Games we don't want to play, same winner everyday
Kill for the second best, feel no more, feel no less
We have our minutes cut, we lose our feelings but
That's what the movies show, this is where stories go

t.A.T.u - Cosmos

Chapter 36

Can you see the heart of me

"I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never die…"

Rebekah let out a quiet sob, I moved closer to her in order to let her to lean on me. Papa wrapped his arm around her as well; fortunately Klaus had enough decency to keep his distance. I hadn't spoken to him for days and I had no intention to start today, not when I had to watch poor Rebekah grieving Emil.

"I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God : whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another…"

Everyone who was anyone in the society of New Orleans was here, paying their respects to the governor's son. The whole graveyard was full of people, all wearing black. The governor was so devastated that he could barely stand in front of his son's coffin; Abel was right next to him. Officially Emil's death had been "a tragic accident", but I was sure that the governor knew the truth. Abel certainly did, if a look could have killed, we would have all died several times during the ceremony.

"We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the Name of the Lord…"

I glanced at Klaus who was standing in the middle of the crowd behind us; he didn't bother to hide how bored he was. His expression changed when he saw me looking at him, but it was too late, I had already seen how selfish bastard he was. I had always known that, but somehow I had accepted it, he was what he was. Not anymore, I was done being his friend. Maybe I was just "a little circus freak" but I still had my pride; he could just go to hell as far as I was concerned.

"For as much as it hath pleased Almighty God of his great mercy to take unto himself the soul of this young man here departed, we therefore commit his body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; in sure and certain hope of the Resurrection to eternal life, through our Lord Jesus Christ…"

Rebekah was sobbing harder; I tried my best to comfort her. How could have Klaus done this to her? Of course I had known how possessive he was, Rebekah had once mentioned that sometimes Klaus treated her like some stupid child who couldn't make any important decisions by herself. He simply wanted and needed to be in control, even when he had no right to be.

He hadn't really tried that with me, probably because I didn't have many friends besides him, papa and Rebekah and I definitely didn't have any suitors. In other words, I had always been available when he had felt like spending time with me. Well, not anymore. Strangely Rebekah seemed to be willing to simply forget what Klaus had done to her, but I wasn't.

The service was over and the people were slowly starting to make their way to the road, the memorial would be held in the governor's mansion. It wasn't far away, so most people would probably walk there. We weren't planning to participate and I seriously doubted that the governor would even want us there. Rebekah didn't move, so I held still as well, she probably wanted to say goodbye to Emil in private.

The governor walked past us, there was an empty look in his eyes and he seemed to have aged years during the last few days. It wasn't difficult to tell that he would never forgive himself; the deal he had made with us had cost him his only son. Yet he said nothing and neither did we, offering him condolences didn't really feel appropriate.

I had never liked this man nor certainly respected him, but now I felt sorry for him, I couldn't even imagine what it would be like to lose a child. I had asked papa would this affect the deal Klaus had made with the governor, I had thought that it surely would, but papa hadn't thought so. He had said that the governor had known the risks when he had made that deal, but unfortunately the money had been more important to him. He couldn't simply invite the devil in and then ask it to leave; he would just have to face the consequences of his decisions.

"Murderers."

I looked up and saw Abel standing in front of us; his eyes were full of hate and loathing. Papa and Rebekah didn't say anything, but Klaus certainly did, he had just appeared next to us.

"What was that?" he asked smiling.

"Abel!" the governor snapped. "We are leaving."

Abel lowered his head and followed his uncle, Rebekah headed to Emil's open grave. Papa went with her and I was about to follow them when Klaus stepped in front of me.

"Eva," he muttered tensely. "I need to speak to you…"

"I have nothing to say to you," I interrupted him coldly. "You can just go to hell."

His expression tensed.

"I was drunk; I did not mean anything I said. There has to be something I can do to make this up to you…"

"There's not. You are nothing but a heartless monster, I can see that now."

I marched past him and went to papa; we waited for Rebekah to say her goodbyes. After she was done, we walked silently to the road, Klaus had already left. We were just passing the governor's estate, when I saw Klaus standing on the yard; he was looking at a young boy, apparently a slave, who was just being whipped. I hated people who abused children and I was just about to intervene, but Klaus was faster. The boy tried to defend himself by throwing an apple back at the man whipping him, obviously the man was going to retaliate, but Klaus killed him before he managed to do that. The boy looked at Klaus in wonder; he didn't seem scared at all.

"What is your name?" Klaus asked firmly.

"I don't got one," the boy replied, he was still on the ground. "Mama wouldn't name me until I turn 10, in case the fever took me. Then it took her."

Klaus was quiet for a moment and observed the boy before kneeling in front of him.

"You're a survivor," he stated. "And survivors need names. How about Marcellus?"

The boy seemed confused, clearly the name sounded strange to him.

"Marcellus?"

"It comes from Mars, the god of war," Klaus explained and stood up. "And it means little warrior."

He held out his hand for the boy, he hesitated for a moment before taking it. I couldn't believe what I had just seen; Klaus had saved a human boy and gave him a name. I wasn't the only one who had trouble believing it, papa and Rebekah seemed stunned.

"Perhaps there is hope for our brother after all," papa muttered.

"Come," Klaus said to the boy. "Unless you wish to stay here."

The boy shook his head.

"No, sir, but the governor will punish me if I flee…"

"No need to worry about that, the governor won't touch you. And my name is Klaus."

"Yes, sir."

Klaus marched determinedly towards papa, Rebekah and I, the boy was right behind him.

"This is my brother, Elijah," Klaus said. "My sister, Rebekah. And Eva."

"Hello, young man" papa greeted the boy who seemed cautious; he looked at papa, Rebekah and finally me. His eyes widened, he was staring at me.

"Hi," I muttered.

He didn't say anything; he simply kept gazing at me.

"Marcellus," Klaus said. "It's not polite to stare at a lady."

"I'm sorry, sir," the boy muttered, but he didn't turn his head away. "Is she your daughter?"

"No, she's not."

I crossed my arms and tried to look dignified, but that was difficult when even this human child was taller than me. He was smiling at me.

"You're pretty."

My eyes narrowed, but I didn't say anything, I didn't like this at all.

"Aww… This is so cute," I heard Rebekah whispering to papa.

Cute? No, it wasn't. A human child thought that I was pretty. I was a 316… who cared, I looked like a damn 6-years old. That was so depressing that I needed a drink.

"I want to go home," I muttered.

"Sure, sweetheart," papa said and lifted me onto his shoulders. That wasn't what I had meant, but I didn't say anything. The boy was still staring at me; I tried my best to ignore him.

"Someone has an admirer," Rebekah giggled and touched my nose.

I felt a very strong need to bite her finger; it was easy for her to laugh. She had no idea how lucky she was, even if she had just lost her lover. She could have as many lovers as she wanted, I couldn't. The boy was walking behind papa with Klaus; apparently he was coming with us. How great. I turned my head and my eyes met briefly with Klaus', the look in his eyes was almost challenging, like he would be silently asking would a heartless monster have done this? I didn't know the answer to that, but I certainly wasn't ready to forgive him.