You woke up with a slight headache. Although the reoccurring motion of someone rubbing your forehead was slowly soothing it away. Relaxed and warm you didn't even think of asking the person's name. Or even what had happened? Instead you allowed your eyes to stare at the man that was currently staring back. His hand never wavered, but his smile grew much wider than when you first awoke.
He had short, messy blonde hair with firm eyebrows upholding the green sapphires that were tucked away into this eyes. You were sure that he had once been a model, though the creases among his face showed that perhaps that was years ago. It didn't take away from his beauty, no, it just added onto it. Made him appear wiser, perhaps even gentler.
When you finally were ready to speak it seemed that you couldn't.
"Ssshhhh, ssshhhh poppet. Try not to use your voice. The accident left you a bit bruised and very weak." Softly he brought his hand down to your cheek, gently stroking it.
"I know you're very confused now, darling, but please try to relax. You were in a car accident a few days ago. The car struck you head on, but thank heavens you were not seriously hurt. Only some bruising, and perhaps a bit of blood loss. But nothing good old Yao couldn't fix." Smiling brightly down at you, he playfully pecked your nose.
"The man that hit you was sent to jail of course, and he's awaiting trial somewhere or another. Long story short, your in my very own personal hospital in my home, and you are going to be just fine now. You may be sore for a few months after Yao says your ready to leave, but we won't have any problems with you leaving now will we?"
Confusion etched upon your face, you grasped the man's hand, and stopped his repetitive motion.
Frowning slightly he continued, "Oh dear. I suppose the cat is out of the bag now, huh? Well, where to begin? My name is Arthur Kirkland, and I'm the son of Hogan Kirkland - the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. Don't worry, beautiful, that just basically means that I have the ability to do a lot of so called "immoral" things without having the punishments that come along with them. At least not yet, anyway. My father is fairly good at keeping things under-wraps so to speak." As he chuckled darkly at that, you began to pull the sheets off your form. But before you were able to even leave the bed he had already caught your hand in an unforgiving grip. "Oh poppet, now what would bring you to do a thing like that? I'm only trying to take care of you. Don't you understand that?" A shimmer of what appeared to be pain ran through his eyes as his grip began to soften greatly.
"I didn't mean to hurt you...I just didn't want you to leave. I won't hurt you, not you. Never you. Please try to understand that." Kissing your hand gently, he silently tried to will you to relax again.
"I've adored you from afar for a very very long time. It began when I traveled to America for the first time five years ago. Once I saw you I knew that I had to have you. I remember it clearly..." He sighed dreamily. "You were humming so sweetly while you cooked. That little rump of yours shaking slightly going along to some invisible beat. You seemed so lovely, so innocent. I knew that I had to have you then. But, of course, a good tale does not come without a twist. The moment I began to court you into my arms, I was bombarded by this hideous woman. She seemed so unnatural, so unclean that I had to fix her. I offered her a pastry, just to end her own misery. But she just had to drag me into her home. And what kind of gentleman would I be if I said no? A bad one I suppose..." He wavered.
"She forced my hand into it, you know? Letting a strange man into her home, she was really asking for it, don't you agree?" He asked, patiently waiting for confirmation.
You nodded, still at his mercy.
He smiled lightly and continued, "I was just about to usher you away, when she screamed. I had only stuck a knife into her crotch...it wasn't like she hadn't had worse. I mean really. I knew then that if I had tried to take you, it would only end in tragedy, so I left. It was the hardest decision that I've ever made in my life, but I did it for us. I didn't want those filthy men questioning you over something that I did. Not then, and not now. So in return for her selfishness I plucked out both of her eyes, though I don't really consider that much of a loss for her. At least she doesn't have to look at herself anymore. That stupid, ugly hag..."
"She died." You croaked.
Flashing a toothy grin, he responded. "Oh, did she now? Suicide, then? Do you think she punctured a vein, or do you think she took the coward's coward's way out and shot back a bottle of pills? Mmmhhh definitely the latter wouldn't you agree, beautiful?" He sighed slightly.
And so you vomited. All over Arthur, all over yourself, all over this situation.
You thought that he would hit you, but he only held you closer.
"Oh darling. Did the thought of her make you sick? I'm sorry, angel. I'll never speak of her again." He promised, rubbing back your hair for several moments, he finally left the room and came back shirtless seconds later with a new nightgown and a basket.
"Here, I'll help you put this on." He sharply announced, as if talking to a toddler.
"No, no, I can do it..." You insisted weakly.
"No darling, I'll do it. It's best to let others help you while you are hurt."
Anxiously you allowed him to take the stained nightgown off of you, and he gently replaced it with the new one.
"Now, now. Don't you feel better." He gleamed cheerfully.
Picking up the basket, he laid it beside you on the bed. "Just in case you get sick again, love." He winked playfully.
"Oh, so where were we...oh that's right! After I had left that wretched witch and you, my beautiful angel, I traveled country to country being very well behaved. Trying desperately to keep the police off my trail, and away from you. For so long, so very long, I only allowed myself to visit you once a year. Did you enjoy the gifts I left you? I did so try to keep it simple yet elegant. I made the cupcakes myself, you know." He bashfully added.
"You didn't seem to eat them though." He continued disheartened. "Did you think I would poison you? I know the cupcakes smelled a bit different, but it was only because I had left a little treat for you in them. You do like dogs, don't you?"
You vomited again, but he just stood there rubbing soothing circles across your back.
"That's right, baby, into the basket."
As you finished, he wiped away your mouth with a damp cloth, and persuaded you to lie back down. Pulling the covers under your chin, he kissed your sweaty forehead.
"I believe that's enough tonight, beautiful. Perhaps if you feel better tomorrow we can continue, but either way I'll be here." Too weak to fight, you nodded and allowed yourself to fall into unconsciousness once again.