Caerwyn sighed and stood slowly, grabbing the end of his cloak in order to scrub the water and blood from his face. He took a step away from Gwen's body, his entire countenance downcast. He glanced sidelong at Curse and then away, through the open window at the rain, which was falling softer and softer until it ceased all together. The sky remained overcast however, casting shadows across the room.
She saw the time I knew your mother. He spoke only to Curse, forgetting about Emmaline for the moment. She was searching my memories to find out what she could use against me. She found what she wanted and then some. She found the death of your mother. Which I couldn't save her from.
He passed a shaking hand over his face, a soft sob escaping his aching chest before he calmed down again. It was all my fault . . .
Knowing she would not be able to understand unless she saw for herself, Caerwyn moved over to where Curse stood, grasping her hand and tugging her down so that they were eye-level. He brushed back her hair tenderly before pressing his fingers lightly against her temple, concentrating on her misty eye and imagining his mind as a mirror. It took a moment, and drained every bit of strength left in him to show Curse the memory.
It seemed to last only a second and then Caerwyn collapsed to the ground, shaking his head back and forth weakly. He closed his eyes against the pain, but the scene played out again in his mind, just as he had shown Curse.
The boy sat at the kitchen table, kicking his legs back and forth absently as he fed the baby on his lap from a warm bottle. The mother stood at the other end of the table, chopping vegetables for the evening meal. Both of them were quiet, having no need to speak out loud to each other. The boy raised startling blue eyes to the mother and grinned slightly.
She’s quite hungry, he observed of the baby. I wouldn’t be surprised if she went through another bottle before the end of the day.
The mother looked up with a fond smile of her own. She likes it when you feed her, Caerwyn.
Caerwyn smiled down at the baby and stroked the soft forehead, tracing the scar there tenderly. I like taking care of her. It’s been a long time since . . . He did not finish, instead focusing on wiping the milk from the baby’s chin. The baby kicked and gurgled softly, opening her eyes briefly. Caerwyn adverted his gaze and checked the amount of milk still left in the bottle. The mother did not push him. She knew he would tell her his story when he was ready, and she was not going to pry into his obviously painful past.
Just wait until she’s your age. She kept her eyes on the food in front of her, cutting carefully. She might not seem so sweet then. She looked up briefly to wink at the boy.
He grinned. No. She’ll always be sweet. I can tell. He ran his hand over the fine hair of the baby’s head, placing the bottle back to her lips and holding it still while she sucked out the last of the creamy liquid. As he fed her, Caerwyn stroked her smooth round cheek, murmuring soft noises affectionately.
After watching the two for a moment, the mother turned back to her meal.
Three years passed. The baby, Verity, grew into a sweet and gentle toddler, just as Caerwyn had predicted and caused little trouble. She had an innocence about her that kept Caerwyn wary however. He was afraid she would not realize dangerous situations. Things were already tense in the village. It was a well known rumor that Constance was a witch who had enchanted Verity’s father to fall in love with her just so she could have a child for an apprentice. No one had come to the house to visit since the child was born. Caerwyn usually insisted on running the errands, for he hated the looks Constance received whenever she went out.
However Verity could not stay cooped up in the house forever. Reluctantly Caerwyn took the toddler outside for a walk around the house every day while Constance worked on dinner. The days were not pleasant. It was hot and dry most of the time, seeing as there was talk of a drought in the area. Still, Constance insisted on her daughter getting fresh air.
It was on such a day when Caerwyn released Verity’s hand briefly to pump some water for them. The day seemed hotter than the rest and it took only two trips around the house for Caerwyn to grow thirsty.
Stay right here, he instructed Verity as firmly as he could. She nodded solemnly and stayed close to his side as he pulled and pushed the pump handle. He did not see the woman approaching until it was too late.
“Is this the witch’s daughter then?” the old crone croaked, poking Verity’s leg with her walking stick. Verity stared at the woman’s feet, fascinated by the knobby knuckles. Caerwyn gritted his teeth at the stick but otherwise did not acknowledge the woman’s presence.
“Look at me child,” the old woman demanded. “It’s rude to stare at people’s feet.”
Caerwyn turned suddenly then, his mouth open in a silent cry. No! his mind yelped as Verity lifted her head and looked into the old woman’s eyes. The woman’s eyes grew wide and then wider still. Abruptly she screamed and threw her hands up into the air, her walking stick jerking around above her head.
“A curse! It’s a curse!” she cried and ran off into the village, much faster than she appeared she could.
Caerwyn snatched up the perplexed toddler’s hand and ran into the house, barring the door behind him.
“Caerwyn?” Constance said curiously, coming out from the bedroom. She picked Verity up and looked down at the boy in concern. “What’s wrong?”
We have to leave! Pack only what we can carry. We need to get out of here! He ran over to the coat rack and pulled down his blue cape, swinging it around his shoulders and tying it into place.
Caerwyn. Constance walked over and placed her hand on his shoulder, feeling the tenseness in him keenly. Tell me what happened.
A woman from the village. She saw Verity’s eye. She thinks she put some sort of curse on her! They’ll be here to destroy you and her, I can feel it. He raced over to the kitchen and began gathering as much food together as he could.
Suddenly there was a pounding on the door. Food tumbled to the ground as Caerwyn jumped. Surprisingly, Constance did not appear upset or panicked. Walking over to the boy, she placed the quiet toddler into his arms.
“Go out the back door,” she told him softly. “I’ll hold them off.”
But—
“I’ll meet up with you in the forest. It will be okay.”
Even as she spoke those words however, Caerwyn had a sinking feeling in his stomach and somehow he knew she was lying. They both knew she was not going to get out of this one alive. Tears gathered in his eyes. Cupping his cheek in her hand, Constance bent forward and kissed him gently on the forehead. Then she turned to her daughter and pressed her forehead against the little girl’s. She closed her eyes briefly and sighed.
“I love you.” Both of you.
She pulled away and swiped at her eyes as the pounding on the door grew louder. Shouts could now be heard as the angry mob gathered outside.
Go! NOW!
Caerwyn whirled away before he could hesitate. He had to get Verity away. He had to keep her safe for her mother. Running to the door, he did not stop to open it. It flew open of its own accord and slammed shut behind him as he passed through. Supporting the girl in his arms with a firm hand on her back, he took off into the forest, hearing the sound of breaking glass and the smell of burning wood.
Pausing on the edge of the trees, he turned back, staring at the fire that engulfed his home of three years. He could feel Constance’s distress as clearly as if it were his own. Tears ran unchecked down his pale face. Verity buried her face in his neck. Thunder rumbled overhead and lighting cracked across the sky. The loud clap jerked him out of his daze, and he took off into the forest, Verity clinging to him tightly. He could not hear anyone pursuing them, but he did not slow until they were deep within the forest.
By that time rain was falling down in sheets. Finding a hollow log, he crawled inside with Verity, wrapping her in his cloak as best he could. Wiping at his face, he could not tell if the water was tears or rain. Somehow Verity had managed to fall asleep. Caerwyn watched her sadly. She would most likely remember nothing of this night when she was older. Curling up next to her, he placed his arm around her and pulled her close to his chest. Burying his face in her sweet-smelling hair, he took a deep shuddering breath and closed his eyes.
His mind filled with pictures of the burning house, Constance trapped inside. He jerked awake with another clap of thunder. Some time must have passed for the rain had moved on and the thunder was farther away. He sat up slowly and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He did not know how he could have slept, but apparently he had.
Then he noticed the absence of Verity. Panic filled him, and he scrambled out of the log. He could see a faint trail of where the little girl had wandered off, toward the village. Fear seized him, and he raced back down the way he had come the night before.
When he reached the village, he stopped short of the black, skeletal remains of the place he had grown to call home. He dropped to his knees beside the ashen scar. Closing his eyes, he reached out with his mind, tricking himself into thinking that there was a chance Constance was still alive. Nothing. Except . . . Verity was here. He could feel her. Standing quickly, he hurried toward the source.
He came to a house near the middle of the village. Most everyone was inside at this time of the morning, with the sun only just peeking over the horizon. Climbing up to the nearest window, Caerwyn looked inside the house. Verity lay asleep on a couch, a cloth covering her cursed eye. Anger burned in him at the sight of the cloth, triggering a painful memory. Digging his fingers into the window sill, he forced the pane upward, climbing up and into the house.
Tiptoeing over to the couch, he reached out to gather Verity up and make a run for it. Unfortunately that was when the owner of the house came home.
“YOU!” the old crone screeched. Caerwyn almost fell over in surprise when he saw the old woman from the pump. “Get away from that child! You’re just as bad as her mother! You’re probably a warlock and always have been! This child needs to grow up with good influences, after we fix that eye of hers, of course.”
You won’t touch her! Caerwyn shouted into the woman’s mind. She flinched and then glared angrily at him.
“Just as I suspected. A warlock. Burned at the stake you should be. That’s the sentence for witches and warlocks it is.” Again she moved surprisingly fast for a woman of her age. Grabbing his arm, she shoved him toward a small closet, locking him into it before he could react.
“I’ll just go get the mayor and we’ll put this nasty business behind us,” she said, sounding muffled from the other side of the door. Caerwyn pounded angrily on the door but it was solid and the lock was on the outside. He tried to concentrate on the lock to get it open, but with nothing to look at, it was difficult and made his head hurt. Finally he gave up and simply dropped to the ground, clutching his head in his hands and gripping his hair in despair.
The mayor, sheriff, and old woman came back sooner than he had expected. Several village men were with them, and they grabbed him roughly, dragging him out of the closet and out of the house. Verity was nowhere to be seen. A crowd joined the group as they marched up the street toward the courthouse where some men had already set up a stake and surrounded it with bushels of hay and as many dry sticks as they could find.
Caerwyn struggled as hard as he could as they dragged him to the stake, but the stressful night had taken its toll on him, and he was weak. He had survived many usually fatal things, but he had never been burned alive before. If they could get the fire hot enough quick enough, there was a good chance he would die. Knowing this was not the time to fall apart, he closed his eyes and stood straighter, reaching deep within himself for the strength he was going to need to get out of this.
His eyes shot open when he smelled the fire drawing near. Three men came at him with blazing torches. The crowd was watching seriously. A few bold ones threw out insults. Caerwyn ignored them, concentrating on the men carrying the torches. They came closer, and then even closer. Finally, just when they were about to set the bundles on fire, Caerwyn shut his eyes tightly and opened his mouth in a loud scream, pushing into the minds of the men as hard as he could.
There was a collective gasp from the crowd, then screams from several women. Caerwyn opened his eyes slowly, feeling slightly weak from the excess of power. His brain hurt and his head throbbed. He stared down at the men who were now lying motionless in front of the crowd, several feet away from the stake where they had flown as Caerwyn had screamed. The torches were dying as they lay on the damp ground.
Looking down, Caerwyn saw that the ropes holding him had fallen away. Moving forward tentatively, he climbed down the pile of hay bundles and stood in front of the crowd. They drew back, staring at him in horror and fear. A sick feeling rose in his stomach. Turning swiftly, he took off toward the edge of the village. His cloak billowed out behind him and the only sound in the whole village was the pitter-patter of his soft-shoed feet as they carried him out of the village and into the freedom of the vast woods.
And no one from that village ever saw the cursed boy again.
I couldn't save her. And I couldn't save you. And Gwendolyn . . . Caerwyn glanced over at Gwen. My Gwendolyn . . . I couldn't save her either.
----
Katie sighed and rolled her eyes, though that could not be seen from behind her sunglasses.
"A little teleportation never hurt anyone," she said. Reaching out, she grabbed the young royals' hands abruptly.
Thomas felt an unpleasant tugging in his stomach behind his navel. It felt as though his dinner was going to make a surprise appearance, but he was able to hold it down with difficulty. When he opened his eyes (which surprised him since he did not remember closing them), they were standing behind the hotel in a short alleyway.
"You're lucky I was in such a good mood," Katie said with another grin.
Thomas realized then what was so unsettling about it. Although the girl appeared to be around twelve or so, she still had baby teeth.
P.S."Brooklyn!"
Posted : October 26, 2009 8:08 am
Curse's expression was indiscernible as she sat down in a chair near the kitchen table and mulled over all that Caerwyn had related through his memories. Soon tears started flowing as she realized all Button had worked so hard to tell her about her mother was false...he'd just been insuring that she'd never try to escape.
"It's not your fault Caerwyn," she said out loud, looking over at the boy sadly. Curse looked over at Gwen's still body wondering if the woman had been right, she was just a curse after all. "Thank you for showing me," she offered quietly, I never knew my mother was so beautiful...or kind.
---
Elisabeth shook her head, trying to clear the lingering feeling that had appeared after they were transported to the hotel.
"Thank you," she offered to the girl a little begrudgingly. "Thomas- we should go now."
It's empty in the valley of your heart. The sun, it rises slowly as you walk. Away from all the fears. And all the faults you've left behind.
So long...for now.
Posted : October 26, 2009 8:20 am
Caerwyn watched Curse sadly, wondering if he had hurt her by sharing the memory. With effort, he crawled over to where she sat and rested his head in her lap, sighing slightly.
I wish you could have known her better. She was like a mother to me. The only person to show me kindness like that in hundreds of years. He lifted his head to look up at Curse. She loved you. Very much. And I know she would have been proud to see how you've grown into a beautiful and kind woman yourself. He smiled weakly.
----
Thomas shook himself out of his stupor and nodded to the girl. "Yeah, thanks," he said, backing up toward the door.
Katie reached out a finger and touched Thomas's cheek lightly. When he started and shied away, she grinned and began disappearing.
Thomas could not help but watch, fascinated in a horrified sort of way, as the girl disappeared before his eyes. Everything went except her grin, which remained hovering in mid-air for a moment before it was gone as well. A giggle sounded through the air and he felt something soft brush against his cheek and then it was gone and so was the girl.
He stared at the empty spot for a moment before rubbing his cheek and looking over at Elisabeth. "I think she just kissed me!" he exclaimed, at the same time both shocked and appalled. He was sure his face was bright red, since he could feel the heat in his cheeks rising to alarming levels.
P.S."Brooklyn!"
Posted : October 26, 2009 8:32 am
Curse nodded slightly, running a hand through Caerwyn's hair. "I wish I remembered more of her."
---
Elisabeth rolled her eyes at Thomas's reaction, though in all honesty she was a little jealous. For all her pride, the princess had yet to experience that particular first.
"Come on, we have to find mother."
It's empty in the valley of your heart. The sun, it rises slowly as you walk. Away from all the fears. And all the faults you've left behind.
So long...for now.
Posted : October 26, 2009 8:58 am
Limbs unfolded with twitching, unfamiliar movements; sinew stretched back where it belonged in reverse transformation. Sprawled on the ground, Kes dug her claws into the earth as two wings slowly folded back under her skin. Her clothes hung in tatters from Richard's bullets, shredded from the sudden appearance of wings, caked in both mud and blood.
A sudden noise caused her head to snap up, shining red eyes seeking out the source. Lurching forward, she found herself on her feet in a crouch. Everything was clear, unhindered by human weakness. Her head tilted to one side, listening. Someone was...
It was easy to sidle up behind the vampire guard; her heart no longer gave her away. "Wystan!" she snapped the name across his ear in a playful hiss, slipping her hands around his neck from behind.
===
Flinging the door open wider so that it slammed against the wall behind, Loren's glare dissolved into a dangerously passive expression. "Does she now?" he murmured, refusing to look behind him at Margaret. "Why, thank you, Tally," he offered, smiling down at Talullah. He tapped his finger against her nose before exiting the room, making his way down the hallway without a glance back at his wife.
Posted : October 26, 2009 9:02 am
It was then that Caerwyn remembered Emmaline. He sat up straighter and glanced over to where the woman was slumped against the floor. Normally he did not care much for the woman who kept Curse away from him at the camp, but he supposed her pain was his fault too. After all, Gwen had come after him here.
Standing shakily, he walked unsteadily toward Emma. Kneeling beside her, he reached out and touched her cheek lightly, moving his fingers down to her chin in order to raise her head. His eyes searched her face carefully.
Are you alright? He spoke to her mind gently, not wanting to hurt her anymore than he already had.
----
Thomas nodded quickly, glad Elisabeth had not taken the opportunity to mock him. Taking her hand, he led the way through the kitchen doors and out to the ballroom where few people were still milling around, most of them had gone outside to see the fire and then had gone home, worried about their stately mansions that might be in danger of becoming sources of terrorist attacks.
It was not difficult to find the Queen. She was surrounded by several security personnel, who were speaking hurriedly into their radios, most likely looking for the two young royals.
At the sight of Katherine, Thomas balked, pulling back on Elisabeth's hand as he stopped walking. This did not stop the men from noticing them and they all rushed over as one, calling into their radios that the children were back and safe.
Katherine gave a cry of relief and gathered Elisabeth and Thomas into a big hug. A couple reporters who had been ordered to stay on the royals dutifully snapped pictures of the reunion.
"Where were you?" Katherine scolded once she waved the reporters away. "I was worried sick! And Elisabeth! What happened to your dress? And Thomas your foil?"
Thomas was in no hurry to lay his head on the chopping block. Instead he glanced over at Elisabeth and wondered if she would tattle on him like she used to when they were kids.
P.S."Brooklyn!"
Posted : October 26, 2009 9:11 am
Raising her head slightly, Emmaline nodded. "I'll be fine," she replied hoarsely, gathering her emotions and putting them away for another time. Sitting up, she looked at the boy and at Curse. "You're both alright," she stated, relieved and then glanced at Gwen's still body.
"We should get her out of here."
Curse looked at Gwen, unsure of what to do with the body though the sight disturbed her.
---
"We're fine mother," Elisabeth said, grateful for the Queen's affection even if they were surrounded by the eager public, "Let's talk about it later...Thomas and I are exhausted," she offered, trying to signal to her mother that the reporters probably shouldn't get a story from all of this. "Can we go to our rooms?"
---
Wystan whirled around, ready to attack whoever had snuck up on him. He stopped suddenly, realizing his vulnerable position before recognizing the person standing there.
"Thought you left for good last time?" he said, eyes narrowing as he stared at her. Feeling a bit annoyed at her sudden appearance, the male vampire backed off a step, "Come to see Father?" he sent a message to Talullah mentally.
Talullah stood senseless for a moment, blinking until Wystan's message came suddenly into her mind. She answered him and then turned back to look at Mother.
"Did you really think she wouldn't stoop to using you little one?" Margaret asked, a gentle edge to her question. She watched the smaller vampire with a small smile. "Be more careful in who you trust...or at least in who you work with and don't let Father know you were plotting if Eleste doesn't."
Talullah could only nod, adequately chastised.
It's empty in the valley of your heart. The sun, it rises slowly as you walk. Away from all the fears. And all the faults you've left behind.
So long...for now.
Posted : October 26, 2009 9:27 am
Caerwyn knew one was supposed to burn a vampire's body, at least a vampire like Gwen's kind. But he knew he would not be able to do it. He took a shuddering breath and let it out slowly.
I . . . I can bury her, he said weakly, looking in no condition to bury a flower seed, let alone a heavy vampire.
----
Queen Katherine glanced at the reporters and the nodded. "Of course," she said. "We'll go there now."
She ushered them into the elevator and they rode up in silence. When Katherine saw the state of their suite however, she looked faint.
"We've been robbed!" she gasped, clutching at her heart and thinking the entire evening had gone horribly.
Thomas looked around at the ransacked suite with a frown. Something caught his eye and he moved forward, picking up a small, metal object. A bullet casing. There had been a fight. He looked up and saw the broken window, and then the balcony, which was smeared with blood. There was blood on the carpet too, and on the balcony's floor.
"It wasn't a robbery," Thomas said with a sigh, thinking this had to be the longest night of his life.
P.S."Brooklyn!"
Posted : October 26, 2009 9:36 am
Her expression turning dark upon Wystan's mention of Father, Kes disappeared from the guard's view without another word. Following an increasingly familiar path to the mansion, Kes reached the front entrance, flinging open the doors without hesitation this time. Her footsteps echoed through the foyer as she headed down the front hall.
Loren was waiting for her in the library when she arrived, blood-wine setting on the table in front of him. He looked up as she strode in, taking in her more than disheveled appearance.
"My word," he exclaimed, standing up quickly.
He watched in complete bewilderment as she ignored him, instead heading straight for the wine. Grabbing the brass decanter, Kes poured herself a healthy amount, some spilling over the side of the crystal onto the carpet. Loren didn't object.
He simply composed himself, sitting back on the couch until she was finished. Something other than her appearance was unbalanced... Loren narrowed his eyes as he stared, searching.
Her eyes met his over the rim of the glass, which she slowly lowered.
It was in the moment of silence following that Loren discerned the change.
Silence itself.
He had always found her fascinating. Her beating heart, her drawing of breath, even though she was one of them. A weakness that proved to be gain. Now both were extinguished. His stare darkened as he rose from the couch again. "You-" he started, voice threateningly low.
"You left out a few things," she interrupted, pointing a finger at him.
Loren glared, "Is he-?"
"No, he isn't. Neither am I, thanks to him," she added, adopting a look of hurt.
His glare increased at the insinuation that she had somehow been rescued by the wretch, but then it faded as he considered the outcome of such a notion. Here she was, returned safe and sound. Loren stepped out around the table, touching her cheek. He pulled her into a fatherly embrace, Kes wrapping her arms around him in return.
Loren rested his chin on top of her head, standing in silence. Yes... returned to him safe and sound. His precocious daughter. So easily persuaded, molded to his every whim. He smiled, searching her mind- only to be instantly hurtled backwards.
Barriers that he had built, under the illusion that she had built them herself, were erased. Her memory was starting to rejuvenate, after all of his efforts to drown it. Loren wrenched back, catching her face in his grasp, forcing her to look at him.
"You left out a few things," she repeated quietly, the hint of a smirk edging.
Snarling in disgust, he sent her stumbling. "You had no right-" she began.
He laughed dismissively, shaking his head.
"You used me!" she shouted.
Loren raised an eyebrow. No one ever raised their voice to him without grovelling on their knees for forgiveness soon afterward. "Darling girl, you were being used far before I found you. Your admirable sire used you. He used you, then he left you. Alone to fend for yourself."
Kes clenched her jaw in defiance, but Loren could feel her resolve wavering.
He pressed further, trying to rebuild what he had lost. "I, on the other hand, saved you; helping you to forget all of those... unpleasant dreams- teaching you how to survive- giving you a home," he continued as he circled her.
Loren took the silence that followed to mean she had acquiesced- for now. Her hiss of protest as he clasped her jaw in his hand confirmed his suspicions that his troubles were far from over. He would fix that. "Unless you wish me to return you to that filth I dug you out of," he veiled the threat thinly, "I suggest you be a little more grateful."
A flicker of fear. He knew she wouldn't try him any further. Pressing his lips to her forehead, he released her as though nothing had ever been amiss. "We're leaving tomorrow evening. Get some rest," he offered, his tone returned to gentleness.
Kes watched him exit through one of the side doors, then blinked.
In a sudden fit of anger, she upset the table in front of her, sending everything crashing to the floor. Storming from the room, she flew up the stairs to make a beeline for what had once been her own room, slamming the door shut behind her.
Appearing behind Margaret in his usual silence, Loren rested a hand on her arm in affection. Sounds coming from inside the room suggested that their rebellious daughter hadn't quite finished her tantrum. He winced apathetically. Dealing with volatile young ones took a more delicate approach, which he either didn't possess or didn't care to.
"I suppose... a mother's touch couldn't hurt matters," he mused, glancing down at his wife.
Posted : October 27, 2009 6:20 am
"Wait a moment," Emmaline said weakly, rising to her feet. "I'll ask Green to do it," she offered, referring to Fargone Manor's personal anything and everything. Emmaline was sure there was no secret of the house that the man didn't already know. "You both should sleep now- Caerwyn you can stay here for the night if you'd like."
Curse nodded, thinking she did feel tired.
---
"Robbed?" Elisabeth repeated, looking around the room with a frown, "Looks more like a fight to me..." she said and then went to her own room to make sure nothing had been touched.
---
Margaret nodded simply, slipping from Loren's presence to the door of Kes's room without a sound. She stood a moment outside before entering, catching a chair as swiftly as it had come through the air towards her head. She set the piece of furniture down on the carpeted floor of the bedroom and tilted her head at the other vampire with a sympathetic look.
"Dear," she began, walking towards the fuming woman even as she softly probed Kes's mind, "He cares for you very much and just doesn't want to see you get hurt."
She took a seat on the bed and turned her clear scarlet gaze on the woman.
It's empty in the valley of your heart. The sun, it rises slowly as you walk. Away from all the fears. And all the faults you've left behind.
So long...for now.
Posted : October 27, 2009 9:32 am
Kes whirled around to face Margaret, nearly tripping over the sheets that she had torn from the bed, furious that the older woman was trying to pacify her; but then she froze when she felt the familiar brush against her mind. "Stop it!" she shrieked, pressing her wrists up against her temples. "Just stay out. No more," she insisted through clenched teeth, shaking her head.
"No more lies," she added in a whispered snarl, fingers tangling in her hair. Looking up, her expression was suddenly bereft of anger as it disintegrated into something completely forlorn. "Please, Mother. Not you too. Don't you lie to me too," she pleaded in a trembling voice, lowering her hands.
"You know Father doesn't care. He doesn't care about anything except...Es-him," she caught herself, still unsure about bringing up her sire's name.
"It's all he ever cared about."
Posted : October 27, 2009 11:27 am
"Loren is tenacious," Margaret admitted with a slight smile as she thought of her husband's tendency to manipulate- she'd been under the impression that was all she was by his side for. Years had passed and somehow she'd discovered there was more to their connection than that. "He must have had a good reason for keeping things from you, though maybe it wasn't the right choice in the end."
Margaret reached forward and took Kes's hands in her own gently, looking them over as she pondered her next words. Plotting against Loren had never been a goal her whole life but now it might be needed. If she was ever going to see Eslatar again- healthy and happy, defying her husband was necessary.
"He's sensitive about that particular vampire for many good reasons but the only one who can decide if he's truly dangerous to you is you."
It's empty in the valley of your heart. The sun, it rises slowly as you walk. Away from all the fears. And all the faults you've left behind.
So long...for now.
Posted : October 27, 2009 11:37 am
Caerwyn nodded as well, moving over slowly to take Curse's hand. Before he led her away, he turned back and gave Emmaline a small smile, for once not appearing to hide any kind of hidden malice toward her.
Thank you.
He led Curse out of the kitchen and back up the stairs to the bedroom where he sat Curse down gently. Reaching up, he smoothed back her hair tenderly.
"ll'I eb thgir revo ereht," he said in a quiet voice, nodding to the spot on the floor under the window.
----
Thomas stood, cradling the bullet casings in his hand. Glancing at his mother who was calling the police, he followed Elisabeth into her room. He shut the door softly behind him before turning to her with a questioningly look.
"We're not going to tell Mother about the girl, right?" he asked slowly.
P.S."Brooklyn!"
Posted : October 27, 2009 12:47 pm
Curse nodded and lay back on her bed, pulling the covers up to her chin. The wakefulness that had sent her down to the kitchen now disappeared as weariness pulled on her eyelids. Goodnight.
Emmaline had finished with her instructions and trudged up the stairs to the master bedroom, eager to abandon her heels and the tattered creation that her once elegant dress had become. Opening the door, she stepped inside and kicked her heels aside, letting her feet sink into the carpet before heading to the bathroom to take a much needed shower.
---
Elisabeth looked at her brother while continuing to take pins out of her hair. One by one she set them on the dresser she stood next to.
"There's no reason to," she finally answered with another glance at Thomas. "One unnatural isn't going to bring down the whole town...besides you're not king yet, no need to worry about proper protocol yet."
It's empty in the valley of your heart. The sun, it rises slowly as you walk. Away from all the fears. And all the faults you've left behind.
So long...for now.
Posted : October 28, 2009 5:33 am
Raine saw Ruth approach and nodded at her. "I brought him."
Posted : October 28, 2009 6:11 am
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