for the future too

They kissed. Tentatively at first, measuring the pressure of each others lips and hesitation.  And then with more force as their arms went around each other and the flame of passion consumed their every thought. Nothing could be heard. Nothing could be seen but the image of each other in their mind. The picture that had been forming for a very long time in his mind and had started to take shape in hers.

I need to feel something

She had told him before giving in to the feeling that had been growing inside her ever since they had first locked gazes and she had seen the pain and love he was feeling for her. The pain at seeing her with someone else and the love at knowing that she still wanted to be with him.

All I see is you

He had told her when his lips had parted from hers to inhale air. Blue eyes filled with a light she had seen before. Filled with a longing she had only hoped for. The pain of not knowing weather love was worth it. Weather he was worth the risk had now been diffused with each passing minute his lips kept touching hers. The insecurities at being hurt again and broken had now been vanished from her mine. All by the feel of his body against her.

I love you

She told him and with that she set free the monster that had been consuming his insides. A monster that had been living within him ever since she'd chose the love of Neil over his. Since the moment she had chosen to be apart from him instead of staying by his side. He had seen the indecision in her eyes when she had seen him again. The astonishment at seeing him alive when she had already chosen to be with another man.

Her heart had been broken and torn apart when Neil had come home bloody and dirty saying that Gabe had been killed in the war. That his body had been taken by a monster and was certainly dead. She had almost gone mad with grief and he had been the only one there for her. The only person who was suffering as much as her. She had listen to the broken words of grief and guilt that were consuming his every thought. He deserve to die, Neil had said referring to himself. He was the one they were after and by killing Gabe they had lost the only person who  might have help them in the end.

He had held her when the nightmares became to real. When a memory had re-opened the wound Gabe's dead had left behind. When the tears came and had not let her go until they had all stopped.

Standing on the verge between chaos and abyss she had chosen to move on. To forget the pain and to try to re-start her life with the only man who accepted the fact that she could never love anyone as much as she'd love Gabe. A man who said he'd take whatever she could give him as long as he could remain by her side. Guarding her. Protecting her and making sure the wound inside her heart never broke her the way it once had. Making sure she was safe and held when she needed the support of another human life. A man who'd promise to always be there for her and to be always near to keep her safe. The man she was now betraying him. By being here with Gabe, by giving up the hope of love that had blossom inside his heart after thinking. After being sure that he would never love again.

This is going to break him

Break him!

And break him it did. While Gabe and Sarah were holding each other and he was kissing her face and she was tracing his face to make herself belief that somehow he had escape.

Neil had been watching. Not with his eyes but using the inner bond that tied Gabe to him. The same silver string that had tide them together ever since that night. The one he hadn't felt since the day Gabe died. It was pulsing now the same way it always did when he was with Sarah.

He was alive and with her.

The woman he'd loved. Who he had given his all for, now had chosen him instead. Why are you so mad about? He asked himself, you've always known she loves him and not you.

Yes he had known but it still hurt and broke his heart at the realization that she would no longer love him. That she would go back to being with Gabe without a glance at the broken heart she was leaving behind.

Or maybe she'd noticed and pause. Tell him she still loved him but she loved Gabe more. Had always loved him.

A dark flame began to burn in Neil's stomach. A flame filled with loathing and anger towards himself for being stupid enough to fall for a girl who was already in love with someone else. At Gabe for conquering the heart of a girl who was better than him in every aspect. At Sarah for faking love and passion. For faking smiles and gratitude.

The fire was burning throughout him. Setting on fire his blood and common sense.

He was filled with hatred with each passing moment he felt the pulsing silver bond shaking with life.

in the future

"Stay with me," he heard her whisper.

"Save him," he told her. HE wanted to scream at her to do something for him and to leave him alone. To tend to his wounds and forget he even existed. Gabe was the one that mattered not him. He was nothing compared to him and had always been.

He opened his mouth to speak but no words came out. No voice was heard for the thickness in his throat was becoming more heavy. He couldn't scream at her to stop trying to cure him. It was useless for the wound had been inflicted on his chest. On the part above the heart and had puncture him deep enough that all around him was now a pool of blood.

Of both their blood.

Neil had seen the desperation in Gabe's eyes when he heard the shot. Had seen the anger and determination to slay whoever had been responsible for pulling Neil on the ground.

"Go," he'd say to him, "go before they get you too."

But Gabe hadn't left him. Instead he gave him a smile and turn in the direction of the shot. Walking with a broken ankle towards what was going to be the end of him too.

Neil had yelled at him to stop and go. To stop pretending to be the hero. He had yelled until he had started coughing up blood and couldn't speak anymore.

Laying on the ground with his head turn towards the direction Gabe had gone. He had felt the moment Gabe had found his killer. Had heard the shouts and angry words. The swords crashing against each other.

"Gabe," he'd whispered.

"What don't you die already?" a voice had said besides him.

He turned and saw one of the most hideous creatures he'd ever seen. Face black as night with big bulging eyes and a peak for a mouth.

"Is not like you're going to survive. Why not die?" The bird asked.

"Because I'm waiting for Gabe to come back," he'd answered with a grunt as the bird moved his head with it's peak.

"He's not coming back."

Neil hadn't listen to him. The bird kept playing with his head and he couldn't do anything to make him stop. He felt a fire from his chest that was consuming his mind. Felt his life go with each passing breath and yet he refused to let go. Refused to leave without seeing that Gabe was alive.

The bird was now poking his face. Peak going down until he felt it hit his chest.

He screamed.

"Oh that hurt?"

The bird hit him again. And again.

The darkness was now coming faster and he couldn’t let himself go.

"Let. Him. Alone."

"Do you want to play too?"

Neil could barely hear now. His instincts told him a person was near but he didn’t if that person was hear now to cause him more pain than the bird

Seconds passed or maybe hours in that darkness that was making him loose his sense one by one. Seconds passed before he could feel the pain leaving little by little his body. Before he could identify the source of the life energy being transfer to him. Before he could stop the person from continuing healing a person that had been destined to die in the battle.

"Gabe," Neil whispered when he could open his eyes.

'Stop.'

"No can do," Gabe said holding him while he channel all his energy on the spot where the shot had hit him. Where the bird had poked repeatedly until he'd passed out from the pain.

Life was entering his body again. The pain receding as his body drank the sweet life energy coming from Gabe.

"You have to stop."

"I don't have to. I have plenty of life energy to spare."

Neil shook his head and said in exasperation, "You do not. Only healers can do that. You can only heal yourself with your life energy."

Gabe hadn't responded to that.

"You could die," Neil had meant to yell at him but could only manage a voice higher than a whisper.

"I'm going to die but not because of this."

Gabe should have left him behind. Should had never agreed to come with him to fight a battle that was his alone.

"Why then?"

Gabe smiled sadly and shook his head.

"When you're okay again I will tell you," he'd said instead.

It didn't take long for Gabe to stop the bleeding and cure the internal damage in Neil's body. He hadn't healed him completely for he was no healer but at least he wasn't on the verge of dying anymore.

Gabe let out a breath and fell on the ground besides Neil.

"That took longer than I thought."

"You mean, more energy than you'd thought?"

"No."

They shared a look and in Gabe's eyes he could see the light fading from his eyes.

"Gabe," said Neil rising up.

"Is fine," said Gabe.

Gabe's face was hot as if he had a fever. Body shaking.

"What happened?"

"Remember that time I saved your life?" He'd asked instead of answering like he always did when he wanted to evade a question.

Neil swallowed and nodded.

"Well is payback time. I need you to do something for me and only you can do it."

"Of course," Neil had said without hesitation. Whatever he needed him to do he would do.

"Kill me."

Gabe told him how he had fallen in a demon tramp. How he'd gotten free before it could kill him but a demon had been waiting for him and had struck him before he realized what was happening. Infecting him with the poison no one had a cure for. A poison that would tear his insides apart and make him mad. His mind would become twisted because the poison affected his brain more than any organ. Infecting everything he had come to know and love.

"Kill me before I have the chance to forget."

Neil shook his head, "I can't"

"You have to."

Tears filled Gabe's eyes.

"You have to because I can't die without remembering Sarah and you. I can't die without knowing that you two existed in my life. That Sarah loved me and how you've protected me from everyone. Including myself. I can't die not remembering how my life has been up until now. Fighting alongside with you is not how I'd planned dying but is better than dying succumbed by a poison. 

Wake Up

Swallow the bottle
Let go of the life
That has been your prison
All this time

You say you can't love no more
You say the pain he cause hurt you too much
Well, love that can't be true
Not when I have proof that you were the one who broke
it all

Pack your bags
I give you 6 days to say goodbye
Is that not enough time?
To take the useless memories you've left behind

Swallow the pain
Swallow the words you couldn't say
Leave nothing in your wake
No even a spark of what once was your scent

PART ONE:
The car's tires stop
the sun is burning outside.
"You'll be happy here" says my dad
A person who can't even look me in the face anymore.
Not since that night.
He found me laying naked in the grass.
I step outside, breath in what will be my new life.
"Say thank you to your mother"
"I will"
Bags in hand I start to walk towards the door of a
house I will never call my home.
This is mom's safe heaven.
The place she went after she left me and dad behind.
The place where she found a new life. A new family.
This was their home and I was only here for the night.
"Welcome home," says Mom when she opens the door. Her
blonde hair, perfect curls.
"Jen" says a huskier voice.
"Hello Margaret," I say to mom before turning to say
the same thing to her husband. Mark.
"Come in." she says and I do.
Their house is huge to someone used to living in a 2
room apartment like me.
Luckily though, they have a son who will show me around.
He's eight and all too eager to show his 'big sister'
the house.
"Dinner will be ready at eight," says Mark as Teddy
grabs my hand and starts pulling it.
"Alright," I say, looking at paintings Teddy points out,
eyes fascinated by things he sees everyday.
When he says we've reached my room I'm all too happy
to step inside and sit down in the bed.
"I sleep across from you," he says before closing the
door and leaving me to check out the room.
I can tell the green walls have been recently painted
by the slight odor in the air.
The walk-in closet is bare; as is the walls, and the
tables.
I guess they expected me to bring the things I left in
my room back home here.
Too bad I only brought clothes, leaving the pictures
and the false memories behind.
I decide to take a shower and wash the scent of home
off.
A new bed, a new room, a new life. Is that all my dad
thinks i need to go back to being the person I
was before?
After showering and brushing my long hair I put on
jeans and a bottom-up shirt, deciding to look decent
for a mother I haven't seen in more than ten years.
I outh you be mad at her. Furious for leaving my dad
and I without an explanation or goodbye.
But I can't muster the anger inside me too show.
It too, lies dormant as my other emotions.
I didn't used to be this numb before.
This uncaring.
For years I've longed for the moment I could see my mom
again. Smell her scent. Feel her arms around me pull me
closer.
Now I couldn't even stand close to her. Couldn't even
say the words I'd practice in the mirror saying before.
"Dinner time!" calls Teddy from outside my door.
"Coming," I tell him.
Out first dinner as a family is filled with silence. I
say few words to them and stay out of conversation as
much as possible.
I don't want to talk to them. Not about my old school,
my old friends, not about anything.
Margaret announces the big new during dessert.
"Jen will be going to school tomorrow," she says this
with the biggest smile.
As if ignoring the fact that I'd dropped out of my last
school was no big deal.
As if refusing to go to school for a month was no
indecation what-so-ever that I was finish with school.
"Education is imporant, Jen," says Mark looking at me
with something like dissapointing in his eyes.
"Fine," I finally say because it seems like their
waiting for me to say something.
I'll go to school but I don't make any promises that
I'll be coming back.

I can't sleep at night. It used to be so I could hear
my dad when he came back from work. To make sure he
hadn't left me behind like my mom.
All night I lay in bed with my eyes opened, waiting to
hear the keys opening the front door and hear dad's
heavy steps on the room besides mine.
Now it was second-nature. I couldn't close my eyes
without fearing that he'd left and I'd be alone.
Even now in mom's house I coudn't force sleep to come.
Here where I can't even hear any sound.
At 7:24 a.m. there was a light tap on my door followed
by mom's voice telling me to wake up.
If she had opened the door she would have seen that I
was already dressed and ready to go.
Mark had already left for work so mom would drive me
and Teddy to school.
"You will love it there," says as she drives. Teddy and
I ride in the back. Teddy because he has to. Me because
I can't be that close to her.
"I know lots of mothers who sent their kids there. They
say the courses they offer are excellent."
While she talks about the school I look outside my
window. Taking the green trees in and the big houses we
pass.
We drop off Teddy first againts his will.
"I want to see her go in!" he says.
I continue to stare out the window.
"I'm sorry but you're school is on the way first Teddy,"
says mom as she gets off to get him out and walks him
to the front steps of the school.
She never did that for me, I notice.
"Now to your school," she says brightly as she gets back
in the car.
"Great," I say back pulling my wood coat closer to me.
I'm not nervous of the new school. But going to school
reminds me of him. The person I'm now the way I am.
He was everything and now he's gone.
His face comes in mind and I close my eyes determine to
keep that part of myself closed-off.
The car stops and just like that I block out everything
again.
"Just go to the office and they'll give you your
squedule," says mom before I close the door and she
drives off.
Kids walk by me heading for the entrance as I make my
way away from it. I have no intention of going inside
when they have nothing to teach me that I haven't
already taught myself.I walk around looking for a place
where I could stay and skip class. Something I did
on the first day at my old school. The day I saw him
for the first time; melancholy rushes through me and
the memory of that day comes crawling out of the box
I've put all the memories behind.
I had been looking for a place to skip when I saw a
ladder by the side of a building and after checking if
anybody was watching, I jumped began to climb it.
The top of the building was bare and the concrete hard
when I lay down on it but I didn't care.
Pulling out a pack of cigarretes, I remembersmoking one
to calm down. That day I was a nervous wreck. New school
again. People staring and eating lunch alone.
Laying there smoking and looking at the clouds was how
he found me.
"What are you doing here?" he asked me in a hard tone
that'd made me even more nervous than before. Dark hair,
dark eyes, and even a dark voice.
"What does it look like?" I asked in return looking
away from him.
"You shouldn't be here," I heard him say. His voice
sounding closer than before.
"And yet I am."
"You need to go."
I'd heard those words before.
"Are you going to make me go?"
"I could," he said.
"But you wont."
"What makes you think that."
"Because," I said turning to look at him again, "You're
here too."
We hadn't talked much that first day. All we'd done was
smoke and see the clouds passing above. Where they went,
we had no idea but to move around without having to stay
anywhere. To say anything. That was precious.

There were no buildings with ladders here. But there
were trees. I could probably climb one but sitting on
a branch wasn't a very comfortable way to be for seven
hours.
I sigh and lay down there on the grass.
Spotting me would be easy but I highly doubt anyone
would come looking for me.
As if to prove me wrong, someone trips over me as
I'm resting my head on my arms.
Landing on me.
"I'm so sorry," says the boy with the dark red hair and
bright green eyes; trying to get off me and continue to
walk.He takes a few steps and then turns.
Frowing.
"Are you new?"

Part six (Don't change my mind)

Neil stood at the top of the roof looking down with sullen eyes at the balcony that stood outside Gabe's window. He had seen the girl come in and out of that room. Had seen the strange light that shone in her eyes when she glance up to look at the sky.

He didn't know what they had talked about but he knew he could find out by asking the girl.

Carefully, using the same wall she had use to climb up and down the balcony, he descended onto the sidewalk.

Okay, she had gone straight down the street, he thought. How far could she have gone?

Skin cooling by the night wind, he walked glancing down every alley to see if he could catch any movement in the shadows. Any sign that there was a girl out there.

He couldn’t.

"Damn," he whispered in the night. He had been wondering the streets around the house restlessly and still couldn't find her anywhere. It was as if she had vanish in thin air, as if such a thing was possible.

He turned around, giving up and ready to go back to the Mansion when suddenly there she was.

The strange girl with the deep blue eyes. Standing behind him with an expressionless face.

Then she smiled and her face broke into one of ridicule, "You were following me?"

"Yes," he answer politely.

"And may I ask why?" her brown hair falling on her shoulder as she tilted her head.

"I saw coming out of my friend's room," he answered truthfully. There was no point in lying to her; he had the feeling she would be able to tell. 

The smile faded from her lips but remain in her eyes as she said, "Why not ask your friend what I was doing there instead of follow me around?"

"I wanted to meet you," that was true too. He had wanted to meet the girl with the blue eyes who shone with a different light inside them. Wanted to meet the girl brave enough to jump over private property to sneak into Gabe's room.

"I'm Neil," he continued extending a hand for her to shake.

"I'm Sarah," she said in return, taking her hand in his. Her eyes dimming as the humor faded from them.

"And I have to go now," she finished. Giving him one last look before turning and continuing to walk down the sidewalk. The cars seemed to slow down. The night quieted down as the darkness swallowed her up and he couldn't even make out her silhouette anymore.

Sarah, the name suited her, he thought as he began walking back towards the mansion wrapped up in his own thoughts.

Too wrapped up.

He felt their presence but it was too late by then. Hands reached out and grabbed his arms as another pair of pale hands brought his hand down and everything was blacker than night.

*

"You brought the wrong guy," said a voice that did not sound pleased by that at all.

"I did not," said another who clearly didn't care weather he was the right guy or not.

"He's not the one she wants"

Neil didn't know to whom the voices belong to nor was he stupid enough to ask. Instead he kept his head down pretending to be still passed out.

"She said he lived in that mansion"

"Yeah, lived inside not outside"

"I saw him coming out of there"

"Honestly Markin, you're too stupid for your own good sometimes"

"Oh please. You're far stupider than me Spin," said Markin walking around the room. Each step on the hard granite echoing in the walls.

"Letting that girl go for the sole reason that you thought she was pretty."

Spin sighed fondly, "She was beautiful"

"She could have seen us taking him," remarked Markin in a more serious tone than before.

"She didn't. I made of sure of erasing that part from her memory before we let her go."

"You shouldn't even use your powers on humans like her. You should have killed her and the chance of her remembering"

Spin sighed but didn't respond.

Something else was said but the words sounded distorted and came from far away. 

(needs to be continued)

Part five (You're too far away)

Bright blue eyes regard him sternly as he awoke from a deep slumber. The dream still clear in his mind. Bridges with beautiful cascades surrounding them, flowers falling downward, roads curving beneath them. The brilliant blue of the water and the sky that now seemed dull compare to the brilliance of this blue.

"Come to hunt me in my dreams too?" he asked dreamily to a girl with the features of a goddess. Dark brown hair parted to the side. Straight nose, pink pursed lips, big round eyes that were so blue, he couldn't look away from those eyes.

She could come and hunt him all she wanted.

"No idiot, now would you wake up?" she said reaching down to take the blanket away from him, "I have something to ask you," she continued in exasperation.

He closed his eyes again. Sure that it was all a dream. Surely a girl like this wouldn't be in his room, at least not without paying first.

She pinched him. Hard enough to leave a mark and convince him it was no dream.

"Ouch. How the hell did you get in here?" Gabe asked startled. Damn her nails hurt, he thought with a hasty look at his arm.

"You have a very wide window with a very good view of the street," she answered eyed him with eyes that said she thought he was a wimp.

His eyes narrowed.

"What do you want?"

"I already told you"

"Fine, what do you want to know?"

She sighed. Finally they were getting somewhere.

"In the party tonight, how deep was the kiss that you and Lady Scarlett shared?"

He looked at her with wide eyes. You had to be kidding me. This dark beauty was in his room to know how deep him and white-haired girl had kissed?

"I'm serious," she said after a few minutes of quiet astonishment from him.

"I remember that there was tongue involved yes. Exchange of saliva and I'm pretty sure I'd been chewing on a piece of gum at some part of the night that had not been in my mouth prior to that kiss."

She closed her eyes, which he now noticed were dark with mascara and eye liner.

He had a feeling she was beautiful without the make-up too.

"You are an idiot," she said touching the bridge of that sculpting nose.

"Do you know what her saliva contains?" she continued without opening her eyes or giving him a chance to speak.

"It contains venom. Venom," she emphasis the word before continuing, "that would not kill you but would make you wish it had."

"Bright sunshine personality, I like that." he said giving her full smiled when she opened her eyes.

She gave him a murderous look.

If the venom doesn't kill me, he thought, she will.

"And now I have to take it out of you. Try and be more cautious next time you go out swiping saliva with strange girls," she said walking up to him.

He lay there. Too stunned to move. As she leaned down and kiss him full on the mouth.

She was moving her lips against his. Whispering words he couldn't understand but had a dim feeling they were in Spanish or Italian.

She bit down on his bottom lip and he couldn't help but gasp as she began to suck his blood out.

His whole body began to tremble as more blood was being sucked out of his lips. When she stopped, it was only to take a quick breath before moving up to suck his upper lip.

"All done," she said finally letting go of his aching lips after what had to be the longest two minutes of his life. Sitting back on the bed, she swipe a hand across her mouth.

He could do nothing but stare.

"What no questions?" she asked looking at him with eyes that burned his own.

He linked his lips, "Who are you?"

"I'm Sarah," she answer looking around the room. Taking in the band posters and books. Oh and the mess that took over 95% of the room.

"Why were you sucking the blood out of my lips?"

"I told you, I was getting out the venom that poisonous bitch put in you."

"What is this venom anyway? What does it do?" he asked not entirely believing her. The thought of her being a vampire was too amazing to let die so soon. He needed proof that what she was saying was true.

Sarah sighed, "It depends on the sex of the parasite that kissed you. Since it was a girl that kissed you the venom would have lured you in to her. Making you want to be near her all the time. Giving in to her demands until you died. You see the venom is addictive and the more of those kisses you get the more you want be kissed by her."

"Not as bad as you made it sound."

"If you think that you're a bigger idiot than I thought."

"What if it had been a boy that kissed me?" he asked.

"Then you would have a parasite growing inside you by now. Taking over your body little by little until you yourself became a parasite."

"Growing inside me?" he asked bewildered patting his stomach idiotically.

"Yes, growing inside you and taking over your body," she said giving him an exasperated sigh when he continue to pat his body.

"Is not inside you now idiot," she told him sternly.

"How would you know?"

"Because when I sucked the venom out I also checked your body for signs."

"Oh," he said letting his hands rest on the bed at last.

"So how did you know I had the venom inside me?" he asked when a couple of awkward minutes had passed by. And by that he meant it had been awkward for him. Sarah looked perfectly at ease and cool.

"I was there when it happened."

"You mean when she kissed me?"

"No, I mean when the Big Bang happened," she said with a roll of her eyes.

"Well I didn't see you there so please spare me the sarcasm," he said feeling his eyes harden.

"I was the one who pulled John away from you, you do remember John right?"

John. . . Brown Plain John.

"I could have taken him." he said refusing to sound thankful to the girl who had intervene in his behalf.

"He could have killed you," she said without emotion on her voice, "He was there to kill her keeping her from doing harm. Instead you show up with her to the party. To the trap he'd set up. Believe me, he was ready to tear your head off."

"He wanted to kill her?" he asked startled. Plain Brown John was now a murdered?

"He killed her," her voice kept that cold, detached manner as she continue to explain how he'd killed her and why. For Lady Scarlett to really die John had to make her kiss him first since only a victim can attack their masters. He had to do it quick also before she knew what was happening and used the venom to command him to stop. He then had to burned her bones to ashes to make sure no one could have access to her saliva. Someone had to suck the venom from him also but without a master the venom went dormant inside and so didn't need to have it removed immediately.

"Who are you people?" he asked when she was done explaining. Her face, her eyes showed how remote less she felt about death.

"That is not something you need to know now," she said standing up and walking with the grace of a cat to the window. There she paused and turn to look at him, eyes cutting him again with their hidden depths, "one thing you must remember about Carries is that when they kiss they bite hard enough to leave a mark. They are hard to spot to your untrained eyes but," she hesitated before pulling a string out of her pocket, "keep this. When it starts burning it means you're near one. The more it burns the more power the parasite possesses. Keep it well hidden for is not guarantee you will ever get another one." she concluded tossing him the talisman. A warm blue stone lay in the palm of his hand. It's surface cool like the night. Somehow he knew that when he turned his face upwards to the spot she'd been, it would be too late to say good bye. Too late to have a glimpse of those soulful blue eyes and too late to say thank you for saving his life.

Part four (could you be the devil?)

If Neil was King, Gabe was the Prince of the Mansion.

Hypnotizing gray eyes.

Charming like a devil.

Gabe always pushed people's emotions. Never respected anyone who he thought didn't deserve to be respected. It made people wonder if he was from a different dimension. A creature who's touch made females loose all control. Magnifying everything they touched. Lips that infected lips with be wilderness and shock of a rocket. Some called him a devil. Deadly poison for saliva. Made victims fall over him with caresses and lovely words. Eyes that opened a door they didn't know had been locked or even existed before. Every pair of lips he touched, he infected. Instead of running, his victims cling to him in hopes of getting one more dose of those lovely lips.

"Shyness can be charming, but is more like a nuisance to me," he told a girl who'd been eyeing him from a distance the next day. She was shy to the core. Eyes running away from his stare. Fingers doing everything but being still.

Now her wide eyes found his.

"Woman may think that I like my woman shy and quiet, well dove let me tell you a little secret, I like woman who I can actually have a real conversation with."

She cleaned her throat but didn't say any words.

Gabe shook his head, "You're not going to impress anyone with a personality as a dry as a stick."

Now her fingers were brushing her hair. This way. That way.

It looked the same.

"Instead of being so preoccupied with how the world sees you, I'll advice you to work on how you wish the world to hear you when you can't even make a boy stand by your side," he continued giving her a blinding smile as he took a sip of the drink he was holding.

Her face turn scarlett.

He laughed.

"Is everything okay Lady Scarlett?" said Sonia appearing beside their table.

Gabe double over in laughter.

"Y-you're n-n-name is La-dy S-scarlett?" Gabe asked between giggles. It fit her face too.

Sonia's expression showed that she didn't find it amusing at all. But then again Sonia wouldn't know amusing if it hit her straight in the forehead. The though made him laugh harder.

"Do control yourself Gabe," said Red in a quiet voice. It was the first words she had spoken to him since sitting down.

"Do indulge me Red," he said in return. Red seemed like an appropriate nickname for her, though by the ice in her eyes she clearly did not.

"Gabe," said Sonia in a tone meant to be serious. A tone that made Gabe all the more charismatic. "Do try to show manners to Lady Scarlett," she continued saying her name in emphasis as if he was a kid and didn't know any better.

"But why show respect to a person who clearly doesn’t respect herself?" he asked innocently to Sonia. He didn't even have to glance at Red to see her face was turning that color again.

"And since when do you like woman with respect?" said Sonia to quietly for Red to hear.

He smiled, "I don't. But is fun watching her blush."

She shook her head and walked away figuring Red could leave when she wanted, after all she had already paid for his 'company' on a feasting tonight in advance.

"That’s why I asked for you," whispered Red as she put her hands together on her lap, "because you would caused a lovely reaction on my father's friend."

"Ah the rebellion phase," he said with a sigh as if he had experience such a thing himself.

"I am not being rebellious. I'm showing my father exactly what I want. And do not want," she said staring at a spot over his shoulder.

"Let's leave now," she said standing up and not waiting for him to help her up. Probably because she knew he wouldn't.

The feasting was held in honor of some lord he had no intention of meeting. He was rich, young and handsome. The perfect mate for dear Red. Too bad she did not want to be married.

He sighed, "And so my job is to stay with you all night. Lured you away from him so it doesn’t seem as if you are running away from him."

It was rather boring.

"Your job is to make him not want to marry me any longer."

He smiled and took that as an invitation to do way more than lured her away from him. Gabe would shred whatever opinion he held of her in front of his eyes.

*

Faces

Drinks

Dancing

Kissing

Slaps

That's what he remember of that night.

Holding on to a white-haired girl who had too many drinks and was now clinging to him in support. Her face coming up and kissing his mouth hungrily. He'd responded to the kiss having a few drinks himself. He had danced with her under dazzling lights and stood by her side as she faced a very brooding dark Lord. His brown eyes boring into his skull as they walked away. They've had a good time, he remember that too. It was after that kiss that things had started looking blurry. He was being pulled away and the white-haired princess with the soft, sweet lips had looked surprised before her expression had turn smug.

Hastily he looked at the owner of the hand still in his shoulder, brown eyes. Brown eyes and brown plain hair. Something lord. Lord something.

Then a warm hand had grabbed his chin and turn it to look at her. A girl with bright blue eyes and a sweet mouth.

"Let him go John," he heard her say wondering who this John was. But forgetting all about it when she smiled and he felt the sun shinning off that mouth at him.

The hard hand let go of his shoulder.

The warm hand pulled him closer to her and then he was being pushed away by an very angry looking white angel who struck him with the force of the devil.

The rest of the night was even more of a blur with hands pushing him and making him go out of the house. The music pulsing in his veins as he took a careful step forward after another. Hands in pockets as the world tilted this way and that. Some how he manage to make it to the road and grabbed a ride home. The coldness of the nice helping him to sober down a bit.

The house was dark when he arrived and he fell dead on his feet. Too tired too even take his shoes off.

Part three (sacred lies and hidden love)

"Is getting late." said a careless voice from behind the curtains of the door.

"Do tell me, Warning Dog." answered Gabe sing fully, arms cross over his head as he lay in bed.

"My name is Cloud, is not that hard to remember."

"It is when it belongs to a person I have no interest on." said Gabe finally turning to look at the boy with the deep red hair and golden eyes.

Cloud's eyes regard him with something like pity.

"Tell me Gabe, why do you want to make everyone hate you?"

Gabe smiled looking up at the ceiling. Cloud had been living along side with him in Madam Claire's house for a few months and already he thought he had him all figured out. Him, who didn't even know who he was sometimes.

"Who says I do?"

"Everyone who comes in contact with you"

Gabe sighed happily, "Then my sweet pet, my purpose in life has been reveal to me. To make everyone hate me. Not too hard," he said nodding his head in agreement.

Cloud snorted, "If you think that's your purpose in life you're more complex that I thought."

"That's because pets don't usually think."

Cold rage flashed in those golden eyes for a moment.

Gabe knew how much he hated to be called a pet. Living in the streets and eating out of trash cans like a dog, it they left a reputation on your record in the Mansion.

Gabe's own reputation had pursuit him here but no one dared tease him about it. Not even whisper about it behind his back.

Silently Cloud went over to the dresser to look at the reflection of the mirror. Staring into his face and unmoving. He did this frequently and he did not care enough to ask why.

"Did you know that it is believed that mirrors can steal a person's soul?" said Gabe at last sitting up to sit on his elbow as he glance at the boy.

The golden eyes remain focus on his own face.

"As self-centered as ever I see pet." continued Gabe prompting himself back on the bed. He knew exactly what strings to pull to make him furious but no matter how much he pushed him he never let the dark rage within him come out. Never gave in to the insults Gabe kept throwing at him. It was maddening.

Cloud started for the door, quietly as a mouse, without so much as a glance to where Gabe was.

he paused on the door way long enough to say, "Sonia has assign you to Lady Heart."

And he left.

Alone Gabe wondered about who this Lady Heart may be. Some rich spoiled girl for sure. Those were the general type of clients they got anyway.

He sighed and stood up, he should probably do something to appear 'nice' to the clients. Though by the time they left they weren't thinking he was 'nice' at all.  He smiled wickedly with that thought in mind.

Standing in front of the mirror Cloud had just been looking on, he felt ridiculous need to let himself grow a mustache. Perhaps get another piercing? He thought touching the two rings at the corners of his lower lip.

He loved seeing Madam Claire's reaction to the changes to his fashion and facial style. Just last month he had opted for blue hair that now was a deep brown with a streak of white in the front.

Short but long enough to give the clients something to grab on, he thought with a smirk.

Glancing around his room he searched for the ring he had bought just a week ago. It was silver with the face of a heart carved in.

My god, what a mess he had in his room. Still, he refused to let anyone come in and cleaned for him for fear of loosing track of where his things where in his room and because he did not want anyone looking through his stuff.

It wasn't like he had something to hide. It was a sense of pride.

A couple of minutes passed and he heard the noise starting down stairs as clients starting coming in and enjoying themselves.

Meanwhile he was blowing bubbles in his room.

And that's how Lady Heart found him minutes later. Standing silently, blowing bubbles to the ceiling.

"Are you not afraid of the soap falling in your eyes?" she asked him standing in the doorway. 

"Nay," he answer giving her a dazzling smile.

This made her roll her eyes, "You are nothing but a boy."

His smile didn’t falter an inch.

"Says the lady willing to pay me to forget I'm one for a while," said Gabe blowing bubbles her way.

She smiled and stepped into the room, parting the curtains and closing the door behind her with a silent click.

Pale, vibrant hair framing her heart-shaped. Red lips wide in a smile.

"I've heard about you, Gabe." she said not coming closer to him.

"I'm sorry I can't say the same about you, Lady Heart," he spoke her name as it was a joke.

This she expected. Gabe was never respectful. He was always pushing people to the limit. Enjoying when their temper took over them and their weaknesses were reveal.

Mischief danced in those gray eyes.

"I wouldn't expect you to, after all unlike you I don't have a reputation to pursue me."

"But who can not love the appreciation in woman's eyes when they hear who I am. When they realize it's 'Gabe' their talking to. Is 'Gabe' who's holding them. Kissing them. I must say I love my moments of spotlight," he said sighing happily.

She walked towards him.

"I paid good money for this moment of spotlight," she said taking the bottle of bubbles away from him. "I expect it to be money good spend," she continued looking up at him with eyes that wanted nothing but fun.

And he was gonna give it to her. With a smile he leaned down to her, kissing her and making her forget that he was just a boy.

*

Some time later that night a shadow had appear over the door step.

"Thought you wouldn't show up tonight." murmured Gabe rather sleepy.

"Scared I'll steal your clients away?" asked Neil coming in and sitting on the only chair in the room.

"Nah," he said yawning and stretching his arms upward. One glance at the clock told him it was 3 a.m.

You have to be kidding me, thought Gabe fighting to keep his burning eyes open. After all he had only gotten two hours of sleep so far.

"What's with you leaving at night?" he asked Neil laying back on the bed in a comfortable position. Neil didn't answer for a few minutes. If he doesn't answer soon I'll fall asleep, Gabe thought with his eyes closed.

"I had someone to visit," he answer in the same quiet way he used on everyone. That is, anyone who lived in the house. To the clients it was all cheerful Neil. Flirting Neil.

"And Madam Claire doesn't suspect anything?" Gabe asked not opening his eyes.

"Not a thing"

He nodded even though Neil wouldn’t be able to see it him the dark.

"That boy, Cloud seems fond of you." Neil said after a few minutes.

Gabe let his head fall his side.

"I suppose"

"He's always with you"

"Is not a mutual agreement but yes, he is always hanging around"

"You could try to not treat him like crap you know"

Neil could be stern sometimes. Good thing he was half-asleep and too tired to cared.

"I've been told I have the ability to do so, yes."

Neil sighed, "I see"

Gabe thought he'd left then when he didn't respond back. Too deep in the spell of slumber to form any coherent words to say to him.

From the doorway Neil eyed him wearily.

Too young, he thought, Gabe is too young to realize he has the ability to do more. Much more, he thought as he left a quiet-snoring Gabe behind.