Title: Song of the Siren
Author: Twilightstaruby
Disclaimers: All Night World concepts belongs to L.J.Smith. Kiele and the other characters in the story belong to me.
Author's notes: Hey people! Thanks for the awesome review you guys gave! Love you all! Muacks! Hahahahaha...
untilhellfreezesover: hey! long time no see! nice to see you again though...glad you think that my writing is getting better. I was hoping it wasn't deteriorating...and (so sue me) I do like cliff-hangers...it adds more spice to an otherwise bland story...haha...oh and by the way, i am writing on a story on Angelo...am working on it now. Have to say it is going quite smoothly...but that is all i am going to say about it!
Dogs die in hot cars: Haha...so sorry to keep you in suspense! I didn't have much time to spare, too much school work...i actually wanted to post a much longer, much much much longer chapter(someone told me before that my chapters were too short) but i couldn't seem to find the time to finish it and it seemed to me an update was long over due(ppl might come after me, wanting my blood), so i cut the chapter short and posted it until where i had stopped. haha...you can take the previous chapter as a teaser...here is the real stuff! hope you will enjoy it! Btw, i have almost finished the next chapter for Chryseis, so you can look forward to that too!
Annad: Sorry the previous chapter was so short...I realised that myself...hehe...hope this chapter is longer and more to your liking!
incarnated-soul: I like Angelo too...really enjoyed writing about his character(smiles)...(By the way, i am writing a story on Angelo...it will be out after Song of the Siren is finished...which might take a long long time...advertising...lol) As for the many question still yet to be unanswered, i have to say read on...and you will find out...haha...sorry...some of the questions will be answered in this chapter...or the next...Hope you will enjoy!
Setus: Hey gal! Thanks for complaining...haha...really...it will be longer this time...in fact, it is longer...didn't realise that you would do it directly after you got home though...so fast and efficient (grins)...lol...maybe next time should harass you to review more...haha...
Dark Angel's Blue Fire: Not really such a long wait isn't it? And it is longer than ever before. : )
MerlinHalliwell: Thanks for reviewing! really appreciate that you took the time to do it and hope you will enjoy this chapter as well!
IceAngel3: i have always loved historical romances and cannot get enough of them. As I was planning the story, I thought maybe i could incorporate some of those scenes into the story itself...I really had a great time writing them and i am so glad you enjoyed reading them!
Mental Twitch 'Sh33r's: Sorry about the 'mystery'shrouding the whole story...i am obliged to tell you that i can only say that annoying little phrase that we authors like to use: all will soon be revealed! Hahaha...finally my turn to say it...no really...is there really alot of tense errors in the story? Because usually, i post the chapters directly after i finished them and leave the grammer and spelling to my trusty Microsoft Words programme, which unfortuantely appears to be failing me...oh well...I will get around to those in the meantime...thanks for pointing it out!(smiles)Meanwhile, enjoy the next chapter(i hope)
babe in black: sorry about the delay...had a few problems with the plot and was trying to sort out the tangle i had gotten myself into(all the above questions Mental Twitch 'Sh33r's had pointed out to me previously)...well here it is...Chapter eight: Discovery
Author's notes: You know what? I could get use to this, all this ego-boosting reviews...joking, joking really... You people have been great, a constant in my usually dreary life and a motivation for me to continue writing...Please do point out any mistakes or anything you do not like...i'll try to do my best and change it...until then, please read on...Oh...and review...until then, i would like to say a big big thank you to all of you out there, whether you have reviewed or not!
Chapter Eight: Discovery
Here 's a sigh to those who love me,
And a smile to those who hate;
And whatever sky 's above me,
Here 's a heart for every fate.
George Gordon Noel Byron, Lord Byron (1788-1824), To Thomas Moore.
The Past, London 1816
"Gwen? Gwen! What is the matter with you?" Hanna, her cousin's exasperated voice finally broke through Gwen's self-induced reverie as she stared without really looking out of the moving carriage's window with a pensive frown on her face. Hanna, who had come to live with them at a tender age of six since her parents' deaths, was as close to Gwen as sisters.
"What is what with me?" She frowned absently at her cousin, who threw her hands up into the air with a cry, "I swear, you will be the death of me!"
"No, I won't. Gregory will." Gwen replied with a cheeky grin as she made the slight on her older brother. In her opinion, no one could be more irritating than her brother when he is set on protecting her virtues even if there was nothing to protect. His chosen method of protection would be following them around like an overly worried mother hen. It was, to say the least, most irritating and secondly, scaring off all the potential suitors.
"Point acceded." Hanna's voice was grumpy as she complained, "You would think there is a pervert waiting around every corner from the way he follows me around. The only time he would ever let me out of my sight is when I go to Almack's for the evening or if I have to go to the lavatory."
"Even Gregory has limits."
A wicked grin lit her face as she confided in Hanna, "You wouldn't get him into Almack's even with a pistol pointed at his back. I believe that applies to all men jaded enough in the ways of the society." Gwen added thoughtfully as an after thought.
They looked at each other in silence then switched their gazes to Gregory, whose head of golden blond hair was clearly visible through the tiny carriage window that allowed the driver speech-access to his passengers before bursting into peals of laughter.
With the uncanny intuition of a sibling to a sibling, Gregory opened up the tiny window and frowned at them suspiciously, emerald eyes piercing as he asked, "Are you two talking behind my back?"
When Hanna shook her head frantically while choking on her laughter and Gwen simply burst out into more laughter again, he glared at them, "I'll get it out of you when we reach home."
When that parting threat, he closed the window with a sharp little snap, an irate little movement promising of the tortures to come in the near future. He was short of temper recently, having to deal with both Hanna's out-coming season and the matters of Trenworth vast estates, seeing now that their father was too ill to continue his usual overseeing of the administrative matters he usually take in hand.
But Gwen wasn't worried. Growing up with Gregory made her known of the fact that Gregory has a quick temper that would lash out viciously if provoked, but it has also led insight into his character that while quick to flare, the flame that was Gregory's temper was also quick to die. He was a loving and loyal brother who would give his life for his sister no matter how much he had complained about the burden Gwen was to him and one Gwen would, in turn, lay her life down for. Thus, she was certain that by the time Gregory got home, he would be back to his usual cheery self and would have forgotten about the whole thing.
"So." The single ominous word had her looking warily at Hanna, who was looking at her with a speculative look in her wide grey eyes. "Can I say that it is a he?"
She choked. "What are you talking about?"
"The man who had you gazing off into blank space and sighing wistfully-"
"I did not sigh wistfully!" Gwen cried out in horror.
"Okay, you did not. So it is a he." Hanna's eyes were shrewd and knowing as she leaned back into her seat with a half-smile playing on her lips. Gwen knew, from experience there was no arguing with Hanna or distracting her when she was in this mood. So she had no choice but to go with the truth. She nodded reluctantly.
Gwen's answer obviously pleased Hanna whose mouth formed a little 'o' of delight as she digested the little piece of information.
"Would it be that oh-so-sinfully-handsome man who was danced with you two times?" Hanna asked as she leaned forward, her grey eyes sparkling with anticipation and mischief.
"Hanna!" Gwen cried out, scandalized. "And besides, many men danced with me twice."
"True." Hanna acceded, "but none was as handsome as him. The tall man, dark-haired with grey eyes with a smile that would melt your knees upon its appearance and so smitten by you."
Gwen could only think of one man that fitted the description right down to the last detail. Christian Gabriel Shadrach Claymore, the Duke of Rutherford. Exactly whom she had in her thoughts before Hanna had interrupted her so rudely.
"I see I have hit the mark," Hanna's grey eyes widened in delight," So who is he?"
Seeing no way out, Gwen reluctantly supplied the answer Hanna wanted," The Duke of Rutherford."
Her jaw dropped. "A Duke? Heavens, Gwen."
Then her eyes lit up," I think you might have a chance after all. After all, he was rather besotted with you. He didn't dance with anyone after you, just stood at the sides looking at you."
Gwen knew that. After all, she was looking at him half the time she was dancing with the other men. Not that she was going to admit that. Even to her cousin.
"He did?" She asked, her expression carefully neutral. Deftly, she switched the topic with a teasing," What about you? Anyone caught your fancy?"
Hanna blushed, giving Gwen her answer.
"Ah, who is the lucky guy?" Gwen grinned, relief at the change of topic. She wasn't certain of how she felt about one Christian Gabriel Shadrach Claymore. Her feelings for him currently ranged from confusion to liking. He was a very charming man, and handsome (no arguments there), yet there was an underlying complexity under that cool and unbothered society shell he put on. She simply didn't know what to think about him.
Pulling her thoughts away from the disturbing Duke of Rutherford, she turned her attention to her cousin, who still had not answered her question.
"Hanna?" Gwen prompted, her eyes searching Gwen's face questionably.
"He…he said his name was Thierry. Thierry Descoudres. He is a foreigner. He just came here from France." Hanna's blush deepened as she continued, "You might think me silly but I felt as though I was somehow…bonded to him. That I seemed to know him from another place, another time. " The dreamy look that had came to her eyes when she spoke of her Mr Descoudres flitted away when she remembered Gwen's presence. She darted a gaze up at Gwen.
Now, it was her turn to be silent. Gwen studied her cousin's flaming and embarrassed face and came to the startling realization she had been trying to avoid: Hanna was in love. And she was petrified for her cousin's sake. She did know whom her cousin was talking about.
Mr Descoudres was the talk of the town when he came here the week before his return from France. 'A tall, handsome and enigmatic French man' was one of the phrases used to describe the wealthy stranger that had every female in the town sighing after him. She heard from the ton's ever-vigilant grapevine that he had been traveling all over the world before he came back to London. No one really knew what background he had come from; neither did he appear to have any family or friends here in London.
Even though there was no mention of him being a rake or a womanizer, still Gwen was worried for Hanna. She had seen and heard enough of men like Thierry Descoudres who could never settle down or stay faithful with or to one woman. Their urge to travel was simply too great.
She bit her lip before she answered slowly," I am not sure about Thierry Descoudres. But," She added quickly as Hanna's face fell," it is your life, Hanna. I will support you because I trust your judgment." Finished, she reached over and took Hanna's hands in her.
"Thank you, Gwen." Hanna sniffled, touched. She drew out her handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes, a watery smile appearing, bringing out the dimple hidden at the corner of her mouth.
"What are cousins for?" Gwen teased, feeling a little teary herself. At this moment, the carriage came to a halt and before they could compose themselves, the carriage door was flung open by a disgruntled Gregory," Come, let us-"
He stopped, just having noticed the shimmer of tears in Hanna's eyes. Immediately, a mask of concern appeared as he inquired in a worried tone," What is it? It is that Thierry Descoudres right? I'll kill him!"
Gwen hurriedly stopped Gregory before he could storm over to wherever the innocent man lived and wrung Thierry Descoudres' life out of him, " We were just…um…a little emotional today."
"Did I get you right?" Gregory blinked at them, disbelief evident in his tone, " You are crying because of no reason?" He enunciated each word slowly, as though speaking to a pair of delinquent children.
"Not really for no reason. She was just touched by the fact um…that I am well…her cousin." Gwen smiled sheepishly at Gregory, who looked as though he couldn't believe he had just heard.
"You," He looked pointedly at Hanna," cried because she" he jabbed a finger in Gwen's direction," was your cousin and you were overwhelmed because of it."
"Now that he put it that way, I do feel a little silly." Hanna admitted shamefacedly to Gwen, who was having a hard time trying not to laugh at the expression of disgust and incredulity on her brother's face.
Gregory suddenly turned on his heels and marched up to the house, all the while muttering something about the foolishness of women in general under his breath, leaving his sister and cousin to follow behind, trailing laughter behind them.
'Two souls with but a single thought,
Two hearts that beat as one.'
Von Münch Bellinghausen (1806-1871), Ingomar the Barbarian. Act ii.
The Present, Las Vegas
There were no sparks. Nor was there a sudden-mind blowing connection or a pink haze when he touched her, as it would have been if they were soulmates. Nada. Just sensations, an overwhelming amount of them that keep assailing her senses. Yet there was a sense of completion, as though she was whole once more. As though some part of her soul, missing until now had returned to her. A gentle fusing of mind and soul.
Not soulmates. Then what is this?
She could see the same question in Shadrach's silver-tinted eyes even as she herself wondered about it as they broke apart, both panting slightly and eyeing each other warily, not knowing what had just happened between them.
"What," Shadrach gritted out between clenched teeth," did you do?"
Incredulous, Kiele stared back at him," What did I do? You were the one who kissed me in case you have forgotten!"
"I haven't," He glowered back at her with silver eyes that had darkened to obsidian," But I didn't do that."
There was no mistaking what he meant by the emphasis. Kiele felt obliged to protest her innocence," Neither did I. I am a slayer, godamit, a human. And I would rather bond with Hunter Redfern than with you."
He glared at her," I didn't do it."
Getting tired of this meaningless banter, she snapped," Well, prove it."
Not really the smartest of all answers, she realized now as a thunderous expression materialized on his face. She had been expected him to strike her or kill her, now that she was weaponless and defenseless. But she had not expected his sort and curt reply.
"Fine."
She barely had time to register the significance of his answer before his mouth once again descended on her lips. Emotions, both wanted and unwanted, rose up in her. There it was again. The sense of completion.
"Well, this is interesting. You were supposed to be killing her, not kissing her, boss."
The mild statement had the effect of a gunshot. Both of them sprang apart from each other as fast as they could, their heads turned towards the lone lamia that had interrupted them, who gifted them both with a blinding smile.
Angelo.
Author's notes: By the by, Almack's is an exclusive place where all young ladies sought to go and 'ruled' by seven highborn ladies. The wednesday night balls hosted there are exceptionally dull with bad refreshments (watered down sour lemonade, tea, brea, stale cake etc) and strict rules and discipline yet entry to this exclusive place(by form of vouchers)was sought after by every ambitious match-making mama and their fresh-out-of-the-schoolroom-and-eager-for-marriage daughters because it was a place where advantagous marriages could be made. It was also a place where 'jaded' bachelors avoid religiously because of all the above reasons and because, at least I think,there was no spirits(wine, whiskey) allowed in those places.
I am sorry if this isn't up to my usual standards or if the characters seem to be breaking out of character. I will make amendment soon. I am just a little tired and disorientated recently...all explanations on Kiele and Shadrach's uniqu relationship will be made clear by the next chapter...
I would like to ask for suggestions to the title of Angelo's story(yes, he will have a story), which will be put up after or (maybe before) Song of the Siren is finished and it is a sequel to SOTS. Currently, it is named Tears of the Moon, which sounds well...okay bordering on cheesy to me...so please help me think of a nice name! Thanks...
Hope you enjoyed that! Review and i'll make you my eternal idol : )