The Eye of the Beholder [Stefano Valentini]

The Twentieth Portrait: Roses of Flesh

"Rhea, just come with me."

I looked to Sebastian's hand, and I shook my head again. "I know that he means a lot to you; I can see that." He tried to reason with me, his eyes staring at the scars on my flesh," But you aren't safe with him. He will hurt you." "I'm aware." I said, tracing the flowers and the stripe on my throat," I asked him to do this." "What...?" He whispered, his eyes widening," Why would you do that?" "...I wanted to die." I shrugged my shoulders as I answered bluntly," After the cafe... I felt loss even without the mask, and I asked Stefano to kill me. But he let me live as his canvas." A bright smile came to my lips as I remembered that glorious night of pleasure and pain," I... am his masterpiece. I will continue to serve him as he sees fit, and when I die, I will become a spectacular creation." I expected Sebastian to start yelling; to start becoming so enraged that he would hold his gun to my head. But instead, he had that specific look I hated: pity. He, a simple man, pities a masterpiece created by Stefano Valentini? What is there to pity?! I am ecstatic to be of use to Stefano, dead or alive! I wanted to shout at him. I wanted to scream and demand him to stop. I wanted to slit his throat right then and there just to keep his mouth shut. Anything to get rid of him and his damn eyes! 

"Will you stop looking at me like that?!" I demanded, my hand gripping onto my box cutter; I know I won't be able to do much with it, but I had to make him see that he was really starting to annoy me. "You shouldn't be feeling bad for me!" I reminded him," You don't know me! You know nothing!" Sebastian went quiet for a moment, but that emotion failed to leave his eyes," ...I know that this isn't what your parents would have wanted for you." I narrowed my eyes, used to hearing these words from the morons at Beacon," ...It doesn't matter what they would have wanted. They're dead, remember?" "They would have wanted you safe." He tried to reason with me once again," They wouldn't want you to be here in this hellhole with a psychopath." "He's not a psycho!" I growled, my blade clicking in my hand," You don't understand him! None of you do! You're all just blind to what's in front of you!" "Is that right?" He asked, a glare coming across his face," If anyone is blind around here, it's you." "I would rather be surrounded by darkness with him as my only star than be surrounded by mindless drones!" I retorted, pointing the cutter at him as my body shook with rage," Why won't you just leave us alone?! Are all fathers this annoying, or is it just you?!"

The room went dark, then light, and repeated the process once more; Stefano was calling me. Sebastian had drawn his gun, his eyes shifting every which way for an attack. I ran past him, bolting through the doors that led to the stage. I saw people in white in different seats, all bound and head covered by cloth. Some were moving, others were mumbling, and then there those that seemed asleep. I navigated my way to the stage as I tucked my weapon away, uncertain of what was about to happen but excited nonetheless. I decided to take the stage right stairs so I wouldn't be trying to climb up the stage in the dark. I heard the doors open, and saw that Sebastian was just as surprised as I was when he entered. A buzzer went off, and the entire room became black. But then, a single light appeared on stage, and was focused directly on Stefano. "This chase has been entertaining..." He greeted Sebastian," But even the greatest entertainments must come to an end." I peeked out from behind a blood red curtain, and saw that Sebastian was already aiming his pistol at Stefano," The girl! Where is she?" But my creator ignored his question and simply grinned," I commend you for making it this far. If perseverance were an art form, you would be a master." I saw the Aperture that I had placed in Stefano's eye had grown, its tendrils stretching over the bridge of his nose and down his cheeks, moving beneath his skin. Stefano briefly looked to me before returning his gaze to Sebastian," Perhaps not a Michelangelo, but a Van Gogh at the very least."

"Enough art-school bullshit. Where is she?"

I quietly giggled at Stefano's jab at Sebastian as he said," The Core is safe. With me. I took her on HIS orders." "But once I realized the extent of her powers..." Stefano began before turning to me, his right hand held out to me. I smiled, walking towards him without any thought; the complete opposite of what I had done to Sebastian's offers. My fingertips touched his palm as he drew me close, and I traced Aperture's tendrils as he asked," How could I possibly hand her over?" He seemed to lean into my touch and my smile grew, my other hand resting upon his chest as he spoke," What I'm doing is more than mere personal gain." Stefano's arm reached around my waist, pulling me in front of his shoulder as he smirked to Sebastian," He could never understand this." Sebastian's eyes met mine as I smiled sweetly, but he quickly returned his attention to Stefano," He? Who is 'He'?" "It doesn't matter. He won't be around much longer." Stefano rose his right hand, slowly closing his outstretched fingers into a fist," My work, however, will continue." I watched as red lights began to emit from the mouths of the bound audience, shaking with anticipation to see what would happen. The people began to struggle as Sebastian looked around the room, absolutely horrified. "Picasso had his Blue Period..." Stefano smirked, bringing his fist and myself closer to him," I have entered my Crimson Period." Sebastian cursed under his breath before aiming his pistol, firing at the two of us," No! Don't!" Blue light filled my eyes and a tingling sensation came over my body, and just like that it was over; the bullet had missed us thanks to Stefano's powers. The movement made his bangs fly from his eye, and I saw that the lens was becoming more and more agitated, the skin around his eye socket becoming a pitch black. "Behold! My latest creation..." Stefano announced, and I looked to the audience with glee. "No!" Sebastian cried out uselessly, and Stefano's smirk widened as he flexed his fingers, Aperture glowing its familiar blue in his eye. I watched, almost laughing when the bombs in every one of the people in white went off, their heads exploding and releasing gardens of roses as Stefano's favorite song came to its crescendo.