Angel

18- Etch Your Name In My Heart

Just before dinner came, Kylo rose. He found it odd that he had slept all day but put it off to being weary from his travels and his rescue. Memories of last night did not find him. What had happened with the woman and the winged-man slumbered somewhere in a corner of his mind.

Dressing in the fine clothing Vincent had gifted him, Kylo looked at himself in the mirror and for one of the few times in his life, he did not feel ugly nor unclean. His new shirt was purple silk with demure black buttons. His trousers were black with purple lace decorating the sides. Kylo began tying his hair up when he remembered how Vincent had set the strands free during the ball, so he untied the ribbon and ran his brush through his dark hair until it looked like satin.

At the dinner table, Vincent was waiting. Dressed as regally as a king, he rose to meet Kylo upon the young man's entrance to the room. When Kylo saw Vincent's beauty, he felt his heart lurch. In his black velvet coat and abundance of frills and lace, Kylo thought Vincent was the most stunning man he'd ever seen.

Reaching out for Kylo's hand, Vincent smiled. "You are the most beautiful man I have ever seen," he said looking Kylo from tip to toe.

A faint blush rose on Kylo's cheeks. "Would it be silly if I were to admit I was thinking the same thing about you?"

Vincent shook his head and touched Kylo's knuckles to his lips.

"You are bewitching, Vincent," Kylo said emotionally. He felt finally as if he were home. With Vincent, the world felt right and his past was just that... a past. One he no longer belonged to.

Gesturing for Kylo to sit, Vincent moved to fill the younger man's glass with wine.

Though the bitter scent of red wine wafted towards Kylo when he bowed into his drink, he smelt the familiar scent of blood coming from Vincent's side of the table.

The table was full of fine food. Roast pork dotted with cranberries sat in the middle. There were different types of fruit, bread, and spicy-scented pumpkin soup. Vincent mentioned his cook had arrived while Kylo slept and had made the feast. "I hope you don't mind, angel, but I have already eaten. I woke hours ago and was famished. This is all for you."

Kylo looked at his plate laden with food and shook his head. "I don't mind. Everything smells amazing." Hearing his tummy grumble, Kylo chuckled. "I may end up eating everything here."

"Please do," Vincent said touching his wine glass to his lips. "I want you to enjoy yourself."

Kylo looked at the feast. He had never had anything but scraps before and now he was dining like royalty.

When the meal was finished, Vincent refilled Kylo's glass then his own. When Kylo saw it was from separate decanters, he commented. "Vincent, why is it we don't drink from the same wine?"

Giving Kylo a sad smile, Vincent set his glass down and walked to Kylo's side of the table. "It is one of the things I wish to tell you," he said softly. "Will you give me time to find the words I need to say?"

Kylo nodded. "Nothing you can tell me will make me see you in a different way. You have etched your name in my heart and that is where you'll stay."

A look of relief painted Vincent's face though inside the marrow of his bones there was still a sliver of worry that Kylo may change his mind. "I have done many bad things in life, but I must have done something good to have you enter it." Extending his hand, Vincent helped Kylo rise. "Dance with me, angel?"

Kylo giggled. "There's no music."

Vincent gave him an impish smile. "Does it matter?"

"Some may think those dancing to no music are mad."

"Let the world think what it wants to, angel. You and I no longer belong to that world. We belong to a new one. Our personal one."

When Kylo stepped into Vincent's embrace, the lord let out a sigh. Feeling Kylo in his arms was like a rebirth, like every bad thing he had ever done faded away, if only for a flicker of time. "I care for you a great deal," Vincent said as he swayed with Kylo to music only he heard. "If only you knew how much. I would die a thousand deaths for you."

Reaching up to caress Vincent's hair, Kylo whispered, "And I for you. I have fallen in love with you Vincent, honestly and truly."

As Kylo placed his head on Vincent's shoulder, the lord shuddered. A soft cry escaped his lips. With Kylo not able to see, a rouge blood tear trickled out of Vincent's eye leaving a vermillion stain down his pallid cheek.

words: 802