Hidden

Disclaimer: Don't own my friends.

AN: …uhh…I forgot…

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Setting: Some time after Love is So Cruel

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Bella pressed her hand on the glass of the window that overlooked the lake below the twin moons.

Glass.

Fragile and so beautiful, yet no one sees yet.

They see through it.

But strong and could kill.

She could almost taste the blood.

A shuffle in the hallway and slight cursing caught her attention. Getting up from the window, Bellance walked towards the door. Opening it slightly, she peered out.

"Come on Dan, tell me what you got her," drifted Kevin's voice down the empty hallway.

"Uhh…no. It's private."

"Nothing bad is it?" Kevin wiggled his eyebrows.

"Pervert. I swear, nothing bad."

"Okay, that's good since I always though you were the most sane one out of all of us."

Bella shut the door, not exactly wanting to hear the rest of it. The fire guardian went back to her window seat. She knew who they were talking about.

Amphrite.

She tried not to show her pain to everyone when she saw Dan and Amphrite together. She tried not to let the tears slip. She tried to control herself.

Maybe Tracy felt it with her empathy. But she didn't say anything.

Then again, why would Tracy care? She had Tobias. And Tobias would give anything to see her happy, visa versa.

Dan.

The name spoke daggers through her heart.

He was so close, but so goddamned far. Dan knew very well of her interest in him, but never, NEVER, had he responded in the way she would have liked.

Rejection.

Sure, he was always gentle about it. Or at least, tried to be.

Rejection was never gentle.

She heard the voices stop and footsteps depart. Slowly, she rose and opened the curtains to her balcony.

Looking up, she saw that the twin moons were almost full, their twilight dancing among the leaves and flowers of the garden. A light, sweet frangance drifted through the air.

A perfect romantic night.

Only thing was, Bella had no one to share it with.

Looking down, she saw Amphrite.

The nymph was sitting on a rock, her legs dangling in the water. Ice blue hair was swept up in black, silk ribbons and she wore her usual outfit, a simple white dress. The moonlight made her illuminated her, making her seem like a lost ghost who was seeking for a lover.

And so the love came.

Footsteps were heard and the fire guardian saw Dan run up to her, a small box held in his right hand.

Bella wanted to look away but she couldn't.

Damn curiousity.

Dan approached Amphrite who saw him coming. The nymph smiled at him and said something that the fire guardian couldn't hear.

Dan said something back and held out the box.

Amphrite blinked in surprise and took the box and opened it. Laughing out in amazement, the nymph held up a diamond necklace.

Bella could see Dan smiling in the moonlight as the diamond reflected the silverish glow. He reached out and put the necklace around Amphrite's neck.

Bella couldn't take it anymore. She jerked her head away and forcused on her hands. They were clutching the metal rails so hard, the knuckles were like fresh snow in the winter. She felt water on her flesh.

What?

Droplets of tears.

Tears she had held back for so long.

Tears she had refused to show to anyone but herself.

The mirror never lies.

"Look at them," a voice spoke up softly beside her.

Blinking in surprise, she glanced up and saw Tobias there, standing next to her. His golden eyes were fixed on Dan and Amphrite, who were laughing about something.

"Look at them," he repeated, to no one really.

Bella wiped her tears away in anger. "What the hell do you mean: look them," she hissed. "Haven't I suffered enough? Do I really deserve this?"

Tobias didn't answer for a while. Then, the prince turned to her, his golden eyes expressionless.

Bella blinked. She had never seen Tobias like this before. He was usually so…happy…

"That's an example of how unforgiving love is, Bellanca Scourge. Yes, you have suffered. But so have I. Do you think I was born this way? To laugh my days away? Maybe Tracy is the only one that knows and understands who I really am. But I feel so guilty. I think of those times when I was under Amphrite's enchantment and I ask myself ‘Why couldn't I have been stronger?'. I could have avoided Tracy so much pain."

The fire guaridan blinked. "What are you trying to say?"

"That love is cruel. It will lash out at you at the most unexpected times. It's lashing out at you right now. But the question is, are you strong enough to face it?"

The prince gave her one last look before returning inside.

Bella stared out at the lake.

Kissing, that's what they were doing.

What would Tobias know? At least he had Tracy back now.

What would he know?

Breaking down, she buried her face in her hands.

"No Tobias, I'm afraid I'm not strong enough. Will I ever be?"

~Owari~