STEEL-MINDED | erik lehnsherr

CHAPTER SIX

Grace wasn't sure how but she felt as if her conversation with Erik had somehow fixed all and any issues she'd thought there was between the two of them. It comforted her to know that he didn't hate or dislike her.

She lay back in the bubbly water, allowing it to cover her hair. The air was cold and unfriendly on her exposed skin, she'd forgotten to turn the heater on again.

Erik could be kind when he wanted to be, she'd noted after he'd opened the door for her on multiple occasions, he'd even jogged ahead of her to do so a couple of times. He cared about others but was quite demanding. He didn't get along with people whose opinion differed from his. He was arrogant. He believed himself better than people with mutations and while it was his experiences that lead him to believe that he made no attempt to change his viewpoint.

"Remind you of anyone, does he?"

She shut her eyes. She hadn't heard that voice in years. She'd blocked it out, forgotten who it belonged to, pretended they had never existed. Now it was back, worming its way into her mind, ingraining itself leaving her no way to remove it.

"You and I both know you have a type," It sneered, "Even if you don't like it you're drawn to dangerous people. People who might get you killed."

"Leave me alone," she said helplessly.

"I'm in your head," It said, "I don't have anywhere else to go. You're the only thinking about me."

"Go back to hell," she hissed.

"What makes you think I'm not already there?"

She opened her eyes. It leaned against the wall staring at her with those beautiful brown eyes capable of ensnaring the heart and soul. It smiled down at her with its kind face. She wanted to rip the mask off its face with her bare hands.

"Why are you back now?" she asked.

"Fate has it in for you," It said smirking as it got down on its knees beside the bath, "Your happiness can not be allowed to prevail."

"I don't remember things but I remember you perfectly," Grace said, "Why?"

"Because you love me."

"I don't."

"Look at me," it commanded, "I'm everything you desire."

It leaned forward so its nose was barely an inch away from hers. She didn't move away. It had no control over her she tried to tell herself.

"You're everything I despise," she said, her gaze flicking down to its lips.

"And yet," it began, "This is all just your imagination. If you despise me why am I so damn sexy?"

Grace opened her mouth but felt her response choke her, stopping it from coming out.

"Denying your feelings just hurts more," it taunted, "You don't even know what you're feeling."

"I did."

"Did you though?"

"You ruined my life," she said.

"I'm sorry you feel that way." It reached out and lifted her chin. "You look awfully pale, darling. You should eat something or you'll fade away."

"I'm not doing anything you say," she said. 

"Whatever you say," it said. 

Moving closer it placed a kiss on the corner of her mouth. Its lips were cold and lifeless. She hated how powerless she felt as it ran its hand down her arm.

"Talk later," it said before retreating from her into the shadows of the room.

A lone tear slipped down her cheek. All of her feelings of defenselessness came back to her as she hugged herself.

"It's just in your head," Grace whimpered, 

"It's not real. It's not."