Sarah Anderson and Diana, Lilith Castle.
I wore a fluid greenish-black shoulder-showing gown made of the softest, finest velvet fabric, with long and loose transparent white sleeves; it was extremely heavy due to the crinoline steel supporting the fabric, the several layers, and ornaments. The deep, Victorian collar, dolled up with a continuous handmade black revenue from shoulder-to-shoulder, it surely was doing its magic upon my slim body emphasizing its attributes that I never thought I had. Underneath all those layers of fabric, I wore opaque, uncomfortable black tights and pitch-black velvet menbur shoes with a pretty bow closure. As for my hair, I suppose I could describe it as retro. It was fashioned into a beehive, with two long bangs swept to the side and held with golden-pearl hairpins each and several perfect curls falling down my back and chest. My lips were carefully tinted red and my skin was flawless. The petite zircons spiked on the simpleton necklace I had around my neck, glittered attractively in the light. I touched lightly the pearl at the end of it, totally mesmerized with how such simplicity could be as beautiful as the most extravagant pieces. "This is too much..." I muttered looking at my reflection in the mirror while ruffling the skirt up and down.
Diana chuckled and went from leaning against the bed pole to be right behind me. "Don't be silly~" She sang in a melodious voice. "You look..." Her mouth twitched, and I was pretty sure she was fighting a laugh. "... adequate."
I looked over my shoulder. "Don't mock me, Diana!" And then, right back at the mirror. "I feel so out of place. And, it doesn't feel like me... at all..."
Diana sighed. "Well... part of it I can solve." She muttered.
"Uh? What do you mean--?"
Diana snapped her fingers; her whole body was engulfed in a purple mist and started to morph itself. On her, once naked purple-marked body, appeared an elegant pointy-heart-shaped black dress adorned with gold strips all over its corset and skirt and, over her neck, a gold-triangular necklace. Her dress was much more revealing than mine; her entire left leg showed. Everything about that gown was really modern, even her black high heels were even so in. She looked indeed very elegant and beautiful. "Now, do you feel more fitting~?"
My eyebrow twitched in irritation and frustration.
"What~?" Diana asked with a mocking expression all over her face.
"You kidding? Now I feel even more out of place!" I whimpered and sat down on the ground, sulking.
"Stop sulking already, dear." Diana crouched down at my side. "I'll change if you want." She whispered.
I looked over my shoulder again; I stared at Diana, figurative crocodile tears running down my face. "Would... would you do that for me?" I asked delighted by her thoughtful offer; my eyes almost sparkled. "Pretty please, Diana~!"
Diana sighed and snapped her fingers; a simple black-velvet dress, very similar to mine, a shoulder-showing gown with a deep Victorian cleavage and long opaque sleeves, appeared as a substitute for the other one she was already wearing. "You're trouble indeed... Did that attitude of yours really made a demon fall for you?"
***************** begin of Flashback ********************
--back at the Mansion's back door--
«(...)
"Then, why do I feel like you don't mean it? I can sense a hint of hesitation in your voice."
"O-Of course I mean it!" I tried to sound sure but failed miserably. I could feel the perspiration under my arms, soaking darkly into my clothes, announcing my nervousness. I cleared my throat and continued. "But there is a way to correct that."
Erik's smirk grew higher. "Then tell me. I'm all ears." He slowly approached himself.
"You will have to tell me what the surprise is." That it was. All cards on the table. It was: take it or leave it.
Erik chuckled once again. "You're trouble indeed~"
(...)»
--Later that day--
«(...)
"Volo te." He said suddenly in the midst of short breaths. [...] "It means..." Erik raised delicately my chin up and our lips locked; he took my face in his hands and I, trippingly, wrapped my arms around his neck. At first, the kiss was small, gentle, and very meaningful. But then it grew bigger and more intense. We departed from each other after a few minutes, allowing finally some air inside our lungs. Both our breaths were shaking. "It means I crave you. Body, mind, and soul." He completed his sentence.
W-What... what does that mean, really...?" I asked in barely more than a whisper.
"It means what it means," Erik said, his voice low and husky; he had a serious expression written all over his face.
(...)»
***************** end of Flashback ********************
No... Not these memories... Not right now... I hugged myself tightly, 'till the point it would leave a mark even through the fabric. I felt tears build up in my eyes and I lowered them to look at the floor in front of me. As my gaze fell, my lungs began to seize hard, forcing me to hiccup in sadness.
"Ah-- um-- uh--" Diana was speechless.
I couldn't help it. Everything reminded me of him, even simple words as such those moments ago. I missed him so very much; his touch, his kisses... if I just could hear his voice for split second... I began to cry profusely. Why was this happening?! What did I ever do to deserve being apart from my lover?! Was I that bad of a person?! Didn't I deserve some happiness? I covered my face and cried into my hands, bending over myself as I let sadness run through my entire body. Oh please God, let me be reunited with him, even if it's against your law. Please. As I felt warmth suddenly spread through my body, I slowly stopped and felt the fresh air rush into my lungs. What was happening? I recognized this warmth. I looked up and, through the mirror, I saw Diana with a very concerned look on her face, her visible eye glowing a warm gold color as she stared at me. Was she... enthralling me? I didn't feel aroused like I usually felt whenever Erik enthralled me, but I felt calmer and almost mellow.
"Calm down..." She commanded. Diana's voice seemed almost soothing, like a lullaby. However, I wasn't sleepy. I just felt quiet. The worry I had in my mind was gone. The sadness, gone. Diana must have done something to make sure I wouldn't cry. "Now, did... did I said something wrong?" She asked concerned.
I shook my head. "No. It was just some memories that came back to torment me, that's all."
"You are not alone in this, darling. I'm here to help you." Silence engulfed the room as we stared at each other through the mirror. "After we talk to my parents I promise you I will come up with a plan." I stayed quiet and kept my gaze on Diana unsure whether I should thank her or be taken aback by her words. Diana, however, continued to guide the conversation. "We will set things right in no time. You'll see!" She tried to cheer me up.
I averted my gaze, lost in thought. My chest hurt and my body felt numb; a lightheadedness sensation struck me hard.
"Hm... Something tells me there is more than meets the eye." Diana said as she examined my non-verbal behavior. "I know that I'm the last person in the five plains you would open up to but, you can trust me."
I sighed helplessly at her astuteness."As time flies by, I feel like I'm slowly fading away..." I took a hand to my chest and poured out everything I felt. "... I don't know how to explain it but, it's like a part of me is falling into the depths of the ocean and can't swim back up to breathe. I feel trapped to this fate. You know the feeling, right?"
"I can relate in some way." She muttered, eyes closed while crossing her arms underneath her bosom.
"I don't want to constantly feel like this and, be reminded of him all the time, doesn't quite help to ignore or surpass it." I explained.
"I understand," Diana said sympathetically. "Everything will get better once you return to the human world, you'll see." Then she held out her hand, ushering me to take it. "Now, let me help you stand. We have to get going or we will be late to meet my parents."
I nodded and took her hand, standing up at last. We started heading out. "Diana?" I called out to her and stopped her by the arm.
"Yes, dear?" She responded casually.
"Can I ask you a favor?"
"Of course. What is it?" She asked intrigued.
"I-If... If..." I was trembling non-stop, even my vocal cords were struggling to find their way out of my mouth. How was I going to say it if I couldn't say it out loud? "D-Diana...! Will you erase my memories if the road leads us to failure!!?" I shouted with all my might, afraid that if I didn't say it now, I wouldn't be able to do it in the future either. It was a strange request on my part, yes. Despite me didn't want to forget all those happy moments with him and just hold to them and cherish them forever, they would become too painful for me to bear if I ended up not getting Erik back.
Diana's eyes widened in surprise but shortly, her expression softened to a kind smile. "I promise that will be the first thing I'll do if we can't fix the situation. You have my word"
I smiled back, silently thanking her. "Now, let's go meet your parents! I'm so excited!" I grabbed my gown's lower part and ran up the hallway.
Diana chuckled. "Deary, it's this way~."
I turned back flustered. "I knew that! Let's go~!"