Eternal Symphony

27. Giselle

This evening was her first dreamless sleep in ages, but Alice awoke to the sound of scratching against the window. She cautiously looked up to see Luna outside basking in the early sun through swollen eyes, meowing and rubbing her head against the glass.

"What are you doing outside?"

Curious if this was another dream like before, Alice started to move but discovered she was utterly sore all over—she could barely lift a finger. After silently cursing Elijah's name, she struggled and gathered enough strength to move her legs; she stumbled across the room, using the furniture as support, and opened her window. Luna jumped inside, purring as she pranced along her bed before curling into a ball and lying down.

"She likes you." Alice spun around to see Elijah standing in the doorway, fully dressed in a dark grey suit with his white-flame hair slicked back, his emerald gaze wandering over her sun-kissed hair cascading down her lower back, admiring his goddess for a wife. "Luna has been more lively since you've been here."

Satisfied at making her presence known, the miniature panther scurried across the floor and into the hallway, and Elijah shut the door. Alice reached over to draw the curtains close, but Elijah was already approaching her, callous to the sunlight threatening to set his skin ablaze. He wrapped her in his arms before she could flee and pressed his lips against her bruised neck. "Miles agreed to meet with us this morning. After explaining the situation, he has some additional information he believes would prove invaluable. He will be here shortly, so I would prepare for the day if I were you. I don't think you want him seeing you like this."

Yet the moment she attempted to leave his embrace, Elijah pinned her against his body—her back to his chest—holding her with one arm while his free hand brushed against her thigh. Kissing her long porcelain neck, he moved his fingers upward and drifted to her sex, pleasuring her tantalizingly slowly until she was hot and wet. He growled into her shoulder when she moaned and gasped, and Alice bit into his arm when he pushed inside her. It wasn't long before she quivered and tensed from his skillful touch; panting, she clung to him to keep herself from staggering, even long after he sated her.

Satisfied with his handiwork, Elijah kissed her cheek and neck, whispering, "That's a good girl," before finally releasing her. He resisted the urge to thwart her attempts to dress, tempted to drag her back to bed, but her looming curse reminded him that it wasn't appropriate. However, his patience wore thin when Alice buttoned her blouse in front of the full-body mirror that captured his reflection; Elijah walked up behind her and ran his fingers through her honey-blonde hair that untangled easily in his hands, her golden strands soft and silky. Her scent and feeling were addicting.

"What's the matter?"

Elijah looked up to see Alice's reflection staring back at him; her blue gemstone eyes were captivating in the warm light seeping through the curtains. Even when they were children, no one appreciated her beauty more than him. He wrapped his arms around her and buried his face in her hair. "Nothing, just...." His voice grew faint, and he tightened his grip, "I just want my wife back."

Alice clutched his arms, and the two shared a silent communion in the lingering somber silence.

Once Alice finished slipping into her jeans—after facing obstacles presented by her husband—Mrs. Badeaux knocked on their door to announce breakfast was ready. However, there was still no word from Miles; Elijah periodically checked his phone for any messages or calls, but he shook his head whenever Alice asked.

It was unnerving how quiet and empty the manor was, devoid of maids and other company. Other than the Housekeeper, Alice believed she and Elijah were wholly alone—even Emil and Sophie-Anne were absent. "I'm not sure where they are," Elijah admitted, "The last I spoke with them was before I went to get you. I told them what happened, and I suppose they left to give us privacy to talk."