Beauty and the Beasts

Chapter Five

I cringed as I woke up. My teeth felt like splinters in my aching gums and one side of my face hurt like hell where my teeth had cut into my inner cheek.

Slowly I remembered the previous day's events and I sniffed and cuddled into my blankets for comfort. I heard a knock at my door and I tensed. Perhaps if I pretended to be asleep whoever it was would go away.

"He knows you're awake. He asked me to tell him the moment you awoke. I didn't let anyone into your room as you requested, and he was not happy about that. This was the only alternative to let you sleep undisturbed. I'm sorry." Angel said from the mirror. I moaned into the pillow and groggily got up and walked to the bathroom.

I blinked once, twice, three times, but no, it was not bleary vision, my cheek really was bruised and swollen. I moaned pitifully as I rubbed my swollen cheek.

"Did he do that to you?" Angel asked in horror as she appeared in a side mirror. I sighed warily.

"Yes. And before you ask, I don't want to talk about it, but this all happened basically because I told him a truth he didn't want to acknowledge and he struck out at me in anger...or maybe just because he wanted to. I don't know why, and I don't want to hear his excuses. I really thought I understood him, that I managed to see the real him behind everything he attached himself to, but maybe I was just being naïve and wishful. Some bad people are just bad, plain and simple. I shouldn't have tried to...just forget it. Did he give you a reason he wanted to see me?" I asked her. She looked crestfallen as if someone had just torn open her soul and shredded it. I hoped she didn't think I meant she was like him.

"No, he didn't. But the others came back last night after searching for your sister, Jellal told them all to steer clear of you until you are comfortable here so he probably wants to tell you what they found." She said sadly. I grit my teeth in regret for saying to much. Then I frowned and moaned in pain as my cheek hurt.

"Angel, about what I said about bad people, that doesn't apply to you. I didn't mean it that way. And if he really was as bad as you say he used to be, I shouldn't be surprised that he hit me...he could have done worse, but he didn't. Maybe that counts for something." I said softly and smiled at her. Hope rekindled in her eyes and she smiled at me and nodded.

"Yes, you're right. Should I let him in? He brought you breakfast, I assume he anticipated that you wouldn't willing come to eat this morning, and your tea and cake was wasted yesterday afternoon, so I thought I would give you some today for breakfast, how does that sound?" She asked me happily and I smiled at her.

"Thank you, cake is one of my favourite types of food in the world! You can let him in...just let me get changed first. Is there a way to...hide this bruise? I know the swelling can't be helped, but...you know what, leave it. Everyone here is cursed and afflicted, my bruise isn't that terrible. It needs air anyway." I said grumpily and washed my face and brushed my teeth. I had only just changed into a new dress, a frilly white dress that showed off my calves and my arms, when my bedroom door opened. I picked up the brush and began the tedious task of brushing my hair by hand.

No trouble to him, he walked right into the bathroom. I glared at him.

"I could have been naked you know. Even if you don't respect me, at least have some self-discipline and restraint." I snapped and winced as my cheek throbbed. I didn't look at him. I felt more hurt and betrayed than I should have felt. I didn't trust him, but I thought for a moment yesterday in his room when he kissed me that perhaps he did care about me. I had even tried to think of a way I could stay here with him. I'm not falling for his tricks again. He was emotionally unstable, I wasn't going to let him hurt me just because he didn't know what to think or feel himself.