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 Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 12:43 pm
Seth paused outside of the heavy steel doors that blocked the castles main entrance. He remembered standing here, his wrist shackled in Lucid's unbreakable grip. He hadn't just been scared, he'd been terrified, he remembered now. Having never run across another being with enough strength to hold him effortlessly. He had managed to get into the castle without in an invite...and he had managed to steal from the master vampire that resided there. Not a good idea, he thought no ruefully, though in truth it had been the best thing he'd ever done. He had damn near gotten away with it too. He grinned with the memory of it, he had stolen a ******** fortune of odd jewels and stones from the castle, using Talon as a decoy. He'd been just outside of the castles walls when he'd heard that deep foreboding voice for the first time.
"I'm not sure if I should commend your tenacity, or curse your stupidity." He hadn't even looked over his shoulder to see who it was, hell he just took off over the cliffs at a dead run. He heard the water and knew that he could escape if he could just reach it. He never even heard Lucid coming, nor had anyone ever moved so fast in his memory. He'd just thrown himself off one of the cliff sides and was reveling in his freedom and the fall when a very firm arm had slipped around his waist and hauled him back. He'd landed several feet away...on the ground, on his back, staring up into the pale blue eyes of the vampire. His first look at his father, Seth thought with a smile. Turning, he watched the boys progress toward him, again wandering what the hell he was supposed to do with the kid. The kid didn't know who or what he was, nor did he have any idea of his capabilities. He didn't see how Marshall could be his brother but until he got more info out of him and checked it out it was a remote possibility. For now, I'll get him a room, a bath, and some food. Then i supposed the only to do is go find Lucid, he thought hoping that his father wouldn't prove to be at a loss as he was.
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Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 1:19 pm
Marshall followed Seth in silence, thinking about the conversation they'd had. He wondered if Seth was telling the truth about his being a demon. It can't be true, he told himself. After all, demons could shift their shape from a human one into a monster. He certainly couldn't do that..could he? In all of his sixteen years, he was positive he had never changed his form into anything. He'd remember doing such a thing. After all, it would hurt to change shape, wouldn't it? But, why could he do things that other people couldn't? Like his water trick..he'd never met anyone else that could do it. The old man that had traveled with him for a time could use fire the same way, but he hadn't been a demon. He'd been a wizard. Marshall heaved a small sigh of frustration. He didn't want to call his brother a lair, but he didn't think the man was telling him the truth.
:You are traveling in circles, Marshall..: Bella said quietly, then struggled to be put down. As he lowered her to the ground, she jumped from his arms. :He was telling you the truth. I detected no lie in his voice. You are a demon.: Marshall stared at her for a moment, mulling her words over.
:But, if I'm a demon, why can't I turn into a monster?: he asked after a moment.
razz erhaps because no one taught you how?: she offered quietly. :Most creatures learn by example. Take a dog, for instance. A dog is usually born into a litter and has a mother, right?:
:Well of course.: he agreed.
:Right, well, the mother can bark and in barking, she show her young how to bark also. Now let's take the mother away right after the puppies are born. If they never hear her bark, how will they know they can?: With this, she fell into step beside him, keeping up with ease. Marshall mulled this over in his mind, then decided that she had a point. His mother had never turned into a monster, but that didn't make her any less of one. But then, wouldn't she have been different from the other people too? Different like him? He still didn't see how he could be a demon..and not know it. He decided that they were all crazy and that he couldn't be a demon. Maybe a fish trapped in a human body, but not a demon. Pushing all of this from his mind now, he looked up at the huge castle that they were at. His mouth form a little 'o' in awe at the size of the structure. It was the biggest thing he'd ever seen in his life. And he'd been just about everywhere. Huge statues of gargoyles lined the upper walls and were accompanied by grotesque lions, griffins, serpents and other beasts. He'd never seen so many statues in one place before, but they all looked as though they belonged. He imagined that if you removed one, the whole scene would be thrown off balance. The inner doors that he assumed lead into the castle were gigantic and made of some very thick metal. They were ornate though, having a beautiful design etched into them. He did hope that Seth had been telling him the truth when he'd said there were no flesh eating monsters living inside. Taking a deep breath, he prepared to follow Seth into the castle.
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Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 1:28 pm
Continuing to watch the boy until he stepped up to Seth's side, he reached out and pushed the doors open. Looking down at Marshall he sighed, drawing a deep breath.
"Stay close, it's easy to get lost within these walls. And do...not...touch...anything!" he spoke firmly, enunciating each word. There were far to many living objects, and other artifacts lying about the castle. As well as traps and other various rigging. An intruder in Lucid's home would be hard presses o find his way out again, especially alive. Stepping into the darkened interior he moved swiftly through the entry hall. Passing the huge stone hearth that could easily hold his dragon form it was stone large and heading for the ornate spiraling staircase.
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Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 5:17 pm
Marshall strode along behind Seth, shrugging at his warning not to touch anything. His gaze md over everything that they passed and he stumbled twice because he wasn't watching where he was going. There were carvings of all kinds and pictures lining the walls all around them. It was almost impossible not to touch some of the things he saw. Every now and then, he'd stop at a tapestry and run the sensitive pads of his fingers over the fabrics, trying to identify ech one. In his travels, he had learned a lot about different fabric and what it was best used for. He also knew the value of most of the fabrics and where to go to get them. He guessed that whoever owned these tapestries had at least millions of dollars worth of fabrics. He cringed to think of them just sitting in this dusty castle all the time. What a waste, he thought. A touch on his leg made him jump and he glared down at Bella, who simply mewled impatiently. Continuing on, he studied the different hallways, making a sort of mental map of the place. He was usually good at this, and here it was even easier because each of the hallways held different objects. He figured that if he had run of the place for a few days, he'd have every hallway memorized.
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Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 5:26 pm
Seth paused at a another set of stairs hidden among the doorways and after glancing at the boy he made his way up them. Moving down a long, beautiful corridor, that was graced with windows all over one side of the far wall. The ocean filled that view, and the loud crash and roll of the waves were a comfort to Seth. Finally pausing beside a large oak door, he pushed it open. the room inside was decorated much as his, the theme was dragons and the far wall was a huge elaborate carving of a water dragon in flight etched into the stone. The bed was covered in a thick quilt of the deep, rich shades of blue that made up the deeper ocean waters. A balcony led out to just over the cliffs, it's doors were open and a breeze blew the dark blue of the curtains back. Bringing with it the scent and sound of the sea.
"You can sleep here for now. I'll have a tray made up fro you and brought up. As well as have a bath drawn up. I'll be a few minutes. I'd prefer if you don't leave this room. There is much about the castle that you have no business being into on your own." he stated softly.
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Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 6:02 pm
Marshall stepped into the room and looked around. As was habit, he noted all of the entry and exit points of the room, as well as any place he could easily fit in case of emergencies. One could never afford to not be careful in an unfamiliar place. He then noticed the elaborate image etched into the stone of one wall. Going over, he traced his fingers over it.
"What is this?" he asked, not looking away from it. His fingers traced the small but fine horns that protruded from the back of the creatures head. The body was long and almost seemed snake like except for the legs. At first, he thought maybe it was some sort of sea monster, but this picture depicted it in the air. It also didn't have wings. He did turn then, Giving Seth a questioning look. "It that really the ocean outside?" he asked quietly, motioning to the balcony.
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Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 6:11 pm
"That is a depiction of a water dragon demon in it's true form." he answered softly, turning he pulled open the door and glanced back at the boy with a slight smile.
"And yes, it is really the ocean outside." he answered striding through the open doorway he pulled the heavy oak door closed gently. And made his way downstairs with a heavy heart and mind. He let his eyes close for a moment. His mind automatically sought to reach for his father but he refrained. No, he would not bother Lucid with this now. He had enough to contend with.
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Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 6:43 pm
Marshall watched him go, then sank onto the bed with a sigh.He almost couldn't believe that he'd actually found his brother. His mother might have been crazy, but at least she'd been honest in her rambling.
"Now what?" he asked no one in particular, laying back on the bed. He left his legs hanging off with his feet still touching the floor and stared at the ceiling. Bella jumped up onto the bed as well, coming to sit beside him.
:Now you wait until bath and food has been taken care of.: she commented then laid down. Reaching out, he brushed his fingers through her long fur, slightly amazed that it was so soft, even after months of hard travel. Exhaustion caught up with him quickly after that and he let himself drift off into a light sleep.
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Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 6:54 pm
Seth made his way toward the kitchens out of old, and absent habit. His mind was farther away, several miles in fact. His thoughts were racing jumping from memory to thoughts, to work, to the boy he had just left, to his father, to worry fro his father. He couldn't seem to sort anything out. For once he thought he might have some idea of what Lucid meant when he claimed to be overwhelmed and no...it was not a good feeling indeed. Shaking his head he cursed softly in vampieran when he saw that he hadn't gone to the kitchen at all, but to his fathers private chamber. Not hard to figure out where I get the most comfort is it, he thought ruefully. Looking at the closed, bewitched living door. The door had startled the s**t out of him when he first arrived, thought he and it had a bit of an understanding now. At the current moment, the door appeared to be resting, but Seth knew that would change the second anyone so much as brushed it or made a loud noise in it's presence. If the door was resting, it meant his father probably was as well. He stood there for several minutes, silently debating with himself as to whether or not he should reach for the door and the man within. He longed to, he longed for his father support and company but god only knew that the man had no need to really be bothered any further. Seth knew why, and he was glad, his father was rapidly becoming wrapped up in the fragile, pretty immortal that had arrived almost on their doorstep several months ago. Not that he could blame him, he thought now with a slight smile. Lyra was beautiful and exceedingly sweet, though she held more courage than she gave herself credit for. For once he was torn, thinking that perhaps, for the first time in his life it might be best if he went his own way fro a while, and for now took the boy with him.
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Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 7:00 pm
Lucid watched Seth from his position just up the hallway. He'd just been in the pools, setting things up for the newest arrival and was now trying very hard to contain his curiosity. But now, watching Seth, he almost felt pity.
"It is hard, isn't it?" he asked, stepping into view from his shadowed spot. "Trying to decide what is best to do." He opened his arms to his adopted son, knowing that Seth needed the comfort.
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Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 7:48 pm
Seth sighed and slowly turned to face Lucid. His eyes moved over his fathers features and when Lucid opened his arms, he gave up the fight and simply walked into them. It was rare when he let Lucid hold him. Hell, he probably hadn't done that since he was fourteen and he'd damn near been killed trying to help Lucid. That had been the first time he had ever killed. Injured, severely even at times, yes, since he was young, but to actually take the life of another and feel it, watch as it faded from there eyes. It had been a hard day. He lay his forehead on his fathers shoulders and drew in a breath, mostly for courage.
"Lucid...why did you keep me?" he asked quietly, raising his head to look up into the vampires eyes.
"I've always been curious...but I could never muster the courage to ask you. I thought with time I'd figure it out, but I haven't. I haven't ever understood why?"
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Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 7:55 pm
Lucid put his arms around Seth, holding him gently.
"Because I saw something worthwhile in you." he said. "When I saw you there, ready to dive off those cliffs into the ocean, I saw, in you, myself. I saw what you could become..and I reached out to you. I think we both gained something worth keeping that day, don't you?"
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Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 7:57 pm
Slowly, Seth nodded a bit stunned that something in him had reminded Lucid of himself. Trying to lighten the mood he flashed a fleeting grin.
"Yes, indeed we both did. I however, got the better end of the deal I think."
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Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 8:02 pm
Lucid smiled as well, then motioned with a hand to his chambers.
"Perhaps you need advice and we shall talk about this new young man you brought home?" he asked, then let go of Seth and moved easily around toward his enchanted door. The door only stirred slightly when he pushed it open and stepped inside. "Come quickly, Seth." Lucid called from just inside the doorway. "Young men bounce back rather fast and he may be asleep now, but he will not stay that way."
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Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 8:04 pm
Shaking his head with the sheer force it took to not laugh, Seth also stepped quickly inside the doorway.
"That young man is no more than sixteen or seventeen and claims to be my younger brother." he stated quietly, he had never been one to beat around the bush. Might as well get to the heart of what was bothering him.
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