I'll try to update again this week as I might not be able to the next because I shall going off to stay with my darling grandmother for the week and do the LNAT test... Yikes! So nervous!
Please review!

Chapter Fifteen

'Couldn't sleep again, sir? I heard you playing.' enquired a slim youth putting down a heavily laden silver tray atop a beautifully carved table with the ease of long practice despite the dark interior of the room glancing automatically at the large winged armchair , strategically placed as to be cloaked in shadows.

Surprised that its usual occupant was not present, he jerked his head slightly nervously around the room in search of his employer.

'No… Last night was not a… good night.'

Only after his mysterious master had spoken could the young man spot the tall figure partially silhouetted against the room's largest window which faced the front of the house. Not that the huge number of windows were put to any good use. The only time they were left uncovered was when it was subjected to their weekly cleaning, but his eccentric employer always retreated to his rooms during those times. Curiously, he peered at the gloomy form still parting the heavy curtains and actually looking out. The master's thin porcelain mask gleamed in the timid sunlight and the young servant tore his eyes from that rather daunting visage to ask:

'What are you doing, sir?'

'There's something at the gate. Go and check please.'

When the boy left the room, the ghostly outline moved across the room and sprawled carelessly over his favourite chair and lifted a graceful hand to the heavy pot and poured out a stream of blisteringly hot coffee into the waiting cup.

Ah… That was just what I needed!

Closing his eyes, Erik inhaled the heady aroma of freshly brewed coffee and tried to shut his mind against the horrific memories which drove him to his pianoforte in any effort to drive out the demons which hunted his mind.

It was too late.

That insidious nightmare of his past slipped in again and he consciously burned his tongue with the scorching liquid in a bid to use the physical pain to mask his emotional hurts.

He failed.

He hugged his stuffed monkey tightly against his thin chest waiting in the most horrible anticipation for his fate. He could hear her screaming epithets, the clinking crash of glass breaking, the dull thuds of heavier items being hurled and the nervous baritone of a male voice trying to calm the enraged woman down.

Suddenly the door slammed open and the most frightening sight appeared. The child took in the flared nostrils, tight cruel twist of a mouth and such cold, cold eyes in the blotchy scarlet face before he buried his face in the chocolate fur of his only friend in defence.

Catching sight of him, the banshee gave a scream of pure fury and started pummelling the tiny body. Pulling his hair up, she raked her clawed fingers across his raised face and then slammed it irritably against the wall when the child uttered not a word. Vengefully she knocked the little dark head against the hard wall a few more times, wanting to inflict pain on the boy. Yearning more than anything for him to just not exist. Why couldn't he have just died when she tried to abort him with pennyroyal? Instead of killing the little monster, she was the one who suffered for weeks in agony and when the little merde was finally born, she realised that all the poison had managed to do was add to her burden by giving her a demon as a child. It was all his fault! Why couldn't he have died! Her life would have been so much better!

Staring at the pure hatred in his mother/stranger's eyes, he froze in fear and the next blow aimed at his head made him so dizzy he could not see, he felt almost relieved to escape that malevolent glare. Giving up trying to get a sound from him, she then roughly gripped his skinny wrist and dragged him out of the house and into beginning of his deepest nightmare.

Child of the Devil!

Demon's Spawn!

Satan's –

'Sir… someone left a rose at the gate. I think it's for you.'