"The Pianist"

~Chapter Ten~

"Ma'am, are you all right?" Gabriella opens her eyes to find a maid looking at her; well, she supposes it's a maid...but not many maids have ...beaked faces? Talons for hands? She clears her throat. "I'm...I'm fine." Lie, no she's not. The young...woman tilts her head to the side, her eyes big and brown and inquisitive.

"Would you like some lunch, Miss?" She asks, Gabriella shakes her head. Her damp hair flinging small water droplets on to her face. Suddenly, the fact that she was Troy's room while he was bathing struck her...and then the fact that he had pulled her into the water; and then the whole of their activities in the water...she feels the heat rushing to her face, making her burn bright scarlet. Her heart begins pounding again, and she swallows hard to try to squander it.

"I-I think I'll just go dry off. Where's Lora-Madame Bolton?" The maid nods with a solemn face, her eyes glazed over.

"I will go get her when the sun's up." Gabriella tilts her head, "Why?"

"Because she's not...ready to see anyone at the moment." Gabriella bites her bottom lip, looking down at her wet gown; shuddering at the coldness that suddenly wraps around her from where she still feels Troy straddling her. Tickling her. Then how she had shoved him and straddled him...how close their faces were...how much closer she would've had to lean just kiss him- no! It's madness! She hasn't even been with a man before in her life and she's day dreaming like some adolescent school girl about the most...the most...ah! She can't even find a good insult for him at the moment! Damn Troy Bolton and his fingers that leave trails of fire on her body! She clears her throat once more, straightening herself from the door and smoothing out what she can of the wet gown.

"Can I...I need to change." The maid looks at her, her eyes going up and down her body; as if noticing the fact that she's wearing wet clothes for the first time. She nods, "of course, would you like another silk gown? I'm sure madame Lorana will not mind-"

"No," Gabriella says shaking her head. Although, the silk gown is very beautiful and extravagant, it's not her. It's not what she envisions herself wearing at all; ever. "I..." she looks at the maid, at what she's wearing. A simple dress; plain blue cotton with white lace around the wrists...well, she'd do without the lace, but if it is sewn on the dress. Sigh. "I'd like what you're wearing."

The maid is taken aback, "B-but I'm only a maid; and this dress would not become you-"

"Silk doesn't become me." Gabriella whispers, hoping that if she says it to herself and others it'll be true. Maybe that's why Troy had touched her in the tub...he likes his women to wear silk. The feel of it on their skin.

Well, she won't give him the satisfaction. She'll dress as a maid. "Ma'am." The maid says, "it's nearly dawn, you should rest." Gabriella nods mechanically, knotting her fingers together and biting her lower lip. "Come, miss." the young maid turns on her heel and begins walking to a set of doors that is opposite of Troy's chamber but near Lorana and David's. For that, Gabriella is grateful, she wants to be near her papa...when he wakes - she hopes is soon - she must talk to him. She needs to.

He might help her understand ...the mystery that is men.

Her tail swishes in the air as she paces the foyer, nails clicking the grand floor. David, in his large wolf form, huffs out a deep breath and lifts his head from his paws. Normally, as a human he'd grab his wife by her wrists and pin her against the wall and sooth her stress and anxiety with kisses that grow into raging fires large enough to burn down the whole forests...but no, they aren't human at least for a couple more hours yet. Joy. Love, David thinks; sending his thoughts to her. Please stop pacing, you're creating a draft.Lorana looks at him and literally her shoulders roll forward as her muzzle trails the ground.

When I'm a human again, we need to do something about this floor...David rolls his eyes, shaking out his fur as he stands up and stretches. Lorana is pacing; back and forth. He grabs her tail with his teeth and pulls her back. She whines and turns around to face him. What was that for!?

You. David says, his eyes narrowing into slits. Your pacing is annoying me.Lorana shakes her wolf head and looks up the stairs at the doors that lead to their chamber before she looks back at her husband.

Forgive me for being anxious! We have an injured man in our chamber tonight! Gabriella is out of sorts! Troy is...well, he's in his chamber which is nothing new-

Lorana! Davids shouts, earning a yelp from his wife as she shrinks down on to the ground. He let's out a slow breath. Do you not see it?

See what, David?She tilts her head to the side, her ears perking up and her mouth drooping open slightly. Even in wolf form, David still manages to smile.

How Troy immediately went after her when she left. How concerned he was for her well being; offering our place so her father could have someplace warm-Lorana gasps, yes even in her present form, and shakes her head as she whines in excitement and renews her pacing. David sighs, sitting back on his haunches and looking at the stairs; they were in front of their door, but after Gabriella had shown that bit of fear he thought it best if they steered clear of her while they were wolves. Obviously, she's had a bad experience with them.

Do you think they'll get married? Lorana asks, David whips his head around to find his wife staring at him. He laughs out in a bark, my dear, they've only just met and you're talking marriage?

She shrugs, I've only known you on our wedding day.

It was arranged, remember?

And it still is the best day of my life- second to having Troy that is. David laughs out again, yawning and laying down with his head on his paws; Lorana joins him and cuddles deep into his side. Hmm...such a strong husband. She married a fine man, and if what David has said is true, then they'll be another Bolton wedding soon.

You're thinking out loud again, David says, rolling his eyes, get some rest. Don't dwell on it.

You brought it up.

And I'm beginning to regret doing so.

Then why did you?

I thought it'd make you calmer...

Wrong, love, wrong.

Oi, just get some sleep already. The sun will rise in less than...I have no clue, but it'll rise soon. Lorana barks out a laugh and brings her muzzle closer to her husbands, touching her nose to his and closing her eyes. Their breaths coming out in short, warm puffs. Soon enough, they let slumber drag them through peaceful bliss.

He hadn't meant to offend her. He just asked a question, 'where was your father...' he sighs, laying his head back on the edge of the tub of his bath- a bath that is less enjoyable without a woman..hmm, what Troy wouldn't give to have her naked in his arms. Her back arched below him; rising her breasts to his mouth as he suckles and teases each of her beautiful nipples- he shakes his head, standing from the water and calling out for his servant; who enters immediately.

"Y-yes?" Troy narrows his eyes, but smirking as he imagines the man's pathetic stance and voice quivering in front of him.

"My robe. Get it. Make up my bed, and bring me tea." His voice is cold again, void of emotion and laughter. Even to his ears, he sounds...different. With Gabriella he's can feel his smile on his face and hear it in his voice; how long has it been since had had laughed like she had made him laugh? Too long, Troy thinks. Much too long. The servant comes back with his robe and a towel, handing the latter to Troy so he could dry off and step out on to the floor, and then he helps him into his robe.

"Tea. Now." Troy commands, tying the sash on his robe, his servant nods fearfully- "I can't hear a bloody nod, you weasel! Speak around me!"

"Y-yes sir! Right...right away!" He scuttles from the room, Troy runs a hand through his wet hair and closes his eyes. Even blind, he finds the darkness from closing his more comforting than the darkness that surrounds him when he's awake. He doesn't at least see shadows when he has his eyes closed- shadows? He pops his eyes open, moving his head around his room. Nothing but blackness, but then his servant comes back into his chamber with his pathetic stance and voice. He's a shadow. "You-your tea will be ready in a mom-moment-"

"Blasted idiot! You're a shadow!" Troy yells, making his servant jump,

"I'm ..I'm..what sire?"

"A shadow! I see shadows! Black shadows...people!" Sort of, they are blurry and bleary shadows, but still...

"Should I tell you-your parents?"

"Don't mind it, it's just...shadows!" Normally, his servant doesn't talk to him but with the prince this excited, he's pushing his luck.

"Thi-think you're getting your sight back?" Troy scowls, again, the pathetic looking shadow of his servant.

"No. I don't, why? Because I'm shadows of people everywhere else is just stupid darkness."

"b-but...i-it's a step in the ri-right dir-"

"right direction? Ha! If it were then I'd be seeing more than just shadows!" He gestures wildly at his servant, "but look who I'm talking to! You're just a poor man who waits on persons who are much wealthier than you! You have no concept of what it's like to be blind! To be surrounded by constant darkness, you ...fucking idiot!"

"And yet here we thought you were making a change for the better." Says three warbling voices at the same time. Troy stills immediately, feeling every muscle in his body recoil, his jaw tick forward as it tensed. "We make you see the shadows of anybody who comes near enough...and you're still an ungrateful prat-"

Troy whips around, nearly falling but he catches himself on the tub's edge. The three beggar women look him up and down, "nice robe, by the way...very becoming of you-"

"What are you doing here, Wenches!?"

"Ah ah ah," the voices say at the same time, "Troy, treat us and everyone around you with better respect. We can make you see only blackness again. We just though you'd like to see a little bit of who is speaking-"

"Get out." Troy mutters, grabbing tightly on to the edge of the tub. He doesn't want to strike women that are older than him; he has that much respect.

"We came to check-"

"GET OUT!" Troy yells, the three beggar's sigh and shake their heads; hanging them in frustration. The first two, the oldest of the three, vanishs with a crack in the air, but the youngest lingers. Troy can feel her presence but doesn't speak to her, he turns his head away; as if trying real hard to see something. Anything. In front of him.

"We do care about you," the youngest says, he continues to ignore her. She sighs, looking at the servant, "bring the man is tea, please...make sure he's safe when he goes to bed- don't want him catching a cold." With her last tender words, she vanishes with a crack in the wind and leaving Troy to his self brooding.

:D Another update! WOW! I hope you all like this chapter! For story information, be sure to check out my facebook page, it's called "Sa5m Greene". Also, I have a new story out it's called "Break Out" for those who like Supernatural and High School Musical, it's a cross over between the two. I hope you all will check it out and leave a lovely review for me. :)

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~Elena xx