- Chimera of Life -
Story Three: Remnants of Reality
Chapter Seven By Heartfire ~*~He woke up to the sounds of creaking iron. Always the light sleeper, Quatre stood then walked to the window instantly… This was the fifth consecutive night that his sleep was disturbed by it. Whatever it was. Right now, he's going to find out.
Quatre plastered his back against the wall then slightly leaned towards the window after he made sure that his face was hidden beneath the shadows.
A figure in black slinked into the night with a small lantern that illuminated the fluttering coat. The person stood in stark contrast against the darkness of the night. Quatre's eyes slanted in suspicion until the harsh wind lapped at the cloth and blew away the hood… A flowing mane of red hair erupted from underneath, just as moonlight seeped through dark clouds as if only to shine upon the strands…
'Yvan…?!' Quatre's eyes widened. 'What are you…' He didn't let himself finish as she apprehensively looked left, right, and then ran to the direction of the forest.
Curiosity and the want to make sure that she wouldn't get hurt made Quatre follow her. He didn't even bother to change. He just grabbed the nearest coat and slipped on shoes while he hopped on one foot and then the other down the stairs to lace them.
The moon was covered by dark thick clouds overhead… Sounds of crashing thunder after a snake of lightning sparked through the sensitized air and Quatre could only wonder-
'What is she doing out here? A storm is brewing and she decides to go for a midnight walk…' He opened the gate and hurriedly walked out then sprinted towards the direction he saw her last without bothering to close the gate. All right, so he was a little angry because his continuous search had turned up with nothing… no weaponries, no Une's cousin…
He ran as fast as he could though he was not sure where he was going… though he could not truly see the path he was traveling on until… a fluttering dim light within a clump of trees on one side caught his attention…
Quatre slowed to a walk and followed the only light within the darkness… 'Yvan?' He didn't dare talk just in case the person was an enemy. Just in case the person holding the lamp was what Quatre needs to bring Morley down… Going to the widest tree he could find, he made sure he wouldn't be seen then slowly leaned sideways.
It was Yvan… on her knees, caressing a knee-high white stone by the edge of the cliff… If he wasn't such a sensitive person, he would have thought her crazy… insane… but… he was a sensitive person… and he could feel the depth of emotion that was flowing from her.
The screaming wind died down to a low moan.
"Papa… I'm here again…"
'Papa?' Quatre frowned. Could it be that her father's buried… there? If so… maybe he should leave her be… then again… what if someone's around her right now and causes her harm?
"I know you're looking down on me… Guiding me…" A sob escaped Yvan's lips as she released the emotions she hid from the public view.
Quatre saw her hunch over the stone and embrace it. Her shoulders rocked and he had the urge to go to her… he wants to put his arms around her and let her cry over his shoulders instead of that stone but… he didn't move. He couldn't… in a way, this side of Yvan had surprised him and he knew he shouldn't intrude.
Yvan leaned down and kissed the rock, then placed her cheek over it. "I'm doing my best, Papa… But you already know that, don't you…"
Suddenly, a menacing sound came out of nowhere and before Quatre could react, something pounced on his back and he fell down on his face.
"Who's there?!" Yvan quickly stood up as she heard the grunt.
Quatre quickly turned around and brought his hands up. He gripped a furred neck before it had a chance to bite him.
Yvan slanted her eyes, already accustomed to the night, she saw figures fighting just a few feet away from her.
'A dog…! A damn killer dog!' The thought registered in Quatre's mind as his grip nearly slipped because of the dog's jerky motions. Pain registered throughout his body as claws dug into his chest and arms.
She walked to the sound and saw the distinctive blonde hair that shone against her lamplight. Anger sparked in her and almost made her want to leave him but… she couldn't. "Brule! Down boy!"
Her strict voice instantly stopped the defiant, killer dog. It jumped off Quatre's chest and walked to one tree, now completely placid.
"Sit!"
The huge black dog sat, tail swishing and wagging, while Quatre tried to catch hold of his breath as he lay on the damp soil. Wearily, Quatre brought his arm over his face and started to wipe the saliva away.
'And to think that I like dogs- correction… used to…' His arm left his face and when he opened his eyes once again, Yvan was glaring down at him. For a moment, he decided he would rather face the dog once again… "Before you start scolding a down man, let me explain." Slowly, he stood up.
Yvan tilted her head while she crossed her arms over her chest, her raging anger showing in her flaring lavender eyes. He'd seen her during her most precious time. No one had ever… No one… until now. "Of course… I am not James Morley… I usually let the offender defend himself before I decide." This had better be good… "I'm all ears…"
Quatre rubbed his temple and then looked up and met her eyes. "I was worried. I saw you leave the estate and I didn't know where you were going… There's also a storm coming… I did the only thing I thought was right."
She glared into his eyes, wanting to see if he was lying… but only saw the hard truth… and… one cannot truly be angry at truth…
Quatre felt her anger slowly subside, her tight shoulders eased, and decided to converse. "Yours?" he motioned to the dog, playing with a twig.
"No. James'."
Quatre nodded. Her tight-lipped answer showed that she's still a bit angry. Ah well… he couldn't lie to her. She'll probably ask him later on anyway. "I saw and… heard you…"
'I know…' Yvan looked away. Embarrassment started to fill her but she mentally forced it to stop. She shouldn't be embarrassed… What's there to be embarrassed about anyway? She shook her head and heaved a sigh, then shrugged. "So you have…"
Quatre watched as she walked back to the stone, sat beside it and then place a loving hand over it. He remained silent, feeling Yvan's need to talk.
"He was the best soldier under all of James' men…"
Her voice was almost a whisper. She was confessing to a man barely knew but… a person could only bottle up so much before everything explodes inside… and right now, everything was threatening to drown her. She had withheld so much for so long that she yearned to be heard now… to share it with someone…
"So… he wasn't an artist…?"
Yvan shook her head. "He was…" A slight smile appeared on her lips. "But he was also one of his men… I never told James because…" She paused, trying to figure out how she would phrase her words. "My father was accused of being part of the rebellion…"
Quatre nodded, understanding the situation. "Is that where he's buried?"
Yvan shook her head. "No… I don't know where he's buried… All I know was he hadn't called us for over two weeks… he never did that…" She felt tears prick her eyes as she remembered those painful times. She would listen for his transmission in her radio and wait for the postman for a message… but there was nothing. "I snuck in here… My dad took me to this place once, to paint…" She placed her cheek over the stone once again. "So, this was where I went first… and I saw dried blood…"
Quatre couldn't stop himself anymore and kneeled beside her. With his right hand, he reached for her shoulder. It was the only way he knew to give support. There was nothing for him to say right now…
The feeling she had when she learned it was her father's came back to her once again… "I had it tested… I was hoping it wasn't his… But… it was…" She already had a feeling that it was… and now, she wasn't going to rest until… it's over.
Understanding finally dawned on Quatre. Now he understood… Now, he finally realized the answers to his questions… "You don't want Morley… You want his land…"
Yvan's back straightened, at the same time, she turned around to face him. He's so near the truth! "No! You're wrong! I want Morley! I want him!"
He saw her cold eyes… that calculating look returning, but the sight he just saw a few minutes ago dominated over them… No wonder her ballet performance was so good… she was dancing out her own emotions… letting it all go through her body… and, he received it. "You want his land."
The way he stated it… hinted that he wouldn't budge from what he knew… Fine then… Let him think that way. Yvan looked away… He was half correct anyway… "Yes… fine… are you happy now? You've got me all figured out- I want Morley because of this land… because of my father. Now why don't you just leave me alone."
"I apologize… I can't do that." He couldn't leave her alone like this… Her lavender eyes went back to his face, her skin streaked with tears…
"And why, pray tell?"
Her voice had become as cold as the night breeze that fluttered his bangs, but he could sense her hurt. "Because I cannot leave you alone in the state you're in… or just simply alone." He just couldn't.
"I can take care of myself, thank you." She turned her back to him. Men! They're all alike! Just because one looks weak doesn't necessarily mean- she gasped when she felt his hand under her chin, her face slowly being turned to her side.
"I know that you can take care of yourself." He didn't want to end this conversation with any of them feeling irked at each other. No… not after what he just saw… Not when he just figured her out… and liked what he saw.
Her initial anger disappeared as she stared into intent, serious aquamarine eyes… Her pulse started beating faster…
He shouldn't have touched her… damn! He thought it was just a fluke… that he was just invigorated because she questioned him, because she challenged him. But… he could feel for himself that it wasn't so… "Yvan…" He didn't even notice that he used his name for her. The way her lips were parted seemed to call to him… and he didn't want to fight it.
Another gust of breeze rustled the leaves around them and lifted a strand of Yvan's hair.
Before she could ask why- she saw why. Quatre leaned down to her and she almost went cross-eyed as she stared at his closed eyed face. She stiffened… Why she didn't struggle… she doesn't know… Why she didn't slap him silly… God could only answer… Why she damnably closed her eyes and wantonly met his lips… she couldn't… remember…
People had talked of time standing still… She had always thought it possible, but only in fairytales… He had always thought it impossible… but right now… they knew they were wrong…
The moment was fragile.
It was a gentle kiss… The brush of his lips over hers… Her hands moved up to lay flat on his chest as if she would push him away, but instead, she rose to her toes while he drew her in closer… A simple, light kiss and more… It was dizzying, melting, addicting…
The breeze scurried about them and the couple shivered, but not from the cold… Quatre only wanted to give her one kiss… just one… just to satiate himself and tell himself that he wasn't really attracted to her but… Allah! Her softness against his… He couldn't stop his suddenly independent hands as it moved to cup her bottom and lifted her against him… into him.
Fire exploded in Yvan. It consumed her… She gasped in rapturous pleasure. She couldn't get enough of him and he couldn't get enough of her…
From somewhere nearby, Brule whined.
Panic raced through her blood and Yvan quickly pulled away. 'Oh God! What have I done!'
Quatre's arm tightened around her as she tried to push away. He could not remember ever having felt this way with a woman… ever. "No… stay…"
"Yes… No! Oh God! No! Quatre, you don't know what you're doing!" And neither did she… She didn't want to go… but she must remind both Quatre and herself… "James!"
Quatre blinked and it was as if a heavy curtain parted in front of him… He shook his head and a word left his mouth. Neither could tell whether it was a curse or a blessing but nobody cared. His arms fell to his sides and they both took a step back.
"Yvan… I'm… Damn! I didn't mean…" What the hell did he do?! He cleared his throat and tried to gather his wits around him. "I didn't plan on that to happen…"
"Fine… It didn't." Yvan tried to catch her breath and pressed a hand against her frenzied heart. Her lips were dried by the wind and she touched it with her tongue… She tasted him… Damn! Oh… she needs to think of James… James… James! 'Yvan think of James!'
Quatre's hands shook as he combed his hair… He truly didn't plan for it to happen…
With a cry of frustration, Yvan turned and sprinted away from Quatre, leaving him where he stood.
Quatre forced his feet to stay still… He watched as she disappeared from his view and then sighed as he dropped down on his buttocks. He didn't want to let her go… But he had to…
Once again, his hands combed through his hair, nearly ripping it apart in anger. He had a taste of her and wanted more… Damn, he wanted more! And damn but he wanted to make love right then and there!
"Shut up!" His voice was harsh and directed to himself alone. He never experienced this… He never did this. He never! How could he have done this stupid thing? She wants Morley… He wants her… He shouldn't interfere… But what he felt when they kissed… what he had been feeling since he saw her dance that first time… He realized that he couldn't have stopped himself from tasting her, and that he didn't regret kissing her… at all.
"You have one wonderful daughter, Mr. Matfei…" His eyes went to where she disappeared with Brule by her heels. "One wonderful daughter…"
…
'Papa… what have I done?!' She slowly closed the door behind her and then leaned against it as she tried to catch her breath. Her hand went up to her lips and touched it… They still trembled… Her whole body was pulsing, expecting… She has more restraint than this! What had that man done to her?!
Morley was a handsome man but never in her life had she felt anything like this with him. Not his smile, not his touch, not his gaze nor… his kiss… Then again, they've never kissed… but still… Quatre's so different… He seemed different from all the other men she knew and-
"Stop! Stop it Yvan!"
'Yvan…'Quatre's beautiful voice rang in her head and she quickly ran to her bed and dropped on top of it and brought a pillow over her head at the same time.
She must stay focused… She must remember her goal… So near… Besides, Quatre is a gigolo… Quatre is a player… Quatre is… one good kisser…
A frustrated scream escaped her lips, hindered by the cushion of her bed while her turmoil filled mind tried to gain back a sense of balance.