Crimson Angel

by Yume

  Sixteenth warrior

  The Intimidation

  Len did not consent to let me join the talk. He said I was too worn out. I played a bit tantrum saying I should be given right to do whatever I wanted. Right then, I was not in the mood to rest so I should not be going to bed. Still, nobody would agree to hang around with me because Uncle Adam had given orders that I should be asleep. I managed to win an argument though and that was about me leaving that tiny little hut.

  “There are plenty of rooms here.” Uncle Adam said. “I don’t know you hate that hut. I thought it was perfect for a patient.”

  Len knew what was on my mind.

  “Alice is planning to wander around when we are not looking.” He said and I stepped on him.

  “You really understand her so well, Lucard.” Uncale Adam laughed. “Don’t you worry. Oma will watch over her.”

  “I don’t want Oma to watch me to sleep.” I argued.

  “Then, I will watch you to sleep.” Len said.

  I knew it was a mistake to make the unbreakable oath so soon because ever since that oath, Len seemed to understand me even more than before. He could almost read all my thoughts, especially those about messing around and exploring in the house secretly.

  “No, Alice, you can’t regret it now.” Len smiled.

  I totally lost it.

  Without any more fights, I obeyed everything like a sheep. I got into bed. Len stayed with me a while longer after I took my medicine but I was still too angry to speak to him.

  “Alice, do you want a song?” Len asked, completely ignoring my anger. “No?”

  I did not answer.

  “Still, I will sing you one.”

  Len sang me a song which wasn’t supposed to be one. It was terrible. He was doing this intentionally.

  I put my hands over my ears and hid under the duvet.

  “You don’t like it, do you?” Len sounded saddened. “Well, perhaps a bedtime story?”

  I remained motionless.

  Soon, Len began to tell a story which wasn’t supposed to be one.

  I could not stand it any longer. Finally, I sat up and shouted. “Stop it, Len!”

  “So, you are speaking to me, Alice.” Len smiled.

  I wanted so much to hit him but his face was too adorable for me to leave a mark on it. I cried with rage.

  “Alice, I just want you to rest.” Len confessed. “I did it for your own good.”

  “I know.” I muttered.

  “Then, why do you like to go against me so much?”

  “Because…”

  I knew why but I did not want to say it. My rebellion just proved I wanted more attention from Len. The more I argued with him, the more he cared for me. I liked it when he desperately wanted the best for me. Whenever I started a quarrel, he would stay beside me for a longer time. He was not the only one selfish. I was selfish too. That was why I made the command of the unbreakable oath. That was also why I used arguments to make him stay with me on purpose. We were too much alike. Both of us loved to use our selfishness to keep the other one close to ourselves.

  “I guess you are right.” Len sighed. “We are pretty much alike.”

  “You can go now.” I said and lied down. “I can go to sleep if you want.”

  “Our meeting starts at ten.” Len said. “It’s still only a quarter to ten.”

  “So?”

  “So I will stay here until then.”

  “Do as you want.”

  “Alice, you are angry at me.”

  “I am.”

  “Do you want me to sing you a song?”

  “Oh come on, Len!” I turned to face him. “I am not angry at you now.”

  “That’s good.” Len smiled.

  “You are so bad.” I shook my head. “Now, not only my life is under your control, my thoughts and my emotions as well!”

  “My selfishness is to punish you for your selfishness.” Len said.

  “Then, I shall punish you for your selfishness in the same way.”

  “Exactly!” Len clapped his hands. “That is how it goes between us. You know what they say about keeping a relationship? There has got to be one thing between two lovers that keep them loving each other. For some people, it is the hatred towards one another that keep both to love each other. For some, it is the expectation that each holds for one another that keeps the love going on.”

  “And I believe ours is selfishness?”

  “I believe so.” Len said.

  “You can’t just punish me like that!” I said. “You ought to be punished as well.”

  “Alright.” Len sat back on the chair. “If you insist.”

  “I cannot decide it right now.” I said. “Perhaps later.”

  Len smiled.

  “Don’t you think you can get away so easily!” I warned, trying not to smile. “I won’t forget that.”

  “You are beginning to know what my mind says.” Len said.

  “I have always known what your mind says.” I said. “It never stops talking about silly things.”

  “Oh? Is that so? And should I say it is even sillier for you to think over the same thing every night?”

  Right away, I blushed. He had read my thoughts every night I went to sleep. That was intolerable!

  “You can’t spy on me like that!” I said angrily and threw a pillow at him. “I hate you!”

  It was the most embarrassing thing ever. How was I to face him after he knew this? I would not think it was an appropriate thing that Len had done. He should not have read my mind all the time, especially when I went to bed. Most of the times, I was thinking about him, thinking about us and…

  “Do you really want to go to the amusement park with me so badly?” Len asked, leaning forwards to me. I still refused to look at him.

  “Yes! Now what?” I said.

  “I did not mean to spy on you. As a matter of fact, I did not spy on you. I just read your mind.” Len said. “I can’t help it. I just want to know if you still think of me even when you are about to sleep. When I first knew you do, I was so happy.”

  “How long have you been doing this?” I asked.

  “Quite a while.” Len said. “Usually you don’t know my presence because I appear when you are about to lose all consciousness. I love doing this as I get to know what you are thinking the moment you are totally relaxed. People say it is also the moment when one’s thoughts show what they really want the most. Unable to withstand the temptation, I read your mind. I see you think of the same thing every night- going to the amusement park with me.”

  “That is because there is this stall in the amusement park where they take beautiful pictures of the couples.” I said. “Many of our classmates have been there. I just want to take one to prove how lucky I am to have you. I want to show it to Victoria and Edmond and other girls who have teased me.”

  Still, that was not the only thing that I thought of. There was something else.

  “It’s not the only thing though.” I said. “I know you have read my other thought.”

  Len’s face turned red as well.

  “Well,” He tried to look at the pictures on the wall. “I don’t want to embarrass you.”

  “You have embarrassed me enough already.” I reminded him.

  “I have to go now.” Len stood up. “It’s ten already.”

  I nodded.

  I watched as he walked to the door but then, suddenly, he turned back and kissed me.

  It happened fast. A second later, he vanished.

  “Good night, babe.” I heard his soft voice.

  I was still caught by much surprise. Other than the thought of going to the park with Len, another thing I wished every night was that Len could give me a good-night kiss and say “Good night, babe.”

  He had granted my wish again.