Dead Apple

Elizabeth Rudnick

◾◾?◾◾

CHAPTER 11

TALE AS OLD AS TIME

Both stared at each other for a long time. Alice stared at his shadowed face, creating a dangerous handsome lines, and from the lights coming from inside she can imagine his uncombed hair in a princely manner. Eros is wearing a three piece white suit that accentuates his dark cold eyes, like an avenging angel. They even unexpectedly match each others clothing.

She cleared her throat, remembering where they are. She has not talked to him for a week and they have been avoiding each other like a plague over a simple trivial reason, now, she felt like disappearing from where she stood.

"What are you doing here?" He asked, taking both of her white dress and beautiful face.

"I am with my grandmother." She answered,  lowering her gaze. "How about you?"

He c.o.c.ked his head then replied. "I am with my family. You should come inside, the party has started."

"Uh, I... I was supposed to run away." Alice fidgeted in her position.

"What a coincidence. I was supposed to ditch the party too. What is the reason you want to runaway at such an extravagant birthday party? "

She lifted her gaze and met his pair of dark orbs-- hypnotizing her. His eyes are like an ocean at night, dark cold and dangerous, and she felt like drowning in it. It is a darkness she will never be afraid of.

"Grandmama said that my engagement will be announced at the party. How about you?"

He paused for a moment. His stares not leaving her, then a small smile hinted on his tight lips, momentarily dazing her. Her breath hitched as an initial reaction, this is the first time she felt b.u.t.terflies growing in her stomach.

Maybe because I haven"t seen him for a week. She thought.

"I remember my father telling me the same thing." Eros chuckled, gently grabbing her at the arm. Pulling her towards the brightly lit hall, where his family are looking for him, he led them close at the center.

"Wait!" She digs her heels on the ground, but Eros is much stronger. "Where are you taking me?"

"At the party, of course." He chuckled again. "My party."

His party. Alice deadpanned, her gaze darting towards his face. "You were supposed to run away too." She mumbled.

"I changed my mind."

Attentions were diverted at their direction the moment they entered the hall. Gazes fell over their white matching costumes then on their too perfect faces. A prince and a princess. Everyone thought. Then whispers filled the whole room.

"Is that the third son of the Zieglers? He is more handsome in person."

"I"ve never seen the girl beside him. Is she his girlfriend?"

"I want my daughter to marry to that powerful family."

"I heard she is Cecilia"s granddaughter. The Ludenburgs" are hiding a real beauty, I should introduce my son to her."

Alice roamed her eyes only to meet her grandmama"s face with a satisfied smile on it. Never underestimate the cunning power of grandmothers. She frowned at her, then the old woman motioned her to smile, her frown became a scowl. Eros pulled her again towards her grandmother, who is standing beside the two persons-- the one who descended the stairs with their two sons, the head and the loving wife of the Ziegler family.

Mrs. Ziegler smiled at them, her eyes brightening at the sight while her husband managed to make a small on his stone cold face. The three met them both halfway.

"So you already meet my granddaughter." Cecilia grinned, kissing the celebrant"s cheek.

"Eros, this is Cecilia Ludenburg." Mrs Ziegler interfered. "And I a.s.sume you already know her granddaughter"s name?"

He nodded at her. "We are studying at the same academy, mom. We are no stranger"s to each other."

"That"s great." Mr Ziegler commented, "Then we can announce the engagement now."

The promised union was made three years ago before Lillian Ludenburg died of car accident. Her family is a long time friend and business partner of the Zieglers. They trusted each others more than anyone.

Alice remained quiet, the knowledge of Eros as her fiancé is being rejected by her brain. She did not even heard the announcement and the congratulatory praises, nor the birthday song being sang by the guest. Alice was only broken by her own spell when someone tugged at her arm.

"What?" She asked.

"I said will you be my first and last dance?"

"Huh?"

Eros regarded her with a look. "I didn"t know engagement"s can make someone retarted." He grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the s.p.a.cious center.

"I am not retarted." She hissed.

"Let"s dance." His arm slid at the back of her waist, pulling her closer, then his other hand held her hand.

Alice rested her free hand at his shoulder out of reflexes, her heart beating rapidly, then the soft magical music started playing. They spun around the brightly lit stage, a golden sheen befell the hall from the sparkling chandeliers of gold and silver, her gown glitters as the splinters of light caught the diamonds on her waist. They swayed at the fairytale like tune, gazes only focused on each other-- forgetting the people around them. The two dances in a disturbingly graceful movement, swift and collected, both are surprising each others on their own movement. Alice is drowning on the intensity of his dark eyes, her knees feeling weak as the handsome guy stared back at her. She never felt that way before when they met, and now, she feels like a drunken person in his arms.

They spin for the last time, faces only inches away from each other. The music came to a stop but no one made a move to distance theirselves. They stared, and stared, and stared until the clapping of guests made them remember how to move. Alice stepped back, but Eros" arm remained at her back pulling her closer to him.

"Stay close." He whispered, his dark velvet voice ringing in her ears in a melodious tune.

When the party ended by midnight the guests started leaving the venue. Alice sat at the bench outside the mansion, waiting for her grandmother who is still talking at the Zieglers. The moonless night has few stars above her, looking at it she started connecting each stars to form a small dipper.

Footsteps came from beside her. "What are you doing?" Asked Eros, he sat at the cool bench.

"Nothing. Is grandmama still there?"

"Yes. They are talking privately at father"s office."

She nodded at him when she remembered something. "Eros, I heard your family is involve in mafia."

He regarded her with a cold look. "We are not involve in mafia, we are the mafia."

"Oh." Was the only word that came from her mouth.

"Are you afraid of us?"

"No." Alice lowered her head. "We all have a dark background to start with."

"And what is yours?" Eros asked, his tone taunting.

"What are you talking about?"

"I know a few of your secrets, Alicaena." He whispered, while the girl in front of her shifted in her position. "Should I tell it?"

"I don"t know what you"re talking about." She was preparing to stand when Eros talked again.

"Aria Ludenburg is not your sister and Gregory Ludenburg is not your father too. The former is a cousin and the latter is your uncle." He stated. "Tell me, why are you hiding your ident.i.ty by faking your real family background?"

Alice stared at him, her lips pursed as she thinks how the guy named Eros Ziegler had known about it. Well, everyone will be able to realize it if they are closely acquainted with Cecilia and Lilian Ludenburg, and the Zieglers are a close friend, so there is no denying it.

"Gregory is mom"s brother." She explained. "And yes, Aria is my cousin."

She hid herself by posing as their another daughter when her parents died.

"Why?"

"I am a hiding because I am a coward." She smiled bitterly at him.

"No." Eros disagreed, shaking his head. "You are no coward, Alice, you"re just mad."

"I am?"

"You love playing along with someone"s game." He stated. "The reason you came at Ravenlan academy is because of that. Am I right?"

She stared at him, disbelief evident on her face. Alice cannot imagine how the guy in front of her knew about that, it was her secret, and he just revealed it to her like it was just a normal talk.

Before she transferred schools, she received a letter from Aria"s killer. A game, that was what"s written in it, to know the ident.i.ty of the killer and to let her curiousity drive her insane. She wanted to know the reason why Aria was killed, to free herself from self-blame, and to free his uncle from guilt.

Alice is mad for following the rabbit at Ravenlan Academy.

She sighed. "I just want to know everything."

"Then why hide your real background?"

"It"s complicated."

Eros stands up beside her. "I will listen, no matter how long the story I will listen." He said.

Her heart fluttered but before she can reply back grandmama emerged at the door, waving back at the Ziegler couple.

"Maybe next time." Alice whispered. "Happy birthday, Eros."

◾◾?◾◾