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Post by Brone Van Estra on Jan 23, 2009 17:41:54 GMT -5
Brone had so little time left, he should have gone sooner, he needed to do something. So he went to the house of the De Lormes. But would Victoria forgive him? Would she be mad? Would she, like Mina had, pointed the finger of blame at him. He already felt condemned, a part of him would die with Serena, and not just in the physical sense like the baby. He knocked loudly on the door, unsure of how to compose his face, so it was all warring over the space, sadness frustration, anger, guilt.
He almost hoped Tobais would answer the door so he could rip his head off, make him feel like he was at least doing something, could avenge her some way. But Victoria answering would be better for them all, he might still be able to save Serena that way. Maybe. If she had a plan. Keelin was in his 'attic' so to speak. They only had two nights tops.
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Post by Serena De Lorme on Jan 23, 2009 18:29:41 GMT -5
ooc: sorry i fell asleep and then was distracted by comedians XD
As always, the butler was the one reach the door first, bowing to the prince at first sight. But before he could ask for the meaning of this visit, he was waved to the side and Victoria came to the door herself. It was obvious that besides her grief she has been dealing with enough stress to line her beautiful face. She only waved away the butler because she had been expecting a message, but then seeing Brone was definitely enough of a welcomed sight.
She curtsied low, needing to keep formalities where they lie, moving to the side so that he may enter. "Evening, sire. I've been wondering when you would stop by. If you won't mind and follow me." She turned and headed down the hallway briskly, the butler closing the door behind him. Her path led her up a set of stairs to her wing of the house and her own study that had the door open to let in the cool air. Because her ancestor was a soothsayer, she was using an old method of communication that required the services of a looking glass. There was the picture of a woman within the glass but Victoria tossed a sheet over the glass by the time Brone reached the room behind her.
Turning to face him, she didn't know exactly what she wanted to say at first, but now wasn't the time to cast judgment. "How much time do we have left? And why didn't you tell me just how...close-minded your father was? I would have suggested we used the forest instead of endangering the both of you, even with your graciousness." It was a lot to answer in a sense, but she was trying to think and rally her people. When she said her people would war if her daughter died, she meant it.
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Post by Brone Van Estra on Jan 23, 2009 18:37:49 GMT -5
ooc- hakuna matata
Brone followed her wordlessly, just nodding solemnly. The butler had to see this as anything else, something normal.He was rigid and defined, looking as if he didn't care, but once they were in the study, he slouched, his eyes torn with grief. He looked tired and sad. Why hadn't he done something smarter, this really was all his fault, and he knew it, and the pain stung.
"And why didn't you tell me just how...close-minded your father was? I would have suggested we used the forest instead of endangering the both of you"
He had to close his eyes. He should have been the one to suggest somewhere safer. He should have known his father might come looking for him. the man was rarely in the halls, how could he have guessed? "Tonight, tomorrow and then the next night." Brone answered her. That wasn't enough time. he'd fought with Mina, sang with Serena, smuggled a half witch into the palace who somehow seemed important but he couldn't bring her up.
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Post by Serena De Lorme on Jan 23, 2009 18:44:27 GMT -5
Victoria silently cursed to herself, going to her desk to rummage through some papers there. Her family was already informed of what happened and were traveling there, but she doubted they would get there in time. They had to find something, anything that could be useful. Using brute strength and definitely being a woman was not going to help their cause at all. She was at a crossroads, and would have to resort to sneaking around in order to save her daughter.
Turning around to view Brone, whatever she was going to say got caught in her throat. His misery was so apparent and she couldn't help but think that he had already given up. They had very little time... She walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder, guiding him towards one of the chairs in there and making him sit down. "Listen... You cannot give up hope. We have to find something, anything that could convince your father to give up his tirade. I want you to think very, very hard. Is there anything about your father that you know of, or even your line? Anything that we could use at all?" she asked gently, not wanting to pressure him, but she had to know where she could look.
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Post by Brone Van Estra on Jan 23, 2009 18:50:12 GMT -5
"I haven't given up. I'm just so afraid to fail. I should have found a way by now... I feel so useless." He felt weak. he'd never really felt that way before. He used to know he was smart, that he would someday make a good king, that he was a good man. But now, he couldn't tell.
His next words tumbled out before he could stop them, his eyes opening. "All I have is a strange feeling and a half witch hiding in the old section of the castle. Well, she more or less volunteered.... i don't know how to explain, or why i think she'd important. And other than that I have practically nothing! I have no allies in my own family." He said shaking his head fiercely, starting to pace. David was jealous of him, Jon just didn't understand him, Mina loved a fight. His mother--the only one who conceivably be helpful was being very quiet and his father cared only for rules.
He had condemned Serena to death and he had no idea how to save her at all.
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Post by Serena De Lorme on Jan 23, 2009 19:10:27 GMT -5
"A half witch? Well as interesting as that is... Does she know who her parents are or any idea about her lineage? The only way she could be helpful is if we could connect her to your family. Who knows, maybe someone from the castle had a part in her conception." That was more than a long stretch, but she didn't have any better information than the prince did. The irony of if she was possibly right almost made her laugh out loud, but she kept it to herself. Instead, she looked towards the open patio doors, thinking as best as she could.
"Depending on when some family members get here, the only idea I have is if we sneak Serena out of the castle. It would be hard enough with all the guards and enchantments already in place. I don't know if anything could be finalize until that sunrise. Though..." she looked to Brone and she knew it would be a hard question to ask, and she could guess her daughter's reaction without even asking her. "IF, and that's a strong if, we manage to get Serena free without a pardon, she would have to go with my family. She would never be able to return. Could you deal with never seeing her again?" she asked softly, looking into his eyes to make him stop pacing.
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Post by Brone Van Estra on Jan 23, 2009 19:26:52 GMT -5
"I'd do anything to save her, ever never see her again....." Brone said looking back at Victoria. He paused a moment, wondering if it would be the second time he told the secret about kings and their sons. "Once I'm king, I could take her back.... if she still wanted to come." He said, silently wondering if she could, could he? Wait so long for each other? their love was strong enough to withstand, but were their bodies and minds willing to be apart for so long?
"I have no idea, I just know she'd not half human, and she smells very familiar to me some how. She has this underlying devotion to me, but its void of any romance, and I feel the need to protect her--but none of it makes sense. She could be involved in my family somehow, I just have no idea..." Brone said standing still, but his fingers fidgeted, as if he were itching to claw something, or pace again. His eyes looked off, thinking.
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Post by Serena De Lorme on Jan 23, 2009 19:54:36 GMT -5
Victoria just nodded to his answer, all she really needed to know. If he was willing to let her go for her to live, then she would still try to find a loop hole in order for them to stay together. He peaked her interest when he mentioned he could have her back once he was king. "Depends on how long the two of you are willing to wait. After this who knows when your father would be willing to let you ascend the throne. He might just stay there for the next millenia to spite you. He seems like such a man," she scoffed, just a gesture short of spitting at the mention of his father. No wonder her husband followed Vlad III without contest. The men were alike.
Listening to Brone's explanation of the witch, she tilted her head to the side slightly, deep in thought. She knew how vampires could smell their own kind, of course, though the more familiar the scent, the closer relation in blood they tended to be. It was an interesting thought, but before she could say anything on the subject matter, a white owl flew into the open door, a note attached to its leg. It perched itself on Victoria's desk as she walked over, taking a handful of seeds out of her pocket to feed to it as she untied the note. A quick glance over, and her eyes widened. "Stay right here, Brone, I'll be right back." Without waiting for a response, she put a hand on the owl and both creatures disappeared from sight.
The shadows in one corner of the room shifted behind Brone as they rose up and formed the shape of a hooded figure. Within seconds a voice could be heard whispering in Brone's ear though the source of it remained back in its corner. "Well congratulations. You've managed to do what I should have done. You've basically killed her." The familiar voice was one Brone should remember all too well, as Tobias lowered the hood to reveal his smirking face.
ooc: sorry couldn't help myself.
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Post by Brone Van Estra on Jan 23, 2009 20:19:51 GMT -5
Brone had no time to answer back to Victoria. no time to watch the owl or wonder what its message had been. All he heard was that voice. That damn voice of a being he wished dead with more force than anything he'd ever felt. He might have hated him even more than he loved Serena--No. There was nothing he felt stronger than his love and it had to stay that way if he'd ever make a good king. But the thing had the nerve to compare Brone to himself.
The prince whirled around to face Tobias. His face hard as stone. If only looks could kill. But he couldn't hold back, the smirk of triumph that lie the witch's eyes made him sick. Tobias was happy that Serena would die. Brone launched himself at him without a word, striking like a cobra, sudden and sharp. He'd apologize to Victoria if he made a mess, he'd even clean. But nothing made much sense other than his pain and hate for Tobias and how much he wanted to protect his love.
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Post by Serena De Lorme on Jan 23, 2009 20:30:39 GMT -5
Granted, Tobias didn't expect the prince to actually try and attack him. He didn't think him that stupid. So yes, he was caught off guard, but instead of directly fighting back, he just had his shadows grab a hold of the prince and throw him back against the bookshelf, a few books falling off the shelves from the impact. Tobias laughed at Brone, standing up and brushing his clothes off like it was nothing but dust. "Brava, your highness, but you'll have to do better than that. Perhaps I should make a visit, you think? I'm sure by now she'll be more than willing to go with me, when her own love sentenced her to death," he taunted with a gleam in his eyes. [/color] |
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Post by Brone Van Estra on Jan 24, 2009 1:17:07 GMT -5
Brone felt his spine slam into the bookshelf, but he was not as breakable as all that. The magic hurt more. This wouldn't get him anything, fighting when he couldn't win. Injuring himself--possibly dying. But somehow, his normal logic couldn't be reached. It would be nobel to die for Serena. "Don't you dare go near her," Brone hissed, but what could he do? He had no idea how to fight him. None. Just like he ahd no ideas to save his love.
He shifted his weight from one foot to the other very quickly, how to attack something that could control other things..... He controlled darkness--not shadow, Brone decided. Turning off the light made no shadow--no light to cast one--, but it made darkness. Tobias could work at night, but there had been shadows from the moon..... Brone furrowed his eyebrows, not sure which would work and only having time for one. "A real man would fight me, without the use of your tricks." Brone taunted back. Tobias couldn't move, he was using his power to keep from fighting. The playing field wasnt level. Despite Brone's physical prowess, Tobias was strong.
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Post by Tobias Neverwells on Jan 24, 2009 2:22:56 GMT -5
ooc: almost forgot i had this account lol
Once again, Tobias found himself laughing at this headstrong prince. He was older, wiser, and much more powerful. And yet he kept coming it seemed. Like a sprig of grass newly grown. And it got rather annoying rather quickly. Shaking his head, Tobias reached up and took his time unclasping his cloak from his neck and draping it over the nearest chair. "Now, I haven't been a man for a couple years now. There are no men in this room. Only creatures. Bloodsucking vermin who have nothing better to do than cause trouble for my people. Well they used to be my people. Now I'm stuck as one of you. Its a pity I would think."
He put his hands behind his back and regarded the prince for a moment, considering, thinking. "Now, once again, there is a small impasse between us. You want to kill me, and obviously I won't let you do that willingly. However, as much as it would please me to just pop your head off, I cannot, because of what you are. And the sheer fact I want you alive to watch as Serena burns in the sun for what she's done, for who she is. What she is, rather. Watching you die on the inside would be much more pleasurable than to take your life myself," he sneered in return.
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Post by Brone Van Estra on Jan 24, 2009 11:59:52 GMT -5
"If you so hate being a creature why let yourself become one?" Brone asked, taking a step forward. Why didn't Tobias just fight Brone, let him end his miserable existence and he could watch Brone's face for years die with sadness from wherever he ended up. "You obviously didn't do it for love. Power then? You should have known De Lorme would never give you much. What lies did he tell you? Why give up your life for this one, one you seem to despise?" Brone was trying to get inside his head now, maybe there was a way he could stop all this from happening. He doubted Tobias could ever be an ally, but maybe he'd be doing the witch a favor by killing him.
Brone took another step toward, face firm and unreadable, except for the malice there, hiding the pain behind it. Brone's eyebrows were furrowed, he was thinking. he just couldn't figure Tobias out.
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Post by Tobias Neverwells on Jan 24, 2009 12:16:31 GMT -5
Tobias merely put his hands into his pockets, watching the prince carefully. So he wanted to know why he chose this life instead of dying. "Exactly how useful would it be to die? Nothing would get done, and someone has to do the dirty work. Perhaps I did do it for power. the extra boost I got for my own abilities definitely seems to be worth it. Or it's probable that I thought of my dear family, whose worth is much lower than the De Lorme's. Another possible choice just may be I did do it for love. Maybe I love Serena so much, that I wanted to make sure we could be together forever. In this life or the next. Make sure promises were kept."
As Brone took a step forward, so did he, his amusement with the entire situation very apparent in his otherwise cold eyes. He wondered if the prince was trying to get into his head, which was rather stupid, considering his mind was his most powerful weapon. At the thought, Tobias because to gain a white glow around him, one that reciprocated around Brone. Now the prince would know the eerie fog that had plagued Serena one time too many. "I suggest that you just turn around and leave right now. And I'll tell Lady De Lorme that you've resigned to your love's fate. I would hate to see you damaged, milord..."
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Post by Brone Van Estra on Jan 24, 2009 12:26:41 GMT -5
He had to have a weakness.
Somewhere, he had one, and Brone just wanted to find it.
The fog was painful, his brain getting fuzzy. The only thing was, he couldn't think, it was clouding his judgement, but not his wishes to rip Tobais apart. He just started to think like and animal. With the shred of sense he had left he faked a stumble, hands on his face, looking bereft. And then he became the cobra again and shot at Tobias. Brone only had a moment of surprise and all it gained him was a large tear right across the witch's shoulder. He had no desire for this blood so he sprang across the room again, snarling.
What was wrong with him? Did he want to die? He just couldn't seem to leave.
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