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 Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2012 10:45 pm
Gareth nibbled anxiously on his lower lip, a terrible habit he had picked up on in his more youthful years; it was almost a trademark for him. Not that the woman's presence made him uneasy, though it certainly didn't relax him any either, but just the confrontation made him cautious of his own behavior; that made him nervous. A soft smirk ceasing the irritating tendency in the response the woman gave him. The words finding their way to him again; "of course not." What was it with that phrase that kept coming back...The usage this time was a more pleasant one, however."That never stopped anyone." He said quickly after her. Hell, everyone in town talked about him at some point, there was no chance that he knew them all, or that they knew anything about him besides some stories that had somehow gotten to them by some means. He was famous; however, it was in all the wrong ways. The man always found a way to shrug it off though, storing it away till a later date.Surely she must have known something about him though? Right? There wasn't a man or woman in town that he had not heard spout something foul about him...Then again, he had never seen this woman in town. Was she new, or just that elusive? It intrigued him.
Tipping his chin up, and his head back, he let past him a hearty humored breath."Honorable? I know not of the meaning!"Through his partially lidded eyes, he stared at the woman, her grin amusing him. There was a certain quirk about the stranger that kept him entertained enough to not tip further back, off the side of the bridge. Definitely different, approachable unlike many others, be it man or woman. He wondered if he was the same, approachable in a way; certainly, if she were told a few tales, this conversation would have never been conceived. Perhaps the quieter, sober, Gareth was pleasant enough to be given even a glance."I will assume you will say something pertaining to me being a gentleman too?"Hooking a finger around the cravat, he yanked it from under his vest and tossed it overhead, not even bothering to give it a glance as it drifted gradually to the waters below. That very hand dragging wearily through the mess he called hair."I will inform you that it would be too late for any comments like that. I've given up such a pointless act." Eyes pinning the darkening sky, he sighed, more out of thought than anything."It crossed my mind a few times, tantalizing in the imagination really, but I figured I would torture a few more souls while I have years yet to live." Gareth brought his head up to look at the woman as he spoke, his words a mockery of himself, but his expression was dull and far from laughable."You know, being the demon I am and all."
It had been a few hours that left the older man in silence. His daughter had been in the prayer room for an awful long while and he wondered what was keeping her, questioning whether he should check on her or not, but never acting upon it. Between the hours he found himself wandering about the church doing mindless work, some that did not even need done, but he did anyway and possibly repeated a few times in his wait. It hurt him to recollect the expression he last saw upon his daughter's features, the remnants of her harsh tone cutting away his heart with each beat it struggled to press.
Time, and time again, he would find himself back in the pew, repeating the same prayer...Altering it a little bit each time. Each prayer more desperate than the last. His aged heart could not take such distress as it used to, not with his daughter being the last living precious thing he had left. Arms crossed over the back of the pew as a sort of cushioning to rest his head, sighing softly as he could feel the time slipping past, still with no sign of Sade. Was she that upset over that man? A man she did not know and had no need to know. It was preposterous, he was undesirable, a lost cause, and certainly not one well suited for such a pure young lady as Sade. Corbin just couldn't wrap his mind around it. His stillness was broke by his head that lifted to the light steps he knew were his daughter's. With a weighed breath, he stirred the air with a single question."Are my actions that troublesome as to avoid your own father?" Stiff with anticipation of her words, he turned his upper body to look at the girl that neared the exit. He wanted to say more, much more, but couldn't bring himself to say a lick of it, fearing to frighten the girl off quicker than he might already.
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Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2012 12:42 am
Again, Leila shook her head as Gareth spoke. Honestly, she wasn't sure if she should laugh or not, considering the rather serious expression on the man's face. "Why do you speak of yourself like this, Gareth the Drunkard?" It seemed that the mock nickname she had given him was going to stay.
She studied his expression with those dark eyes of hers, frowning. Gareth spoke of himself as if he was simply trash, only to be thrown to the ground and stepped upon by others. "You think you are a monster, but really, you are simply a man with faults." Leila spoke calmly, steadily holding his gaze with her own, conveying her message not only by words. It is said that the eyes are windows to the soul. "Aren't we all found with faults in this world...?" she whispered softly, almost losing her voice on the wind as she took a small step toward Gareth.
-
At the elderly priest's words, Sade froze in her tracks. Inwardly, she cursed herself for not moving more silently, even though she knew that was impossible. No matter, what happened had happened and now she was stuck here with her father. The priest's daughter heaved a sigh and slid into the nearest pew, the same her father sat upon. She, however, sat on the very edge as if she still wanted to keep as far away from her father as possible. Sade straightened in her seat and stared her father in the eye. "Father," she began, her voice soft and almost sounding as if she was correcting a small child, "I'm no longer the little girl I once was. I... can make my own decisions."
Sade studied his face thoughtfully, sending a mental prayer to her God for help with her words. She seemed to not be able to find her own. The memory of the earlier events --- events that seemed as if they happened a thousand years ago --- crossed her mind. Something snapped in her mind and anger began to boil in her stomach. Why? Why didn't her father understand? This man, Gareth, was different, yet he was the same as all the rest! She suddenly narrowed her eyes and frowned. "Father, instead of pushing... Gareth away, why not help him? I am sure that trapped inside is a good man trying to claw his way out of the darkness. He's just like the rest of them, lost. Why do you not help him?"
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Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 9:04 pm
Wasn't it only the truth? He wondered, his eyes quizzing not only her, but himself. Seemed the title rolled off her tongue in a fitting manner, perhaps it was only to his ears, but she seemed to be growing attached to it as well, even after asking him such a backwards question."Why does a bluebird sing?" Was his retort to her question, propping himself back on both forearms; one flipped to reveal a pale palm patched with rough skin from some sort of physical labor, pointing the woman out lazily with the index of that very hand, but not waiting for her response."Because it is in its nature, as it has grown to be in my nature to make others aware of what they may not already see." Lips parted in a sinister, yet very sarcastic, grin."I'm certain if you sat around town long enough you would also speak of me in the same manner."
Gareth chuckled lightly at the thought."Oh darling," the man began, shaking his head as he averted his gaze to the rusted metal of the bridge under his arms, running a finger along it in a muse, as if trying to find a distraction for himself."I don't simply think, I am." His tongue grazed his lower lip threateningly as he returned his gaze up to the woman, the darkness that threatened to swallow him whole becoming light in a sudden shock. A man with faults? She was kidding right? Maybe the look in her eyes was nothing, perhaps she was blind, certainly anyone with a good set of eyes...No, they didn't even have to be a good set, just eyes, a working pair of any kind, could see he was just a walking fault. No good. He liked to think there was, but at the end of the day, when he wakes up in a damp alley with bruises and no recollection of how he got them, he knows there is nothing good that can come of him. Faults. He couldn't help but laugh.Gareth moved from his forearms to his palms, then gradually stood by himself, thumbs working into the pockets of his dark ash trousers, awkwardly settling there. For a moment his mouth gaped, but no words escaped and soon was snapped closed, setting into place. No finding the words he needed, he sighed."What could you possibly know? You seem utterly flawless to me." The sharpness in his tone cut even him as the words slid off his tongue in a disgusting manner. The man's body became ridged as the stranger neared him with a single step, her voice hushed, even the light breeze would have no trouble whisking it away."Well, besides a possible eye sight issue.Have you been to an eye specialist?"
It was no lie, his little girl was older, becoming wise herself and showing her independence boldly; suddenly. He had no argument against her, only muttering a soft"I know." Finding the words so fragile they would shatter if they were a physical object and his voice wavering, but the gaze he held was still just as steady on her. The priest's body shifted to accommodate the change in location of the girl as she joined him in the pew; however, she seemed ready to leap from it once more, seating herself as close to the edge as possible.
Shamefully his head hung in the pew, the weight of Sade's gaze proving to be far too much for him to hold. Their judgement much harsher than that he could ever imagine having to endure from his God. Silently he shook, wishing to chastise her for her words, but they were familiar, ones he knew he had spoken many of times himself. He couldn't accept that dreadful man though, he was too far gone, there was no hope in saving his soul."He is damned, Sade."He struggled to keep his tone even, resisting snapping at the young woman beside him."He may be lost, but what little good may be in him is not enough. The only thing that man wants is your body Sade, that is the only reason he has even given the church a single glance. He is a thirsty demon and I can't let you, my dearest daughter, be tainted by his own sins. His life is misconducted and he is badly misguided, I was willing to help him at some time, but he is not willing to be helped. He will always be the way he is, there is no hope, no heaven, no life left for that man. Leave him to be and do not give him another glance, not for me, but for your own well-being. This is all for the better, why can't you see that?" Slowly he drew his eyes to meet his daughter's, reading her very being as she considered his words, interpreting them for the better or for the worst.
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Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2012 12:32 am
Leila had opened her mouth to reply to the man's retort, but was stopped short before her words had even left her mouth. She shook her head as he spoke again. "Has anyone even see the sober side of you?" she muttered under her breath. She didn't really care if he heard or replied to that comment. It didn't matter to her. It was more like a voiced thought, spoken out loud without thinking.
She said nothing as Gareth spoke again, only staring at him blankly before replying with an irritated, clipped voice, "Flawless?" she raised an arm and swiftly drew back the sleeve of her dress, revealing a forearm with marred with jagged scars. The healed over tissue gleamed even in the dim light. "Obviously an 'utterly flawless' woman is adorned with 'beautiful' markings." Her voice was dripping with shadowy sarcasm and she lowered her gaze, her eyes becoming hidden in the shadows.
-
Sade was silent for a few minutes. Once, she opened her mouth as if to speak, but no words came out. She only ended up closing her mouth again, closing her eyes and seeming to retreat into her thoughts. Perhaps her father was right. He wouldn't try to hard to keep his daughter away is he didn't believe in his actions and his words. Maybe Gareth was a lost cause, a hopeless end. And yet...
The priest's words seemed to sear themselves in her ears, burning her skin. She winced as she spoke, trying to hide it as a simple shift in her seat in the pew. She seemed to be struggling to accept his words, but slowly she nodded and opened her emerald eyes again. "Just tell me one thing, father. What is it that makes this man so... horrible? You have seen many like him in your time, and yet you are not as bitter towards them as you are to him." She bit her lower lip, something she had never done before as she had waited for her father's coming words.
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Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2012 8:23 pm
Had anyone seen him sober? His mind wandered off on the thought.His family, of course, had witnessed a Gareth that partook very little in indulging on alcoholic beverages. They were out of town though; who else then? Could he count the priest and his daughter? No, the priest probably thought he was still drunk and his daughter barely had a glance of him to even begin to decide if he were drunk or not."You." He uttered softly into the crook between his thumb and index finger, seeming to still be drowned in a muse. Rubbing his forehead, and his thoughts away, the man laughed and returned himself to the woman, though the laughter was caught in his throat suddenly; balling up until he could feel a sickness twisting in his stomach.
Perhaps his word choice was not so suited for this woman, the ghastly strokes upon her arms showing such. His skin grew parchment pale at the sight, feeling his heart drop in his remorse. He had no idea. If he had known, he wouldn't have said anything, not a word.It made him think though, but he wouldn't admit it. Instead, he put on a brave face and tried to lighten the girl's mood, if it was possible; trying to make up for the unintentional upset."See, you have it all; completely flawless." Of course the marks were not exactly beauty marks, but they weren't anything he could not push past mentally, having seen worse at the pub...Those were on men, but the idea was the same. Gareth felt awful, her dropped gaze only aiding in his pain. There was an urge to reach out for her, to console her, but it was resisted with his thumb being hastily shoved back in his pocket. The gaze that searched her for some reassuring sign, was cast off into the distance of the bridge, back into town; head snapping in that direction to avoid any impulse to look at the woman again."T-those just add character. Nothing wrong with a little character. Doesn't make a l-lady, like yourself, any less beautiful." So, some good was in him, enough to flip a negative for a girl, no matter how terrible he was at it; the thought was what counted, right? Beautiful though? He felt like an idiot for tossing that word out. Beautiful was a cheesy word, stunning would have been more appropriate. He chastised himself for not having thought of the word before and there was no way of simply taking it back. Clearing his throat, with a fist clenched tightly at his lips, he decided to drift the subject elsewhere."I, uh, never introduced myself properly." Gareth muttered through his hand, raising it to grab his hat, out of habit, only to remember he had tossed it in the street. Flustered by this sudden realization, he played it off by threading his hand through his hair, cheeks painted lightly in his embarrassment.That very hand glided down to his stomach to press it in to bow himself slightly instead of tipping his hat."The name is Gareth Frael." He finally, shakily, said.The man's head rose slightly to look at the woman, a light grin teasing his lips as the heat began to recede from his face, though leaving a trail of pink in its wake."And you are, Miss?"
If there was anything the man could count on was that she listened to him, no matter how long winded he became; however, whether she would side him finally or not was completely up to her and if that partial lecture hasn't struck a chord then, nothing would. The girl shifted suddenly in the pew, he feared his daughter was on the verge of fleeing from the church, but to his surprise, and relief, she remained seated for the rest of what he had to say.
The girl's eyes opened again, the priest did not let the gems bear into him this time, keeping his own stare steady on his daughter; watching as she nodded in response. Sade's words parting his own lips, but nothing came of it as he decided against an immediate answer. Relaxing back against the pew, Father Thames sighed, buying himself time to think his words over."Gareth," he began,"surely is as the rest of them are that lay about the pub, but he...He has a more difficult time controlling himself. From how much he drinks to how he acts, he has no control over it, or...Should I say...He chooses not to control it."Sadly, the elder man shook his head, continuing after some more bought time."He is a dangerous drunk and cannot keep himself sober to save his life, not even for a minute. He has hurt many people, some of which were just passing by, innocent in the situation."A flicker of surprise passed over him as he remembered something, a weapon, something he knew would deter his daughter from the man. Hiding his sudden excitement carefully, he took in a deep breath and let it out with his last resort. "He also killed three people, no remorse, and I know if he got the opportunity he would do it again.I don't want you to be one of those people. I wouldn't forgive myself or him if anything happened to you, especially to that extreme. That's why I endlessly beg you to keep from him at all costs. You asked for one, I leave you with many and I could give you many more if there were enough years to live to cover them all."
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Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2012 10:10 pm
Leila huffed and lowered her arm, the sleeve returning to hide the hideous scars of her arm. She smiled slightly and lifted her gaze again, managing to completely erase the traces of seriousness that had marked her face only seconds before. The shady woman seemed to find it amusing that the man sympathized with her. "It's cute, how Gareth the Drunkard tries to comfort a woman and yet you do nothing to comfort yourself." She tilted her head to one side only slightly, so small a movement that only the sharpest eye could catch. Her words sounded almost foreign to her, as if her word choice wasn't what she had in mind originally. Too late; the words had already been spoken.
Character? "I guess so," muttered Leila, "But true character is defined by actions made and words spoken. Physically appearance shouldn't matter. But I guess a man connected to earthly problems, one such as yourself, wouldn't really figure that out on their own." she smirked. It was almost as if she suddenly thought herself superior to Gareth. Then she laughed, a resounding tone that almost seemed to resemble the golden sound of toiling bells. It seemed to be that she found his words and her own words amusing as well.
"Ah, Gareth Frael, it is a pleasure to be properly acquainted," the willowy woman grinned as she gave a small curtsy, "I am Leila Ashdown, Lady of the Night." And much more... But those words went unspoken, never passing between her lips. It was best that she appear as unthreatening as possible, for now.
-
Sade slumped slightly in the pew, shaking her head slowly and frowning. So it was true. He was as horrible as her father had said. She had had hope for him... but it was all gone. The man was a killer. She would never be able to live with that. The priest's daughter steeled herself and stood briskly, her voice cold and emotionless. "I understand now, father. I'll keep away from Gareth," the name no longer tasted sweet on her tongue. It was now like the horrid taste of ash and she nearly stuttered as she spoke it. "I'm going home. I need some time to think... and rest." finished Sade as she stood up, gracefully floating to the door like a wraith. The girl felt numb, empty. Had Gareth's earlier actions all been a ruse to lure her into his clutches? She gave one last glance back at the priest as she cracked open the door and slipped into the foggy outside. She gave Corbin no chance to reply.
Luckily for Sade, the home she shared with her father was not far off from the church, only a street off. The girl hurried, not wanting to be caught out alone in the street. Perhaps she should have waited for her father -- they could have walked home together. Still, Sade felt oddly distant from her father and had no desire to be in his presence. She would protect herself if she needed to, she decided, and scurried on. The shadow of the usually cozy home appeared in view, and for a moment Sade thought she saw the dark form of another person. Had her father arrived home before her? How did he do that? But when no one walked out from the shadows, a small seed of fear planted itself within the ripe soils of Sade's mind and she scurried forward, wanting only to be inside the protection of her home. This was a horrible idea. Horrible! She should have stayed with her father and made the walk back with him, as much as she hated the thought. She winced as she thought she saw again the form of a man in the shadows, but again, when no one appeared, she only kept moving. She didn't dare call out for fear of drawing the stranger's attention.
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Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2012 10:15 pm
Gareth the Drunkard, the words almost stung in his ears each brush they made past him. Sure, he started the use of drunkard, but for only one use only was it meant for. Why must it have stuck with the girl? Inwardly sighing, hoping for his release of the title. It had only been recently that he felt the lashes of the word's sharp edge, becoming weary at the mention of it...Or of anything pub related really. Perhaps it was the fact that it pertained to him in some way each time, the mere topic of alcohol or drinking going hand in hand with Gareth himself. He never wanted the two to go together so naturally, as though God intended it that way. Everything about him started with alcohol now, it was a terrible start and the ending always seemed worse than the beginning. It had to cease, he knew it had to...Eventually; however, everything was driving him to it at every corner.Certainly it had been some time since he last had a drink, week almost, but he was about to jump off the bridge! If it wasn't one extreme, it was another! It was that damned man, again blaming the priest, driving him to suicide. What kind of a holy man did that? Was he so unholy himself that he urged a priest into sin? Of course, according to the priest, that couldn't be considered a sin; turning a man down in his time of need and waving him off like some agitating insect. No, never a sin, not by the hand of a priest; never.
Still, he could see those glimmering gems of her's, the vast forestry that trapped him when he dared wander much too far into them, then the pity...Or some sort of afflicted, negative, flicker in them. He couldn't be sure what he saw as he fled, too crestfallen and battered to bother with the thought. Again he sighed, aloud this time, straightening himself upright, struggling to hold the grin he wore."The pleasure is all mine, Miss Ashdown." He returned with a heavy breath, as though recollecting the event had placed him physically through it again, body weak from the run as it had been before. As a distraction, he brushed any folds on his vest flat."I am a simple man, Miss Ashdown, as any other. Certainly an ever so wise woman, such as yourself, has already figured that out." The struggle had ended in him as the grin was genuine once more and drew wider. Her laughter aiding in his recovery. It was a pleasing sound, her laughing was, not just because it was a sign that his efforts were not in vain, but also just the tone of it, itself...It was, pleasant. To say the least.
The man's pale cheeks were lightly kissed with pink, remembering her words before, not having really thought of them before as he was lost in his own head at the time. Nervously, he rubbed a palm along his neck and jaw, as though to rub the color from his skin. "A man has no need for comfort. A woman should not have a reason to be comforted in the first place, but deserves it when it is needed." The restless hand finally settled in the crook that distinguished the jaw from the neck, using it as a form of support for his heavy head, and awkwardly he shrugged."I may not be a proper gentleman, but I try my best to keep on a ladies good side. I find it to be in my best interests-" He paused, laughing airily at himself."and for my safety." The clouds of his eyes had drifted downward and slightly to the side of the girl, but soon was snapped back to her, as if he had not realized his gaze even moved."Women can be brutal, ya know? Don't breathe right and you get a parasol to the ribs!" Subconsciously his hand wandered over the fabric of his vest, as if searching through for the wound, but nothing really came of it."Ever have one of those jabbed at you? I wouldn't recommend it, it is quite painful, I assure you that much."
He had answered the father's prayer, sooner than the priest had thought he would actually, surprised by the words that slipped from his daughter's mouth. They were like honey, sweet to his ears and irresistible. He wanted her to say them again; I'll keep away from Gareth. It echoed in the hollow of his mind, but it had no equal to the original line; spoken by Sade personally. All that tiresome work to get that simple phrase and it seemed worth it, but for only a moment. She seemed in a depressive state in the wake of his victory and it made his heart ache for the girl. She had really had hopes for that man and he knew she must have been greatly disappointed, let down when she was so certain of herself. Corbin hated to do that to the girl, he truly did, but it had to be done; simply had to. Slowly he reached out to his daughter to console her, but she was already up and adrift from the pew, certainly not hesitant to leave the church; again to be left to her own thoughts. Dry lips parted to protest her departure, then the arm dropped back to the pew, not a sound escaping him.
Raking both calloused hands through his hair, the slightly dark auburn that was stained with strands of gray that slowly receded with time, but for his ripening age...and the stresses of the city life he lived, it was a rather full head, the priest sighed."There are so many women in this town and he chooses my daughter to lay his burdens on."Slowly he rose from the pew, after muttering a soft prayer of gratitude, and shuffled out of the pew. He wished not to hurry himself out of the church, but with the night only growing and the fog rolling in, he was concerned for his daughter's well-being. Their home was not far, sure, but just walking out of the church proved to be a hazard. Then there was Gareth."He'd be a fool to lay his dirty palms on my daughter." The priest growled, the thought only hastening his preparations to leave the church, almost bolting out of the church as the thoughts lingered. Who knew what that man would do in his distress, if he had went for a drink afterward, there would be no end to the possibilities. That only troubled the priest more, recalling his words of the homicide the man had committed.He didn't want her to be another victim, she was a prime target at the moment too."Lord, please watch over my angel." Corbin pleaded."Protect her, even if it is only until I reach her. I know no harm can come to her under your gaze."
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Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:48 pm
The woman turned her head slightly, as if trying to look for something in the waning fog. At the edges of the sky, the vivid purple light marked the beginning of dawn. Had she really been out this long? Subconsciously, her scarred hand traveled down to her hip as Gareth's gaze moved, and she narrowed her eyes. Ah, he probably thought he had a knife on her. Well, she did. Hidden in her boot. She kicked a stone at her feet, glad to be doing something rather than standing around and chit-chatting. It was getting old quickly. Leila let a toothy grin get the better of her and she chuckled lightheartedly. She decided to humor him for a few more moments, but something beckoned to her. A gut instinct told her something was wrong, but she couldn't be sure. Her instincts had like to her before, why not now?
"I'll admit that I haven't, but it must be painful, as you say! " replied Leila, "Although pain is not..."
A voice called her name. Whirling around, the woman's eyes widened as they settled on a rather short woman who was hurrying towards them. "Millie?" murmured the woman. By the time Millie arrived at her side, she was panting and out of breath.
"M-man. K-k-killer! He... he killed...!" managed the woman between breaths.
"Spit it out!" ordered Leila, completely taking her attention from Gareth. He could wait until later, however long that would take. After several more moments, Millie composed herself and spoke with an extremely excited tone. "Ivy has been murdered!" she gasped. Leila tensed, then turned back to Gareth. "I apologize, Gareth Frael, but it seems our time with each other has been cut short. Farewell!" The willowy woman gripped the other woman's arm tightly and started off at a brisk pace, almost in a light jog. Their voices carried back to Gareth as they departed, but their words were unintelligible.
-
Despite her father's prayers, their Lord's gaze was not watching over Sade this night. The shadows seemed to be closing in on her, suffocating her. Although it was nearly dawn, Sade felt no safer. Even in the early morning, outside was a dangerous place to be. Clumsily, Sade fumbled with the lock of the door, wishing that they had no need to lock it. But in this place, no protection means no safe guarantee. Even though this was the home of a priest, that wouldn't stop anyone from attempting to break in. "Why won't you open, you damned door?!" Sade whispered harshly. Fear was creeping up her spine, raising the fine hairs on her arms and the back of her neck. Something was coming, something...
She tried to scream as a hand was clamped over her mouth and another around her waist. The shadows -- they weren't a figment of her imagination! She struggled to break out of her captor's grip, even attempted a backwards kick to the groin, but she couldn't seem to save herself. Her words muffled against the hand she tried to plead with her captor. "Please... release me!" but her words made no sense. She couldn't speak around the thick of her captor's hand. So instead, she settled for more struggling until something struck her hard in the side of her head. A wave of vertigo washed over her as the hand released her, allowing her to gasp for air and call out weakly before slumping in the arms of the captor. "Don't do this to me..." she managed before the inky darkness of unconsciousness seized her in its embrace.
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Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2012 3:47 pm
Sagittariis Munashii Sorry about the delay, I just got internet back yesterday but had no time to be on to post.
The dread words, or at least the only ones he caught, drew a tension in his muscles.Killer. Was the girl going to reveal his stains to ward the woman away from him? He had no intention of hurting her, but she didn't know that.Maybe she had been passing by and recognized him, concerned for her friend's well-being around him. As the thoughts lingered, so did he, almost seeming to brace himself against the bridge's railing as they awaited the words of the girl; however, her words were not what he expected, but not the kind to relax him either. Someone had killed a woman, apparently another familiar of Leila, his eyes closing in grief. How low could an individual be? Before he knew it, the woman had hurried out a farewell and was on her way, his eyes jolting open as he caught her words." Whoa, wait!" He called out, his free hand reaching out as though he actually had a real chance of grabbing her, the other pushing his away from the railing. They were in too much of a hurry for him to have had a chance at stopping them and were growing smaller against the buildings they neared. If there was a killer running around, he was bound to still be in the city and near the incident, or at least that was his thought. To have the two girls going back there seemed hazardous and he worried that they could become targets next. That's what he wanted to stop them for, maybe not stop them completely but rather slow them so he could accompany the two.
Staring off wide-eyed, the man sighed, dropping his hand limply at his side."Damn."The blanket of the night was parting for the morning's light, he realized, and again he heaved a heavy breath. Maybe the light would put the murderer on a low profile, that was his hope as he made across the bridge with a brisk pace.If he couldn't find the girls, he was going to make certain that the priest and his daughter were safe, as much as he loathed the idea of helping the priest.
The priest's pace slowed as the door came into view, no one was there, which gave him hope that his daughter was safely inside. Inwardly sighing in his short-term relief, Corbin ran a hand through his dampened hair, the sweat at his forehead plastering the longer strands to his skin. He wondered how long she would be sore for, how long she would ignore and steer from him. It would be torturous, but so long as she finally understood his intents and that of the murderous man, then he would gladly endure such torment.
Reaching into a pocket, he conjured his own key, suspecting the girl had locked the door behind her for her safety and their home's safety, but as the object neared the lock, there was already one there. It was Sade's key, of course it was, no one else had a key and she was on her way home just before him. The door was still locked though and she wouldn't have left the key there, something was wrong. The older man's chest contracted violently in his sudden panic, snatching the other key in hand and pocketing them."SADE!" He called out, praying for some miracle that she had dropped something and was near, coming out of the shadows with a sheepish smile; there was nothing."S-Sade!"He tried to keep his tone loud and even, but it began to waver with despair as he continued to cry out for his daughter. The priest pried from the door and frantically scanned the town around him, looking for any sign of Sade or of Gareth, knowing he had to be behind this.
A faulty accusation as Gareth hurried himself to the church, but only to find no one to be there. He wasn't sure if he should have been glad they weren't at the church or if he should have been concerned, seeing as the priest wasn't there either meant he was surely with Sade, he couldn't help but be unsatisfied with his findings at the church though, knowing he couldn't go to the priest's house to check on them. The pale man pinched at the bridge of his nose, feeling the night catching up with him."They probably went home long ago. If the girl was just killed then Sade should be fine..." He tried to reassure himself, sluggishly making for his own home; however, being a street over from the priest's home, he heard the calls of the older man. He knew it was him, catching the rough and always tired tone, plus the name that was clearly pronounced. He went ridged, stopping cold in his tracks. Maybe they were arguing and he happened to call her name...Gareth shook his head and bolted down a connecting alley...No, this was repeated cries, pleads for his daughter's presence. Peering out of the alley, he caught sights of the old man pacing the street, still calling out his daughter's name desperately. Biting his lower lip anxiously, the man jerked his head to a sudden blurred mass across the street through an alley. He knew it wasn't Sade, the shoulders were too broad, but it was suspicious enough to force his body forward and across the street at it. Feet pounding against the hard alley bricks, Gareth powered through the alley and stopped out in the narrow clearing of the backstreet, calling the figure out sternly as he made haste to approach it.
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Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2012 7:28 pm
Leila had left Gareth without another word, questioning Millie as if it was an interrogation. "Do you know who he was? What did he look like? Young or old? How was Ivy killed?" Her questions seemed ceaseless and came on the poor shorter woman in a battering barrage. Each the time was always similar, a "No," or "I don't know,". However, she did glean that the murderer of Ivy was a large brute, one who would tower over even the Leila herself. That only narrowed the suspect to about a thousand people or more. Of course, Leila was most likely exaggerating when the thought crossed her darkening mind, but that was what it had felt like. There are lots of big men out there!
When the pair, Leila and Millie, arrived upon the scene of Ivy's death, her brow furrowed as she gazed upon the grisly scene that lay before the brothel. Her body was a mangled mess, her once-blonde hair a now tangled, bloody, and matted. Short Millie trembled beside her and the full lower lip of hers quivered before she began to break into sobs. The taller woman placed a firm hand on the others shoulder, murmuring to her that she may go back to her home. Wiping tears from her face with a kerchief she had produced from seemingly nowhere, Millie nodded and scurried off, her small choking sobs echoing in the crisp air.
Leila knew the morning was fast approaching, and with that, the killer would be disappearing. She knelt beside the body of her girl and gently slid her fingers over her glazed eyes, closing them. The dead woman before her would deserve a proper burial, decided Leila, but now is not the time. Slowly she studied her lifeless body, keen eyes searching for anything... wait.
Her eyes shifted back to the pale face of Ivy. She leaned forward, a piece of her dark hair falling in front of her face as she did so, and lifted her fingers above the cheek of the dead woman. Her slender fingers picked up a hair. A blond hair. It was short and most thin. She had been extremely lucky to find something as small as this. She let the small piece of hair fall to the ground as she stood up slowly.
She knew only one man with sand-colored hair such as this; Warren Realn.
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The kidnapper of Sade carried her limp body easily, almost as if she was simply a light flower pot. He had her slung over her shoulder, his arm wrapped around her legs to keep her from slipping off and falling to the ground. He has watched this girl for some time now. He knew he was the priest's daughter, sometimes even described as 'the embodiment of light itself,". But the way she moved, the way she carried herself. She was graceful in everything that she did, her movements perfect. She moved just as a Lady of the Night would, one such as...
The name tasted bitter on Warren's mind-tongue. He would not speak, let alone think of her name. She had been destined to be his! But yet she had left him. Abandoned him. Left the man to rot and die alone and forsaken. He would get his revenge on Leila Ashdown. He had sworn to himself he would.
He had heard the cries of the priest as he fled the home of Corbin and his daughter. Warren had no desire to be caught, even though the priest was simply an old man. He couldn't let himself be dragged away to a dark and molding cell before he could exact his revenge upon the shadowy Leila. His plan was simple; first kill all of those closed to her, then take her out himself. It was so easy in his mind, but perhaps this work was easier said than done.
The dead weight of Sade was gradually getting heavier as he covered the ground swiftly. He rounded a corner and slipped into the protection of a dark alley, where he had decided he would murder the girl here before disappearing as the sun rose. He leaned her against the cold wall of a building, half-holding her up, before drawing a knife from his pocket. Suddenly a voice called out to him, startling and nearly causing Warren to drop the blade, whose metal gleamed viciously despite the shadows of the alley.
A man approached him at a fast pace, and hastily Warren thrust the knife back into his pocket, uncaring of whether or not he cut himself in the process. He grunted as he hoisted the still-unconscious Sade over his shoulder and took off as fast as he could. Within his mind, he knew that he would be slower than the unnamed man who pursued him because of the heavy burden he carried. However, that wouldn't stop him from trying to shake Gareth off of his tail. Dashing to the end and making a sharp turn right into the connecting street, Warren Realn attempted to make his escape.
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Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 8:01 pm
As he neared the suspect, Gareth slowed his pace a bit with the fanciful idea that whoever it was, was going to allow him to catch his breath but, again, that was fanciful; wishful thinking. Perhaps he shouldn't have been so hurried to call the person out, maybe sneaked up on them instead, but there was no taking it back now as he had startled the person, the man just feet distancing them. Taking the brief stillness as an opportunity to observe the situation, he realized that there were two, one hidden in the shadow of the other and that one being small in comparison and inanimate; unconscious he further thought. The man, he was certain of, the one he had called out was tall, perhaps a bit more so than Gareth himself, and looked to have a specialty in physical labor with the way the man was structured even in the shadows. Gareth already felt small but not insignificant, he had went at men about this one's size before and knew he stood a fighting chance if it came down to it; however, there could have been a complication. In the growing light of morning he caught the glimmer of something in the monstrosity's hand...A knife? The light slid to the point as it disappeared, into a holster or pocket he thought, and knew for certain it was something along those lines. He would have to be wary but he couldn't be hesitant with the other being at risk and...
The drab green tint of his hazel eyes jolted to the fire that fell around the culprit's shoulder. "Sade."There was no if's about it, not a second guess, it was her and she had just had a blade threatening her and still so if he didn't catch the man that made down the alley with her. His body moved before his mind as his legs pushed him forward; one powerful gait after another. He wanted to call out to the unconscious girl, perhaps wake her to cause the man more trouble than he seemed to already be having with the extra weight, but he couldn't cause a commotion. If he was to stir up the streets, he would get the attention of the priest and he wasn't too certain if he wanted that of all things. Instead, he pressed onward as fast as he could after them. He planned to make this man sorry he ever looked at the priest's daughter. Sade probably would not condone him for his actions, nor would the priest, but he did not care anymore what they thought...Not so much as he once did. If she had no interest in even his existence, then this would be nothing more than a normal thing for him and couldn't harm his image anymore than it already was; however, that was if he didn't get himself stabbed in the process.
Taking sharp unexpected turns, the kidnapper was about as bound and determined to shake Gareth off as Gareth was to get his calloused fingers wrapped around the kidnapper's throat. He would have caught up quicker if it weren't for the poor traction of the shoes he had chosen to wear that day, well, the day before. If he just would have stuck to his brown leather work boots, he swore he would have been on the ground before he could have made it to end of the alley. It was always if's though, always. If he hadn't drank, if he hadn't taken that one swing, if things could have been different, if if if. It was frustrating, he never had no good guarantees, just what could have been done differently or what could have happened. Sade being the victim was the first set-in-stone and that wasn't what he was looking for. Before he knew it though, he was able to see the girl's face, almost able to touch it but clasping onto something that swung much close. Like sharp claws, Gareth dug his fingers into the fabric of the man's shoulder and jerked him as hard as he could to try to spin him around to get a good look at the face that he impulsively swung a fist at.
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2012 10:08 pm
He had managed to lead the stranger far, taking sharp turns and at some points half-thinking that he had lost the man. But whenever he was sure, hoping he would be safe, that damned man appeared again with that dark anger alight in his eyes. The brute of a man knew he could not last much longer, although he was used to physical labor such as this. He was tiring, and quickly. Warren was sure he would have been able to get away, to evade the grasp of the man pursuing him. Tonight was not his night, however. He had taken the risk, had taken a bite too large to swallow, and now he would pay the price. Hopefully he would at least make it out of this alive to at least finish his self-appointed mission for revenge.
It seemed Warren's stroke of luck had run out as an iron-like grip descended upon his shoulder and swung him around before he was greeted with the knuckles of the other man. The blonde-haired behemoth grunted as he staggered back. Something wet trickled over his lip and down his chin, staining his shirt. Blood. He had been struck in the nose. It was most likely broken, but the pain didn't seem to bother him as it seemed that he was running on adrenaline. He cursed the man under his breath and halfheartedly tossed the unconscious Sade off to the side. She landed with a sickening thud and still lay there. A soft moan escaped from her lips, but she still laid still as ever.
"Don't stand in my way, scum." came the gravelly voice of Warren as his hand found the knife once again. He wielded it with an uncanny confidence, a small smirk playing at his lips. This man would be easy. He would die like the rest of those who had stood in his way. Only one among many casualties. He rolled his shoulders and his smirk became a mocking grin, "Please, enlighten me with your name before you die."
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Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 10:24 am
[color=#618C5D]"[b][/b]"[/color] [color=#8C767A]" "[/color] The ill bringing crunching the cartilage made under the pressure of the slightly smaller male's fist was the loud ringing of a fleeting victory. Gareth had managed to land a hit and momentarily delay the monstrosity's escape. Of course, it seemed all of his actions had an adverse consequence and, in this situation, it was Sade. The girl's body was tossed, like she were some sort of paltry or useless item that could be discarded with no remorse. How was he the monster with brutes like these running amok? Kidnapping women, handling them carelessly, and trying to kill them? Even the Dark Drunkard Gareth found this to be madness and staved away the instinct to act on the man's actions; hastily, anyway.
Keeping a calm demeanor, the dark haired man rubbed at his bloodied knuckle, aware that it was not his own as the blood cascaded from the other's injury; the red a stimulation that pinched his heart, the expression the blond wore making his stomach churn."Scum? Me the scum?" The dark man choked out into a laugh, trying his best to ignore the girl that now lay on the cold ground, shaking his head to show his rejection of the idea. His eyes drifted to the knife the man before him held steady in hand, almost professionally, like this was not his first go-around with one; especially on another. Being as comfortable as he was with the blade, Gareth kept himself wary, eyes intent on any and all of the movements the tip of the blade made. If only he could get that damned thing away from him."The true scum are those that find pleasure in the pain of women. I bet a big fella like yourself doesn't have to, but lift a pinky to take control over them." He stated with a gesture to the rather frail looking red-head that was unconscious then, with a sharp flicker of the clouds of his eyes, he cocked his head in a stern inquisition."And you still feel the need to carry a knife?" The tone the man held was finely edged, sharper than the slightly dulled blade the man held, and loud as to present himself larger in mannerism and voice; however, it wasn't to make up for what he lacked in physical size but to threaten the other's intelligence and masculinity. Perhaps these threats would pry him from the weapon, bring them eye-to-eye.
Growing smug himself, Gareth slacked in his defensive, and tense, posture. As he was confident in his own abilities, he tried to make his body language convey it more so than the nagging of uncertainty that inched below the surface, just below his crawling irritation. If the man didn't discard the knife, he would have to find another way to disarm him; however, that could prove to be difficult, though not entirely impossible. Sighing and threading his fingers through his scraggly mess of hair, Gareth raised a disgusted lip to the blond."I would never give the pleasure of my name, not to a rabid cur like you. Now," he took a step toward the man, not attempting to make the first move but urging the other to do so for him,"leave this girl or, you could just give me that one last reason to polish you from these streets." The man's brows furrowed, waiting for the man's response; be it action or words."Go ahead, I would be doing this world a favor, getting rid of you, such putrid filth. Give me that reason.One." Gareth taunted further, finding the man's reaction time insufficient; whether or not it was.
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Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2012 3:05 pm
Warren's squarish face twisted into a sly grin as he observed the other man's reaction to the red-headed woman who lay prone on the ground. Was she his weakness? Only something he really cared about could bring a look like this to a man's face. His hand tightened on the grip of the knife as the thoughts crossed his mind.
"It's all more complicated than that," murmured the blond, his hand shaking slightly. He was gripping the knife so hard, his knuckles were beginning to turn pale like the dawn. Of course, it was more complicated than simply 'finding pleasure in the pain of women.' However, he had no reason or desire to try to explain it to this man. He would be like the rest. He wouldn't understand unless he found himself in Warren's shoes. It would be easier to just kill him, like the rest... The muscled man narrowed his eyes as he stared hard at the other. Was he really that weak - needing to carry a knife? Covering his sudden self-doubt, he gave a sorry excuse for a fake grin, "You can't blame a man for using his resources..." His tone was dark, lined with a razor edge nearly as sharp as the other man's. Rage bubbled in Warren's stomach as he lifted his upper lip in a snarl and dropped the blade. It glittered in the half-light as it bounced harmlessly to the side, away from the not-so-calm grip of the man. His foe made a big mistake, questioning his greatness. He was most certainly not dumb. However, his temper often got in the way of his logical thinking...
With an angry shout, Warren leaped for the other man, a large fist swinging towards his face.
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