“Ok, ok, she'll live Drakhan.” Gnimish took a cue from Drakhan. “Or ya could ask for a hand!”
“What would I do with a hand?” Topaz was distracted trying to alleviate Lucien’s concern. He should focus on his battle. “You could have helped, you know.”
“Eh, ya handled yerself just fine.” Gnimish sounded a little annoyed. “Make the other guy fall down first, isn't that what ya always say, Drakhan? Well, that's what ya did, fairy!”
A goblin brought coffee and something to put on the cut. The cut taken care of she picked up the coffee cup and sipped from it.
“What now?” Artemus had arrived and now was blinking at Topaz.
“Never mind. Good evening, Artemus.” Topaz greeted her friend with a smile. She saw no point in worrying him after the fact.
“But now you have me curious.” Artemus moved toward her with a soft smile. “Besides, it's not my place to ask what happened, just my place to make sure there's no serious damage.”
“No, I'm not tellin' him, you tell him... Well, it's none of our business anyway, she said never mind!” Gnimish quietly argued with Drakhan.
“Just a shallow cut, no poison on it and a few bite wounds, nothing serious.” Topaz told him the same thing she had tried to convince Lucien with that she was going to be okay.
Artemus muttered and then motioned to her arm. “May I at least take a look for my own peace of mind? Everyone always makes their injuries sound less than what they truly are. And I mean everyone.”
“Sure.” She held out her arm obligingly. Refusing would only worry him more. “And that was no dance, though it might have been had I thought to bring a blade.”
“Every fight is a dance; some times you lead, some times you follow. Whether with fists, swords, or magic there's a beat. Just have to have an ear for it.” Artemus smiled softly as he took her arm lightly in his hands and eyed the cuts. “Didn't go too deep, but there'll be some scar tissue. However, knowing you, it'll be healed before sunup.” He smiled with a wink at up at Topaz, having knelt to look over the arm. “And I trust your own assessment that there wasn't any poison. Being a fairy your own sentient magic would have detected it.”
Topaz smiled back, not correcting all his assumptions. “Thank you. It wasn’t my evaluation alone to begin with and there will be no scares either.”
Artemus nodded, “Lucien is old enough to know what he's doing, but I'm still a bit arrogant when it comes to friends’ injuries and having to check the wound myself.”
“Aye, he’s certainly old enough.” Topaz laughed.
“So, might I ask what powerful creature managed to get this close to the Mighty Archmage? I have to hear this one now.” He asked with a little smirk.
“Just some ghoul.” She was uncomfortable with the attention, well meaning as it was.
“You let a ghoul get close enough to cut you?” Artemus blinked in surprise, then chuckled. “You're slippin' fairy.”
“I didn't know it was one at first. And he was stubbornly resilient to everything I threw at him.” Lucien’s battle was nearing its end and she was looking forward to meet up with him.
“I often forget not everyone has the sense of smell we shifters have.” Artemus pulled up a chair. “And I have just one request: can I be there when Lucien yells at you for not being more careful?”
“Not a chance.” Topaz grinned back.
“Drat.” Artemus snapped his fingers.
“I have to meet up with Lucien. Good night, Artemus, Gnim.” Topaz rose from her chair and politely declined Artemus’ offer of his escort. She’d be faster and less detectable on her own.
Discoveries
Moderator: Azjah von Drachen Walde
-
Topaz
- Legendary Adventurer
- Posts: 1283
- Joined: Fri Apr 02, 2004 5:31 pm
- Location: The Beacon
- Contact:
Desert Cave
They both had been busy of late. Topaz had a lot of catch up work to get done after the challenges and Lucien had a job to do as well. But this evening Topaz did not have anywhere she needed to be and she hoped that Lucien had time off as well.
The sun moved lower, and Lucien took his first breath of the evening. Topaz listened to his breath and to his heart beat even as she brought her lips to his. He wrapped his arms around her and, not opening his eyes, gave her a rumbling purr:
“Good morning, my love.” Topaz whispered against his lips and then echoed his purr as she kissed him thoroughly.
“Good evening to you.” Lucien nibbled down her throat. She was hot velvet beneath his lips.
Topaz combed her fingers through his hair. “It is a good thing that the days are getting shorter. I miss you something fiercely when you're asleep while I'm awake.” Even with the use of stronger words than was her habit that was an understatement.
Lucien opened his obsidian eyes and looked at her with love reflecting in their depths. “I miss you as well. What I would not give to know that you are in my arms as I sleep.” That was one of the things he missed the most, having her cease her breathing and stop her heart beside him to rest the rest of his people.
“I am there half the time at least. It would be easier if it was deepest winter all the time, though.” She often lay next to him without sleeping herself, just to be close to him. Her smile turned flirtatious. “You'd really like me there all the time?”
“Of course I would.” He pulled her close against his chest.
Her body seemed to melt against his. “It is certainly wonderful to have you hold me all the time while I sleep. Even when I don't get here until after lunch.” She gave him another kiss, wondering how he managed that even in his deepest sleep. “In case you didn't hear it earlier, and even if you should hear it often: I love you.”
“Mmm, I rather like the sound of those words on your lips because I love you with every fiber of my being.” His body stirred against hers as he held her close.
“Heart and soul and body and mind.” Her smile and touch were loving, even as her thoughts moved on. “That reminds me, your beautiful mind thinks in languages unfamiliar to me at times. I do know a few but not all of yours.”
He rolled her to his side, facing her. “What would you like to learn?” Not quite what he had had in mind, but if they were to do anything at all, what he wanted would need to wait.
She would like to learn everything about him, but she did have something specific in mind for now. “I would like to understand your earlier memories, those from when you were very young. I don't have any of those. Maybe the chaos demon took them, maybe I never had them, but I sure would like to know yours. Just they are all in Carpathian, those that are not just images.” All the while her hands caressed him.
He slid his hands over her back slowly. “My childhood? That was a long, long time ago...”
“But you do remember it. I find that very fascinating. And I would like to be able to talk with you in your language. Perhaps it will allow me to understand you better.” Hope swung in her voice. She would very much like to be able to think in Carpathian, not just speak the language.
He spoke softly to her in his native tongue, ancient Romanian, then repeated each sentence in Common for her. “I was born in a time before the one some call the Christ. It was a hard time to live in. It was a simple time, but unforgiving. There were more of us then. We lived peacefully across a wide portion of what is now Romania and surrounding lands. My parents were about 400 years old when they were gifted with Gabriel and me. And they were slain about 80 years after Gregori was born.”
Topaz listened closely. With their minds connected she was learning the meaning of the words in all their connotations as he spoke them. “Murdered?” He had told her so before but somehow, in the ancient language, it sounded so much worse. “I would have loved to meet your parents.”
“They were wonderful, loving people. They were murdered during the invasion that took Prince Mikhail's parents. It was the invasion of the Ottoman Turks. They had Vampyres in their numbers, and those led the Turks to our villages, slaughtering everyone, women, children, the old.” There was an old weariness in his voice as he recounted those times.
“Betrayers of the worst kind.” She hugged him tight in an attempt to easy the pain of the memories. She had been careful to never look at those particular memories for very long at a time. They were ghastly and horrifying. But she was also glad that he shared them with her willingly. She did need to know.
“Gabriel and I worked as a team, always. But there was little we could do for the human villagers that were in the way of the advancing armies.” Images of slashing talons and choreographed flight in the dark of night brushed into her memories.
“Wars are usually fought during daylight hours.” The war he remembered was far worse than the ones she had been involved in. Butchering civilians and mindless destruction was not usually a part of war as she knew the word.
He read her thoughts, "The Turks were led by Vampyres in many cases, they wanted only blood and suffering and carnage. They were not there to leave anyone alive. It was a given that everyone in their way would perish.”
“That is not very smart from a social people point of view.” Krondor, the waste land it was now and the fertile land it had been before crept into her mind at his words. But that destruction had been worked by magic rather than vampires, and none of the warring parties liked the result.
“Scorched earth is the policy of madmen.” He remembered many wars, but the war of the Turks was the worst.
“But before then your memories were happy, way before then, or did I misread them?” She really wanted to know more about his concept of family and the things that made him comfortable and happy.
They both had been busy of late. Topaz had a lot of catch up work to get done after the challenges and Lucien had a job to do as well. But this evening Topaz did not have anywhere she needed to be and she hoped that Lucien had time off as well.
The sun moved lower, and Lucien took his first breath of the evening. Topaz listened to his breath and to his heart beat even as she brought her lips to his. He wrapped his arms around her and, not opening his eyes, gave her a rumbling purr:
“Good morning, my love.” Topaz whispered against his lips and then echoed his purr as she kissed him thoroughly.
“Good evening to you.” Lucien nibbled down her throat. She was hot velvet beneath his lips.
Topaz combed her fingers through his hair. “It is a good thing that the days are getting shorter. I miss you something fiercely when you're asleep while I'm awake.” Even with the use of stronger words than was her habit that was an understatement.
Lucien opened his obsidian eyes and looked at her with love reflecting in their depths. “I miss you as well. What I would not give to know that you are in my arms as I sleep.” That was one of the things he missed the most, having her cease her breathing and stop her heart beside him to rest the rest of his people.
“I am there half the time at least. It would be easier if it was deepest winter all the time, though.” She often lay next to him without sleeping herself, just to be close to him. Her smile turned flirtatious. “You'd really like me there all the time?”
“Of course I would.” He pulled her close against his chest.
Her body seemed to melt against his. “It is certainly wonderful to have you hold me all the time while I sleep. Even when I don't get here until after lunch.” She gave him another kiss, wondering how he managed that even in his deepest sleep. “In case you didn't hear it earlier, and even if you should hear it often: I love you.”
“Mmm, I rather like the sound of those words on your lips because I love you with every fiber of my being.” His body stirred against hers as he held her close.
“Heart and soul and body and mind.” Her smile and touch were loving, even as her thoughts moved on. “That reminds me, your beautiful mind thinks in languages unfamiliar to me at times. I do know a few but not all of yours.”
He rolled her to his side, facing her. “What would you like to learn?” Not quite what he had had in mind, but if they were to do anything at all, what he wanted would need to wait.
She would like to learn everything about him, but she did have something specific in mind for now. “I would like to understand your earlier memories, those from when you were very young. I don't have any of those. Maybe the chaos demon took them, maybe I never had them, but I sure would like to know yours. Just they are all in Carpathian, those that are not just images.” All the while her hands caressed him.
He slid his hands over her back slowly. “My childhood? That was a long, long time ago...”
“But you do remember it. I find that very fascinating. And I would like to be able to talk with you in your language. Perhaps it will allow me to understand you better.” Hope swung in her voice. She would very much like to be able to think in Carpathian, not just speak the language.
He spoke softly to her in his native tongue, ancient Romanian, then repeated each sentence in Common for her. “I was born in a time before the one some call the Christ. It was a hard time to live in. It was a simple time, but unforgiving. There were more of us then. We lived peacefully across a wide portion of what is now Romania and surrounding lands. My parents were about 400 years old when they were gifted with Gabriel and me. And they were slain about 80 years after Gregori was born.”
Topaz listened closely. With their minds connected she was learning the meaning of the words in all their connotations as he spoke them. “Murdered?” He had told her so before but somehow, in the ancient language, it sounded so much worse. “I would have loved to meet your parents.”
“They were wonderful, loving people. They were murdered during the invasion that took Prince Mikhail's parents. It was the invasion of the Ottoman Turks. They had Vampyres in their numbers, and those led the Turks to our villages, slaughtering everyone, women, children, the old.” There was an old weariness in his voice as he recounted those times.
“Betrayers of the worst kind.” She hugged him tight in an attempt to easy the pain of the memories. She had been careful to never look at those particular memories for very long at a time. They were ghastly and horrifying. But she was also glad that he shared them with her willingly. She did need to know.
“Gabriel and I worked as a team, always. But there was little we could do for the human villagers that were in the way of the advancing armies.” Images of slashing talons and choreographed flight in the dark of night brushed into her memories.
“Wars are usually fought during daylight hours.” The war he remembered was far worse than the ones she had been involved in. Butchering civilians and mindless destruction was not usually a part of war as she knew the word.
He read her thoughts, "The Turks were led by Vampyres in many cases, they wanted only blood and suffering and carnage. They were not there to leave anyone alive. It was a given that everyone in their way would perish.”
“That is not very smart from a social people point of view.” Krondor, the waste land it was now and the fertile land it had been before crept into her mind at his words. But that destruction had been worked by magic rather than vampires, and none of the warring parties liked the result.
“Scorched earth is the policy of madmen.” He remembered many wars, but the war of the Turks was the worst.
“But before then your memories were happy, way before then, or did I misread them?” She really wanted to know more about his concept of family and the things that made him comfortable and happy.
-
Topaz
- Legendary Adventurer
- Posts: 1283
- Joined: Fri Apr 02, 2004 5:31 pm
- Location: The Beacon
- Contact:
“We had wonderful years, Gabriel did not lose his ability to see color and feel emotions until long after I did. We shared everything. It was a nearly constant connection we shared.” He thought back to his early life, his first 150 or so years.
“You do love him very much and you still are that close.” She wondered if Lucien shared his ability to see color and feel emotions with Gabriel now.
“Yes, but I worry for him. I can feel the darkness in him.” It was the same darkness that had nipped constantly at his heels. The same luring into the kill and the brief moment of feeling that came with that act.
”He does have a mate out there somewhere, I'm sure of it. Though I do wish that he could find her. Did he come to Rhydin because of you or does he feel drawn here as well?” Gabriel did have a darkness inside him at times, but Topaz had also seen that this darkness was something that came and went. Though she had full confidence that he would continue as he had indefinitely, she’d much rather that he didn’t have to.
“We came because of the Marchioness. We would not have come otherwise.” It was simple truth. Had she not settled here, neither of the twins would have come to this nexus.
Topaz nodded slowly. Had Lucien actually been looking for his mate, he would have found her a lot sooner. Yet, had he found her much sooner, he’d probably have scared her to death. “In a way that makes sense. My life should have been different had you been looking for me, should it not?”
“Most likely, yes.”
“I am very glad that you found me just the same.” She kissed him again and showed him just how happy she was that they had found each other. It was quite some time later before she had a chance to pose another question. “What would you like to do this night?”
“I rather am enjoying just what we are doing now... but is there something you would like to do?”
“Not that I'm not enjoying this, I think we had the most fun so far whenever you grew wings. It should also be wonderful to be able to see that sparkling cavern now that I can see it like you do, well, with colors, too.” With a teasing wink she added, “I do believe you liked the pool.”
Lucien laughed deeply. “I enjoyed having you there to grace it with beauty.”
She brushed her lips over the corner of his laughing ones. “You were absolutely wonderful, and the sunrise and the dancing, but most importantly you.”
“So I take it we are off to the caverns then?” He slowly licked along her collar bone in an enticing caress.
“May we really go there?” Her eyes lit up at the prospect. It would not be likely that either of them would be called back from there for an emergency. They would be able to spend the entire night together.
He nibbled along her shoulder. “Of course,” he wrapped both arms around her and gave her a slow smile, “how do you want to get there?”
That sexy smile sent a shiver down her back and she chuckled softly. “Quickly, I think, or we might not get there this night at all.”
He nuzzled against her as they shifted into mist together and they reformed standing next to another in the cavern in less time than it would have taken to walk to his car. With a wave of his hand he brought hundreds of candles to life.
“It is even more beautiful now, even more so than I imagined.” Her eyes widened as she took in all the wonders of the cavern. The sparkling rock and glittering pools made for a truly astonishing sight.
“The earth is our home, it is what gives us our power, it is what sustains our lives. It is always beautiful, and having you here makes it even more stunning.”
His compliment deepened her smile. She felt the same way about him. “I was wondering about that, too. Am I now connected to the earth as well, even without me sleeping like you do?” She took his hand with the intention of tugging him off the ground and to explore the cave in flight. “You forgot the wings.”
He laughed softly and formed a pair of shimmering wings. “I am not certain how deeply tied to the earth you are, but yes, you have some affinity to the earth, that much I can feel.”
”I should find out before an emergency pops up.” She reached for his shimmering wings with an admiring, happy smile and lightly brushed her fingertips over them. She had been looking forward to an opportunity to find out if he’d feel his wings like she did hers. “They're more beautiful every time.”
Before Lucien could distract her, Topaz did tug him off the ledge and into the air, and they explored the cave in the old-fashioned fairy-style. After a while of indulging his mate's playful ways Lucien found that it wasn't all that different from what he had in mind. By the time they headed home, Topaz had learned enough of his language to converse with him in ancient Romanian and to roam through his early memories without his help. But despite their experiments with her ties to the earth, they still knew little more about those.
“You do love him very much and you still are that close.” She wondered if Lucien shared his ability to see color and feel emotions with Gabriel now.
“Yes, but I worry for him. I can feel the darkness in him.” It was the same darkness that had nipped constantly at his heels. The same luring into the kill and the brief moment of feeling that came with that act.
”He does have a mate out there somewhere, I'm sure of it. Though I do wish that he could find her. Did he come to Rhydin because of you or does he feel drawn here as well?” Gabriel did have a darkness inside him at times, but Topaz had also seen that this darkness was something that came and went. Though she had full confidence that he would continue as he had indefinitely, she’d much rather that he didn’t have to.
“We came because of the Marchioness. We would not have come otherwise.” It was simple truth. Had she not settled here, neither of the twins would have come to this nexus.
Topaz nodded slowly. Had Lucien actually been looking for his mate, he would have found her a lot sooner. Yet, had he found her much sooner, he’d probably have scared her to death. “In a way that makes sense. My life should have been different had you been looking for me, should it not?”
“Most likely, yes.”
“I am very glad that you found me just the same.” She kissed him again and showed him just how happy she was that they had found each other. It was quite some time later before she had a chance to pose another question. “What would you like to do this night?”
“I rather am enjoying just what we are doing now... but is there something you would like to do?”
“Not that I'm not enjoying this, I think we had the most fun so far whenever you grew wings. It should also be wonderful to be able to see that sparkling cavern now that I can see it like you do, well, with colors, too.” With a teasing wink she added, “I do believe you liked the pool.”
Lucien laughed deeply. “I enjoyed having you there to grace it with beauty.”
She brushed her lips over the corner of his laughing ones. “You were absolutely wonderful, and the sunrise and the dancing, but most importantly you.”
“So I take it we are off to the caverns then?” He slowly licked along her collar bone in an enticing caress.
“May we really go there?” Her eyes lit up at the prospect. It would not be likely that either of them would be called back from there for an emergency. They would be able to spend the entire night together.
He nibbled along her shoulder. “Of course,” he wrapped both arms around her and gave her a slow smile, “how do you want to get there?”
That sexy smile sent a shiver down her back and she chuckled softly. “Quickly, I think, or we might not get there this night at all.”
He nuzzled against her as they shifted into mist together and they reformed standing next to another in the cavern in less time than it would have taken to walk to his car. With a wave of his hand he brought hundreds of candles to life.
“It is even more beautiful now, even more so than I imagined.” Her eyes widened as she took in all the wonders of the cavern. The sparkling rock and glittering pools made for a truly astonishing sight.
“The earth is our home, it is what gives us our power, it is what sustains our lives. It is always beautiful, and having you here makes it even more stunning.”
His compliment deepened her smile. She felt the same way about him. “I was wondering about that, too. Am I now connected to the earth as well, even without me sleeping like you do?” She took his hand with the intention of tugging him off the ground and to explore the cave in flight. “You forgot the wings.”
He laughed softly and formed a pair of shimmering wings. “I am not certain how deeply tied to the earth you are, but yes, you have some affinity to the earth, that much I can feel.”
”I should find out before an emergency pops up.” She reached for his shimmering wings with an admiring, happy smile and lightly brushed her fingertips over them. She had been looking forward to an opportunity to find out if he’d feel his wings like she did hers. “They're more beautiful every time.”
Before Lucien could distract her, Topaz did tug him off the ledge and into the air, and they explored the cave in the old-fashioned fairy-style. After a while of indulging his mate's playful ways Lucien found that it wasn't all that different from what he had in mind. By the time they headed home, Topaz had learned enough of his language to converse with him in ancient Romanian and to roam through his early memories without his help. But despite their experiments with her ties to the earth, they still knew little more about those.
-
Topaz
- Legendary Adventurer
- Posts: 1283
- Joined: Fri Apr 02, 2004 5:31 pm
- Location: The Beacon
- Contact:
In-Spired
"Dress for an outdoor adventure my love." Lucien dressed himself in black jeans and a black silk shirt.
"Like this?" Practicing her new abilities, Topaz had thought herself garbed in a white dress of a similar style that she usually wore. "Oh Lucien? Cory and Anjolie are getting married on Monday. Are we going to be there?"
Lucien lifted a black brow. "Cory and Anjolie? Are we planning on going?"
"We certainly are invited. It is going to be on the Overlord isle. I've never been there before. Xeno is going to be the officiator. But if you rather that we didn't go, maybe I can help you press buttons on the..." She paused to think of the correct word, then grinned. "Computer."
Lucien chuckled and shook his head. "You have a desire to spend time with the computer? Or to meet the AI that the murderer of the Marchioness' parents uploaded?"
"No, neither, only a desire to see what keeps you busy, help you, and to be with you." Her arm slid around his waist as she stepped up to him. Though she was curious about the being that existed in the odd box, she'd rather spend the evening without having to share Lucien with it. "You can decide later. Where are we off to?"
"We have a date in the spires." Lucien smiled.
"What are the spires and a date with whom?" She smiled back eager to be off to see what those spires looked like. "I already like it, a place with a name to inspire one's imagination. Let's go."
Lucien pulled her into his arms before he shifted into a great owl. *The Spires are a rock formation of great towers of rock, with paths that wend through at the base. It is as if one is walking through a great hall or cathedral of natural pillars. In the night, they are awe inspiring.*
*That sounds fantastic. Oh, an owl!* She reached to brush her fingertips over the feathers even she thought the words. *Are they far away?*
*At the edge of the desert. They herald the beginnings of the great chasm.*
*I can't wait to see it.* She fluttered her wings to indicate her readiness to be off. Then she caught a glimpse of a memory in Lucien's mind. *You carried me around like prey as an owl before? Too bad I missed that.*
*Like prey? This way if you please.* Topaz had the distinct impression of laughter as the owl lifted into the night sky, heading beneath the moon light to the north east, over the lights of the city and into the updrafts of the desert, circling silently over a cougar hunting in the night.
Topaz followed him into the sky and dropped her shields as they flew away from the city. With a soft chuckle she replied, *Well, perhaps not quite like prey. I am still marveling at just how different everything looks of late - so much more intense.*
*Imagine living in shades of grey for several thousand years and suddenly having color explode into your life.* Lucien chuckled. The cougar below them moved with the stealth and grace of his kind.
*That must have been quite overwhelming. It's a miracle you didn't pass out.* The idea and image of such ever happening was outrageous and silly. *Or did something rash.* Topaz thoroughly enjoyed the flight. Not having to keep to alert – she knew that Lucien was doing that for the both of them - she was at liberty to enjoy and concentrate on all the sights passing below them. She sent Lucien her appreciation for that, finding the feeling and thought so much more appropriate then mere words of thanks.
*These are the spires.* The dry ground was littered with small rocks and xerophytic plants. The pillars soaring 15-30 meters into the night sky above them. Moonlight cast long shadows across the red ground.
*They are gorgeous. Is it okay to go exploring?* She flew lower even as she asked.
*That is the reason we are here. They go on for some distance, and if you look closely, they are banded in shades of red and ochre and tans. The colors are subtle in the night.*
*We could play hide and seek.* With a soft chuckle Topaz flew yet lower, low enough to have to weave around the spire tips and close enough to them to see the bands of colors. *Oh, this is fun!*
*Silent owl feathers splayed wide as Lucien landed at the base of a very tall, narrow spire of rock, then stepped into the moon shadow and vanished. His voice was disembodied. “Seek me then.”
”You got it.” She laughed with happiness. Lucien was not usually talked into playing that easily and she appreciated his lighter mood this evening. Her fae senses along with their bond should make finding him easy, or so she thought. Moments later she landed near where he had and looked around.
She shivered at the light touch along her wings and watched a shimmer slide behind another spire. “Are you being in two places at once?” She decided to ignore her senses in favor of the game and went after the shimmer.
Lucien’s laughter echoed between the pillars. “Could you handle more than one of me?” A light flickered atop one of the pillars across the way.
“No, I have trouble handling one of you.” She laughed and with a flutter of her wings followed the flicker of light, looking for a pattern or the avoidance of one in his choices of hints. “I'm sure that handling is the wrong word entirely to begin with.”
Two images solidified, one behind her, one in front of her. The sensation of being wrapped up in his arms surrounded her. “I love the way you handle me.”
“Do you now?” She purposefully walked toward the illusion, fully expecting to walk right through it despite its solid appearance. “Might that be because I’m doing so badly at it?”
“Perhaps more practice would help.” His black velvet laugh came from all around as she walked into a rock solid body that wrapped its arms around her.
"Dress for an outdoor adventure my love." Lucien dressed himself in black jeans and a black silk shirt.
"Like this?" Practicing her new abilities, Topaz had thought herself garbed in a white dress of a similar style that she usually wore. "Oh Lucien? Cory and Anjolie are getting married on Monday. Are we going to be there?"
Lucien lifted a black brow. "Cory and Anjolie? Are we planning on going?"
"We certainly are invited. It is going to be on the Overlord isle. I've never been there before. Xeno is going to be the officiator. But if you rather that we didn't go, maybe I can help you press buttons on the..." She paused to think of the correct word, then grinned. "Computer."
Lucien chuckled and shook his head. "You have a desire to spend time with the computer? Or to meet the AI that the murderer of the Marchioness' parents uploaded?"
"No, neither, only a desire to see what keeps you busy, help you, and to be with you." Her arm slid around his waist as she stepped up to him. Though she was curious about the being that existed in the odd box, she'd rather spend the evening without having to share Lucien with it. "You can decide later. Where are we off to?"
"We have a date in the spires." Lucien smiled.
"What are the spires and a date with whom?" She smiled back eager to be off to see what those spires looked like. "I already like it, a place with a name to inspire one's imagination. Let's go."
Lucien pulled her into his arms before he shifted into a great owl. *The Spires are a rock formation of great towers of rock, with paths that wend through at the base. It is as if one is walking through a great hall or cathedral of natural pillars. In the night, they are awe inspiring.*
*That sounds fantastic. Oh, an owl!* She reached to brush her fingertips over the feathers even she thought the words. *Are they far away?*
*At the edge of the desert. They herald the beginnings of the great chasm.*
*I can't wait to see it.* She fluttered her wings to indicate her readiness to be off. Then she caught a glimpse of a memory in Lucien's mind. *You carried me around like prey as an owl before? Too bad I missed that.*
*Like prey? This way if you please.* Topaz had the distinct impression of laughter as the owl lifted into the night sky, heading beneath the moon light to the north east, over the lights of the city and into the updrafts of the desert, circling silently over a cougar hunting in the night.
Topaz followed him into the sky and dropped her shields as they flew away from the city. With a soft chuckle she replied, *Well, perhaps not quite like prey. I am still marveling at just how different everything looks of late - so much more intense.*
*Imagine living in shades of grey for several thousand years and suddenly having color explode into your life.* Lucien chuckled. The cougar below them moved with the stealth and grace of his kind.
*That must have been quite overwhelming. It's a miracle you didn't pass out.* The idea and image of such ever happening was outrageous and silly. *Or did something rash.* Topaz thoroughly enjoyed the flight. Not having to keep to alert – she knew that Lucien was doing that for the both of them - she was at liberty to enjoy and concentrate on all the sights passing below them. She sent Lucien her appreciation for that, finding the feeling and thought so much more appropriate then mere words of thanks.
*These are the spires.* The dry ground was littered with small rocks and xerophytic plants. The pillars soaring 15-30 meters into the night sky above them. Moonlight cast long shadows across the red ground.
*They are gorgeous. Is it okay to go exploring?* She flew lower even as she asked.
*That is the reason we are here. They go on for some distance, and if you look closely, they are banded in shades of red and ochre and tans. The colors are subtle in the night.*
*We could play hide and seek.* With a soft chuckle Topaz flew yet lower, low enough to have to weave around the spire tips and close enough to them to see the bands of colors. *Oh, this is fun!*
*Silent owl feathers splayed wide as Lucien landed at the base of a very tall, narrow spire of rock, then stepped into the moon shadow and vanished. His voice was disembodied. “Seek me then.”
”You got it.” She laughed with happiness. Lucien was not usually talked into playing that easily and she appreciated his lighter mood this evening. Her fae senses along with their bond should make finding him easy, or so she thought. Moments later she landed near where he had and looked around.
She shivered at the light touch along her wings and watched a shimmer slide behind another spire. “Are you being in two places at once?” She decided to ignore her senses in favor of the game and went after the shimmer.
Lucien’s laughter echoed between the pillars. “Could you handle more than one of me?” A light flickered atop one of the pillars across the way.
“No, I have trouble handling one of you.” She laughed and with a flutter of her wings followed the flicker of light, looking for a pattern or the avoidance of one in his choices of hints. “I'm sure that handling is the wrong word entirely to begin with.”
Two images solidified, one behind her, one in front of her. The sensation of being wrapped up in his arms surrounded her. “I love the way you handle me.”
“Do you now?” She purposefully walked toward the illusion, fully expecting to walk right through it despite its solid appearance. “Might that be because I’m doing so badly at it?”
“Perhaps more practice would help.” His black velvet laugh came from all around as she walked into a rock solid body that wrapped its arms around her.
-
Topaz
- Legendary Adventurer
- Posts: 1283
- Joined: Fri Apr 02, 2004 5:31 pm
- Location: The Beacon
- Contact:
”Nice.” Topaz admired his illusion and poked a finger at the chest of the rock solid body with a chuckle. “And I am to get this practice with duplicates?”
Lucien growled at her. “With no one but me.” The illusion was no longer an illusion and Lucien nipped lightly at her throat. “But, I caught you, you did not catch me. Are you always so bad at hide and seek?”
“No, not always. But never played the game with you before.” She glanced at the 'other' Lucien or where the other one was a moment ago.
The image evaporated, and so did the solid Lucien. “Try again?” A shimmer slipped behind the pillar.
“Certainly.” Topaz chuckled. She didn't follow the shimmer this time, but rose back into the air to get a view of the entire area. She suspected now that Lucien would make the game more difficult, and ignored what her mind was telling her.
The flickering of fairy lights began as soon as she was above the spires. It was as if thousands of fire flies had suddenly arrived.
“Oh! How beautiful. You should see this, love.” She listened to what her fae senses told her about Lucien's location but remained airborne as she homed in on his location.
The night air whispered through the stone pillars. Faint echoes of the night were magnified on the breezes and her voice came back from several directions. “Beautiful is the fey creature I see hovering high above me.”
“Thank you.” Topaz became a fairy light as she dove among them.
Laughter rumbled between the stone spires. The flicker of fairy fire coalesced atop the tallest spire and clung to the edge before it winked out completely and the night reclaimed the spires, leaving one fairy light. “Have I told you, I do not play fair?”
Topaz laughed as she resumed her form. “Not before just now, but I suspected it.” Then she thought of blinding afternoon sunlight, only half hoping that it would do any good to keep him from messing with her senses, and half hoping to give him something to do. Listens to her heart instead and dove into the shadow of one of the spires.
There was a sudden shift of movement atop the spire as a shadow slid down the rock into the deeper shadows. “Now that is not playing fair either.”
“I think it is perfectly fair.” She chuckled and dove straight as an arrow where her heart led her. The soft flutter of iridescent wings tantalized from behind her. Topaz ignored his attempt to mislead her, sighing softly. “Oh, those would look gorgeous on you.” She did not slow down and bumped into him.
Lucien snaked his arms around her. “You had those the other night... I would love to see fangs on my fairy tonight.” He gave her a fanged grin.
“We could go to one of those costume shops ...” She teased as she wrapped her arms around him.
He nibbled down her neck. “No, we should make mad, passionate love here in the shadows of the Spires, where we could be In-Spired.”
She laughed heartily at his pun and squeezed him tight. “What a marvelous idea. However did you come up with it?”
“I was inspired.” He kissed the corner of her lips.
She thought his shirt gone and brushed her fingertips down his spine, conceiving a few ideas as well. “Mmm, obviously.”
Lucien slid his hands over her shoulders and down her arms, drawing the dress down with his hands.
Finding her hands pinned to her sides by her dress, she pressed a series of kisses to his chest. “You're still not playing fair.”
“I do not intent to play fair” His fangs brushed against the sensitive skin of her throat.
Topaz gave a soft sigh and scraped her little teeth over his chest even as she tilted her head to the side. “It's a good thing then that I rather like that just now.” She invited him to show her the rest of his ideas of unfair play.
Lucien growled at her. “With no one but me.” The illusion was no longer an illusion and Lucien nipped lightly at her throat. “But, I caught you, you did not catch me. Are you always so bad at hide and seek?”
“No, not always. But never played the game with you before.” She glanced at the 'other' Lucien or where the other one was a moment ago.
The image evaporated, and so did the solid Lucien. “Try again?” A shimmer slipped behind the pillar.
“Certainly.” Topaz chuckled. She didn't follow the shimmer this time, but rose back into the air to get a view of the entire area. She suspected now that Lucien would make the game more difficult, and ignored what her mind was telling her.
The flickering of fairy lights began as soon as she was above the spires. It was as if thousands of fire flies had suddenly arrived.
“Oh! How beautiful. You should see this, love.” She listened to what her fae senses told her about Lucien's location but remained airborne as she homed in on his location.
The night air whispered through the stone pillars. Faint echoes of the night were magnified on the breezes and her voice came back from several directions. “Beautiful is the fey creature I see hovering high above me.”
“Thank you.” Topaz became a fairy light as she dove among them.
Laughter rumbled between the stone spires. The flicker of fairy fire coalesced atop the tallest spire and clung to the edge before it winked out completely and the night reclaimed the spires, leaving one fairy light. “Have I told you, I do not play fair?”
Topaz laughed as she resumed her form. “Not before just now, but I suspected it.” Then she thought of blinding afternoon sunlight, only half hoping that it would do any good to keep him from messing with her senses, and half hoping to give him something to do. Listens to her heart instead and dove into the shadow of one of the spires.
There was a sudden shift of movement atop the spire as a shadow slid down the rock into the deeper shadows. “Now that is not playing fair either.”
“I think it is perfectly fair.” She chuckled and dove straight as an arrow where her heart led her. The soft flutter of iridescent wings tantalized from behind her. Topaz ignored his attempt to mislead her, sighing softly. “Oh, those would look gorgeous on you.” She did not slow down and bumped into him.
Lucien snaked his arms around her. “You had those the other night... I would love to see fangs on my fairy tonight.” He gave her a fanged grin.
“We could go to one of those costume shops ...” She teased as she wrapped her arms around him.
He nibbled down her neck. “No, we should make mad, passionate love here in the shadows of the Spires, where we could be In-Spired.”
She laughed heartily at his pun and squeezed him tight. “What a marvelous idea. However did you come up with it?”
“I was inspired.” He kissed the corner of her lips.
She thought his shirt gone and brushed her fingertips down his spine, conceiving a few ideas as well. “Mmm, obviously.”
Lucien slid his hands over her shoulders and down her arms, drawing the dress down with his hands.
Finding her hands pinned to her sides by her dress, she pressed a series of kisses to his chest. “You're still not playing fair.”
“I do not intent to play fair” His fangs brushed against the sensitive skin of her throat.
Topaz gave a soft sigh and scraped her little teeth over his chest even as she tilted her head to the side. “It's a good thing then that I rather like that just now.” She invited him to show her the rest of his ideas of unfair play.
-
Topaz
- Legendary Adventurer
- Posts: 1283
- Joined: Fri Apr 02, 2004 5:31 pm
- Location: The Beacon
- Contact:
News to Rab
"Hullo Topaz. Hullo Rena. Hullo Gnimish." Rab greeted them as he joined them at the table in the arena before he asked what news they had.
"Nothing new here. That is, you did hear about the getting married thing, right?" It had been a while since Topaz had seen Rab. "Oh, and there'll be a tournament a week from Monday."
"Ah-reamed?" Rab was stumped. "Ammried?" He gave a blank look to all three. "Now I'm right confounded."
"I think she meant her getting married." Rena helped.
"You met Lucien?" Topaz was sure that he had.
"Married? OH! The wolf? Congratulations Topaz!" He grinned hugely.
"Yes, that's what I meant." Topaz gave Rena a thankful smile.
"Yeh married the wolf? Mmm. Well done."
"Got some weird tastes, don't they Rab?" Gnimish threw in.
"Lucien's not a wolf." Topaz insisted, though she did understand Rab's misconception. So far, every time he had seen Lucien, Lucien had turned into a wolf at some point.
"Oh. Many apologies. I'm sure he's a handsome and dashing gentleman then." Rab got a bit pinkish.
"That's right." Topaz nodded and grinned.
"Well, sorry to have missed yer nupputyalls. I’ll think of a proper gift eventually..."
"We all missed it, Rab." Rena hid a smile.
"Yeah, there wasn't nothin' to be missed, Rabby." Gnimish agreed with Rena.
"Oh." Rab blinked. "So it was ... er ... a cantalopement?"
Topaz smiled. "It was more of an elopement, come to think of it. Very private."
"Very private." Rena was laughing now.
"So, a very soft and whispery congratulation to yeh. Lucien does know about it, though?"
"Yes, Lucien was there." Topaz chuckled. "And he said very pretty vows."
"Ah, a man of flowery words. Well done. So, what was this tourney yeh were talkin about?"
"An all ranks tournament on the isle." Topaz decided not to tell Rab about the collectible goblins for this tournament.
"The Magikal bit? I dunno." Rab shook his head. "I've found them to be ... somehow what I expected them to be."
"Yes. But doesn't your mallet want to be taken to the isle anymore?" Fairy magic was rarely permanent, but Rab had broken one of the golden eggs for his wish and therefore should have been at least longer lasting if not entirely permanent.
Rab considered the mallet. "Well, it's been quiet. See for yerself." The mallet just sat there, though it did shimmer a little when Topaz looked at it, startling Rab. "Whoa. I hate that. But I promise yeh, Topaz, if'n the thing starts its nonsense, I'll drag the thing back there.”
“Perhaps it will.” Topaz was certain that it would, just not exactly when. “It's with a costume theme this time.”
“What? Costume? Oh dear. I won't recognize a soul.”
“Sure you will. I'll be the one sitting on the couch.”
“Brilliant. That’ll help. Will I get to meet Lucien there, then, and are yeh dressin up, Rena?”
“I hope so, but I never know ahead of time if he can come along or not.” Topaz hoped that he would be there. She knew he would be there, too, despite his dislike of crowds, so long as no emergency popped up that he had to take care off.
“So yeh married a mystery. Or a cunumbudum, mayhaps.” Rab teased.
“Like I toldja, Rab. They got weird tastes around here!” Gnimish nodded solemnly.
“I swear Rena and Gnim both have seen him before. And so have Brigath and Will.” Topaz chuckled.
“I should consult yeh more Gnimish.” Rab grinned to the Gnome. Then he excused himself to talk with Alais.
"Hullo Topaz. Hullo Rena. Hullo Gnimish." Rab greeted them as he joined them at the table in the arena before he asked what news they had.
"Nothing new here. That is, you did hear about the getting married thing, right?" It had been a while since Topaz had seen Rab. "Oh, and there'll be a tournament a week from Monday."
"Ah-reamed?" Rab was stumped. "Ammried?" He gave a blank look to all three. "Now I'm right confounded."
"I think she meant her getting married." Rena helped.
"You met Lucien?" Topaz was sure that he had.
"Married? OH! The wolf? Congratulations Topaz!" He grinned hugely.
"Yes, that's what I meant." Topaz gave Rena a thankful smile.
"Yeh married the wolf? Mmm. Well done."
"Got some weird tastes, don't they Rab?" Gnimish threw in.
"Lucien's not a wolf." Topaz insisted, though she did understand Rab's misconception. So far, every time he had seen Lucien, Lucien had turned into a wolf at some point.
"Oh. Many apologies. I'm sure he's a handsome and dashing gentleman then." Rab got a bit pinkish.
"That's right." Topaz nodded and grinned.
"Well, sorry to have missed yer nupputyalls. I’ll think of a proper gift eventually..."
"We all missed it, Rab." Rena hid a smile.
"Yeah, there wasn't nothin' to be missed, Rabby." Gnimish agreed with Rena.
"Oh." Rab blinked. "So it was ... er ... a cantalopement?"
Topaz smiled. "It was more of an elopement, come to think of it. Very private."
"Very private." Rena was laughing now.
"So, a very soft and whispery congratulation to yeh. Lucien does know about it, though?"
"Yes, Lucien was there." Topaz chuckled. "And he said very pretty vows."
"Ah, a man of flowery words. Well done. So, what was this tourney yeh were talkin about?"
"An all ranks tournament on the isle." Topaz decided not to tell Rab about the collectible goblins for this tournament.
"The Magikal bit? I dunno." Rab shook his head. "I've found them to be ... somehow what I expected them to be."
"Yes. But doesn't your mallet want to be taken to the isle anymore?" Fairy magic was rarely permanent, but Rab had broken one of the golden eggs for his wish and therefore should have been at least longer lasting if not entirely permanent.
Rab considered the mallet. "Well, it's been quiet. See for yerself." The mallet just sat there, though it did shimmer a little when Topaz looked at it, startling Rab. "Whoa. I hate that. But I promise yeh, Topaz, if'n the thing starts its nonsense, I'll drag the thing back there.”
“Perhaps it will.” Topaz was certain that it would, just not exactly when. “It's with a costume theme this time.”
“What? Costume? Oh dear. I won't recognize a soul.”
“Sure you will. I'll be the one sitting on the couch.”
“Brilliant. That’ll help. Will I get to meet Lucien there, then, and are yeh dressin up, Rena?”
“I hope so, but I never know ahead of time if he can come along or not.” Topaz hoped that he would be there. She knew he would be there, too, despite his dislike of crowds, so long as no emergency popped up that he had to take care off.
“So yeh married a mystery. Or a cunumbudum, mayhaps.” Rab teased.
“Like I toldja, Rab. They got weird tastes around here!” Gnimish nodded solemnly.
“I swear Rena and Gnim both have seen him before. And so have Brigath and Will.” Topaz chuckled.
“I should consult yeh more Gnimish.” Rab grinned to the Gnome. Then he excused himself to talk with Alais.
Tom and Marcus stayed behind after the meeting, talking quietly. Josh dragged his feet, slowly walking toward the exit. He didn't really want to leave just yet. He looked around for the woman he had so much fun with before the meeting. The night was far from over, and he wouldn't mind spending another hour or two with her.
The shadows which surrounded the secret meeting place were plentiful this time of evening. In the darkness a python slithered at the bidding of its mistress. The witch, for her part, managed to slide through the crowded room fairly unnoticed beneath the protection of her cloak. Amazing, how many eyes could be averted with the whispering of words. Still, those sea-foam orbs lingered on Josh momentarily with a lovely glow from beneath the hood. A pretty smile seemed to float his way as she headed for the door and into the alleyway outside.
Resolved to leave his form unseen, but heard through the voices of others, Temhota pressed his points of interest. The witch who flooded his thoughts was not difficult to spot amongst the crowd, yet he had eyes for another.
The python sang an ancient hymn merrily with its unnaturally soft voice. The woman decided to keep going until she reached a nook between two buildings where she could wait for Josh without the danger of being seen.
It was important for him to get Julie before the witch. Unaware of the python that slithered by Josh and whispered thoughts into his head, Josh walked with quick strides toward the portal that would bring him back to the valley. He had lost sight of the woman and decided that he might as well go back to the Beacon and see what he could find there to help his new friends and, most importantly, think of something to get Julie out in the open.
Temhota's blood red gaze followed Josh. “Do not leave so soon, mate.” The vampire purred. Josh looked around for the owner of the soft spoken words. “She awaits you just around these walls...” With the others from the meeting departed the vampire eased into the candle light. His features were constantly changing with the flickering light. “You have a desire for her company, no?” The vampire's voice was alluring.
Josh looked confused a moment and shook his head clear of the strange compulsion. His lips turned into a sneer. “I don't go that way, bud.” He shook his head again and then stepped outside.
“Your heart begs to differ.” Temhota walked beside Josh, his pale flesh stretched into a taught grin. Whether that was meant in context remained hidden.
The vampire saw the witch out the corner of his eye. Her nimble fingers tugged at the edges of her cloak and pulled back the bulk of the material to reveal part of that young and succulent body Josh undoubtedly had plans for. Her eyes flared with a sudden glow in the darkness. It was an unspoken threat. Immediately after she stepped into sight the python changed directions and started to head for the vampire’s legs in rhythmic motion.
The witch’s sweet voice called out in sensual grace. “Josh…”
Josh paused and turned his head toward the call.
“You do not go that way? Then perhaps, I interest you more?” The vampire’s flesh tightened over ancient bones and presented the lord as a younger being. He welcomed the competition from Un'Macha. All the better that they were luring the same victim.
“No, that one's more to my liking.” Josh confided quietly to Temhota before he turned a smile at Un'Macha and walked swiftly toward her.
Something on the witch’s face brightened as she smiled at Josh’s response. “She calls for you and you alone, my lord.” Darkness was etched in every inflection of the vampire’s voice.
“Are you in such a hurry to leave, Josh?” Again the witch’s sweet voice polluting the air with its magic. “I thought I was. Do you have something better in mind, babe?” Josh responded in hopes that she had something very similar on her mind.
The shadows which surrounded the secret meeting place were plentiful this time of evening. In the darkness a python slithered at the bidding of its mistress. The witch, for her part, managed to slide through the crowded room fairly unnoticed beneath the protection of her cloak. Amazing, how many eyes could be averted with the whispering of words. Still, those sea-foam orbs lingered on Josh momentarily with a lovely glow from beneath the hood. A pretty smile seemed to float his way as she headed for the door and into the alleyway outside.
Resolved to leave his form unseen, but heard through the voices of others, Temhota pressed his points of interest. The witch who flooded his thoughts was not difficult to spot amongst the crowd, yet he had eyes for another.
The python sang an ancient hymn merrily with its unnaturally soft voice. The woman decided to keep going until she reached a nook between two buildings where she could wait for Josh without the danger of being seen.
It was important for him to get Julie before the witch. Unaware of the python that slithered by Josh and whispered thoughts into his head, Josh walked with quick strides toward the portal that would bring him back to the valley. He had lost sight of the woman and decided that he might as well go back to the Beacon and see what he could find there to help his new friends and, most importantly, think of something to get Julie out in the open.
Temhota's blood red gaze followed Josh. “Do not leave so soon, mate.” The vampire purred. Josh looked around for the owner of the soft spoken words. “She awaits you just around these walls...” With the others from the meeting departed the vampire eased into the candle light. His features were constantly changing with the flickering light. “You have a desire for her company, no?” The vampire's voice was alluring.
Josh looked confused a moment and shook his head clear of the strange compulsion. His lips turned into a sneer. “I don't go that way, bud.” He shook his head again and then stepped outside.
“Your heart begs to differ.” Temhota walked beside Josh, his pale flesh stretched into a taught grin. Whether that was meant in context remained hidden.
The vampire saw the witch out the corner of his eye. Her nimble fingers tugged at the edges of her cloak and pulled back the bulk of the material to reveal part of that young and succulent body Josh undoubtedly had plans for. Her eyes flared with a sudden glow in the darkness. It was an unspoken threat. Immediately after she stepped into sight the python changed directions and started to head for the vampire’s legs in rhythmic motion.
The witch’s sweet voice called out in sensual grace. “Josh…”
Josh paused and turned his head toward the call.
“You do not go that way? Then perhaps, I interest you more?” The vampire’s flesh tightened over ancient bones and presented the lord as a younger being. He welcomed the competition from Un'Macha. All the better that they were luring the same victim.
“No, that one's more to my liking.” Josh confided quietly to Temhota before he turned a smile at Un'Macha and walked swiftly toward her.
Something on the witch’s face brightened as she smiled at Josh’s response. “She calls for you and you alone, my lord.” Darkness was etched in every inflection of the vampire’s voice.
“Are you in such a hurry to leave, Josh?” Again the witch’s sweet voice polluting the air with its magic. “I thought I was. Do you have something better in mind, babe?” Josh responded in hopes that she had something very similar on her mind.
Never deny your one, true nature.
“Only if you’re not in too much of hurry…” The sound of youth and mischief carried through with pristine clarity in Un'Macha's voice.
"Not in that much of a hurry." Josh was quick to follow her blatant invitation.
The vampire’s fingers halted the progress of the witch's familiar. He was in no mood for her games. The Lord hungered and he would feast upon some poor soul this night, regardless of who won Josh. The python seemed to snap at the vampire with his lack of interest. Even the witch's familiar was not to be turned down lightly.
"I wanted to talk to you about the meeting..." Un'Macha paused as her familiar continued to pester the vampire. "I am glad the council believes you about Julie. Let me know how things go, will you?"
The vampire snarled at the python, already angered that his victim was more susceptible to Un'Macha's wiles. His clawed talons tightened around the cold-blooded familiar. “Be thankful of our agreement, witch.” Again his claws tightened and he pulled the creature from his thigh. If only its veins carried warm blood worthy of feeding upon, he wished as he glared into the soulless eyes of the snake. “You do not know the nature of Vampires.”
The witch stepped forward to give Josh’s cheek a swift kiss. At the attack on her familiar her eyes lost their glow of power and it arose elsewhere. The snake's tongue lengthened to near thirty times its size and struck out with acidic punishment at the vampire. The witch’s voice carried through her familiar. 'If you want a fight then let it be with me, creature.'
The vampire welcomed the retaliatory strike from the python. It showed signs of life and vigor. Undead flesh sizzled from the degenerating venom. He spoke to the python with a snarl. “Stop toying with the boy and get to the point or I shall. Your choice.”
"I assume you are going after her, right? It's what any man would do..." She took her dear, sweet time in toying with Josh. The body of the young beauty was pressed courageously close against Josh. Her arms rested atop his shoulders, hands joined behind his neck.
The python again rose and lashed out at Temhota. Its eyes pulsed with the fury of the witch. 'Why don’t you make yourself useful and go after Julie.'
“Mmm.” Was Josh's only reply to the comments and prodding about Julie. His mind was entirely on the woman he was with now.
The vampire was not one to accept threats. He stomped at the snake. “I do what pleases me. You waste time.” This shallow squabble amongst allies was not what they needed. This female she spoke of was not with the gathering, only the soldier, Josh.
"Think how madly powerful you'll seem if you can expose both, Julie and the other woman. That Topaz..." The witch bestowed a passionate kiss deep within Josh's lips. "It's all so exciting. I can't wait to hear of news...." But her words were lost on Josh.
Un'Macha was soon dangerously close to resembling her python in the curling grip her body had on Josh. "You should go... all the sooner to get more dirt on this captain. Besides, it'll free up your time for some more exhilarating activities later on." She gave Josh a suggestive wink and one last kiss, and then turned him around and gave him a gentle, guiding push towards the alleyway.
"Not in that much of a hurry." Josh was quick to follow her blatant invitation.
The vampire’s fingers halted the progress of the witch's familiar. He was in no mood for her games. The Lord hungered and he would feast upon some poor soul this night, regardless of who won Josh. The python seemed to snap at the vampire with his lack of interest. Even the witch's familiar was not to be turned down lightly.
"I wanted to talk to you about the meeting..." Un'Macha paused as her familiar continued to pester the vampire. "I am glad the council believes you about Julie. Let me know how things go, will you?"
The vampire snarled at the python, already angered that his victim was more susceptible to Un'Macha's wiles. His clawed talons tightened around the cold-blooded familiar. “Be thankful of our agreement, witch.” Again his claws tightened and he pulled the creature from his thigh. If only its veins carried warm blood worthy of feeding upon, he wished as he glared into the soulless eyes of the snake. “You do not know the nature of Vampires.”
The witch stepped forward to give Josh’s cheek a swift kiss. At the attack on her familiar her eyes lost their glow of power and it arose elsewhere. The snake's tongue lengthened to near thirty times its size and struck out with acidic punishment at the vampire. The witch’s voice carried through her familiar. 'If you want a fight then let it be with me, creature.'
The vampire welcomed the retaliatory strike from the python. It showed signs of life and vigor. Undead flesh sizzled from the degenerating venom. He spoke to the python with a snarl. “Stop toying with the boy and get to the point or I shall. Your choice.”
"I assume you are going after her, right? It's what any man would do..." She took her dear, sweet time in toying with Josh. The body of the young beauty was pressed courageously close against Josh. Her arms rested atop his shoulders, hands joined behind his neck.
The python again rose and lashed out at Temhota. Its eyes pulsed with the fury of the witch. 'Why don’t you make yourself useful and go after Julie.'
“Mmm.” Was Josh's only reply to the comments and prodding about Julie. His mind was entirely on the woman he was with now.
The vampire was not one to accept threats. He stomped at the snake. “I do what pleases me. You waste time.” This shallow squabble amongst allies was not what they needed. This female she spoke of was not with the gathering, only the soldier, Josh.
"Think how madly powerful you'll seem if you can expose both, Julie and the other woman. That Topaz..." The witch bestowed a passionate kiss deep within Josh's lips. "It's all so exciting. I can't wait to hear of news...." But her words were lost on Josh.
Un'Macha was soon dangerously close to resembling her python in the curling grip her body had on Josh. "You should go... all the sooner to get more dirt on this captain. Besides, it'll free up your time for some more exhilarating activities later on." She gave Josh a suggestive wink and one last kiss, and then turned him around and gave him a gentle, guiding push towards the alleyway.
Never deny your one, true nature.
“Stand aside and watch how the deed is done.” The vampire hissed at the python. Shadows surrounded his form and carried him into the secluded alley where the two had retreated to. “Before you go servant..." was the only warning before needle like fangs bared. Josh never saw the fangs as he was pushed into the solid wall of the Temhota’s body.
Josh's head was pushed aside with enough force to crush the bones of his neck, but Temhota had no wish to kill him just yet. Clawed fingers dug into the flesh of his shoulder and cheek as fangs were driven into the pulsing artery, opening a cornucopia of plasma for the creature to feast upon. During the feeding Temhota transferred a tranquilizing secretion into Josh's bloodstream. Josh went limp.
The witch could only stand emotionless as the transaction occurred. Sea-foam orbs narrowed in on the exchange. Even though Josh would now serve as a puppet, he was still a puppet needing to fool a society.
Fingers rose with a tiresome look on the witch's face. So as if to prevent Josh from meeting death at the fangs of the vampire, a stream of magic in the form of pure energy was sent hurling towards Temhota. The shock was meant to release the grasp of the vampire on his victim as well as give a mildly painful reminder of who was in charge of this venture.
The shock was shared by the two men. Temhota's black glare lifted to Un'Macha as he withdrew his fangs. “He is mine now. Not yours.” Temhota gave a triumphant smirk.
The witch kept her place. She could destroy the vampire with a single twitch if she so wished. But it did not serve her purposes to kill off a part of her scheme. "Mmm... but you are mine, dearest one, whether you wish to admit it or not." With a merciless look at Josh she added, "He did not deserve my body in the first place... you said so yourself."
Temhota's cold palms cradled the young man's cheeks. “Josh?”
“Hmm?” Josh blinked his eyes open, feeling strangely weak. “Wha-What happened?”
“You should monitor your drinking, my son. It will be the death of you.” The vampire’s coarse, reptilian tongue lapped at the wound to close the pin pricks and conceal any evidence of tonight’s occurrence.
The injured python had taken time to renew its physical form with the help of its mistress and now returned to its hugging grip around her hips. Un'Macha's icy eyes looked away from the scene with the vampire and Josh and instead looked to the sky in frustration.
“That may be...” Temhota finally responded to the boast the witch had made about holding sway over his dealings. “…but you are secondary now." Then he looked down at Josh’s face cradled in his arms. “Be my eyes, ears and mouth, servant.”
"I am second only to my master, servant..." The threateningly cold tone of the witch’s voice showed the pure evil that resided in her little black heart.
A certain order of events was placed in Josh’s mind by Temhota. Then the vampire turned his face towards the witch and his glimmering eyes of the darkest abyss taunted Un'Macha. “You will know what I know. I assure you.” His hand rose to straighten Josh's to its rightful place.
Josh's head was pushed aside with enough force to crush the bones of his neck, but Temhota had no wish to kill him just yet. Clawed fingers dug into the flesh of his shoulder and cheek as fangs were driven into the pulsing artery, opening a cornucopia of plasma for the creature to feast upon. During the feeding Temhota transferred a tranquilizing secretion into Josh's bloodstream. Josh went limp.
The witch could only stand emotionless as the transaction occurred. Sea-foam orbs narrowed in on the exchange. Even though Josh would now serve as a puppet, he was still a puppet needing to fool a society.
Fingers rose with a tiresome look on the witch's face. So as if to prevent Josh from meeting death at the fangs of the vampire, a stream of magic in the form of pure energy was sent hurling towards Temhota. The shock was meant to release the grasp of the vampire on his victim as well as give a mildly painful reminder of who was in charge of this venture.
The shock was shared by the two men. Temhota's black glare lifted to Un'Macha as he withdrew his fangs. “He is mine now. Not yours.” Temhota gave a triumphant smirk.
The witch kept her place. She could destroy the vampire with a single twitch if she so wished. But it did not serve her purposes to kill off a part of her scheme. "Mmm... but you are mine, dearest one, whether you wish to admit it or not." With a merciless look at Josh she added, "He did not deserve my body in the first place... you said so yourself."
Temhota's cold palms cradled the young man's cheeks. “Josh?”
“Hmm?” Josh blinked his eyes open, feeling strangely weak. “Wha-What happened?”
“You should monitor your drinking, my son. It will be the death of you.” The vampire’s coarse, reptilian tongue lapped at the wound to close the pin pricks and conceal any evidence of tonight’s occurrence.
The injured python had taken time to renew its physical form with the help of its mistress and now returned to its hugging grip around her hips. Un'Macha's icy eyes looked away from the scene with the vampire and Josh and instead looked to the sky in frustration.
“That may be...” Temhota finally responded to the boast the witch had made about holding sway over his dealings. “…but you are secondary now." Then he looked down at Josh’s face cradled in his arms. “Be my eyes, ears and mouth, servant.”
"I am second only to my master, servant..." The threateningly cold tone of the witch’s voice showed the pure evil that resided in her little black heart.
A certain order of events was placed in Josh’s mind by Temhota. Then the vampire turned his face towards the witch and his glimmering eyes of the darkest abyss taunted Un'Macha. “You will know what I know. I assure you.” His hand rose to straighten Josh's to its rightful place.
Never deny your one, true nature.
The night was clear, if a little on the chilly side and it was well past midnight when Josh returned to the Atrebla Valley and the Beacon. But he didn't mind the lateness of the hour. He knew that Captain Julie was detailed to night patrol this week. Now he'd only have to find out where her group was patrolling and then get word back to his new friends. Then she'd be done making googly eyes and then screaming rape when one did take her up on her invitation.
Josh quietly entered the barracks and checked the duty roster. Good, nothing had changed. Then he went to Rushy, she conveniently was on guard duty for another hour, and under the pretense of wanting to avoid running into Julie, asked what places to avoid when he took his new girl friend out walking tomorrow evening. He could barely keep from smirking when she fell for his fib.
All Josh saw, heard and spoke was mirrored the in the eyes and ears of the dark one. Unfortunately, Josh also heard Temhota's words, or a growl in this instance. The soldier was trying to steer clear of the prey; Temhota longed to meet this woman. Images in black and white rushed through his mind, unknown places and faces. Conversations that carried little meaning to their cause. Out of frustration with his servants' actions a voice echoed in his ears. "Have you found her?" But who was 'her'? The vampire saw many faces, all unfamiliar to him.
Miriam Julieneris, better known to her comrades as Captain Julie, was out on patrol with Urgor and two new recruits neither of them had spent much time with yet. The youngsters were riding ahead and talking quietly amongst them. Urgor was in a grumpy mood this night. He had plans with Peter for the evening, and though Peter had gotten the days off he had asked for, he had not.
Josh nodded at the voice in his head. Oh yes, he knew exactly where to find Julie this night, or to lead his new friends to tomorrow night. He made his excuses to Rushy and stepped back out into the night. It was really too bad that the society wanted to go after tomorrow. Tonight would have been so much easier, with Penkovskiy not being part of the patrol.
The self-proclaimed lord of shadows remained in his state of hiding Waiting, watching for the moment his dear clairvoyant introduced him to their captain. The incessant prying of the witch's familiar slithering up his thigh was left unattended until it reached his ear. Forked tongue flipped against cold, lifeless flesh of his ear. Direct orders not act hastily would be ignored. She could use her feminine wiles on a man, but up against fellow female how good would they be?
Josh opted for walking and stuck to cover as much as possible. He'd rather not be seen by Julie. Before long he spotted the group of four horses and he ducked behind a tree. They were indeed sticking to the practiced route. Sergeant Bloodfang called out to Captain Julie, and she nodded to him. The sergeant hung back and then turned his horse off the path. Josh was relieved that Urgor was headed for the copse of trees across from him rather than toward the tree he was hiding behind. He hoped that the hobgoblin was still bothered by that cold he had last weekend.
Now this was what Temhota was waiting for. From this view he made out four horses with riders. Everything was still unclear, but Josh's tactics came as a surprise. Why was he keeping out of sight from his fellow men at arms? Temhota decided to pry into the young man's thoughts from some understanding.
Josh had been demoted for getting into an altercation with a higher ranking officer, from Lieutenant to Corporal. The subject of the disagreement had been Josh's advances to Captain Julie- invited advances if he was to believe Josh's thoughts. Josh definitely did not want to get caught and then be accused of stalking the captain.
This new knowledge brought a sinister smile to his lips and as if materializing from the very air around them Temhota become whole behind Josh. Very softly he whispered, "Is this her?"
Josh flinched slightly at the unexpected whisper and then, without turning around, whispered, "The one on the third horse."
Hands came to rest on Josh's shoulders, not willing to allow him flight just yet. "Third horse," he whispered. Onyx orbs traversed the darkened figure on horseback. His coarse tongue traced his lips. "You're efforts will be rewarded, my son."
Josh liked having money, but right now he was perfectly happy with just getting revenge.
Josh quietly entered the barracks and checked the duty roster. Good, nothing had changed. Then he went to Rushy, she conveniently was on guard duty for another hour, and under the pretense of wanting to avoid running into Julie, asked what places to avoid when he took his new girl friend out walking tomorrow evening. He could barely keep from smirking when she fell for his fib.
All Josh saw, heard and spoke was mirrored the in the eyes and ears of the dark one. Unfortunately, Josh also heard Temhota's words, or a growl in this instance. The soldier was trying to steer clear of the prey; Temhota longed to meet this woman. Images in black and white rushed through his mind, unknown places and faces. Conversations that carried little meaning to their cause. Out of frustration with his servants' actions a voice echoed in his ears. "Have you found her?" But who was 'her'? The vampire saw many faces, all unfamiliar to him.
Miriam Julieneris, better known to her comrades as Captain Julie, was out on patrol with Urgor and two new recruits neither of them had spent much time with yet. The youngsters were riding ahead and talking quietly amongst them. Urgor was in a grumpy mood this night. He had plans with Peter for the evening, and though Peter had gotten the days off he had asked for, he had not.
Josh nodded at the voice in his head. Oh yes, he knew exactly where to find Julie this night, or to lead his new friends to tomorrow night. He made his excuses to Rushy and stepped back out into the night. It was really too bad that the society wanted to go after tomorrow. Tonight would have been so much easier, with Penkovskiy not being part of the patrol.
The self-proclaimed lord of shadows remained in his state of hiding Waiting, watching for the moment his dear clairvoyant introduced him to their captain. The incessant prying of the witch's familiar slithering up his thigh was left unattended until it reached his ear. Forked tongue flipped against cold, lifeless flesh of his ear. Direct orders not act hastily would be ignored. She could use her feminine wiles on a man, but up against fellow female how good would they be?
Josh opted for walking and stuck to cover as much as possible. He'd rather not be seen by Julie. Before long he spotted the group of four horses and he ducked behind a tree. They were indeed sticking to the practiced route. Sergeant Bloodfang called out to Captain Julie, and she nodded to him. The sergeant hung back and then turned his horse off the path. Josh was relieved that Urgor was headed for the copse of trees across from him rather than toward the tree he was hiding behind. He hoped that the hobgoblin was still bothered by that cold he had last weekend.
Now this was what Temhota was waiting for. From this view he made out four horses with riders. Everything was still unclear, but Josh's tactics came as a surprise. Why was he keeping out of sight from his fellow men at arms? Temhota decided to pry into the young man's thoughts from some understanding.
Josh had been demoted for getting into an altercation with a higher ranking officer, from Lieutenant to Corporal. The subject of the disagreement had been Josh's advances to Captain Julie- invited advances if he was to believe Josh's thoughts. Josh definitely did not want to get caught and then be accused of stalking the captain.
This new knowledge brought a sinister smile to his lips and as if materializing from the very air around them Temhota become whole behind Josh. Very softly he whispered, "Is this her?"
Josh flinched slightly at the unexpected whisper and then, without turning around, whispered, "The one on the third horse."
Hands came to rest on Josh's shoulders, not willing to allow him flight just yet. "Third horse," he whispered. Onyx orbs traversed the darkened figure on horseback. His coarse tongue traced his lips. "You're efforts will be rewarded, my son."
Josh liked having money, but right now he was perfectly happy with just getting revenge.
Sensing that Josh had no desire to remain and witness what was to transpire Temhota released the young solider and watched him scamper off under the aide of darkness. More concerned with the mounted men Temhota shifted glowing eyes toward the destined path the patrol would take. When faced with incomparable odds the Vampyre felt truly "alive". First, he would need to handle the one presenting the imminent threat. This man could prove to be valuable bait to lure the others to his trap.
Captain Julie was looking forward to a hot cup of coffee and, even more so, to getting of the horse. Urgor, the hobgoblin sergeant, had excused himself and they would not be waiting for him. The new recruits had done well on their first patrol. She had a feeling that they would fit in well.
Relying on the shadows cast by the narrow moon Temhota closed in on the two younger men conversing. With the fury of a starved mountain lion the vampire leapt from the dark and snatched the poor soul from his mount. All the other man could see was a pair of eyes and faint smile before his comrade was dragged into the dense foliage of the Atreblian woods. Then a strained cry of agony erupted into the night. Fangs ripped away the flesh and tore into throbbing veins which housed his prize. In no hurry to drain his victim of her cherished life-force the Vampyre sucked and guzzled at his hearts content.
"Blaster out and at the ready." Captain Julie already had her blaster in her hand, at the highest setting, and the safety off. With a nod of her chin she directed the new recruit off the path. "Never mind Chad's horse." She guessed that they would already be too late to do Chad any good, but she be damned if she let that thing - whatever it was - get away alive.
He'd let them find the drained body of the poor soldier, nothing more. His twisted desires momentarily satisfied he skittered up the adjacent tree in order to put his trap into motion. The others were fodder; Temhota had eyes for only their commander and captain, the enticing Julie, with her weapon drawn and ready. Such an sultry sight. Crimson liquid lick from his lips as they group closed in on his location. If only they were less organized. He could capitalize on the dear Julie and her bloated veins.
Robby looked a little green around his nose, Miriam thought as she crouched, remaining alert to her surroundings, and checked Chad for any sign of life. Not finding any she shook her head. "Let's see if we can track down this thing. We'll come back for your brother later."
Captain Julie quickly was frustrated with that task, though. They were in a wooded area, and tracks should be easy to find and follow. But, to believe the tracks and those she didn't find, Chad had dragged himself off the path and torn up his neck by himself.
Knowing now that the two were siblings Temhota entered the dear brother's mind. “Fan out to the east with Urgor. We'll surround this beast and run it through.” There was no better way to isolate Julie than direct her reinforcements away from the actual battle.
Temhota's compulsion was well set. Robby, should he be asked later, would swear that the order had been given by Captain Julieneris. The recruit headed off in an easterly direction, totally forgetting that he had seen Urgor take off toward the west not all that long ago.
Urgor had darted off to the west, Robby was last seen riding toward the east. That left Julie all alone with the corpse of Chad. Leaves rustled as Temhota’s form fell from the trees, still masked by the dim light. “You are quite delectable, my dear.” The voice came from the darkness, no sign of its origin.
Captain Julie turned toward the voice, her energy blaster held ready. "Show yourself. Or are you such a wuss?" Her experience and training stayed her trigger finger, though she was sorely tempted to fire into the dark.
The voice assaulted from all angles now, belying her judgment. “Such succulent, unmarred flesh. Please allow me to introduce myself.” Hands restricted her movement as he snapped around her torso. His coarse tongue trailed along the female's neck as he summoned a pulse of blood through the artery in her neck.
"You ought to before taking such liberties." Miriam did not even think of screaming for help. Though her movements were restricted, she was not entirely helpless. She went limp in her captor's hold and appeared to crumple and sink to the ground. What she was looking for was a clear shot.
He laughed whole heartedly. “They are minutes away precious. Still ample time for me to do as I please.” Talk was cheap and seconds ticked away even as he spoke. She was primed for the taking and his fangs sunk deep into her flesh, siphoning away the lovely warm plasma with slow, erotic drawls.
Miriam bit her bottom lip against the searing stab of pain and pulled the trigger of her energy blaster, hoping for the best.
Muscles tensed unrepentantly as the blast reverberated through his body. Coincidence happened as he kept a strangle hold on Julie the jolt was transferred from his body to hers. It only seemed to excite his lust and increase his insatiable sucking against her veins.
The jolt stunned Captain Julie. She wanted to say something, to scream, or at least moan in agony, but she could not manage even the smallest of sounds. Her heart had labored through the shock and now fluttered. Every single cell in her body seemed to hurt, if from the blaster or from the monster draining her life blood she could only guess.
Feeling the force of blood being thrust into his throat lessen Temhota subsided. Also, the sound of stamping hooves drew nearer. As he had done with Josh, he lapped away the remnants of blood which trickled from the wound on the woman's neck. The healing of the wound increased tri-fold with this tender notion. If perchance his dear mistress was watching, he wrapped his arms around the armored frame of the female and nuzzled cheek to cheek. “You remain alive only because you will lead us to bigger prey. You are now my pet.” Armored or not, his hands traversed her abdomen and further up until breasts cupped in his palms. “You will share your visions and thoughts with me.” Steadily the sound of hooves drew closer, and the vampire was no more than lustful memory.
Urgor Bloodfang was greeted by the sight of two bodies lying on the ground. "Julie," he gasped under his breath as he slid of his horse. With a few quick strides he was beside her and checked for a pulse, then for injuries.
His quick examination noticed no injuries, but she would need a medic none the less. Her pulse was weak. The recruit was quite dead, though and both their horses were long gone. Most likely they were back at the stable by now, considering how close they were to the Beacon. He decided to leave the body here. Chad could be collected later by the search team he was certain would be sent out to look for the missing recruit. He carefully lifted Captain Julie into the saddle of his horse, and then climbed up behind her. He would take her straight to the healers' cabin.
Captain Julie was looking forward to a hot cup of coffee and, even more so, to getting of the horse. Urgor, the hobgoblin sergeant, had excused himself and they would not be waiting for him. The new recruits had done well on their first patrol. She had a feeling that they would fit in well.
Relying on the shadows cast by the narrow moon Temhota closed in on the two younger men conversing. With the fury of a starved mountain lion the vampire leapt from the dark and snatched the poor soul from his mount. All the other man could see was a pair of eyes and faint smile before his comrade was dragged into the dense foliage of the Atreblian woods. Then a strained cry of agony erupted into the night. Fangs ripped away the flesh and tore into throbbing veins which housed his prize. In no hurry to drain his victim of her cherished life-force the Vampyre sucked and guzzled at his hearts content.
"Blaster out and at the ready." Captain Julie already had her blaster in her hand, at the highest setting, and the safety off. With a nod of her chin she directed the new recruit off the path. "Never mind Chad's horse." She guessed that they would already be too late to do Chad any good, but she be damned if she let that thing - whatever it was - get away alive.
He'd let them find the drained body of the poor soldier, nothing more. His twisted desires momentarily satisfied he skittered up the adjacent tree in order to put his trap into motion. The others were fodder; Temhota had eyes for only their commander and captain, the enticing Julie, with her weapon drawn and ready. Such an sultry sight. Crimson liquid lick from his lips as they group closed in on his location. If only they were less organized. He could capitalize on the dear Julie and her bloated veins.
Robby looked a little green around his nose, Miriam thought as she crouched, remaining alert to her surroundings, and checked Chad for any sign of life. Not finding any she shook her head. "Let's see if we can track down this thing. We'll come back for your brother later."
Captain Julie quickly was frustrated with that task, though. They were in a wooded area, and tracks should be easy to find and follow. But, to believe the tracks and those she didn't find, Chad had dragged himself off the path and torn up his neck by himself.
Knowing now that the two were siblings Temhota entered the dear brother's mind. “Fan out to the east with Urgor. We'll surround this beast and run it through.” There was no better way to isolate Julie than direct her reinforcements away from the actual battle.
Temhota's compulsion was well set. Robby, should he be asked later, would swear that the order had been given by Captain Julieneris. The recruit headed off in an easterly direction, totally forgetting that he had seen Urgor take off toward the west not all that long ago.
Urgor had darted off to the west, Robby was last seen riding toward the east. That left Julie all alone with the corpse of Chad. Leaves rustled as Temhota’s form fell from the trees, still masked by the dim light. “You are quite delectable, my dear.” The voice came from the darkness, no sign of its origin.
Captain Julie turned toward the voice, her energy blaster held ready. "Show yourself. Or are you such a wuss?" Her experience and training stayed her trigger finger, though she was sorely tempted to fire into the dark.
The voice assaulted from all angles now, belying her judgment. “Such succulent, unmarred flesh. Please allow me to introduce myself.” Hands restricted her movement as he snapped around her torso. His coarse tongue trailed along the female's neck as he summoned a pulse of blood through the artery in her neck.
"You ought to before taking such liberties." Miriam did not even think of screaming for help. Though her movements were restricted, she was not entirely helpless. She went limp in her captor's hold and appeared to crumple and sink to the ground. What she was looking for was a clear shot.
He laughed whole heartedly. “They are minutes away precious. Still ample time for me to do as I please.” Talk was cheap and seconds ticked away even as he spoke. She was primed for the taking and his fangs sunk deep into her flesh, siphoning away the lovely warm plasma with slow, erotic drawls.
Miriam bit her bottom lip against the searing stab of pain and pulled the trigger of her energy blaster, hoping for the best.
Muscles tensed unrepentantly as the blast reverberated through his body. Coincidence happened as he kept a strangle hold on Julie the jolt was transferred from his body to hers. It only seemed to excite his lust and increase his insatiable sucking against her veins.
The jolt stunned Captain Julie. She wanted to say something, to scream, or at least moan in agony, but she could not manage even the smallest of sounds. Her heart had labored through the shock and now fluttered. Every single cell in her body seemed to hurt, if from the blaster or from the monster draining her life blood she could only guess.
Feeling the force of blood being thrust into his throat lessen Temhota subsided. Also, the sound of stamping hooves drew nearer. As he had done with Josh, he lapped away the remnants of blood which trickled from the wound on the woman's neck. The healing of the wound increased tri-fold with this tender notion. If perchance his dear mistress was watching, he wrapped his arms around the armored frame of the female and nuzzled cheek to cheek. “You remain alive only because you will lead us to bigger prey. You are now my pet.” Armored or not, his hands traversed her abdomen and further up until breasts cupped in his palms. “You will share your visions and thoughts with me.” Steadily the sound of hooves drew closer, and the vampire was no more than lustful memory.
Urgor Bloodfang was greeted by the sight of two bodies lying on the ground. "Julie," he gasped under his breath as he slid of his horse. With a few quick strides he was beside her and checked for a pulse, then for injuries.
His quick examination noticed no injuries, but she would need a medic none the less. Her pulse was weak. The recruit was quite dead, though and both their horses were long gone. Most likely they were back at the stable by now, considering how close they were to the Beacon. He decided to leave the body here. Chad could be collected later by the search team he was certain would be sent out to look for the missing recruit. He carefully lifted Captain Julie into the saddle of his horse, and then climbed up behind her. He would take her straight to the healers' cabin.
-
Topaz
- Legendary Adventurer
- Posts: 1283
- Joined: Fri Apr 02, 2004 5:31 pm
- Location: The Beacon
- Contact:
Meeting In The Forest
Lucien just had to go to ground again. He had merely been sleeping for over a week for her sake. Now that all the extra excitement was over he needed to regain his strength. Topaz took the opportunity to spend some time in reflection at her lake in Darkwood Forest.
The challenges had gone well enough, in a way even better than she had hoped for. But she could not say the same for the introduction to the Carpathian prince. She had sent him a letter but had no way of knowing if it had been welcome, or even if it had been received yet.
Topaz halted her train of thought and listened to her senses. Something was not quite right. She glanced up at the sky and by the location of the sun judged the morning to be half gone already. Carpathians were not supposed to be out and about at this time. And this one was not one she had met before. Her curiosity provoked and sensing no danger, she left the sanctuary to investigate.
The ebony panther slipped soundlessly along the high branches of the trees in the deep forest. She was careful to keep her brain patterns exactly matching that of one of the huge jungle cats as she searched for a place to rest for the day. She was tired after the fight with the lesser Vampire she had battled that rising and the sun was already high in the sky yet still she traveled ever deeper into the wood.
Males were in the vicinity she had sensed them but hadn't wanted to let this particular Vampire get away from her so she had ran him to ground much farther from her usual territory only to find herself in a strange place now having to look for a place to pass the hours until she could again travel safely.
Topaz's fae senses told her that she could just wait for this Carpathian to come to her, for whoever it was, was heading straight for her, though through the tree tops rather than by walking on the ground. Once again she wished that Lucien had already gotten around to showing her how this telepathy thing worked for communicating with others of his kind. But he had not. She lowered her mental defenses - he had shown her that much - and hoped that this one might take that as an invitation to start a conversation.
Suddenly the scent of male caught her attention and the panther crouched low upon the branch freezing every muscle completely still as she slowly lowered her own shielding to see if she could find him before he found her. Shock was the first sensation as she realized it wasn't a male that had found her after all but the Lifemate of one of the males. Aleeyska dropped from her branch to land soundlessly upon the forest floor on padded paws. Amber eyes gazed at the fairy curiously as she used the animal’s senses to gauge her reactions. *Where is ye Lifemate?*
The fae senses also reminded her that Carpathians were extremely uncomfortable in the light of day. Even here in the deep forest and with the still thick canopy filtering the light, this one felt a stinging pain. She communicated her desire to see this one shielded from the effects of the sun's rays to the sentient magic pieces dancing in the forest air. It was not so much a courtesy toward the stranger, but for her own benefit. Sensing another's pain was almost as unpleasant as experiencing it one's own body.
She looked at the panther with curiosity. It was a female panther. *Greetings, lady.* It was easy to use the same 'channel' for a reply. *He sleeps. I'm Topaz. Who might you be? I hope you do not mind the shield.*
*Ye are not to tell of me!* The fear was real in her voice as the panther stood before her feeling relief as the sun's rays were no longer stabbing at her like needles.
Topaz admired the large but scared cat's sleek grace. But she was more curious to see the woman. The aura told her it was not one of the royal entourage. *I will not tell of you, but you must know that I cannot keep anything from my mate.* All Carpathian's knew that, didn't they? *And I do not lie - at least never intentionally.* She gave the stranger a friendly smile. *May I touch you? If it's not too forward a thing to ask upon first acquaintance. I never before got this close to a panther.*
The huge jungle cat stalked regally across the forest floor to where the lovely Lady stood then bowed its head and nudged her in answer but gently in order to keep from knocking her over. *He will not ask of me so do not offer to tell him. I do not want to see them. They would force me to go with them. You know this. What is your name?*
*Thank you.* Her smile deepened as she gently brushed her hand over the smooth fur. *Oh, this is quite nice! You should be able to feel this. But then you may have.* Topaz crouched down to have her eyes more level with the cat. *He's always a shadow in my mind, even while he sleeps. Perhaps you had better give me a name you'd like for me to address you with rather than your real one.* She gave a conspiratorial wink. *Topaz is my name.*
Aleeyaska's amber eyes meet the lovely fairy's as she came to the level of her current form's gaze. She thought quickly of a name that she could give her that wouldn't be associated with her own readily. *Sky. You can call me Sky if you like Topaz. You know they have all gathered here. I can sense them all around but they will not find me. I have been avoiding them for centuries.*
Topaz nodded with a smile. *Sky is a pretty name to be called by, I like it. Do you mean the royal court?* There were a lot of Carpathians in Rhydin, not just the court and the twins. *Why are you avoiding them?*
*Yes. The older ones are gathered in this place. They are the ones that you have to watch out for if you are wanting to have a little fun. They don't know the meaning of the word.* The panther tossed her head disdainfully the smirk implied by her words more than the features.
Lucien just had to go to ground again. He had merely been sleeping for over a week for her sake. Now that all the extra excitement was over he needed to regain his strength. Topaz took the opportunity to spend some time in reflection at her lake in Darkwood Forest.
The challenges had gone well enough, in a way even better than she had hoped for. But she could not say the same for the introduction to the Carpathian prince. She had sent him a letter but had no way of knowing if it had been welcome, or even if it had been received yet.
Topaz halted her train of thought and listened to her senses. Something was not quite right. She glanced up at the sky and by the location of the sun judged the morning to be half gone already. Carpathians were not supposed to be out and about at this time. And this one was not one she had met before. Her curiosity provoked and sensing no danger, she left the sanctuary to investigate.
The ebony panther slipped soundlessly along the high branches of the trees in the deep forest. She was careful to keep her brain patterns exactly matching that of one of the huge jungle cats as she searched for a place to rest for the day. She was tired after the fight with the lesser Vampire she had battled that rising and the sun was already high in the sky yet still she traveled ever deeper into the wood.
Males were in the vicinity she had sensed them but hadn't wanted to let this particular Vampire get away from her so she had ran him to ground much farther from her usual territory only to find herself in a strange place now having to look for a place to pass the hours until she could again travel safely.
Topaz's fae senses told her that she could just wait for this Carpathian to come to her, for whoever it was, was heading straight for her, though through the tree tops rather than by walking on the ground. Once again she wished that Lucien had already gotten around to showing her how this telepathy thing worked for communicating with others of his kind. But he had not. She lowered her mental defenses - he had shown her that much - and hoped that this one might take that as an invitation to start a conversation.
Suddenly the scent of male caught her attention and the panther crouched low upon the branch freezing every muscle completely still as she slowly lowered her own shielding to see if she could find him before he found her. Shock was the first sensation as she realized it wasn't a male that had found her after all but the Lifemate of one of the males. Aleeyska dropped from her branch to land soundlessly upon the forest floor on padded paws. Amber eyes gazed at the fairy curiously as she used the animal’s senses to gauge her reactions. *Where is ye Lifemate?*
The fae senses also reminded her that Carpathians were extremely uncomfortable in the light of day. Even here in the deep forest and with the still thick canopy filtering the light, this one felt a stinging pain. She communicated her desire to see this one shielded from the effects of the sun's rays to the sentient magic pieces dancing in the forest air. It was not so much a courtesy toward the stranger, but for her own benefit. Sensing another's pain was almost as unpleasant as experiencing it one's own body.
She looked at the panther with curiosity. It was a female panther. *Greetings, lady.* It was easy to use the same 'channel' for a reply. *He sleeps. I'm Topaz. Who might you be? I hope you do not mind the shield.*
*Ye are not to tell of me!* The fear was real in her voice as the panther stood before her feeling relief as the sun's rays were no longer stabbing at her like needles.
Topaz admired the large but scared cat's sleek grace. But she was more curious to see the woman. The aura told her it was not one of the royal entourage. *I will not tell of you, but you must know that I cannot keep anything from my mate.* All Carpathian's knew that, didn't they? *And I do not lie - at least never intentionally.* She gave the stranger a friendly smile. *May I touch you? If it's not too forward a thing to ask upon first acquaintance. I never before got this close to a panther.*
The huge jungle cat stalked regally across the forest floor to where the lovely Lady stood then bowed its head and nudged her in answer but gently in order to keep from knocking her over. *He will not ask of me so do not offer to tell him. I do not want to see them. They would force me to go with them. You know this. What is your name?*
*Thank you.* Her smile deepened as she gently brushed her hand over the smooth fur. *Oh, this is quite nice! You should be able to feel this. But then you may have.* Topaz crouched down to have her eyes more level with the cat. *He's always a shadow in my mind, even while he sleeps. Perhaps you had better give me a name you'd like for me to address you with rather than your real one.* She gave a conspiratorial wink. *Topaz is my name.*
Aleeyaska's amber eyes meet the lovely fairy's as she came to the level of her current form's gaze. She thought quickly of a name that she could give her that wouldn't be associated with her own readily. *Sky. You can call me Sky if you like Topaz. You know they have all gathered here. I can sense them all around but they will not find me. I have been avoiding them for centuries.*
Topaz nodded with a smile. *Sky is a pretty name to be called by, I like it. Do you mean the royal court?* There were a lot of Carpathians in Rhydin, not just the court and the twins. *Why are you avoiding them?*
*Yes. The older ones are gathered in this place. They are the ones that you have to watch out for if you are wanting to have a little fun. They don't know the meaning of the word.* The panther tossed her head disdainfully the smirk implied by her words more than the features.
-
Topaz
- Legendary Adventurer
- Posts: 1283
- Joined: Fri Apr 02, 2004 5:31 pm
- Location: The Beacon
- Contact:
Topaz gave a little chuckle. She had been trying to find out what Lucien considered fun, but so far she had not been successful. *You may well be right in this. I don't think they know what a celebration is, either.* She already started to like Sky.
Aleeyaska shifted to her human form and smiled to Topaz as she looked around at the deep forest. It was a relief to not feel the bright light of the sun and she was thankful to her for having stopped the terrible pain that struck no matter the dense foliage. "We used to have celebrations when I was young but there haven't been many since the killings began."
“What killings where those? Wow, you're beautiful. I would like to hear about those celebrations. Did they include dancing and merry games? I don't suppose they included food and drink?" She looked at Sky for as long as was polite. "Welcome to Darkwood Forest." With a sweeping gesture at their surroundings.
"The Vampire Slayings back in the Dark Ages they called it. It was terrible. Haven't you heard of them?" She canted her head to the side curiously studying her a bit before continuing. "Many of us were killed by the murders by mistake which is why our males are so silly now."
"If you have the time, we may as well be comfortable." She gave her an inviting smile as she sat down cross-legged on the forest floor. Her sheer, slightly iridescent wings that were nearly invisible when she held them still, sparkled whenever she moved. "I am not sure. Wars and the Turks were mentioned. Are you referring to those Turks?"
Sky glanced upwards toward the heavy canopy above them then scanned her surroundings to ensure they would remain undisturbed for the time being before she joined her companion in an elegant sprawl on the forest floor. Amber eyes studied the barely visible wings curiously as she listened to almost mesmerizing lilt of the fairy's voice. "I need to find a safe place to go to ground soon but I can visit a little longer with you this rising. Yes those times. We were many before then but now we are few. Our males guard us to the exclusion of all else. My sister and I escaped from them one day and I will never allow them to dictate to me my life again."
Her voice had taken on a fierce tone and eyes were shining with determination as she spoke but then she smiled again to Topaz. "It is far too beautiful a rising to speak of such things though. We shall speak of the celebrations that we used to have. My sister always loved Beltaine and going out into the forest meadows to find the first flowers."
"Most of them do appear overbearing, don't they." Topaz's smile softened as she thought of Lucien's gentle and sometimes playful ways. Gabriel appeared to have a hard time accepting that his twin didn't dictate to her.
"I would love to hear more about the celebrations. What else did you do for Beltaine? Did you used to celebrate any of the other old Holidays as well?" Lucien and Gabriel certainly were born long enough ago for them to have been familiar with the old ways. But she had found little enough in Lucien's memories of those happy times. "The high points of the celebrations I'm used to always included food and drink, and dancing. What were the high points of those celebrations?" The fairy leaned forward and her gaze was as if glued onto Sky, ready to absorb every detail of her answers.
She leaned back on her hands and took up what was almost a listening pose with her head canted to one side. Amber eyes half closed as her mind traveled back over the many centuries to happier times with her family. "We danced and played the entire rising. Many years we celebrated with the villagers. We were all friends and our parents helped protected them when bandits would attack. They always had lots of food and drink but we just danced and played games with them."
Sky sent a smile to the beautiful fairy listening to closely to her and wished that she had more time. The sun was steadily climbing in the heavens even though she could no longer feel it's burning rays upon her skin she could sense it's movement. Her body was becoming heavier as the time passed and soon she would be hard pressed to be able to move even with her great strength. She needed to get to a place of safety where she could pass those horrible hours of vulnerability that struck all of her race.
"It is my wish to stay with you and visit to learn more of this place I find myself in but I must leave you now and rest. We shall meet again Topaz my friend."
With that she shifted. In the blink of an eye the female panther stood once more where before the woman had lounged and gave a distinct wink of one amber eye to the fairy before turning abruptly and bounding off deeper into the forest.
Aleeyaska shifted to her human form and smiled to Topaz as she looked around at the deep forest. It was a relief to not feel the bright light of the sun and she was thankful to her for having stopped the terrible pain that struck no matter the dense foliage. "We used to have celebrations when I was young but there haven't been many since the killings began."
“What killings where those? Wow, you're beautiful. I would like to hear about those celebrations. Did they include dancing and merry games? I don't suppose they included food and drink?" She looked at Sky for as long as was polite. "Welcome to Darkwood Forest." With a sweeping gesture at their surroundings.
"The Vampire Slayings back in the Dark Ages they called it. It was terrible. Haven't you heard of them?" She canted her head to the side curiously studying her a bit before continuing. "Many of us were killed by the murders by mistake which is why our males are so silly now."
"If you have the time, we may as well be comfortable." She gave her an inviting smile as she sat down cross-legged on the forest floor. Her sheer, slightly iridescent wings that were nearly invisible when she held them still, sparkled whenever she moved. "I am not sure. Wars and the Turks were mentioned. Are you referring to those Turks?"
Sky glanced upwards toward the heavy canopy above them then scanned her surroundings to ensure they would remain undisturbed for the time being before she joined her companion in an elegant sprawl on the forest floor. Amber eyes studied the barely visible wings curiously as she listened to almost mesmerizing lilt of the fairy's voice. "I need to find a safe place to go to ground soon but I can visit a little longer with you this rising. Yes those times. We were many before then but now we are few. Our males guard us to the exclusion of all else. My sister and I escaped from them one day and I will never allow them to dictate to me my life again."
Her voice had taken on a fierce tone and eyes were shining with determination as she spoke but then she smiled again to Topaz. "It is far too beautiful a rising to speak of such things though. We shall speak of the celebrations that we used to have. My sister always loved Beltaine and going out into the forest meadows to find the first flowers."
"Most of them do appear overbearing, don't they." Topaz's smile softened as she thought of Lucien's gentle and sometimes playful ways. Gabriel appeared to have a hard time accepting that his twin didn't dictate to her.
"I would love to hear more about the celebrations. What else did you do for Beltaine? Did you used to celebrate any of the other old Holidays as well?" Lucien and Gabriel certainly were born long enough ago for them to have been familiar with the old ways. But she had found little enough in Lucien's memories of those happy times. "The high points of the celebrations I'm used to always included food and drink, and dancing. What were the high points of those celebrations?" The fairy leaned forward and her gaze was as if glued onto Sky, ready to absorb every detail of her answers.
She leaned back on her hands and took up what was almost a listening pose with her head canted to one side. Amber eyes half closed as her mind traveled back over the many centuries to happier times with her family. "We danced and played the entire rising. Many years we celebrated with the villagers. We were all friends and our parents helped protected them when bandits would attack. They always had lots of food and drink but we just danced and played games with them."
Sky sent a smile to the beautiful fairy listening to closely to her and wished that she had more time. The sun was steadily climbing in the heavens even though she could no longer feel it's burning rays upon her skin she could sense it's movement. Her body was becoming heavier as the time passed and soon she would be hard pressed to be able to move even with her great strength. She needed to get to a place of safety where she could pass those horrible hours of vulnerability that struck all of her race.
"It is my wish to stay with you and visit to learn more of this place I find myself in but I must leave you now and rest. We shall meet again Topaz my friend."
With that she shifted. In the blink of an eye the female panther stood once more where before the woman had lounged and gave a distinct wink of one amber eye to the fairy before turning abruptly and bounding off deeper into the forest.
-
Topaz
- Legendary Adventurer
- Posts: 1283
- Joined: Fri Apr 02, 2004 5:31 pm
- Location: The Beacon
- Contact:
A New Middle Name For Lucien
Topaz knew exactly when Lucien was about to return to the palazzo and hurried from the Isle to meet him there. On the way she checked him for injuries, as she had become used to doing long distance. She did sense a few minor cuts and scrapes from the Vampyre's nails, but nothing major.
Lucien chuckled at her nightly checks. “Satisfied Lifemate?”
“It could be worse. I am happy though that you took care not to get hurt.” She sent the feeling of a fierce hug along with the thought words. Of course she would have known instantly had he received a larger injury, but that knowledge did not keep her from checking. “But do hurry home.” She floated down the stairs of the palazzo to his suite, and corrected her thought from ‘his’ to ‘theirs’.
Lucien faded into visibility right behind her and wrapped both arms about her. “Missed me?”
“Yes, terribly. I always miss you when you're not close enough to touch.” She turned in his arms to embrace and kiss him.
“You can always touch me love.” To prove it, he removed his arms from around her, but the sensation remained. “I am never too far away to touch.”
“That is not the same thing.” She only hugged him tighter. The mental touches were certainly something she didn’t want to do without anymore, but they tended to increase her longing for his closeness instead of relieve it.
Low black velvet laughter caressed her ears. “No? I must work harder at it then to make it more real.”
“Silly.” Topaz chuckled softly. “You're not supposed to spend time thinking up ways to spend more time without me.”
“Not at all, just ways to make you miss me less when I am.”
“Did you miss me at all?” Perhaps she should experiment some more with what sort of mental touches he’d welcome. So far she had been careful not to distract him too much, preferring to have him all to herself that much sooner.
Lucien growled low as his lips brushed her throat. “All of the time.”
“Oh, I love when you do that.” She tilted her head back. “Really? But I can't be distracting you all the time with this sort of thing.” She thought of gentle hugs and fiery kisses. “The vampires would have to laugh themselves out of existence. Come, the stairwell is really not the most comfortable and welcoming of places.” With a soft chuckle she took his hand.
Lucien allowed her to tug him along the rest of the way to their suite. “What is wrong with stairs?”
“Nothing. They’re just not very comfortable to sit on, or lay on.” They were cold and not the least bit soft.
He gave her a slow, suggestive smile. “You do not believe so?”
“I know that look.” She smiled back in kind. “Are you going to try and prove to me that I am wrong?”
“Might prove interesting.” His dark laugh promised just that.
“It might.” Her eyes sparkled. “But not with all those royals running around lose. They already have a bad enough opinion about me.”
“They do not understand you, it is not so much a 'bad' opinion.” Lucien swept her into his arms as he headed for the deeper rooms of his suite.
“That's okay. I only need for you to understand me.” Lucien did try very hard to do just that, and was succeeding more and more often. She hoped that she was getting better at understanding him and acting accordingly, too. “Did I tell you yet how wonderful you are?”
“Not yet.” He nipped her throat lovingly.
“You are absolutely wonderful. That was one neat number you did on that Vampyre, and quick, too. I'm sure that the part of him that remembered being a nice, upstanding Carpathian appreciated that. Oh, and I appreciate that.” She removed the tie from his hair and slid her fingers through the silken strands.
Lucien quirked a brow at her. “Neat is my middle name...” He shook his head to send the long black locks flying.
“I thought Sexy was your middle name.” She giggled as she turned her head this way and that to escape the flying locks.
“That is my signature action rather than simply a name.” He gave her a slow smile.
She traced that smile with a fingertip. “Ah, so it's sexy Lucien Neat Datrazanov.”
He nodded solemnly at her and nipped her ear lobe for the fanciful slight. “But you missed the good looking part.”
She swooned playfully. “Oh, you're drop dead gorgeous, there's no way I could miss that.”
“So glad you noticed, but never a competitor to you.” He purred low at her.
“Of course I noticed.” She cupped his cheek tenderly. “I'm looking forward to when we can add Daddy to your middle names.”
“If we are fortunate enough to be so gifted, it would be a welcome title.” Lucien glanced at her a long moment.
Topaz just had to hug him for that look. He appeared to want this as much as she did. “Oh, I love you so much. I'm not going to be scared this time either, 'cause you can fix just about everything.” She was confident that Lucien would not allow any complications.
He wrapped both arms slowly around her. “Are you telling me that we are?”
“I really don't know how to tell, but we oughta be.” Her gaze was still held by his. She wasn’t plagued by morning sickness nor had she experienced any of the other tell tale symptoms yet.
Lucien canted his head at her. “We are a dying race Topaz... we 'ought' to be, or are we blessed so soon?”
Topaz knew exactly when Lucien was about to return to the palazzo and hurried from the Isle to meet him there. On the way she checked him for injuries, as she had become used to doing long distance. She did sense a few minor cuts and scrapes from the Vampyre's nails, but nothing major.
Lucien chuckled at her nightly checks. “Satisfied Lifemate?”
“It could be worse. I am happy though that you took care not to get hurt.” She sent the feeling of a fierce hug along with the thought words. Of course she would have known instantly had he received a larger injury, but that knowledge did not keep her from checking. “But do hurry home.” She floated down the stairs of the palazzo to his suite, and corrected her thought from ‘his’ to ‘theirs’.
Lucien faded into visibility right behind her and wrapped both arms about her. “Missed me?”
“Yes, terribly. I always miss you when you're not close enough to touch.” She turned in his arms to embrace and kiss him.
“You can always touch me love.” To prove it, he removed his arms from around her, but the sensation remained. “I am never too far away to touch.”
“That is not the same thing.” She only hugged him tighter. The mental touches were certainly something she didn’t want to do without anymore, but they tended to increase her longing for his closeness instead of relieve it.
Low black velvet laughter caressed her ears. “No? I must work harder at it then to make it more real.”
“Silly.” Topaz chuckled softly. “You're not supposed to spend time thinking up ways to spend more time without me.”
“Not at all, just ways to make you miss me less when I am.”
“Did you miss me at all?” Perhaps she should experiment some more with what sort of mental touches he’d welcome. So far she had been careful not to distract him too much, preferring to have him all to herself that much sooner.
Lucien growled low as his lips brushed her throat. “All of the time.”
“Oh, I love when you do that.” She tilted her head back. “Really? But I can't be distracting you all the time with this sort of thing.” She thought of gentle hugs and fiery kisses. “The vampires would have to laugh themselves out of existence. Come, the stairwell is really not the most comfortable and welcoming of places.” With a soft chuckle she took his hand.
Lucien allowed her to tug him along the rest of the way to their suite. “What is wrong with stairs?”
“Nothing. They’re just not very comfortable to sit on, or lay on.” They were cold and not the least bit soft.
He gave her a slow, suggestive smile. “You do not believe so?”
“I know that look.” She smiled back in kind. “Are you going to try and prove to me that I am wrong?”
“Might prove interesting.” His dark laugh promised just that.
“It might.” Her eyes sparkled. “But not with all those royals running around lose. They already have a bad enough opinion about me.”
“They do not understand you, it is not so much a 'bad' opinion.” Lucien swept her into his arms as he headed for the deeper rooms of his suite.
“That's okay. I only need for you to understand me.” Lucien did try very hard to do just that, and was succeeding more and more often. She hoped that she was getting better at understanding him and acting accordingly, too. “Did I tell you yet how wonderful you are?”
“Not yet.” He nipped her throat lovingly.
“You are absolutely wonderful. That was one neat number you did on that Vampyre, and quick, too. I'm sure that the part of him that remembered being a nice, upstanding Carpathian appreciated that. Oh, and I appreciate that.” She removed the tie from his hair and slid her fingers through the silken strands.
Lucien quirked a brow at her. “Neat is my middle name...” He shook his head to send the long black locks flying.
“I thought Sexy was your middle name.” She giggled as she turned her head this way and that to escape the flying locks.
“That is my signature action rather than simply a name.” He gave her a slow smile.
She traced that smile with a fingertip. “Ah, so it's sexy Lucien Neat Datrazanov.”
He nodded solemnly at her and nipped her ear lobe for the fanciful slight. “But you missed the good looking part.”
She swooned playfully. “Oh, you're drop dead gorgeous, there's no way I could miss that.”
“So glad you noticed, but never a competitor to you.” He purred low at her.
“Of course I noticed.” She cupped his cheek tenderly. “I'm looking forward to when we can add Daddy to your middle names.”
“If we are fortunate enough to be so gifted, it would be a welcome title.” Lucien glanced at her a long moment.
Topaz just had to hug him for that look. He appeared to want this as much as she did. “Oh, I love you so much. I'm not going to be scared this time either, 'cause you can fix just about everything.” She was confident that Lucien would not allow any complications.
He wrapped both arms slowly around her. “Are you telling me that we are?”
“I really don't know how to tell, but we oughta be.” Her gaze was still held by his. She wasn’t plagued by morning sickness nor had she experienced any of the other tell tale symptoms yet.
Lucien canted his head at her. “We are a dying race Topaz... we 'ought' to be, or are we blessed so soon?”
-
Topaz
- Legendary Adventurer
- Posts: 1283
- Joined: Fri Apr 02, 2004 5:31 pm
- Location: The Beacon
- Contact:
“I guess we'll know for sure come spring, March if it is anything like before.” Excitement lit her entire face, and there was an almost impish glint to her eyes. “Can you be light and have a peek?”
He lifted a brow at her. “I can, but if you are not...” His arms tightened around her.
“I still would rather know for sure.” She brushed a hand tenderly over his hair in an attempt to ease his worry. “Please? Don't you want to know?”
“Of course...” With a black velvet laugh he dropped slowly to his knees before her, and then rested his cheek against her womb. Topaz held his head to her and waited with baited breath as he left his body and slipped into hers as heat and light. Abruptly her entire body was flooded with warmth and the sensation of pure joy. He had found what they both had been hoping for.
Topaz giggled with joy at the warmth flooding through her as he returned to his body, and then quickly lifted her off the ground. She wrapped her arms around him, squeezed him tightly and chuckled with glee. “We're going to have a baby, right?”
“We are!”
“Yay!” She rained kisses on his face and generally didn't quite find enough or even partially adequate ways to express her exuberant joy. “You know there aren't all that many fairies around either. Much less than Carpathians from what I've seen of late. Oh! Tormay will be thrilled and so disappointed.” With a happy grin she explained, “He always wanted a little brother. I guess he's out of that age now, though.” She giggled as another thought came to mind. “Gabriel will be an uncle.”
Lucien didn’t let her wriggling, kissing form go. “That fussy old man?” He groaned.
“Even without feelings and colors, that'll have to cheer him up some, don't you think? And we'll get to go shopping for tiny things.”
“Shopping?” He blinked.
“Yes, Love, for tinsy shirts and socks this tiny.” She showed him an incredibly small distance, less than half a finger's length, with her thumb and forefinger. “And we'll need a tinsy bed for the wee one and lots and lots of nappies.” Her laughter was bubbly. “It's a good thing the drawers are empty.”
“But... you and I can make all of those things, anything of natural fibers we can create on the spot. You have only to picture it to make it form.”
“But shopping is fun.” She ruffled his hair with a happy laugh. “Okay, we'll try it your way. She thought up those tiny outfits she was talking about: an incredibly small wrap around soft cotton shirt, a pair of tiny light green socks, a cap, and a lovely white and green striped newborn size jumper. “You didn't happen to see if we're having a girl or a boy, did you?”
“It is all about the details.” He smiled at her attempt.
“You think some up then.” She grinned to him, not fazed in the least about the cute but sorry result of her effort.
Lucien gave her a startled look. “I have absolutely no idea about baby things...”
Topaz giggled and merged her mind more fully with his to show him what Tormay was wearing when he was a wee baby. “Stuff like that. I guess this not being overly domestic remains true no matter the abilities. I actually tried my hand at knitting something for Tormay, but it was horrible and not at all fit for a baby. It would not even amuse the animals as a chew toy.”
“Domesticity is over rated.” Lucien laughed.
“I am glad you think so.” She quickly kissed him. “So, seeing as neither one of us is very good at thinking up baby's things, when do we start to go shopping?”
He lifted a brow at her and with a grin insisted, “Sounds like a day time adventure.”
“Oh no, you're not getting out of this. They open stores at first light, and the nights are starting way early now while everything is still open.” Topaz absolutely wanted to share the shopping for cute baby-things with him.
“Ariel... yes, take Ariel.”
Topaz laughed as he was grasping for straws. “There you go again thinking of ways to get to spend more time without me. Naww, you and I are going shopping. If you're really sweet about it, I'll let you pick something for me, too.” And she did make that sound like a much desired treat.
He groaned audibly. “Surprise me.”
“It'll be fun, trust me.” Then she kissed him deeply and thoroughly and, certain that he was merely teasing, effectively kept him from further protesting a shopping excursion.
He lifted a brow at her. “I can, but if you are not...” His arms tightened around her.
“I still would rather know for sure.” She brushed a hand tenderly over his hair in an attempt to ease his worry. “Please? Don't you want to know?”
“Of course...” With a black velvet laugh he dropped slowly to his knees before her, and then rested his cheek against her womb. Topaz held his head to her and waited with baited breath as he left his body and slipped into hers as heat and light. Abruptly her entire body was flooded with warmth and the sensation of pure joy. He had found what they both had been hoping for.
Topaz giggled with joy at the warmth flooding through her as he returned to his body, and then quickly lifted her off the ground. She wrapped her arms around him, squeezed him tightly and chuckled with glee. “We're going to have a baby, right?”
“We are!”
“Yay!” She rained kisses on his face and generally didn't quite find enough or even partially adequate ways to express her exuberant joy. “You know there aren't all that many fairies around either. Much less than Carpathians from what I've seen of late. Oh! Tormay will be thrilled and so disappointed.” With a happy grin she explained, “He always wanted a little brother. I guess he's out of that age now, though.” She giggled as another thought came to mind. “Gabriel will be an uncle.”
Lucien didn’t let her wriggling, kissing form go. “That fussy old man?” He groaned.
“Even without feelings and colors, that'll have to cheer him up some, don't you think? And we'll get to go shopping for tiny things.”
“Shopping?” He blinked.
“Yes, Love, for tinsy shirts and socks this tiny.” She showed him an incredibly small distance, less than half a finger's length, with her thumb and forefinger. “And we'll need a tinsy bed for the wee one and lots and lots of nappies.” Her laughter was bubbly. “It's a good thing the drawers are empty.”
“But... you and I can make all of those things, anything of natural fibers we can create on the spot. You have only to picture it to make it form.”
“But shopping is fun.” She ruffled his hair with a happy laugh. “Okay, we'll try it your way. She thought up those tiny outfits she was talking about: an incredibly small wrap around soft cotton shirt, a pair of tiny light green socks, a cap, and a lovely white and green striped newborn size jumper. “You didn't happen to see if we're having a girl or a boy, did you?”
“It is all about the details.” He smiled at her attempt.
“You think some up then.” She grinned to him, not fazed in the least about the cute but sorry result of her effort.
Lucien gave her a startled look. “I have absolutely no idea about baby things...”
Topaz giggled and merged her mind more fully with his to show him what Tormay was wearing when he was a wee baby. “Stuff like that. I guess this not being overly domestic remains true no matter the abilities. I actually tried my hand at knitting something for Tormay, but it was horrible and not at all fit for a baby. It would not even amuse the animals as a chew toy.”
“Domesticity is over rated.” Lucien laughed.
“I am glad you think so.” She quickly kissed him. “So, seeing as neither one of us is very good at thinking up baby's things, when do we start to go shopping?”
He lifted a brow at her and with a grin insisted, “Sounds like a day time adventure.”
“Oh no, you're not getting out of this. They open stores at first light, and the nights are starting way early now while everything is still open.” Topaz absolutely wanted to share the shopping for cute baby-things with him.
“Ariel... yes, take Ariel.”
Topaz laughed as he was grasping for straws. “There you go again thinking of ways to get to spend more time without me. Naww, you and I are going shopping. If you're really sweet about it, I'll let you pick something for me, too.” And she did make that sound like a much desired treat.
He groaned audibly. “Surprise me.”
“It'll be fun, trust me.” Then she kissed him deeply and thoroughly and, certain that he was merely teasing, effectively kept him from further protesting a shopping excursion.
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest