow. I almost had to bite my lips to keep it from its worried tremors.
Relief cooled my body, so very engrossed in flames, as my husband tilted the locket and realization came to his mind. "No wonder why I can't open this confounded thing… I need the key…"
I searched within the envelope's corpse, seeing nothing but blank manila staring at me with indifferent eyes. "And it seems my admirer has failed to leave one."
"How idiotic! Why ever give someone a locket they can't even open?"
"Perhaps the key will be sent later…"
"Well…" There seemed to be a thought within his mind, but it wasn't given any air. "Enjoy your locket. I'll leave you with whatever you were doing." At those words, I accepted a wink, and that golden amulet was returned to my own grasp.
"Thank you, darling."
"Of course."
My eyes stole a moment while taking in all of those fabulous little details marring my gift's body. I knew very well when I would receive that key…
Roderich had allowed me into Vienna early. He would be busy within that god-ridden office a day or so before Christmas, and wished for me to precede him. Several of my own gifts would be taken with me, and Roderich would bring his, eliminating the unneeded weight if we had traveled together. Supposedly, he would arrive on Christmas Eve, or perhaps the in very morning but no later, and I would set foot within that mansion close to a week before.
Naturally, a letter was sent To Mr. Weillschmidt, who would meet me inside that lovely little palace. He would take his leave before Roderich even arrived, allowing us an actual form of that snow soaked holiday together.
I imagine the key would be surrendered during my stay.
The locket pressed to my breast a moment while my eyes closed and I was wrapped in a silken blanket of lavish bliss.
Oh Gilbert…
How ecstatic I was. The year before we were only allowed to send one another letters, and nearly every December before, we had spent together.
As I lied in my bed that night, I was afflicted with an unmerciful case of excitement. With the anticipation of Christmas and my Prussian, my eyes were unable to even close. My fingers fidgeted, and I had tossed and turned, knowing I would need my rest, but unable to attain it. It was almost as if that glorious jar filled with sleep had been stowed upon the highest shelf in a tall house.
"Goodness, Elizaveta…What's the matter with you?" My husband's voice was weighted down by the same reprise I wasn't allowed to touch. He rolled to his side and stole my form into a loving embrace, perhaps to simply keep my limbs still.
"Oh, I'm just so excited! You're going to love your gifts, and tomorrow I'm going into Vienna. It must be so lovely coded in snow! Christmas is going to be just fantastic, and we'll finally be able to build a snowman and wrap a snowball fight!"
"I'll be sure to bring extra ribbon…"
"Why don't I knit some? That's all I've been doing lately, and I've gotten incredibly quick…"
"If you like…" He was subdued by weighty drowsiness.
"My darling…I'll let you sleep…" I left a kindly press to burn upon his cheek. "You really are cute with those glasses off…"
"I wouldn't know…I can't see a thing without them…"
"I'm sorry, Roderich…" I kept my amusement to a minimal volume.
"That's alright…Goodnight, Elizaveta…"
"Goodnight, love."
The sleep I did manage to steal from that cruel container kept so far away from my desperate fingers was minimal, thoughts and plans processing so quickly between my temples. It must have been around three before my body was finally given to rest, only to be shaken four hours later.
"Darling?"
At first, my lids were adhered together and refused to part.
"Elizaveta…"
"Hmm?" My eyes were sill kept from vision. "What is it?"
"It's time to wake up…"
"No…"
"No? Darling, yes."
"Darling, no! Finally, my sight offered me a blurred Roderich holding me in a loose embrace. "It's so very cold…why can't I simply stay in bed?"
"Because, you silly woman, the carriage is arriving in half an hour and you need to at least wear something more appropriate than a night gown…I was supposed to wake you earlier, and now there's truly no time to sleep any longer."
"Roderich…"
"Come along, Elizaveta."
I simply whined at him, once again closing my eyes.
"Love, please…" My body was robbed of those loving covers, the only thing keeping it from the merciless morning cold being a night gown composed of what could very well be tissue.
My throat produced an unsatisfied yell.
"Come along darling!" My arm was pulled as a lever and my body lazily followed until I was slumped upon my feet. "There you are." He smoothed over the loose fabric surrounding my body and kissed my cheek in a weak apology. I couldn't help but glare. "Oh, how cute you are…Now please get dressed."
"…Roderich."
He held my face and smashed our orifices together.
"Please, hurry."
"Roder-"
"My goodness. Have you forgotten how to speak German? Well, I know barely any words in Hungarian, so you'll simply have to remember."
"I haven't forgotten how to speak German." My reply came in my former tongue, one I hadn't used in what seemed like an eternity and felt strange within my mouth.
"…Hello…" He responded in a matching dialect, his accent thick enough to dismember with a knife.
"What a cute little Austrian I have…I could simply eat you up. Perhaps I shall."
"…Excuse me?" And our words were put back.
"Nothing, darling."
"Well, wonderful! Let's get you dressed!" The bottom of my gown was held in his custody and torn from my body, passing unpleasantly over my head and causing screams to tear from my upset throat.
I was left only to the warmth of my skin and wrapped my arms over my quivering chest, my bottom lip held by teeth ready to tear skin. I stared at my husband, nearly wishing to yell, my eyes likely beating their rage into his own glance.
"Are you aware of how cold this room is?! The floor is marble, and I'm about to freeze to death!"
"Then perhaps you should wear a gown, shouldn't you?" His eyes dipped a little lower along my body, a little smirk upon those lovely lips.
"Stop staring at my chest."
"Oh? What now?"
"Stop looking at my breasts!"
"My goodness, you look cold. If you refuse to wear a gown, I'll simply have to warm you myself, won't I?"
My head leaned back, my tresses gently brushing past my naked skin as a cautious paintbrush to a virgin canvas. A heavy sigh burst from my lips and I returned my attention to those awful sapphires, so content with infuriating me utilizing a stare. "If I allow you to touch me, I want to clothe myself upon my own terms, meaning I want to be amongst my own company… You may keep your assistance to yourself, Roderich."
"Agreed…I'll leave you alone…"
"Thank you!" I stole his palms and covered my chest with those warm fingers, which moved from their positions as soon as they were assigned them. Those nimble tips stole my already firm nipples and kneaded gently, a riff of pleasure shaking my very constitution.
"Mmm…"
"You know, Elizaveta…We're going to have to make up for lost time. You'll be away from me quite a few days…"
"Ahh…"
His hands stole more of my breasts, offering me no time for his filthy tricks. He used his digits in the cruelest of ways at times, drawing perfect circles upon my flesh and capturing small cries of pleasure from my lips.
"Whatever you like…"
"Thank you…" Those palms sat upon my shoulders and a loving kiss was forced against my unsuspecting mouth. "Now please get dressed…I'll leave you alone."
"Come now…You begin to touch me only to stop moments later and tell me you're running away? How awful of you…"
"I know, Elizaveta…and I'd truly enjoy to stay and make all sorts of love to you, but we simply don't have the time. You'll have to leave me all alone in about twenty five minutes, and I'll have to miss your presence for entire days…" My susceptible mouth was taken into another embrace of pretty lips. "Please put on a gown, darling. Good-bye momentarily…"
"Good-bye momentarily, Roderich."
I was left to stand alone upon freezing marble with a phantom grace hovering around my cheek.
That man of mine…
Without Roderich keeping my attention, I forced my feet towards my wardrobe, the tired intoxication I had awoken with several times heavier. My impatient hands captured a dress and forced it over my flesh, all my nerves ringing in discomfort.
As soon as my feet were set within that carriage, any energy I was left with would fade as a dying tapper, and I would succumb to a weighty blanket of sleep.
The back of my dress went without its buttons connected, and my lonesome toes were left to the biting air, but I was too exhausted to be bothered with such ridiculous details. My bottom occupied frothy sheets, and my eyes closed. In what was meant to only be a simple moment of reprise, I was exposed to a fantasy world dyed in the richest hues, each one kissing my skin as different brands of ecstasy, my eyes only following that demonic morning light when my figure was close to falling from its post.
"Elizaveta, come alone…" Shoes occupied my feet and my attention was forced from my dreams lost in fantasy. "Your things are already in the carriage…Now we all we need is you…"
"Oh…" I was still drowning in a raging sea of confusion. "Thank you…" My heels came clattering to the floor as I was held into a standing position.
Before much could even occur to me, I felt Roderich's loving hands fasten all the little clasps my own hands had failed to. My cheek was given a sweet touch, and my palm was occupied by my little bag of things.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart…I'm so incredibly tired. I don't mean to be such a burden…" My words were becoming the statements of a drunken woman's, thoughts scrambling and colliding with one another in a vast typhoon of utter intoxication.
"It's alright, Elizaveta." My husband took my hand and secured me with an arm supporting my waist. "You'll be able to sleep the way there."
"Hmm…"
As I was placed within my portal to Vienna, Roderich placed a kiss goodbye upon my cheek, left so carelessly without rouge. He allowed my hand to once again be my own, offering me a minute smile and eyes welling with a sort of love and amusement.
"Thank you, Darling. I'll see you in a few days…"
"Of course, Elizaveta. Have a wonderful time…"
"I will…" My lips lazily smashed against the window, the freezing glass causing my nerves to jolt. "Good-bye…"
"Good-bye." He kissed back, an outline of affection a phantom upon the window.
As Roderich disappeared from my vision, my back pressed against the cushioned seat, my eyes immediately closing and my body accepting sleep.
My dreams were vivid, colors screaming their qualities, and beautiful men at either of my sides. The entire world could have easily been composed of candy, no amount of unpleasantness allowed to penetrate my happy little universe.
My eyes opened shortly before my carriage came to a stop outside my mansion, my feet eager for ground. I had been rocked as a poor child in the arms of a hateful nanny, my eyes having opened a few times by inconsiderate knocks in the road.
As I descended the carriage, my palm was taken within a servant's, preventing my body from spilling into the biting snow and sickness from overtaking my days here.
"Please be careful, Mrs. Edelstein. It's quite easy to fall…"
"Yes…Thank you…" Rest was still lapping at my nerves, and I had to be careful of my steps lost within layers of ice.
My things and I were walked to the door with great caution, the mat marking my independence.
"Thank you…" I told the young man who had helped me.
"Oh! Of course. Have a nice time…"
I took either case after the key had preformed its duty and walked inside. My greeting came from the barren stomach of my empty mansion, as it always had. The only thing truly holding my attention was my want of imagery in the form of unconsciousness.
I placed my bags by my feet and progressed forward.
"Mr. Weillschmidt? Are you here?"
My answer came in the form of an excited Prussian running towards me, afflicted my entire body with a warm embrace. Attention was brought to me, and I offered vocal amusement. Kisses landed all around my mouth and cheeks, turning every last flat they adhered to a cherry red.
"Hello…" My words came when my stomach calmed.
"Hello, Elizaveta…" More graces composed of love flavored by the sweetest of sugars. "Thank you for leaving the back door unlocked." A connection of orifices. "It's very cold outside…"
"Of course, Gilbert. I was certain you were tired of waiting whenever you arrived…" An even tighter embrace became his captor. "Merry Christmas…My goodness, I've missed you…" A kiss planted upon his jaw line. "I received your gift. Did you forget to send the key?"
"No. I intended to give it to you now…" He held my ears and gave an obnoxious display of love, a loud 'smooching' noise held between our mounds. "Did you forget your locket?"
"No." I laughed. "It's in one of those suitcases…I packed it away when Roderich wasn't paying attention. Would you mind if I took the key later? I couldn't sleep at all last night, I was so excited…and now I'd simply like to rest." I settled heavily into his arms. "Would you like to accompany me?"
"Of course, Eli…" He rested his head upon my crown. "I'm exhausted as well…"
"Then we can rest together." I adopted his hand into a kind grasp and momentarily shattered our embrace, leading him to my chamber.
He was quiet upon the risers, content with simply messaging my fingers. My feet slowed a moment to lay my lips upon his brow, arriving at the chamber only seconds later.
As I stood at the frame, my neck experienced a demure little touch, my mouth producing a glad curl.
"Thank you, Mr. Weillschmidt…"
"It's nothing, Mrs. Edelstein."
That Prussian of mine was first to sit upon my bed as I admired him as a god-like statue, my form still kept under the doorway. My feet shattered the threshold and my fingers came to my ears and began taking away my gold.
"You know, daring…"
"Yes?"
"You're very handsome…" My minute articles laid upon a polished wooden surface, shining in what little bit of evening light there was. "I just enjoy looking at you."
"Well, wonderful…I assume you won't object if I simply admire you…You're quite lovely yourself, Elizaveta."
My knees pressed upon the virgin sheets, their skin not yet shattered by our dreams, and I wondered to my darling, lying within his loving arms and coding him in an embrace of my own.
"Thank you, Gilbert." I placed a tinge of adoration upon his cheek and pressed my palm softly upon his warm chest. "I'm so happy I'm able to see you this Christmas…"
"I am too…" His voice was intoxicated by a deficiency of energy.
Another touch affixed to his visage. "Goodnight, love…"
"Goodnight…"
I sewed my lips together with a crimson thread and allowed him sleep, my own eyes shutting easily. Contentment brimmed within my stomach, and my head overflowed with joyous thoughts of my darling Gilbert. It was so wondrous to return to his arms…
