Meus Dulce Angelus – Chapter 17 – Made of Gold

AN – Feeling rather ill right now but I'm writing anyway.
Skaramoosh x

Disclaimer: I do not own Twiglet.

Made of Gold

A POV
I sat on the bed and cradled her in my arms. Carlisle was right; she did look like she was in pain.

'It's alright filia, I'm here.'

I rocked her gently and she cried softly.

'Angelus.'

The word was barely above a whisper but it was the first thing she had said since she returned. Then the screaming began. I suppose I expected it, I knew that she was going through the pain that I had felt when I changed only more than a hundred times worse. That didn't make it any easier to me to hear my child's agony so loudly. I held her to me until many hours later her screams turned into whimpers.

'No more, please no more.'

She was writhing against my arms and it broke my heart a thousand times. I stroked her hair.

'If there's anything I could do, to ease the terrible pain you're suffering, then I would.'

'It's too late, it's taken over.'

She looked directly into my eyes.

'I'm burning.'

I held her close; not being able to do anything to help made me feel so worthless. I wished that I could take all her pain from her, make her happy and safe. But I couldn't, I could only hold her while she screamed. I rocked her in time with her breathing when the screaming stopped.

F POV
The entire castle had been silent while she screamed, out of respect no doubt. Each one of us felt her pain, as our strongest human memory had been when venom coursed through our veins. After the first hour Jane fell, dry-sobbing, into Alec's arms and he carried her away. Marcus walked over to me and led me out into a corridor.

'You know you're tied to her, don't you?'

I nodded.

'Go to her, she needs all the help she can get.'

'I... I don't want to frighten her.'

I had always known that my big frame could be intimidating and we had no idea what she had been through.

'You won't, I promise.'

We went up to her room together.

'Let me let Aro know, I'm sure he will have no problems.'

I waited outside the door and listened. She was chanting softly in Latin, my knowledge of the language was limited but I picked up the odd word here and there. 'Please' and 'burning' to name a few.

Aro came out of the door and looked me directly in the eyes.

'I trust you, look after her.'

'With my life.'

I hadn't meant to sound so intense but I meant it. Marcus nodded at me as I entered the room. She was curled up on the bed, still chanting in a dead language. I sat carefully on the edge of the bed, moving slowly, as not to startle her.

'Hey.'

She stared at me, tears streaming down her face. I couldn't stand being so helpless when she was in so much pain.

'Can I hold you?'

I held my arms out, but it was her choice. She nodded and I pulled her into my embrace. I kept one arm around her waist and used the other to stroke her hair. I listened to her voice, it was soft and melodic and it filled my heart up. She'd pick up the ancient language so easily, it had taken me over a hundred years to master Italian and she has learnt Latin in less than a month. So bright, so intelligent. I studied her face; she's really fucking beautiful, so perfect it hurt. I reminded myself that she was hurting more than I could ever imagine. Why her? Why had this perfect, gorgeous girl been tortured when she's done nothing wrong? It was then, sat there on her bed cradling her small body to mine, that I realised I love her. Everything about her made me love her, her passion, her beauty, her sheer bloody bravery. I would've given in and kissed her but I didn't know if that would scare her. I couldn't scare her away, no; I had to be there for her. I had to stay strong.

A POV
Marcus turned to me a few minutes after we had left her with Felix.

'He's realised how much he loves her.'

'What about her?'

His brow creased.

'She's in too much pain to fathom much right now, but she does feel very strongly towards him.'

I peeked through the door to look at Felix. He's strong and loyal and he has never ever failed me. Despite his build and brute strength he has a massive heart. I looked at his kind face; his eyes were focused on her, his arm around her waist. He was leaning back slightly, trying to make her more comfortable. He stroked her hair so very tenderly and her chanting turned into silence. Her hand rested on his chest and soon she buried her face in his chest as well. She started screaming again. I rushed onto the bed.

'Felix, just, let me.'

'NO!' He roared.

Then his face softened.

'I'm sorry Aro, it's just...she's...'

'I know, I know.'

He passed her to me and she buried her face in my shoulder. I looked up when I heard Felix's broken sobs, he had hold of her hand and she was squeezing it like it was the only thing keeping her alive.

'Oh, I must look so weak. I'm not good enough for her.'

With some difficulty he tore his gaze away from her to look at me.

'You're her father, you must think she deserves better than me.'

'Felix, you look at her like she's made of gold. In my eyes, that makes you perfect for her.'

He smiled but his face showed me he was still upset for her. I couldn't blame him. Words cannot describe how terrible it makes me feel to know my child; my beautiful, precious child is suffering so badly. The clock struck four, the beginning of Felix's guard duty. Demitri appeared at the door, his eyes offering sympathy to Bella.

'I'm coming Dem.'

He kissed the back of her hand quickly. His brother pulled into a one-armed hug.

'I'm happy for you bro.'

'Fix and Dem, brothers for eternity right?'

Demitri nodded and they both left for their guard duty.

'Angelus...'

'Sic?'

'I can't sleep, the fire won't let me.'

'Oh Bella...'

I rocked her again, slower this time.

'I could try and get you to sleep; it would be more forcing you if I'm honest filia. I wouldn't want to frighten you.'

'I just want to sleep!'

Her voice broke into sobs on the last word.

'My poor child! Alright, lie down.'

I knew there was every chance it would scare her but she needed to sleep. I did what I had to do.
(AN – Aro can make her sleep because she's his daughter)

B POV
Whilst he was making me sleep, which I must admit was slightly frightening at first, one little phrase from an earlier conversation stuck in my mind.

You look at her like she's made of gold.

How could anybody possibly look at me, a repulsive, disgusting mess, and think that I could be compared to gold?

'Don't... don't resist me, now. Come on, sleep.'

His voice was laced with authority but I could tell he felt bad about doing this, it was written all over his face.

'It's okay.' I whispered.

Then I let the blankness take me.

AN – Just in case anyone is interested, I also have a Phantom of The Opera FanFic called Ars Gratia Artis. Right now it only has two chapters but I plan to write more in the near future.

Skaramoosh x