Beneath the Surface [ON HOLD]

Chapter Four - Empty Violet Eyes

Chapter Four - Empty Violet Eyes

He stands there, in the doorway of a hidden room, his white blond hair swirling around his face - rage filled eyes fixed on my face.

Cobwebs and broken memories still cloud my mind and my vision is becoming unfocused, I can feel my eyes begin to droop as I begin to slip away into unconsciousness.

The shadow still towers over me - his influence still suffocating me. I see it take a small step towards the white-haired man and its form flickers slightly, like a candle in the wind.

Stone statues stare down at me pityingly, their frozen smiles sad.

Casting my eyes upward I notice with detached realisation the resemblance between the man in the painting I was admiring just moments ago - and the man who stands before me now, observing my slow death with empty violet eyes.

I force myself to meet his unwavering gaze as my eyes begin to close and darkness washes over me, blissful and empty.

***

I awaken to an uncomfortable pain in my chest, throbbing painfully between my ribs. Prying my eyes open I sit up stiffly, pressing my cold hands to my chest, wincing at the dull ache.

My eyes drift around the room I currently occupy, my thoughts oddly blurred.

The room looks strangely like a study - albeit a modest one. The floor beneath me is no longer soft carpet but hard stone and instead of an intricately painted ceiling, a wood-panelled ceiling greets me, cobwebs gracing its corners.

Small bookshelves and glass cabinets are scattered along the walls - filled with ancient leather bound books and a multitude of suspicious looking glass vials.

A huge oak desk stands proudly in the middle of the room, adorned with scraps of parchment and quills. The massive window behind it shows a picturesque view of the snow-covered mountains and ever-green tree-tops swaying gently in the crisp winter air.

Looking down at myself I notice for the first time a charred circle marring my dress, directly above my heart. My brow furrows in confusion as I continue to stare down at the curious mark, wracking my brain as to how I could have possibly obtained it.

My mind remains blank and I growl in frustration, running a shaky hand through my dark tresses. Pushing myself off the plush chaise I storm towards the door, my hand reaching for the brass handle but, before I reach it, the door swings open revealing a young man of about twenty, his white blond hair dishevelled and falling into his strange violet eyes in an endearing manner. That is - if you disregard his scowl.

"Awake at last, I see." He says sarcastically.

I narrow my eyes at him, "That I am. Now, if you'll excuse me, I really must be-"

He cuts me off impatiently, "You're not going anywhere."

I stare at him incredulously, "Excuse me?"

He smirks at me - smug and condescending and I have to resist the urge to grab a quill from the desk and stab it into his eye, "I'll try and put it is simply as I can," he begins disdainfully, "You invited yourself into my castle, upset my guard and if that wasn't enough - sent my pet to an unknown location in the mountains."

I blink at him disbelievingly, taking a step away from him and throwing my hands up in a gesture of surrender, "I can assure you - I have no idea what you're talking about."

He laughs dryly, "Ah yes, I forgot the spell can have that sort of effect on people."

I pause in my retreat, "Spell?" I ask, my eyes narrowing even further.

"Yes, spell." He repeats mockingly.

I glare at him angrily, "Are you telling me that you performed some sort of spell on me while I was unconscious?!" I say, my voice coming out louder than I intended.

He stares at me as if I'm the insane one, "But of course. How else was I supposed to secure myself some decent help?"

"Decent help?!" I screech.

He winces exaggeratedly, rubbing his temples, "Please don't shout, my dear. You'll wake the neighbours."

I splutter angrily, my ability to form a coherent thought alluding me. I take a deep breath and square my shoulders, "No." I say firmly.

"No?" he repeats confusedly.

"No." I say, slowly and deliberately.

His eyes widen and his smirk slips away, his scowl fixed on his face once again, "You do realise that you don't have a choice in the matter?"

I glare at him, steeling myself for a fight, "On the contrary. I believe I have a choice. And believe it or not, but I'm choosing to not be your 'help' as you so eloquently put it." I say firmly, "Now if you'll excuse me, good sir-"

"Nicolas." He says quietly.

I stare at him, dumbstruck, "Pardon?"

"Nicholas. My name is Nicholas. Nicholas Lafontaine."

I blink a couple of times, letting the name register, "Lafontaine. Lafontaine as in the Royal Lafontaine?"

He smiles self-deprecatingly, "The very same." He says wryly, strolling over towards the window and looking out at the scenery fixedly.

I shake my head in disbelief, trying to arrange my thoughts. I massage my temples tiredly, preoccupied with thoughts of my father, "Listen, Your Highness - if you are really who you say you are - I really must be going. I understand your predicament with your family and your need for a maid of some-sort, but as I have told you several times I really must be leaving."

"And I have already told you that you're not leaving."

I glare at Nicolas' back, "What makes you think that I won't go?"

He unhooks the latch on the window and flings it open - as wide as it will go, breathing in the cold air. I shiver as a cool breeze passes over my skin and I pull my red cloak tighter around my body.

I hear him sigh wearily, "Fine. If you want to leave - leave. Just don't say I didn't warn you."

I cock my head to the side, studying him silently, finding it odd that he gave in so quickly.

I shake off my suspicion, disregarding his words of caution and without further encouragement, run from the room and down the winding hallway with the stone statues and gruesome paintings that look so familiar.

Flying down the marble steps I don't look back at the beautiful stained glass windows or the writhing shadow that lurks in the depths of the Dark Castle.

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A/N: HI GUYS ^_^ arwh poor scarlet, today is just not her day... okay so first I have to ask --- what'd you think? Love it? Hate it? I know it's pretty early in the story, but I'd still love to hear your thoughts. So! Don't forget to comment ;) I'll love you forever and ever if you do *bambi eyes.* Thanks to everyone who's reading/commenting/voting already - you guys are the bee's knees. *huggle*