Chapter 45 - Delusive words

Lily fled to her rest room. She sat down on a leather chaise longue and let her feet dangle out of exhaustment.

"Bring me a glass of water, please." She asked one of the maids and took a moment to catch her breath. Then she looked at the clock and decided that nobody would miss her for the next twenty minutes. She wanted to relax just for some minutes. She felt so exhausted. She didn't know why. But fatigue kept her down.

Lily drank the glass of water that the maid had brought to her, before turning to the small buffet especially prepared for the family members of de Valois. She happily tried some appetizers and enjoyed the exclusive desserts. She put her hand on her cheek and hummed a soft tune as the taste of the fine tarts melted on her tongue. Her cheeks turned red with delight. She was so happy about the little desserts that she almost forgot the ticking clock.

Reluctantly, she went back to the ballroom. Four young debutantes ran giggling past her, but there were hardly any people in the corridors.

Lily hurried to get back into the ballroom, but was suddenly torn back. She gasped loudly as she bumped her head into something hard. Out of reflex, she laid her hand on her head.

Her other hand was held as if a vice would clamp it. When she raised her head, she thought she was facing Alexandre's gaze. She thought Alexandre was looking for her. Since she had been lingering too long in the rest room.

But her eyes met a pair of ocher eyes.

"Pascal!" She startled.

It was Pascal!

Lily bit her lip. A warning tingling irritated her skin. Heaven, she was such an idiot. Nelli had warned her and she walked around so indifferently.

"Hello Lillien." The girl did not know what happened to her, she could not decipher the look on his face. He had not changed in the two years since she last saw him. He still looked like a handsome young man. The hazel hair was combed back slightly. His facial features have always had something daring. But now a new component was added. He suddenly seemed so threatening and intimidating. The blood pounded in her head.

"It's been a long time, Lily." He emphasized her names, in that familiar way. But Lily wanted nothing more than to run away. "Didn't you miss me?" He asked with false care.

"No!" She defiantly raised her chin. She saw a flash of something in his eyes for a fraction of a second. Anger?

"Let me go, Pascal!" She grinned and bear it. "I'll be expected."

"You won't!" He interrupted her brusquely. "Only I expected you." Suddenly his voice sounded so gentle. But Lily admonished herself not to believe him. He was a talented actor who knew how to manipulate her.

Lily pulled at her hand. But his grip only got tighter. So firm that it hurt. She squinted. Then he pulled her into a side corridor. Lily braced herself against him, tried to free herself. But his grip became more dominant. Without mercy, he dragged her after him before he stopped. Pascal smiled, revealing his brilliant white teeth. He looks like a bloodthirsty vampire. She stared at him. Powerlessness.

"You had hurt me, Lily. Why would you marry him?" He asked with deceptive gentleness. "I loved you. I still love you." He said. The hall was only sparsely lit. If the previous passage was empty, then in this one was a ghostly void. It was so quiet.

"Let me go!" She caught herself again.

"But he does not love you! I watched you. Lily, he does not love you! He put you on display!" She felt a sting in her heart, because in his lies the truth was intertwined. "You hate being presented. You've always hated that!" It hurt all the more since he knew all her pains. Her wishes and fears. He knew them all and played them off against her. He aroused feelings in her that she thought she had stored in boxes long ago.

"Pascal, you hurt me!" She did not know what hurt more. The wrist he threatened to crush. Or the words that hit her heart like arrows.

"Lily, I want you back and I don't care that you were married to him." His voice sounded so lost and hopeful at the same time. He took a step toward her. She wanted to back away, felt his hand on her back. A cold shower exploded from where his hand touched her back. She felt strange, coarse and uncomfortable, almost disgusting. When he touched her so intimately. She wanted him to let her go. On the spot!

She tried to turn out of his grip.

It was strange that the passage was so empty. Why did not anyone come? How she wished somebody would come.

"I'm married!" She tried to appeal to his reason. Maybe she could convince him to let her go.

Abruptly, he pushed her against the wall. Lily gasped sharply as all the air was squeezed out of her lungs. Her back ached from the hard impact. His face was right in front of hers. He leaned over her threateningly, ignoring her renewed attempts to escape. Her pulse quickened, raced in panic.

"It doesn't bother me that you are married. That can still be changed." He growled, holding her hands over her head as his body nailed her to the cold wall. Something pressed pointedly into her back. "You don't have to be scared. You could enjoy it, if you want."

Lily shook her head, pressing herself against the wall, groaning helplessly. Her moaning became a whimper as his lips brushed her neck.

"Let me go!" She hissed. With his free hand, he grabbed her hair and pulled her head up. Each touch was painful. "You are so pretty. More beautiful than ever." With his knuckles he stroked her cheeks. Everything in her cramped.

"Are you crazy?" She screamed, trying to kick him. But the countless layers of fabric allowed no jerky movements. She was trapped in her own dress. Her breathing became a desperate whistle.

"Insane after you." He whispered. Suddenly his voice became a hot whisper. But Lily did not believe him. He was crazy about her fortune! He looked cool and calm as his face came closer and closer. Fear gripped Lily's heart like a cold grip. The first tears shimmered on her face. When she became aware of the hopelessness of her situation.

The girl tried desperately to free herself from his grip while she sobbed loudly. "Let me go!" But he held her so tight that every movement hurt.

"Don't fight me." He gently stroked her cheek, blurring her tears. Her lungs tightened. She felt disgust. His touch paused. Something shimmered in his eyes. Greed. Before he squeezed her cheeks hard. Pain. Lily's eyes widened in pain. "Let me go!" Trembling, she gasped. She braced herself against the cold wall with all her strength. In Hope to gain some distance.

Tears burned in the corner of her eye as she realized what he was up to. "Please!" She pleaded. "Let me go. I'll do anything you want." Hysterically, she prayed. Please! No, no, no. Please!

She twisted herself, howled and pleaded.