Blood and Snow

Chapter Twenty-Five

"That could have gone better." Shadow said as he looked down at Belle. She may be asleep again, but she was shaking so much that she didn't even bother to stand up. She didn't want to risk falling over. "H—How am I supposed to react to that?" She whimpered, hiding her face in her knees. "Maybe by not having a near heart attack?" The bear suggested unhelpfully. Belle sniffled and look up and glare at him. The glare came out as more of a hurt look than anything. "Is now really the time to be sarcastic?" She tried raising her voice.

Shadow opened his mouth to say something, then stopped and closed it. He looked her in the eyes and tried again. "They're going to ask you about it." He stated. "Mason won't take no for an answer this time, you know. He might literally rip it out of you."

"... I know... I'm sorry I had a panic attack, but... Lefte? Why him? Why now?" Belle said, her voice becoming shaky again. "I thought that when father died, I would be free. No more monsters. No more fear. Just calm... happy... boring sailing ahead..."

Shadow remained silent, letting her get everything out. "Lefte was gone, and father kicked the bucket after getting locked in that cell! I should never, ever have to worry about being thrown down a flight of stairs again!"

"That never happened." Shadow commented. Belle made a move to get up and yell at him. "But it could!" Her voice cracked. She overbalanced and fell on her hands and knees. Shadow sighed and held out a hand to her, which she gratefully took. The lawyer shakily stood up. "Thank you," she said, "I feel bad for yelling... I didn't mean to yell at you specifically..."

"I know." Shadow said, frowning. He put a hand on her shoulder. "You're just scared. You don't want to get hurt again, and I understand that... but to live through this, you have to keep your head on straight."

Belle nodded and looked at him worriedly, "What if he finds me while he's at the warehouse? What can I do then? I'll be trapped, and he's stronger that me. If he gets ahold of me, I'm done for."

Shadow's frown deepened. He thought for a moment. "... Well, you could always go running to Mason?"

"No." Belle shot him down immediately. "I am not running to Mason! He'll just laugh at me and—! And..." She trailed off, a blush rising in her face. Shadow smiled smugly. "And?"

"No— Nothing!" Belle stuttered with a hit of embarrassment, "I... H—He just..."

"You like him, don't you?"

"Oh God," she huffed dramatically, "First Happy, and now you. Next thing I know, the news lady will start teasing me about him!"

Shadow laughed, his mechanical voice echoing throughout the void.

}—————{

Lillian stared at herself in the mirror. 'The party's tomorrow,' she thought with a sigh, 'and I look like I got hit by a train.'

She took her hairbrush and started working through her hair. Growling softly as the brush kept ripping the tangles out, her mind started drifting to where her friend might be. 'It's been a week and a half, and there's still no sign of Belle. She could be anywhere.' Lillian's arm dropped, making her let go of the brush. 'Belle really could be dead already...'

The girl shook her head and sighed. 'Richard's right, I'm letting the situation control me. I have to let go for a while... but...'

She looked back into the mirror, 'I don't want to give up on her. If she's still alive, who knows what the guys that kidnapped her are doing to her? She's not strong enough to keep herself together, not after what Barbarossa and her father did to her.'

Lillian clenched her fist angrily. She's glad that man was gone. That both of those men were gone for good. They'd only bring her friend misery if they were alive. Too bad she didn't know where Lefte was, she could have Richie throw the book at 'em. What he did to everyone in high school should be reason enough for an arrest. Especially Belle. She was never one to stay jumpy and dead silent in such an "upbeat" atmosphere until Lefte had started going after her.

Lillian growled, "That fat tub of lard was hurting her for years, and I never had a clue! I could've thrown a stapler at him or put his arm underneath the paper guillotine in the art room! Hell, I could've asked Richie to throw him out of the bus while it was on the road!"

Her anger died down as more upsetting thoughts overtook her. Her fist slowly unclenched and she stopped gritting her teeth. "... I could have helped her..."

Lillian slammed her hand down. "Damn it!" She cried, "I could have helped her! Just like in high school! I never took the time to realize when something was wrong, and look at were it's gotten me! My best friend is missing!"

She lifted her head to the ceiling and screamed, "My best friend is dead!"

She shuttered. She forced the tears back and dropped her head. "Belle's dead..."

She looked at herself in the mirror. "Whoever those men were... If they truly were bad... Belle's already gone..."

'Richard was right...'

Lillian closed her eyes gently, suppressing the urge to let the tears spill.

"I need to relax... I need to accept it... I'm so sorry, Belle... I need to move on."