A/N- Not much to say today. Is a little brain dead at the moment. (-.-; )
Gabriel smiled as he silently slipped out of the library, leaving Elizabeth, who was eagerly starting on a good book she'd found. He was glad he had saved the West Wing for last, because after he showed her the library, he could se that she clearly had no intention of leaving for hours.
Good. All the better for her stay. Now she had something to occupy her time, at least. He quickly crossed the West Wing with long strides, coming back eventually to the entrance room. That was the way the castle had been designed. It was like a compass, four wings, each leading to a center. The South Wing was actually the garden, explaining why the blue thorns lead out the front doors.
As he entered the music room, he took off his cape and coat in relief. They made him much too warm. With his fur, he actually didn't need any clothing but a pair of light cotton pants, even in the coldest weather. But if he was going to remain hidden form Elizabeth, comfort was something he would gladly sacrifice. He both the cape and coat on a chair, which were soon followed by his shirt and gloves.
Flexing his free hands, he sat down at the piano bench, picking through a confusing mass of crumpled sheets of music. Managing to organize them in the right order, he set them down on the piano and tried out what he had written so far, idly making up lyrics as he played.
Will this night ever end?
Will this curse ever bend?
So tired of listening to music haunt the halls
So tired of roses on the walls
Tired of this change in me
Tired of the reflection that I'd see
Tired of this never-ending mope
And tired to know that I've given up hope
Knowing what they'd do to me
If I ever tried to live free
Is enough to chain me in this glamoured cell
Which is the worst possible kind of hell
He frowned absently as he hit a high key. No, no, that isn't right! It needs a lower pitch… he scribbled out the note with a quill and replaced it with the new one. Ah, that's better. He resumed his playing, hands gliding effortlessly over the keys.
"Hmmm…what's this here?" Elizabeth bent over the book, squinting at the tiny printing. " 'Wraiths:' " she read to herself. " 'Dark servants of the lower planes, the allies of demons and bane of faeries and humans. Once given a command, it will not stop until it's carried out or it is killed.' Huh. That's odd." She re-shelved the book that was titled "Fey and Other Creatures", reaching for another one at random. A guilty part of her realized she was searching for a book that would tell what kind of creature had the same build of a man, could speak, and was very, very tall. No such luck so far, though. Instead, she'd found countless books on the darkest types of spells, history books filled with gory battles, and books on Otherworldly creatures.
A red-jacketed book caught her eye. It seemed more recent that the others, which were all covered in dust. This one gleamed like it was brand-new. She tugged it out of its spot and went back to the green couch she noticed to read it.
"Spells for Beginners to Reveal the Truth", it was titled, in bold, black script. There was no author. Curious, she flipped a few gold-edged pages, pausing at one that seemed to have a poem on it.
It turned out to be a spell. Above it was written: Chant the incantation three times to uncover the secret you are wanting to know. Be patient, for it will not be revealed willingly.
Those were the only instructions.
Witchcraft. Instructions for witchcraft. I'd be stoned to death or burned if I was caught-
But you wouldn't be. You're far away from the village, an inner voice whispered.
But I wouldn't want to do Witchcraft! Bad things have happened- wait, if that's true, why did I pick up the stupid book any ways? Besides, how bad could figuring out the secret I want to know be?
Yes, she decided. If Gabriel keeps hiding himself, I'll eventually go mad with wanting to know what he looks like beneath all those layers of shadows and black. She straightened up and read the incantation boldly:
Forces of the Other Realm
Hear my thoughts and curiosity-
Heed me on my quest to know
What the Fates will not show
Odd, she thought, but repeated it two more times. After the third time, she looked around the room waiting for something to happen. What, she had no idea. After all, she wasn't a witch.
Nothing spectacular happened. The was no dramatic burst of lightning, no sudden realization of Gabriel's appearance, nothing. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw some shadows cast by the bookshelves move.
"Gabriel? Is that you?" she asked, but knew it wasn't a second after she asked. The person that came out of the shadows was too short.
And was definitely not hidden.
It looked like a man…or it did, at a first glance. He was average height, with extremely pale skin, and ruby-red eyes, framed by silver hair. His ears were pointed at the tip.
Either a very odd faery, or a demon, she thought. Most likely the latter. The demon bowed deeply, black robes rustling. "Ah, I see you are the good Lady. A pleasure to meet you." She glimpsed cat-like fangs that shone as he spoke.
Elizabeth frowned. Something about this man--no, demon, made her feel uneasy. There was something not quite right about him that she couldn't put her finger on." Forgive me for being rude, but who are you? And why are you here?"
"I am here because you wish to have a secret revealed."
Oh great! Good work! See, this is what happens when you use odd spells! She scolded herself.
The demon smiled at her, then turned to the still-open library door, yelling loudly "Gaa-bri-elll! Guess who's come to pay you a visit!" The demon cackled. "He'll be here in a moment, dear Elizabeth, and what you want to know, you will soon see."
"No! Wait! I take it back! I take the spell back!" she had a really bad feeling about this demon, a warning feeling.
The demon grinned, exposing his fangs. "Oh, no, my dear, you can't just 'take back' spells such as those. Be careful what you wish for," he chanted.
Elizabeth opened her mouth to reply just as Gabriel came skidding into the room, hood covering his face. She didn't need to see it to know that he was furious.
More to the point, now she didn't want to see it.
"You! What are you doing here! Haven't you done enough!" Gabriel shouted at the top of his lungs, advancing on the demon. "Leave, or I swear you'll regret coming back!"
"Oh, so upset. Why are you yelling at me? After all, this girl is the one who summoned me."
Gabriel turned to Elizabeth, who was sitting frozen on the couch.
His voice immediately took on a kinder tone. "No, she did not mean to. You tricked her."
Elizabeth looked back and forth between the demon and Gabriel. How she wished she had never found that stupid book!
"Me, trick? Where would you get an idea like that? And you're hood is covering up your beautiful face. Why don't you take it off? You must be very warm," the demon said.
"Don't taunt me, you bastard!" Gabriel lunged at the demon, raising his fist.
"Oh, dear, you and your family will never learn, will you?" the demon sighed, disappearing and reappearing behind Gabriel. "Such a horrible temper."
"Guess whose fault that is!" Gabriel made a grab for the demon's throat, but, like before, he vanished, a split second later appearing on Gabriel's left.
"I believe it was your family's. You really should thank them for that. What you are now is a real improvement from the human you used to be!"
"Damn you!" Gabriel continued to try and catch the demon, who continued to avoid him.
"Tut, tut, tut…such language. I really thought you had better manners, Gabriel." The demon conjured a long sword out of thin air.
"And I thought you might have some honor, but I was obviously mistaken!" This time, as Gabriel rushed him, the demon stood his ground and slashed at Gabriel's throat. Elizabeth gasped as Gabriel recoiled, thinking that the demon had slit his neck, but the saw Gabriel's hand holding two cords together.
The demon had cut the ties on his cloak.
Now with only on hand free, Gabriel vainly tried to attack the demon who simply laughed and continued with his disappearing trick. "Oops, too slow!" he laughed as he slashed his sword across Gabriel's back, cutting though the cloak and drawing blood. Gabriel stumbled and fell on one knee, then pushed himself back up. The demon appeared on the top of a bookshelf.
"It seems my work is carried out, Gabriel! Either you bleed to death, or you'll be forced to show Elizabeth what you've been trying to hide for over a decade. Your choice!" The demon laughed then melted into the shadows.
"Gabriel! Are you alright!" Elizabeth went quickly over to where Gabriel was swaying slightly.
"Yes, I'm fine," he snapped. "Just perfect. And I would really appreciate it if you stopped where you are."
Elizabeth obeyed, stopping short five feet away. "That's a pretty nasty cut. We'll have to stop the bleeding."
"What 'we'? I don't need any help. I've taken care of my own wounds before, and I'm not in need of a nurse!" Gabriel backed off unsteadily, still holding the ties of his cloak together. "I'm going to my room now."
"Are you sure you don't need any help?"
"Yes, I told you! I am perfectly-" his legs gave out and he fell back onto the floor. "-fine."
Elizabeth smiled in spite of herself and mover around him. "Here, let me take a look at that. My father cut himself on some barbed wire before, so I know a bit about treating gashes."
"I said no, Elizabeth." Gabriel drew his cloak tighter around himself. "Look, I'll survive. I just need to rest a bit."
"And while you're resting, you'll die of blood loss," she informed him curtly. Without saying anything else, she bent down and slipped one of his arms around her shoulders and straightened up. "Now come on. I'll help you back to your room, wherever it is."
Gabriel stood up, towering over her easily. "I'm not sure if that's such a smart idea. It's too far." He pointed to the couch. "I'd be in you eternal debt if you would just help me over to the couch, then leave."
"So you're admitting you need help now, huh? Alright, I'll help you." They went to the couch together, Gabriel's hand resting lightly on her shoulder. When they reached it and Gabriel sat down, she added "But I won't leave."
"Fine." Gabriel clumsily tore a length of fabric off the bottom of his cape with his free hand and pressed it to the gash on his back. "There, all better, Now you can go. I'm sure it's almost noon, and you must be hungry."
"Oh, for the love of God, let me help you!"
"Why should I?"
"Because!" She thought about the demon's parting words. Either you bleed to death, or you'll be forced to show Elizabeth what you've been trying to hide for over a decade. Then she got it. Gabriel couldn't walk to his room, and since he was stuck in her with her, couldn't tend to his wound with only one hand, as he didn't want to let go of his cloak. And even if he let her help him, she couldn't tend to it through his cloak and layers of clothing. So that would mean either he'd have to reveal himself, or die." You'll die if you don't."
"Then let me!"
"No way." Elizabeth moved closer to him, and she saw he was visibly trembling. "You know, when I was a girl, there was a boy who got stuck in a fire. Half his face got burned off, and he was scorched all over his body, but he was a very nice person. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
"Yes, I do. That outer appearances don't matter. But they do. If you saw me, you'd scream. You'd scream and run away like everyone else."
"Gabriel, look at me," she ordered firmly. His head tilted up slightly. "I promise I won't run away. Or scream. Now, do I look like I'm lying?"
"No," he whispered.
"Do you think you can trust me?"
"No. But I'll try, if it would make you happy, belle ange."
Elizabeth blushed at the compliment. "It would."
"Remember, Elizabeth, you were the one that asked." Gabriel let go of the ties that were holding his cloak up.