A/N-Because I'm such a romantic, I tend to love cheesy moments. I'm doing my absolute best to keep this story cheese-free as possible. Hopefully this chapter is alright. :P

And now I think I need a lil break. lol. I'll update in a few days.

Chapter 9

A feeling of total peace: that was what awoke Celine the morning after her and Zuriel's confrontation. They had spent the rest of the day together for the first time, never parting unless necessary. Celine had even neglected to change into a more elegant gown for that night's dinner, and she could have sworn she had heard a goodly portion of the staff giggling excitedly, including the men, much to Celine's surprise.

She prayed that today would be much the same. She wondered already how she had managed to spend such a large portion of her days here apart from Zuriel. His presence, overpowering as it was, was soothing. She felt like more of a woman when she was around him, more than she ever had before. She found this realization to be beyond pleasant. It was extraordinary.

Fiona came in to dress her just as Celine rose.

"Good morning!" said Celine cheerily, for once matching Fiona's excited manner of speech.

"Good morning to you too, milady!" said Fiona, her pitch even brighter than Celine's. Ah well, at least she had come close being as cheery as her maidservant.

"What would you like to wear today?" asked Fiona. She reached into the wardrobe and ran her fingers over the many gowns in it. They were coordinated by color. They started with creams and silvers, and ended with deep, rich purples and blacks.

"I do not think we need any sort of rose shade today, milady… Your cheeks are pink enough as it is without a dress bringing it out all the more".

Celine's smile stopped abruptly, and the said blush, which was indeed present, deepened to a crimson color.

"I thought so!" said Fiona. Celine sighed and shook her head. She was forever grateful that Fiona was employed by Zuriel, and not any other master. With her manner of talking so boldly, she would normally have been thrown into the streets by now.

"Silver will do just fine, thank you, Fiona" said Celine graciously, choosing not to let her embarrassment get the best of her.

"Ahh, good, good. I believe Zuriel wanted to take you for a walk about the castle gardens today. This gown has a bit of fur at the sleeves. Very becoming for a wintry day such as today!"

Celine smiled and nodded and donned the gown. The wide, flowing sleeves did indeed end in white fur. Fiona left most of Celine's hair to tumble down around her shoulders and waist in order to keep her warm, and a few curls were left out of the knot Fiona twisted into Celine's hair, in order to frame her face. The gown shimmered prettily, and Fiona commented that it complimented Celine's jade-shaded eyes.

"Thank you" replied Celine with a smile. She made her way to the dining hall, grateful that no one followed or led her, today. She supposed everyone finally trusted her to know her way around most of the chateau.

Zuriel was waiting, as usual, with his hands behind his back and his back facing her.

"Good morning, my angel" he said before turning to her. He gently grabbed her hand and kissed it before Celine could even think to protest- not that she would ever wish to protest a show of affection from Zuriel. She found that her stomach fluttered in a way she had never felt before, and swallowed over the feeling in order to hide it.

"Good morning, Zuriel" she replied, and took her seat at his right hand. They ate in general silence, but it was a comfortable sort of silence that they both seemed to enjoy. They smiled at one another in turn, Zuriel always bold and Celine always timid and blushing. It had been a long time since she had tried her courtesan whiles on him, and she had never looked back since. It was almost impossible a feat now. Instead, she found herself rising from fearsome captive to happy companion, and she knew that this would not have been possible without yesterday's small dispute.

Today's breakfast was especially lovely. Because the castle had been prepared for today's cold weather, they had prepared the morning banquet to match the chilly conditions outside. There were a few colorful dishes of different types of warm berries and some sort of sweet sauce for each. There were steaming breads with swirls of fillings whose recipe origins Celine could not place. While breakfast normally held a wide spectrum of flavors, today's theme was sweet and savory, and Celine loved every minute of it.

When they were finished, Zuriel helped Celine from her seat and guided her out the door. He took her to the gardens, just as Fiona had predicted. This was exciting to Celine, for though she had peered down at the gardens through the drawing room window, and even through her own from time to time, she had not known how to enter them until this moment.

The sun shone brightly, despite the winter's frost that permeated air. Celine blew through circular lips and giggled delightedly when she saw that she could see her own breath. Zuriel smiled subtly, finding himself a little afraid now to let Celine see the extent of his feelings. He felt as if he was changing somehow, thanks to her..

Whereas a few days ago, he would have felt all to comfortable forcing his verbal affection on her, as he had a few times, this day, he felt that it was especially necessary to let Celine come to him. The hope that she was drawing ever closer to the day that she may love him kept him on his toes and cautious as possible. His fear that his passion may drive his little love away kept him sober and silent.

"Your favorite colour rose is blue" he whispered to her, and they came to an easy stop before a sprawling rose bush filled with perfectly bloomed, azure roses.

Celine gasped in delight. "I did not think that they existed!"

Zuriel smirked in a handsome sort of way. "They did not until recently. I have been researching ways to make them bloom in such a colour. Do you like it?"

Celine nodded, mystified. "And I suppose you knew my favorite flower because… one of the servants told you?" she asked innocently. Zuriel nodded, hoping that it did not offend her.

Far from offended, Celine looked honored. "Thank you so much" she breathed, genuine as could be. Zuriel nodded, smirk still in place.

After a pause, Celine's sweet smile turned to a bewildered frown. "You are so young, Zuriel. At least in my eyes…" she said softly, running a delicate fingertip along the petals of a particularly cerulean rose. A slight bit of frost graced its edges, and still the flower did not wither. Amazing...

"Yes…" came his vague reply. His smirk faded.

"How old are you precisely?" she asked.

"Mmmm, twenty-six" he said, though something about his tone alerted Celine's senses.

"Are you sure?" she asked, dropping her hand from the rose bush and turning fully to him. She looked up at him curiously, only slightly intimidated by how far he towered over her.

Zuriel's half smile returned as he leaned forward, inches from the little beauty's face. "I am sure" he whispered. Celine inhaled deeply and nodded, feeling mesmerized.

A small shiver coursed through her body, despite the many layers in her gown. Zuriel tsked nothing in particular and removed his cloak and draped it about her shoulders. His body heat soaked the heavy fabric and warmed Celine immediately.

"I think we should return to the castle" he instructed, and motioned her forward.

……

The rest of the day passed pleasantly enough. Zuriel retired to the library before mid-day meal, but Emily kept Celine company during his absence.

The two took their meals in the dining room. Emily began the conversation as Celine took a bite of succulent roast.

"How are you adjusting to this life so far, Celine?" Her tone was free of common stuffy pleasantries and hidden agendas that Celine remembered from her old way of like during parties in Avilbane. Emily had a sincere sort of voice, and she was very down to earth and stated her point clear as day.

"Very well, I imagine" replied Celine with a little smile. "Though I fear I do not understand why Zuriel is so apt to run away from me. I think I disturbed him in the gardens today". She was not sure why she trusted Emily so easily, considered she fancied herself much closer to Amara. She supposed she could sense that Emily was similar in age to herself, and she knew that if she discussed this with Amara, the older woman would simply tell her that Zuriel was a mystery through and through, and she was not to worry.

"Ha! Frustrating, is he not?" said Emily bluntly. "He thinks he is so confident, but he harbors more secrets than he can keep up with, and fears them being discovered so much that it makes him cowardly". She spoke with no remorse, though Celine found her manner of speech more pleasant than Fiona's bold ways. It was more honest somehow.

"What kind of secrets?" asked Celine, interest thoroughly sparked.

Emily sighed. "I would tell you if I did not fear that he would kill me if I did" She laughed as she said it, in a bitter way, to show that she was joking, but Celine felt that perhaps there was some truth to her words. "He will tell you soon enough. I would not worry about it if I were you. He is smitten with you, everyone here can see it. We have seen it for years now, and he is more in love with you now than he was before you came here. Trust me".

There was a tinge of respect in the way Emily spoke, as if she had been through much with Zuriel and was happy to see him in love. Though it was hard to tell, especially when Celine could not even read her face.

"Why does Fiona seem so different than the rest of you?" asked Celine.

Emily chuckled. "Ahh… her. She drives me insane, that on. She is only sixteen, as I am sure you have figured out. She never spied on you, by the way, when you were younger. She is the newest addition to the staff. Chipper, is she not?

"Right" Celine replied quietly, losing herself in thought as she sipped on her minty tea.

She felt a strange sort of pressure to love Zuriel, come to think of it. She wondered now, if she did not fall in love with Zuriel, though somehow it now seemed an inevitable possibility, would the entire staff here remain invisible forever? And would that upset them?

"Are you alright?" asked Emily, softening for a moment.

Celine nodded. "If… if I do not grow to love Zuriel… what will happen to all of you?"

Emily sighed. "I hardly believe that would be much of an issue. There are such a vast number of servants here, and Zuriel has blessed us all so greatly, I think, if we were to never be seen by another human again... we would all be just fine. The younger ones, I am sure, would hardly appreciate it, because they have not found their loves like much of the people in this castle. And we are not fond of inbreeding, so get that thought out of your mind!"

Celine giggled, having not thought anything to that degree at all, but finding Emily's assumption amusing.

"Anyways… We have lived together, with only each other for support, for many, many years. I think we would manage just fine.

"Zuriel, on the other hand… You are his very air… I think he would die without you". Emily said this last sentence with an annoyed tone, as if she had not the time for such romantic notions. "It is sweet, I suppose, but it puts too much pressure on you, to be sure".

Celine's eyes misted over as she took in all of this new information and let her mind wander where it may again. It was a lot of pressure, about that Emily was right. But the thought of Zuriel in so much pain without her brought tears to Celine's eyes, and she felt glad that her heart was warming so much to her captor.

……..

Zuriel sat alone in the library, breathing heavy and feeling very frustrated. He would have to tell Celine soon... she deserved to know.

But oh, if she were to reject him, he would not be able to bear it.

It was hardly his decision, though, whether or not she loved him. He was beginning to realize how unfair he had been to her. He had protected her for ten years, yes, but being his companion… was that any safer than releasing her unto the lustful, ravenous outside world? He could hardly decide which was worse.

He sat down at his desk and let his head fall into his hands and shook it slowly, feeling heavy hearted. Suddenly, in a fit of bitterness, he rose from his seat and knocked a pile of books he had been studying onto the floor with the back of his hand.

And this… was precisely why he might be a menace to his sweet angel. If he ever lost his temper like this in front of her like he had that night with her a month ago… It would be the death of him. He had hardly been able to bear the pain in her eyes that he had caused then. He would not, could not, do it again.

Cursing silently under his breath, Zuriel picked up one of the heavier novels from the floor, and brushed his hand over his face to clear his head.

The book was about a cursed species of man. Perhaps this would be a subtle way to test Celine's reaction to strange creatures. Feeling a little more confident, Zuriel disembarked from the room in search of Celine. Night time was drawing near, and he could not miss another supper with her again.

……….

After dinner, which was again filled with steaming dishes meant to warm the body, Celine and Zuriel retired to the drawing room, the book from the library in Zuriel's hand. No one followed them for once, and Celine found the absence of invisible pattering feet to be refreshing.

Candles were lit low and romantic, similar to how they always were during nightly meals. There was a sufficient amount of reading light, however, just as Zuriel had requested.

He led Celine to one of the creamy-coloured sofas and took her hand as she sat. He released it and handed her the book, purposely, nervously hiding the title with his hand. Celine did not look down at it, however, and only smiled at him. She took the book after a moment.

"Read from anywhere you like" he said in a soft tone, his courage failing him. He would tell her where his "favorite part" was when the time was right.

Celine nodded and cracked the tome open, and began reading aloud, softly, about faeries and other little sprites. Zuriel leaned back, his arms propped up on either side of the sofa back, and he listened to her voice, mesmerized by her. He commented every once in awhile, on some particularly interesting bit of magic within the book.

The sweet hour, however, was interrupted when Fiona entered the room. Zuriel looked up at her, fairly annoyed by her lack of self-discipline. She was about to ask him something-trivial, he was sure, when suddenly she cried out in a way that alarmed even Zuriel.

"Milord!" she yelled, pointig to the balcony window, where the curtains were parted and a face, unrecognizable in the shadows, was peering at Celine and Zuriel.

"Heavens!" came Celine's explanation, and she dropped the book in fright. Zuriel rose immediately, and hastened to the window with a speed the Celine's tearful eyes could not keep up with. However, by the time he reached the window, who-or whatever- it was, was gone, already scrambling up the gate.

Zuriel cursed aloud, ran out the room, grabbing a frightened Celine in the process, and yelling for Rhys and another nine menservants to catch whomever it was that had just trespassed on castle grounds.

Thundering footsteps sounded past Celine as the men rushed to follow orders. They were gone, out the massive front entrance, before Celine's head could fully clear.

"What is going on?" she asked Zuriel, worry etched on her pretty face.

"I do not know, my love. It is not good, whatever it is." Frustration was evident in Zuriel's expression as he spoke. It was troublesome that he did not know what was going on in his own castle. He had no idea why someone would have come here. No common thief could have found the castle grounds without a map.

He sighed heavily and escorted Celine to her bedchambers. It was the nearest room in the castle to his own quarters and the servants. He felt that she was safest there.

Celine followed him silently, looked around at every shadow with a fair bit of worry.

Another set of footsteps joined their own. "Milord!" The voice was Amara's.

"Yes?" said Zuriel, all of his patience and cool, calm demeanor returned to normal.

"Would you like me to stay with Celine tonight? I mean, of course someone always stands guard outside of her bedroom, but would you like me to sleep in her chambers with her? I have done it before, it really causes no fuss". Amara was speaking very quickly.

"No, that will hardly be necessary" he replied. "I will stand guard outside of her bedroom tonight. Besides, I am hoping Rhys will catch the thief- if thief he may be, and all will be normal again by tomorrow"

Amara seemed disturbed by this, though Celine could not pinpoint why. "Zuriel, do you really think that is a good idea?" she asked pointedly. "Given your state…"

Zuriel stopped and turned on his heal in one smooth motion. "Do not worry, Amara" he said, his voice soothing, but his authority apparent. He shook his head, annoyed at the lack of trust from the woman, and opened the door for Celine so that she could enter her chambers.

"Fiona will be in to undress you in a moment" he said lovingly. Celine nodded, feeling uneasy.

As Zuriel turned to leave her to her nightly duties, Celine called him back.

"Ah… Zuriel… would you mind staying in here with me tonight?" she asked shyly. She did not want to be alone. Knowing that she had been watched without knowing it disturbed her deeply. She did not want to face those feelings alone, especially on such a cold, dreary night.

Zuriel inhaled deeply, thinking. "Of course" he said after a moment. "I will return the moment Fiona is finished with you. Rest easy" he said to her. Celine nodded childishly and turned to her vanity to wait for Fiona.

The said maidservant entered the room moments later. Her rosy outlook brightened Celine's mood fairly quickly, and for once she was thankful for it. Fiona had her dressed in her nightgown and undid her hair within moments, brushing out the long curls so that they rested softly against Celine's back.

Fiona had left on Celine's white stockings, hoping that they would warm her. Zuriel entered immediately after Fiona left, his presence erasing all memory of Fiona's light "goodnight".

"Better?" he asked Celine. She nodded, having had her nerves calmed significantly. One would think she was accustomed to the thought of being watch by the unseen by now, given that she had spent a better portion of her life unknowingly experiencing such a thing. But no, she sadly was not. It was embarrassing, really.

Celine climbed gracefully into bed, looking more the part of the elegant woman she was than the frightened girl she had played the part of moments ago.

Her ankles looked tiny and delicate beneath the crisp white stockings, and the part in her thing night gown gave way to a goodly portion of her thighs, which were almost as white as her gown itself.

She did not meet Zuriel's eyes as she lay down. When she did, she was surprised to find his jaw slightly open. He closed it all at once and dragged the chaise lounge a little closer to her bedside, that she may feel all the more secure.

"If you grow uncomfortable, I can sleep there" she said, feeling upset with herself for having asked this of him.

"Ahh, so you are against me sleeping beside you in bed, then, Celine?" he teased her. A blush colored her cheeks.

"I am only joking" he said, walking near to her and leaning forward as he spoke, so that he was close enough to kiss her.

Celine blinked up at him innocently. He half-smiled and blew out the candles in the candelabra on her bedside.

"Sleep well, angel" he instructed her, rather than wished her, and he took his place on the chaise, feeling confident that they would both rest fine tonight.

…….

Roland, on the other hand, could not sleep at all. His ankle was throbbing, and he was sorely tempted to throw the doctor from his chambers if he did not diagnose him soon.

"Twisted ankle, nothing more, but you will need to let it rest until at least this coming full moon" he said wisely.

Roland rolled his eyes. "You must be joking" he seethed. He had not the time to wait for his ankle to heal. Zuriel looked all too keen on stealing Celine. And Celine, if Roland's eyes had not failed him, looked all too intrigued by Zuriel as well.

This was impossible. Celine had been promised to him since her very infancy, and another man had dared to steal her from him.

Roland folded his arms and leaned his head back, refusing to look at his bandaged ankle. The pain from the fall at the castle had not come to full fruition until Roland was halfway home to Avilbane, and it had begun to throb exquisitely. He had been nursing the damned thing since he arrived at Colne Manor. Luckily, Lord Colne was away on business, so he did not question his son's whereabouts for the day. Not that Roland truly had to answer to him in the first place, still, it was better that he did not have to deal with anyone at the moment.

Especially the doctor. He wished now that he had not called him here in the first place. He could have diagnosed his damned ankle himself!

"Alright, alright, out, now, thank you sir" said Roland monotonously, hiding his inner annoyance.

The doctor raised a gray, bushy eyebrow, but left soundly enough, warning Roland again, on his way out of his bedchambers, that he needed to rest. Roland through him a look of utter distaste, and the doctor was gone.

Roland did not have the time for such follies. He needed to return Celine to her home. To her rightful place beside him.

He decided that he would wait a week, and not a moment longer. He also wondered, for a moment, if the witch had somehow predicted that all of this would happen, and that was what the potion was for. He stared over at the glass vile, which was placed on his bedside. It seemed to mock him.

He would have to drink it now. He somehow knew that. He did not know if it was blood or a mixture unheard of by popular science, but he knew he needed it to kill Zuriel.

Rolling over on his side and ignoring the pain it brought to his ankle, he did his best to sleep, though when he finally did, his slumber was one of unrest.