52Chapter 34: Fly Free
It had slightly disoriented Christian to wake up so early. For the first time in a while he saw sunlight filtering through the small gap in the heavy velvet drapes. Disentangling himself from the sheets he had grown so accustomed to having wrapped around him in his states of sleep, he quickly got out of his bed. He normally preferred to have this process a slow one, but he knew that his goal today needed to be reached as quickly and as hassle-free as possible.
He jumped into a pair of black pants and squeezed into a tight black tee shirt. He had already decided not to take anything with him, for fear that carrying a suitcase might slow him down, or look suspicious if anyone did happen to see him. He was hoping that if this happened, the person wouldn't recognize him. But he couldn't risk taking anything with him, and why would he need to when he was about ready to return to parents that had more money than any of them knew what to do with?
He kept his eyes on the room and all of its ornate and gorgeous furnishings. He knew that any time he'd see something similar, he'd think of this room, this castle. And when he thought of those things, he knew that he'd then think of Xavier, the love that got away.
But now was not the time to worry over love or the nostalgia that was sure to come with time and freedom. He broke his stare from the room and quietly unlocked and opened his bedroom door. Just as it should have been, the hall was vacant. And it looked so much different in the daytime. Somehow, it looked more haunted and desolate. Hand fluttering up to his chest, Christian felt the silver key that hung on a thin sliver chain beneath his shirt.
Now or never. Now or never. Now or never. It was the only full thought that kept running through his head. The only thought that he needed to run through his head.
Beginning to walk, he memorized how his feet felt as they glided on the expensive rugs as his brain numbly took photographs of the painting he passed. He would never forget the images of elegant darkness that portrayed the whole vampiric existence in the best possible way. Only for a moment, Christian pondered stealing one of the paintings, but the thought immediately left his mind. It wouldn't look practical if he were seen and his father would burn it as soon as he made it home.
Down the steps. Each one was old, and the escapee tread as lightly as possible, not wanting to make too much noise. His heart was beating wildly as excitement built up. He was on his way to freedom, perhaps the only cure to this lovesickness that was soiling his insides ever so slowly.
Then he saw it. The door to his freedom. And suddenly Christian wasn't moving, but only staring, something inside not allowing him to step towards it yet, as though he had to savor this moment.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?"
The voice was low, raspy, and froze the human's heart immediately. Turning slowly, he faced a vampire that he had never spoken to, though had occasionally seen him throughout the castle in his stay. This vampire with his shoulder-length dark blonde hair and shady black eyes knew who Christian was and knew that this was not where Christian was supposed to be. No excuses could come to the human's mind as he stared at the immortal that would easily tower over him if he came any closer. Eyes darting to the door, Christian knew that he would not be able to make an escape, an even the best attempt would only get him hurt.
"Give me an answer, not silence, human," the vampire said coldly. Christian could still only stare. What would happen to him? He had been moments away form liberty…moments away. His heart broke while it increased its pulse speed.
In the blink of an eye, the vampire had the boy pressed against the nearest wall, allowing only the minimum necessary amount of oxygen in through his lungs. He could only gasp as he tried to struggle out of the grip. Pain surged through Christian's body as he tried to lash out and strike his antagonist. But he wasn't near strong enough so he only wore himself out with his futile efforts. The vampire had a sadistic grin on his elegant face, enjoying the pain his was giving this little being that belonged to a race he despised.
In another moment, Christian could breathe again and his body took in oxygen hungrily. He slumped against the wall for a single second before his brain registered what was happening in the scene before his eyes.
"Xavier, get the fuck off of me!"
Xavier, mild Xavier, was striking the vampire violently and shoving his around.
"You know that we are not supposed to raise a single finger towards the boy," Christian's hero said in a voice much softer than his punch.
"I was simply restraining him! He was trying to escape you know! I though you were in charge of him!"
With that, Xavier released the vampire and took a few steps back, while the angered immortal straightened himself back up. Xavier's sapphire gaze turned on Christian as the vampire handed him the key and chain that had been on Christian's neck only minutes before.
"Fuck this shit. Take care of it X, or Dante will be hearing about your incompetence. And then maybe I'll get to baby-sit instead."
Xavier stood in silence as the vampire flipped his blonde hair and stalked off haughtily. The immortal's gaze studied the chain but the emotion in his face showed that there was a lot more concern to him than the key. There was more to it.
Finally, Xavier lifted his gaze to meet Christian's. They both just stared for a moment. And it was love. There was no other word for it, and no excuse either of them could make. They both knew their own feelings as well as each other's.
Xavier walked slowly towards Christian, and the boy studied the midnight beauty another time. He was wearing his torn blue jeans and black button up shirt, unbuttoned to the middle of his pale chest. His radiant blue eyes were surrounded by his usual make up and his hair tumbled as freely as it usually did.
Then the immortal dropped down onto his knees in front of Christian, and his hand slowly stroked the mortal's smooth face. When had it become streaked with tears? Christian couldn't remember.
"Fly free, my only love," Xavier said before kissing Christian's lips tenderly and slipping the key into his hand. Christian begged himself to say something as he watched Xavier slip away, leaving the mortal boy with his freedom once again in his hand.