Warning: Will eventually contain mature material. Language. Lemons. Some spicy limes. Maybe full-blown things. ~_^

A Salvation Called Love

-Chapter 16-

-The Hard Decisions-

[Mr. Gold – 2 Weeks Later]

Slowly stretching I sat my pen down and gave a heavy sigh. For the past two weeks I'd been writing a little journal for Annabelle. I was still debating whether or not I could do what it was I was planning, sending Annabelle away back to school, and I had been ever since the day I'd taken her to see her father. That day had really opened my eyes to the fact that in a sense I was hurt Annabelle by having her with me. She would be looked down upon and talked about like she was just another woman who slept around. I didn't want that for her and I also knew that I wanted her to have a better life than I could offer. Right now it was just one of service, temptation, and deceit. I am the Dark One and darkness was inside of me. I'm glad I was able to find the woman who was once Belle, but who is now Annabelle. I wanted nothing more than to lock her away so that the world would never see her again, keep her safe that way. Or possess her that way. But she was a woman who desired to see the world and I had the means of giving that to her.

I stood up and walked over to my bedroom window. Annabelle was working in the garden right now, digging up weeds and removing dead vines from the roses. Thankfully she was wearing gloves this time unlike the time I'd gotten mad at her. I smiled fondly down at her and leaned forward against the window, crossing one of my legs over the opposite ankle. I loved taking breaks from my work and watching her play around in the dirt. She was beautiful. With a heavy sigh I turned back to my desk and sat down. I picked up my cellphone and dialed the number that I'd gotten from the internet. It was to the registration office at Annabelle's university down in Florida. So far away. I gripped the phone tightly and wanted to do nothing more than to hang up and forget making the decision that would take Annabelle away from me. I'd give her the option of course, asking if she wanted to stay or go, but I knew that I'd make her go in the end. If she said she wanted to stay it would give me happiness in her absence. If she didn't want to stay… I'd let her go, my heart empty again.

"Good afternoon, registration office, how may I help you?"

I took a deep breath before talking. "Is Annabelle Amatheon registered for classes this upcoming year?"

"May I ask who this is?"

I sighed. "The one paying for the upcoming year."

"Oh. I'm sorry, just a moment." I heard her clacking away at her keys and she pulled up the information that I already knew. It took her a minute before she spoke up again. "Yes sir, she is registered for classes. This will be her senior year."

I nodded. "And she hasn't paid for the semester yet?"

"No sir."

"I'd like to pay for the full year then. Can you do that from your office?"

She was silent for a few moments as she clacked at her keyboard again. "Yes sir, I'm pulling up everything now. All I need is your name, address, and then your payment information."

"Good." I proceeded and gave her all the information she needed. When she was finally done she told me it was complete and that Annabelle Amatheon was now a registered student for the year. She hung up, wishing me a good day, and I clicked my phone off. I twirled it slowly on top of my desk as I stared out into my room. I didn't want Annabelle to go but if she is to grow, she couldn't grow under my care. It would take at least a century to chip away at the darkness in my soul and she was only human. I sighed deeply and shoved my phone off to the side in order to get back to the journal that I would give Annabelle when I sent her off to school. It would tell her who I really was, who I've really been for hundreds and hundreds of years. She deserved the truth and I was afraid to face her when I gave it to her. A journal would suffice.

[Annabelle]

With a heavy sigh I stood up and dusted off all the dirt that I'd accumulated on my clothes from digging around the garden. I pulled out my phone and looked at the time. It was time to go start getting dinner ready. I walked into the house and up to my room to change. Dominic would probably be in his room working so I didn't have to worry about bumping into him while I did my work. I blushed as I remembered what I'd almost done a few weeks ago with him. Ever since that day I'd been avoiding him slightly, only popping up when he needed me or when I just couldn't stay away any longer. He's also sat and watched me work lately for long periods of time. He just sits there silently watching me, deep in thought. During those times I wondered what he was thinking about. I'd give more than a penny for his thoughts.

While I was changing in my room my computer dinged informing me that I had an email notification. I finished buttoning my pants and walked over to my bed, plopping down beside my computer. I grabbed it up and opened the window where my email was. I arched a brow when I saw that it was from one of my friends. I know that I'd told Dominic that I wouldn't talk to my friends but I opened the email to see what she had said. That didn't mean I would respond to her.

Hey girl! Its two weeks until school starts and I was wondering if you'd finished registering for your classes. If you have, what classes are you taking? I want to know if we have any classes together. And do you have a roommate? Or are you just going to be rooming alone again? I'm jealous! I wish I could afford single occ. When are you going to be driving down so that I can drop in and see you? I hope that your summer was as fun as mine was! It looks like it, with that rich man I saw you in the newspaper with! Who is he anyways? Why didn't you say anything about him? Btw, don't take offense but… he's old! I didn't know you liked men like that. But whatever, everyone likes who they like. I like them a little young myself. HAHA! Peace out, lady! I'll talk to you laterz.

I groaned and flopped back onto the bed. Going back to school had been in the back of my mind but I hadn't really thought what I was going to do about it. I'd made a deal with Dominic saying that I would stay here until my father's debt was paid off. I knew that I still hadn't and I knew that I couldn't go back to school but I didn't know how to break that to my friends. And I didn't know if I really wanted to go back. I've grown fond of living here with Dominic. He could be an ass once in a while and I knew that he had some sort of darkness consuming him much like the grief he's lived with for a long while now, but he's grown on me. I wanted my feelings for him to grow into something more than the flame it was now. I guess I wanted to be consumed by his love, or at least the feelings he could hold for me. Love was something big and he'd loved two people before me. I knew it would be hard for him a third time around, even if I looked like the Belle whom he loved but had also been afraid to love. I sighed and sat up, grabbing my computer and hitting the respond button. I didn't think it would hurt to respond to this one email.

Eva, it's good to hear from you. I am glad that you had an amazing summer and that you're coming back this year. I've registered for classes so all I have to do is pay for them and move into the dorm. Speaking of the dorm, yes I'm having a single. I couldn't stand having a roommate. I love my space waayyy too much! HAHA! So you'll just have to suffer with double occ. For my classes I'll tell you when I get there. Leave you wondering and going crazy. I probably won't be driving down until the day before so you'll have to wait to see me on move in day. And the man that you asked about… he's my employer so you don't need to know anything about him. I've been working for him all summer, hence why I was out with him. Nothing more to ask about so don't. I won't answer, HAHA! I won't be able to email you back so if I don't respond don't think I'm ignoring you. I have to get to work now, I can't slack off. Talk to you later, Eva!

I pushed send and left it at that. I couldn't say anymore to her and I wasn't going to respond to anymore emails from her or my friends. And I probably wouldn't be seeing them again either. My heart was here, with Dominic. No need to finish school. I closed my computer and left it on the bed as I finished getting ready to go cook dinner. When I was ready I looked at myself one more time in the mirror, making sure I looked acceptable for Dominic, and headed down to the kitchen. Hopefully I could get all the cooking done before it was time for dinner.

A.N. - Sorry 'bout the shortness of the chappie, it continues in the next chappie. That's the way I have it planned out. Also, I've got a migraine so chappie 17 might be written and added after midnight. I'm gonna take a nap, LOL! But, these following few chappies are leading up to the biggish event I gave you hints about *^-^* I hope you guys have enjoyed everything so far! You all are encouraging to me! Truly! Thank you! I'll attempt to have the next chappie up soonish, I won't leave you hanging for too long, lol! *^_^*