Author's Note:

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Character Listings:

Name: Eli

Age: 16

Bondage: none

View on vampires: Amazed yet fearful

View on witches: Oblivious

Other: Discovered Vampires through a family death

Name: Deveron

Approximate Age: 700 years

Sire: Coralee

View on Witches: murderous hatred

View on Humans: thinks they are amusing, loves to manipulate them

Other: was religious in his human life, sometimes still is despite being damned

Easier Said Than Done:

Eli:

Eli leaned back, sinking down in the rigid pew; she shifted away from her sobbing mother, hoping to disappear within the darkness of the church. It disturbed her how differently her mother acted within the church--weak and fragile, unable to neither contain nor hide the tears that she wept so openly. It didn't disturb Eli. It disgusted her! How much longer would it take for her mom to get over her father's death? It had already been 5 years and Eli never cried anymore, discarding her feelings when they were only signs of weakness; but even that was easier said than done.

Deveron:

Deveron leaned against the wall by the door, his fingers still damp from the holy water beside him. The church was dimly lighted, giving him the cover of the shadows he needed. Although he sometimes came here for the masses, today he was here to watch someone: the human girl Eli. He chuckled softly when he glanced again at the holy water beside him; it didn't burn him like the legends said. But he also laughed at the image of Eli inching away from her mother, a disgusted look on her face.

Perhaps he would approach her after mass. Perhaps.

Eli:

Eli didn't understand her mother's mourning. How many times had her father's hand come down too harshly on her mother? How much money had her mother wasted on makeup just to conceal that very fact? Eli didn't hide her happiness when her father died, and she didn't hide her gratefulness to the vampire that killed him. Eli glanced over at her mother once more and slid closer, then harshly whispered, "When are you going to stop lying to yourself?"

Her mom glanced at her, surprised, but didn't answer. Eli got up and stumbled towards the church doors, unable to stand it anymore. When she reached the doors she glanced back with hope that her mom had followed her, but her mother still sat in the same spot.

She shook her head, scolding herself for caring, then seemingly unnoticed, she stepped out of the church and into the night.

Gaelle:

Gaelle stumbled at the door of the church, surprised to find that the door she had gone to open was at the hands of a human, who left in more of a hurry that she seemed to have come. Having fed for the night and killed too many for her taste, she stepped inside the church. The smell of lit candles hit her hard and she pushed past, knowing well that the park nearby had a strong witch aura surrounding it, that the church was stiff with the vampiric, and that humans lingered everywhere.

Fools. They were bound to be a snack, or worse, suffer her fate.

Gaelle ignored the vampiric auras and stepped further into the church, past the chapel entrance and further on to the Baptismal gallery where the holy water was stored. The closer she looked, the more and more she could pick the auras apart.

Although she didn't agree or necessarily like Aiden, she knew her place in his line, and was well aware that conflict would be grave. He had found a distaste for a vampire named Coralee, and although Gaelle had never met her, she had listened to him speak of her. Now, Gaelle was struck by her- she could feel the hesitatingly curious brush against her mind, and wondered if she was in for more than a weak prayer.

"Don't you have somewhere you should be?" she asked quietly, turning to the Baptismal fountain, expecting to find the woman at last. Instead, she found a man--no doubt one of her fledglings--but stopped in her words. Knowing to look strong over weak, she settled one hand on her hip, and played the game she knew best: the game that got her changed.

Deveron:

Deveron watched Aiden's fledgling stalk through the church, walking closer and closer to the Baptismal gallery. He waited quietly, lazily spinning a finger in the water and thinking nostalgically of his human dreams of becoming a man of cloth. Unlike others of his kind, he didn't try to avoid memories of his past.

The human had left, perhaps to go to the graveyard, perhaps not. Deveron shrugged carelessly to himself. This vampire was more interesting anyway. She had a sultry look about her, and when she spoke, Deveron grinned. He knew all too well how much Coralee hated Aiden. Would their fledglings act the same?

"Actually, no." He decided to be blunt, rather than speaking riddles like he normally favored. "But from what I've heard, you seem to be the last person I'd expect to see here." He was goading her, waiting for a reaction.

Gaelle:

Gaelle paused, fighting the otherwise natural instinct to bite her lip, or to continue on. Aiden had mentioned Coralee most recently at Dry Culture, where he had even mentioned that she was quite attractive--a trait Gaelle both was fond of and hated. Aiden's taste was only for the beautiful, and she only flaunted that she was his fledgling because it made her feel more desirable. Otherwise, she hated him, and everything he had made her.

"Oh?" Gaelle whispered, conscious that there was a human crying in the pews ahead. She wished that it was easy to cry- in fact, she would die all over again for the liberty, "And what have you heard?"

Gaelle stepped forward with light feet, kicking out the pale brown of her dress so that the slits would show. Despite what many thought, hating Aiden didn't change her--she was still the same vixen she had been so many years ago, just not as happy about it as Caila.

"If it's anything like what I've heard about your line," Gaelle continued, "I'm surprised you're even near the Holy Water; but now, we can't believe everything we hear..."

Gaelle raised her fingers to the wall and traced the psalm engraved into the stone, allowing a sly and yet teasingly curious smile into her expression.

"If we did, now, neither of us would exist, would we?"

Deveron:

Deveron laughed, his deep voice echoing on the stone walls. Despite the noise, the sobbing human didn't turn around, and he was mildly grateful for the fact. He withdrew his hand from the Holy Water and flicked the moisture at Gaelle, as if to cleanse her. "The things you've heard about me are probably true, vixen." The careless use of this last word was another piece of bait. Deveron loved to provoke; rarely did he make the first move. "Why don't you find another human to flirt with?" he asked, but he meant no real harm with the words. It was only a suggestion, one whose reaction he found very amusing.

Gaelle:

Gaelle narrowed her eyes, flinching only slightly when the droplets of water touched her skin.

"Don't flatter yourself," Gaelle snapped, angry that he had called her a vixen and put such effort into it. Unlike Caila, Gaelle didn't throw herself around. She simply went after what she wanted, and although she meant no harm to the vampire she had run into, she was beginning to develop a distaste, "I've heard nothing about you. Only Coralee, and that her fledglings are weak."

Gaelle stepped forward, facing the vampire boldly. She was only slightly shorter than him, but she raised his gaze, meeting his eyes with her one; they were only a foot or so apart now.

"It's vampires like you that give the rest of us a bad reputation," Gaelle whispered, her words sweet and sharp, "But then again, you don't have a reputation."

Gaelle stretched her fingers, admiring her gold-painted nails, and set her hands on the vampire's shoulders.

"You don't even know my name."

Deveron:

He laughed, his sweet breath provoking what looked like a shudder from Gaelle. But Deveron had always been mildly tempered, rarely picking a fight. He only responded when someone threatened him first. "Gold nails," he hissed. "Why don't we play nice, like them?" He reached his hands up and pried her fingers from his shoulders, pressing her palms together and shoving them towards her body. "We're in a church, remember." With a tilt of his head, he blew Gaelle a kiss and disappeared, only to reappear behind her less than a second later.

Gaelle:

Gaelle watched intently, admiring the vampire; she wasn't sure what she liked so much, but something was bold, and she respected it. The fact that he had so strongly pried her away when she had teased was almost insulting- it wouldn't surprise her, only hurt her. It would mean that Aiden had been right again. Among other words she wished never to hear once more, Aiden had called her out as being his most disappointing fledgling... that she was a troublemaker, and a regret. Part of the reason Gaelle decided she hated him so much was that he didn't treat her like he did when she was human. There was no pride, anymore; no fortune, and no prize.

"Of course," Gaelle answered, speaking to herself now, as he had disappeared; she could still feel his aura, but knew that he had escaped her eyesight- if that was his intention, he had succeeded, and it meant that he was trying to get away, "We're in a church... "

Gaelle looked down to the gold polish on her nails. "Play nice?"

I'll track him down and drain him dry. How's that for nice?

The thoughts came much too easy; Gaelle knew she was losing her temper. Her best option would be to find prey, and kill another. It would be another number, yes, but she would relax. Expecting no one behind her, Gaelle turned, uncontrolled to hide how absolutely vulnerable and broken she was: that was part of what made her so angry when she found that the vampire was now behind her.

"Oh," Gaelle gasped, half in surprise and half in shame. Trying to compose herself from the shaky state she was in, she pulled what little control she could into play, "You'd be best to run, little boy."

Deveron:

Deveron stood behind Gaelle, watching her body for any tensing that would give away movement. He knew she could feel his aura, and so he didn't bother to hide it, but so far, she hadn't realized that he was behind her.

When she turned around, he was ready for her. "You'd be best to run, little boy," she said.

"Now, now," Deveron said soothingly, knowing well that his calm manner would annoy her. "You know you don't mean that." He picked up one of her icy hands with his own and peered at her nails. "And I heard that thought," he added. "So you found me. Now what? Would my blood really taste that good?" He looked up at her eyes and grinned, genuinely curious, baring his teeth slightly. Something about her made him want to stay, to find out what she wanted with him.

Gaelle:

Gaelle felt her frustration growing; another unwanted trait that came with being Aiden's kin was a short temper.

"Don't tell me what I mean and don't mean," she snapped, and before she could control herself, she had pulled her hand out of his grip and hit him, her palm against his left cheek.

"You don't know me and you don't know Aiden," Gaelle continued, "Your line is weak. If I wanted a fight, I'd find a human over you, and if I wanted blood, I'd take my own over yours."

Gaelle swallowed hard as she waited for his reaction. Truth be told, she had lied through her teeth. She knew he was strong- it interested her. The only lie she had told was about his blood. She would never feed off another vampire.

Not again.

Deveron:

Deveron felt her discomfort, fed off of it. But her insults had finally gotten to him, and this time, his grin was evil. He took her hand back, holding almost tight enough to break the bone so she couldn't pull away. He decided, however, to mask his anger, give her another chance before he did something that would make her regret her words. "What happened the last time?" he murmured, his lips against the skin of the back of her hand. Yes, he'd read her thoughts. Unlike Gaelle's assumptions, Deveron wasn't weak; he could get past her walls. "I know Aiden hates Coralee," he continued, "but do you really have to be the same way? When was the last time vampires had a conversation without clawing at each other's throats?" He chuckled. "No pun intended, of course."

Gaelle:

Gaelle felt her body tense as the vampire gripped her hand. She was used to being abused thanks to Aiden, but not by strangers; most feared or admired her. The vampire's questions only tore at the barriers she had worked so hard to put up.

"I don't even know you," Gaelle hissed, "Get your hands off me."

"What happened last time?" he whispered, the soft caress of his lips against her skin..

Gaelle decided: she didn't have to admit to someone like him that she was weak enough to love and naive enough to think it would last.

"I don't question Aiden," Gaelle explained, hating that his name had to leave her lips. The truth behind her hatred was so much deeper than she let on. She couldn't think of him now, or what had happened- or how Caila, the wicked woman she was, had gotten in the way-

"Now let me go."

Deveron:

Deveron let go of Gaelle's hands as if their iciness had burned him. He backed away, slowly, his hands up in the surrender position. "Okay, okay, Gaelle." He forced a smile through the pressure of her hatred, but he wasn't sure if that hatred was towards him or not. "But if I answer a question you have for me--any question--will you answer one of mine?"

Gaelle:

Gaelle could feel her eyes swelling, her jaw aching to break and let her cry; she pushed down the pain of her words and uttered a muted, "Fine," before stepping forward, closing the cap between them to ask her question. Anything she wanted to know about him she could find out by invading his thoughts, and she did so- his name was Deveron, and he was young, despite his suprising strength. The only answer she didn't find was the only one she truly was curious about.

"Well, Deveron," Gaelle whispered, trying to hide how close to tears she truly was. She would get an answer, give him his, and then leave, "Why didn't you leave earlier? Why didn't you get out of here? Why did you leave my eyes and stay- why not go?"

Deveron:

He didn't have an answer at first, was even speechless for a moment. But after a few mere seconds passed, he smiled at the vampire in front of him. "I inherited the love of goading people, of playing with them, from Coralee. It's one of the reasons she chose to change me. Now, if I'd left in the middle of our conversation, what fun would that be?" Despite his teasing words, his face was more than serious. When he made a deal with someone, he took his half seriously. "Does that answer your question?"

Gaelle:

Gaelle nodded, satisfied that an answer had been given. She had no doubt that Coralee's kindred were a sly and provoking group- in fact, she expected it. Wanting to run and prove unworthy on her end of the bargain, Gaelle turned, but the only human part of her she loved was her loyalty. She stopped, facing the ground, and blinked rapidly to fight back her tears.

"Ask your question, Deveron."

Deveron:

Deveron saw the battle inside of her, thought that, if he had been human, he would have comforted her. But instead, he crossed his arms and stared her in the eyes. "Why are you wishing you could cry?" His voice was soft, but perfectly audible; the church was empty now besides them.

Gaelle:

Gaelle let her sadness morph to hate in the bottom of her throat.

"That's none of your business," she snapped, only to remember the decision she had agreed to. Summoning the small amount of control she had left, she closed her eyes, making a final effort to hate him once more...

"Because," Gaelle answered, her voice nostalgic, "I never wanted to be this, and now I fight for it, I fight for him..."

Gaelle opened her eyes, content that she could remain calm now that she relived what had happened over a thousand years ago.

"Because there was a part of him that's gone- so frail and small but so strong," Gaelle explained, "and you remind me of it."

Deveron:

Deveron lifted his head, opening his mouth slightly but managing not to laugh or smile. He wanted to say something, anything...she looked like she was going to either hit him again or leave, and while he didn't want either, he thought he would prefer the former. "Oh," he settled for, taking care not to voice aloud that "he" was Aiden. "Would you rather I leave, then? Because I can, you know. We can pretend this conversation never existed and it'll spare you some pain, I'm sure." He tried hard not to show that he didn't want to end the conversation, not yet.

Gaelle:

Gaelle felt her chest tighten as if the weight of the world had been pressed upon her. She wanted to tell him never to say anything about it to anyone, never to tell Aiden that after all these years he was not forgiven; she needed to say it, but couldn't find the words. Deveron was just watching, waiting for her reply, maybe, or waiting to exit- Gaelle would only try to hide that she didn't want him to. In fact, she wanted the opposite, but she could only focus on the impossibly strong grip he had taken on her arm just minutes before.

"Don't go," Gaelle stammered, her words slipping from her tongue as if she were no more than a frightened child, "Pretending we didn't run into each other would be like me pretending nothing happened between... between Aiden and I... and we both know now that it did. It's my past and my fate to reconcile, not yours.."

Gaelle pulled her hair back over her shoulders and locked eyes with Deveron, wondering why he hadn't moved.

Deveron:

It hurt him to hear Gaelle speak so vulnerably, so unsure of what she wanted. Or perhaps that's just what she seemed to be. His eyes followed the locks of her haiir as they brushed across her neck and over her shoulders, but other than that, he didn't move.

"It's my past and my fate to reconcile, not yours..."

I won't go, he said silently, simultaneously thinking how if he was human, he'd be teaching her how to pray, not attempting to offer comfort. He would only want to welcome her into his Lord's arms, not Deveron's own stone ones. He pulled his hands away from his chest and tentatively--unlike the Deveron he knew so well--held out his hand. Leaving the movement up to Gaelle's interpretation.