It's Tuesday, it's 1:33 am, and yeah, I'm posting a new chapter.
AnimeQueen1260: I'm glad you liked it. Which Zelda games do you have?
Guest: I don't know if you're already tired of reading this but I'm going to write it anyways; you are the one making me happy, pal, to read all the reviews, it just feels fantastic, you can't imagine how much. So, really, I appreciate your love for this story. I'll try not to disappoint you. P.D.: It'll be in later chapters, dear, so you have nothing to worry about.
In this chapter I'm introducing more 'themes' or so to say, but oh, whatever. Hope you like it!
Forgot to say, this chapter is dedicated to one of the greatest persons I've ever met. I don't care if you don't even read it, this is for you, because I owe you so much, for all those kind words were not vain.
Chapter #16
"You've grown into a beautiful woman, my dear." Said Greg, smirking as he studied her.
"Flattery will get you nowhere, state your business." Aubrey commanded icily, lifting her chin.
"Aubrey, my dear… there's no need to be so cold," The blonde said, slowly approaching to her, "we grew up together, don't you remember? We spend magnificent days when we were younger, have you already forgotten?"
"I have not, Greg." The redhead replied, not lowering her defenses, "But, it seems we don't share the same perspective about those days." Her face darkened as she spoke.
"Is that so?" Greg said, arching his brows, "If I remember correctly, you seemed so… in the lack of a better word… entertained… back then, did you not?"
"I have no wish to talk about past days." Aubrey said, "I've came because my father asked me to. Now, get to the point, I have things to attend to."
"With that 'friend' of yours?" Greg asked suggestively.
"That's none of your business." Aubrey said harshly.
Greg chuckled, "Who would think my most innocent cousin would become such a lustful woman?"
"You perverted bastard!" Aubrey yelled, enraged, "How dare you to speak of me in such a vulgar manner as if I where some lascivious wench?!"
"Calm down, honey, you know I love to see you angry." The blonde said, openly smiling as he pierced his emerald eyes upon her.
"You talk to me as if we were lovers, I suggest you to keep that attitude for your whores." The redhead sneered, still feeling the burn of her wrath within her chest.
"Okay, I'll remember that." Greg chuckled.
"Now, tell me what do you want." She commanded.
Greg oddly sighed, then went to her father's desk to provide himself a glass of wine, "What some?" He then added, pointing the bottle of blood-like liquor; Aubrey made a negative motion with her head. "Aubrey, you know how much I love my family, do you not?
The redhead did not reply.
"Well, I have come because, you know, I wanted to see you one last time."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Aubrey asked, narrowing her brows.
"Nothing much, really, merely the fact that perhaps, the next time we see each other, we won't be the same as we are now." He responded, with a quizzical look marking his features.
"I thought you were here because you wanted something else entirely."
"Oh, no, I don't." Greg chuckled, "I just wanted to say goodbye is all; for the pair of us has changed a lot since our last meeting, haven't we?"
"Certainly."
"Such a shame we can't be as we were before, I really miss those days." The blonde shot her an odd glance.
Aubrey's face, however, remained blank at his comment, "Well, I do not." She said. "We were stupid kids and nothing more, our deeds were even wrong for our time."
"Do you honestly believe so?" Greg asked, now hiding a dangerous tone under his steady voice.
"Yes, I do, Gregory." Aubrey said, coldly. "The corruption we suffered back then was indeed very troubling for me for most of my young days."
"But what are you saying?" Asked the blonde with a hint of amusement in his voice, "We're still young! You're still young! Beauty and youth are some of the many things you posses, my dear, do not come to me saying such stupid thing as 'your young days'. We both know we've just started to live."
"I meant 'younger' days." Aubrey corrected, obviously annoyed, "And, you know, youth is a gift we won't have forever."
"No, it sadly is not. But at least you should give some use to it before you lose it." Said Greg with a smirk. "You're such a beautiful woman…"
"I've told you, flattery will get you nowhere Greg." She said.
There was silence then. The green eyed man seemed to considerate what to say then, with a mysterious smile garnishing his lips. His sight, however, disturbed Aubrey more than anything ever could. He hadn't come just because he wanted to say goodbye, and that was something she knew very well. However, nothing came out of his lips.
That was when Aubrey knew it was time to go. "It's late and I'm tired, I'm going home now." She said, turning, "It was nice to see you." She openly lied without giving him even a smile.
"Why so soon?" Greg asked, when she hold the door's knob.
"Because I want to." Aubrey simply said.
"You should at least give me a proper goodbye before you leave."
"Like what?" She then turned.
Sitting on her father's desk, Greg gave a few tips to his cheeks, smiling at her; golden locks perfectly combining with emerald eyes. With a roll of her own hazel eyes, Aubrey walked to him and hesitantly placed a soft kiss upon his cheek before quickly pulling away.
She walked to the door once again, and before she exited the room, she heard her cousin say a joyful, "We'll meet again."
Aubrey did not look back.
Just with the click of the door being closed, and Gregory knew that this time, it was him who had been forsaken. But oh, we shall meet again, my dear, he thought, and sooner than you think. The young man then raised the fine glass to his lips and drank.
Uneasy as she was, Aubrey gave a quick 'goodnight' to her father before leaving her long past home.
"Please take me home." She said when she reached her partner's car.
"Sure." He quickly responded after being startled by her sudden appearance. The engines soon started working and in a mater of seconds, they found themselves back on the road. "I though you would take longer." Angel admitted when they left the mansion.
"Well, I'm back." She curtly said, not paying too much mind to the man sitting beside her.
It was odd. Before they got there she seemed so… human… to him, and now… she was just being a machine towards him. Cold, bereft of emotion, it almost seemed alien to him. When Angel shot a quick glance at her face he could spot, however, a hint of unease in her eyes. Something was wrong. He didn't know whether or not it would be okay to ask her what was going on, and yet, gathering all his courage, Angel asked.
The redhead seemed to exit her current estate of emptiness as soon as his words left his mouth. Slowly, she looked at her partner and saw utter worry reflected upon his handsome, tan features. She tried to relax her expression as much as she could, "Nothing much." She lied, trying to control her feelings, "Just a family meeting, is all."
"You seem uneasy." Angel honestly said, paying attention to the road before him once more.
"Unease?" Aubrey repeated, almost amused. "I most certainly am not." She said, forcing a smile, "I'm just tired."
"Oh, I see." Angel simply said, trying to ignore the brief hint of panic he was able to spot in her dim eyes just before she hid in under her icy mask. "I shall better take you home then."
"If you please."
And with that, the pair of them fell silent. Stupid silence which no ones seems to give a damn about.
Soon enough, the lights of the city were upon them once again, charming as they were, offering so much more than they could even imagine, and yet so much less than they'd like to admit to themselves. The attractiveness of the night life, however, soon disappeared from Aubrey's mind, just to make room for her growing uneasiness. The youths roaming the dazzling streets, careless of the real world awaiting for them; it almost seemed ridiculous for the young woman trapped within her own mind, drowning in her faults. Has any of them regretted something in their life? She asked herself, Has any of them experimented such a dreadful feeling? Aubrey's sight wandered to lay upon her partner; her oh so loved Angel, Has he?
How she hated to lie to him; and yet, how awfully necessary it was, although she knew he couldn't be deceived so easily. The years he had spent trying to get to her core had successfully paid off, she had to admit, though she couldn't say she wasn't glad for it. I'll have to be a better actress from now on, she told herself, concerned for the future turn of events. Although, there had been a part of herself the Latino had yet to figure out, and yes, she was glad for that too.
A man such as him, living life like there would be no tomorrow to wake; how she envied him, how she envied his carelessness; to live without regret, taking -or not- the maidenhead of an unknown woman that he would -most likely- never see again. We all have something we deserve to die for, her mind's voice echoed within her thoughts. Why can't you simply get rid of this ridiculous remorse? Getting over with! You carried this burden all your teenage years! Don't tell me now you're getting back to that age. Aubrey, however, did not replied.
"We're here." Angel announced, startling the redhead as she was made aware of the stillness surrounding her.
Shooting a glance out of the window, Aubrey found herself before the oh so known building; certainly, the place she called home now. With a simple 'thank you' she got out of the car, meeting with a chilling wind before getting into the friendly warm of the lobby.
Seen from afar she looked like a damaged lonely woman.
Angel watched Aubrey's slender frame disappear through the glass doors of the enormous building. His concern growing more and more with each second he stood still within the safety of his car. But however, something told him it was none of his business whatever problem his chica got with her family; and yet he refused to leave without making sure she was okay and telling her she could count on him no mater what. Stop trying, she'll get mad if you harass her about this mater, his inner voice told him harshly, Leave her. I cannot leave her like this, he responded, stubborn. She has already left, she won't open the door and you know it, the voice said. It is still worth trying, Angel said before getting out of his car and into the cold embrace of the night.
"Miss… miss… Are you alright, miss?" Asked a young man in the lobby.
Aubrey turned to look at him, blankness devouring her once bright eyes, "Yeah, sure, I just need some rest is all." She said, almost automatically.
"Are you sure you don't need any help, miss?" The young man asked, evidently concerned.
However, as much as he cared, Aubrey did not, "No, I'm fine, thank you, I can make my own way till my apartment." Not a simple smile graced her features. The man was about to protest, she could see, but before he could say a thing, she stopped him, "I do not wish to be disturbed."
Swallowing hard, the young man stared at the once smiling princess, and slowly nodded in agreement.
The woman then made her way to the elevators and disappeared through the golden doors.
So confidently happy she used to seem not more than a few hours ago, and now… he was sure she was not the beautiful woman that lived up there in the penthouse, lonely and yet satisfied with her own achievements, needing no one to be happy. He could swear now, however, that a tear traced a road down her pale cheeks.
Confidently walking towards the building, Angel looked up to Aubrey's apartment (penthouse), decided, before entering with firm steps.
"Who are you looking for, sir?" Asked a man standing in the lobby.
"I'm looking for Miss Aubrey." Angel replied, stopping in his tracks.
"Oh, I'm so sorry sir, but she has requested no one to disturb her, sir." The man said, honestly feeling sorry for the Latino before him.
"Oh… I see… Thank you, anyways." Angel said, feeling sadness for the first time in a while.
Angel then left the place, utterly defeated as his own conscience mocked his foolish, stubborn heart.
The place was empty. Empty and lonely and dark. That was how her apartment was at that moment. But she didn't care.
The young woman made her way to her bedroom, walking silently in the dark of the night; her heels clicking on the wooden floor, disturbing the peace of the high place. Lonely beams of moonlight enlightened her path, shamelessly stealing silver sparkles from her uselessly beautiful dress. Tossing her heels aside, she walked then barefoot, feeling the cold wood beneath her toes.
It almost seemed delightful how her pale flesh seemed to glow underneath the moonlight, defying the darkness; and yet how sad it seemed to look at her right now, into her hazel orbs and find nothing but emptiness and a troubled soul within them, desperately trying to hide under a mask of perfection.
A forsaken porcelain doll, she was.
Undressing as she roamed her dark apartment, Aubrey tossed her clothes aside, not paying too much mind to where did the land. She then opened the door to her bedroom, and without any care or grace, she let herself fall on the silk.
To be admired but never touched; that had been her to her father. To play with the pompous yet silent doll, nonchalant for the bruises left upon her delicate skin; that had been her to her cousin. But to hide the scars of the damaged porcelain, silently regretting every single bruise; that had been her job during her latest childhood.
How painful it was, to know, to accept, that she had openly accepted it all, and yet how good it had felt.
Balled up into a fetal position, the redhead remain on her bed, laying on silk, and yet feeling as disgraced as ever. Bathed in moonlight, she stared blankly at the source of the silver beams; the moon. So lonely, so proud, mocking her from her position in the embrace of the darkness. But it seemed that it was her, and not the moon that was being embraced by the darkness.
Regret. Memories of old. Forsaken spaces where they would have a moment together.
"C'mon Aubs!"
"It is too dark, Greg…"
"Nothing will happen to you as long as you stay with me."
Emerald eyes gave the kid with hazel ones a reassuring look, at with that, the youth knew there was no danger in going with her older cousin into the abandoned shack. Holding his hand, the young redhead followed her cousin into the dark.
Ten and thirteen years old they were. And although they were no direct relatives, they were as close as brother and sister. Feelings, however, were not included in the previous statement.
"You're not afraid of the darkness, are you?" Her older cousin asked.
"Of course not!" She confidently replied.
"Good." He said with a smirk.
She smiled back, chipper.
"Aubs, would you like to play a game?" Greg suddenly asked, his face only illuminated by the silver moonlight.
"What is it about?" Aubrey asked, curious.
"I say something, then you do it." He responded, cheeky.
"And what do I win?" She asked, pouty and selfish.
"My gratitude." Her cousin simply said.
"Not fair enough." She responded, greedy.
"Ice cream and a whole weekend with me." He then added.
"Fair enough." The young redhead said, before shaking hands with her cousin.
"Very well." Greg smiled. "First, I want you to recall a Greek legend."
"It doesn't mater which one I choose?"
"Nope."
"I remember of a legend telling the love story of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, and Ares, the god of war." She proudly said.
"Could you tell me what is it about?" Greg said, stepping closer, smiling at his younger cousin.
"Of course!" Aubrey said, excited.
They kids the laid of the damaged wooden floor, next to each other. Then Aubrey started relating her story. "Aphrodite was the great Olympian goddess of pleasure, joy, beauty, love and procreation, and her half-brother, Ares, the god of war…" The child told her story proudly, remembering almost every detail of the ancient story; however, unnoticed to her, her cousin was dangerously approaching.
"…and then they got caught together by her husband… Greg, what are you doing?" She nervously asked when she got him at mere inches from her face, trapping the girl under his bigger frame; slender hands then sliding beneath her shirt.
"Do not worry, my cousin… we won't get caught by no one here…"
His lips descended to hers, firmly placing a kiss upon them. Aubrey's eyes were wide open as she did not know what to to. The girl froze, hazel eyes piercing the dark ceiling of the abandoned shack, as if pleading for someone to save her. But that was something the girl knew would not happen.
The last thing she noticed was warm and gentle touch caressing her, almost lovingly, and the clear clink of the metal of his belt crashing against one another, followed by the unzip of his trousers, and his heavier frame crushing hers against the harsh wood.
The memories hit her hardly, harshly, as silent tears shone under the moonlight, unseen as they rolled down her cold cheeks, carelessly dripping on the silken sheets of the bed. Light trembles and shakes possessed her nubile body, as she couldn't bring herself to stop.
Ridiculous. That's how she seemed from her own perspective.
Stop crying! It was a long time ago! And it isn't like you don't know how it feels like, you yourself has enjoy it quite deeply after all. It didn't help at all, however, for her guilt became heavier, crushing her delicate frame against her bed, making her breath heavier each time. Soon, her cry became something audible in the loneliness of the penthouse. With no one to help her, to comfort her, Aubrey cried her guilt utterly alone, with no one but the moon to pity her.
She closed her fists on the fine fabric, already wet with her tears, as her body shook violently, and loud, uncontrolled sobs left her aching throat. She felt cold, she felt pain, she felt loneliness, and yet she knew there was no punishment enough for what she had done.
No. Nothing could save her, forgive her sins… but if crying would allow her to stop feeling remorse, she would openly cry then, in the solitude of the darkness, were no one would ever find her.
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