Author's Note:Sorry for being so late! . Took me a few days to do this because I've been distracted by Drrrchat drama, and Rp-ing with a West who's one of ma new buddies :Db (I'm not a fan of Germancest but I lurve Rp-ing! :Db) so sorry for the late update. I am sorry, so here's the chapter for all your waiting.
P.S. I want you to think of the italics during Valentin's retelling as a memory tha was the intended purpose. Danke.
enjoy~
Valentin's stomach churned as he stared out the window of the taxi he and his brother had taken, on their way to their hotel somewhere in the heart of the Romanian capital of Bucharest. He hadn't been to this city in a couple months, not since he left for America. Valentin clutched the hem of his red jacket sleeve, the cuff striped with white, his black leather gloves making a stressed sound. He watched the buildings and cars and people pass by as the taxi whizzed through the streets. It was safe to say, Valentin was nervous. Very nervous. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, this was going to be a long two weeks, and without Gilbert there to comfort him, it was only going to be longer. Suddenly, he felt someone nudge him. "Hey, are you okay?" Aleksander asked, a concerned expression creasing his face. Valentin nodded slightly, exhaling, "Da, I'm just a little nervous. Aleks, what if I have a panic attack, or a nervous break down?" Vali began to panic then gasped as if he realized something, "What if they come after me? Aleks!" he cried, grabbing his brother's arms and shaking him from the other side of the taxi.
"Vali! Vali! Calm down!" Aleksander pleaded, grabbing his little brother's arms as best he could with his own restrained. "They're not going to get you! There'll be police officers there to protect you, they'll be in hand cuffs and leg restraints, Vali, you'll be okay." he assured in a calm voice. Valentin looked at his brother a moment, studying his face before exhaling and nodding, going back to his spot on the other side of the back seat. "It's just a little nerve wracking." he whispered as an apology, returning his gaze back out the window. "It's okay Vali, I understand. Don't worry too much, I wont let them get you." Aleks comforted, patting his brother's leg before he too looked out his own window. "Mulţumesc, (Thank you) Aleks." Valentin whispered, still unsure.
They arrived at their hotel: Casa Capsa. It was beautifully decorated in an early 19th century style, with plush Victorian furniture and dark wood finishes everywhere. Valentin instantly fell in love with the place. They walked up to the tiny reception desk and received their room keys, making their way up to their room.
Upon entering the room, Valentin fell face-first onto the bed nearest the window, Aleksander chuckling and going into the bath room for a much needed shower after throwing his suitcase onto what would be his bed. The moment the bathroom door closed Valentin's phone rang, "He did the mash. He did the Monster Mash, the Monster Mash. It was a graveyard smash! He di-" it rang before Vali finally answered it at he brother's request,: "Get that! I don't care what kind of mash he did! Thanks Bobby "Boris" Pickett for the news flash!"
"Alo?" Valentin answer was muffled due to his face buried in the comfy green comforter of his twin size bed. "Vali?" Valentin shot up from the bed, "Gilbert!" he squealed. "Hi Vali, I miss you." The Romanian smiled widely at this, "I miss you too. How are you?" he asked. "Gute. Ich bin Gute, mein lieb, Danke. (Good. I'm good, my love, thank you) My dad and I made up, we're on good terms now." Gilbert said happily. "That's good! I'm happy to hear that. I'm glad to know he wont hurt you anymore." Valentin said with a smile. "So am I. So, how's it being back in Romania?" Gilbert asked. Valentin sighed, "It's….it's certainly, certainly a different feeling than before. I cant help but feel like, like something bad is going to happen. Yes this is my home, but I don't want to be here knowing they know I've comeback and….they could get me."
Valentin confessed, crossing his legs on the bed, only to fall backwards on it, hat rolling off and onto the floor. "They won't, Vali. They cant. Don't worry about it, I wish I could be there to comfort you." Gilbert sighed. "It's okay, hearing your voice is enough." Valentin assured. "Aww!" Aleksander cooed from the bathroom, muffled by the cream door. "Shut up, Aleks!" the blonde shout at the door, hearing his brother laugh at him and start the shower. Gilbert chuckled at his boyfriend and the two carried on talking about anything and everything before falling asleep on the phone.
The next day was the day of the trial and Valentin's hands shook as he buttoned his plaid maroon vest, the one he wore the first time Gilbert came to his memory made him smile. "Hey, don't be so nervous sunbeam. Everything will be okay. Kay?" Aleksander smiled at his little brother n the mirror, clasping a hand on his shoulder. Valentin nodded. "Da." he took a deep breath, "You're right." and put on his hat. Both brother's left their hotel, getting into their rental car and driving to the court house.
Upon arrival, Valentin refused to leave the safety of the car. "Vali, come on, you have to get out, you cant stay in there the whole trial." Aleks warned from the open driver's door, leaning on the hood, stooped enough to see his brother who locked eyes at the street life in front of him. Aleks sighed and got back into the driver's seat, turning his head to look at his brother. "Valentin, listen, nothing is going to happen, no one is going to hurt you. I promise." he reached for his brother's hand, squeezing it lightly. "You're going to be okay. I'm here, Gil's waiting for you back home, everything will be alright. But right now, you have to come inside and you have to testify. If you don't, those men will never be punished for what they did to Mama and Papa. Do it for Mama and Papa if for no one else." Valentin clenched his jaw as hi brother said this to him. "Okay." he whispered meekly. They got out of the car and made it up the marble steps into the courthouse.
They met with their lawyer near the entrance, "There you two are! I was beginning to think you'd never show!" their lawyer Eduard exclaimed. "Sorry about that, Eduard, Vali's still…uneasy about the trial." The older brother apologized. "It's alright, I understand. Hello Valentin, I'm your lawyer, Eduard von Bock." their lawyer introduced himself, holding out his hand for Valentin to shake. The blonde boy shook the man's hand. Eduard checked his watch, "Oh, my, we need to get to the court room, the trial is about to start." he warned, pushing the boys towards their designated court room.
"So, Valentin, do tell the jury your recollection of that night's events." Eduard requested, pacing front of the judges bench. Valentin closed his eyes and took a deep breath before doing as instructed.
"I was sleeping. I remember what I was dreaming, I was dreaming about the up coming trip I was going to go on with my parents, Aleks was going to meet us there with Sofia. In the dream, I remember we were walking through an old cobblestone street, laughing and smiling. Then I heard screaming. I-it woke me up. I remember shooting up in bed and looking towards my closed door. Screaming, there was more screaming and then…..Boom. Boom. Gun shots. I was scared and I started to cry, because I was worried for my parents. I remember clutching my blanket before getting up and going to the door. But, before I could even touch the knob, brass, the door flew open. These men, men I recognized as those from the village, they burst through my door and grabbed me. They tackled me to the ground, one two holding my arms and legs, pinning me to the floor."
With eyes screwed shut, tears began to pour from Valentin's eyes as he remembered the traumatizing events, just like when he told Gilbert, he hands clenching and twisting his cream dress shirt at the hem.
"They were strong, stronger than me. I tried to move, tried to get away, but I couldn't. I screamed and ….and…"
"It's okay Valentin, take a breath if you need to." Eduard eased, trying to calm the boy in the witness box down as best he could. Valentin took a deep breath, releasing it before he continued.
"They wouldn't let go. There was a man, standing above me. He smiled, he looked like a monster in the dark. He held a small knife, a dagger, in his hand, I could see the hall light glint off of the silver blade. It was silver, I know it was. They thought we were vampires, so they tried to kill us."
"Vampires?"
"Yes. The people of my village have been strong believers in the tales of our ancestors since they were spurred. Vampires. These men, they thought my family was nothing but a group of vampires because we were a little different, it didn't matter if we watched over and protected that village from the very beginning, their families, no. That man, he stood over me, the dagger gleaming. He bend down towards me, he rose his hand, he brought it down. But before the blade could pierce my heart, he was thrown off by my dog, Zanzibar. The grip of the men who held me down was loosened, I ran out of my room, to my parents' room, I wanted to know if they were okay, I wanted them to comfort me."
At this point, Valentin was trying his damnedest not to bawl his eyes out the images still fresh in his mind.
"They couldn't. They…..they…they killed my parents! My Mama, my Papa, the shot them with silver bullets and steaks to the hearts. There was so much blood. My Mama and Papa, they were dead. I broke down and cried, I cried harder than ever have. My servants chased them away. I went to go live with my brother Aleksander after that. These men…they took innocent lives because of a stupid superstition. That is no excuse for what they did. They shouldn't be allowed out. They should be locked up forever."
The boy finished his retelling, as he opened his eyes again, tears flowing freely. His lawyer nodded, "Thank you Valentin. You can go sit down now." Shakily, Valentin stood up, wiping his eyes, and walked back to his seat at the table next to his brother. Aleksander wrapped an arm around his little brother in an effort to comfort him. The convicted showed no remorse for their actions during the boy's retelling. "Are you done, Mr. von Bock?" The judge asked. Eduard nodded and made his way to sit next to the brothers. "Alright, the court will meet again tomorrow at 11:45 am. Adjourned." the judge slammed his gavel on the bench, everyone standing up to leave. Valentin looked at the men who ruined his life before he left, each glaring at him with hatred. Valentin practically ran from the courtroom, the men laughing heartily at his reaction earning a glare from Aleksander before he followed his brother out.
Valentin flopped onto his bed when he got back to the hotel room, instantly falling asleep, all the crying he'd done on and off through out the day. He just wanted to go home, to Gilbert. He felt safer there, the nagging feeling that something bad was going to happen still chewing at the back of his mind. Just as he was beginning to dream, a scream woke him from his half-slumber. "Aleks! What, what is it?" Valentin asked, his voice laced with worry. Aleks held his phone to his ear, a huge grin on his face as he looked to his brother. "Vali!" he yelled happily, "Sofia! She's pregnant! I'm going to be dad!" he squealed. Vali smiled at his brother, "That's amazing news, Aleks! I'm so happy for you." Aleksander twirled around and jumped up and down, Valentin could hear Sofia laughing over the phone. Vali really was happy for his brother, watching him run from the room and down the hall telling everyone he saw, "I'm a Papa!"
Valentin smiled, then flopped back on the bed and promptly passed out.
The next morning, they went back to court as they did for the near two weeks, up until the sentencing date.
"Has the jury come up with a verdict?" The judge asked. A man from the jury stood up, "Yes your Honor we have. We find all three defendants guilty."
"And your sentencing?" the judge asked. "We sentence Mihail Dalca and Virgil Funar to 45 years for their roles as accessories to first degree murder and as accessories to attempted murder of the first degree. We sentence Fane Sala to life in prison for first degree murder and attempted murder of the first degree." the juror announced. Valentin sighed in relief, but the offender's reactions were quite the opposite, Mihail and Virgil groaning in what seemed like irritation, Fane shooting up from his chair, said chair falling to the ground, his hands slamming on the table top as he screamed, "What!? I did this world a favor and you punish me for it!?" he screeched, snapping his head towards the blonde boy and growling and lurching towards him.
Valentin flinched and cowered into his brother, watching as the multiple officers tackled Fane, holding him back. Fane struggled against the officers until one of them tazed him, making him shudder and fall to the floor. Valentin hid his eyes in his brother's chest, Aleks patting his back to try and calm him. With a nod from their lawyer, Aleksander stood up and walked his brother out of the courthouse. "I'll get you Nicolae! I will find you and I will finish you off! You will be sorry for what you've done here!" the convict screamed after the retreating boys, aiming his threat at the blonde. Valentin looked back with fear just as the doors closed, seeing hatred and evil determination in the convict's eyes. Valentin was terrified.
"Gilbert!" Valentin cried, jumping into his boyfriend's arms and being spun around. "I wasn't expecting you to come to the airport to meet me!" he said once he was set back onto the ground. "I wanted to surprise you." Gilbert smiled. Valentin hugged his love tightly. "I missed you so much." Gilbert smiled, "I missed you too. So how was it?" he asked, walking out of the airport hand in hand with his boyfriend. "Well…I cant help this sinking feeling, but…."
Author's Note: CLIFF-HANGER! Yes, this is the last chapter of Fear Holds you back, But I will be starting the sequel, and I'll call it…Fear's Race. I hate it but I want it to have Fear in it so you know that it's apart of this story. I hope you liked this enough to want to read the sequel! I want to thank you all who's read/favorited/subscribed/and reviewed! It all means so much to me! This isn't the end of Gil and Vali, so watch out for Fear's Race! (and if I get/think up a better title from you guys/myself then ill make an author's note on this story to let you know before I post it) Danke for every thing!
The website I was on is drrrchat .com (take out the one space) for incase you guys want to get on there. I'm Lille on there with the pink maid icon. Find me ^^! See ya!