About Souls and Mates

Part 2

Ariel Melzer's small white fingers shook slightly as he placed down the receiver of the phone. His eyes were lowered, making his long eyelashes cast shadows over his porcelain cheeks. He took a small shaky breath through his pink lips and lifted his face, frowning determinately.

"It's fine, I can do this!" He encouraged himself in a loud whisper.

Outside the room, there was a balcony overlooking the grandiose main hall of the Melzer mansion. Under the light of a beautiful chandelier, a great number of wealthy-looking guests looked up at Ariel as he leaned over the balcony's railing, clearing his throat.

"Dear guests..." Ariel began in an apologetic tone, his eyes sparkling as if about to burst into tears. "I regret to say that my mother and father have just called to say they will not be able to make it on time to celebrate the Easter party along with everyone..."

Several of the guests burst complaining loudly through the middle of his speech, while most others watched Ariel murderously.

"—but you were the one to call us here!" A woman wearing a heavy, white fur spat at him.

"—so you're telling us we wasted all of our day here for nothing!" Another man in a black tuxedo added spitefully.

Ariel's eyelashes trembled as he lowered his face embarrassed. "I... I am deeply sorry..." He only replied faintly.

Ariel started to step away from the balcony with intentions to go and shut himself in a room until the mansion's service had escorted all the guests out, but as he took a single step, he was grabbed sharply by the arm and whirled around.

"Where do you think you're going!?" Another bitter-seeming businessman spat at him, beginning to tug him down the stairs to the rest of the crowd. "You will have to answer to all of us!"

Tears of fear began to rim Ariel's crystal-colored eyes as he was dragged roughly down the stairs. His small figure was shoved into the middle of the angry crowd, were his tears finally overflowed.

"I—I'm sorry!" He yelped out fearfully, covering his wet face with his small hands.

"Tell us now!" A gruff man's voice bellowed out, "Tell us were your parents keep all their money and we'll forgive you!"

Ariel caught his breath and looked up at the people around him with wide eyes. "I—I don't know something like that!" He cried defensively.

"Well—Then tell us were your parents keep all their important documents!" Somebody else added, to which most of the crowd burst out with agreement.

"Yes, tell us!" They cried.

Ariel made a face as if he was in pain and tried to turn away, but was just met with more hateful stares. "I—I can't tell you that..." He whimpered weakly.

A wild-eyed man grabbed Ariel by the collar and lifted him off his feet, making him yelp in fear. "Cut the cr*p brat, and just tell us what we want to know!" He spat at Ariel. 

"P—please!" Ariel only cried out pitifully, grimacing his face away, "Have mercy!"