Hello everyone! Sorry for the delay. I hope you enjoy this latest update!

I have taken to commissioning pieces for my OCs and Beaux has been included. Please take the time to view this lovely piece by BlueAiden and let me know what you think. Just delete the portions that say [remove] to activate the link!

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Chapter 27: Half-Mortals

"What on earth do you mean?!" Meliah gasped.

"Do you honestly not know?" Louis asked. Beaux could hear the suppressed plea in his voice. A long screech of wood on wood echoed through the small room. Beaux could only assume that Meliah was once again drawing close to Louis.

Suddenly, the only sound that seemed to be reverberating was the thin breathing of two half-mortals. Meliah appeared to be trembling; Beaux flinched.

"I know who you are," Meliah whispered raggedly.

The silence was instantly shattered. Louis jumped to his feet, and his footsteps seem to move further away. Beaux leaned closer only to realize that Louis was merely walking around the periphery of the room in a disoriented manner.

Beaux heard the clatter of china as Louis handled what sounded like a frail teapot and a cup. The porcelain seemed dangerously close to bursting in Louis' stern and anxious grip.

"Would you like some help?" Meliah offered timidly. She bit back a small cry when she got to her feet. The pressure on her ankle flushed blood to the wound, and Beaux found himself pinching his nose in horror.

"No, thank you," Louis replied quickly. He turned around and Meliah flopped reluctantly back into her chair. "You seem to be the type of girl to break things."

"That's not so!" Meliah defended herself valiantly. "I am very careful!"

Louis let out a soft chuckle. "Miss Lavoisier, glass is not the only thing that can be broken."

Beaux imagined Meliah's eyes narrowing precariously. "I have no idea what you are talking about." Her voice was hard.

"Miss Lavoisier, I will ask a favor of you. You may think of this small request as a compensation for my failed attempt to save you."

Louis seemed to watch Meliah calmly, waiting for a response. When none came, he continued unabashedly.

"I know that Mr. von Chatillon has committed a great crime against you. Yet I also understand that he is very much in love with you."

Meliah made a small noise that indicated her incredulity. "I would not be sure of that! He is no longer in love with me!"

Beaux nearly collapsed on the floor in surprise. He had never suspected that Meliah would be so blatantly unsatisfied with his sacrifice.

"No, I am very sure," Louis insisted. "And your rejection will only cut him further-"

Beaux could feel the tears now running down her pink cheeks in indignation. "Beaux has been avoiding me all the while we were coming to this awful place! He knows that there is no cure for me! He has lost interest or desire or affection! Or something! Whatever he lacks for me in his heart has now manifested into disgust!"

Louis sighed and generously placed his hands on top of hers in an attempt to mollify her. "Do you truly believe that?"

"I know so!" Meliah answered. The chair squeaked uncomfortably beneath her as she shook angrily.

Louis laughed gently. "You know you don't believe that nonsense. I am sure there are other reasons behind his actions. Please, I beg of you. Embrace his love and put his poor heart to rest. You are the one person who can grant me this ease of mind."

"You truly care," Meliah murmured. She said it more to herself than she did for Louis. "But why-?"

"If you love him, you must spare him the pain. And you do love him do you not?"

Meliah was very quiet and Beaux felt his lungs constrict and his body seize in dread. Of course she did! She had endured so much on his behalf. He himself had risked his life for her. She must love him.

"I do." Meliah answered and her voice became unsteady with emotion. She appeared to be crying once more. "I love him very much. I only wish that – that – I don't really know anymore. I don't know what I want."

"Shhh, try not to think too much. Love is irrational (that is, according to what I have heard). You must only protect that which your heart desires," Louis said simply. "You, Miss Lavoisier, are my one chance at acceptance in this fam-"

"But does he know?" Meliah asked uncertainly.

"No."

"Will you ever tell him?"

"Yes, perhaps, but not now. Not yet."

Beaux heard Louis walking towards the other end of the room again. The window creaked as Louis drew back the heavy velvet curtains.

"It's nighttime," he murmured in wonder.

A sudden creak and a thud indicated that Meliah's chair had been knocked over. She limped to the window and emitted a gasp of terror.

"Louis! You must leave me!"

"What do you-? Does this having anything to do with the condition the Assembly spoke of?"

"Yes! I – I can not control it!" Meliah grasped Louis by the arms and pushed him desperately towards the door where Beaux was standing behind. "You must leave me!"

Beaux rushed back into the other room and tried to act as naturally as possible. Louis was out in the hallway, banging heavily against the door.

"Miss Lavoisier! This is ridiculous!" Louis cried as though her sudden outburst was a result of childish fancies.

"You don't know what you speak of," Beaux hissed. He brushed Louis aside and stood between him and the door with a confident yet dreading stance.

"I do!" Louis retorted. "I've seen this before!"

Beaux was so surprised that his stern expression was quickly replaced by a queer consternation. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, this can be fixed!" Louis exclaimed.

Beaux and Louis watched one another without speaking for nearly two minutes. And within the quiet – palpable and deep –gentle footsteps began to patter. The door knob rattled precariously and Beaux grabbed the door shut.

"Please," a startling, high voice begged, "Louis. Beaux. Let me out please."