BLOOD BOUNDED - THE MOONLIGHT - Eng - Castlevania Lords of Shadow (fanfic) PIII

Chapter 52

One of those nights...

Difficulty falling asleep had become a regular occurrence for Marie and her sisters since the tree incident. They had all been moved to the wing of the building where the apprentices were supposed to be, yet it took them at least a week to get that worn-out place accommodated to the needs of the maidens. But they just couldn't get used to it, and even any rattle of the night breeze against the windows was cause for concern.

She had heard someone talk about some kind of post-trauma, but it wasn't like she cared anymore. Because, as well, of all that she had changed in her life, that was just the tip of the iceberg.

Wrapped in a blanket to keep the cold air from seeping through her thin nightgown, Marie paused at the railing in the hallway to gaze at the partially lit lights in the area where the apprentices had been moved.

Which of those bedrooms would now be Gabriel's?

Even though they were so close, she hadn't seen any of the apprentices once, not even in the training ground. The security was so tight that she could barely move without encountering soldiers at every corner, which, far from keeping her safe, was another reason for nervousness. No one went in or out unsupervised.

That, of course, meant that she couldn't sneak into their area of the river, hers, and Gabriel's. And the truth is that she doubted that she could find him there anyway, especially after what happened...

No, the reasons why she would never see him again, were not only because the adults kept the maiden area and the knight area well defined as if it were some magical barrier, to avoid "incidents", according to what she heard.

Gabriel didn't want to see her again. He made that more than clear last time. And how could he want to, after the outright way she'd rejected him last time?

If only she could find answers to what happened that night, she and Julia had tried to investigate, but for the same reason, they couldn't help but feel observed at all times. And even when the situation finally began to lighten up in that place, they kept hitting the same wall.

At least now she could slip into the kitchen on her sleepless nights, with the excuse of preparing concoctions for her and her sisters, so she could rest.

Surrounded by Julia, Anise, Ponvi, who could hide her nature less and less, and the rest of her sisters and her caretakers, she felt so alone. The emptiness in her heart became more and more latent with the passing of the weeks.

With a heavy heart, she finished down the stairs, just one more hall...

She missed him so much, the icy warmth of her eyes, their long talks, the way he smiled when he looked at her, the comfort she felt from him when they were close...

Even his dark character, she thought with bitter amusement. Seeing him in combat had always been one of the most wonderful sights in Marie's life, even when she was overwhelmed with worry, seeing him exert all his skill and courage, and come out of it victorious, inflamed her the most. He made light of his injuries, and she hated them, but it was as if she knew they would always heal, only make him stronger. More if she could help make it happen.

Now, she couldn't even know if he was okay, she had no way to help him.

And she would never have it again.

Over and over again she resisted the tears.

"I miss you so much..." she murmured, but she didn't finish what was coming from her heart until she turned around the next corner and looked up at her.

Her eyes lit up. She might recognize that back, that silhouette, the graceful way of his walk, and the disheveled light brown hair anywhere.

The pounding in her chest echoed in her ears.