Unwanted Beauty: 2: In Which We Find Shelter Under a Willow Tree and a Decision is Made
Her breath came in short, harsh gasps. The blood in her veins screamed for more oxygen. Her clothes were soaked through, gluing it to her body, exposing her to the world. Her hair was tangled, like that of a gorgon. The kohl around her eyes had smeared, painting her a frightening, death-like ghost, all pale skin and dark eyes.
She had forgotten about the ball, forgotten about her mothers edict 'not to be alone with anyone, any scandal could ruin us'. That was not something her mother could risk. The lady had been beautiful in her youth, black hair and sapphire blue eyes, but her beauty had not bought her a good marriage, scandal had ruined her, she had been loose legged, and an unwanted pregnancy had led to her parents forcing her to marry the second son of a duke, a man with no inheritance. Felicine was not about to let her daughters beauty leading to the same end.
His eyes stayed in her brain, an image she could not force out. She found beauty in his eyes, and beauty usually eluded her. She knew she was surrounded by 'beautiful' people. To her they were some of the ugliest people. Young peasant children were beautiful, horses were beautiful, some temples were beautiful, but men had never been beautiful, not to her. Men were a threat, men only wanted to bed her, not to know her, not to know her mind. But his eyes, she had never seen anything like them, the color was extraordinary, but the expression was unbelievable. It seemed like just by looking at her, he knew her soul. I sound like one of those pathetic girls in the books mother claims are 'acceptable'. But he does, he knows me, I don't know him but he knows me. He knows I'm not a brainless beauty, and that I don't ever want to be. Well, I told him that, of course he knows now. Why did I do that? What possessed me? I can't think this way about him, Felicine will pick my husband, who-ever is best for her social standing.
"Sickening! Absolutely sickening!" She screamed into the night, slumping against a willow tree. She pulled her knees to her chest and rested her head on her knees. The rain pressed against her body, an odd, cold source of comfort. "My mother doesn't love me, she doesn't want me, I'm only a tool. Only a possession." She whispered to the tree.
"One that could get lost, like all of the others." He whispered into her ear, she jumped, terrified only momentarily. Those eyes, how can I ever be afraid of those eyes? She asked herself.
"Who are you?" She asked, completely surprised but still needing information.
"Thom of Pirates Swoop." He said with a wet smile.
"That tells me nothing." She retorted, shivering.
"It tells you my name.
"You could be lying."
"Well I'm obviously my mothers son."
"I've never met your mother so I have no way to know that."
"Well you've certainly heard of her."
"Really? I didn't know that I'd heard of the Lady of Pirates Swoop."
"Everyone has heard of the Lioness, Morgan." He said with another one of his smiles.
"My name isn't Morgan." She said quickly, "and I haven't heard of the Lioness." She said sadly.
"You look like Morgan. And you have no idea how happy it makes me that you haven't heard of my mother." He said, offering a hand to pull her up. She shook her head.
"I can't go back to my mother like this." She said quietly.
"Who says that you have to?"
"I have to, I don't have a choice." She said, standing. "I never have choices." He stepped forward, meeting her eyes.
"You do, no one is forcing you to stay. No one but yourself."
"I don't even know you." She protested, amazed that she was being talked into this by a man she'd met once.
"I think you do. I think you know everything you need to." He said quietly. "Just like I know everything I need to know about you." She met his eyes, the mistake that she kept making.
"Alright, okay." She said, nodding.
"Yes?" He asked.
"Yes." She said with a confident smile. "Yes." And then this strange young man that she knew nothing about hugged her.
A/N: Look what I did! Chapter update! Before I leave! How much do you love me? Hmmm? Aren't I grand! I think so, but then again, I'm me, so I'm partial to thinking that I'm grand. Anyways, how much do you love me?
FanFictionFantom: I know, I'm a terrible grammar person, I do try! Honestly I do. It's just hard because I know in my head what it should sound like so when I read through it I know what I'm saying! Thank you for the compliment!
Stargirl14:I will have fun in Ukraine, I am buying chocolate for you all, though I am making no guarantee's I won't eat it on the way home!
Lotzacaffine: I always wondered what happened to Thom too, maybe its another quartet! I think there's going to be a kally series, check Tammy's website thou, it has the next twelve years of her writing career planned sooo!
CherryFaerie: That's my favorite way to spell Faerie! Lol, anyways…Thankya!
Atsuibelulah: lol, you have a point, but I've done it, blown up and random people, though, usually my blow-ups include major cramps that make me want to lie down and die. So lets say she's got PMS yah? Hehee, yes, terrible party's, we're getting there, Promise!
Cylobaby: I know, and it's not really three weeks, its ten days, but prom is right after, and then it's pre-finals, so I won't have anytime, which may end up meaning a lot of updates happen because my brain will shut down halfway through and all I will be able to do is release creativity
Clairanet: I think the general consensus is that it is good, lets pray it stays that way!