Hi! So this chapter will explain somethings about Erik and Liliana!
Hope you enjoy the little throwback!
Please review! Would love to hear what you think!
Eve
The shower had been refreshing, I had to admit, it was just way to bad I couldn't stay under it for just a little longer... I turned the nob and the water was shut off again, stepping out of the shower, I walked over towards the cabinet and pulled open one of the doors. And Lord I didn't know how quickly I had to shut it! The cabinet held two drawers lined with what looked like velvet: one filled with what looked like underwear, bottom parts to be exact, and the other with bras . My cheeks flushed at the site of them, as my eyes flew over a dark blue ensemble of pure lace. I slammed the door shut, this was only going to give me the wrong ideas! As an image of Liliana standing in my bedroom doorway in only the lacy ensemble and her black satin kimono crossed my mind.
No! I was ready to punch myself. Where are the towels! Afraid to open another cabinet I reluctantly peeked inside the next one, in which I found stacks of plush white bath towels. Liliana!... Oh Liliana, you will be the death of me, I thought while drying myself of and grabbing my spare suit from my weekend bag. Not telling me about this sort of stuff that's lying around! I felt like such an intruder! Even thinking about her like that! I sighed deeply and I glared at myself in the mirror, my cheeks were still a bit reddened by my sudden discovery of the 'underwear' drawers. Which made my hideous scars flare up, this hideous face... she could never love a hideous creature like you! Unworthy... You should be glad that you are even allowed to be near her, protecting her! Count yourself a lucky man! STOP! I smashed my fist down on the counter top. STOP THIS...
As I tried to control my breath I turned my back at the mirror, ignoring the horrendous reflection my face had given me moments before. I started fidgeting with my tie and patting down my hair as it had a tendency to stick up right when being wet giving me an even worse menacing look. Reluctantly I turned around and faced my reflection once more, and after concluding it was all fine I opened up the door to the room, when I didn't see her sitting at the desk nor in one of the chairs I started to worry. I scanned the other side of the room, and my heart skipped a beat when I saw her.
She was sleeping peacefully in her bed, the covers up till her middle and her face tilted to the left looking away from me, her legs bent towards the same direction with one arm crossing her stomach, the other lying bent next to her face. Her chest slowly rising and falling, completely relaxed. I stopped in my tracks, unable to look away, she was like a drug keeping me in a trance, focusing on only her.
She was so beautiful, lying there without any worry covering her face. Her eyelids fluttered and I tore away my eyes from her sight, I didn't want her catching me staring at her, but she kept on sleeping, so without making a sound I walked over to the chairs in front of the television and put down my bag, turning off the television so that the sounds would not cause her any disturbance during her slumber. As I sat down I kept looking her way, but she still didn't move, sleeping safe and sound.
I glanced over to the pile of books besides my chair, it was so typical for her to have books lying around, my eye fell on one about Roman architecture. I picked it up and started flipping through the sights of Rome and its many interesting buildings. After some minutes of restlessly flipping through the pages I suddenly gripped my gun as an alarm went off somewhere in the room. I chuckled at my own foolishness as I saw Liliana's phone light up and figured she had set an alarm to wake her up in time. But she just turned over in her sleep and let out a sort of groan, clutching her head with both her hands, as if to block out the sound of the alarm. I laughed at her annoyed face and rose from my chair walking over to the bed I picked her phone and tapped the screen twice and the alarm stopped blaring.
It was now eight forty-five, I did not now if she needed to prepare for the interview so I bent over Liliana and softly shook her shoulder. "Nnnnnhhh" she let out another groan and tried to swipe away my hand, curling up under the covers. "Liliana" I softly brushed her cheek, "you have to wake up….. Liliana" I brushed a stray lock of her hair from her neck. "Gohawy" she murmured, turning her whole body away from me. I laughed GOD she was stubborn! At the sound of me laughing she turned her head my way, slowly opening her eyes, as she caught the sight of me they flew open "Erik?" her raspy voice resonated between the walls.
She tried to get up on her elbows, wobbling a bit as she was still half asleep, her hair completely messed up and the top part of her robe slightly creeping open, showing a sliver of black lace, making me shiver all over. She looked even more beautiful like this, completely natural and all messed up, but she was herself, her own being. I quickly looked away Being this close is to her, the smell of her skin, that hinge of rose shampoo in her hair "Your interview is in ten minutes" I said while staring at her desk. "Thank…. Thank you" she said while stumbling out of the bed in the direction of the kitchen.
"You eeh… would you like a coffee?" She said, while standing in the doorway of the kitchen letting out a small yawn as she adjusted her robe. "Yeah that would be great" I said. She nodded mid yawn putting a hand in front of her mouth. "One coffee coming up" she said with sheepish smile and disappeared into the kitchen. Appearing moments later with two cups of strong black coffee "How do you take it?" she looked at me questionably "Black" I replied. "Mm, good answer, saves me a walk" she said while taking a sip from her cup, handing me the other mug she was holding. They were both Disney cups with Micky mouse figures on them. "Nice" I said with a smirk, I had seen them in the cupboards but as I didn't want to intrude before I had grabbed a normal black one. "No bad words about my favorite mugs" she said with a smile, looking more alive and less sleepy with the minutes passing.
While walking over to the desk and grabbing a pair of headsets she asked if I wanted to listen in while putting on one of the sets over her wild bed hair. "I don't know if it is useful for you in any way….." She stared at the ground for a second, I reached out my hand and accepted the other headset, making her jump by the movement "Sure, why not, perhaps I can learn something, you never know when it might come in handy" I said. Which made a smile return to her face, she looked at the clock, "Two more minutes until the party starts" she said while slumping into one of the lounge chairs.
"I guess you are not looking forward to it?" she looked at me with a seriously annoyed side eye "Would you like to be questioned about your life every day?" Gauging me for my reaction I thought about it No, I would absolutely hate it, it would drive me mad. "Good evening Miss Daemon, are you on?" A technical cracking voice came through the headset. "Good evening Eloise" I heard Liliana, now Christine say. "Christine darling, how are doing" the voice on the phone seeping with fakeness. I saw Liliana role her eyes before she answered "I'm very well Eloise, and you? Everything alright at work?" I chuckled, she definitely hated this. Liliana bent over to me, I froze staring at her eyes, those soft pink lips... She lifted her hand to my right ear, pushing a button on my headset. "you are now muted from the conversation" a metallic voice told me. Liliana grinned as I was still staring at her too close, way too close I ripped my eyes off her. "I'm sorry Eloise I am afraid my cat just tried to behead my headset" Liliana said over the phone. That's when I knew for sure I was turning tomato red. She smirked at me and continued her conversation with Eloise.
I looked over at Erik, as I silently yawned, the clock displayed it was now ten-thirty and I was ready to sleep for a couple of hours, if I could get some... "I think we have everything Christine, your interview will be in our magazine this week" I smiled "That's awesome Eloise, thanks for your time!" on which she replied with a standard "No thank you, we will talk soon!" I cocked my head in annoyance, off course I had to talk to her again soon…. "Looking forward to it! Bye Eloise" As we said our goodbyes I saw Erik's chest rumble, he was enjoying this! I pushed the button that would end the conversation and lifted myself from the chair.
"You were having a good time" I said to him slightly annoyed by his amusement "You could be a high paid actress" he said with a smirk. I laughed, it was true, these phone calls were nothing more than me trying to please the reporters on the other side of the line. It was all just one big play, I had no problem admitting that, hell I was even annoyed by it. I didn't like this part of the job, I'd rather avoid the whole scenario but unfortunately it had to happen and so almost every day I dealt with the blood suckers. That's the nickname I had given them, as they seriously sucked the life out of you.
I stretched my back, boy I was not going to waste any time, ten minutes tops and I would be in bed. I turned to face Erik "So I am afraid I have to equally uncomfortable options for you" I blushed slightly, we could of course share the bed, but the thought of that happening made me blush so much that I pushed it far away, besides only people in relationships should share a bed and I blushed even more at the thought of a relationship.
"The lounge chairs in here, or the couch in the office?" He finished my sentence. I gave him a faint half smile "I'm afraid those are them, indeed" I said. He shrugged his shoulders "I have had worse, would you mind if I prefer the chairs over the couches, those things are rock hard….. How could you pick something like that?" He looked at me like I was crazy, "Ask Jake" I was shaking with laughter "I told him the same thing after two days of refuge in this building" I said while walking over to the small cabinet. "I do have a spare pillow and some blankets in here" as I pulled out both from their designated shelves. "I'm afraid that is all I can offer in luxurious office camping equipment" I stood in front of him now, he reached out to accept them, as he looked down at me.
It hit me then, he was sleeping in the same room as me and I pulled back my arms with lighting speed. "I'm going to brush my teeth…." I turned around quickly, grabbing my PJs from the bed not looking back at him as I was still thinking about us being in the same room.
I quickly brushed my teeth and slathered my face with night cream, and the stupid bags repellent from Raoul, which I knew was already a lost cause but I did it anyway. Looking at my reflection in the mirror I blushed, I was looking like a scarecrow, my hair sticking out to all directions. I withdrew my brush from the drawer it occupied and tried to tame my frightening locks, after brushing them for way too long I could no longer procrastinate avoiding him.
I sighed and put the brush away and walked over to the door when I started contemplating sleeping in the bathtub instead. Shaking my head at the idea I threw open the door, Erik had set the two chairs directly opposite off each other, while sitting with his face towards the steel door. When he heard the swooshing sound of the door he turned around "Nice Pjs" I looked down, I had quickly swapped my robe for my standard PJs, a dark green ensemble of shorts and a t-shirt which were both covered with tiny doe's, which appeared to be running around the fabric like a recurring pattern.
I blushed, they are so childish! But they were the only pair that I had lying around! "Thanks…" I walked passed him towards the bed. "Bathroom is all yours…" I said while fluffing up my pillow and pulling back the covers "Ok, I won't take long" he said while moving towards the bathroom door. I noticed he was still wearing his suit "You don't have anything to sleep in?" He looked down at his clothes, I couldn't imagine his suit being very comfortable to sleep in, but as he seemed to be living in them perhaps he could have gotten adjusted to the fabric. "I am afraid that I did not pack that sort of attire in my survival kit, I guess one learns while being on the job" I simply nodded.
As he disappeared into the bathroom, I wondered what it was like to live like that. Never knowing if you were in danger, always on the move, never really having a home. I wondered how his family would feel about the life he was living, I cannot imagine the thought of having a loved one on the line between life and death all the time. It must be horrible to know that he is out there and you never know if you will see him again. I shuddered "Are you cold?" while I was stuck in my own mind I hadn't heard Erik come out of the bathroom again and he was now looking at me with a worried look on his face. I felt my face burn up "No, no, I'm fine" I quickly moved to slide completely under the covers of my bed you idiot I scolded myself.
"Are you sure you are alright? You are not getting sick are you?" I turned towards his voice and my heart stopped beating. He was hanging over me with a worried look on his face, trying to decipher if there was something wrong with me. Gaping at him I tried to figure out what to say, still lost in his emerald green eyes.
I opened my mouth to say something but he softly placed his palm against my forehead so unable to say anything I shut it again. "You don't seem to be burning up" he mumbled. "Are you sure you are alright?" Still unable to speak I just nodded my head, and luckily for me he walked over to the chairs.
"Goodnight Liliana" and he switched off the light and I mumbled "Night Erik"
I was back in the car, my dad was laughing and singing along with a song that played on the radio. I happily sang along to the melody as we continued driving down the road. I must have been 15 at the time, I was wearing my guns and roses t-shirt, jeans and sneakers and my bright blue back pack was shoved between my legs. I just sang the chorus of sweet child of mine when we turned a corner and we were hit, head on. There was this mix of screeching tires, glass falling down making a tinkling sound all around us, metal that moaned as it bended in an unknown form and blood, so much blood. Eventually all sounds stopped, the movement stopped, life temporarily stopped, my dad had stopped. "Dad?" I called out his name yet his face was motionless, "Dad" something in my head was hurting so badly. I tried calling his name so many times, why did he not hear me? "Dad...Dad wake up...Dad please..."
"Dad" I opened my eyes, I had gotten used to sleeping with one eye open so to speak. "Dad...wake up" I could recognize that voice from any where. She was talking in her sleep again, she had done that when she fell asleep next to me in the tree house that we had built in the woods when we were little. I frowned as she mumbled again, she was squirming beneath the sheets, her face frowning. I rose from my 'bed' and walked over to sit beside her placing a hand on her shoulder I tried to soothe her so she would hopefully dream peacefully once more.
But my actions were in vain as she started to mumble even louder, while almost kicking her feet towards some evil. "Dad... please...dad...wake up" her voice breaking. I figured she was dreaming about the accident, she was 15 at the time and they were driving towards an audition, so she might star in a musical. However their journey was cut short as a drunk driver in a van had smashed into them head on, killing her dad on impact. But she... I closed my eyes and hung my head low. She had been trapped in there for more than half an hour... And that bastard, that bloody bastard, the drunk driver got away... They never found him...
I remember the sirens in the street, how her mom had been escorted by the police and the never ending days in the hospital. I had stayed by her side until that fateful day that Anne had told me they needed to move so that Lily could receive the treatment that she needed. She hadn't even woken up at that time, she had been comatose for months on end, I hadn't even had the chance to say goodbye... Well I did, but I had never told her, it was a secret I had kept close to my heart. As a young man, being only 18, I hadn't had the nerve to tell her that I loved her. I was such a coward back than... you still are... and I huffed at myself.
It was true though, as Anne had walked away to talk with the doctors I had taken my chance and had declared my love for her. Whispered my confession in her ear while stroking her cheek, and that's when I had stolen her lips, claiming them for my own. A brief, brush of that angel's lips against my own, a mere second, drowning her with my tears, and I had never looked back. I had walked out the door, finished my high school the next month and had joined the army, got promotion after promotion until I was picked for the special forces. All the while with I had had her on my mind, she haunted me like a part of my brain was just claimed by her presence. Her face, that tinkling laugh, those eyes, lips, her luscious thick hair...
I thought of her, every battle I entered she was on my mind, was she fighting too? Did she remember me? Could she? I never dared to contact Anne though, I never knew what I was afraid of... Rejection? All in all I just never had the courage and my face, this cursed complexion did not help for that matter. After I had received facial reconstruction after that explosion, that fateful battle in Afghanistan... I simply had been to close, that's what the surgeon had said as she had removed the shrapnel from my face. After that reconstruction I didn't even dare to look into the mirror, I was horrified by my reflection, the scars being bright red... I was declared unfit for duty, so I had to try and earn my income in a different way. A connection in my network had than suggested becoming a body guard as my skills from my previous profession would help me out a great deal in that field.
I had contemplated it for a long time, but two years ago I had decided to follow his advice and had since been protecting a broad range of important people. As I kept my high clearance level from the government as I had protected some upper members of the command chain, I had tried to follow Lily everywhere she went. I was able to see, read and follow her life, from the accident on wards. I learned that she had had to rehabilitate for more than two years and after that she had to go special private institutions to cope with everything, the fact that she still could not walk, the fainting spells, the pain in her head, the loss of her father but most of all the loss of her memory. The only memory she had left was of the actual accident, anything before that was gone, I had found that out from her physic evaluations. So after five years, when she turned twenty she was able to do everything again, she had lost five years to that garbage can of an idiot driver.
I now understood why she was still completing high school after so long, she had to keep up a fake life in which she followed a special program which allowed her to break up the last three years of her high school and spread them over a five year period. She didn't need to as she was smart, an A plus all round student, yet she had to, as she needed the extra time to be Christine, completing her school at twenty five... In five months to be exact.
When Anne had put out the advert for a personal body guard for her daughter I had contemplated it for weeks, I wanted to see her so badly... Yet this face... she wouldn't remember who I was... Was she still the Lily I had known for so long, I had to stop calling her Lily, she was now Liliana again. Not the love of my life Lily... She had died on December 13 2004... I had scolded myself many times, stay out of her life, you have no right to interfere... Yet two days after I had completed my latest assignment I found myself in front of her house ready to be interviewed by Anne.
Anne... She hadn't even recognized me, or my name for that fact, as my first had stayed the same, yet I had changed my last as I no longer wanted to be tied to the special forces Erik, the Erik with a normal face... that man had died in Afghanistan... A long time ago...
Another mumble pulled me back to reality "DAD" and she moved her arms as she gripped the cover tightly "No...no...don't...dad...please...NO!" she gasped for air as she opened her eyes and sat upright in a jolt. She looked around frightened as her breath started to sound like panicked huffs "It's alright Liliana" I tried to shush her "He's...He's...was...blood" she looked at me with big frightened eyes "There was so, so much blood...Erik...he's...he's..." She started sobbing and in a reflex I embraced her, gently rubbing her back and stroking her hair, as she continued sobbing into my chest, clutching my shirt as if she was afraid I would vanish into thin air.
But I wouldn't, not again. I will never leave you again Lily...