Chapter 56 - Home

It was dark when Eva opened her eyes, her sight blurred as she rubbed her eyes and sat straight on the bed, the blanket falling off her chest. Covering up a yawn, she stretched her arms, arching, and froze when she saw a figure lying on the couch. Her movements halted as she took in the dark hair, soft features which would be hard as soon as he woke up. Not allowing any feelings to show on his face no matter how much she wanted him to reveal. To let go. At least to her.

'You are nothing to him.' her mind whispered and she shook her head, gritting her teeth at it fiercely.

Placing her feet gently on the warm rug, she saw fire still blazing in the fireplace and wondered if he had lighted it again when it had burned out. He wasn't wearing a blanket to protect him against the cold. He wore a white shirt with the first few buttons undone. He looked calm but not in peace. The line between his brows revealed as much to her as she carried her blanket to him and placed it on top of his body.

She didn't mind sleeping without it since the fireplace provided enough warmth to not let her freeze to death. Smoothening the sheets, over him she backed away and resisted the urge to run a hand through that mess of his hair no matter how enticing the mess looked.

A tingle ran through her body and she smiled, knowing that this was one of those times when she wouldn't be able to sleep until that shudder of energy escaped her body. A small grin took place on her features as she walked towards the door in her nightgown and opened it up softly, closing it behind her just as gently without noticing the black eyes that shot open as soon as the door closed.

The hallways were lighted by torches as she glided past each wall looking like an angel trapped in a mortal's body. Her feet were bare since she hadn't bothered to wear her shoes, wanting to feel the cold ground under her feet. In the silence of the night, she felt peace as the garden started to show and her pace increased. Flinging open the castle gates, she stepped outside, feeling another tingle as her toes curled under the soft grassy material.

Her feet led her to the middle of the ground, as she looked around for a sign of any guard or maid who could catch her. There was nobody around and she hoped nobody would stumble upon her to watch what she was about to do.

Her hair fluttered under the cool wind as she spread her arms and spun in one graceful move. A melody played inside her mind as she let herself go and started moving.

Theo stood outside the castle's doors, leaning against the threshold, and waited for her to do whatever she was going to. Curiosity and wonder flickered in those hollow eyes but they widened soon enough when he saw her spin.

She gathered her skirts in her hand, and as she led herself into the waltz's opening movements, her body went loose and taut in so many different places Theo didn't know where to look: she was bent and shaped and directed by the sound.

His eyes dilated at the sheer skill and grace, each movement of her body precisely tuned to each note and flutter of music, from her fingertips to the extension of her neck as she turned, the arch of her back into a held note.

Music burned through Eva.

Closing her eyes, she let her body take control as she moved according to the rhythm, letting the roar of the winds into her tune as well.

There wasn't enough space inside her for the sound, for all it made her feel—not enough space in her mind, her heart, her body; and all she could do to honor it, worship it, was dance.

Theodore knew the waltz. Had watched and danced it for centuries to whichever ball he would be invited to and couldn't decline. Knew its last half minute was a swift frenzy of notes and rising, grand sound. Knew most dancers would keep waltzing through it, but the brave ones, the skilled ones would do the twelve spins, the female blindly turning with one arm above her head, rotated again and again and again by her partner as they moved across the dance floor. To spin was to risk looking the fool at best, to eat marble at worst. Or to eat grass.

Eva didn't stop moving and went for it.

Theo watched her glowing as if she had devoured the Moon whole, letting its light shine through her. His eyes were glued to her as she blinked open her eyes and smiled. Not a shy smile, not a forced one, but one of pure, wild joy, brought by the music and the dance and her wholehearted yield to it.

It was like seeing someone being born. Like seeing someone come alive.

As if he could hear the music coming to an end, he watched as she spun solo once more, three more precise perfect rotations and let her back arch, flinging up her other arm, the very portrait of triumph.

If she hadn't conquered him fully by now, then she had at this night. At this very moment, as he walked toward her and saw her eyes widen in realization.

"You're awake," she spoke as if she couldn't believe her eyes that he was standing in front of her.

"I didn't know you liked dancing," commented Theo, staring into her eyes and forgetting whatever happened with Estella in less than a minute. No matter how hard he cleaned himself from her touches, he still felt her claws on his body and internally tried not to shudder in disgust.

His breath hitched as she beamed widely and replied, "I don't like dancing that way in front of an audience. Spinning alone is much more fun."

He gazed at her for a second before swallowing the lump in his throat and speaking out a word he hadn't had to speak in centuries. "I'm sorry."

She gazed at him, her smile lowering but not completely gone. "Why did you hurt him when I asked you not to?" she asked.

Theodore lowered his gaze, looking down. "I—" he hesitated but willed himself to continue as he saw her face. "I was mad at myself for letting you leave angry. It was my fault for not explaining myself and letting you leave. I couldn't help but take that anger out on the man who kidnapped you and hurt you. When I saw that pained look in your eyes back in the dungeons, it felt as if... as if I couldn't breathe normally again." he spoke slowly and Eva stared at him in shock, surprised that he would give her such a thorough list of his emotions.

His eyes weren't hollow, they were glittering brighter than the stars as she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his torso, burying her face in his chest and instantly being engulfed with his warmth.

'Home...' her heart whispered and she ignored it though knowing what it was saying, made absolute sense.