Easier Said Than Done Pt. II
Gaelle:
Gaelle watched as the vampire stretched out his hand. Her instinct was to take it, but after first glance she wanted to scream. She wanted him to be what had forsaken her so long ago, but at the same time, she was terrified of what that would be like. She remembered being the prized fledgling- the beauty on his arm- and now, she was his own to neglect.
Gaelle stepped forward, extending her cold fingers to his own, unsure of what move he would make. She expected him to take control, like everyone else did now, but found herself somehow perfectly trusting. She was hesitant, but placed her hand over his.
"I'm sorry... my hands are so cold," she apologized; she hated that the words fell from her lips. Aiden had always loved the chill, and now, she felt as if she should destroy it.
Deveron:
Deveron watched the play of emotions on Gaelle's face, so unusual for a vampire. He kept his hand held out in front of him, his arm steady, even though a tiny part of him wanted to turn away and leave right then.
But when she placed her hand in his, he kept still for a long moment, letting her become certain in her decision. Then he placed his other hand over hers, although he made no move to pull her close. "I want you to know," he whispered, his eyes soft, "that I am nothing like him. Nothing. I promise, Gaelle."
Gaelle:
Gaelle narrowed her eyes, knowing well that the situation was getting out of control- she was headed for the same trap that had branded her so incapable.
"I want you to know," he continued, "That I am nothing like him. Nothing. I promise, Gaelle."
You shouldn't make promises that you can't keep
Gaelle was quick to be harsh with her thoughts, and although she wanted to silence them, she found herself breaking in defense.
You don't even know him! How can you know that you're nothing like him when you don't know him like I do?
Gaelle fought the urge to pull her hand away and leave; she hated feeling so vulnerable, and so weak.
"Why are you promising me anything?" Gaelle asked, confused by the vampire's actions, "We'll both leave here with each other's secrets and then Coralee and Aiden will keep fighting- why make promises to someone you may be asked to hurt?"
Deveron:
Gaelle had left her defenses down, and Deveron could hear her speaking clearly in his thoughts. "You don't even know him! How can you know that you're nothing like him when you don't know him like I do?" She sounded angry and desperate at the same time, nothing like he'd expected. One moment she was about to cry, the next, nearly ready to murder him if he spoke again.
"We'll both leave here with each other's secrets and then Coralee and Aiden will keep fighting- why make promises to someone you may be asked to hurt?" she asked. Deveron, hurt slightly, let his grip on her hand slacken.
He looked her straight in the eye, let her see that she'd hurt him with her words. "When I make a promise, I keep it, Gaelle. I know enough about your sire from your thoughts--and I don't care if you're angry for my listening in--to be sure that I'm nothing like him. So forget your memories when you look at me." He took an unnecessary breath and continued before she could say anything. "And we may be the fledglings of enemies, but the quarrel between Aiden and Coralee is not ours."
He stepped back, letting go of her, gauging her for a reaction. Hiding the fact that he was afraid.
Gaelle:
Gaelle watched, wanting desperately to breathe like any other human would, simply so that she could find out whether or not she was truly afraid. The grip on her hand loosened, and although she wanted to know why, she didn't move. Her eyes stayed fixed on the vampire, only to be met.
"When I make a promise, I keep it, Gaelle. I know enough about your sire from your thoughts- and I don't care if you're angry with me for my listening in- to be sure that I'm nothing like him... "
Gaelle swallowed hard, tensing just as he was sure to expect her to.
"So forget your memories when you look at me," he demanded, "and we may be the fledglings of enemies, but the quarrel between Aiden and Coralee is not ours."
Gaelle felt the pain of his next action hit her like a stone; he let go of her hand, and she stepped back, wanting too much for her own good. She could feel the anger swell, and although she felt the admiration for his character, she wanted him to suffer for making her feel this way.
"No, Deveron," she hissed, hiding the past from herself as she disappeared and then moved so that she appeared at the vampire's back. She wrapped her arms around him from behind and pulled him down, dragging his throat to her level, "We have our own quarrel now, don't we?"
Wanting for nothing more than to silence the pain, Gaelle pushed her lips against the vampire's throat, convinced that anyone like Aiden had been should be hurt just as she was.
Deveron:
He didn't understand her actions--why was she so angry? But before he could think about it further, she disappeared, reappearing behind him and in one fluid motion brought her lips to his throat. He fell silent, still, his body nearly limp. Waiting for her to move.
When he felt her fangs against his throat, he was immediately in motion. Reaching back, he grabbed her arm and twisted it, hoping to hear the bone snap. If he broke it, it would heal in moments, but at least the brief pain would keep her from attacking him. "We are in a church," he growled menacingly, all kindness, all vulnerability gone. Each word was pronounced slowly; its own sentence. "Don't even start, Gaelle. I'm stronger than you. You will not win."
Gaelle:
Gaelle fell from the vampire as the felt the pain in her arm; it took her off-guard. If anything, she had expected him to give in, as all the other men would have; she was one of Aiden's women, and therefore a feed meant nothing but pleasure- the fact that he was resisting was almost annoying.
Before she could think, his voice broke the silence.
"We are in a church," he hissed, his tone low and sickeningly angry, "Don't even start, Gaelle. I'm stronger than you. You will not win."
Gaelle gripped where her arm had broken and stepped closer to him, leaving barely a foot between their eyes.
"Stronger in your hands," she corrected him, pointing out how much older she was. Once the bone had healed, Gaelle let a smile cross her lips.
What would Aiden do to you if he knew what you've done to me?
Gaelle pushed the question into the vampire's thoughts, and then stopped, her eyes suddenly turning frail. She knew what he would do: nothing. Congratulate him, maybe. Perhaps he'd make him one of the family in a sense, and offer him a gift: maybe a slave, or, perhaps, a shot at killing her. Gaelle turned when she thought about it. What was she doing? She couldn't pretend to be angry anymore, she was too broken, and now, she couldn't even face the vampire.
She wouldn't need to go anywhere fast. She had energy to burn. Without another word, she turned from the vampire, headed for the door of the church, and hopefully, an escape; she didn't want to leave, but she was being irrational- this vampire was one of Coralee's.
Deveron:
Deveron watched, frozen, as Gaelle turned away from him, began walking towards the huge wooden doors that led out of the church. He felt her thoughts on Aiden reverberating through his body, causing him to shiver uncharacteristically. "Gaelle," he called, wondering if she even heard him; his voice was so soft. "Don't go." He wanted her to stop walking, wanted to tell her that he was sorry. For what he should apologize for, he wasn't sure. But he hadn't felt this way in years. Why couldn't she understand that he had no quarrel with her? Aiden annoyed him; that was true. But unlike Coralee, Deveron never went out of his way to express his distaste.
"Please stop," he said, hoping he wasn't begging. He hated begging. Her footsteps echoed against the high ceiling... "Gaelle?"
Gaelle:
Gaelle ignored the vampire at first, trying to push her thoughts on everything that had happened since she entered the church away.
"Gaelle," he called after her, "Don't go." Finally breaking into tears, Gaelle shivered, forcing herself to keep walking. Against her better judgment, she slipped into his mind; she wanted to know what he thought of her.
He wanted her to stop walking, wanted to tell her that he was sorry. For what he should apologize for, he wasn't sure. But he hadn't felt this way in years. Why couldn't she understand that he had no quarrel with her?
"Please stop," he called again, his tone almost desperate, "Gaelle?"
Unable to fight back the fear of taking a risk again, Gaelle turned, stepping slowly into his view once more so that he could see she was crying. She lifted her hands in surrender, and lowered them, letting him know that he had won in breaking her- it would be one thing he could share in common with Aiden. Her thoughts lingered over his words as a cold tear fell over her rosy cheeks- he hadn't felt this way in years- what way? She caught his eyes, wanting an answer, but finding no more than glass; he was hiding it well, but Gaelle couldn't hide anymore. She wanted to know what it felt like. Without the chance to summon a lost form of control, Gaelle found herself running, her heels clicking on the tile until she had reached the vampire. Then, desperate to be herself again- desperate to feel cared for, and wanted, she wrapped her arms around the man's neck, and in full view of the church, pulled her lips to his in a final attempt to feel like someone still found her a worthy prize, or even beautiful.
Deveron:
Gaelle stopped and turned around, finally, at Deveron's last words. He wanted to smile with relief, but when he looked at her, saw her tears, that urge was gone. If he'd had a living heart, it would have wrenched at the expression on the other vampire's face. It was a look that said, You've won. I can't do this anymore.
Then she was running, and before Deveron could move, she was in his arms, her cold lips pressed against his. For an excruciatingly long moment, he held still, frozen, didn't respond. He could feel Gaelle's body shivering beneath him, whether in fear of rejection or something else, he didn't know. And then his lips parted and he returned her kiss, pulling her closer, opening a small part of his mind to hers. I don't want to hurt you like he has. I won't.
Gaelle:
Gaelle waited, a move that gave Deveron the complete control of the situation; in the position she was in, it would be no problem to shift his lips and sink into her throat- she shook, locking her hands in a clench behind Deveron's neck. She could feel the change slowly; it was no longer an action of hers alone; it was being returned. Gaelle felt his mind open to her willingly; she had done nothing.
I don't want to hurt you like he has. I won't.
Gaelle sighed internally, her body falling weak against the other vampire; the passion that she had so long suppressed was burning now, wanting desperately to be released.
No.
Gaelle wrapped her arms tighter, trying to ignore the thoughts of worse-case scenario.
Deveron has no idea what he's capable of... I can't do this... Aiden will kill me if he knows, he forbid this.
Gaelle shivered, letting down what little control she had; if Deveron wanted to see what she was thinking, she wanted him to have no trouble. She wanted him to make it okay, but knew what was happening.
She broke the kiss and leaned against him, aware of what she had done. She'd never see Deveron again. Aiden was sure to kill her as soon as he found out. She knew what would happen.
Caila:
Caila appeared gracefully behind the figure she had been looking for, and smiled. She had been looking for her sister in blood after coming out of a nearby feed. Aiden was sure to kill Gaelle for this little mistake. It was a well-known rule: Aiden's fledglings were never to love outside of the line, and yet, Gaelle was gripping to the vampire that rank of Coralee's mind.
"Sister, sister," Caila mused, laughing as she wrapped her fingers around her blond hair, "What have you done now, gutter rat?"
Caila let her eyes wander over the vampire before her; he was handsome, no doubt, but still, one of Coralee's.
"Aiden will have your throat for this," Caila whispered happily, "You'll be out of my way."
Deveron:
The appearance of another vampire--another of Aiden's, and the familiar Caila at that--was startling, but less than unwelcome. He watched the exchange between the two fledglings silently, wondering if he should do something. But this wasn't his fight, either.
"Aiden will have your throat for this," he heard Caila whisper, her voice saturated with glee. "You'll be out of my way."
Deveron felt Gaelle's body tense beside him, and he pulled her closer, almost protectively. The growl that rose in his throat was a warning, one that Caila would do well to heed...but probably would not.
Gaelle:
Gaelle shook as Caila's familiar and yet hated presence grew nearer.
"Caila, no," Gaelle whispered, knowing exactly what the vampire intended to do. Telling Aiden of what she had stumbled onto would get Gaelle killed, and even better, Caila closer to whom she wanted. Before she had a chance to urge a reply, she felt her body pulled closer to Deveron's, his thoughts turning angry- was he protecting her?
Deveron...
Gaelle wanted nothing more than to stay there, trapped in his arms, but she knew that she had to go. Aiden would kill her for this, and she would accept it; she had wronged his orders. If Deveron defended her, it would only lead to his passing as well; the fact that Coralee was his sire would only anger Aiden further.
Deveron, stay out of this, Caila will kill you. Aiden will kill you... you have to let me go, and don't speak of me, don't look at me... don't think about me. I... I can't see you again.
Gaelle slipped the words into the vampire's mind, knowing well that she could see him, just that she wouldn't be able to- Aiden would kill her first.
Caila:
Caila laughed as the vampire holding Gaelle narrowed his eyes.
"Is that a challenge?" Caila asked, eyes flickering; "Don't play with me, sweetheart. I'm out of your league."
Deciding that it would be much too fun to watch Caila suffer, she grabbed the vampire, pulling her to the floor before sending a wave of pain through her thoughts that made a scream echo throughout the church. Caila backed away, satisfied, and eyed the male vampire. She crossed his thoughts barely, enough to know his name and a memory of the kiss the two vampires had shared, and then laughed. Aiden would be home.
"I'm telling Aiden," Caila taunted Gaelle before disappearing, "Somebody's in trouble."
Gaelle:
Gaelle held tightly to Deveron as Caila's words crept inside her fear.
"Don't play with me, sweetheart," she said, her words directed to Deveron, "I'm out of your league."
Before Gaelle had a chance to assure Deveron of otherwise, she was pulled away from Deveron, and the strength of Caila's mind on her own caused her to collapse to her knees in a pained scream. The pain of the pressure was throbbing throughout her body- that had been Caila's warning. Caila continued speaking, but Gaelle couldn't hear it at first, and only caught the end.
"Somebody's in trouble."
Gaelle felt her sister's presence disappear and turned sharply, searching the air for any sign of the terrible beauty.
"Caila, no, please!" Gaelle shouted, more to herself than to the empty church. She stumbled to her feet and backed slowly away from Deveron.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, stumbling slightly as she tripped on the hem of her dress, "I'm so sorry... this wasn't supposed to happen-"
Gaelle knew that there were no words to explain what had happened. Now, she would need to free the pain, and then, she would be killed. It all seemed so simple, but the shame was unintentional. Hurt that she had allowed herself to lust for another, Gaelle forced herself to run, and headed for the entrance of the church.
Deveron:
The next moments passed in a blur, silently, unwelcome. Caila was taunting him, but all Deveron could think about was the fact that Gaelle would be killed because of him. Because he had called her back when she wanted to leave. Because he'd kissed her.
Gaelle was suddenly ripped from his arms, sent to the floor with a scream. He glared at Caila, wishing he could do something, but he was frozen to the spot, Gaelle's scream echoing in his ears. Why couldn't he move? He'd never been this slow to react. He wished he could send a prayer to his Lord, but the thought of Him balking at Deveron's damned voice turned him away from that option.
"I'm telling Aiden," Caila taunted; she sounded like a 5-year-old child tattling on her sister. "Somebody's in trouble." Then Deveron felt Caila's presence in his mind, and he lashed out with raw power, shoving her out of his head. But it was too late; she'd already disappeared.
He looked down at Gaelle, watching her as she spoke to him, telling him that it was her fault, that she couldn't see him anymore...he knew she meant that she would be dead soon.
And this time, when she stood up and ran to the door before he could reply, he didn't stop her. He only stood there, staring after her. Alone in the church.