Love Is Never Ugly

Chapter 13

When Charlotte retired to her bedroom she was feeling very agitated. She couldn't believe the kind of person Alastor was. It was bad enough that he was a cannibal but the fact that the only reason he kept her alive was because he was bored? And he would only set her free if she just kept him entertained for a year? She figured that he was insane but it wasn't the kind of insanity she was expecting. Just what in the world did he want? Also why didn't he want her to look at him? Why was he so hellbent on keeping himself hidden from her?

"Obviously he's deranged." She said to herself as she changed into her night dress. "But at least he's giving me a chance to get out of here."

She thought about the riddle that Alastor had given her to solve.

"Tell me something about myself that I don't already know."

And just how was she supposed to do that? She didn't even know what he looked like. The only thing she knew about him was that he was completely mad and she was positive that he knew that.

"I suppose all I can do is try my best and hope that it's enough."

She laid down on her bed and soon drifted off to sleep.

...

She dreamt of sweet music that called to her and she followed it to a room bathed in gold light where she saw him again. The young man who had held her and kissed her with the most tender affection. He was playing the harpsichord and he played it beautifully. As soon as she stepped into the room he stopped and turned to look at her with a smile. He ushered her to sit next to him which she did and took hold of her hand to kiss the back of it like a perfect gentleman.

He then moved her hand over to the keys of the harpsichord, guiding her fingers over the keys. Sweet music once again filled the room and together they played for seemed like hours. She smiled, she laughed, she felt so happy. Happy with him. It was strange. He did not utter a word yet she knew what his feelings were.

His eyes said so much. They said how kind he was. How charming he was. How...How sad he was. How contrasting his features were. Even though his face bore a joyful smile those brown eyes of his held so much sorrow. As if he had spent his entire life living in misery.

"You smile at me but I know that you are not happy. When I look into your eyes I see that you are very sad." She observed. "Why are you so sad?"

He still would not speak. He only looked at her.

"Why will you not talk to me? Is it that you cannot speak? Have you lost your voice?"

He embraced her and began to stroke her hair.

"Please, I want to make your pain go away. Is there anything I can do?"

He pulled back from her and nodded.

"What? What must I do?"

Once again he took hold of her hand but this time he slipped something onto her finger. She looked down at her hand and saw that what he had given her was some strange but beautiful engagement ring.

"You...You want to marry me?" Her cheeks turned pink with blush. "I...I...I can't...I don't...I mean...I...

But her flustered stuttering was hushed by him pressing his lips to her own. She knew that she should probably object to such a bold move but she found herself not wanting to. She wanted him to hold her and kiss her forever and ever. She didn't know him but so far he was the only thing that made her happy. She didn't want to leave him. She didn't want to wake from this beautiful dream.