Eyes of a Stranger

Warlock story, part 2

She looked deep into his eyes. His vibrant blue eyes. She once felt she would lose herself in them. Knowing now what she did, she was sure she would lose herself in those eyes. She broke his gaze, casting her eyes to the floor. She knew she wasn't leaving. 

And she knew that he knew this as well. 

Staring at the table in front of her, she heard herself ask the question that had been hanging in the air ever since he told her his secret. "Did you put me under a spell?" she asked.

Silence greeted her. She found that she was suddenly scared of his answer. As if he were reading her thoughts, he spoke. "Don't be scared." he said calmly. 

"I could have put a spell on you that would have you doing my bidding. You would jump to preform the slightest hint of a suggestion. But such a spell is evil for it removes your free will, it removes your soul. And then what kind of person would I be?" He paused, gathering his breath. "No, I chose to get to know you, to be able to assimilate into society. But the more I got to know you, the more I fell in love with you. So in love, that I have revealed my darkest secret to you."

She continued to stare at the table. They both knew that the ball was so totally in her court. She chose to stay and talk with him, but she wasn't sure of what her role was supposed to be. Hearing him profess his love for her, well, was an expected surprise. She knew he felt this way, but he had never expressed it, and with the bombshell he had dropped on her, she had forgotten about that aspect of their relationship entirely. Her mind was running circles, trying to figure out how this was going to affect her life. Nothing would be the same ever again. That she was positive of. 

He moved to the fireplace, and picking up the poker proceeded to play in the fire. She could tell he was choosing his words carefully. When he was silent like this, she had learned that he was deciding the best way to put his words together so as to concisely say what he wanted without leaving any room for argument. She hated it when he got like this, because he always was so damn logical, and she usually agreed with whatever he had to say. "It was so unfair," she fumed to herself. 

She stared at his wide shoulders and strong back. She couldn't help but smile slightly to herself. She knew this back so well, so intimately. "In fact," she mused, "I know him so well. This secret, this revelation about himself, was just another facet of him.? It didn't change her feelings, it didn't change her heart. The only thing she felt it changed was her perception of him. And the question now became, "Can I trust him?"

Turning slightly so that he could see her, he asked her that very question. "Do you trust me?" She didn't answer right away. Instead, she took in his profile. He was the furthest thing from one might expect from a warlock. He wasn't exceeding handsome, or charming. He wasn't very fit, and had many flaws. But his character shone through. He was one of the most genuine person she had ever met, and even though she wasn't completely sure herself, she responded slowly, "Yes."

He turned so that the glow of the fire cast a shadow across his face. He opened his arms in an embrace, beckoning her to him. She rose and walked into his arms. He pulled her in to his body, his arms holding her tight. He leaned his head into hers, touching forehead to forehead. Looking deep into her eyes, he spoke softly, "I promise you I will never intentionally hurt you, Emily. I love you so much. I need you to help me on my journey. I need you by my side." 

His need was so palatable, so full of yearning, it pulled at her heart. He was her master now, her everything. She looked into his eyes and felt so safe. 

"Yes" was all she could manage.