Perfume

Chapter Twenty-Two - The End

The cab stopped in front of my building and we get out.

     "Venenoso told him," Linden said, shaking his head as we entered the lobby. "I just can't believe him. That's playing low."

     "I deserve it," I told him as we reach the elevator.

     Linden shook his head as he pressed the button to go up. "Don't say that, Bella. You don't deserve it. You know I hate it when you say things like that."

     The doors of the elevator opened and we walked in. 

     Linden pressed the button for my floor and held my hand as we went up. He was so warm and comforting, but I could not be comforted. My stomach churned and I was near tears. Nate hated me, but at least he was save. He was the only person Venenoso wouldn't dare touch. But Linden and Clara...he wouldn't be afraid of hurting them.

     The doors opened one more time and we walked out. I handed Linden my keys and he opened my apartment when we got to it. Immediately, we went to my room. 

     Linden went to my closet as I sat on the bed, my shoulders hunched, eyes on the floor. He came back with a pair of yellow pijama pants and a tank top. 

     "Go," he said. "Go change."

     As I changed in the bathroom, I thought. I thought about Venenoso and the danger that he was to everyone I loved...I thought of Linden and Clara and of how much I loved them...God, I loved them. I couldn't lose them. I couldn't let them get hurt. 

     A mere few months ago I hadn't felt like this. I hadn't known what love was. I was so poisoned by the hate and anger that Venenoso had caused me that I had not realized what was around me. I was so blinded by rage. But now...now I saw things differently. Linden made me see things differently. He changed me completely. He made me see what love was and I could not lose him. 

     I had lost him almost once and I could not go through that hell again. I loved him and I wanted him to live. I wanted him to be happy even if it wasn't with me. I didn't want to put him in danger. I was so sick of him being in danger, of him loving me when I shouldn't be loved. Yes, I was his perfume, he loved me for who I was, but that did not change who I was: a monster.

     And I could not risk him. I could not take the risk to lose Linden, to have him hurt. He had to be save. Venenoso couldn't hurt him. I couldn't allow him to do so.

     I dressed and went back out to my room, ditching my dress by my closet. Linden sat against my pillows, his hands behind his back. I sat on the edge of my bed and sighed.

     "You should go," I said.

     "No," he responded at once. "I'm going to keep you safe."

     I shook my head. "Linden, please, no."

     The bed groaned as he got up. He sat down next to me and took my hand in his, squeezing it gently and bringing it up to his soft, warm lips. "Bella, love, stop it. I'm going to protect. I'm not the strongest. I'm not a kick ass super hero like batman. I'm not superman, but I can be your superhuman, darling. And I'm going to be.

     "I'm going to protect you, Bella. Because I love you. I, Clay Linden, certified dork, am in love with you, Bella Riggers, the most beautiful girl I have ever met. Not only outside, but also inside, babe. I love what I see inside, through your precious green eyes, baby. Through the eyes that I feel in love with I can see the real you. I can see Bella.

     "You were never Hanna to me. I never saw Hanna. I only saw Bella. I fell in love with Bella. I'm in love with you and I am going to do everything in my power to keep you safe."