Rose's POV
I walked close to Adrian with my hand in his. It is funny how a simple gesture like that can make my heart skip a few beats... how his hand feels like it's made for mine. Tingles radiated from that spot as he led me through countless halls and narrow passages. I didn't really pay much attention to where we're going, but I did notice that we walked for quite some time. "This place is bigger than it looks... if that's even possible", I thought. I had no idea where I was. My inability of navigating in space certainly wasn't helping.
Maybe he took me here to kill me?
I laughed at that thought. I don't know why, but I trusted Adrian, although he gave me no reason to do so... at least with my life.
Adrian squeezed my hand and glanced at me with questioning look in his eyes and gorgeous smile on his lips.
"Why are you laughing?" he asked as we took another turn.
"Oh...well... I just thought of something funny", I said. It was crazy enough from me to laugh out of blue without mentioning that I was laughing at the impossibility of him taking my life.
He flashed me another one of his smiles and continued looking forward. Just before the next turn, he stopped. In first few seconds I didn't acknowledge it so I took a few steps stretching our intertwined hands. He used it and with a slight tug he pulled me back - straight to his chest. Once again I found myself feeling safe in his dangerous embrace. His look was so warm that it melted my heart as easily as the summer Sun does to an abandoned ice-cube. He lifted his free hand to my cheek and caressed it lightly. His lips stretched into small smile and he closed his eyes. What happened and why was a mystery to me, but I let it go. He pulled me closer into a full hug and leaned his chin to my forehead. Why can't he be like that all the time, was a million-dollar question.
"We're almost there", he whispered into my hair and moved away.
I nodded and we continued.
When his proximity stopped clouding my judgment, I realized how weird that moment was. Then it felt just right, and now it looked as inconsistent as everything he did. For a hundredth time I came to a conclusion that he was a player. He must've enjoyed studying my reactions to his acts. Or, maybe he pitied me. Somehow the latter sounded way worse and way more likely.
For another few minutes I struggled to keep up with him and suddenly we stopped.
I looked around and saw beautifully decorated walls and big door in which were carved the most marvelous figures. They did not move, but it certainly seemed like they were dancing. All negative thoughts simply vanished before the incredible view. It was a heaven for artists.
I awed and released a breath I did not know I was holding.
In the middle of that not-so-big room was a table made of same wood as the door. There was nothing carved on it but it was still very admirable. On high ceiling was a lavishly jeweled chandelier. Shelves in various shapes held big books with old covers on the each side of the room. In the corner dominated baroque sofa. Entire floor was covered in glorious white carpet. I didn't know where to look first. I just gaped like a fish.
"Wait till you see what is on the other side of the door", Adrian said from behind me.
I trembled from his hot breath and proximity I was not aware of. He put his hands on my upper arms and guided me towards the door.
As we came closer, door slowly opened letting the cold night breeze in. We made few more steps leaving the mansion. Soft grass grew just on the other side of the entrance so it seemed like we were entering a whole new world â from sophisticated and playful stiffness of human construction to the nature's masterpiece that can only be depicted as something unexplainably beautiful. Goosebumps appeared all over my body and my breath was caught in my throat. I couldn't move; I could only stare in trance captivated by extraordinary magnificence.
We were standing in some kind of yard. It was a bit cold, but it didn't really bother me. Smell of spring filled the air, even though the winter was definitely nowhere near over.
The whole enormous yard was illuminated by a few tiny glowing trees.
There were six or seven of them and they were only offsets. Each had about ten to twenty glowing leafs and they were already so stunning. I've never seen something like that.
"Those are bioluminescent trees. We had a lot of those back home. Our scientists took enzymes from certain jellyfish from here and recreated them. They should be replacement for your street lights", Adrian explained.
I opened my mouth to say something but then close them. Adrian laughed and casually put his arm around my shoulders bringing me closer to him.
It was a perfect moment.
My brain tried to destroy it, but I just shut it down. This time I let myself fully enjoy this brief moment, although deep down I knew that was all it will ever be â a brief moment.
I inhaled deeply and beside the smell of spring I felt Adrian's shampoo. I didn't know that Ultrrians used shampoo. Maybe they had it back on Ultrron. It's not that complicated to make them and they were certainly smart enough to do so. But on the other hand, maybe it was a newly discovered product. It's not that necessary to have shampoo in everyday life. If they could live without love, they could most definitely live without artificial smell of fruit or flowers.
I inhaled once again trying to determine what kind of a shampoo did he use. It smelled like something fresh but manly. I couldn't recall ever sensing that smell, but I loved it.
I closed my eyes. Dammit.
I moved away from him and wrapped my arms around myself looking at the grass.
I loved him. I was sure of that.
Too bad he didn't feel the same. He pitied me. It could not possibly be worse than that. As much as I enjoyed these last few moments I knew what I had to do.
"I don't think we should like...see each other anymore", I muttered awkwardly. My eyes were fixated on the tips of my shoes. Trembles in my voice were the only indicators of the storm that was raging inside.
He said nothing. Awkward silence was only disrupted by occasional blows of wind and rustle of leaves.
I don't know what I hoped would happen. I mean, I knew he probably felt relief, now that he got rid of me, but there was this little part of me that hoped he cared.
He obviously didn't.
I briefly looked at glowing trees for the last time and got ready to go.
"Why do you think so?" Adrian asked suddenly. He sounded so calm. I still refused to look at him so I stared at the trees. He would most probably change my mind just by looking at me in a certain way.
"Because I'm only human; nothing special about that. I can't do what you do. I can force a laugh and I can sometimes detain my tears, but I can't hold my feelings hidden. I bleed when I fall, I crush and I break down. I am so far from perfect that I can't even dream of being good enough for a guy devoid of flaws", I said with my voice shaking with every word that left my mouth.
I finally gathered enough courage to look up. I meet his intense gaze and my heart flickered.
"I'm in love with you and I'm so sorry about that", I continued. I wanted to be brave, but my voice sounded just so terribly sad.
I swallowed tears that were threatening to escape and proceeded to look at him. I shrugged and gave him a sad smile. He clenched his jaw and looked away.
"Adrian", I said trying to get his attention back. My voice was so weak even I couldn't recognize it, but I still continued speaking: "I know you don't believe in it and it is maybe unreal for your people, but it is very real for me. I just need you to know that. So I plead you to stop playing with my feelings â it hurts"
I wasn't angry and disappointed anymore, I was just so sad. I finally said everything that was on my mind and it felt good. No matter what happens next, I won't have any regrets.
Adrian turned his back at me and went with his hands through his hair.
A second later he was gone.
Great.
Adrian's POV
I had to leave. I could not keep on listening to her voice that sounded so hurt and know I was the reason of her suffering.
It did some weird things to me. I could not explain it. With every word she said she made my heart ache. Everything in me was telling me to go there and comfort her; to pull her back in my arms where she belongs.
She stole my mind and I was in her mercy. That scared me.
"I'm in love with you and I'm so sorry about that", she said in a tone that broke my heart beyond repair. Why did she apologize? Why didn't she look at me?
What did I do to her?
I was so consumed with things she made me feel that I never thought of her. How incredibly selfish of me.
She looked in my eyes and I could clearly see sadness in her eyes. Every word she said cut me like a knife. Suddenly, I couldn't remember why I thought I shouldn't be with her.
It was so clear that what I felt was love â pure love I heard about in my aunt's stories, you know, the type of love that breaks curses and conquers any obstacle on its way.
I loved that girl more than I could ever imagine.
"I plead you to stop playing with my feelings â it hurts"
I turned around. Sudden realization hit me so hard I couldn't breathe. I couldn't see my life without her.
This was bad.
Or maybe good.
I don't know what to think anymore. My own thoughts suffocated me, so I ran as fast as I could.
Cold breeze hit my face and everything around me became blurry collection of colorfulness.
I stopped and fell on my knees holding my head.
There was war in my head; war between memories of my parent's death convincing me of human malice and memories of her.
What should I do?
I yelled my lungs out and got up.
Screw everything.
I've made up my mind and there is no stopping now.
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So, I noticed that this story somehow got this supercool ranking last week... it was #16 on Sci-fi list or however it's called so yes - very supercool and awesome and deeply satisfying. Anyway there's no stopping now (ha ha) so remember to vote and comment and do whatever you do.