Hello again! After writing The New Girl, from Graves' perspective I decided to write a small story from Christophe's. It's likely to be no more than two or three chapters but please read and review. And if you haven't read my other Strange Angels stories please do so (The New Girl and Taints on the Tongue) Cheers and hope you like. =)

Chapter one, Goodbyes

Today something would happen. I could sense the undercurrents, the build up to a storm. It made the air thick with expectations and tension. I stood by the window where I'd remained for most of the day with watchful eyes. I was watching nothing and everything in particular. I was ready to defeat anything that came my way. The depressing little town appeared normal. But only appeared, to those like me we could sense the paranormal, and this place was scarred from the blood that had been drunk here. I dug my fingers into the windowsill damaging the wood.

Being here was wrong. I hated the cold depressing little place. It was like life had been long since drained from the place. It was like everything was clear of colour. I could not contemplate her choice to come here. What was the allure? Did this place mean anything to him? Had Dwight Anderson convinced her to come with him here? Or was it her idea? I thought it might be hers. She was always intelligent and when people came searching, this was the last place they would look. But they had looked and they had found her. The traitor had revealed her whereabouts. She had been mercilessly killed here.

And I would mercilessly kill here too. Some time soon. I knew that the bait would not take long to do the task. Then blood would be split. I would finally be victor in the personal vendetta that I had held for so long. I would finally have my revenge. Dwight would not beat me to it, and I needed him out of the way. He was going to ruin everything; he was too messy and too ignorant of what we are. He may have been with her, he may have loved her, he even bore a child with her, but he would never fully understand. I'd understood her, more than anyone. She'd been my confidante and I hers. She was my best friend.

The day she'd left. It brought pain to my heart and being. She'd sought me out in the target room. 'Christophe I need to talk to you', she'd said softly.

I put down my gun and had turned to her. 'Of course skowroneczko moja .'

'Christophe I'm leaving', she whispered.

'Leaving? And where is it you're going to?'

'I can't tell you,' she continued to whisper, refusing to look at me.

'Well that doesn't matter, I'll be with you anyway.

'Chris, you can't', she said. 'I'm leaving…alone.'

'That is impossible. I refuse to let you.'

'You have to Chris. I can't live like this', she pointed to herself. 'I refuse to. I want to be normal; I want to have a life. I…I can't keep hiding, I can't keep living but not experiencing anything.'

'You're being irrational. You're not normal, you're a svetocha. Your blood is being sought for. You have a target on your forehead. You cannot just deny what you are.'

Tears filled her eyes. 'I want to be normal Chris, I want-.'

'This is because of him isn't it?' I said harshly.

She still wouldn't look at me properly and it was tearing me into pieces that she couldn't even meet my eyes. 'Yes', she replied clutching her necklace; a gift from Dwight Anderson himself. 'I love him, Chris,' she managed a smile. 'And he loves me.'

'And he wants you to deny what are?' I was angry.

'No! But I want to, Chris. Please, you've got to understand me, I beg of you. See it from my way Chris. I want to be normal…I want to live without watching my shadow. I'm tired; I'm so tired of fighting. I need to let myself be happy.'

'You'll still be hiding! You'll still be watching your shadow.'

'No I won't, not if I go somewhere where no one would think to look.'

I looked away from her. I felt so angry. She was giving up on me. How dare she give up on me after all I'd given to her? I taught her how to fight, how to resist drinking, and this was how she repaid me. By turning her back on me. I picked up my gun and started shooting the target in my anger. I could still feel her presence.

'Christophe, I hoped that as my best friend you of all people could understand why I have to do this.'

I slammed the gun down and turned to her. I wanted to be angry, but I was startled by her tears that poured from her eyes. 'If you're serious you'd look me in the eyes and tell me that this is what you want.'

She looked up at me and met my eyes; we stared at one another for a moment. 'I want to leave Christophe. I am leaving. There is nothing anyone can say or do to stop me. I'm going because it's what I want, it's what I need. No-one's going to know where I am, not even you. I hope one day you'll be able to understand, and maybe even forgive me.'

I could not think or even form a sentence in answer. But I suddenly knew that she had chosen her path. I knew that I would no longer be part of her life, for she had chosen to leave that part of her behind. I was unable to say anything as she stepped forward and kissed my cheek and breathed in my ear. 'Goodbye Christophe.' And I could not call out or stop her as she walked away from my life, leaving nothing but memories with me.

Disclaimer: Strange Angels belongs to Lili St. Crow. Plus thanks to Lady Artemis for Christophe Reynard's Vocab, it's very useful!