166Chapter 35 - His Diamond in the Rough
He wondered if she was aware. Aware the way she was gazing, ever so tremulously, against the sheer sheets of satin. Her eyes engulfed with an emotion so slight, that he couldn't decipher the tight feeling in his chest. The feeling that sparked helplessly against the facial prison he wore, rooted to the spot.
Icarus, impossibly reaching for light.
A formula. A person: a being of little, concise, formulae. Functioning with different inputs and outputs. And yet, unlike a computer, their reactions were not always small. Not always concise.
And seeing her look so lost against the stretches of this room, this boudoir for her, struck a chord long forgotten.
Her cry, however, bracketed the sudden pain he felt for her. Her suddenly precise widening of the lips, the flare of her eyes, the body jerked away.
His throat stung dryly.
Even while her fear receded, his thundering observation hammered, a relentless beat that had long settled against him.
You always kill things, Erik. You always kill the good things.
Unsteadily, he sauntered to the centre of the room, snarling while the sheets tore away from their rails, fluttering hopelessly to the floor. Puddling eerily around his shoes.
He needed to polish them, soon.
Her gasp fell unheard, as he stared. Unencumbered, unblinking, as another hand lifted the limp sash that wound around the waist of the dress.
"This – this – "
"It is." he stepped forward now, half aware that her sob was betrayed and bewildered, and yet he had a distant idea that he did care.
Somehow this sash was just another thing he couldn't claim. Not while it belonged so clearly to another.
"You'll wear it. Tonight." he turned, tilting enough to catch the expression that flittered across her face.
His heart clenched.
Unable to stop the down turning of his lips, the racing sight of her anger, her own fury that rivalled the tip of his own, he felt the sudden urge to jerk her, strip her here and tug that damned dress on her, so that finally, finally! He could see her in something that was his.
Someone. Someone who would finally know-
"No." her forgotten song flew to his ears. He spun, jerking himself so wildly that he towered over her.
She looked up, heat lancing from twin pricks, burning with a fury so bright that his breath caught.
"No. I will not wear this. Not for you."
"No? Not for me? We'll see. When you walk down the damned isle, no – when you run down the isle, I swear that if you do not wear this sash, then you'll wear it as your damned veil!"
His roar fumed like a torrent, rasping against the sound of her flinch.
He glanced to the faded scarf, only for it to be tugged away from the mannequin's dress, and bundled into the arms of his little lioness. Her chin jutted fiercely against his wrath.
He can see her, preparing for war with another volley of steeled repartees.
No!
Her first words were lost, as he growled over and stalked from the room. It slammed shut with such force that Erik felt the wall tremor.
"IF YOU DON'T WEAR IT, THEN YOU WON'T COME OUT AT ALL!" And with a snarl, Erik jammed the key in the door.
Fists began to hammer against wood as he stalked down the hallway, but he strode onwards, emotion glinting darkly within hooded eyes.
He had a wedding to prepare for.
With a swipe of his palms against the thigh of his jeans, Raoul sucked in a lungful of air.
"We'll need this. Take one."
Raoul raised his brow as a balaclava dropped into his hands.
"It's thicker fabric. Prevents any unwanted – identification." Nadir explained gruffly.
"He's going to recognise my voice, with or without this piece of fabric."
Nadir twisted his head to look at him, a dark look on his face, "Just put the mask on, Raoul."
Grumbling under his breath, Raoul slipped the black fabric onto his head, pursing his lips at the distasteful feel of fabric over his nose.
"So, what's the plan?" he adjusted the mask, tucking the lip under the jacket of his slate-grey jumper.
I feel like a damned robber with this getup.
Nadir raised (what Raoul assumed from what he could see of Nadir through the balaclava) his eyebrow in return.
"You think there's going to be a set plan for this?" he flashed a wry - albeit bitter – smile, "We have very little idea on what we're walking into here. We have a distance to walk, and each minute will be one minute more to alert Erik. We have no idea the layout of the building, no idea where she will be kept and no idea of the defensive parameters Erik has made to defend his home," Nadir stepped closer, the smile weighted under the lines around his eyes, and his hands rose to flatten the mask around Raoul's neck, "We'll be lucky to make it out of there alive, Raoul. The only, and I mean the only thing we have is the element of surprise. Our plan is to get in and out. Best case scenario is that Erik won't even know we're there before we're gone," he gave a tired smile, raising that pit of hopeful-apprehension alive in Raoul's stomach.
"But we can only hope our attempt of surprise is enough. There is no come-backs. No 'third-party in the wings'. We have us. And only us."
"We have Christine." Raoul murmured.
Nadir said nothing, sliding his gaze to the treeline as he stepped away.
"Don't bet on that."
The terrain had evened out after the dirt road had led them to a dead-end, and the car had been parked back towards it; unfortunately the perimeter of Erik's land held a dense forest. Their car could not surpass the density of the trees, the tracks wide enough for a person at a time.
Raoul had believed it would have been best to have searched for a gap around the edge of the estate for the place cars could enter. At least then they'd be able to trespass closer to the mansion that would hold Christine (there had been a serene, ivy-covered building on the website that boasted its Gothic heritage), that Nadir had identified as the type of building Erik would invest in.
However, Nadir's argument is that though having further to trek would be more difficult, they needed to keep the surprise of their rescue quiet. Erik would likely adorn cameras against any entrance to his home. So walking it would be.
Still, Raoul was not ready for the reality of it. In such a tired state, he was in the perpetual motion of tripping on errant roots, and being brushed by none-too-gentle branches.
With their voices kept to a minimum, Raoul fought the constant hum of his mind, the odd birdsong only adding to his unease. Every moment they struggled against the thick of the forest, the occasional squirrel skittering up a tree and their ungainly chatter bouncing through the branches made his hair stand up on end.
I really don't see what people see in hiking.
Nadir held up a hand, and Raoul stopped, silencing his breathing.
The older man cocked his head, squinting through the treeline, before a rush of breath loosed.
"We got sentries. Odd."
Raoul shifted, so that he was looking over Nadir's shoulder, "What do you mean?"
Nadir shook his head ever so slightly, "He doesn't trust others. Especially not to protect things. But look,"
Nadir carefully inclined his head in another direction and Raoul's eyes widened as two males sporting the logo-stamped boxes into a truck, parked on packed ground that was obviously a clearing for loading produce.
"That's the logo on the website."
"And there's a singing note. We're in the right place."
Their voices were cut off as the two men chucked another box into the van, and one groaned.
"I can't believe we get the rest of today off. I thought we only get holiday if we book."
"I think you need it," his compatriot replied, eyeing the man's sweat-soaked shirt, "You keep complaining that you need the weekend to come around faster,"
"Well don't we all? Al's being annoying with shifts. And May keeps saying I need to be more 'present' at home. Kid's barely awake half the time."
"Billy's what, five? You found a school yet for him?"
"Eh. Nearest one is forty odd minutes away. May'll have to drive him."
"She won't like that." his friend laughed.
"Tough." He shrugged, before half-hardheartedly sighing, "We all gotta work. We agreed when we got here how'd we manage things. It's a good enough salary."
"I'll say." The other grunted, pushing the last box onto the truck, "Well, I know Loui's gonna come and collect this delivery later, so you fancy walking back and having a game at mine before Lisa comes?"
The man smiled, "I hope you got beer. Been craving a Stella since this morning,"
"These twenty years ain't been for nothing. 'Course I do."
Both men laughed, before sauntering away; there was a little brick wall that they followed out of the unofficial parking lot, turning around a bend, back into the eastward line of trees.
They waited in silence until Nadir deemed it safe to step out of their cover.
He looked at the truck speculatively.
"You reckon we could pass as fruit delivers, Raoul?"
Raoul glanced it the direction of Nadir's gaze, "I don't see why not."
Both of them looked at each other, and allowed their small victory to trickle through.
He spent the last two days tracking Raoul's phone before it went dead. Philippe growled, chucking the useless communications device against the pillow of the hotel. Enough of this mess.
Until a glowing notification appeared on his phone.
Need help. where r u?
Surprise etched on his face. After days of silence, and voice mail, now, now of all fucking times Raoul needed help? Jamming his thumb against the device, Philippe sent his message.
The reply appeared a few moments later. An address only. Followed with:
Tell no one.
k?
Late afternoon rays weren't able to pierce the barred windows of his room, the gloom perpetual and as suffocating – he once thought protective. Back when everything was merely normal. He could amuse himself with the thought! Erik, normal! How brilliant. How delightful. Not when his heart beat into a symphony, not when the trembling fingers were for another reason, rather than indulging of hours of study at the organ, piecing notes together as fine lyrics floated. Entwined.
Unwinded. No – unwound was it not?
Beside one shadowed corner, did one sole light pierce such a thick smog, the ray of candlelight. A conflagration of spurting warmth, waxing and waning with his breath and life-force. Erik marvelled at the constant flare. Perhaps the only warm thing that stayed.
I wed thee, holy flame.
He shook his head, finding the relenting calm against the tide of helpless laughter that threatened to rise.
There was one missing cufflink. He needed the cufflink.
He needed so much more than the cufflink.
Tilting his head back, his hands rose, their dance of a hundred years beginning once more. The final time.
Then she'd be there. Then she'd be there, kissing the salt from his tears.
The world blurred, and he gasped, finding the pain was suddenly there, the pain of her treacherous fingers flashing against his mind. The basin was the only thing keeping him aloft, holding him from the floor as he keened, and whispered for the only bit of good in his world.
If you give me to her, I'll do anything.
The two drove in thick silence as they drew nearer to the mansion that burgeoned against the horizon, an ugly grey that reminded Raoul of the colour of reused snow.
The general quiet of the estate only grew as they drove inwards, Nadir at the wheel with a solemn expression on his face.
"We will drive around the back of the mansion, hope for a way in that we can access. Scaling the building isn't my first choice, but it may be the only one we have."
Raoul nodded grimly, knee jumping repeatedly as they passed field upon field, clenching the knees of his jeans as if to derive the strength from them.
Eventually, the car began to wind past buildings; ones that looked like houses, dotted in little knots of civilisation, becoming more and more collected at the bottom of the hill. The hill that the mansion shadowed.
"Change of plan. We need to be able to hide this; I don't like the look of this hill. It looks like we need to walk it up. There isn't another way to get up there apart from on-foot."
The van was a hard one to get rid of, however a five minute detour to drive away from the 'main road' and they managed to find a low corpse of trees to stash the vehicle in.
Cautiously, they ducked their way through the forest, heading further around the side of the hill. While scouring the outside of the mansion, Raoul cursed as something bashed against the side of his head.
It gave a melodic clinking and Raoul glanced upwards in surprise.
"It's a wind chime."
Another set of clinking emanated from the other side of him and Nadir grunted, "Another here, too."
Pausing, Raoul observed the canopy above them.
"There's dozens of them!"
"Indeed." Nadir reached and loosely fondled a ribbon that was tied to one.
"Red. All of these are red. Stand for anything significant?"
Raoul bit the inside of his cheek thoughtfully, "Christine once mentioned red stands for danger in literature. But wind chimes seem a bit morbid to tie anything like that onto."
Nadir sent Raoul a withering glare, "I was not asking for literary analysis. Patterns are essential to Erik. As you well know. Butterflies are one, perhaps red ribbons are another,"
Raoul shrugged helplessly, "Look, the closest thing to a red ribbon I know that is related to Christine is the red scarf her mother gave her."
Nadir sighed, rubbing a weary line above his brow, "Right. Well let's move on. We don't know what we've alerted by being here, but to have such a display, placed directly out of his home? It doesn't seem right."
"Why would there be a display just outside someone's house?" Raoul chewed on it thoughtfully, "Unless you counted on accessing it? My mum always had a fondness for little gardens. She used to hang little crafts on the trees for the birds. Even installed a bench to watch them."
Nadir turned to Raoul, an impressed expression leaking onto his face, "You're right. This is exactly what Erik might have created to entertain someone. If he ever took Christine here, I'm sure the route back would be as painless as possible."
"So, there should be an easy way to get to the outside of his mansion," Raoul concluded, a smile creeping on his face, "If we are careful, we can get to Christine pronto."
Nadir chuffed, a small half-smile playing against his lips, "One step at a time, Raoul."
We still have yet to face the dragon.
Breaching the forest to the little back garden that boasted a wooden gate seemed a more simple entrance than one might expect. Still, Nadir wasn't about to turn down this more subtle way of entry.
The heat of the afternoon had allowed their shirts to be stuck against skin, and their balaclavas pressing uncomfortably around their noses. But as they passed the areas of the well-trimmed garden, a few late-season butterflies flew from the undergrowth. One practically flew into Raoul's face and with an annoyed swat, he soon sent the butterfly running.
Nadir cast him a funny look, "You sure have a way with animals."
"Well last time I checked, you were the one who provoked them."
Sighing, Nadir pushed onward, not even deigning to reply.
Running the brush through her hair, Christine gazed into the vanity. Her knuckles ached from the earlier abuse, while her throat smarted from screaming herself hoarse with all the obscenities she could have mustered.
Erik hadn't returned. Clarice hadn't shown either, to her surprise.
The wedding, it seemed, was something she would have to prepare for alone. She tried not to be dismayed at the fact, nor the longing she had for the company of the girl. At least then she'd have someone.
Someone who would treat her with some respect.
No. That's too harsh. Erik doesn't mean to be so – so –
Oh I don't know.
Resting the brush against the wood, Christine turned to stare at the dress, finding the eerie stillness of it filling the entire room with its presence. Still, part of her reluctantly marvelled at the sheerness of the fabric, the way it was cut practically pleasing and at once, having a dotingly esteemed posture. A dress made for a woman.
She stood, and trailed her fingers over its hanging arm. It was a mix, both boldly old fashioned – something with the way the lace ran over one shoulder, and wound itself into a sleeve, while the other was bare. A harsh contrast to the reserved lace sleeve, indeed. The neckline was modest, some part of her secretly thankful of Erik's idea of decorum on such matters. Then the bodice drew to an elegant point – almost a similar curve to Briar Rose's dress in Sleeping Beauty – before descending into a curtain of fabric, light lace butterflies circling the bottom of the train.
Christine drew the dress from the modelling body, thankfully finding it easy to detach with the zip at the back.
Like before, the inside of the dress was silken, fitting over her with the slightest tug over her cleavage, and settling like snowfall around her legs. Three layers of fabric seemed a bit much to her, but the stiff inner-most layer certainly made the dress 'poof' around her waist. At least, without a proper mirror, was what she could see from the vanity.
And then, the final touch.
Drawing the scarf from the side table, she allowed the fabric trickle through her fingers, the soft pang of nostalgia as she raised it to sniff.
I know you'd be disappointed if you met me, Mor. I probably didn't turn out how you expected.
I didn't turn out how I expected, either. Didn't think I'd even get married for a while.
I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.
I wish I could have you with me, to help me through this.
I love you.
Drawing her eyes to her waist, Christine twisted the scarf around, using the wide ends to knot into a bow, cinching in the dress and completing the masterpiece Erik had intended for.
The perfect bride.
The garden led to the back door. At least, that was what Raoul assumed.
Nadir withdrew something from his pocket.
"Keep this. But don't use it unless you're a sure shot. We cannot allow anyone else to be hurt."
Raoul stifled a shudder as he took the gun. He could still feel the barrel of the gun hovering against his skin, the feeling of recoil which had bit nastily into his hand. The laughter that circled his head.
"Understood." he muttered hoarsely.
"Another rule, don't speak his name. It may be superstitious, but I don't trust leaving everything in the hands of co-incidence. Allah help us," Nadir took his own firearm, and turned to the door, testing the handle warily.
It didn't turn.
Grunting, Nadir withdrew another piece of technology from his pocket.
"One of the remaining pieces of technology I raided from his underground home before we left for America. It may be older than we'd like, but his work is impeccable." Nadir said, before attaching the little device just above the door knob.
Tapping it twice, the black block started to whir. Green lights turned to red.
Nadir hissed.
"Oh Allah, he's gotten more advanced. It's defunct."
"Try the windows? Maybe they have a different lock combo?"
"We will have to." Nadir grunted, and started to head further round the side of the mansion, creeping slowly when nearing a window.
Raoul followed, feeling terribly exposed without the cover of the trees against the rise of the hill.
Nadir pressed the scanner against the window pane of two vacant rooms, with no success.
Gritting his teeth, Raoul said, "Are you sure we can't try second story windows? I'm sure they will be more likely things to try. Everyone knows that protecting ground windows are more of a priority."
Nadir looked at him, "We can certainly try. Will you give me a lift?"
Raoul swallowed the grimace, "Of course."
With Nadir balanced upon Raoul's interlocked hands, the older man reached the second story window with more ease.
"You done it yet? I'm getting tired." Raoul hissed.
"Quiet!" a few clunking noises followed and then a small 'Aha' came from his companion. Within a few minutes, Nadir eased open the window and hoisted himself in, leaning back with open arms.
Groaning, Raoul used the ledge of the first story window to then launch himself to Nadir's arms, who grasped him, and pulled him into the room.
They slid off the cabinet, leaving it on the latch so they could exit through the window on their return. He blinked, taking in the surroundings. It was virtually empty, the only ornamentation were the dark cupboards that lined the walls.
"What is this place?" Raoul squinted, and turned about, walking over to a set of draws that lingered in the corner.
"Raoul! We don't have time for this," Nadir stepped to the door, pressing an ear to it, flashing an irritated glance towards Raoul, who was peering in a draw, "What is it?"
Raoul held up a piece of thin cardboard, "Another butterfly. Question is, why?"
Nadir shook his head, "It doesn't matter, leave it alone."
Shaking his head, Raoul let it drop back into the draw, and waited for Nadir to peek through a slit in the doorway.
"It's clear, we should be able to make –"
Nadir silenced, mouth snapping shut as muffled footfalls hurried down the hallway. A door opened and shut.
"Allah help me," Nadir stumbled back, paling.
"What is it?" Raoul jerked out to steady Nadir, gripping his shoulder, "Did they see us? Tell me, man!"
"No, no, they didn't see us –" he shrugged off Raoul's grip, wiping a hand across his forehead, "I know her"
"How?"
"It doesn't matter. She may prove to be useful." Nadir murmured, before raising a finger to his lips as the door opened up ahead.
Nadir pressed his eyes close to the slit, narrowing when the girl held an armful of washing supplies as well as a pink, rolled-up towel under one arm.
He released a breath when the girl bustled down to the hall, clipped strides staccato against the stairs at the end.
"Upstairs. She's upstairs." Nadir murmured, and Raoul followed, pressing his slick firearm against his trouser leg.
With Nadir's gesture, they stepped against the edges of the floor panelling, minimising the chances of an errant creaking floorboard. Raoul barely had time to glance into the room that the maid had come from, before Nadir was gesturing for them start up the stairs.
It was with great difficulty when the carpeted floor turned to wood, their shoes echoing with a patter that seemed far louder than what was reasonable.
Antiqued wood polish assaulted their noses as they stood atop the third floor, and Nadir pressed himself to one door, eyes glancing further down the hallway.
Raoul pressed himself against the second; jigging the handle as Nadir did the same.
Neither opened – until there was a clack – and a whisper of surprise, and Nadir was gone. A hand from within the gloom gestured for him to follow.
Swallowing sickly, despite the relief to have a place without being vulnerably open, Raoul scurried inside, pressing the door shut with a click.
Their breathing was the only thing that told them that they had not expired.
The room hummed ominously, and his heart hammered with the same beat.
"You didn't think to look for the light-switch before we got inside?" Raoul breathed, wincing when his back met wall.
"I'll choose to ignore that," Nadir muttered, "Your humour is in bad taste,"
Raoul blinked slowly, as his vision cleared slightly. He could make out the grey outline of Nadir after a few moments.
"What room are we in anyway? Especially with all this humming," Raoul muttered, rubbing his ear. "Can you hear it too?"
Nadir nodded, "Yes," before he moved towards the streak of light from the crack of the door, "I will start feeling the wall for a light, you try the other side."
Raoul's hands began to run down the side of the door, straying away inch by inch until a rectangular lump moved under the pressure of his fingertips.
Instant light speared the darkness, flurrying it away and replacing it with cold metallic walls, and a series of stacked screens, with its largest monitor spanning the middle.
"Holy shit,"
Nadir was silent, nose flaring a fraction before he stepped closer, before swallowing. His fingers settled against the mouse that lay nonchalantly against the music note mouse-mat.
The monitor awoke, giving way into the home page with another click.
"Perhaps I overestimated Erik's security," Nadir said wryly.
"Is he so overconfident he wouldn't even put a password on his own computer?" Raoul remarked.
"It seems so. Perhaps there will be information – a way to short-circuit the system. Erase the security measures," Nadir scrutinised the computer, pulling out the chair and placing himself in front of the monitors.
"This may take a few minutes," Nadir grunted.
"I'll go and investigate the walls, then," Raoul said.
The road struggled, the car sputtered and Philippe groaned.
I can't believe it. A dead end? Seriously Raoul, I'm going to kill you.
The directions were helpful, up until the dead-end. Philippe slammed the car door, and rested his back on it, as he opened his phone.
It pinged.
I think I'm in trouble
There's a path off the road when you get to the dead end. sharp left after you get to the trees
please
Tossing off his jacket, Philippe glanced around, eyes widening when he noticed a car parked just off the road – where it turned to a dead-end.
That must be Raoul's car!
Sighing, Phil ran a hand through his hair and began walking, foraging ahead with grim determination.
What has that boy got himself into?
There was a corner of the room that was shrouded in darkness, even after the lights had come on; there was a glass chamber, that stretched from floor to ceiling. Cherry wood hinged the cabinet, as if an antique terrarium for a reptile.
"How did we miss this when we walked in?" Raoul glanced up, before tapping the glass speculatively, "There's no handle."
He tapped it again, peering closer. All was still, until there was a slow whine, like a generator that had forgotten to wake.
"Look, Nadir, look at this –"
Several shapes were beginning to become visible in the wake of the glass chamber, the amber-hued lights waking with each passing second, until brighter, and brighter. The several shapes morphed into multiple.
Until those shapes became beings, still and unmoving against the side of the glass.
Raoul's mouth dropped open in a silent gasp.
Those shapes which had been still within the glass began to move in synchronised harmony, wings fluctuating in the acute simulation of becoming ready to fly. Until Raoul counted the shapes on just one wall of the glass, easily blossoming into over several dozen, and countless stripes and patterns, colours. Traditional and non-traditional.
The whine grew into a whir, hurrying with each faster flutter of the beings' movements, until all at once, hundreds of butterflies launched themselves off the walls of the chamber; only to begin the flurry of their dance amidst hundreds of others.
And a singular monarch butterfly danced among the rest.
Raoul stumbled back, shock hanging from his open mouth, and the frantic dance of the butterflies and thousands of wing-flaps filling the room.
"We seemed to have found the origin of Erik's obsession, hm?"
Raoul turned to his companion, but the lack of surprise flummoxed him.
"You knew about this?"
Nadir shook his head, casting a glance to the underside of his hands, "No, I am equally caught off-guard," he twisted away just slightly, and Raoul thought he caught the misting of Nadir's eyes.
"How are these butterflies alive in here?" Raoul shook his head, peering at the ever-moving formula of butterflies, colours and combinations in constant fluctuation.
"They're not."
"You're meaning to say these things are artificial?" Raoul sniggered, "Look, we're not in some Si-fi film here! This is real life, we don't get fake butterflies or –"
"Screen-filled rooms as if inspired from a film?" Nadir finished with a raised eyebrow.
Raoul winced, "Okay, you got me. But these? I can't believe it. Even if it makes more sense –"
"I've found her."
Nadir interrupted with a whisper, and the screens flashing to a room.
In the centre stood Christine, tying a red scarf around her waist.
Wow. Hello everyone!
First things first! I have to give a MASSIVE shoutout to the one and only, Quiet2885! They kindly let me borrow their idea for Erik-created/man-made butterflies, a plot bunny that has been bundled into my brain ever since I read their fic Shadow Government! (PLEASE READDDD IT, because their stuff is like, one of the best fanfic's I've read!) So, I have them to thank for their prose, and their generosity for this idea! ^^ (You can search their name in or their fic!)
I can't wait to write more – unfortunately this chapter is rather short due to my horrible bout of sinusitis, which is leaving me very fatigued and ill XD but since it's Christmas tomorrow! (AHHHH!) I felt that you all deserve something to chew on ;)
(Plus thank you Luxpop for kicking me to finish this T0T because you do deserve another chapter!)
BBUTT I realise that everything is coming together and woahhh I can't believe it! ;) We're heading to our final destination soon. As you can probably all tell. Hehe.
I want to thank you for reading (my apologies for any errors or lack in quality!).
I hope you all have a wonderful holiday! ^^
Your humble reader,
Enigma
P.s Thank you to my reviewers, you fill me with such joy, especially when I'm not 100% so thank you: mystykldrak (thank you for telling me how you feel about Erik! I rely on your guys' guidance on how you feel ^^ so I hope things will unfold even better than before!), Guest (awwwee! Thanks for that, it was so encouraging, as it's so wonderful to hear what you see and feel from these beings that are on our screens! I hope the pacing was alright in this chapter, too, but I know that it might not be so much haha!), Gothiclolitaxo (OMG ^^ EEEEE I'm hoping this littl' chappie does enough to sate you till I next update hehe! Thanks for your beautiful review!) and Luxpop! (you're so sweet omg :'D thank you! I loved hearing how your experience of this story impacted how you see things, but I loved it, because it means I'm doing a good job at being a little mysterious hahaha XD it's hard to work out how much you're giving away! I love hearing all about your ideas! So thank you EEE ^^).