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 Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2012 11:01 am
Pierre momentarily buried his face in his hands. He was beginning to stress himself out. He could tell she wasn't happy, and he felt a little stab of pain at this. "I'll train you. I can turn you, but only if you are not able to find a suitor at the end of the courting period. On that final night, when each man offers you his hand, you'd need to refuse them. Only then will I be able to turn you myself. That would not be advisable, though. Courting is more a matter of choosing alliances. It's for power. Those who remain on their own serve those who turned them until they find a mate; they do not usually last very long. Without someone to be your ally, your mate and partner, those seeking power would quickly tear you apart. The one who turned you, by law, is not allowed to protect or defend you in any way for the durration of your life. If someone wanted your place, I would have to stand by and watch as they killed you. It's how it has always been. It is our nature."
He stood, feeling once more the longing to reach out and take her for his own. "We will begin your training tomorrow. Tonight, we must take you to see the tailor and begin your courting. Each suitor will have seperate time with you. You must meet with each of them. Since you are the one who chooses, they will be the ones masked. For our kind, courting is not about looks, but power, personality, and compatibility." Pierre moved on to Jamie's next question, leading the way to the dining hall. "You will be given a week because the ritual calls for it. The final day, the day you choose your mate and you are to be turned, will be the new moon. Werewolves have a similar ritual, theirs ending on the full moon. It's all about tradition and our power - which is derrived from the moon's cycles. You'll learn more in your lessons."
Pierre opened the door for Jamie. "Now... you will eat. You have a long night ahead and you will need your strength."
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Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2012 1:10 pm
 { Ｊａｍｉｅ Ｋａｔｈｅｒｉｎｅ }Ｔｙｇｅｒ, Ｔｙｇｅｒ He turned to leave, but Jamie's hand flew out to grab his. She didn't know what she was doing, but she knew well if she didn't follow her heart now, she probably never could. She pressed herself close to him, holding his face lightly in her hands. Her actions were sudden, yet they had a submissive quality. She gently slid her fingers to his jawline, pulling him closer without using any strength at all. It would be so easy for him to pull away.
Her lips brushed his and she kissed him softly, closing her eyes. It felt like he was going to disappear. She grabbed fistfuls of his hair and kissed him like she has never before - deep and intimate with a hint of a final farewell.
When she opened her eyes, distinct glittering trails leading to her chin was evident in the faint light of the corridor.
"I'm sure there will be someone," she smiled sadly, letting him go. "I'll just take a moment." She excused herself and retreated to her room, closing the door on a creak behind her. Tears continued to flow down her cheeks uncontrollably and it felt to her as if her heart was bleeding dry, but she had to wash up and ready herself for the life ahead.
How one little - no, he is anything but little - vampire can turn my perfectly emotionless world upside down and then just... She couldn't finish, not even in her thoughts. Taking a deep breath, she washed her face and applied a thin layer of powder to hide the slight redness that circled her eyes.
"You have to do this, Jamie," she told her reflection. It nodded in response and she left it there in the mirror, alone.
Pierre lead her to the restaurant once more. This time she ordered only a little fish with honey rice and a glass of water. She wasn't really hungry, but, as he had said, she needed her strength. The waitress eyed her nervously. Perhaps they, too, had heard of her apprenticeship. She smiled at the girl, understanding her fear and insecurity. The girl relaxed only a little and brought her a free ice cream after the meal.
Her mouth watered for it, but she didn't touch it. Moving to Pierre's side, she placed a hand on his shoulder - her touch barely noticeable.
"I'm just going to take this, and the blanket, to James if that is all right with you? I made a promise."
She recalled the promises she made ever since she entered Ravenheart - to help James where she could; to protect Pierre with her life; to acquire great power so she could reach high ranks in the society... Everything seemed so distant now, as if it was slowly falling apart and there was nothing she could do about it. Soon, she wouldn't be allowed see Pierre as much as she wished; it would be best if James forgot about his past and live in ignorance so he can rid himself of his guilt; and Rem was probably going to claim the thrown if Pierre was to fall into her claws.
Jamie's eyes met Pierre's and she waited patiently for his reply. She was going to miss him - greatly.
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Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2012 2:56 pm
Pierre nodded to Jamie and watched her walk away. He called for Alfred. Soon, Alfred was at his side - grinning, eyes bright, and slightly out of breath. "I need a favor."
"You'll owe me," he said, cheerfully. Pierre nodded his agreement and continued, "I need you to take Jamie to the market. She'll need vampiric quality clothing and whatever else she likes. Put it on my tab." Alfred laughed. "Are you serious? Take a beautiful apprentice shopping and spend the whole day with her? I owe you."
"It will count as your time of courting for tonight," Pierre told him sternly. Alfred swore. "Knew there was a catch. Better get a mask then," he stood to leave and turned back. "Are you really giving up so easily?" Silence. Alfred shook his head and left.
* * *
Pierre dressed in his black slacks, black and gold plumed shirt, and thigh-high black boots. He smoothed down his hair and tied it back in a black bow before slipping on his mask. He sighed nervously and picked up the enchanted white rose - it glittered gold around the edges of the petals, the center glowing with a faint but beautiful white light.
He thought of Jamie and calmed his nerves. Tonight was the first step in winning her heart; if he could win her, he would know it wasn't because of his ability to attract - vampires couldn't use their power of attracting prey if their faces were concealed.
Pierre looked himself up and down in the mirror, clicked his heals and saluted smartly, and made his way down to the ballroom. He was the last suitor for the night. On his way, several people asked him if he was lost; they were surprised he knew his way around the palace. If I look, sound, and smell nothing like myself to the other vampires, Jamie will never know, he smiled to himself with satisfaction. Then I will be Simon Moreau...
The piano bench was polished, the keys gleamed brightly. He sat down quietly and began playing a melody he had written for her earlier. The music echoed around the room and he let it consume him. He heard light footsteps behind him and kept playing, opening up his heart and pouring his love into the music. For the first time, he wished he could cry as the realization hit him.
I love her...
She sat next to him and he launched into another song. "You must be this Jamie everyone speaks of," he smiled warmly. "I am Simon Moreau. I have heard many great things about you from my old friend Pierre." He laughed inwardly; the mask's charm was doing its trick - he sounded different. His voice was softer, lighter, more carefree... It made him sound younger and playful, as if he was holding a secret joke inside. His hands continued dancing over the keys as he looked up at her, smiling.
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Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 12:09 pm
{ Ｊａｍｉｅ Ｋａｔｈｅｒｉｎｅ }Ｔｙｇｅｒ, Ｔｙｇｅｒ Jamie held her breath, treading as quietly as her boots would allow. They clicked on the marble floor and she knew she has been noticed. The suitor, the last one for the night, sat at the piano, playing a heartfelt melody that she was sure not even Pierre was capable of. She felt drawn towards the instrument once again, taking a seat next to the blonde vampire. His carriage was charming - not restless, not overpowering, yet not too relaxed either. She watched his fingers caress the keys as if the piano was alive.
"Oh, have you?" she said, pretending to be flattered. "Well, Mr. Moreau, I assure you he does not know half of me, and for that matter you best forget all preconceptions." Her voice was playful and somewhat alluring, yet she seemed unattainable.
"Shall we take a stroll? I am bored with eating dish after dish," she gave him an apologetic smile. There was something in her eyes; something she had developed quite recently; something that glanced upon all the suitors who wished to court her and seemed to drive them mad - a warmth wrapped within an icy abyss that threatened to smother all life if they dared enter, yet the core...
She stood gracefully, taking his arm as he accompanied her to the moonlit outdoors. Dark clouds were taking a slow train across the globe, dimming out the moon and her children by the faintest of layering gloom. She steered him gently towards the gates. Once beyond them, she turned to smile at Simon.
"It's a clearing I found," she started, her voice light and dreamy. "It's not far off, and it is filled with the strangest of flowers."
Then she glanced down at the soft grass and laughed inwardly. "Oh, forgive me. I suppose I got a bit carried away. I am Jamie Katherine, but by all means, if you have to address me by name, call me Katherine," she looked up at him, searching for some response. She couldn't see his eyes, they were hidden within the shadows cast by the mask, and it made her a bit uneasy.
"Pay my last name no mind. It has no value. It was meant to be some sort of nickname," she shrugged nonchalantly, yet elegant with every gesture she made. "Besides," she continued. "I'll have a new one soon, now won't I?" she smiled, watching him from the corner of her eye. She remembered how each suitor reacted to her attitude - as if they were so close to winning her over, yet so far. She practiced it on the character named Edward at first (the one who took her shopping, urging her to buy every piece of fabric and every jewel her heart desired) and it appeared to catch him off guard all the time. It made him jump like a jack rabbit, becoming the most dedicated salesperson Jamie has ever seen.
They reached the field. It was littered with fine white flowers that hung their heads in the moonshine.
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Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 2:41 am
Pierre frowned; Jamie was becoming more vampire than ever - and she hadn't even been turned yet. This wasn't the Jamie he knew and loved, but rather a cold "Katherine" who made men desperate for her affections. He cleared his head and approached the matter logically. Of course she's going to act colder. It's an important decision. She wants to make sure she's making the right choice. He looked out at the clearing as they arrived. Well, I want to be with the woman I love, he decided. He sat among the white flowers, rose still in hand; she hadn't noticed it yet. She sat next to him. Still looking out at the field, he spoke.
"I don't know any other way, so I'll just be direct, Miss Katherine. I am not one of them. I did not come to win your hand for your beauty. I came to win your hand for a much different reason. Pierre speaks highly of you... your warmth and kindness, your strength, your loyalty, and - above all - your bravery. Hearing such high remarks from one so esteemed... I was immediately taken."
He turned to Jamie and stared deep into her eyes, a fire smoldering within them. "Please... don't give up your humanity yet. Keep that warmth. You are not just any cold vampiress," he said, handing her the enchanted rose, "You are a white rose among a tangle of red thorns," he said softly, sincerity flooding his voice, "You can be yourself around me... and I will do my best to show you who I truely am, despite this mask," he told her, his words heavy with more than one meaning.
* * *
Pierre groaned as he climbed into his window from his balchony. Sneaking in was exhausting. He was weak; he hadn't fed enough and as a result, his memory of the night was more than a little fuzzy. He undressed, kicking his disguise beneath the bed and sank beneath the covers, hoping Jamie would take extra time in getting washed up before her first lesson; he had little energy.
Pierre recalled the many suitors as they said farewell. Rage and jealousy flared up inside him. His love for her burned intensely within his chest, threatening to explode. He loved her so deeply... and he thought he'd have more of a chance. With that many suitors...
There was a knock at the door. He swore loudly, pulling on a pair of thick, white pants and a loose white shirt that showed the scars from the past poison. His hair hung down, untidy. "Come in," he called, his voice deep and weary.
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Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 3:11 pm
{ Ｊａｍｉｅ Ｋａｔｈｅｒｉｎｅ }Ｔｙｇｅｒ, Ｔｙｇｅｒ Jamie was lost deep in thought. She stared at the rose on her desk for hours. It seemed to glow forever and she couldn't tear her eyes from it, neither could she bare to touch it. Simon Moreau wasn't like the others. He made her feel guilty and quite materialistic. He was right, though, she wasn't being herself. Could she afford to be? Katherine was a perfect alias. It would be the one she appeared to be in public. Would this destroy her? Would getting rid of her cocoon, Katherine (who was meant to protect her from harm), the better option?
Jamie heaved a sigh, sinking her head into her hands without breaking her hypnotic bond towards the rose. Could she really trust this stranger? Should she? Her thoughts drifted to Pierre with a tinge of agony. If he told Simon so much about her, then perhaps this masked man really had good intentions; perhaps Pierre aimed for him to court her because he knew she would be in good hands. Then again, wouldn't it be better, for the sake of her sanity, to stay as far away from Pierre as possible?
A thin pale finger reached to touch a petal, but idled in the immediate air above it. Jamie closed her eyes, taking a deep breath and standing up from the desk. She walked to her cupboard where she scanned it for a new dress to wear. She pulled one out and laid it on her bed, disappearing around the screen partition to soak in a vanilla scented bath.
* * *
"You look terrible," Jamie commented with genuine concern, moving to stand behind Pierre. Her cheeks flushed. Even though he seemed drained and exhausted, he was so irresistible. She closed her eyes again, reeling her thoughts. He felt so close, yet so painfully far away.
"I'm sorry," she apologized in something that resembled an ashamed whimper. She held out her arm to him, the previous cuts still visible after she loosened her glove. It reminded her of her other wrist - where the thread once had been that only left a bruised bracelet in its wake. A part of her wished he would grab her arm and pull her closer, draining her blood from her neck. Yet, reliving the night's experiences she felt too curious to give up now.
She gulped heavily, swallowing whatever feelings she kept underneath the surface of her being to deal with later.
I have to concentrate on my studies. The Ordeal is not to be taken lightly.
She wasn't quite sure if she still wanted to become one of them. Sure, the power was compelling, but when she thought about everything else the need for power seemed inadequate. There was something much stronger than her lust for power and authority. It was loyalty. She thought about James and how his eyes sparkled at the sight of her. She wished she could spend more time with the boy, even though she felt the need to keep the news of her turning to herself. Next, she thought about Jean-Pierre to whom she still felt hopelessly attracted to. He tricked me, she thought angrily, but then her mind played the scene over in her head.
Pierre stared deep into her eyes, sorrow pouring from him through to her.
She winced at the memory, doing her best to redirect her thoughts to focus on the task at hand - she had to absorb as much knowledge as she could, and as fast as she could.
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Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 7:37 pm
Pierre shoved Jamie's arm away. He couldn't drink from her. A part of him rationalized that he needed the blood; his private stores were depleted. He also felt a deep longing to be close to her, to take her in his arms, to make her his... But the more he thought of her sacrifices, the longer he gazed down at her scars, the more his heart broke. He could no longer stand it. Shaking with grief, Pierre reached out and pulled Jamie to his chest.
He held her close for a long while, taking in everything – her scent, the feel of her warm skin, her beating heart... Eventually, he released her and sank to the bed in exhaustion. Pulling himself toward the pillows, he pointed to the table. “We'll study those texts today,” he told her, “I've summarized them for you. The first one is on etiquette, the second on hunting, and the third on our laws. Tonight, we'll start with the laws.”
He beckoned her to his side and closed his eyes, feeling the bed sink down next to him. “First, we will begin with human weapons. Vampires secrete a poison when they bite and the poison seeps into the blood of the human. If they are not completely drained - by drinking all at once, or drinking some and storing some for later - the poison will taint the living blood. This poison can kill vampires. If a vampire bites a human and drinks only some, the poison will spread through the pumping of the heart and when the vampire returns to finish drinking, they will die a very painful death. The poisoned human will die within the week, unless they consume 1-2 pints of vampire blood. This will change them - over the course of a painful week - into a vampire. Some vampires will inject their venom with a needle into a human and send it off as a gift to a vampire whose power they covet. The unsuspecting vampire will drink from the human, become poisoned from the tainted blood, and die. One vampire biting another will not kill the vampire as they have no beating heart to pump the venom through their veins. It must be consumed.”
He paused here and opened his eyes. Jamie was very close to him, peering down into his face. He lifted his hand and stroked her cheek; her heart fluttered wildly and she blushed lightly. This small reaction made a fire burn inside of him. In an instant he sat straight up, his face mere inches from her own. “Jamie,” he breathed, filling with pain. He felt her slipping away. Pierre rested his forehead on hers, tracing her lips lightly with his fingers. His other hand tightened around her waist; he fought to remain in control, forcing himself to remember that she was not his. She had many other suitors. He was simply an instructor. Still, he could not keep himself from advancing on her, tilting her chin upward and meeting her lips with his own. Wild visions danced in his mind; he deepened the kiss. It was then that his heart finally broke in two and he pulled away, weeping inside. “You may take the book with you,” he said without meeting her gaze. He buried his face in his hands miserably and shook with exhaustion and sorrow.
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Posted: Wed May 02, 2012 11:13 am
{ Ｊａｍｉｅ Ｋａｔｈｅｒｉｎｅ }Ｔｙｇｅｒ, Ｔｙｇｅｒ Jamie sank down next to him, wrapping her arms around him and pressing his back close to her chest.
"Why...?" she whispered on the verge of tears, but then reconsidered her question and abandoned it altogether. She loosened her other glove, letting it drop to the floor, and tightened her hands into fists, locking on his shirt. She held him like this until he stopped shaking. Only then she stood to retrieve the book. She sat next to him, tightly, so that the length of her legs could feel his presence. With one hand she played with his hair, but forgot about the affectionate gesture when the book consumed all of her attention. It contained everything she wanted to know about vampires.
She lowered herself with her back pressing against Pierre's when her head started to throb from absorbing too much information at once. She didn't care. Laying down, she continued to read until she finally fell asleep with the book in her now fragile grip.
She pressed herself up against a wall. It was Simon, standing in the distance, that she saw first. Some of the other suitors were there too. Edward wore his arrogant, yet charming smirk and the elderly vampire adjusted his mask as he often did. She recognized one more - a dark haired man that stood with a bouquet of red roses - but she couldn't remember his name. The rest was a blur, as if they were a crowd of masked men that were entirely without identity. She couldn't even remember dining with that many suitors, yet they all seemed as determined as ever. She was called to the front of the slightly elevated platform. She labelled it as a stage for the lack of a better comparison.
The first man stepped forth. The vampire she came to know as Edward Williams appeared before her. He was too close for her comfort, so she took a step back, only to meet with the wall again. His crooked smile faded gradually into a sinister grin, baring polished fangs. Jamie yelped and dodged him. Suddenly, the old man was in front of her now. He fiddled with his mask again and it appeared that he wanted to get rid of it, but couldn't. He gave up and locked eyes with her. They were white and soulless as a set of pearls. He licked his lips...
Jamie punched him in his stomach, but instead of hurting him, she only injured her hand. It was bleeding now and everyone seemed to turn towards her, moaning. Her eyes were wide with fright and she could feel how her adrenalin kicked in. She ran, past them all, as fast as her legs could carry her.
She came upon an empty cage in the middle of a random circus tent. She crashed into it, locking it and throwing away the key. Dumb move, she thought, but it was too late. The key flew over the ground like a paper plane.
They neared her at a slow, taunting pace. Each of them has become a masked monster - their eyes glowed red and it seemed as if their entire beings were consumed by some translucent shadow. Hands reached out to her through the bars. Jamie sank down into a crouch, swaying back and forth with her arms hugging her knees. She felt like a clown. No. She felt like one of those circus tigers - trained only for one purpose and that was to jump through flaming hoops and onto platforms, obeying the whip as was tradition. I hate traditions, she sobbed.
A white gloved hand caressed her back, forcing her to look up. It was Edward, giving her a soothing smile. She didn't return it. A masculine scream from the distance called her attention. A commotion has started in the core of the bunch, but Jamie couldn't quite make out what it was.
Thoughts flashed through her mind and she found herself hoping that it was Pierre, fighting them off. It wasn't. The suitors started to kill each other. At first they were inflicting mere bites, killing their own kin with the vampiric poison that would be used to turn her one day. In a while they started prolonging the bites, drinking bits from their victims' blood before handing them over to the poison's excruciatingly painful grip. Another cry rose above the snarls and chaos. The old man was the first to drain another suitor completely. He started to grow taller, crushing other vampires with a mere flick of his arm - like a whip. Jamie shuddered.
A pair of hands cupped her shoulders. "It's okay, Jamie." She recognized the voice and spun around, falling over clumsily. Her heart sank. It was only Simon. His eyes were glowing like the sun - gold. She backed away from him, pressing her back into the bars of the cage. How he entered was beyond her.
"I'm not like them..."
Jamie gasped for air, but her eyes seemed to refuse to open. She rubbed them vigorously until they began to hurt. Simon's words echoed in the corners of her mind.
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Posted: Wed May 02, 2012 12:00 pm
Pierre felt Jamie go limp with sleep. He pulled her back into the pillows, tucking her in gently. Kissing her forehead, he felt an overwhelming need to protect and comfort her. He leaned down and whispered in her ear, "I wish I could show you... I'm not like them. I promise."
He kissed her cheek and, snatching his disguise from where he kicked it under the bed, departed, closing the door behind him softly. He quickly stepped into a wash room and drew a hot bath, sinking into it slowly. Finally, some rest. This double life is beginning to wear me down... and I haven't even really started. Pierre closed his eyes and lay his head back, wondering what "Simon" should do next.
Jamie seems a bit frightened. Perhaps if I put her in control, make myself vulnerable? Perhaps then she would feel more comfortable. He ran through several scenarios in his mind, finally deciding on a more playful approach.
* * *
A servant trotted down the hall to Pierre's chambers thinking to himself how odd it was that the suitor Simon had him chain him to a wall of the ruins in the deep woods. He knocked, envelope containing a map in hand. What odd people...
* * *
Pierre stood chained to a stone wall as the last rays of sunlight died down. The shackles were slack enough that he could keep his arms down by his sides, but he couldn't step forward more than two feet - just out of range. His mask was securely in place and he was dressed in a white jacket, white shirt with gold patterns, and black pants. He looked up at the sky, singing a song to help pass the time. A table with tea and human style sweets sat before him; he leaned back against the wall and continued singing as a small enchanted tulip pinned to his white jacket began to glow.
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Posted: Wed May 02, 2012 12:39 pm
{ Ｊａｍｉｅ Ｋａｔｈｅｒｉｎｅ }Ｔｈｅ Ｓｅｅｋｅｒ Pierre was gone. She searched his chambers, but failed to find him. Sighing, she took the book back to her room where she found a nervous Françios pacing back and forth in front of her door.
"Is something the matter?" she asked him kindly. His face seemed to lighten with relief.
"Oh, good. You're all right." He approached her with papers in his arms with a serious expression pasted on his face. "Here are the agenda for this week. It will tell you when your appointments are with which suitors and where. If there are any changes, the papers will correct themselves. I enchanted them for you." Jamie nodded, urging him to skip the explanations.
"Can they speak?"
François gave her a puzzled look.
"You said they can tell me..." He shook his head with half a smile. She uttered a little laugh and thanked him for his troubles.
"You better hurry up, miss. You're date is awaiting you at dusk." He smiled at her and left.
She felt somewhat proud of herself for making someone smile and quickly entered her room, dumped the book on her bed and washed up. She pulled on a new dress and rushed a silver comb through her hair. Her entire room filled with the scent of french vanilla once again and she smiled. It felt wonderful to be pampered.
***
Mr. Moreau was leaning against a stone wall as Jamie approached him cautiously. She only noticed the small table topped with candy when it was standing right in front of her. Her worried expression lightened immediately and her hand stretched out to snatch up a piece of coconut ice. She savored the sweetness and then glanced at Simon, moving towards him at a playful pace. She didn't greet him, but tilted her head to the side ever so slightly instead, her gaze swapping between the cuffs on his wrists and his masked face. She was a bit more at ease now - his mask didn't seem as threatening as it had in the nightmare.
"May I ask why are you chained to the wall in the middle of practically nowhere?" her eyes smiled with curiosity. She was being the best Jamie she could be. If he wasn't like the others she wouldn't need Katherine. This night would determine just that.
"May I ask you a question?" She wandered to the table, tracing her fingers around its rim and examining the candy. She could recognize most of it, but only knew the taste of a few. She hoped she would be able to take them to her room after this - to nibble on later.
"Can vampires taste candy, or any other normal food or beverage, at all?"
She brought a glass bowl of honey dipped cherries and stood in front of him, picking one up by its stem and offering it to Simon by holding it inches from his lips.
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Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 2:46 pm
Pierre smiled at her. "We can taste them, we can even consume them, but we do not enjoy them. Food... "turns to ash in our mouths" was probably the best phrase I've heard used. We can flavor blood to taste sweet, bitter, sour, salty - whatever we like. They are tastes completely unique that resemble nothing of this world." She ate the cherry. "However it's very difficult to make and dangerous. If you brew a potion wrong, or even use half a gramme to much of something, you could die. It takes many centuries of dicipline. The new results are very expensive. We have vendors in the square. Perhaps one day I could show you," he said with a playful smile.
She looked at him pointedly. "Oh. Right. I'm chained up," he chuckled a bit, "This is to.. even the playing field, so to speak. Normally, I could break free, but as it is I am weakend. Like my good friend, I too wait until the last possible moment to drink. I tend to get distracted by my studies. In fact, after this week, I'd very much like to undertake a journey. I'd love it if you would be the one to accompany me," he said slyly. "However, if you choose another, I understand."
But I won't like it, he added in thought. More than not like it... I'll have no reason to still exist. You made me feel again. If you melted this ice only to leave me... He bit his lip. "How do you like your tea?"
* * *
When Jamie had departed, another servant unchained him and he made his way to the square. A large man with a bristling moustache came to greet him and usher him into his shop - all that talk of blood elixers encited his cravings...
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Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 3:23 pm
{ Ｊａｍｉｅ Ｋａｔｈｅｒｉｎｅ }Ｔｈｅ Ｓｅｅｋｅｒ There was a fleeting hint of agony in her eyes as he lightly touched the topic of the choosing, but she hid it under bewilderment as it was not too difficult. She wanted to ask him where to, also what he was studying, but the topic has already been changed and she decided it was for the better. She had an entire week to be curious about each suitor. She only wished she could pick out a few and leave the rest to their own miserable selves. Out of the twenty one vampires, she only liked five - the fun-loving blonde; the eccentric, but random dark head; the tough and protective redhead; the all-knowing old man; and the glowing flower in hand and shadowy golden eyed Simon. She didn't feel like giving the others a second chance.
Besides, Jamie. What would you have answered? "I'd like that." No, you've only seen him for the second time now, don't be so silly and naive. If he really claims to be different, even though all was different in their own ways, he has to prove it. Hasn't he already done that? He didn't advance on me by the tales of his riches and what-have-you, so he must be...
Jamie met his shaded eyes, resuming her confused expression.
"My tea?" At first she thought it meant something else, but then she remembered she wasn't on Earth where everything had a double meaning, and uttered a little chortle to her stupidity.
"Usually black Rooibos tea with honey," she said, smiling and walking over to the table again.
"I suppose you like yours pure, warm and sweet?" she was guessing at his blood preference while glancing at him over her shoulder, delicately placing a powdery white block of Turkish delight into her mouth and then washed the sweetness down with a sip of her tea. She felt like crying, but tried her best not to think about it - an orphan, found in the slums after her parents turned on each other, was being offered candy and tea, and riches beyond her wildest dreams. She made a mental note that whomever she chooses in the end, should be the manager of their finances.
After dragging a chair toward him, she sat on another and started a light conversation that contained more than what it seemed. She was curious and couldn't resist...
"What studies could be so intriguing that you forget about feeding?"
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Posted: Sat May 05, 2012 9:54 pm
Not wanting to lie, he considered his answer carefully. Finally he settled on, "Emotions, mostly. I am learning slowly and find them very interesting. Though with my tutor, I am studying the histories of the first vampire clans - before Ravenheart was even thought of. I've been planning for many years to travel and seek out these barbaric and ancient clans."
Pierre watched Jamie carefully, wishing with all his heart that he was unbound and holding her in his arms. Then, feeling a little curious and hoping to gain some useful insight, he changed tactic. "I've been away for so long. How is Pierre? He treats you well, I hope?"
He waited to spot some sort of reaction. If she reveals her feelings to me, then I'll know - that would be the best thing. However, I doubt that she will, so I'll have to watch her body language carefully. If I am lucky, I'll see for myself her feelings toward me. Who knows? Perhaps she enjoys the company of these suitors more than me after all. And then I should bow out of this contest and surely die... Though it's not beating, what good am I with a broken heart? I am a broken man...
He slumped a little against the wall, feeling the lack of blood gnawing at his insides. He was becoming dangerously weak. He tried to think of other things and ignore this feeling. Pierre concentrated on Jamie's features. He memorized every inch of her face, even the exact color of her eyes; from the way her mouth looked as she smiled to the light blush of her cheeks... He sighed. There is nothing that I can do that can compare to her.
He snapped his attention back just in time to catch her reply, listening eagerly and keeping his eyes focused on her body language.
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Posted: Sun May 06, 2012 3:14 am
{ Ｊａｍｉｅ Ｋａｔｈｅｒｉｎｅ }Ｔｈｅ Ｓｅｅｋｅｒ Jamie lowered her gaze and felt helpless as the fire in her eyes died. She didn't shed a tear anymore, but then again she wasn't too good with public emotions.
"He's my instructor," she said, not meeting his eyes. She felt a subtle anger towards Simon for mentioning Pierre - like a wounded creature, fighting for its survival. She reminded herself of his studies of emotions and corrected her behavior.
If he sees I'm upset, he'll think I'm pathetic. What prior slave falls in love with her master? It's absurd, she scolded herself and forced her emotions to evaporate. She wished she could do the same to her heart.
"He is well, I believe. He has not complained about anything, though..." She remembered the sheer agony in his actions the last time they met, but decided that Simon did not have to know. She allowed a worried expression to crawl through, but soon abandoned it by shaking her head as she usually did to clear her thoughts.
"He is in perfect health and will soon be rid of the one thing that I have witnessed to ever make him feel -- what is that word? Sad."
"We're studying more or less the same - about vampire origins, that is. It's interesting, but I haven't heard of the clans yet. Tell me more?" Her curiosity returned and she was grateful for it. If she could hold him off topics that ignited sparks of emotion within her, she would be all right. He was right. He was different than the others, but perhaps she needed Katherine after all.
Stupid girl. How could you be so naive? I could have told you that he was out for your blood...
Oh, hush. You have no proof that he mentioned Pierre deliberately.
Ha! Well, I'm not the one who fell in love with the tyrant, now am I?
He's not a tyrant! He's a kind, passionate gentleman that I am honored to have known in my lifetime.
And soon you will meet many more that you will find equally intriguing.
No...
The conversation in her mind ended there and it was starting to seem silly to her.
She awaited Simon's reply, listening attentively and absorbing every thread of information he introduced.
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Posted: Sun May 06, 2012 6:42 am
Pierre studied her carefully and saw nothing but sadness. He felt a stab of pain at the thought of this and resolved to make her happier, even if she didn't choose him.
"Apparently, they have a completely different set of morals and ethics than we do. Their entire government structure is really... interesting. Only the strongest and bravest survive. They focus on honor and justice, rather than power and cunning. These people were made from the ancient humans known by several names: Anglo-Saxons, Celts, and - most recently - the Scotish. They're an amusing people. Their histories speak of creatures that are just fantastical - dragons, unicorns, demons, angels, centaurs, gryphons, harpies, and so on. Many believe that these creatures do not exist, but I say that if the ancient ones are in a far off land mass somewhere, why not these long lost species?"
His eyes were glowing with passion for his words; he so desperately wanted to know more of his world. He wanted to find the ancients, join them, and introduce a more honest way of thinking to his people. He concealed the fact that in his studies he came across an ancient artifact that could turn him human again. The ancients did it all the time, turning from human to vampire over and over again to suit their needs. They were good vampires that never harmed or enslaved humans. They worked their land themselves, drank from wild animals only when needed, and only turned humans when they asked to be and only if they were deemed worthy.
Pierre sighed inwardly. He knew he couldn't leave Jamie. He so desperately wanted her to join him on his journey, but knew he hardly stood a chance. He snapped out of his introspection.
"Before I forget, Miss Katherine," the name tasted bitter in his mouth, but he resolved to call her by it until she permitted him otherwise, "This flower is for you." He nodded to the enchanted, blushing tulip pinned to his lapel.
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