"Thomas..."
"Don't, Lucille....Don't speak to me as if you care."
I stood with my back turned, refusing to look at her.
She glided up to me and placed her delicate hand on my shoulder. I pulled away.
"LEAVE ME BE, DAMN YOU!"
She jerked her hand back, and faded away, only to manifest in front of me so that I was facing her.
"Talk to me Thomas...You know how it hurts me to see you suffer like this."
"I couldn't stop him...I felt so weak, so helpless...useless. I couldn't protect her." My voice broke as I choked out the words. The images played over and over again in my head, and there was nothing I could do to make them stop. I watched the light in her eyes flicker away, and I couldn't help her.
"He'll kill her, darling....she'll die here, if you don't do something." She said, placing her hands gently on my face.
"Do what?... What could I possibly do if I can't even touch him?.."
"Send her away...."
I scoffed and turned from her, of course, that's what this is about. The great Lucille Sharpe feels threatened.
"Send her where, Lucille? Out there?! Into the elements to wonder around in the snow to freeze?!" I spat.
"Finlay. he's due to come back at any time. Convince her to turn August in, and Finaly can take her away from Allerdale Hall. You know what happens to those who die on this mountain, Thomas. Is that what you want for her?...to be trapped here, like us?..."
Her words cut me like a knife, I knew she was right, even if her intentions were self serving, she was right.
"I know...You love her..." she said, solemnly.
Normally such a notion would send her into fits, but this time, she sounds genuinely sympathetic, which is probably why I answered her so honestly.
"I do...I've fallen in love with Sybil." I said, the pain of that truth tightening my chest.
"Then let her go, darling." She whispered, kissing me softly on my cheek.
"Have you told her?..."
"Told her what, Lucille?"
"The truth about us...about what we did? The horrid, monstrous truth as to why the ghosts in her little book are no longer haunting these halls? The real reason why we're damned to walk in their place?... Have you?"
The realization hit me seemingly out of nowhere. I hadn't told her any of it, none of it...but...she must know, right?
"Edith's book, surely she-"
"Shhh...Shh...Do you really believe Edith would ever write about you in an ill light? You, to whom she credited with saving her life?...No...No, I assume that all the fault of the horror was bestowed upon me. The villain of our story...as always." She sighed.
"She doesn't know you like I do...she couldn't possibly love you as much as I. Nobody could."
"I won't listen." I began to make my way out of the room. I've heard enough.
"Thomas...None of this is real, darling.
Your feelings for her, or her feelings for you...The only tangible thing you'll ever have to hold on to...is us....Send her away...It's her only hope."
I stormed away, but somehow I could still feel her eyes boring into my back. I phased through the walls, passing buy all the dusty, rotting relics that tied me to my former life. Is this really all I have? This house? Lucille? This lonely ache that burns within me, screaming for relief?
Before long, I found myself in Sybil's room.
She's still resting.
My precious Sybil...
She can't seem to find peace, not even in her dreams... her brows furrowed in a distressed expression. She must be having a nightmare.
I press my lips gently to her forehead, and smooth the lines of her brows with my fingers.
She must sense me, her face relaxes at my touch. Oh...how beautiful she is, my treasure. How cruel is fate to let me have her for only a moment, just to steal her away from me in an instant.
Lucille is right. I can't allow her to stay. Even though watching her leave will shatter me beyond repair, and my heart will ache for her until the end of time, I love her too much to watch her endure this hell any longer.
I bent down close by her ear, and placed my hand over hers.
"No matter where you go, or how you feel about me...You may even hate me for the rest of your life, but Darling...I just want you to know, that you are heaven itself to me...and I will keep you in my heart forever. I love you, Sybil...so so much..."
I pressed my lips to her cheek, as she took a long, relaxed breath.
I'll protect you, no matter the cost. Even if it destroys me...
I could hear August's footsteps clunking up the stairs, coming to see what's keeping her, I imagine.
He pushes open the door, and sighs heavily at the sight of her in bed.
He better not even think of touching her.
Anger began to pulse through me, as I watched him walk over to her side of the bed. He laid his hand on her face, feeling her as if he suspects that she has a temperature.
He lifts the covers off her body, and begins checking her wrists for bruises. You know you've hurt her, you demented bastard.
He lifts her gown to look at her body.
I can't stand the sight of his disgusting hands pawing all over her, he has no right touch her, not after what he's done.
Without thinking I grabbed his wrist, tightly, letting all the rage I felt inside travel down my arm and into his skin. An audible gasp flew from his chest, and pulled his hand back, as if he'd just touched a hot branding iron.
He looked around frantically, searching for me, but not seeing that I was right beside him.
He glanced at Sybil who was still sound asleep, before running off into the bathroom.
I followed.
He turned on the faucet, letting the cool water spill over his wrist. Through the running water, I saw a mark begin to form, a perfect outline of my palm had been scorched into his wrist.
"What the fuck?...." he shuddered, wiping at it as if it were an ink stain that could be washed away.
I couldn't believe it...how is it that I was able to harm him just now when, before, I couldn't even touch him?...
He stormed back into the bedroom, and tore a piece of cloth from the drapes. As he was wrapping his wrist, he paused, as if he was listening for something. His lips curled into a cunning smirk, as he finished wrapping his arm.
"I don't know what you are..." I-is he addressing me?...Does he sense my presence?
"But, I'll give you one warning, and one warning only. Touch me again...and every mark you leave on me, I'll give her one to match." He smiled, gesturing to Sybil.
Oh Damn him! That sick monster!
He reaches into one of the drawers and grabs one of his long socks.
What is he doing?
He pulls the covers away from Sybil's ankle and begins to tie it to one of the bed posts.
"There. She's not going anywhere tonight..." He's mocking me. He knows I'm here? But...How?
He continues to undress and crawls into bed beside Sybil, wrapping his arms around her, smugly.
I have to get her out of here. Fast.
YOU ARE READING
Crimson Lace: A Crimson Peak love story (Thomas Sharpe)
Paranormal*COMPLETED* Sybil McMichael was happy to accompany her husband, August, to the place his grandmother, Edith Sharpe, wrote about in her most famous Novel. Once there, she finds that her husbands intentions were fueled by more than mere childhood curi...
