A/N- Ooooo…suspense!

Gabriel closed his eyes tight. I'd rather die, he moaned to himself. I really would! Now she'll scream, just like the servants did, just like her husband did. She'll scream and then run away…or make up a lie, and pretend it doesn't bother her. Either way, she'll never trust me.

He took a deep breath and waited to hear the sound of her feet on the marble floors as she ran away.

"Gabriel," she said softly. He flinched as she lay a hand on his shoulder and hesitantly opened his eyes. Elizabeth smiled warmly. "I don't see anything wrong."

"Are you…lying?"

"No. I'm glad you stopped trying to hide from me. Now, I don't mean to sound improper, but you'll have to take off your shirt and your coat so I can get a good look at your back."

Gabriel turned around and took them off, folding the bloodstained clothing in a small bundle and dropping it on the floor.

"Ouch. That looks painful. Luckily, it doesn't look too deep. You won't need stitches." She took his cloak and began to tear it into longs strips. "This will do for now, and after you've rested a bit, I can go find some proper bandages."

Gabriel nodded, his heat pounding. She wasn't afraid! She wasn't going to leave him! He sat still as she wrapped the strips around his back. When she finished, he turned around hesitantly. "You really don't mind me? Because I have other cloaks, and I could cover up my face, no problem at all-"

Elizabeth raised a hand to cut him off, smiling. "No, Gabriel. I like it when I can see the person I am speaking to. And besides, I really don't see anything wrong with you at all."

"You don't?"

"No. Actually, I think the fur is cute." She reached out and patted him on the arm. "See? Nothing to be ashamed of."

Gabriel reverently wished he could do that disappearing trick the demon had done. To be next to a girl, a beautiful girl, and have her treat him like any-one else!

At least one good thing came out of his brief and painful meeting with the demon. I'd willingly would go through a thousand such injuries, if it meant being able to sit next to Elizabeth like this.

"Are you listening at all?" Elizabeth asked, and he realized she had been talking.

"Sorry. I just…drifted off. "

"That's ok." She brushed her hair out of her face. "I'm really sorry."

"Why? For what?"

"For summoning that demon…for you getting hurt…"

"Oh, no! Don't apologize, it wasn't your fault! He would've came back here sooner or later."

"You know that demon?"

Gabriel dropped his gaze to the floor. "We've met."

"Do you want to talk about it, or would you prefer not to?"

"It doesn't matter to me. The past can't be undone." He absently traced a circle on the couch with his finger, focusing on that instead of Elizabeth's face. "Do you wish for me to tell you?"

"Only if you're comfortable with it."

He took a deep breath and started.

"My family, were not really the most honorable of people. You may have heard of them. My mother and father were Lady Monique and Lord Claude."

"Their names sound familiar."

"They were a subject of gossip for quite a while. I don't know much about what they did, only that they must've cheated a clan of demons somehow. I didn't really care, back then. I mostly just hid in my room or the music room, and kept away from my parents. I had two sisters, too, though just as bad as my mother and father. One of them used to whip me when I was younger and I didn't behave.

"So, one night, that very same demon that was here not ten minutes ago, came in to our castle. He came to punish my family for what they did, whatever they did. So he…he cursed me. As a punishment to them. That was thirteen years ago. After I was cursed, my family--if they can be called that-- left, and the servants fled. And I've been like this ever since. You and that man are the first people I've seen face-to-face since then."

"Oh my God…Gabriel, I'm so sorry." Elizabeth leaned forward and hugged him.

Gabriel froze where he was, barely remembering to breathe. Elizabeth, the angel of a human, was hugging him, the cursed person-turned-monster! Hesitantly, he returned her hug, half-afraid she would recoil.

After a few seconds, Elizabeth sat back. "Here I was thinking my life was bad, and you've been through hell and back!" An icy look came into her blue eyes. "I hope that bastard comes back, so I can give him my thoughts on what he did."

Gabriel smiled. "So do I. But if he does, I'm afraid you will be locked away, nice and safe in your room. If he attempts to do something foolish to you, he won't live to regret it."

She raised an eyebrow. "Then it seems I have a knight in shining armor."

He laughed. How funny it was to hear him referred to as that! Even before he was cursed, he had never lifted a sword in his life!

Elizabeth grinned. "Now, I guess I should leave and find some bandages." She stood up, then sat back down with a wry smile on her face. "And I would do that, if I knew where to look!"

"I've long since forgotten," Gabriel admitted. "These will do fine, though. I heal much faster than a usual person would."

"That's fortunate. I noticed another cut on your chest. What happened?"

"Oh, that…it was nothing. Just an accident," he lied.

"Okay. And I've been meaning to ask you something."

"Of course. Go ahead."

"Those faeries who brought me my breakfast…did you hire them?"

"Yes." He waited a beat. "And I would prefer if you didn't mention it to them. All they know is that they are being hired by a person who wishes to remain anonymous, and that is all they need to know. I'd like the rumor that this castle is deserted, except for you, to remain."

"Sure.. You're last name's Noirmort, right?"

He blinked in surprise. "Yes, I think it was. Noirmort…yes, that sounds right. How did you know?"

"The faeries said that you disappeared along with your family. They mentioned your full name, Gabriel Noirmort."

"Oh. I suppose it makes perfect sense that they think I disappeared with my family. I haven't spoken to anyone since then, like I've said."

"Don't you ever get lonely?" she asked.

"Sometimes. I have my music and my flowers to keep me company, though."

"I heard you playing earlier. You were really good."

"Thank you." He waited a beat, then said "The faeries should be here soon with your lunch. I should go."

"I don't think so. You could barely walk to the couch from a few feet away. Don't go straining yourself." She clamped her hand on his shoulder and yanked him down as he stood up to leave.

"I could crawl," he proposed dryly, only half-joking.

"Just sit here for a while longer. Maybe in an hour or so you can move around a bit."

Gabriel smiled at how stern she was being. She would've made a good princess, or queen, for that matter. She gave commands as easily as if she'd been born into royalty.

"If my Lady commands," joked.. He leaned back, catching sight of his arm as he did so. His bare arm. He had forgotten he wasn't wearing his shirt. He picked it up from the ground and slipped it on over his head, trying not to move his back much. It still stung a bit. He didn't bother with the coat. as its only purpose was to conceal himself more, and Elizabeth had proved she didn't mind him.

"You really are just a normal person," Elizabeth said. She moved over from her spot and rested against his arm, leaning her head on his shoulder.

Gabriel considered pulling away, then pushed the thought quickly out of his mind. For one, her was right against the arm of the couch, so no where to go, and for another, he wasn't going to be the one to complain if the angel was comfortable.

That's it. I am definitely dreaming. There's no way in hell that this is happening.

If it is a dream, he told himself, then enjoy it while it lasts.

He looked down at Elizabeth, whose eyes were now closed. Let her sleep. She's been through more than any normal girl should be put through.

Elizabeth vaguely remembered laying against Gabriel, then drifting off.

Poor Gabriel…to be put through all that, just because he family did something wrong. It's not right. I wonder what the demon said to him that night that made him hate himself so much? He seems like such a gentle person…I can't imagine him threatening Giles's life. That fop was lying. He most likely started the fight, not Gabriel. And he probably sneered at Gabriel's appearance, too, knowing how shallow he can be. It's no wonder Gabriel was so reluctant to show himself. And he isn't even as frightening as he claimed himself to be! So what if he looks different?

Elizabeth pictured his face. A cat-like nose, garnet eyes, shaggy black hair, and ram's horns, with wolf-like black fur covering his skin.

Not terrifying at all. I've seen stay cats that look worse than he does! But, maybe that's just because I've actually spoken to him. If I'd met him in a dark ally, I'd be frightened, too. His height makes him stand out more than his features.

A scream and the sound of breaking glass jerked Elizabeth out of her doze. She opened her eyes and sat up. "What is it!"

She felt Gabriel get up quickly and saw him move behind the couch and crouch down. What? Is he hiding? She looked around, confused, then saw Fraya, Ella, and Mirei grouped together at the library doors. A shattered plate was on the floor, along with the contents of a lunch and a metal tray.

"What is it?" she repeated. "Why are you all so…" she trailed off then looked over the couch to where Gabriel was hiding. "Oh. Gabriel, come out from behind the couch! And you three, knock it off!"

"We're sorry, Mademoiselle Elizabeth!" Fraya apologized. "We just over-reacted when we saw…"

"When they saw me," Gabriel called out from his spot, refusing to move. "It's quite understandable."

"Get out from behind the couch, Gabriel," she sighed. "Fraya, Ella, Mirei, this is Gabriel. He's my friend. You will treat him like any other person. Understood?"

"Yes, Elizabeth," all three faeries said, bowings respectfully. Gabriel had returned to his spot on the couch, those refusing to break eye contact with the floor. Elizabeth nudged him with her elbow.

"Bonjour," he said.

"Bonjour, Monsieur Gabriel." They bowed like they had done for her.

"Elizabeth, we'll get you another lunch," Ella apologized. Mirei picked up the food and plate she had dropped on the floor. They disappeared and Gabriel seemed to relax.

"See why I prefer to hide?"

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "They were just a bit startled, that's all."

" 'Startled.' Try 'terrified', and you'll be a bit more on target."

"Don't keep putting yourself down. They'll get over it." Elizabeth stood up. "I think I'll go look around the castle a bit more. I can eat lunch later."

"I'll come with you."

"Must I repeat myself? Stay where you are. I'll be back in three hours or so, okay?" She got up and stretched.

"Fine," he grumbled. "Yet another reason the demon has given me a reason to loathe him." He sighed and crossed his arms. "I'll see you later, then. Try not to get lost."

"I'll do my best. I'll probably just look at the garden form a while. Au revoir."

"Au revoir. And, Elizabeth-" he added as she was walking out of the library.

"Yes?"

"Thank you. For…everything."

"You don't have to thank me. Any person with half a brain would've done it in my place."

"Thank you any ways."

Elizabeth smiled. Living here wasn't really going to be so bad, after all.