My Darling Goddess

Chapter 8, 'Lucas'

               "I would never hate you, Lucas" As Alice spoke out my fear calmed,

"Y-you won't leave me, will you." I hid my face, I couldn't let her see me like this,

"Lucas," She managed to free her arms from my grip and hugged me back, "Was that what you were scared of?"

"SAY IT!" I shouted not caring anymore about who would hear us,

"Say what?" She looked up at me, gazing at my horns in curiosity. I look up meeting her gaze, tears welling in my eyes, 'why am I crying, what's wrong with me?'

"TELL ME YOU WON"T LEAVE ME," I pause for a moment, "Please, I-I need to hear you say it."

She presses her forehead against mine and begins to speak, "Lucas, I won't ever leave you, I promise." I closed my eyes, I focused on the soft breathing coming from her rosy red lips.

We finally lift our heads up again, a small red mark appears on her forehead,
"Would you like to spend the night?" A small smile forms on her face,

"Can I? Wouldn't it be bad for me to be spotted with you?" Even though I say that, I truly long to say yes.

"That's why we'll lock the door," She stands up and walks to the lock, gently turning it. Once it made a 'click' sound she calmly walked back to the bed where I was still sitting. This was the first time I clearly took a look at her room. It was plain, she had a large bed with pink curtains hanging up around it, most of the furniture she had was white. I'll make sure to have our bedroom designed this way,

"Lucas? Lucas, is something wrong?" Alice had sat next to me,
"Yes I'm fine, but you must be exhausted," I stood up and lifted the blankets up.

She seemed to realize what I meant and crawled under the blanket. I layed down next to her.

"Alice," Her name, it somehow always sounds perfect no matter how you say it.
"What's wrong?" Alice crawled closer to me till I could wrap my arms around her. This was new, different, but not bad.

"I love you," I whispered, pulling her closer to me, holding her there, When I stared at her delicate face, I realized she was sleeping.

Alice reminded me of the roses my mother would grow, my mother was always so proud of them, until father would come and mock us while standing on her precious roses.

This would happen each year until mother finally had enough and snapped, the next day I found her smushed alongside her roses.

I won't let anyone step on my precious rose. I hold Alice tightly in my arms taking in her sweet smell of strawberries.

"Don't worry my sweet rose, I'll protect you from all the dangers the world has. Especially my father." I gently put my head on her shoulder and drift off to sleep.
                                  ~~~~~
                   "Goddess Alice! Goddess Alice! Is everything alright? Hurry and unlock the door so we can check on you!" Awakening to the sound of yelling maids I quickly looked over to check if they woke Alice too.

"Thank goodness you're still asleep my love," I placed my hand gently on her head, her hair still as soft as the first time I met her.
"Lucas~" Alice called out, snuggling closer to me. 'D-Did she just call out for me in her sleep, she's so adorable,'

"Alice, it's time to wake up." I lift my hand off of her head and eagerly await for her to wake.  Alice opened her eyes and sat up,

"Lucas!" She clung to me wrapping her small arms around my waist,

"Is something wrong? You can tell me what it is," I pull her closer while holding her in my arms, I could feel the tears falling from her eyes,

"I-I had a bad dream," I place my hand on her head and gently stroke her hair trying to comfort her.

"What was it about?"

"Y-you disappeared and I was left alone," She lifted her head and stared at me, her eyes were red and swollen from crying,

I placed my hand on her cheek and said, "My love, even if I do leave, I would always come back for you,"

"Promise?" Alice then lifted her hand up and held out her pinky. 'So cute!' My head and heart began to pound, she was adorable, absolutely perfect in every way, I reached my pinky out and crossed it with hers,

"I promise." That one word, that's all it took, all it took for her to be mine.