Love is Blind

Chapter 14

The crossed feelings

Elsword's P.O.V, Monday

I walk to school with my head dangled. Hell, I don't even have the energy to raise it. I sigh, reminiscing about what happened on Valentines day. Eve's little sister ended up in the hospital then I kissed Eve and told her my true feelings. Great. Man, I feel stupid! I legitimately slapped myself. How could I do that? Why did I do that? Though, the state she's in, she probably forgot about it, that I wouldn't mind praying for.

"Elsword! Elsword!" I heard yelling as I arrived at school. To my surprise it was Ara who was running up to me. With tears in her eyes, she clung onto my shirt as she practically threw herself at me. "What happened to Eve? Why did you two leave so early? Please tell me!" She screamed as she kept jerking at my shirt.

"Would you calm down Ara?" Shouted Aisha as she quickly held her away from me. I stare at the two girls. Both looking dreadfully worried.

"Is Eve ok?" Asked Ara once more. This time she was calmer as she spoke. I didn't know if I should tell them or not. I mean, that is pretty nosy, telling Eve's business like that. Plus she might hate me for talking about it like it's nothing. "We'll, she...got sick all of a sudden while we were dancing, so I took her home..." Was that a good enough excuse?

"Is that why, she's acting like she is right now?" Asked Ara. What, does she mean by that? Once she said that, the bell rang. We had to walk off to our first period classes. When I walked in, I was surprised. Eve looked, dead. She dangled her head, making sure her hair covered any trace of her face. I could barely see her eyes. I slowly sit at my desk as the teacher started talking. I slowly turn to Eve, I guess I'll start following Elesis' advice...

"Psst, Eve..." I whisper. No response. She only sits there, lifeless. Picking on her, I make a paper-ball and through it at her. The response, she sank her head on the table. Wow, how sensitive of me. She's going through a lot right now and all I can think of is throwing a paper ball at her!? As soon as the bell rang, the entire class cleared out within minutes. As I walked out, I caught up to Eve.

"Eve wait!" I shouted. She slowly stopped, not turning towards me. I grabbed her shoulder and turned her around. She kept her head down in the same sulked position from when I first saw her in class. "What do you want?" She said coldly. "I, are you ok?" I asked. She jerked away from me. "I'm, fine." She quickly tried to run off but, I just couldn't let her go. With a quick pull, I was able to hold onto her shoulder.

"Eve, I want you to know that, I understand what your going through and, I'm hear for you if you need me." I say. There was a silence. I watched her closely, a tear rolled down and dropped to the floor. She's crying.

"Thanks but, I don't need your pity!" With that, she got out of my grasp again and ran down the hall. I felt a tug in my chest as I heard those words. I stare as she runs, she seemed so blurry now. I get it, I do. She's in pain but, why can't she come to me? I, want to comfort her. I want to hold her into my arms. Make sure she's safe. Her shoulder to cry on.

"God dammit!" I punch a locker out of anger. This is killing me. What's wrong with me? Shouldn't I at least, attempt those thing's? The least that can happen is her punching me across the face. Causing a permanent bruise but, I could at-least say I tried. With that thought in mind I huff and pull myself together. I rush off to my next period class. I have to be there for her. Just like Elesis said. As I make my way to the class, I spot Add outside the door, but not just Add. I also see Eve, being held by that brainiac freak.

Being, kissed by him. In front of the God-dam door! After they were done making out-Ugh-She saw me. Her face, still filled with tears. She looked worse than when I was just talking to her. Realizing she was now staring at me, she rushed to her seat. As I walked toward the entryway door, Add turned to me with his disgusting smile on his face.

"You saw that right? It means Eve is mine. So don't get any ideas." With that, he flipped his hair and walked into the classroom. Just, what the hell!? Come to think of it, I didn't notice him in my first period class. Was he there? And, if what I think is now going on between them, from what I saw just now is happening, then why the hell isn't he comforting her!? I walk over to my desk. Even though she sits beside me, Eve was able to avoid my gaze.

As the day went by, she didn't look at me once. Why is she avoiding me? Why can't she open up to me? What's up with this sudden Add x Eve shipping!? This is all driving me crazy.…

Normal P.O.V., Last class of the day

Eve walked into class and sat down, looking over a mechanic prototype drawing. So much was going through her head...

Flash-back!

As Eve waited in Add's Limo to be dropped off at her house, he coddled her. Both remaining silent until they arrived at the Altera mansion. She was escorted out of the car by Add as they both walk up to the front. "Give it some thought, I'll see you later." He said and pecked her cheek as he walked away, back into the limo.

Eve walked inside her darkened house. It now felt even emptier than ever. "Ophelia? Oberon? Are you two here?" She shouted. Yet, no response. She walked in and shut the door behind her. 'Guess, there still at the hospital...'

Feeling drowsed, Eve walked upstairs and got ready for bed. Once she went to sleep, a battle of thoughts raged on in her head until she crashed. When she awoke the next morning, she slowly walked downstairs, shocked to see Ophelia and Oberon sulking in worriment. It was then that she made up her mind, she dressed into her clothes and headed towards the Tracer family mansion.

Upon arriving, She was greeted warmly. Add told her what to start with first.

End of flashback!

Eve sighed as she thought of what Add told her. 'Elsword is a stranger, be cold as ever toward him when we arrive back at school. For the rest, just follow me until we spend some time together, where I can show you the contract.'

A contract that she would have to sign. She wondered what could possibly be on it, other than the things that she's done today already? Avoiding Elsword, having to forcefully make-out with Add. Literally nothing could get any darker. "Hey." She gasped and quickly turned, seeing Raven. "Oh, you gave me a heart attack..." She said in relief. He smiled. "Sorry, it's just, you seem kind of distracted." He said as he pointed out her face was brimming with tears.

She quickly wiped them away. "I'm fine, really. Just, having a few things on my mind..." Eve said weakly. He looked over toward the new mechanic Add who was underneath a car and working away. "Is, it about Add?" He asked plainly. She quickly turned her head the other way.

"I, have no idea what your talking about."

She said coldly. He placed a hand on her shoulder. "Listen Eve, I'm asking you as a friend. If theirs something bothering you, tell me. I won't judge you." He said. Eve looked at the gorgeous Raven, shocked by his words. In that moment, she felt like she could spill her heart out, wondering if what she's doing is the right thing. Yet suppressed it, not wanting to get anyone involved if she didn't have to. She gave a weak smile.

"OK, it's a promise." With that, Raven walked away and started fiddling with another name brand car. Eve tried to put on a face that was at least slightly happy, not wanting to worry anyone else in her last period class.

When school was over, she walked home with Add, following up on the 'spending time' thing he mentioned. Having to leave Ophelia and Oberon. At least, for a little while...

As Eve is brought to the mansion, She reads the contract, signing on places and reading away to her so-so ability. It was hard to just sit there and read anything with her mind, feeling all over the place. All she could do was nod like a mindless drone. Signing away at each page while Add kept on talking. They sit in Add's huge living room by his toasty fireplace.

"I promise, she'll live. Just follow these rules." Eve nodded in response. "First, you and I are officially a, what do they call them? A couple. Second, I don't want to you talking to that crimson haired idiot anymore." Upon waking out of her slight daze, Eve jumped up in response. "That's unfair! Why can't I talk to whomever I want to talk to?" "Now, now. This is all for the sake of Apple. Besides, he's not your actual friend, he is just faking it. Trust me, I can tell." He said. Eve sat back down and thought about it.

True, Elsword's sudden personality change was a bit strange. Yet, she was getting used to it. He could be faking it, but his confession at the hospital, sounded so real. On top of that, Apple's on her death bed. Yet, If what Elsword told her is true, then she had to consider his feelings. Did she, love, Elsword? Should she even think of considering his feelings at a time like this? "I see, I know and understand," Said Add as he gracefully walked over to her and gently hugged her.

"Your hurting. So much is happening. Don't worry, you can stay here for the night. I've contacted Ophelia and Oberon. They said it was ok. You need some time away from the house, right?" He said gently. As if, hypnotizing. He slowly picked her up, off of his luxurious couch and walked up the stairs of his mansion. Like a princess into a kingdom, he placed her on his luxurious bed, putting her under the covers.

"You should sleep now, we both have school tomorrow, after all." He said as he gently caressed her cheek. It calmed her down enough to were she eventually fell asleep. Add kissed her head gently and stared at her for a while.

"Don't worry Eve. Me and you, we'll be together forever. No matter who interferes. Once you loose contact with those you think who care, you'll see. I am the only one you need. That one person you will ever need. Your, everything..." With that said, he kissed her again, only on the cheek instead. He walked out of the room and closed the door. His butler, Ferdinand was waiting for him.

"Shall I give her a wake-up call in the morning?"

"No need, I only want you to prepare breakfast as usual. For her and brother of course." The butler bowed and walked down the corridor dungeon that was held in the mansions basement. Inside was a prisoner. A tall slender man with long hair, tied up into a pony tail. Shackles kept his arms from moving. He resembled Add...

Ferdinand bows to the young man. "Master Arc, what would you like for dinner tonight?" He asked politely. The young man glared at him angrily and spat on his face. "A key of freedom with a steak dinner." He said sarcastically. The butler stood up, wiped the spit off of his face and began walking out of the dungeon. "I will make sure your steak is rare, just the way you like it sir."

With that, the door shut silently behind him. Arc spat on the floor and cursed to the sky that was opened in his tiny hole dungeon. "Damn you Add, having it end up like this..." He said under his breath.

As the morning sun rises, Add greeted Eve with a warm smile along with a bed and breakfast cart. She slept lazily, drooling over the bed. He smirked, then gently caressed her head. "Eve, wake-up. I brought you breakfast." She yawned and blinked her eyes, seeing Add with the tray of food. The fanciest thing's she's seen by far! Stuffed fleshly cut french toast with strawberries that hung over them, sparkling glass of orange juice that stood tall and to top it off, a tiny bouquet of flowers that hung on the side, making the breakfast food smell even more fresh.

Her mouth dropped, her eyes sparkled in wonderment. She quickly sat up upon the aroma. "Go on, eat, enjoy." Said Add in a soft tone of voice. Slowly but surely, she picked up the fancy silverware that laid upon the tray and dug into the freshly cooked breakfast. Add only stood their, watching her intently, yet Eve payed no attention as she engulfed herself into the luxury.

Once she was done she politely placed the silverware onto the tray and pushed the cart over. She slowly got out of out of the bed. She stood their in silence as her head dangled in sorrow."What is wrong Eve? Did you not like the meal?" He asked sweetly.

"It was great but, I really just want to see Apple. How can I enjoy food again when I can't muscle up the guts to even do that?" She asked in confusion and doubt. A smile formed across Add's face. "Silly Eve, you don't have to worry anymore! This is all for you, this mansion and your sisters new found perfect health, in due time, it's all set in stone. In fact, you and her could live here afterwords."

He said this as the room grew in silence. Eve wondered, thinking about it all. Signing that contract out of desperation. Hearing Elsword's words of confession. Everyone would have been sad if she didn't do what she did, especially at this point. Elsword would be happy that she's not dead and Apple gets to live a full healthy life.

Yet, something tugged at her heart. She was not happy. Yet why? Apples happiness was always her happiness, so why did she feel so sad? He clapped his hands. "Well, you better get ready for school." He said as he took the trey. "Oh, right." She said as she started walking toward the door. "Um, wear is your restroom?" She asks. "My butler will show you, Ferdinand!" He shouted.

Appeared before the door, scaring Eve was a tall man with a mask upon his face. "Yes, master Add?" He asked. "Please show our guest to the bathroom quarters." He bowed. "Very well, please follow me." He then started walking. Eve walked behind him, leading her to a quite fancy and huge bathroom. "I shall leave you now madame." With that, he shut the door behind him.

Eve looked around the royal bathroom. Towels and a hanging rack had hung on the side of the bathroom. Except there was only one thing that was on the hangar, a luxurious dress, no school uniform. After her shower, she placed on the lovely dress, along with fresh undergarments that were on the rack as well.

She walked out of the bathroom, wearing the lovely long and pretty dress of purple. She looked down the halls, wondering which way to go. "Add!" She shouted. She huffed and started walking down the hall. She found her way into an open room with desks and a huge black-board at the end. She slowly walked in, thinking she might find a school uniform.

"Ah, welcome to class." Said a voice that scared her. She looked, seeing Add dressed in a purple suit, wearing glasses. Resembling a teacher. "Add? Um, do you happen to have a school uniform? All I could find in the bathroom was this dress." She said as she pointed at it. He looked her up and down while having a smile plastered across his face.

He slowly walked over toward the board. "Now now Eve. Why don't you relax. Class is about to begin." He said as he started cleaning the board. She looked at him in confusion. "What are you talking about? If it is about to start, shouldn't we be moving out the door? Also, you know we can't attend class without our uniforms on, they'll kick us out for dress code." She said.

"Ah, that's the great part my adorable Eve. Take a good look around," He said as he held out his arms. "This is your new school. Now and forever, or at least until you graduate." He said with a smile. She slowly backed away. "I don't understand. What are you saying?" She asked.

"Well, a thought occurred to me. Why must you practically waste time being in school? I could easily teach you, I who had graduated at age 12. So I took the liberty of taking you out of school and enrolling you into home-school." He said plainly.

"Your lying! We were just in school yesterday!" She shouted. "Exactly, this morning, I had Ferdinand head to school early and take you and me out of the system. It's convenient what a little cash could do to convince a school office." She blinked as realization came to mind. Did he, plan on keeping her here? Was she, a prisoner? Now looking at it, this is kind of what she agreed to. The thought was maddening.

She might never know if Apple is alive or not for she was with someone who was insane. "Eve? Is something wrong?" He asked calmly. "I-I have to go to the restroom again." She said and quickly left out the room. With energy in her body, she started running, praying that she could make her way toward the front door and leave. 'How could I be so stupid?' She thought.

'From the very beginning, it was a trick, a scandal into getting me here upon my free will!' She finally found her way toward the giant front double doors, she quickly banged onto them, trying to kick them open, yet they would not budge. "Please open, please open." She continued repeating, clawing and banging on the door. It was no use. She fell to the floor, not caring that her fingers had started to bleed from such harsh scratching.

"Tsk, Eve, Eve, Eve. It's boarded up, only Ferdinand has the key. Practically all the keys in the entire mansion. Though, if you would like some fresh air, you could go out into the open garden, it's a glass house but the flowers give off such a wonderful oxygen fragrance." He chuckled as he walked toward her. "You, didn't say anything about this!" She shouted in anger.

"I did, it was also a promise. A promise for you to be mine forever. Sure, I had to say a few lies to-" SMACK! Before Add could finish what he was saying, Eve slapped him across the face, now it was red as a cherry. It echoed around the living room. He smirked and jolted a glare at Eve. "My dear Eve, I believe you should learn the rules of this house." He said plainly.

With the snap of his fingers, Ferdinand came by his side. "You rang master?" He said. "Ferdinand, please take our guest to the dungeons. A few days inside might knock her into her senses." Eve looked with widened eyes and started to run, she ran down the hallway, unsure of where to go. "Ferdinand, you know what to do." Said Add. "Yes Master." With quickness he followed Eve.

Her dress was tearing at the seems as her feet flew. Everything felt as if in slow motion. She could run but Ferdinand was quite faster. He blew right past her and clutched his arms around the fragile girl. She shouts at the top of her lungs in anger. Kicking and biting, yet Ferdinand held on tightly as he took her to a dark place that would soon hold two prisoners.

They arrived to a dark brown door with a chained bar over it. He continued to hold her with one hand while he opened the door with the other. Once he was inside, he chained her arms to the shackles of the dungeon. He then bowed and left the screaming Eve. Her screams resided as she tried to calm herself down, wondering if there was anyway out of this.

"I say, have we met before?" Eve gasped as she heard a voice. It sounded so off compared to Add's. "W-Who's there? Can you please help me?" She asked. The voice of the other person sighs deeply. "Alas, I cannot. For I am chained as well." Eve gazed on the other side of her, appearing before the moonlight was a man who looked exactly like Add. "Add!?" The man smirked, yet it did not look menacing as Add's.

"Ah, no. I am not that monster upon whom you speak. I am his older twin brother, Arc Tracer. A decedent in the next line of the Tracer family." Eve looked at him in silence, confused and dazed at the same time. "I take it, you are Eve Altera? Yes?" "How, would you know that?" The man moved his shackles slightly and stretched his head up. "Well, he talks of you quite fondly, the woman of silver hair. Regardless of this situation, you are quite lovely."

He said with a weak smile. Eve turned the other way, facing downward. "Forgive me, it's rare that I see anyone now days." He said. "How, long have you been here?" She asked. "Now that is a challenging question, hmm. I peg at about 4 years, give or take. Alas, not hear though, oh no. But a prisoner for that long." He said. "My God. What, happened to him?" Asked Eve in bewilderment.

"Ah, now that is most defiantly not a challenging thing to ask." He shuffled his chains some more and started explaining. "It was a long time ago, when we were tikes. He was inventing something while I bought our mother and fathers attention. It was not a battle, at least not a competition. Plain and simple, mommy and daddy liked me best. I was the smartest, fastest and oldest.

"As the years went by, we got older. Both our mom and dad were debating about who would inherit the money. I was fair and wanted to give my little brother a fighting chance for it. Anyway, if you have never known, both of our families thrived on inventions. Your family, the Altera's was outbidding us upon the latest inventions. Dust, our task was born.

"To bring down your family at any means necessary. I could not bear to partake in such a scandal, so I for-fitted it. Yet Add, he was determined. Father coaxed him into thinking that the deal was still on, that he needed to win our last fortunes. With a will of vengeance, Add was tricked into helping kill your father."

Eve looked at Arc in confusion. "Wait, are you saying that...?" He nodded. "Yes, your father did not die from his defected machinery, it was Add and he who created something defective and horrid in the first place from his machinery. Sabotage is the right word for it." He then sank his head down. "We, he never expected your mom to kill herself It was only meant to place your family down for sometime and recollect more riches."

Then, something clicked into Eve's head. "If my families money was swindled from yours, does this mean that. The...Altera family is still, wealthy?" He nodded once more. "In all honesty, everything we ever had in this family is a lie. The Tracers are broke. We stole it all after her death." He sighed deeply. "What did I do? Sit around, basking in the wealth.

"Not thinking of the consequences that came or would come about it." Eve took a moment in thought, then looked back at him. "Arc, that still didn't answer my first question. How did your brother end up, mad? Was it the death of my parents, or?" She looked at him for answers. Yet he sighed and shook his head.

"In honesty, I have no idea. One minute I was relaxing with my family on a sunset beach, the next I hear gunshots as Add held one in his hand, shooting down mother and father, right into the head. Only thing I remember or, at least let my mind remember, is that he did not kill me. Indeed, the bullet was aimed at my head, though it did not fire. Instead it was thrown into the ocean and I, was taken away by that rather 'nice' butler he has."

Eve then looked closely at the man. His face, skeletal. His, entire body almost close to that state. Seeing those type of people on television was sad but to see it up close was horrifying. Enough to make Eve upchuck. "I am so sorry. My form is probably a mockery." He said as he shook his shackles. He looked up at the moon, as if lost in it's gaze. "You know, I wonder. Just, is there more to life than richery? More to life than being poor? More to life than being shackled against my will?"

"What, is my eternal purpose? Why must I live? I who would wrong someone of a family, of there wealth. I who basked upon it. I who never once showed love to a little brother, one who perhaps always needed love in his life. Without that, I guess time would drive you mad. It even brings me to the question of what good is money if it does not bring happiness?

"For it to drive some people into suicide? To the edge, enough to make them slice away at the skin, believing they are depressed. Upset. Not realizing that, someone else may have it worse than anything. Being homeless, not knowing upon their next meal. Yet that same person, could be the happiest person alive, compared to the other who has everything. So Eve, I ask you.

"If there is a God, why must the world be this way? So cruel to others who can be happy yet have nothing. Yet so good to those who possibly hate that they have everything?" As he said this, he realized that Eve was asleep. He gave a smile and looked at the moon once more. "My questions may not be answered. Though part of me believes in redemption. Yet, is it possible for me? A con man that I am? A wimp, a mockery of society? What prompts me to carry on?" The man mumbled questions as he fell asleep, dreaming. Wondering. Lost in a daze.

Ok, Does it make sense? O_o I hope so, reviews are welcome~! :3