TO LIE WITH MIDNIGHT ROSES

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RENESSA

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I jolt up, looking to my left where the noise had came from only to see a tall silhouette standing in the bathroom door frame.

"I thought you were asleep," Xavier's deep voice spoke, sending shivers through my body. For a moment I wonder why he is even in here, in this room but then in a sleepy haze, I remember it is his room and not mine.

"Sorry if I woke you," He saunters forward and in the dim light flickering from the fireplace I can see the outline of his body, the shadows hitting every curve, indent and line as a towel hands loosely around his waist. I try not to look.

Sucking in a sharp breath, I respond, "It's alright, I wasn't sleeping too well anyways."

"Bad dreams?"

"I wish they were dreams and not memories," I answer honestly.

I had dreamt of my father with his brown eyes and gentle smile but something was off in the memory. He looked at me like... like I was something or someone he didn't even know and he was angry with me. He had yelled at me because I broke something. I didn't mean to, I never meant to, it would just happen. 

My mother walked in, her cool demeanour calming my father as soon as he saw her. His furrowed brows and scowl melting into a half smile and relaxed eyes. He looked away from me and said something, something I never quite understood. "Why does she have to be so much like her father?"

"Renessa?" Xavier's voice pulls me out of my daze.

"Hm?"

"I asked if you were still tired?" He says from across the room, leaning up against the doorframe fully dressed now.

I shake my head, "No, actually." I wasn't sure if I wanted to fall back asleep, I didn't want to dream anymore. I didn't want to remember.

"I want to show you something then, if you'd like to come with me I was heading there anyways?" His tone feels apprehensive but my eyes widen at his offering nonetheless.

My sleepy brain could barely comprehend what was going on, was I hearing him correctly, did he want to show me something outside this room? 

The man hardly wanted to be around me, the only time he showed any interest in spending time with me was when he was pushing me away from anyone else. I hesitate for a moment, taken back by the fact that I had even fallen asleep holding his hand in the first place and I wonder how long he had stayed there while I slept. He obviously hadn't left the room.

"Yes?" I answer but it comes out as more of a question.

He walks toward me, reaching out his hand and helping me out of the bed. I straighten out my t-shirt and tuck a few stray strands of hair away from my face. He grabs my wrist now, gently as he turns to leave, taking me with him.

His shoulders are stiff and tense as his cool hand wraps delicately around my wrist and we walk down the dimly lit hall. His hand around me was such an odd feeling, it was exciting in a way, though he had held my hand just hours before. 

I want to hold his hand again instead of being led around by my wrist like a dog on a leash but I decide against it, he was too unpredictable with his emotions but excitement bubbles in my stomach nonetheless along with some unease as this seemed rather out of character for him.

The cold floorboards send shivers up my legs as my feet come into contact each time I take a step, I wonder where he is taking me. The cool night air nipped at my exposed skin. I only had on a pair of grey pyjama shorts and a loose-fitted white t-shirt.

"Where are we going?" I ask, "I'm surprised you even let me leave my room again after what happened earlier I thought I'd be stuck in there for at least a few more days and—,"

"Don't make me regret bringing you with me..." He murmurs.

I stifle a laugh as he continues walking quickly, looking around as if he doesn't want anyone to see where we are headed. I eye his back as I continue to follow just steps behind him and I notice tucked between his side and beneath his left arm he has a book. I quirk a brow, watching as his thick black boots thump against the floorboards, cuffed above the tops of them he wears black jeans and a loose brown crew neck jumper just a few shades darker than his eyes. I think he looks handsome again.

We walk a bit further and I realize I haven't had a chance yet to explore much of the inside of their house. 

The hallways were the same as the living room, with arched ceilings carved into the mountain's sedimentary rock, dark and dimly lit by lamps that lined the halls. It was calming though, I felt safe within the walls like the mountain was sheltering me. We walk past a few doors and at the end of the hall we stop, I figure we are on the other side by now further away from their rooms and Roman's study.

"This is where I come to read since Ryker refuses to use the Library for its actual intentions. I'm furthest away from all the noise out here."

He pushes the door open and we enter a small room with arched ceilings to match the hallway. To my right sits a small chaise, dark velvet green seats with Victorian curves and detail much like the one in his cabin. 

A side table with an oil lamp and a stack of books. To my left a wall filled with pictures all in ornate golden frames and I wonder who they are, the people in them. I don't get a chance to look long as he continues pulling me through. 

Straight ahead is a large window and outside I can see branches hanging low, stopping just at the top of it. He lets go of me, pushing them open and he props his leg above the window sill and for a moment I'm taken back to the night in his cabin. 

He hops over, landing on something I couldn't see, then reaches his hand out for me to join him.

"This is where I find my peace when I'm not secluding myself in my cabin."