Tainted Love

Chapter 3 Part 2

"Are you thinking of him?" Theo's voice cuts through my thoughts.
"Who?" I turn my attention to my master.
"Are you thinking of George?"
"Yes. He gives me my duties. How can I not think of him?"
"I suppose so. I just... do you love him? Do you love him at all?" Theo takes my hands in his and looks deeply into my eyes.
I kiss his cheek. "No. How can I love him after what he did? Do you have any plans on breaking the news to your mother?"
"George loves you," Theodore turns to the window and stares, "Whether you know it or not George loves you. I know from the way he acts. I have a feeling Anne will discuss an arrangement with my mother— one that will be an attempt to keep us separated. If everything goes as I am expecting, I will arrange something with George so that I may meet with you. I cannot live being separated from you. You know this." Theo plants a kiss on my lips before sending me to my household duties.
I feel a sharp pain. Before I have time to realize what is happening, I am yanked to the present time.

I appear in the living room. I hear voices from the entrance hall. I creep to the doorway and press myself against the wall to hide.
"I know this is a lot to take in. Trust me. She meant well," says Theo's voice.
"How can you say that? She lied to me," Sherman's voice slices through the silence.
"Would you have believed her had she told the truth?" Theodore's voice sounds gentle and curious.
"Well, I suppose not. How could I believe that Iliana was born during the time of Ancient Greece and Troy? It's just not possible."
"Did you believe in ghosts before you met me? Did you believe in vampires before you met her? Tell me the truth."
"Well, I... I... no. I didn't believe in anything that's happening right now. I didn't believe in any of it at all. I was taught that there is always a logical or scientific reason behind everything. I guess the world I thought didn't exist exists and the world I thought existed doesn't exist. My whole life seems to be crumbling under so much conflict within me. I know nothing of what the truth is anymore."
I try to hold back the tears that creep to the edges of my eyes. I wipe at them, trying to will them away. I finally give in. Tears pour down my face and soak my dress. I run to my room. My secret is revealed and now, my only friend who is alive hates me. I throw myself upon the bed and bury my face in my pillow. I cry so hard that I barely hear the voice that speaks and the hand that strokes my hair.
"It's alright. Shhh. Calm yourself, my love. I'm right by your side."
I turn to look up at Theo. My eyes linger on the blood dripping down his bottom lip.
Theo catches my eyes with his own. "My dear, if you must feed do it. I don't want my beloved to have poor health. Please, just lick them... or lick my chest. You may pick which one." He wraps his arms around me in a cool embrace.
Instead of falling victim to my bloodlust, I bury my face in his chest despite the blood that may get on my face. I sob hard as he strokes my back.
"Careful, my little flower. Do not release such harsh tears. Please, refrain from crying. I cannot bear to watch you cry. You know from 1813 that I do not like watching the woman I love cry." Theo continues to console me and stroke me. He loves on me without letting go. "I know how much you're going through and I'm sorry to make you relive the past that you wish you could leave behind. It is all my fault. Shed no tears. You are no failure. I am the failure. I failed you that night when you begged me to go to your home in the woods. I refused as I thought I could win a fight against George. I was overconfident and I shouldn't have been. I deeply apologize for anything that I have done to wound you. Please stop weeping and stay strong. Don't just do it for me, do it for yourself. Do it so that you have the strength to carry on. I will support you... Sherman will support you as a friend. We are here for you and you know that. I remember that day that I had a feeling that you had loved George and not me. I knew then that George would fight for you— against me. I could tell that he didn't want me to have you, because it's the reason why my mother had made double wedding arrangements. Do you remember?"
"Yes. We had to pretend to be in love with our assigned lovers. It was an awful time for us, Theo. It pained me to do what I had to do. I wanted to love on you instead of George. I wanted you to hold me instead of George embracing me. I can't relive that."
Theo begins rocking me in his lap. "You won't have to. Remember how I said that I also relive what you relive? I also can change the past even though I am a ghost or shadow within this reality now. Have you noticed anything that I have said or done that is different?"
I think long and hard. "You never told George about your love for someone else instead of Anne. You had said that you never trusted him with the information. You never really consulted your mother. You had just told her that you weren't going to marry Anne."
"Exactly. I am changing what I can of the past, but in the end the vast majority relies on you. I hope you understand. I don't want to do this but I know that you cannot live with the thought of you failing me. I cannot bear to live with myself being a failure to you. I failed you. That decision was the biggest fail of my life. You know that. Please, do not burden yourself with the thoughts of being a failure to me. I was the failure. Not you." Theo continues loving on me.
"But Sherman knows the truth. He hates me for where I'm from. I lied so that he would accept me for me and not worry about my age. When people know when I was born, they hate me and panic," more tears pour from my eyes, "I just can't go through that anymore. I just can't do it. You know I can't."
Theodore raises a ghostly hand and wipes the tears from my face. He holds my face in his hands. "Shed no more tears. Stay strong, my sweet blossom. You must stay beautifully strong. I love you. Remember that always." Theo kisses my lips and I fall into darkness.