Chapter 16 (no warnings ;)
Elena lay against him, the trance of the blood drifting away slowly, as she felt it filter into her body. The heat of it blossomed in her stomach and then radiated out to her chest and her extremities. As the fire faded, she was left tingling, but feeling strong and alert.
When she’d recovered herself she looked up at Byron from where she had been lying on his chest. His eyes were closed and he was unnaturally still. She had a brief moment of apprehension as she noticed the almost imperceptible change in his chest that meant he was still breathing.
She slid off him and to the edge of the bed, but he didn’t wake.
Slipping into the bathroom she got into the shower and quickly cleaned herself. She wanted to be dressed but she was days dirty from being in the hospital. Shying at the thought that he’d made love to her when she looked so terrible, she promised herself that next time she would be at her best.
How had she gotten here? To this strange beautiful house with a private room and a rich lover to call her own. She had never even fancied such a thing. As a child Elena had dreamed of being rescued, yes, but usually by some parent who would love her and take her home. The white knight had never been her ideal. And yet here Byron was.
He wasn’t perfect, and she knew that they would probably always fight, but she really loved him - wished that he would wake up and join her in the shower. That thought had nice possibilities.
When she finished she glanced at herself in the mirror and saw that she was smiling. Walking into the room in her towel to retrieve the dress the smile faded; the bed was empty.
He had left while she was in the shower and it made her a little mad that he couldn’t be quite brave enough to say goodbye.
The spring was really begun as the green buds were blossoming on the oak down the street from Mayfair’s. As Elena recognized the blocks close to home, she became nervous. Edward, beside her in the little buggy’s backseat, gave her a gentle pat on the knee.
“They will be so happy to see you, Elena. They always ask for you when I come to see them.”
She smiled at him, but her concerns were not lightened. She worried that they would be able to sense that she had become something other than she had been. That living a luxurious life would make her different and that they would shun her. Curiously that bothered her more than the idea that anyone would suspect she wasn’t quite human anymore. All this fled from her mind when they pulled up at the front doors.
The brick building looked better than she remembered it. She supposed that Byron’s people had been at work here, and that mollified her a little bit. Some of the larger cracks in the bricks had been repaired and a new double set of doors sat pristine in the alcove of the main entrance.
Alex stepped out and walked around to open her door. Elena thanked him then stood and looked around. The street wasn’t any better. There was a homeless man lying in a nearby doorway, and trash blew along the street dancing among the midmorning cars.
Edward took her hand and led her up the stairs, his medicine bag in his other hand. Opening the doors they heard the noises of classes going on that was so familiar. Teachers lecturing, one was yelling, the murmurs of whispering voices barely contained and chalk on the board. The bell rang and children pushed through doors in a rush. There were some she didn’t recognize who must have arrived since she’d been gone.
“Michael!” She called at a passing boy and girl she recognized, “Elizabeth!”
The two children in questioned turned and stood there staring dumbly.
“Mikey, I think that’s Elena.” Said the little girl shyly, hiding behind her hand.
“Liz it is me!”
Elena ran forward and hugged the two little creatures, whom after a moment of astonishment, hugged her back enthusiastically.
“Where’d you get that pretty dress, El?” The boy questioned, smiling his toothless grin at her.
“My friend Byron bought it for me, Michael. Are those new clothes on you?”
“Yes ma’am. A load of stuff came after you left. See? They even fixed all the windows and painted the walls!”
She stood, still holding their hands and really looked around. The hallway, which was now filling with more students who wanted to talk to her, was still simple and utilitarian, but it was clean. The doors had been replaced or refinished as far as she could see, even the floor had been redone.
“Byron did all this?” She asked them, and a wave of longing came over her.
They didn’t know who had done it but they were happier it had been done. Edward smiled at her and turned toward the medical rooms, waving her off with her little tour guides. Leading her around so she could see everything, they were soon a parade of children who knew her - running down hallways and talking all at once. Some of the teachers came out into the hall to quiet the children, but they had a life of their own, and she waved an apology as she was driven by them, like a river in flood they ran down the halls bouncing and screaming.
She ran along with them until in the middle of the hall stood Monsignor Howard. He was a little grayer and a little weary looking, but his eyes glittered with hope. She smiled at him and waved, trying to make her way through the throng of children who had decided that it was a holiday.
“You’ve brought chaos to my orderly school, young lady,” The older man said with a feigned frown.
“I’m sorry father, should I go?”
She reached him and threw her arms around him. He laughed nervously at the show of affection and blushing, steadied them in the hallway.
“You don’t ever have to leave Elena.” He told her, “But these little ones have to get back to class.”
He looked meaningfully at the children and got a couple of pouting faces, but with a few more hugs to their returned friend, they retreated back towards the classrooms.
“How have you been, Elena?” He asked her seriously, leading her down the hall to his office.
She looked around and sighed.
“Now I’m well, Father, but a lot has happened to me.”
He held open the door and she went inside, sitting on the little chair that faced his desk. He slid behind it and assumed the position she was so familiar with, his hands steepled on the blotter, his posture strait and leaning a little forward as he concentrated on her squarely through his glasses, his kindly smile again showing the perfect row of white teeth.
“Tell me everything.”
“Well father, I was very ill for a while and Edward, Doctor Wilson was able to save me. When I was recovered, Byron sent me away to the Women’s College in Brooklyn, but I got sick again.”
She guiltily thought about lying to this man to whom she owed so much, but she knew that he could not accept the truth so she told him the only lie she had ever uttered to him.
“Edward saved me. And I recovered from this more recent illness at Byron’s apartment here in Manhattan.”
She smiled at him suddenly.
“Tell me everything that has happened since I’ve been gone.”
He thought for a moment, still studying her with that concentrated gaze.
“So it’s Byron and Edward is it, Elena? One would have hoped that they might have maintained a more polite distance to a young girl like you.”
“What do you mean?” She questioned him.
“You speak of them like friends.”
“They are my friends.”
“And is that all they are?”
He stood and paced the confines of the little room and Elena tried to shut down her panic. She hadn’t wanted to lie to him. More than that she couldn’t let whatever he thought endanger Byron’s reputation.
“Elena,” He began again, “I know that Byron took a special interest in you. I noticed the way he looks at you and he practically ransomed you from me for all of these repairs.” He gestured vaguely at the orphanage around them. “You’ll have to forgive me. But I’ve been guilty since you left, as if I had sold you to him. Tell me the truth. Has he been a gentleman?”
Elena smiled wryly.
“Father Howard, I can tell you that Byron is a great gentleman. It is I who developed feelings for him and he turned me away. You have nothing to fear from him in that way.”
It was a half truth, but sometimes lies that are like that are easier to believe. The old man let out a long breath.
“That is a relief, my dear.”
He turned on his heel and came to kneel before her.
“I want you to come home.”
Elena stilled. Her desire to come back to what she knew and what was safe was overwhelming. Ever since she had left there had been one crisis after another. Here though the faces changed the stories were all the same after a while. Everyone was abused somehow, abandoned, and even though it seems like it wouldn’t make sense, there was a pattern to it. And if you could be something caring in someone’s life and really make a difference to a person like that. It was rewarding. It was comforting, and it was less scary.
Byron was like a roller coaster that you weren’t sure was quite safe. Her heart seemed threatened to break at any moment, she worried about disappointing him and she worried about being disappointed.
Tears gathered in both their eyes.
“Elena, You are like my daughter, more than any of the other children. I know it shouldn’t matter but its true.” His voice broke a little. “I always imagined you here. I know that it isn’t fair. That I should be strong like Byron and want for you the future you could have out there. But I’m selfish.”
“I would love to stay here, Father, but I can’t. “ She wiped her eyes with the corner of her pretty dress and thought that Byron had given it to her. Byron gave her everything, and she knew she couldn’t leave him. The blood wouldn’t let her if she wanted to.
“Part of me wants to come home too father. But you don’t need me anymore. As long as Byron pays for the teachers and keeps sending you donations, you will be fine without me. I’ll visit, I promise.”
Howard looked at her closely, trying to figure her out.
“Why Elena? Is it because you love him?”
She shook her head. She didn’t know what to tell him. The truth was impossible and she didn’t want to dishonor him by lying. She stood up and walked to the door, facing him was impossible.
“I’d better check on Edward, he might need my help.”
The words were a whisper. She slipped out the door and ran through the halls, hoping no one would ask her why she was crying.
When she’d recovered herself she looked up at Byron from where she had been lying on his chest. His eyes were closed and he was unnaturally still. She had a brief moment of apprehension as she noticed the almost imperceptible change in his chest that meant he was still breathing.
She slid off him and to the edge of the bed, but he didn’t wake.
Slipping into the bathroom she got into the shower and quickly cleaned herself. She wanted to be dressed but she was days dirty from being in the hospital. Shying at the thought that he’d made love to her when she looked so terrible, she promised herself that next time she would be at her best.
How had she gotten here? To this strange beautiful house with a private room and a rich lover to call her own. She had never even fancied such a thing. As a child Elena had dreamed of being rescued, yes, but usually by some parent who would love her and take her home. The white knight had never been her ideal. And yet here Byron was.
He wasn’t perfect, and she knew that they would probably always fight, but she really loved him - wished that he would wake up and join her in the shower. That thought had nice possibilities.
When she finished she glanced at herself in the mirror and saw that she was smiling. Walking into the room in her towel to retrieve the dress the smile faded; the bed was empty.
He had left while she was in the shower and it made her a little mad that he couldn’t be quite brave enough to say goodbye.
The spring was really begun as the green buds were blossoming on the oak down the street from Mayfair’s. As Elena recognized the blocks close to home, she became nervous. Edward, beside her in the little buggy’s backseat, gave her a gentle pat on the knee.
“They will be so happy to see you, Elena. They always ask for you when I come to see them.”
She smiled at him, but her concerns were not lightened. She worried that they would be able to sense that she had become something other than she had been. That living a luxurious life would make her different and that they would shun her. Curiously that bothered her more than the idea that anyone would suspect she wasn’t quite human anymore. All this fled from her mind when they pulled up at the front doors.
The brick building looked better than she remembered it. She supposed that Byron’s people had been at work here, and that mollified her a little bit. Some of the larger cracks in the bricks had been repaired and a new double set of doors sat pristine in the alcove of the main entrance.
Alex stepped out and walked around to open her door. Elena thanked him then stood and looked around. The street wasn’t any better. There was a homeless man lying in a nearby doorway, and trash blew along the street dancing among the midmorning cars.
Edward took her hand and led her up the stairs, his medicine bag in his other hand. Opening the doors they heard the noises of classes going on that was so familiar. Teachers lecturing, one was yelling, the murmurs of whispering voices barely contained and chalk on the board. The bell rang and children pushed through doors in a rush. There were some she didn’t recognize who must have arrived since she’d been gone.
“Michael!” She called at a passing boy and girl she recognized, “Elizabeth!”
The two children in questioned turned and stood there staring dumbly.
“Mikey, I think that’s Elena.” Said the little girl shyly, hiding behind her hand.
“Liz it is me!”
Elena ran forward and hugged the two little creatures, whom after a moment of astonishment, hugged her back enthusiastically.
“Where’d you get that pretty dress, El?” The boy questioned, smiling his toothless grin at her.
“My friend Byron bought it for me, Michael. Are those new clothes on you?”
“Yes ma’am. A load of stuff came after you left. See? They even fixed all the windows and painted the walls!”
She stood, still holding their hands and really looked around. The hallway, which was now filling with more students who wanted to talk to her, was still simple and utilitarian, but it was clean. The doors had been replaced or refinished as far as she could see, even the floor had been redone.
“Byron did all this?” She asked them, and a wave of longing came over her.
They didn’t know who had done it but they were happier it had been done. Edward smiled at her and turned toward the medical rooms, waving her off with her little tour guides. Leading her around so she could see everything, they were soon a parade of children who knew her - running down hallways and talking all at once. Some of the teachers came out into the hall to quiet the children, but they had a life of their own, and she waved an apology as she was driven by them, like a river in flood they ran down the halls bouncing and screaming.
She ran along with them until in the middle of the hall stood Monsignor Howard. He was a little grayer and a little weary looking, but his eyes glittered with hope. She smiled at him and waved, trying to make her way through the throng of children who had decided that it was a holiday.
“You’ve brought chaos to my orderly school, young lady,” The older man said with a feigned frown.
“I’m sorry father, should I go?”
She reached him and threw her arms around him. He laughed nervously at the show of affection and blushing, steadied them in the hallway.
“You don’t ever have to leave Elena.” He told her, “But these little ones have to get back to class.”
He looked meaningfully at the children and got a couple of pouting faces, but with a few more hugs to their returned friend, they retreated back towards the classrooms.
“How have you been, Elena?” He asked her seriously, leading her down the hall to his office.
She looked around and sighed.
“Now I’m well, Father, but a lot has happened to me.”
He held open the door and she went inside, sitting on the little chair that faced his desk. He slid behind it and assumed the position she was so familiar with, his hands steepled on the blotter, his posture strait and leaning a little forward as he concentrated on her squarely through his glasses, his kindly smile again showing the perfect row of white teeth.
“Tell me everything.”
“Well father, I was very ill for a while and Edward, Doctor Wilson was able to save me. When I was recovered, Byron sent me away to the Women’s College in Brooklyn, but I got sick again.”
She guiltily thought about lying to this man to whom she owed so much, but she knew that he could not accept the truth so she told him the only lie she had ever uttered to him.
“Edward saved me. And I recovered from this more recent illness at Byron’s apartment here in Manhattan.”
She smiled at him suddenly.
“Tell me everything that has happened since I’ve been gone.”
He thought for a moment, still studying her with that concentrated gaze.
“So it’s Byron and Edward is it, Elena? One would have hoped that they might have maintained a more polite distance to a young girl like you.”
“What do you mean?” She questioned him.
“You speak of them like friends.”
“They are my friends.”
“And is that all they are?”
He stood and paced the confines of the little room and Elena tried to shut down her panic. She hadn’t wanted to lie to him. More than that she couldn’t let whatever he thought endanger Byron’s reputation.
“Elena,” He began again, “I know that Byron took a special interest in you. I noticed the way he looks at you and he practically ransomed you from me for all of these repairs.” He gestured vaguely at the orphanage around them. “You’ll have to forgive me. But I’ve been guilty since you left, as if I had sold you to him. Tell me the truth. Has he been a gentleman?”
Elena smiled wryly.
“Father Howard, I can tell you that Byron is a great gentleman. It is I who developed feelings for him and he turned me away. You have nothing to fear from him in that way.”
It was a half truth, but sometimes lies that are like that are easier to believe. The old man let out a long breath.
“That is a relief, my dear.”
He turned on his heel and came to kneel before her.
“I want you to come home.”
Elena stilled. Her desire to come back to what she knew and what was safe was overwhelming. Ever since she had left there had been one crisis after another. Here though the faces changed the stories were all the same after a while. Everyone was abused somehow, abandoned, and even though it seems like it wouldn’t make sense, there was a pattern to it. And if you could be something caring in someone’s life and really make a difference to a person like that. It was rewarding. It was comforting, and it was less scary.
Byron was like a roller coaster that you weren’t sure was quite safe. Her heart seemed threatened to break at any moment, she worried about disappointing him and she worried about being disappointed.
Tears gathered in both their eyes.
“Elena, You are like my daughter, more than any of the other children. I know it shouldn’t matter but its true.” His voice broke a little. “I always imagined you here. I know that it isn’t fair. That I should be strong like Byron and want for you the future you could have out there. But I’m selfish.”
“I would love to stay here, Father, but I can’t. “ She wiped her eyes with the corner of her pretty dress and thought that Byron had given it to her. Byron gave her everything, and she knew she couldn’t leave him. The blood wouldn’t let her if she wanted to.
“Part of me wants to come home too father. But you don’t need me anymore. As long as Byron pays for the teachers and keeps sending you donations, you will be fine without me. I’ll visit, I promise.”
Howard looked at her closely, trying to figure her out.
“Why Elena? Is it because you love him?”
She shook her head. She didn’t know what to tell him. The truth was impossible and she didn’t want to dishonor him by lying. She stood up and walked to the door, facing him was impossible.
“I’d better check on Edward, he might need my help.”
The words were a whisper. She slipped out the door and ran through the halls, hoping no one would ask her why she was crying.