The Family

Revelation...

Three days after wedding...

"You wanted to see me? Nicolas?" I asked as we stood in the Cheuntrieul music room.

Nicolas sat by the baby grand piano as he played random keys.

He appeared to be staring off into space.

I cautiously approached him.

As I touched his shoulder, he abruptly grabbed my wrist and pulled me into his arms.

My cheeks flared at the sudden contact,"H-hey! What do y-you think you're doing!" I growled.

He didn't say anything and clutched onto me as if his life depended on it.

I squirmed slightly in his grasp but he tightened his grip and pressed his face into my neck.

I twisted my body so that I could look into his eyes.

My gaze met with his and I saw small tears pricking the corners of his eyes as he had a look of despair on his face.

He cupped my face in his hands.

His eyes traveled along my body and he began trembling.

"Where did he touch you....where did he hurt you...." he whispered, his voice slightly cracking at the last bit.

I couldn't meet his gaze as I tried to squirm out of his arms once again.

His grip tightened and he raised his voice,"Tell me."

I shook my head and thrashed about in his arms.

"TELL ME!" He commanded in a loud voice.

"EVERYWHERE!" I shrieked as I finally thrashed out of his grasp and stumbled onto the smooth marble floor.

Tears streamed down my face as I began trembling.

I sobbed quietly as Nicolas looked at me with widened eyes, his expression now filled with guilt.

I finally broke down as the memories of what I went through flashed through my mind and just shut my eyes as I lay in the fetal position.

I wheezed and didn't bother wiping  tears away as they traveled down my face and onto the floor.

"He hurt me over and over again...he tormented me about my past.....he hurt Danté....I'M SO TIRED OF BEING THE STRONG ONE! OF BEING THE ONE WHO HIDES BEHIND THIS STRONG FAÇADE! FOR ONCE I JUST WANT TO BE WEAK! I WANT TO BE PROTECTED SOMETIMES!" I sobbed loudly.

The room was quiet except for the sounds of my sobs.

I felt my body being lifted off the ground as I violently shook.

Nicolas held me in his arms and wiped away my tears.

I kept my eyes shut as I felt something warm against my forehead.

I hesitantly opened one of my eyes and saw Nicolas had placed a gentle kiss on my forehead.

I snuggled my face into his chest and took large gulps of air, attempting to calm my breathing.

"I'm sorry..." He whispered as he gently stroked my head.

I silently trembled in his arms and said nothing.

He gently sat me on the piano bench so that I could look him in the eyes.

He face held nothing but a soft smile as I looked down to the ground, embarrassed by my sudden outburst.

He gently cupped my face in his hands and made me look at him.

First, there was silence...and then....Nicolas slowly leaned in and gently pressed his lips against mine.

I sat frozen as his kiss was sweet and genuine and then....I found myself kissing him back.

Electricity passed through our bodies at the sudden contact and I found myself never wanting the moment to end.

Both of out faces were flaring red as we pulled away.

We couldn't look each other in the eye as we simply sat there in the music room.

"Y-you know....that was my first kiss..." I trailed off, slightly embarrassed at my confession.

"R-really? I'm sorry!" He flustered but I shook my head.

"No...it's OK..." I reassured as my face flared a deeper shade of red.

"That.....was my first kiss too..." He confessed while looking away.

"Wait....really?? I thought you've kissed many girls before..." I said while pictures of Arabella and Nicolas together flooded my mind.

He shook his head and scratched the back of his neck.

"Well....I'm sorry you wasted your first kiss on someone like me." I pouted as he gave me a smirk.

"Who said I wasted it." He said as he leaned in again.

I grew flustered and pushed him away. He stumbled back in surprise and chuckled softly.

"W-well...you did!" I flustered as I pushed him away and stood up.

I stomped out of the room and out of the mansion.

I finally got to the garden and didn't realize I was holding my breathe as I gulped the chilly morning air.

"Hello Valentine!" I heard Seraphina call.

She had been sitting in the garden reading when she spotted me walking out the mansion.

"H-hey!" I said as I tried to control my beating heart.

"Soo~What were you and my brother doing?" She questioned innocently as I grew flustered once again.

"N-nothing!" I said as I tried to hide my face.

"Whatever you saaay......future sister...." she whispered the last part and I wasn't able to hear it.

"What did you say?" I asked.

She giggled mischievously and simply shook her head.

"Nevermind!" She called out and walked back into the house.

I sat at a nearby bench and thought the situation over.

"Why would he kiss me..." I mumbled.

"He would only do that to someone he loves." I reasoned.

"OR he could just be trying to mess with my head!" I growled.

"But what if he really loves me?" I asked.

"What if I love him?" I questioned myself.

"Do I love him?"

"Oh my gosh.....I think I love him..."

"Woah Woah....what if I'm rushing into this...."

"Well....he's the one who kissed me!"

As I was busy having an argument between myself, I was oblivious to the fact that Nicolas was listening to my conversation.

But I was even more oblivious to how he would react....