Chapter 66

London, UK present day

A handsome young man sat alone in his hotel room, staring morosely at the fire in the grate. His surroundings were opulent, this being one of the most exclusive hotels in the world but none of this seemed to matter. As usual, he felt a large gaping hole in his chest, as if he was missing half of his soul. This serious, introspective quality to him was what made him such a successful actor. He acted tragic scenes as if he actually lived through them. What he never admitted to anyone, even his family, was that he had truly lived through such heartbreak. He could not remember the details but he knows he lost someone precious to him, perhaps in a previous life. Disjointed dreams and a pair of vivid blue eyes swimming in tears are his only clue. With not much to go on, he could not search for the owner of those eyes. But he feels as if everyday, he was drowning in sorrow and he doesn't know how much longer he could pretend.

A knock at the door interrupted his brooding. Although annoyed at the intrusion, this was not enough to make him get off his seat. Finally the visitor came in and turned on the light.

"Sev" the newcomer sighed "why are you sitting alone in the dark again?" Sev did not even bother to turn around. Mr. Lau, his manager, reigned in his frustration, knowing this would not get him far with the stubborn young man. "Really what am I gonna do with you? Most people could only dream of this life - handsome, rich, famous and successful. Anybody else would be living it up but not you! You prefer to sit in the dark like a senile old man." When this failed to get a rise out of the young man, he tried another tact. "Ok that's it! I'm ordering you to get out this room!"

"Where would I go?" was the disinterested reply.

When they first met, Lau immediately noticed a sad, haunting quality to the young man. Coupled with his good looks and excellent manners, he knew this would make him an instant hit in the entertainment business. And he was soon proven right. But no matter how much everyone fawned over him, Sev remained the same. Lau learned to care for the boy but Sev refused to open up and he was getting worried.

"I don't care! Anything's got to be better than this!" he said frustratedly. When Sev made no move to comply, he threatened "Finny and Bardroy are having a hard time handling your fans downstairs. If you don't go out of this room, I'll tell them all that you're up here!"

That last part was just a feint but it did the trick. With a long suffering sigh, Sev left the room silently.

Just outside the hotel, two young ladies were almost running along the sidewalk.

"Lizzy...slow down" the dark haired one panted.

"Cielle I don't know how you can be so chill about this! I mean it's Sev Michaels we're talking about here! I can't believe he's actually here!" her bubbly blonde cousin Lizzy all but screamed.

As Cielle raced to keep up, she once again asked herself what she was doing here. A shy bookworm, Cielle much preferred reading in a quiet corner than going to a ritzy night club. Her cousin meant well, just wanting Cielle to have some fun but strange as it may seem to most people, this isn't Cielle's idea of a good time. Sure the shimmering knee-length cocktail dress she was wearing was cute but the heels were killing her. And screaming over a famous actor? No matter how good-looking or talented he may be, that would just be beyond Cielle's repertoire. Soon they were at the door of the Phantomhive Hotel where they were crushed like sardines in a can by all the other adoring fans. In the melee, the cousins got separated. Rather than go to the club as planned, Cielle decided to go home instead but there was still a large crush of people at the door.

I guess I can go find a quiet corner somewhere until the crowd thins out, she mused. As she wandered along, a hotel maid came careening out of the corner and almost barrelled into her.

"Oh my god! I'm so sorry miss! Did I hurt you?" she asked non-stop.

"I'm fine really" Cielle hastened to reassure her.

"Please don't report me! I'm new at this job" she begged piteously.

Cielle peered at her name tag and said "It's ok Mey-rin. Actually I'm also at fault. I may have wandered where I'm not supposed to be."

"Yeah you're right!" she said in surprise. "So what were you doing here?" she asked suspiciously.

"I think I have a migraine coming on" she fibbed. "I just need a quiet place to sit for a bit."

"Oh well then why don't you go into the garden? It's just past that door" Mey-rin said.

"I will thanks!" And with that, she left all the commotion behind.

Once outside, Cielle felt as if she was in another world. Quiet at this time of the night, the flowers gleamed beautifully in the moonlight. Their fragrance perfumed the gentle breeze and the only sound that could be heard were those of crickets. Cielle took off her shoes and sank to the grass with a relieved sigh.

"Rough night?" a voice asked from the other side of the hedge.

Although taken aback for she believed she was alone, Cielle sensed no threat from the stranger so she answered "You could say that."

For awhile the two sat in companionable silence, each savoring the stillness of the night. Cielle's curiosity was piqued by the stranger so she racked her brains on how to start a conversation but he beat her to it.

"For some reason this place seems so familiar" he said softly.

Looking around, Cielle sensed the same thing. In a hushed voice, she said "It seems that way to me too. But I know I've never been here."

"Have you ever felt like this before?" he asked.

Normally, Cielle wouldn't admit such an intimate thing to a stranger. But this was a strange night and he didn't know her so what could be the harm? "Actually yes" she said hesitantly. "There are times when I feel as if the same thing has happened to me before." Then fearing that she sounded weird, she added "But maybe it's just my imagination."

Perhaps encouraged by her honesty, the stranger admitted as well "Actually I get these feelings often. Not all the time. But often enough to make me think that they're not just my imagination."

When Cielle was younger, she had the strangest dreams. And when she told others about it, she was teased mercilessly. Hence, she withdrew unto herself and hid away in her books. Now for the first time, she met someone who did not mock her and actually seemed to share her thoughts. Curious more than ever about the stranger, she stood up and looked over the hedge at the same time that he did.

The handsome actor everyone was talking about was on the other side. But this is not what rendered Cielle momentarily speechless. His face was so familiar.

As Sebastian stared at the girl, the clouds parted, revealing the moon. With the moonlight shining on her face, it looked as if her blue eyes were awash in tears and it all clicked into place.

"Cielle?" he asked shakily.

Hearing her name upon his lips, all her memories came crashing back. "Sebastian!"

For a moment, they just stood there staring at one another, unable to believe their eyes. Then with a cry, they hugged and kissed and laughed and cried. Still holding each other, they fell to their knees.

"Cielle! Cielle! Cielle!" Sebastian kept repeating as if that was all he was capable of comprehending at the moment.

"Sebastian I can't believe you're here!" Cielle said tearfully.

Finally, Sebastian held her beloved face between his hands. At the place where it all began, he said "Welcome home my heart!"

The End

Author's Note: Thank you everyone for sticking with this story until the end.