Virtue & Vanity (29 page)

Chapter Thirty-Three

After a long time, I was surrounded by heavenly peace and quiet, feeling warm and safe in someone’s arms. Their embrace was familiar and it seemed I had unconsciously longed for it, but suddenly, I was alone and I was getting cold. Goose bumps started rising on my skin as the light breeze rushed along my body and I shuddered, wanting nothing more than for the warmth that had kept me safe only moments ago to return. As I troubled my mind, thinking about the coldness that made me so uncomfortable, I heard silent steps and before I knew it, a warm, soft blanket was covered over my freezing body. I was being lifted up and moved towards the source of light and I imagined I was floating on a soft cloud. Inhaling the familiar soothing scent, I realized that Sebastian carried me to the room and when he carefully laid my body on the bed, I opened my eyes and met his soft gaze. His arm was still touching my shoulder, keeping me upright, and I observed as the first rays of sun replaced the brightness of illuminating moonlight on his face. He still looked at me with that same glow that reflected the affection he’d demonstrated the previous night. I wanted to say something to show him that I was deeply touched by everything he had said and done, but when I tried to speak, I realized that my throat was dry and sore from all the crying.

“Shh,” he whispered as he gently laid my head on the soft pillow. “Go back to sleep.” His eyes closed as his lips brushed against my forehead.

He wanted to go and leave me alone. I sensed it and for some reason, I didn’t like the idea. “Sebastian...” I looked at him pleadingly and spoke in a raspy voice. “Don’t leave.”

A light smile graced his lips and he swallowed like he was touched by my demand. “I don’t want to leave,” he paused like he already regretted what he would say, “but I have to take care of something urgent in the company.”

“Can’t it wait?” I asked, feeling childish because he had already said the matter was urgent.

He looked away, like he was thinking about something that bothered him. “I’m afraid it can’t.”

We remained frozen and silent for a long while, until he returned his gaze at me again. “I’ll make it up to you. How about you get some rest and pack some clothes when you wake up. I won’t be gone for long.”

I looked at him in confusion. “Why do I need to pack?”

“Because I’m taking you somewhere special.”

“Oh.” I was taken aback by his proposal. “Where are we going?”

“I can’t tell you.” He smiled and ran his fingers through my hair. “Don’t want to spoil the surprise.”

“Well then,” I said in a small voice, fighting to keep the contour of a smile on my lips. “You should go.” But I didn’t want him to leave.

Despite my fears, he remained sitting on the bed next to me and patiently waited for me to fall asleep. Every now and then I would lift my eyelids half way to check if he was still there and his beautiful eyes welcomed mine every time, until I didn’t have the strength to open them anymore. I heard the screech of the door and I knew he was gone. It started getting cold again.

***

Just like he promised, he returned only hours after he left and he still wanted to take me that special location he had talked about. After the conversation we had the previous night, the trip to the mysterious place went by slowly. Too slowly. It was obvious that we both felt uneasy and pressured to make small talk. Just like two strangers who met at the bus station for the first time, we talked about the weather, complimented each other’s appearance and occasionally commented on the beauty of the breathtaking landscape. It seemed as though Sebastian was pressured by something that ruled his entire mind and kept him too preoccupied to pay attention to me. But he did smile a lot, and when he looked at me it was with apparent tenderness that seemed to have effortlessly emerged from his gleaming eyes. In a thoughtful manner, he would ask me how I felt or if I wanted to stop and have a break every once in a while.

When he stopped at a gas station, he surprised me with a chocolate bar and a bottle of iced tea from the store. Foolish as it may seem, I blushed when he gave it to me because I didn’t know how to accept it. The thought that he had to have been annoyed by me wouldn’t leave my mind. Hell, I was annoying myself and I just wanted to snap out of my stupid trance and act normal.
Why was it so difficult for me to accept something from him?

“It’s okay. It won’t bite you.” He chuckled and I felt that the redness on my face turned one shade deeper.

“Thank you,” I whispered the words and accepted his little gift.

He reacted when he noticed the bewildered look on my face. “Wrong flavor?”

“No, not at all... Strawberry is my favorite. How did you know?”

“Lucky guess.” He winked at me and I smiled.

“I have a good feeling that Anne played a part in this?”

He smirked and shook his head at me. “My lips are sealed. I promised not to tell and you know I always keep my promises.”

My mouth partially opened and I turned serious. I knew what he was referring to and at this point I did believe that he would keep his promise. I realized that I trusted him that much and it meant a lot.

“I know,” I said quietly and headed towards the car.

Like a true gentleman, he opened the door for me and I overheard the comment of the couple whose car was close to ours. The girl reprimanded her boyfriend for never doing those sweet things for her and added, with a sigh, that I must be one lucky girl. It’s funny how people make sudden conclusions based on sheer appearances,
but everything is often not the way it seems to be.
Still, it felt good to hear that somebody envied me for once in my life.

***

The feeling of anticipation, excitement and a small dose of fear took hold of me when Sebastian told me that we had almost reached our destination. As I slowly took in the magnificent surrounding of the hills in the distance and the forest that stretched along the road, I got lost in thoughts, observing its allure. I snapped out of my daydreams when the car pulled up in front of a huge driveway. Sebastian had to get out of the car to open the large metal gate with a key which was very unusual for such estates, because the door would often open automatically. I started wondering where we were and what his purpose for taking me there was. He managed to open the gate and within seconds he was back inside the car and before I knew it we were standing in front of a huge, castle-like mansion. It looked very old, but magnificently beautiful. Sebastian smiled at me when I revealed my curious stare.

“It was my grandfather’s house. He spent the last few years of his life here because he wanted to enjoy the serenity of this place. I come here for the very same reason,” he said proudly, glancing at the imposing structure.

He took hold of my hand and led me towards the entrance. The unexpected touch surprised me but I managed to smile at him and even lightly squeeze his hand. My response seemed to have pleased him because an aura of tender warmth began looming around his presence. He unlocked the door and we found ourselves in a dark space that smelled like old wood and leather. Sebastian hurried to open the curtains and as the light hit the room, I curiously observed the lavish antique furniture and stuffed animal heads that hung like trophies on the wall.

“He was a hunter.” I heard Sebastian’s voice behind me and flinched a bit because I hadn’t heard him approach me. He laid his hand in mine again and started telling me about his grandfather with nostalgia ringing from his voice.

“Hunting animals for sport was his passion and he was quite good at it, as you can see. I find it a bit creepy, but I couldn’t bring myself to take them off the wall.”

The way he said it made me realize that he was sharing something very personal. He had deeply loved his grandfather. It was obvious from the way he wanted to preserve the memory of him intact.

“I could take them down temporarily if they bother you,” he said in a gentle voice and I exhaled in surprise.
He would do that for me?

“No,” I said with haste. “No, they don’t bother me.”

His lips twitched into a sad smile. I could tell he was thinking about his grandfather. “Let’s go upstairs; I want to show you something.”

Next thing I knew, he led me towards the stairs. As we walked along the wall, I noticed an old painting of a man that had the same green eyes like Sebastian. Without giving it much thought, I glanced towards the small tile that stood under the painting and saw the name that sent chills down my spine. Collin Everett. Sebastian’s great grandfather—the man who’d sealed my destiny years ago with his insensible request that forced his heirs to marry the girls from Rosemont. I froze and my palm started sweating in Sebastian’s hand as the realization hit me. Like a sharp needle, the existence of that threatening contract broke the cloud I was floating on and the unsettling panic ruled my mind again. Sebastian looked at the painting and then back at me, his gaze revealing he knew what I was thinking about. I looked away from his scrutinizing eyes, trying to keep the urge to breathe in a bag at bay.

“Hey.” He pulled me closer and inspected my face. “Are you alright?”

I nodded but my body started quivering, and I felt guilty and ashamed.

He sighed. “No, you’re not alright.” He looked at me with a mixture of compassion and worry. “You’re trembling. What is the matter?” When his whisper traveled to me, I quickly shook my head, trying to suppress the blush on my face as he turned more serious.

“N-nothing. I... I was surprised. I’m fine now.” I was such a fool. I never knew when to keep my mouth shut. The stuttering revealed that I was everything but okay.

“Sweet Isabelle.” He let go of my hand and continued gazing at me, still with that gentle spark, accentuated by something mysterious that made the entire world around him disappear in an instant. “As long as I’m here, there is nothing to fear. No contract will determinate our fate or affect the way I feel.” He tilted up my chin, making it impossible for me to escape the spell of his piercing stare. “Forget about the will. Forget about my family.”

“Sebastian we can’t...” I said with consuming worry and his thumb brushed against my lips, forcing me to keep the words of condemnation to myself.

“Forget about it all.” He caught a strand of my hair between his fingers and leaned so close to me, causing me to gasp as a powerful shiver streamed through every fiber of my being. “Let it go and relax.” He kissed the bridge of my nose and whispered. “Leave the worrying to me.” I felt his lips brush against my ear and it was getting harder and harder to breathe. “I won’t let them hurt you.”

He moved away from me and I took in a deep breath, but I was still shivering. Our eyes locked together intensely, connected with some invisible string. Then I saw it. The light; the soothing green light that emerged from the thick, black mist and illuminated me. And just like that, my body stopped shaking and my breathing returned to normal. At first, I just looked at him with my eyes wide open, hardly blinking. I knew there was trouble ahead. I knew there was danger. I was aware of all those things, but I was struck by his sincerity and I held onto it. He cared. He wouldn’t betray me. Led by my new discovery, I had made a decision in a split second and instantly performed the action. I rested my palm in his and squeezed it tightly. The message was clear—I trust you.

***

After putting my mind at ease, Sebastian gave me some time to relax and get some rest. The room he accommodated me in felt so foreign and I couldn’t brush off the feeling that I was intruding on someone’s personal space. For some reason, the old furniture which was immaculate yet branded with some strange out-date scent gave me the chills. I felt relieved when he knocked on my door and suggested we take a walk around the estate.

The beauty of that place couldn’t be put into words and I understood why Sebastian spent his moments of serenity there. We were walking through the small narrow path which led us deeper into the beautiful woods that was a part of the estate. He held my hand and told me a couple of funny stories about his childhood adventures on his grandfather’s estate. He told me that he had a lot of fun playing with Helen and that they had teased Dianne a lot because she hated the estate. I really enjoyed his company and at moments he seemed to be so excited, like he was back to being that little boy who used to climb trees and explore the nature of this mysterious estate years ago. In an inexplicable way, I was both content and excited that he provided me with a sneak peak of that part of his life. When we reached the beautiful stream, we walked to the small stone beach and enjoyed the tranquility that surrounded us. Listening to the soothing sound of the water and the chirping of the birds, we simply sat next to each other. He wrapped one arm around my waist and pulled me closer to him. Enjoying the absolute peace that reigned around me, I kept my eyes closed, focusing on the precious beauty of the moment. I took a deep breath and opened my eyes, meeting Sebastian’s shiny green ones. There was so much warmth and emotion radiating from his persistent and unmoving stare. More than ever, at that moment I wanted him to kiss me. I wanted that gentle fairytale moment. I wanted him to be my Prince Charming. His eyes told me that he wanted that too, but still he pulled away from me, creating some distance between us and letting that moment slip away into the infinity of time. The man who had broken me and showed me that I was nothing to him, was now treating me with extreme care, like I was his most valuable, fragile possession and strange as it may seem, for once in my life I felt precious.