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Post by Serena De Lorme on Dec 20, 2008 5:59:21 GMT -5
You would think that the lover of the crowned prince would be the happiest vampiress around. That she would be walking through the bazaar, gazing upon booths and stands and small shops with eyes filled with satisfaction and life, instead of just nothing. That's what happens when such a woman decides to see how their family was fairing, and wasn't even allowed in the house. Neither of her brothers would speak to her, and her father was as cold as ever. Her mother? Still away on some trip.
And she had the prime opportunity to actually kill a witch, show that she wasn't as weak as her father said she was...and she didn't take it. The love she had for Tobias completely destroyed all that she could have been, made her almost less than a vampire. If it affected her this much, this hard, it was almost unimaginable what it could do to Brone. Each night that past let them grow closer together, and she was falling in love with him. But Aarya was still keeping him from her completely, no matter how hard she tried.
Sighing, she stopped walking to stand away from the crowd, watching them move about their lives. She was running out of options to help him and ultimately herself. Even though Serena knew what she was getting into when she let herself into Brone's life, she felt... She just shook the thought from her mind. Already fed, she just looked up at the starry sky. Soon, she would go back to the castle. But not just yet.
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Post by Brone Van Estra on Dec 22, 2008 19:17:27 GMT -5
Brone decided he hated walls.
Hated them.
He hated the walls that existed between rich and poor. Between witch and vampire. He hated the walls he was building around himself. He hated the wall he was creating between him and Serena, a woman who could, and would, give him everything but he still couldn't be totally hers. And he was trying. trying so hard to make himself realize the witch was no good for him. She could never hold him, love him, the way Serena would. Maybe it was time to just ignore the witch. he had been trying, but she was like the day, always there, but never seen, never reachable.
He escaped the only walls he could, the walls of the castle. With his hood pulled up high. He had eaten, and now he was going to walk among the poor, the bustling, the ever moving. They wouldn't notice him in the mix if he was hidden enough. Maybe he could find Serena, maybe she would convince him of what was right. he needed her more than ever, just to say a few things. But now he wanted her to tell him he was crazy, that she was the only answer for him, that she would never leave and that Witch would die one day if not turned and there was no way he could have her. That was what Serena had to say, from her words to her eyes, she had to mean it. Maybe then, he could let go.
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Post by Serena De Lorme on Dec 22, 2008 20:28:52 GMT -5
Walking through the bazaar, she saw a stand by vampires from another country. Curious, she walked over and found they were from the Orient, travelers seeking their fortune. Their gift was in body art, something she hadn't seen anywhere but in books her father had her read once. It was enough to make her actually stop and see what it was they could do, glad to see someone new among the faces she was so used to seeing. She wouldn't have noticed Brone walking into the bazaar, mostly because she wasn't paying attention to much else. Her mind was still reeling, wondering how much longer before Brone would actually tire of her, his need to be with Aarya so great.
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Post by Brone Van Estra on Dec 22, 2008 20:33:12 GMT -5
Ah, there she was. Brone was surprised by how easily he recognized her. Of course he had seen her first from behind. Well, he had studied her mostly from behind as she dove into the lake that night. He would never forget it. She was standing with a group of travelers, he heard them say something about body art. He hung back, he, as a prince could meet no strangers to the country this way, but if Serena didn't give him away, they would never know who he had been.
Slowly he walked to her, not making much sound, vampires were rarely noisy creatures. He laid a hand on Serena's shoulder before giving a nod of respect to the travelers who returned the gesture. He had met with foreigners before this. He only hoped Serena was not startled, he looked at her carefully under the hood.
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Post by Serena De Lorme on Dec 22, 2008 21:07:35 GMT -5
The touch on her shoulder made her look up in surprise but then just smile and nod at recognizing Brone beneath the hood. She almost said his name, but something about the way he looked at her gave the impression he just wanted to be another person among the masses so she kept her mouth shut. Instead, she pointed out a particular design of swirls with their symbols that she was interested in getting. They told her to come back tomorrow night and they could get started. It would take awhile because of the many wooden needles they would have to use.
Once that was done and she gave them the last of the money she kept from her father's house, she looked up for Brone to walk with her down the street. "Now I can see why I hadn't seen you walk among the people much before," she murmured just loud enough for him to hear, regardless of their enhanced hearing.
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Post by Brone Van Estra on Dec 22, 2008 21:13:48 GMT -5
Brone watched her gently as she spoke with the traveler, to whom he said nothing. It wasn't needed. Speaking wouldn't do much in this case. But as they walked away, he smiled at Serena's words. "I walk around a lot, but usually under a hood if I wish not to be seen. Often though I wander noticeably, but if you realize, people are more themselves when they don't know its me." Brone said meeting her eyes under the shadow of his hood. He debated throwing it off to show her what he meant, but that could wait for another time. He removed his hand from her since they were in public and everyone knew she was Brone's lover, and Brone was busy pretending not to be himself.
They walked along in silence for a long moment, their breath suspended in the cold air that did not bother them, true to vampire nature. "I really have to talk to you, but not here." It was not an order, it was a soft request.
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Post by Serena De Lorme on Dec 22, 2008 21:28:10 GMT -5
"I can understand that. The amount of respect we're obligated to show to you. Does take the fun out of just walking and enjoying the night." Despite the fact she was supposed to pretend it wasn't Brone along with him, she still stood rather close to him as they walk, just drawing from having him near her. It was all that she needed for now, even if it was to try and block the doubts and fears that constantly plagued her nowadays.
When he spoke again, she glanced up at him then back to the path in front of her, nodding. "Where do you want to go?" she murmured in response. This was her opportunity, to tell him how she really felt. Might as well be now before things got too far, and she found herself in too much pain to even consider moving on.
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Post by Brone Van Estra on Dec 22, 2008 21:33:43 GMT -5
"It makes moving around in the night very hard. I am always the prince, even if I don't want to be," Brone said meeting her eyes slowly and taking her hand, despite where they were. He couldn't help it, he hungered for her skin. He realized he had never truly spelled out his problems with being a prince, he never truly explained to her how much he hated who he was. Not that he always hated it, he just did sometimes, parts of it.
Where? He hadn't given it much thought actually. he had not been expecting to find her, he had not expected her to follow him away. "The lake." He said. It was the first place he thought of when he thought of her, even if they had not known each other well then. Brone knew that was the place to talk to Serena.
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Post by Serena De Lorme on Dec 22, 2008 21:46:15 GMT -5
She hadn't expect him to actually say he didn't always like being a prince, which made her meet his gaze. Well, she could only imagine having so much responsibility on your shoulders that you yearned for your own identity. At the rate things were going, she doubted that she would even come closer than being "the prince's lover". Another tiny surprise when he took her hand anyway. Her lips couldn't help but curve slightly as she gave his hand a tiny squeeze.
Her eyes widened slightly when he mentioned the lake. Where everything began for them. It was fitting, especially if what she had to say ended up being the end of things for them. "Alright then." And they were off towards the lake, Serena's inside feeling as if it were twisting and turning.
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Post by Brone Van Estra on Dec 22, 2008 22:08:28 GMT -5
She only said two words.
Brone had no idea what to say to that. What was going on inside her mind? He only hoped that his words--though he was still deciding exactly what they would be did not change what she said. Maybe he should let her talk first, then he could say what he had to knowing he had not influenced her words, her mind. Did he have that much sway over her? Did he want to? Life was never simple was it?
Short answer, no, it never was.
They made it to the lake quickly enough, walking over the earth quietly leaving the noise and deep color of the bazzar behind and ahead he saw the glimmering lake. He paused several yards off from the shore and at first did not look at her. "Serena...." He was surprised to notice he was at a loss for words. "I have so much to say, and I am not sure where to begin, please, give me a moment." Brone said meeting her eyes at least, looking sorry, almost looking sad. He could tell something was on her mind. He had begun to know her very well.
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Post by Serena De Lorme on Dec 22, 2008 22:20:56 GMT -5
It wasn't that he actually had that much sway over her, other than the fact she too was trying to figure out exactly what to say to him. The last person she told she was in love with died because of it, so she was wary. There was so much that could go wrong, including him possibly regretting the agreement they made. Was it just that? Had the nights they spend together, been just that, an agreement while he pined for the prize yet won? Did he really just keep her around for posterity, to hide what he truly wanted?
That was her fear, and it only grew when he spoke. Yes, something was on her mind, but seeing the sadness forming in his eyes actually made worry grow instead. Her hand came up and rested on his chest, her fear mounting with every passing second. She didn't think she was ready to be hurt again. "Take your time. We have all night." A smile tried to form, though it was barely there.
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Post by Brone Van Estra on Dec 22, 2008 22:38:03 GMT -5
"Something is troubling you," Brone said softly. "It's driving me crazy." He said looking away from her eyes that seemed like a fire burning holes in his heart. What was bothering her, was she afraid of what he was going to say? The prince was not even sure he could tell her to her face what he wanted to say. Should he let her speak first? Her hand was a cube of ice against his cold chest and it was falling into his stomach along with fear and guilt. Fear that she would leave and guilt that he was putting her through hell.
"Serena," Brone still wasn't looking at her, but he pulled her body to him in an embrace, breathing unsteadily by her ear as he waited for words to come. "I know I put you through hell every day, every time I touch you, making you wonder what I'm really thinking...." He paused for breath. "I can't do that to you. It breaks my heart...." The most sincere thing he probably ever said, it showed weakness in him, great weakness, and he only hoped that would not push her away from him.
"She could never love me like you do, she could never touch me like you do.... no one ever could," Brone did not need to clarify the 'she' it was Aarya and he knew she would know it. The witch seemed more distant when he did not call her by name. He meant his words, every one, Vampires were not romantics, and maybe this was proving him to be weak. He should never be king. This made Brone falter. He opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. But he wasn't finished.
"The witch, I can forget, I have to forget, because I don't need that in my life. I don't want to see that pain in your face, I don't want to feel my insides shatter when I think of how I disappoint you. I don't even deserve you...." Brone was sure there was more but his voice had left him and he had closed his eyes and released her from the hug, maybe out of fear, or the thought that she might want to run.
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Post by Serena De Lorme on Dec 22, 2008 23:13:14 GMT -5
It was as if the pit of her stomach just dropped through a void. The way he started out made her afraid that he wanted things to just end then and there. She had gone too far to let things end just yet, not when she now knew that he might care a little bit about her, possibly outside of lust. But maybe that was the point. He was starting to care for her and wanted to end things before he forgot about his precious Aarya. Perhaps she put herself in too deep by falling for this man. But it was all she could do to keep listening to him.
The more he spoke, the more she yearned to tell him just how much she was falling for him. It was a hard thing to do, the looming thought that her love for him was going to be the end of him. Perhaps she wasn't good for him, no matter how much she wanted to stay with him. He seemed to struggle with his words, as if he didn't know what to say to her, when she was just bursting with what she had in mind. I don't want to feel my insides shatter when I think of how I disappoint you. I don't even deserve you..." That was all she needed to hear.
When he started to pull away, she clung to him, wrapping her arms around his neck to keep him near, to keep him from walking away from her. Just as he spoke in her ear, she returned the favor, deciding to just let it all out. "You don't disappoint me... Yes, I drive myself insane wondering what goes on in your mind, but its because I'm falling for you..."
She had to pause to breath. Before she lost her nerve for it all. "I'm afraid that with each day that passes you will pine for her hard enough to leave me... Each day I wake up wondering what would happen if you found a way to be with her... What would happen if I found I had your child... If you found you would never love me back the way I'm starting to love you..." Tears were starting to well up in her eyes, but she had to keep going before she lost her nerve. She wanted to be strong, stronger than this.
"I want you to forget her. I want you to just let me in. I knew when this all started I would never be first in your heart, but I want to be. I don't care anymore, I need to be the one you think of at night, during the day while working, the one that makes you smile just by walking into a room... But... if you don't want me... Please... tell me now... You've changed my life... But tell me now..."
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Post by Brone Van Estra on Dec 22, 2008 23:25:37 GMT -5
Brone held ehr close, her words filling his body like air did a balloon. He couldn't tell if he felt heavier or lighter than before. His words were tumbling out of his mouth before he could stop them, he barely realized that his hood had fallen off and that his hands pulled her to him in a force that would have broken a human's bones. "Serena I want to forget her, I'm trying so hard. She has to be a fad, I never had teenage years to speak of, maybe they got here late.... It kills me everyday that she haunts my thoughts, I want to only think of you. I never want another moment to be tainted by the fact that she is always there." Brone shook his head, a catch in his breath. Not that he would ever cry in front of her, but he had never really cried since his child hood anyway.
"I think of you all the time, you always make me smile," That was true, the only problem was, he didn't think of her only. but he knew he could forget that, forget the witch. "I have never been good at letting people in, I will always have too many things on my mind to properly explain." It was a problem with him, no wonder he was not very close with his siblings.
"Please believe me, I want to let you in, I want you to be first in everything." Brone murmured, kissing her neck softly. He really did love her, in a deeper way than he could ever love Aarya. "I cannot forget in a day, and with everything in me I try, I try.... and I know I can succeed, she can leave me.... because...." And while he thought he meant it when he had told Serena this before, when he said it now, it felt real. "I love you."
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Post by Serena De Lorme on Dec 23, 2008 22:54:51 GMT -5
"Brone..." was all she could say, his words taking their grip on her very soul. She had been expecting something, anything other than what she had been hoping he would one day say to her. Despite her best efforts, a few tears fell down her cold cheeks as she clung to him as tightly as he held her, never wanting to let go. Hope just swelled through her body, hope that things would be alright now, and that they could move on in their lives. He was right, he can't just forget in a day, but the very fact he was trying, and that one day he will forget her, was all she could ever need.
Moving just enough, her lips found his hungrily, kissing him with all the passion she possessed at that moment. One of her hands moved to run through his ebony locks, fear of showing her weakness towards him and him alone completely gone. He never ran from her tears before and she doubted he ever would. He would be the only one to see and if she worked hard, this would be the last time she would ever have to cry.
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