A/N: Hi everyone! This is a non-cannon version of the events of Edward Mordrake Parts 1 & 2, but there are some similarities. From this point on, spoiler alert!
Monday-Thursday is reserved for college stuff, so expect the next chapter by this Friday (Friday in Southeast Asia, so like Thursday night in the US), where Daniella gets closer to finding out the truth about Edward.
Chapter 8
As soon as he disappeared from Daniella's sight, Edward teleported away to the Freak Show, hiding in the green mists. He knew he had to make a choice soon, and when he thought about it, he had to options: he could break her heart and abandon her, or he could kill her, either of which were not something Edward wanted to do.
For the first time, he wished he were just human once more.
"You've been quiet throughout all that." Edward told It.
Have I? Well, really not much to say, since you won't listen. Are you going to kill her, or not?
"Of course I can't kill her, she's not even a Freak." Edward snapped.
And you were supposed to kill someone yesterday, weren't you? We're breaking all the rules, might as well this too if it'll make you happy.
"Silence!" Edward said hoarsely. He was back in the Freak Show intent on finding a real Freak, should he be forced to hold onto to Daniella before leaving at the last possible moment. The thing was, if he wasn't going to take Daniella, the one he took would have to be the most corrupted, most freakish and vile freak that would make it worth his while to adding to his coterie. But the question is, which one?
He went to Legless Suzy's tent. No, she was inspired by her sin to be a better person. She has no shame.
Paul, the Illustrated Seal. He and I are not very different: he with the deformed arms, and I with a second face; in another life where we were normal, we could have been great.
The pinheads were definitely out of the option.
Just take someone and be done with it, Edward chastised himself. But he knew that the moment he killed someone, he would have to be gone. And if it wasn't going to be Daniella, he would hold on until the last possible moment before he would leave.
~0~0~0~
Edward spent the night watching Salty and Pepper play, acting like children, wishing he had their carefree lives. In a different world, he would have been happily married to Beatrice and would grow old with children and grandchildren possibly as playful as the pinheads were. But instead, It plagued his life and here he was, stuck between two impossible decisions.
He got up, disappearing in a mist of green smoke and going to the Mott Mansion. He appeared just in time to see Daniella's mother leave in her car. He wanted no more than to appear to Daniella in her room, but realized one thing: no one was celebrating Halloween anymore. If Daniella caught him in his "costume"…
An idea crossed his mind and he teleported to her brother's closet. Edward browsed Dandy's clothes, selecting a simple dress shirt, vest, and shorts. He changed in an instant, brushing his hair back to cover It and putting on a gray fedora from Dandy's accessories before reappearing just below the balcony of Daniella's room. He searched the grass for tiny pebbles and, after seeing movement inside her room, began throwing them at the door.
Daniella looked herself in the mirror. Whether or not it was the happy feeling of being loved by someone as amazing as Edward, she decided to wear something pretty even if she wasn't going out. She picked a blue floral sundress with a white belt in the waist—she had worn it the last time she felt happy, and admiring herself in a different light for the first time made everything better. She just finished drying her hair when she heard the tapping on her balcony door. She opened it and smiled as she saw Edward below in the lawn, dressed in an outfit that could have belonged to Dandy or any white upper-class male. Well, he wasn't going to wear that old English outfit again, was he?
"You look different," She smirked.
"A good morning to you too, darling." Edward smiled.
"What are you doing here?"
"You said you weren't allowed to leave." He said pointedly. "It doesn't matter then if I show up?"
Daniella sighed. "You're amazing. Go in the front door."
Daniella broke into a sprint running out of her room and down the staircase, where Edward was already waiting at the bottom.
"Hello, my lovely." Edward grabbed her by the waist before she could reach the bottom step and spun her around the foyer, kissing her on the lips afterwards. So this is what it's like to be human. "I missed you—thought you wouldn't mine my intrusion with your day with your brother."
"Of course not," She turned to yell at the kitchen. "Dora, we're having company for breakfast."
"Who's Dora?" He asked as he led her to sit next to him in one of the couches.
"My mother's maid," Daniella explained. "Been working for her a few years before I left for boarding school—the closest thing to a mother in this house, actually."
Looking at her, sitting casually next to her on the foyer, Edward knew his decision. He couldn't bear to kill Daniella, as well as any chance of happiness she can have with someone from her own world. It will hurt him—almost as much as it will most likely hurt her—but between the choices, only this choice lead to a possible future. Dead and one of the members of his troupe of souls, there was no telling whether or not Daniella would be her normal self or nothing but a silent being that helped him kill his future Freaks if he did kill her.
"Who do we have here?" An African-American woman in an apron came out of the kitchen and caught the two lounging on the couch.
"Dora, this is Edward Mordrake." Daniella stood up and motioned him to do the same. Edward waited for the name to register in Dora's face, and sighed when she didn't.
"Hmm, handsome," Dora said dismissively. She menacingly inched closer to him, waving a spatula near his face. "Harm Danie in any way and I will whoop your little white butt out of this town."
Daniella suppressed a laugh, and Edward smiled. "Yes madam."
"Good," Dora huffed. "I'll be watching you."
She turned back to the kitchen but stopped mid-turn. "Will your brother be bringing that weird clown of his?"
"Probably." Daniella shrugged.
"Yes he will," Dandy entered from the front door, his clothes already dirty so early in the morning. Behind him, the clown walked in, waving at Daniella.
"I guess we're babysitting." Daniella said softly, leading Edward to the dining room.
"Nice outfit," Dandy looked at Edward approvingly. "Something I'd wear—in fact, I think I have that vest somewhere in my closet."
~0~0~0~
Surprisingly, Daniella enjoyed her morning with Edward, Dandy, and Mr. Clown. The clown entertained them, refusing to join them as they ate. Edward was a gentleman through and through, patiently getting along with her brother despite his sudden tantrums at the slightest issue.
Edward felt like he was with a family of his own for the first time. In another life where he lived a human and married Daniella, he would have woken up to this life every day, enjoying the moment with her and possibly their own children. He would have gotten better entertainment, that was for sure, but he was remotely funny…for a child.
True enough, the twins' mother called after they were done with lunch. She told Dandy to be a good boy and—oh yes, send Daniella her love as well. Afterwards, Dandy and Mr. Clown left for wherever their secret club was, leaving Daniella and Edward at the mansion.
"I want to show you something." Daniella pulled Edward in an embrace as soon as Dandy walked out the gate. "My favorite part of the house."
"Very well, darling." Edward grinned. Like a little girl, Daniella led the way, running up the stairs and down the hall. She led him to a large double-door entrance, and before she could open it, Edward put a hand on it and pulled it open.
Inside was a library a bit smaller than his own back in London, but it was very similar. In the middle of the room was a white grand piano, shining as the rays of the sun shone down from the glass ceiling above it.
"Do you play?" Daniella asked as he walked towards the piano in a trance.
"Yes." He replied softly, sitting on the stool. It had been centuries since he had seen a good piano—in his world, he was stuck with the dingy, off-key piano he used while in his own Freak Show. He gently pressed the buttons, delighted at the sound of a perfect piano.
He looked up and patted on the bench, scooting aside to let Daniella sit beside him. "I used to, at least. It's been a while."
He let himself go, losing himself to the harmonious sound. When he was done, Daniella was staring at him, her mouth slightly open.
"Where did you learn how to do that?" She asked quietly.
"I…I played a lot when I was younger." It was technically the truth, two hundred years younger. "Do you?"
"I forgot," She admitted sheepishly, standing up. "I haven't been in this room for a while now."
"Have you read everything here?" He got up, examining the bookshelves filled with old books.
"No," She replied, climbing a ladder. "But daddy did. I was more of a Shakespeare person."
Daniella pulled out a book and climbed down, Edward helping her off at the last step. She led him to a nearby couch and opened the book to a random page. "Romeo and Juliet," She said quietly. "My favorite play."
Farewell!-God knows when we shall meet again.
I have a faint cold fear thrills through my veins
That almost freezes up the heat of life:
I'll call them back again to comfort me;-
She pulled her feet up, leaning on Edward as he read with her, wrapping his arm around her.
How if, when I am laid into the tomb,
I wake before the time that Romeo
Come to redeem me? there's a fearful point!
Shall I not then be stifled in the vault,
To whose foul mouth no healthsome air breathes in,
And there die strangled ere my Romeo comes?
Or, if I live, is it not very like
The horrible conceit of death and night,
Together with the terror of the place,-
As in a vault, an ancient receptacle,
Where, for this many hundred years, the bones
Of all my buried ancestors are pack'd;
It sounded so accurate, so relatable to Daniella's possible situation that Edward squirmed. I'll miss her. Gently, he closed the book for her, and turned her head to kiss her on the lips. It felt so warm, in the coolness of the library, that Daniella turned to face him, lost in the bliss of the moment.
Edward lost himself as well, leading her to lay down on the couch. He started to lower his head, kissing below her neck, and he pinned her arms above her head. Daniella groaned, but immediately opened her eyes and gasped. "Stop."
Edward bashfully let her go, straightening his shirt. "Forgive me…I, I forgot myself there."
"It's fine." She smiled shyly. "I did too. It's just…"
Just what? And that was it: she didn't know. If she was saving herself for someone, it was probably for Edward, since he was the only one she'd consider marrying, so there was no point in stopping. But for what: a society that wouldn't even know? Her mother, who controlled so much of her life that her presence would control this part as well?
"You don't need to explain," He brushed her troubled face with a tender hand. "I won't try that again unless you will it."
"Thank you," She said graciously.
"And of course, this is just between us," He promised, standing up. "Since we found Shakespeare so arousing, what else do you want to do for the rest of the day?"
~0~0~0~
By dinner time, Dandy was still nowhere to be found and Daniella and Edward had dinner served by Dora. After dinner, Dora offered to clear up the table, only for Daniella to insist that she helped, leaving Edward at the table.
"Uhh, Danie, you okay there?" Dora asked as she entered the kitchen. "You have got a man in the dining room as fine as hell and you'd rather be doing dishes."
"Everything's fine, Dora." Daniella said a bit too quickly as she dumped the plates in the sink. She had never washed a dish in her life. "Dinner was amazing, I don't wanna trouble you with too much work."
Daniella was so engrossed with trying to seem like she knew what she was doing that she didn't notice Dora leaning on the counter next to her. "Is this because of what happened in the library?"
Daniella grimaced, putting the dishes down. "Wait, you were there?"
"I was cleaning then I saw you." Dora said defensively. "You seemed so in it, but then you stopped. What gives?"
Daniella scoffed. "Oh Dora, I can think of ten reasons why I shouldn't be making out with my boyfriend in the library."
Dora leaned in closer. "I'm listening."
"Number one…" Daniella started, but then exhaled. "I got nothing.
"Girl, you've changed." Dora complained. "It took alotta nerve to do what you did to go to London, but when you returned, I didn't see that girl with fire in her eyes, I saw that same girl who followed her mother by the leash. And here you are, with an Adonis at your beck and call, and you'd rather be doing dishes and holding him back."
Daniella tried not to think about her dance partner. It was a simple mistake, She told herself. It didn't hurt anyone, and it didn't change you. "It's…it's complicated, Dora."
"Daniella, it's simple: you're living it all wrong." Dora said liberally. "I don't know what you did in London to make you so scared of big changes like your mother, but I don't like it—what happened to the Danie who knew what she wanted and got it? That was the Danie who saved herself and went abroad to follow her own path. Now what?"
"What now, Dora?" Daniella asked.
Like the maternal care Daniella always needed, Dora placed her hands on Daniella's shoulders. "Follow your heart—no one's stopping but you."
"Dora…"
"Who then? The mom who wants to trap you to become a baby machine? The brother who couldn't give a shit about anything that isn't him?"
"You know why, Dora."
"That? That's not a reason to stay and hide, that's a better reason to fuck it all and go. Now: who's stopping you?"
She knew the answer. "I am."
"Damn right you are. Now, are you going to keep stopping yourself for reasons that shouldn't exist?"
~0~0~0~
"Daniella?" Edward placed a hand on her resting hand on the table. "Is everything alright? You're oddly quiet."
"I'm fine," Daniella smiled. "Just thinking a bit."
"Well…I have something to confess."
She remembered the same line her dance partner used. Confess? I caught you in bed, what's to confess? "What is it?"
"Remember when you asked if I had a girlfriend but I didn't say anything more?" Daniella opened her mouth to protest but he held a hand out. "No, Danie, I want to tell you something about…well, Beatrice.
"Beatrice and I grew up together." Edward started. When Daniella made no reaction, he continued. "And our parents were very close. We were betrothed, arranged to marry, and we were more than happy to oblige—after all, I did love her.
"But something happened, and I ended up not marrying her after all. Before, I used to imagine what it'd be like to get married and start a family…today, I felt that with you. I can imagine waking up to surprise you every morning, spend the day with kids—though I'd never spoil my son like your brother—and then end the day with you.
This is it, Edward thought. This is the only way to let her down gently. I can't kill her, but if I don't do this, I'll kill her hope and ability to love someone when I leave. I have to show her that she can find love again…even without me. "Daniella, I—"
Daniella sharply got out of her seat, practically jumped on the arm rest of Edward's chair, and kissed him on the lips. "Shut up, Edward." She murmured as she kissed him. Edward, unable to resist, kissed her back, sliding his chair away from the table and pulling her so she sat on his lap. He placed a strong hand behind her head, and he kissed her passionately as she parted her lips. Edward trailed his lips around her lips, her cheeks, down to her neck, and he could feel something stirring inside him as she gave a soft groan.
Daniella pulled back, her eyes intensely boring into his. "I want you too, Edward." She whispered.
Neither could remember what had happened, but Daniella ran leading him to her room, locking the door behind her. She knew downstairs, Dora probably saw the whole thing. And for once, I don't care, she thought as Edward pushed her against the door.
Daniella raised her arms and Edward pinned them up with his arm, his other hand pulling at the tie under his vest. "I love you, Danie." He muttered under his kisses. "Are you sure about this?"
Wordlessly, Daniella grinned as he planted another kiss on her lips. She broke her arms from his hold and began tugging at his vest until it came off, and then pulled at his shorts as she lead him to her bed, pulling him on top of her.
Edward removed her belt and unzipped the back of her dress, helping her slip out of it until she was in her underwear. He got off her for a while removing his clothes as she watched with a hunger in her eyes. Wow, so this is how it works.
He wanted her so much—the room was dark, and he removed his fedora—and went back on the bed, pinning her arms and legs with his.
"Are you sure, my love?" Edward asked, knowing there was no going back.
"Yes," It was a plea. Without another word, Edward ripped the rest of her underwear, exploring the rest of her body in the dark. It was too late to do anything else. He reached down, working his fingers as she writhed and groaned underneath him.
"I love you, Daniella." He held her hand as he pushed himself inside her. Daniella moaned in pain and ecstasy, gripping at Edward's hand.
A/N: (sudden realization that I am too much of a virgin to write a sexy scene without laughing in front of the laptop and heavily editing parts that sound funny ;_;)