Feelings

"Don't kill her!" I heard a voice, it was a man, it sounded so familiar. My senses came back slowly

"Why? We waited for more than a hundred years for this!" said another, this one was hissy.

"No! I love her", said the previous

"She is not her! Do not fool yourself Domingo!"

I felt a tight grip on my throat, someone was choking me, I forced my arm to move by my body was like a noodle, I opened my eyes, I saw above me a slender impish figure, its eyes red as blood, it's skin the color of coal, I felt the tips of his sharp claws on my neck. Behind him stood a man, he looked familiar, I tried to raise my hand to ask him for help, but my body won't follow.

He...lp... H-h-he....lp I cried, but my voice won't come out. The demon increased the pressure on my windpipe, he is about to crush it when, "Stop!" I heard a voice shout, but it was too late.

There was a bright light, I ran towards it, my body felt so light, I began to wish Ciel was here, it felt as if I was in heaven. I felt something grabbed on my hand, I looked back, I smiled, it was Ciel, he was wearing a toga, his wings were white as the clouds, but he wasn't smiling at me, his face looked grim, and his grip tight.

"Beth", he said, he was panting as if he was running after me and just caught up, his face looked troubled and sad, "don't, it isn't time yet", his grip tightening, he began pulling me towards him.

"What do you mean?" Then as I was met by his arms, suddenly he was gone and I was falling, fast, AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!

When I opened my eyes, the world was out of focus, I felt someone holding my hand, I moved my head to the side, I saw someone sitting beside me, he was holding my hand, with my eyesight so blurry at the moment, I can't figure out who it was but in my whole system I do hope it's Ciel.

"Beth?" he said, that's not Ciel I realized, I felt a tinge of disappointment.

"Yes?" I said weakly, he sounded familiar but I can't place a face on his voice, "w..who...who are you?"

Slowly my eyesight adjusted, and I saw Albert Saldivar at my bedside clutching my hand, his face pale with worry, his eyes looked tired,where am I? Why is he so close and why is he holding my hand? Questions swarm my head as I lay silently on the bed.

It was around seven o'clock in the evening when I looked at my phone, Mr. Saldivar told me what happened. According to him, I suddenly collapsed just when we had our food, he then called an ambulance and rushed me to the hospital, and hasn't left me since. What he saw was different from what I experienced, I knew I was attacked by the demon and for a moment I was sure I was dead, and that man... I heard his voice, he was there...Domingo De Leon was there... I felt a chill run down my spine, I couldn't hold back the tears, all of the emotions crashing down like waves in a storm, I was bawling when I felt an arm around me, it was Mr. Saldivar, I cried till my eyes were tired, I cried till there was nothing left to cry. Mr. Saldivar didn't let go, he comforted me until I was calm. It felt familiar, as if I had been in this man's arms in the past, I felt a shiver run down my spine, I was afraid.

Then the Castello's and Lyra came into the room, soon as he had let go the feeling of fear vanished, what was happening? I focused my attention back on my visitors, they were worried upon hearing about my little incident, but I promised to be at the wedding tomorrow. Lyra teased me about having one of the most eligible bachelors in the country in my hospital room, I just smiled, but I'd rather have that annoying reaper with me here than him mainly due to the fact that something about Albert Saldivar unnerved me. My mind wished that Ciel would be here, but he can't just appear out of thin air at the moment. After about an hour the guests left and I was again left alone with the philanthropist.

I stared at him, he was caring for me, fussing over the little things, but everytime he was near the hair on my skin stood on its edge, I didn't know what to say nor do i want to offend him after looking after me, so instead I asked, "When can I go back to my hotel?" he smiled and said that he will check with the doctor, and soon as he was gone another unexpected, but wanted guest appeared - it was Ciel.

He was wearing black today, not the usual carefree black clothes but his suit, a black suit. He was standing behind the door, arms across his chest, he gave me a weak smile and walked towards my bed. "How long have you been there?" I asked him relieved by his appearance.

"I've been here for a while, since I pulled you back, I haven't left", he said in all seriousness, "you almost went to the Gates of Judgment and you came back almost perfectly normal. I'm impressed." He smiled - teasing me, I felt my heart beat so fast, it's amazing how he makes me feel both secure and nervous at the same time.

He sat on my bed, "thank you for saving me. As always", I said to him

"Yeah, I just took my eyes off you for a few days and the demon drags you to the Gates of Judgement so fast that I wasn't even sure if I could reach you."

"Yeah", I nodded, my heart racing with him so close, it's stupid, he doesn't like me the same way. Then the door creaked, I looked up, Mr. Saldivar came in with a doctor, I looked back on my bedside and Ciel was gone.

It was around midnight when I got back to my hotel, Mr. Saldivar helped me to my room, he bade me goodnight. Inside I was alone I felt fear in every fiber of my being, unsure and scared; I limped towards my balcony and smelled the ocean air, if only, I thought.

As I lay on my bed images of the demon entered my thoughts, the threatening stares and the feeling of it's claws on my skin, I shivered. Everytime I close my eyes I saw how the demon choked me, I felt scared and just wanted to run away, the odd scent the came from the demon felt so familiar, like a scent that I have been familiar for years, but because it was all so familiar that made me fear a lot more, can it be that the demon has found me long ago but has only biding his time?

I woke up to the sound of my alarm clock, it was 7 o'clock, I felt anemic, my body was heavy as lead, I barely slept and when I did I kept on having nightmares, so short story I don't feel great, but I still have a wedding to get to at around 11 so I picked myself up and got ready.

Around eight I finished breakfast and got into the shower, I tried to rush a bit since the wedding wouldn't wait for me. As I was drying my hair I noticed something on my dresser, it was a pack of cigarettes, with a note , "thought you might need this". I didn't recognized the handwriting but I guessed it was from Ciel, since he was the only one who knew that I resumed smoking, I bit my lip... he was right with all the stress I needed it, no I wanted it, maybe I can sneak a smoke later, when I'm in the clear.

By ten I was already at the lobby, I was going to ask the reception if the car that I requested, but before I could someone called me, I looked back and saw Albert Saldivar, he was wearing the same color as I was, it's as if we were matching. He waved at me and all I could do was smile and wave back, I mean half the lobby was ogling at him, and he isn't exactly discreet about calling me across the lobby.

"Hey", he said as walked up to me

"Hi", I said holding back a sigh, "I didn't know you were picking me up today."

"Yes, I was really worried so I decided to drop by", he was smiling so brightly, I made me feel like I do not want to disappoint him.

"Thank you", I responded and he led me to his car.

While in the vehicle he never failed to notice our matching attires, we were both wearing something in the shade of cream. He was asking how I have been feeling, I answered his questions and trying to sound interested. I heard my phone beep, I began rummaging through my dainty bag that when we hit a pothole I dropped my bag and spilled, with my cigarettes out in the open. He stared at it with confusion, I scooped everything back into my bag. "I didn't know you smoke", he said to me, but before I could answer we arrived at the Glass house.

Mr. Saldivar got out of the car first and went to the other side and opened my door for me. He carefully assisted me out of the vehicle and was very gentle, he offered his arm towards me as if asking to escort me to the party, but I barely noticed, I was busy staring at the building.

The place was built like a greenhouse, I remembered the construction, Lyra and I went back and forth about how to build this thing and two years later the house stood in all its glory. Domed roof covered with solar panels, reinforced glass doors and windows that doubles as the walls in the first floor living room that can be closed and opened for ventilation, they were durable and can sustain a lot of beating, we even had thought of using bulletproof glass if we wanted the extra strength and protection, the second floor walls were also made of glass, but they were of lighter weight as we didn't want to have the walls and support of the base to suffer too much.

I stared at it and remembered when I was designing it, it was based on one of Annie's drawings, she wanted a castle made of crystal, and this was my interpretation of that drawing, a glass house. I felt the tears began welling on the corners of my eyes, when I felt a hand on my arm, I looked to my side, Mr. Saldivar was looking at me.

"Beth?" he looked worried

"Yes", I responded

"Let's go", he said offering his arm, I felt a shiver all over my body, for some reason this gesture made me feel scared.

"It's okay, I can walk on my own", I just had to say no, if possible I didn't even want to be near him at the moment, he suddenly gave out a different vibe that made me feel more uncomfortable than I already am.

We walked towards the house where one of the maids opened the door for us, the whole place was in prime condition, it was decorated in the most amazing way, like a comfy beach house. The maid directed us to the garden where the wedding was to happen, where I was at awe to find a beautiful wedding altar, the set up was filled with white lilies and roses, with gold accents. There were already a handful of people in the place but not that many as Miriam said that this is a small event. As I was eyeing for Lyra and her boyfriend I noticed the tent where the reception will be taking place, I was itching to see the set up but one of the organisers said that it was off limits at the moment.

"Beth", Mr. Saldivar looked at me with concern I forgot that he was with me as I bounced around the venue

"Oh! I thought you were..." I couldn't finish, it felt suddenly awkward.

"Let's take a seat the wedding is about to start", he said taking my hand, his hands were soft but secure, he held me gently as if he was afraid that he might hurt me, I walked following his stride when I saw Lyra, I waved at her, she waved back signaling that I sit with her but Mr. Saldivar didn't notice and sat on the opposite side.

"Sir, why don't we sit with my friends", I pointed to Lyra's direction.

"No this is okay, you get easily distracted and I have a few things I want to talk to you about", he smiled at knowing smile and held my hand tighter, I felt weird, I felt almost nervous, there is an air about him that made me feel uncomfortable, but I can't point it out, I just stared at him and tried to wiggle my hand free but he didn't let go.

"Can you let go of my hand, please?" I asked out of frustration

"Am I hurting you?" he asked

"No, not really", I replied, "It's a bit uncomfortable"

"I see, I'm sorry", he let go of my hand, I thanked him, I wanted to ask him why but the band started to play and the wedding began.