To Be Loved

"Since it is your birthday, I thought for you to receive a present," Eliade began with a soft coo to her words, hands behind her back withholding the present. She spent a long time making it perfect as possible. It wasn't the best crafted as she would have liked, but the blonde only had skills for certain things." It isn't much but I didn't know what else to get you.." 

So after giving Krory another soft kiss, she brought her hands out to present him his gift. A box decorated in pink ribbon with purple wrapping. Inside was a small scrapbook, cover a soft lavender with darker purple swirl accents. A big pink heart clichéd on the middle. There weren't many pictures (she tried drawing but was quickly discarded) but had pages written of their adventures, her thoughts on her beloved, her take on poetry (she truly tried). It wasn't the best present but it was something she created herself and that pleased her enough to give it to him. She knew he'd accept anything. 

"I... I hope you like it!" Eliade's cheeks had a soft dusting on them, and she looked at him with wide eyes, almost expectantly. "Open it!" She couldn't tell if she was more worried or excited. 

His begging only met silent as she considered what she could or could not tell him. Eli wanted to be truthful as possible but he would leave her. That is the opposite of what she wanted. Could she lie to him, like she has in the possible? If only to save him pain in the moment? But her heart already had those faint pangs of guilt. Long story short, she was weak against him. How pathetic. To fall short of a possible grace all Akuma deserve, and yet here she was. Treated like a queen by the man she's fallen deeply in love with.

"My love..." She sucked in a breath, and worried a painted lip with her own teeth before staring right into his face. "I do know what is happening but you are better off in the dark." Her words took a much harder tone than she inticipated and she quickly backtracked. "No, I meant.. It will eat you up alive, much worse than what has been happening to you. There is a reason why you attack those villagers, why they claim you a monster." The blonde took a short breath and she finally broke eye contact, to stare upon the floor instead. "... You are not a monster, Krory.. I am."

Oh how the count will pester her for answers to her words and she easily set herseld up for unnecessary heartbreak. Yet it caused her more misery to keep silent. She loved him too much. Even if her worst nightmares come reality. Though she has no direct oversee on what is happening, she is part of the problem. Part of why he hides within these stone walls like a caged bird.

Eli had no idea what she could do to persuade him otherwise. She couldn’t simply force him to tell her his woes, but she was patient enough if he ever chose to. Her gaze lowered briefly to his mouth, and pressed her fingers to his lips, tracing them softly. 

At the question, she was silent. She knew full well what was going on. It wasn’t like she was truly ignorant, but she couldn’t tell him anything. The villagers had every right to be restless. With disguised akuma mingling with  the humans who were entirely innocent of everything. And the reports of those same akuma going missing, and of a vampire. How silly.

The blonde pursed her lips as she thought over the Count’s answer, and slowly her expression softened, especially when her hand was taken. She didn’t necessarily believe him, but she couldn’t bare herself to be mad at him. It was nearly impossible. How weak she must have become, to have strayed so far from her mission, but that was a sacrifice Eli was more than willing to make. If only to further indulge in her selfishness, to spend all her time with Krory. For a chance at love.

“No, I’m not mad,” she answered quietly, easily lacing their fingers together as she gave his hand a soft squeeze. Eliade loved how her hand simply fit within his, how her entire body fit against his. Like two puzzle pieces made for each other. Yet she knew the dangers that lurked, but she didn’t care. Her love for him made her blind, the thrill of being killed by him one day made her heart race.

“Promise me you will stay with me. I’d rather wake in your arms than to a lone bed. Or, at least wake me.” Eli stepped closer to the vampire, and brought her free hand up to cup his face, her touch light. Finger tips gingerly caressed at his cheek, as if memorizing his features like she had many times prior.

Eliade cast a quick glance at the sky. She should return soon to the castle before nightfall, but there was time to spare. Krory won't miss her too much, right? "Do you even have a place to stay? Or you one of those homeless brats that keep multiplying?" Despite trying to be nice, considering her companion was a kid, it was waring off. She had no idea why she was bothering. Humans were a waste. And yet.