The Monster Within • The Grand Guignol x OC

Chapter Eight

The days silently flipped forward while the nights crept along. Despite their moments of embrace, Sabrina couldn't help but avoid the other. She did not have a clear motive as to why. One part of her reasoned that it was due to her wanting to finish her book while another part of her psyche pointed the finger at the Guignol himself for turning her into whatever she currently was. Her mind was beginning to descend into a war zone of emotions. A conflict she desperately wanted to shut off within herself.

In turn, her dodginess only aggravated the Grand Guignol. He was so close to having someone to rule with yet so far away. Their little game of cat and mouse had gone on long enough.

* * *

His footsteps echoed loudly throughout the empty, cold hallways. His pace quickened as he approached her room. Sabrina's ear pricked up as she heard the thundering thuds come closer. Hastily she stretched out to grab her tablet before she proceeded to slide underneath the comforting, warm bed. Through the long, overhanging blankets she could see his boots pace around the edges of her room.

"Please don't look underneath the bed." She whispered to herself.

He stepped forward.

Each step caused a boom in her heart. It was the only thing she could hear.

Thump

              Thump

                                THUMP

Pools of shock flooded her eyes whilst long fingers carefully pulled the duvet upwards. Her hand slithered up to her mouth to block out the sound of her audible gasp.

"Sweetheart, you do know hiding underneath the bed is for children?" Guignol mused.

His tail slipped rapidly around her torso all while a howl of protest sung from her plump lips.

"Now, now, it's best of you stop that. I haven't seen you in so long and the toadies do get rather boring now that I have your company."

Her body slumped onto the bed, forming around her, as his tail unwrapped from her figure.

"I don't care that you haven't seen me in sooo long. That sounds like a you problem. Just because I'm here with you doesn't mean I have to see you every single day." Sabrina snapped.

Guignol's face scrunched up with malice as he leaned forward. Sabrina could feel his hot breath berating her face. She could see how his eyes glossed over with anger. His hands grazed over her arms before he shackled himself to her. A low growl bellowed from within him as he climbed on the bed, practically pinning Sabrina down.

"If you think you're scaring me, you're not." She scoffed, slipping from his grasp.

"Why do you have to be so disrespectful towards me, darling. I merely came to see if you were alright." He seethed.

"Because I don't want to be around you."

"That's rather rude considering you wanted me so close to you not long ago."

Hurt bloomed in his eyes as his posture crippled. Her eye's flickered away from his. Her mind was beginning to bark at her once while her body allowed guilt to fuster.

"That's not what I meant."

The Grand Guignol furrowed his brow. The women in front of him was becoming more of an enigma to him with how contradictory she was.

"Then what did you mean?"

"I-I don't know. I guess I blame you for this. I blame myself. I...I feel trapped and yet I've never felt more free. I'm a walking contradiction and I hate it. My brain is telling me to hate you, to hate all of this, but at the same time it's telling me to love you and embrace who I am."

The puzzle pieces slowly stitched themselves together as Sabrina spoke. In his quest to figure out what she was—to uproot her from all her comforts—he'd pulled her in two deeply different ways. Now he had to use his charm to put her back in a way that he deemed perfect for his plan to succeed. He had to reassure her and mold her. Right now that meant picking his words carefully.

"You have to realize the old you wasn't you. It was a mold for how the world wanted to you be, darling. With me you can be feel to be who you are without judgment. You can do everything you want. You can embrace who you are—you can have everything you want and more Sabrina, you just have to give in. Let the monster within you show."

Her eyes lightly lit up whilst he spoke. Everything he offered sounded too good to be true. However he'd been truthful with her from the start. Sabrina could not deny that. Instinctively she wanted to agree but the voice from the back of her mind crawled forward. It whispered telling her not accept. That it wasn't right. That nothing about this was right.

As Sabrina internationally struggled, the Grand Guignol studied her visage for answers. He watched as her conflict unfolded before him. It would take more than his words to convince her. Luckily, he had a speedier route to push her over the edge.

His fingers snaked into his pockets to retrieve a small jar with a gold powered mixture. Within the confines of his pocket, he cracked the container open to scoop an ounce of power into his bare palm. Ever so careful, he brought his hand out of pocket only to open his hand.

Sabrina glanced across to notice the act in a state of sheer confusion. Before she had time to react, the powered mixture was sprinkled towards her face. Like lighting she closed her eyes as the concoction covered her visage, slowly seeping into her periwinkle skin.

Her mind reeled backwards as if it was a vhs tape. Mindlessly, she blinked at the other. Her face converted over to an expressionless, robotic like stance. Her head flopped like a ragdoll.

The corners of the Grand Guignol's lips wickedly tugged into a smirk as he watched the process take place. Her internal struggle would soon be destroyed. She'd be like putty in his hands. Easy to mold into the perfect queen to help overthrow his sister. Although, it would take a little more convincing. Sabrina's personality and main thought process would still have to be left intact. He couldn't have her completely mindless. He'd miss her wit and charm after all. There was no point in a mindless queen.

Sabrina blinked for a mere moment while a washing sensation flooded over her. The voice in the back of her head quieted down only to be replaced by the sound of the Grand Guignol's voice. Gently, he whispered for her to give in. To accept what she'd become. Accept him. Her head tilted as she reached out for the other. Taking her hand, he brought her closer.

"You're right. I should leave the past in the past. I need to be comfortable with who I am now."

"I'm glad you agree, darling. You really should start seeing things more in my perspective."

A scoff came from her lips. Her golden eyes rolled.

"Yeah, sure, we'll see. Depends if you got anymore good ideas in that noggin of yours."

"You're doubting me?" He inquired.

"Maybe a little but I wouldn't worry too much since you seemed so concerned." She quipped back.

"I'm not concerned. . ." He uttered with a scoff.

"Sure, sure. I believe that."

"I really don't think you do."

Sabrina leaned forward. Eyes focused on the other. Plush lips crashing upon calloused ones.

"Trust me. Trust me with your life."