Loving Rain (Watty Awards 2011)

Chapter 7 - The Surprise

First off, just wanted to shout out to Call_Us_Crazy! If you haven't read either of her stories, you should check her out. =) 

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Loving Rain - Ch. 7

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               Lee and I ran through the castle hallways (which were, surprisingly, lit up with candles hanging all along the walls). I couldn’t help but notice that the castle was actually starting to feel like a home. Alan had apparently bought a lot of new paintings to hang on the walls, but one in particular caught my eye.

               I stopped running when I noticed it, and let my fingers trace along the intricate woodwork that made up the frame. The way it was carved made it look like curtains in a theater; long and flowing. But what caught my eye was the painting. It was one of the ocean, but not like any others that I had seen. Looking at the closest part of the picture showed the tranquility of the water, the calming feel of the colors and you could even detect a slight wind. But in the back of the picture the ocean was portrayed as stormy and almost haunting. You could see the rain and the lightening, and I could even imagine the sound of the thunder. Seeing the whole picture together was breathtaking, like seeing two sides of the same beautiful object.

               I felt Alan’s presence before he spoke. “Do you like it?”

               I could only nod. There didn’t seem to be a way to tear my eyes away from it.

               “I’m glad,” Alan said, and you could hear the smile in his voice. “Because it’s surprise number two.”

               “The painting is for me?” I asked, shocked, turning around to look straight at his face. Even with the wild look that you couldn’t help but notice due to his fur and all the scars, I could see the genuine hope in his blue eyes.

               “Yes. I thought you would like it. Especially because of its name.”

               I waited for him to elaborate, but then I realized that he was waiting for me to push for it. So I took on the sweetest, most innocent look I could give him and trailed my fingers up his muscular arm. “What’s the name of it, dear?”

               His bushy eyebrows went up in what I could only describe as a questionable look of entertainment. “Dear?”

               “Well, if you DON’T want me to call you that, then…”

               “No,” he interrupted me, “you can call me ‘dear’ anytime you want to…darling.”

               Goosebumps popped up all over my skin from the way he said that in his deep, masculine voice. But I was on a mission. I pulled a little back away from him, and I could tell that he didn’t enjoy the added space between us. I really liked having this kind of power. “So, Alan, what’s its name?”

               His eyes bore into mine as if he suddenly realized what I was doing. He looked up at the painting for a long time before finally giving in and letting me win. “It’s called ‘Ocean Rain.’”

               I could almost feel my cheeks start to ache from the way I was smiling so gigantically. I threw my arms around his neck and said, “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” probably a thousand times before he laughed and pried me off of him so he could breathe.

               “Three surprises left, Rain, and still a whole day to find them.” He winked at me, grabbed my hand, and led me off to the dining room.