Title: Music for the Soul: Part VIII
Author: Katherine Eve
Summary: The fate of Eve lies in Angel's hands, like it did a few years back when he first encountered her.
Characters: Angel, Doyle, Eve
Disclaimer: I guess I can't take credit for the characters of Angel and Doyle, they belong to Joss Whedon.
Chapter VIII
Angel had not moved. Doyle turned to face the girl, his eyes wider than when he had seen the room. "Vampire?" Doyle's voice was quiet and breathy.
Eve shrugged, not quite knowing what to say. "I thought Angel might have told you, but I guess not. We're all the same, the three of us. Half-breeds."
Doyle held up his hands; his lips moved, but no audible sound came from them. After a second, he found words again. "How did you know I was half demon? I never said anything, not that I recall, anyway. Angel, did you tell her about me?"
Eve shook her head. "It's okay. There's nothing wrong with that. Angel didn't say anything. I just could tell."
This past week had been too much. Doyle rolled his eyes and let out a sigh. Taking a deep breath, he collected his thought and emotions. "I'm sorry. I'm just... I can't... well, I don't know what to think.
"You're a vampire," he firmly stated, pointing a finger at Eve. She nodded in compliance. "But Angel already knew you're a vampire." Again, she nodded. "And you just knew I was half demon. Some sensory thing." Another nod. "Okay. Just checking to see I've got everything straight."
Stepping further into the room, Angel positioned himself in front of Doyle. "I know you're confused, Doyle, but we don't have time for this."
"Don't have time?" Doyle repeated, slightly agitated. "So she's a vampire. No big deal, right? My only question is why you kept it from me? Oh yeah, and could you let me in on the deal with the crosses? I mean, it's not normally the fetish of choice for the undead."
Angel opened his mouth to put an end to the touchy discussion, but Eve's voice came first from behind him. "I know, and you do deserve an explanation, Doyle. I'm not your every day vampire." Anticipating the other vampire's opposition, Eve threw in one last comment before spilling her confession. "And if we put everything out on the table we might be able to reveal some motivation or identify the thing that's after me."
Knowing he couldn't stop Eve once her mind was made up, Angel followed her and Doyle back into the living room. None of the three settled back into the inviting, sofa cushions, but instead sat on the very edge of the couch. Doyle interlaced his fingers and placed his hands in his lap in anticipation. Angel gently pressed the tips of his opposing fingers together and directed his stare at the worn-out carpet during the entirety of Eve's story.
"Angel and I have met before." After Doyle remained silent during her pause, she continued. "A few years back in New York..."
The memories were still vivid. He could still see the fear in her eyes as the two locked gazes through the cracks in the blinds. He could still hear her whimpering, though she tried to contain it, as she hugged the blanket tightly around her body until the dawn, praying it was only her mind playing tricks. He could still feel the guilt of frightening a fragile, pain-stricken, teenage girl...
*****Her reddened eyes, which had not closed throughout the night, welcomed in the light of the anxiously rising sun, announcing the arrival of the dawn. To her surprise, and almost disappointment, she had not seen the black eyes of the shadowy figure lurking outside her blinds after she had buried herself into her blanket that night.
She had felt an overwhelming sense of fear, but at the same time, had experienced a bit of flattery. Why he had appeared at her window she did not know, but he had seemed drawn to her in some way. Ashamed of her disturbing emotions, Eve reluctantly crawled out of bed and began her morning routine.
Shielded by the shadow cast by the neighboring apartment building, the vampire watched in curiosity as the girl's amber hair dance on the wind currents. Having slung a dainty backpack across her shoulder, she shot a quick glance behind and hurried down the street. She was still scared, he could see that. He had to do something; talk to her. He had hidden in the shadows for too long. Maybe it was time to let someone else into his world.
No. He couldn't. What was he thinking? She was an innocent, and he was a killer. How could he think of clouding up her pure world with his blackness. If he was going to let anyone in, it would not be her. Night after night he had been caressed by her voice; fallen into a new form of existence, where there was no suffering inside. He wanted to thank her for that and to apologize for his intrusion the other night. But how could she forgive a voyeur like him? How could she ever understand?
Each day was the same. Get up, brush the auburn hair, get dress and go to school. Why she still went, she didn't know. Not to kill time. She would have rather been in her room with her music; with her passion. She went because Mom didn't know what else to do with her. School was the only option.
When lunch came she always ate alone. Everyone respected her for her music, but no one ever talked to her. She kept telling herself it was because she didn't want them to, but she knew the real reason. They were scared of her. Intimidated. She was different, but no one knew quite why. Misunderstood.
She was willing to accept anyone into her life. She had tried to be sociable, but nobody stuck around for too long. If somebody did befriend her, they became bored rather quickly and left. So she didn't go drag racing or partying ever night. That wasn't her.
She always had their respect, but that wasn't what she wanted. She wanted a friend. She wanted to let someone in.
The words of the lecturing teacher danced around Eve's head, but they never penetrated into her mind. She was drowning him out, as usual. Teachers had all learned not to call on the red head in the desperate hope of drawing any participation out of her. A few had tried, however, to be the teacher that would change her life. The teacher that Eve would always remember and love for putting her life back on track. None had ever succeeded, though. In Eve's mind, there was no life to get on track. No reason for learning.
Her thoughts were still preoccupied with her possible stalker of the night before. Would he be back? Why was he there in the first place? Why hadn't she seen his reflection in the mirror? Too many questions. The high-pitched whine of the bell forced her whole body to contract and jump off her seat in shock.
"Yes, Eve, that was the bell. Thanks for at least showing up," the teacher would grumble. Grabbing her pack, Eve headed passed the teacher's desk toward the door. She stopped abruptly as a feeling of guilt swept over her and blocked the doorway, trapping her inside the classroom.
Turning toward the teacher sitting at his desk, she bit her lower lip. "I'm sorry." In shock the teacher lifted his head from the papers scattered across the desk. His dark eyes met Eve's startling blues with a look of confusion.
"I know it must be disappointing for you. Insulting, actually. Having someone block you out for the whole period. Please don't think it's because of you. I've just been preoccupied with some other issues and..."
"Eve," he cut her off, his voice shaking slightly. "Don't apologize. I've been a high school teacher for a long time. I've seen countless troubled students throughout the years. Yet, I have never had anyone apologize to me before."
He let out a sigh and decided to take advantage of the situation. "I know it's hard being a teenager. I was one a long time ago, believe it or not."
Eve gave a slight giggle in response to his overly-used joke.
"It's probably the hardest time in anyone's life," he continued. "But don't worry. It will get better. As you get older, you'll find that experience will serve you well. You have so much life ahead of you. Sure, you'll have things you look back on and wish they had gone differently; everyone does. The trick is to move passed those things, and use your remaining time to make a good life for yourself.
"You have so much time to grow and learn, and to share your talents with the world. I guess what I'm trying to get at is that if you can survive this part of your life, you're home free. It's tough, but don't treat life like a curse. Enjoy it, and enjoy this time in your life especially. Does that help at all?"
Eve could tell he had been dying to give a troubled student that speech for awhile. He had probably rehearsed it in his mind, waiting for the time to make a difference in a struggling teen's life. It didn't really relate to what she was going through. He had no idea. Still, she loved to see someone who really cared and who was trying to help.
"Yes," she smiled with watery eyes.
Before she left the room, one last question sprung to her mind. Why weren't there more people in the world who yearned to make a difference as much as this teacher did?
It was still daylight when Eve could see her building a few blocks away as she walked home. Normally she would wander the streets of the city before going home and seeing her parents. She dreaded walking through the door each day. Each day at home had become more tense and uncomfortable. Her parents were in a difficult situation, that she knew. How could she blame them for not knowing how to handle things they knew they had no control over. She had finally come to terms with it, but they hadn't. No one could save her, not even the doctors.
But something felt different this day. She didn't want to walk streets and stare at the faces of strangers. She didn't want to look up at all the windows and wonder what other people's lives were like. What it would be like to switch places with someone else.
Today she just wanted to see her family. To be with them. Her thoughts momentarily diverted from her stalker of the night before, and dwelt on the earlier fight between her parents.
They had tried to understand her point of view, but she now realized she had been doing everything all wrong. She had been so blind for so long. She had lost sight of the important things. She had believed cutting herself off from her parents would make it easier for them. But by cutting off her love for them, she had cut off her love for life.
She knew what she had to do. There wasn't much time left. She had to open herself back up. Maybe then she could be happy again. What brought on this epiphany, she couldn't say. Was it her teacher? The words of his speech had been meaningless, but maybe it was the thought behind them that had struck something inside her. Whatever the reason, Eve found herself excited to go home.
The air warmed her inside and out as she breathed it in. The city traffic and buildings had infected it with the stench of pollution, but what did she care? With every breath she took, she could feel the self-pity flowing out of her and a true sense of peace taking its place.
So preoccupied with her revelation, Eve had almost wiped the thought of her stalker completely from her mind. Maybe that's why her eyes didn't catch the figure standing just inside the alley as she walked up the front steps of her building.
That evening was like no other. For the first time, Eve invited her parents into her room and shared her passion with them. Neither of the adults had ever heard her music before. Eve poured so much of herself into the songs that she feared performing them for anyone who was close to her. Strangers wouldn't understand the words she sang, but her parents would.
But that didn't matter now. What mattered was that they heard her voice and felt the emotions Eve let flow willingly from herself. But her parents were not the only ears that were filled with the music. The chains around the vampire's heart and soul were loosened once more as he heard the sweet melodies coming from the room.
The red head had never sung with such love and passion. After this night, the undead creature knew he had to thank her for what she had done for him. Face to face.
The call of the night air beckoned to the musician who sat quietly in her room. Her parents had unwillingly left for their night jobs after their daughter's concert. Eve's unexpected transformation had left her mother and father believing they needed to stay with her. Eve, however, insisted that they go.
The spring night was so calm and lovely, Eve could not deny its call any longer. Grabbing only a light jacket, she fled the confines of her building and welcomed the spaciousness of the city streets.
As beautiful as the night was, a feeling that something was not quite right plagued Eve's mind. The sky quickly clouded over as she walked and soon her petite jacket could no longer protect her from the vigorous winds that began lashing across the city buildings. But it was not the high pitched scream of the wind that raised the goose-bumps across her skin like a rash. It was something else. Something close.
To Be Continued...
Author: Katherine Eve
Summary: The fate of Eve lies in Angel's hands, like it did a few years back when he first encountered her.
Characters: Angel, Doyle, Eve
Disclaimer: I guess I can't take credit for the characters of Angel and Doyle, they belong to Joss Whedon.
Chapter VIII
Angel had not moved. Doyle turned to face the girl, his eyes wider than when he had seen the room. "Vampire?" Doyle's voice was quiet and breathy.
Eve shrugged, not quite knowing what to say. "I thought Angel might have told you, but I guess not. We're all the same, the three of us. Half-breeds."
Doyle held up his hands; his lips moved, but no audible sound came from them. After a second, he found words again. "How did you know I was half demon? I never said anything, not that I recall, anyway. Angel, did you tell her about me?"
Eve shook her head. "It's okay. There's nothing wrong with that. Angel didn't say anything. I just could tell."
This past week had been too much. Doyle rolled his eyes and let out a sigh. Taking a deep breath, he collected his thought and emotions. "I'm sorry. I'm just... I can't... well, I don't know what to think.
"You're a vampire," he firmly stated, pointing a finger at Eve. She nodded in compliance. "But Angel already knew you're a vampire." Again, she nodded. "And you just knew I was half demon. Some sensory thing." Another nod. "Okay. Just checking to see I've got everything straight."
Stepping further into the room, Angel positioned himself in front of Doyle. "I know you're confused, Doyle, but we don't have time for this."
"Don't have time?" Doyle repeated, slightly agitated. "So she's a vampire. No big deal, right? My only question is why you kept it from me? Oh yeah, and could you let me in on the deal with the crosses? I mean, it's not normally the fetish of choice for the undead."
Angel opened his mouth to put an end to the touchy discussion, but Eve's voice came first from behind him. "I know, and you do deserve an explanation, Doyle. I'm not your every day vampire." Anticipating the other vampire's opposition, Eve threw in one last comment before spilling her confession. "And if we put everything out on the table we might be able to reveal some motivation or identify the thing that's after me."
Knowing he couldn't stop Eve once her mind was made up, Angel followed her and Doyle back into the living room. None of the three settled back into the inviting, sofa cushions, but instead sat on the very edge of the couch. Doyle interlaced his fingers and placed his hands in his lap in anticipation. Angel gently pressed the tips of his opposing fingers together and directed his stare at the worn-out carpet during the entirety of Eve's story.
"Angel and I have met before." After Doyle remained silent during her pause, she continued. "A few years back in New York..."
The memories were still vivid. He could still see the fear in her eyes as the two locked gazes through the cracks in the blinds. He could still hear her whimpering, though she tried to contain it, as she hugged the blanket tightly around her body until the dawn, praying it was only her mind playing tricks. He could still feel the guilt of frightening a fragile, pain-stricken, teenage girl...
*****Her reddened eyes, which had not closed throughout the night, welcomed in the light of the anxiously rising sun, announcing the arrival of the dawn. To her surprise, and almost disappointment, she had not seen the black eyes of the shadowy figure lurking outside her blinds after she had buried herself into her blanket that night.
She had felt an overwhelming sense of fear, but at the same time, had experienced a bit of flattery. Why he had appeared at her window she did not know, but he had seemed drawn to her in some way. Ashamed of her disturbing emotions, Eve reluctantly crawled out of bed and began her morning routine.
Shielded by the shadow cast by the neighboring apartment building, the vampire watched in curiosity as the girl's amber hair dance on the wind currents. Having slung a dainty backpack across her shoulder, she shot a quick glance behind and hurried down the street. She was still scared, he could see that. He had to do something; talk to her. He had hidden in the shadows for too long. Maybe it was time to let someone else into his world.
No. He couldn't. What was he thinking? She was an innocent, and he was a killer. How could he think of clouding up her pure world with his blackness. If he was going to let anyone in, it would not be her. Night after night he had been caressed by her voice; fallen into a new form of existence, where there was no suffering inside. He wanted to thank her for that and to apologize for his intrusion the other night. But how could she forgive a voyeur like him? How could she ever understand?
Each day was the same. Get up, brush the auburn hair, get dress and go to school. Why she still went, she didn't know. Not to kill time. She would have rather been in her room with her music; with her passion. She went because Mom didn't know what else to do with her. School was the only option.
When lunch came she always ate alone. Everyone respected her for her music, but no one ever talked to her. She kept telling herself it was because she didn't want them to, but she knew the real reason. They were scared of her. Intimidated. She was different, but no one knew quite why. Misunderstood.
She was willing to accept anyone into her life. She had tried to be sociable, but nobody stuck around for too long. If somebody did befriend her, they became bored rather quickly and left. So she didn't go drag racing or partying ever night. That wasn't her.
She always had their respect, but that wasn't what she wanted. She wanted a friend. She wanted to let someone in.
The words of the lecturing teacher danced around Eve's head, but they never penetrated into her mind. She was drowning him out, as usual. Teachers had all learned not to call on the red head in the desperate hope of drawing any participation out of her. A few had tried, however, to be the teacher that would change her life. The teacher that Eve would always remember and love for putting her life back on track. None had ever succeeded, though. In Eve's mind, there was no life to get on track. No reason for learning.
Her thoughts were still preoccupied with her possible stalker of the night before. Would he be back? Why was he there in the first place? Why hadn't she seen his reflection in the mirror? Too many questions. The high-pitched whine of the bell forced her whole body to contract and jump off her seat in shock.
"Yes, Eve, that was the bell. Thanks for at least showing up," the teacher would grumble. Grabbing her pack, Eve headed passed the teacher's desk toward the door. She stopped abruptly as a feeling of guilt swept over her and blocked the doorway, trapping her inside the classroom.
Turning toward the teacher sitting at his desk, she bit her lower lip. "I'm sorry." In shock the teacher lifted his head from the papers scattered across the desk. His dark eyes met Eve's startling blues with a look of confusion.
"I know it must be disappointing for you. Insulting, actually. Having someone block you out for the whole period. Please don't think it's because of you. I've just been preoccupied with some other issues and..."
"Eve," he cut her off, his voice shaking slightly. "Don't apologize. I've been a high school teacher for a long time. I've seen countless troubled students throughout the years. Yet, I have never had anyone apologize to me before."
He let out a sigh and decided to take advantage of the situation. "I know it's hard being a teenager. I was one a long time ago, believe it or not."
Eve gave a slight giggle in response to his overly-used joke.
"It's probably the hardest time in anyone's life," he continued. "But don't worry. It will get better. As you get older, you'll find that experience will serve you well. You have so much life ahead of you. Sure, you'll have things you look back on and wish they had gone differently; everyone does. The trick is to move passed those things, and use your remaining time to make a good life for yourself.
"You have so much time to grow and learn, and to share your talents with the world. I guess what I'm trying to get at is that if you can survive this part of your life, you're home free. It's tough, but don't treat life like a curse. Enjoy it, and enjoy this time in your life especially. Does that help at all?"
Eve could tell he had been dying to give a troubled student that speech for awhile. He had probably rehearsed it in his mind, waiting for the time to make a difference in a struggling teen's life. It didn't really relate to what she was going through. He had no idea. Still, she loved to see someone who really cared and who was trying to help.
"Yes," she smiled with watery eyes.
Before she left the room, one last question sprung to her mind. Why weren't there more people in the world who yearned to make a difference as much as this teacher did?
It was still daylight when Eve could see her building a few blocks away as she walked home. Normally she would wander the streets of the city before going home and seeing her parents. She dreaded walking through the door each day. Each day at home had become more tense and uncomfortable. Her parents were in a difficult situation, that she knew. How could she blame them for not knowing how to handle things they knew they had no control over. She had finally come to terms with it, but they hadn't. No one could save her, not even the doctors.
But something felt different this day. She didn't want to walk streets and stare at the faces of strangers. She didn't want to look up at all the windows and wonder what other people's lives were like. What it would be like to switch places with someone else.
Today she just wanted to see her family. To be with them. Her thoughts momentarily diverted from her stalker of the night before, and dwelt on the earlier fight between her parents.
They had tried to understand her point of view, but she now realized she had been doing everything all wrong. She had been so blind for so long. She had lost sight of the important things. She had believed cutting herself off from her parents would make it easier for them. But by cutting off her love for them, she had cut off her love for life.
She knew what she had to do. There wasn't much time left. She had to open herself back up. Maybe then she could be happy again. What brought on this epiphany, she couldn't say. Was it her teacher? The words of his speech had been meaningless, but maybe it was the thought behind them that had struck something inside her. Whatever the reason, Eve found herself excited to go home.
The air warmed her inside and out as she breathed it in. The city traffic and buildings had infected it with the stench of pollution, but what did she care? With every breath she took, she could feel the self-pity flowing out of her and a true sense of peace taking its place.
So preoccupied with her revelation, Eve had almost wiped the thought of her stalker completely from her mind. Maybe that's why her eyes didn't catch the figure standing just inside the alley as she walked up the front steps of her building.
That evening was like no other. For the first time, Eve invited her parents into her room and shared her passion with them. Neither of the adults had ever heard her music before. Eve poured so much of herself into the songs that she feared performing them for anyone who was close to her. Strangers wouldn't understand the words she sang, but her parents would.
But that didn't matter now. What mattered was that they heard her voice and felt the emotions Eve let flow willingly from herself. But her parents were not the only ears that were filled with the music. The chains around the vampire's heart and soul were loosened once more as he heard the sweet melodies coming from the room.
The red head had never sung with such love and passion. After this night, the undead creature knew he had to thank her for what she had done for him. Face to face.
The call of the night air beckoned to the musician who sat quietly in her room. Her parents had unwillingly left for their night jobs after their daughter's concert. Eve's unexpected transformation had left her mother and father believing they needed to stay with her. Eve, however, insisted that they go.
The spring night was so calm and lovely, Eve could not deny its call any longer. Grabbing only a light jacket, she fled the confines of her building and welcomed the spaciousness of the city streets.
As beautiful as the night was, a feeling that something was not quite right plagued Eve's mind. The sky quickly clouded over as she walked and soon her petite jacket could no longer protect her from the vigorous winds that began lashing across the city buildings. But it was not the high pitched scream of the wind that raised the goose-bumps across her skin like a rash. It was something else. Something close.
To Be Continued...