🔥DEEPER
THAN
HELL 🔥
( Shadow That Dwell In Darkness)
BY: NOEL INNOCENT
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO : WEEKS WITHOUT HIM 2
He came for her promptly at seven the following evening and every night for a week thereafter, they went to a ball at lord Elmer, to supper in the city, to another play then opera.
As much as I enjoy Beelzebub company, I couldn’t help feeling that I didn’t belong in the crowd he associated with, they dine with barons and counts, once I found myself dancing with an earl, on the outside I know I look as though I belonged, thanks to the training I receive at the convent, I knew how to behave at dinner table, which fork to use with which course.
But on the inside am still that country girl that’s unsure of herself, feeling defeated I told Beelzebub how I feel.
” nonsense ” he growl ” they is no shame in being an outcast ”
” But”
He interject ” I hear no more of it” Beelzebub said firmly, he took my hand in his ” you’re more beautiful than any of them snow, you have no need to feel inferior simply because your father sold you, everybody has a dirty past”
I couldn’t help but to smile, feeling reassure for at least that moment ” will I see you tomorrow night ” I ask.
He shake his head ” am afraid not, I have agree to meet Elmer and Alucard at cotyer” the mere mention of his name cause a sharp pain in my heart.
” is something wrong ” he ask looking worried ” you look pale all of a sudden ”
” I feel a headache coming soon ” I said apologetically ” do you mind if we go home?”
” of course not ” he summon the waiter, took care of the bill and wrap his coat over my shoulder to protect me from the cold.
Minutes later I was comfortably seated on his couch, blanket over my lap, eyes closed to discourage any conversation and all the while in the back of my head, I heard Beelzebub voice, telling me he was meeting Alucard tomorrow night, I wished I had the nerve to follow Beelzebub to the cotyer so that I can see Alucard again, if only from a distance.
I bid Beelzebub good night and went into my home, standing at the window I watch as his carriage leave, overwhelmed by a terrible sadness, I wrap my body around the coat he gave me and move into my bedroom, Beelzebub is nice to me, am sure he plans on asking my hand in marriage soon but I know I would never love him as much as I love Alucard.
Why had he sent me away? This question keep ringing in my head for weeks, after living at the convent in London, I understand what it feels like to be alone, to be different from those around you, from the rumors I have heard and what Alucard had said, he felt estrange from society, though I didn’t understand why, was they some incident in the past that made him feel inferior?
Shaking those thought off my head I exhale, reciting the words I have always said these past weeks ” I don’t care, he sent me away, first to London and now away from his castle, sent me away and warn me never to return ”
So be it, I blink back the tears I refuse to shed, if he don’t want me, I know someone who do.
At the invitation of lady elmer, Beelzebub accompany me to the masquerade ball at elmer hall the next week, we arrive at eight, had supper at nine, it was after ten when Beelzebub led me into the ballroom, a huge crystal chandelier cast soft lights on the dancers.
I danced with Beelzebub, lady elmer and then Beelzebub again, his hands cares my bare shoulders, lips crushed my cheeks, my eyelids.
Lightheaded from too much wine, feeling lonely because Alucard rejected me, I allowed Beelzebub to kiss me, I even kissed him back, telling myself it don’t matter, Alucard push me away after all, he had even told me to marry someone else, why not marry Beelzebub, he is young, handsome, rich and adores me, he would never send me away.
At the end of the waltz, Beelzebub left me alone to go get a glass of champagne.
Feeling suddenly warm, I walk out of the ballroom to the balcony that looked refreshing, a breeze ruffled my dress and cool my flushed cheeks.
From the distance, I could see Alucard castle, in spite of my resolution to put him off my mind, I wonder what he was doing, if he ever spare me any thought.
A sudden chill caressed my nape and with it the senses that I was no longer alone.
I swirl around, gasping when I saw a tall man standing in the doorway, dressed all in black, except for the white mask that cover half of his face, his white hair did give him attention, he held out his hand ” may I have this dance my lady ”
His voice cares my body, calling up images of rose and moonlight nights, the thought of refusing him never came in, I place my hands in his.
He held me close, his body brushing intimately at every turn, wrap in the web of his gaze, I let him waltz me around the balcony, the music faded into the distance, the crush of people inside the ballroom ease to exist, they were only the two of us, dancing beneath a sky sprinkled with stars and the awareness that cracked between us, as sharp as silver of glass.
I gaze into his eyes, fathomless blue eyes that stare back at mine, eyes that burn with hells own fire.
Suddenly breathless I murmur his name ” Alucard ”
His arm tighten around my waist, pulling me close, my body shiver at his nearness, my heart pounding furiously.
Is it him?
It had to be.
Slowly he lower his head towards mine, until the blue eyes blazing from the mask, burn everything else from my sight, until I saw nothing, was aware of nothing but the man who held me, I lift my face for his kiss, felt the touch of his cool lips Scorch a bright path to my very heart and soul.
When he withdraw his mouth from mine, I wasn’t aware that the music in the ballroom as ended until I saw Beelzebub standing in the doorway.
My partner bowed over my hand and then walk away from me, to disappear into complete darkness at the far end of the balcony.
” who was that” I asked, though I was certain it was Alucard, it has to be him, to kiss me in such a way.
Beelzebub draw close ” I don’t know”
” I thought ”
” thought what?”
” I thought it was Alucard ”
” Alucard? Here?” Beelzebub chuckle softly as he handed me a glass of champagne ” he loathes masquerade, I have never seen him attend any ”
” have you seen him at cotyers presently ”
” blast the man, he is impossible to beat, you know, sometimes I think he knows what card I have been given before I do ”
” indeed” I stood on tiptoe trying to see over the head of the crowds.
” come ” he place my glass down and took my hand in his ” I believe this is my dance ”
I dreamed of Alucard that night, dream that he came into my room, standing beside my bed, a hideous mask hiding his face, not the mask he wore to the ball, a mask with glowing red eyes and sharp white fangs dripping blood.
His hands caress my cheek, my neck while his face draw close, those eyes that looked deeper, deeper than hell itself, so deep that It elude my comprehension.
TBC
