This is the silent place
a place to face the agony
this is the silent place
a place for you but not for me

All we need is fantasy
all to be we want to be
all you need is fantasy
all to be you want to be

Cinema Bizarre- The Silent Place

Chapter 35

Sticks and stones

Few weeks later

I lighted up the last candle and inspected the table before jumping to the floor. Everything was ready, the dinner was served and there were fresh flowers in the middle of the table. The house was quiet when papa, Klaus and Rebekah weren't here; the governor was throwing another party tonight. I hadn't felt like attending and I doubted that anyone would miss me, papa had Celeste, Rebekah had Emil and Klaus had his harem. I enjoyed my private time and I needed it every now and then. What I did when I was alone was something I never wanted anyone to know about. I was wearing my new creamy gown and my hair was down, I wanted to believe that I looked nice, or at least non-repulsive. Not that it mattered; to my dinner guest I was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. A woman, not a child.

"Eva?" a man's voice said from the doorway. I turned to look at him; he was as handsome as always with his dark hair, dark eyes and a muscular body. Klaus' clothes looked very good on him, he was like a true gentleman and he had brought me flowers.

"Hello, darling," I said smiling; he walked over to me and lifted me up in order to kiss me. Just a kiss, there was nothing wrong with that.

"You look beautiful, my dearest," he said and placed me on the floor. "I brought these for you."

I took the flowers and sniffed them.

"Thank you, these are beautiful."

"Nothing comparing to you, my angel," he replied smiling.

I smiled as well, I wasn't doing anything wrong. I wasn't. I had the right to be happy at least for a little while.

"You did all this for me?" he said looking at the table. "You shouldn't have gone through so much trouble."

I shook my head.

"There was no trouble; I wanted this night to be special."

He kneeled in front of me and kissed me again, gently and lovingly. I heard his heart pounding wildly; he thought that he was kissing the woman who he loved.

"I do not deserve a wife like you," he sighed and touched my cheek before standing up. Like a true gentleman, he pulled out a chair for me and helped me to take a seat.

"Thank you, darling," I said. There was a plate in front of me, but as always, it was empty, the human food had started to repulse me more and more along the years. I cold take a small bite if I had to, but it made me nauseous. My "husband" on the other hand was really enjoying his dinner; a servant couldn't often eat so well. I liked watching him eat, in some strange way it soothed me. He looked a lot like Kol; that was probably the reason why I had chosen him.

Sometimes he was Kol who told me that he loved me and begged for my forgiveness for abandoning me, but not tonight, now I just wanted what Rebekah had; someone who adored me, like a man adored a woman who he loved. Yes, I had compelled him to feel that and maybe that made me sick and twisted, but I didn't care. I wasn't hurting him and I had always rewarded him generously. He had a good meal and a nice compensation, all I asked in return was few kisses, some conversation and maybe an embrace or two.

"How was your day, darling?" I asked and tasted my wine.

"Not too bad," he replied. "But I would have rather spend it with you, my dearest. You are the light of my life."

His words might be a lie, but they still warmth my heart. How pathetic was I? I couldn't even imagine what papa would say if he would know about this.

"I love you too, Fabien. Something funny happened today when I went riding, would you like to hear about that?"

He leaned forward and gave me his undivided attention.

"Of course."

I truly enjoyed talking with him about all the small things I didn't usually mention to anyone, he never got tired of listening to me. Yes, because of my compulsion, but that didn't make these brief moments any less precious to me. He laughed when I told him how my pony, Achille had got scared of a small dog and hadn't calmed down until I had given him a treat. I also told him about the book I had read and the poem I had written, he listened to my every word interestedly. We talked while he ate and I drank my wine, I felt very peaceful. After the dinner we went to the parlor and sat together in front of the fireplace. He was holding me and enjoying a glass of bourbon, his hand was stroking my hair.

"I love you, Eva," he whispered in my ear and wrapped his arms tighter around me. "My beautiful wife."

I smiled and closed my eyes; I could have just fallen asleep right there. Suddenly I heard sounds from outside, papa and Rebekah were home. Quickly I compelled Fabien to forget all of this and go and change his clothes.

"Yes, miss Eva," he said and stood up.

Why were they home already, it was still early. I went to the hall and froze; papa was carrying Rebekah who was crying hopelessly.

"Rebekah…" I gasped and zoomed to them. "What has happened?"

"He killed him!" Rebekah shouted before papa could say anything. "That bastard killed Emil!"

My eyes widened, I looked at papa. He was very tense and he didn't say anything, but I understood what had happened.

"Klaus…" I muttered.

Rebekah was crying even harder, papa started to carry her to her room. I followed them, knowing that Rebekah needed me. Why had Klaus done this, he had known perfectly well how important Emil was to Rebekah. She was still crying when papa placed her on her bed, I told him that I would stay with her.

"We will be fine," I said quietly.

Papa nodded and touched Rebekah's shoulder before walking out.

"My baby…" Rebekah sobbed and reached towards me. I climbed onto the bed and curled up against her; she wrapped her arms tightly around me and buried her face in my hair. We lied there for a long while; I tried my best to comfort her. Finally she managed to tell me what had happened at the party, she had told Klaus and papa that she wanted to turn Emil so they could be together forever. Then Klaus had killed him. I gritted my teeth, of course I knew how cruel he could be sometimes, but now he had gone too far.

Seeing Rebekah's pain was breaking my heart, I stayed next to her until she finally fell asleep. Carefully I got up and placed a blanket on her before tiptoeing out. I was furious when I marched to Klaus' room, I could hear that he was there. I yanked the door open without knocking; he was sitting on an armchair having a drink. His face was completely blank and he didn't say anything when I zoomed in front of him. Obviously he was drunk and he wasn't in a good mood, but I didn't care, I jumped on the armrest and slapped him as hard as I could. His head turned sideways and his eyes darkened, most people would have been scared right about now.

"Why?" I snapped and tried to slap him again, but this time he grabbed my hand. His grip was so tight that it hurt me, but I didn't show it.

"Why?"

"Stay out of this," he snarled warningly.

"No!" I shouted. "You had no right to do that to Rebekah! She loved him!"

He shook his head and chuckled humorlessly.

"She thinks that she loves everyone who bothers to sweet-talk to her; she will find someone else tomorrow."

"She is your sister!" I snapped, my anger was really rising. "What kind of heartless bastard hurts his own sister like this?"

Klaus' eyes narrowed, he stood up without letting go of my hand.

"Enough," he hissed darkly. "If you think that I will let you to talk to me like this…"

"What?" I asked challengingly and shoved him. "You want to fight with me? Go ahead, try, I dare you."

His eyes darkened even more, for a moment I thought that he was going to hit me. In that moment he wasn't the Klaus I knew, he was some stranger who was full of dark anger. Slowly he leaned towards me and looked into my eyes, all I saw was darkness.

"Why would I want to fight with a little child?" he asked coldly, stressing the last word. "Did you have fun tonight, playing house with that servant?"

I flinched; I would have preferred a hit.

"Oh yes, I know about your twisted little games," he continued smiling. "That brings pathetic into a whole new level, would you agree?"

I was unable to speak; I prayed that he wouldn't continue. Unfortunately he did.

"But I can understand; what man would ever want to willingly touch you? I bet it kills you to see real women when you are nothing but a little circus freak."

His every word cut me like a knife; I would have never believed that he would intentionally hurt me like this. I didn't care what other people thought of me, but he was my friend, my family. At least so I had thought. I couldn't move, but I felt my eyes watering up and I hated myself for it. Suddenly he looked shocked; all the darkness in his eyes was gone.

"Eva… I..I did not mean…"

"Get your hands off me," I hissed and tried to free myself from his grip, but he didn't let go, instead he dared to lift me up and wrap his arms around me.

"No… You are mine, you…"

"Let me go!" I shouted at the top of my lungs. My fangs came out, I kicked, hit and bit him, but he refused to let me go. Tears were coursing down my cheeks, tears of pain and anger.

"Let me go! Let me go!"

"Niklaus!"

I stopped struggling when I heard papa's voice; neither Klaus nor I moved.

"What do you think you are doing, let go of her," papa said angrily.

Klaus didn't say a word; he just bent down and placed me on the floor. I didn't look at him; I simply turned around and marched out. Papa had been right; there was no hope for him.