The Fallen One, Two
“Again, that’s different. I didn’t hit you, I used a sword. There was no real violence there, just one quick motion and it’s over. Even then, I missed. Fencing is not in my future, I’m afraid.”
“I hate you so much!” Valerie hit him hard in the chest, but he didn’t budge. She did it again, making a frustrated noise as again, he didn’t move. “How can you treat it like a joke? It’s not funny!”
He sighed, “because I’ve more than paid for it. As if being belittled at every turn wasn’t bad enough, watching you become some sort of insane shadow of Christian kind of takes the cake. Is there even anything left? He’s done everything but suck you dry and you just keep running back. If I tried to kill you, he’s succeeding where I thankfully failed.”
“Shut up, you don’t understand anything. All you care about is yourself, that’s always the way it’s been. You against the big, bad world. Well, some of us can’t do that, some of us have to care about others. I’ll gladly die if it means that in the end, others are spared. That is what I am, everything I do is a sacrifice. There is no room for selfishness, there isn’t even any room for self-preservation! Everything I do, every moment that I’m alive, it’s all for the betterment of someone else!”
Nicolas shook his head, “you’re taking it too far, you’re letting your obsession cloud your judgment! Do you really think you’ve got a chance, Valerie? Beryl is a tough act to follow.”
“You’re such an ass!” She punched him hard in the chest with the full extent of her anger. He moved, if only a little. Her fists fell to her sides, hands clasped so tightly her knuckles turned white. “I-It’s not like that…”
“I suppose I have some blame there… or, all the blame, actually. But Christian, Valerie? Really?”
Slowly, Valerie’s anger dissipated, replaced by sadness. She sighed, reaching forward. Nicolas watched her carefully, making note of any quick movements. He didn’t want her launching a surprise attack and then bolting for the door. She made no move to hit him, her small fingers instead moving gently through the dark bangs that hung at the side of his face. She felt around like someone blind and without preternatural abilities, her fingers moving from his forehead down his nose and to his chin. It was a needless motion, but one with hidden intent, almost as if she could feel the truth even if she was unable to see it.
“You never liked me then… why now?”
“You’re assuming a lot,” he replied simply, watching as her hand moved down the length of his arm before falling limp at her side. “Assumptions are dangerous things.”
“I’m not assuming anything, I’m the Seer. It’s my job to see these things. Why?”
“Vampires stick with vampires.”
“No they don’t, that’s a lie.”
“You were a child.”
“I trusted you and even when everyone else gave up, I didn’t. You took advantage of me, you tried to kill me.”
Pages 1 2 3 4 5 6 | Posted in Phase Four
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December 29th, 2009 at 8:31 pm
Wow. That was powerful. I was kinda hoping Marcus would royally kick his butt.
CHRISTIAN!!!! Okay, I’m fine now.
Huh. Well, after he tried to skewer her, I wouldn’t think Nicolas and Valerie would have any inclination to do the hanky-panky. But whatever.
I wanna know what’s coming!
And the pictures I think are some of the best I’ve seen. Applause.
December 29th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
Wow, so many things going on. Nice to know Eckhard’s still Eckhard somewhere even if the crazy part does seem to have the upper-hand.
LMAO – “I didn’t hit you, I used a sword.” Oh yeah, that’s so much better.
Nicholas’ conversation with Valerie was long in coming, but oh, so necessary. Well, I’ve been waiting for that kiss; the rest, whoa did not see that coming, but I can’t see any good coming from it, not with those two.
Ylva what do you know? And what’s coming? Good stopping point. :)
December 29th, 2009 at 10:41 pm
I’m right with you on the ’skewered’ comment ;)
I was hoping Eckhard might get a little butt kicking as well but at least he didn’t kill Marcus. I am really hoping that Christian isn’t under-estimating him either.
Now Ylva…I knew she had an agenda but now I am not sure whose side she is on. This “it” that is coming must either be Eva or Christian considering the power preceding it.
I loved LOVED the scene with Nicolas and Val!! I knew that had to happen one day and your shots, the lighting, the poses, OMG so fabulous!
If you feel rusty it sure doesn’t show and I was really fascinated by the way you described your process on your main blog. This was just fantastic!!
Happy New Year Mao!
December 29th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
Wow, is that logic and self-awareness I see in Nicholas? lol! Impressive! I just love how he tries to justify how his *stabbing* her wasn’t violent, lol!
*sigh* Long time Valerie and Nicholas fan here (I’ve confessed that before), so I enjoyed this. Own that mistake, girl, own it! I know, I know, they’re just damage to each other, but man, there’s some chemistry, for sure! And I suppose they see that too ;)
But aside from my fangirl-ness that was just a great scene. Witty lines, sexual tension, anger, sadness, lust. Good stuff!
And oooh, gorgeous sky in those dawn pictures!
December 30th, 2009 at 7:59 am
I don’t know what I like best, Christian’s cool assurance or Val and Nicolas finally coming together. I can’t imagine she’s going to take any harm from that, and a little bit of damage might not be a bad thing!
and those shots are INCREDIBLE!
December 30th, 2009 at 8:01 am
Yessssssss! Finally! Is it sad of me to say I’ve been hoping Valerie and Nicolas would do the dirty since I realised they were stuck together in a room with a bed? What’s going to happen now though? *worries*
Nicely done with the poses too. Clearly you’re a pro :)
Errrr… by the by, just read back that comment… by ‘clearly you’re a pro’ I meant at using poseboxes and whatnot… not anything seedier… hehe.
December 30th, 2009 at 10:12 am
Yay for sexual tension finally getting those two into bed with each other. Oh, and hi, nice to meet you :) I read your previous stories a while back and I’ve been following Angel of Lies for a while as well. I just never got around to commenting, I guess. I’ve always admired your beautiful photography and your stories are just incredible. I’ll admit that this story is one of the reasons I was inspired to start my own. I’m looking forward to reading more chapters, and I hope you have a happy new year :)
December 30th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Marcus got his ass handed to him. Why am I not surprised? That’s what he gets for underestimating crazy Eckhard.
Valerie and Nicolas’ conversation had the perfect tension and build-up. If they didn’t end up in bed with one another after that I would have lost some money if I was a betting woman.
Ylva has me guessing what is coming. Death? Evangeline? Something worse?
December 30th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
Oh dear, that’s what Marcus gets for being even cockier than Eckhard.
Valerie and Nicolas have had a few issues to work out for a while, but I can’t see this improving things more than complicating them. Nicolas is always so sure he is right and Valerie is too determined to never let him have the upper hand. The tension has been there, but Valerie has such a tight rein on the situation and she is so wrapped up in Christian that you just know its not going to end well for Nicolas.
Ylva is up to something too, I am very curious to find out how she knows so much about what is going on.
December 31st, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Eckhard! *begins mantra: I will not squeal, I will not squeal, I will not… fails* OMGOMGOMG *squeals* okay okay… i’m okay…
*bites lip nervously* You shouldnt have left him alive Eckhard! *fidgets*
Christian is right, Eva is not a victim. She is too strong, even when she had no idea who / what she is she was strong.
“You tried to kill me!”
Oh sure Val throw that back in his face. *giggles* She’s angry but really, is she angry with the right person right now? Hmmm
*whimpers* Its about time! Oh Val, I’m so proud of you!! Yay! *sighs contently* Well now that they got that out of the way, they can concentrate on other things! *tilts head thinking* Yanno, this could be what Valerie needed. Not Nicolas so much as the release of the tension and stress. I’m not saying she simply used him but it was very carnal and not all doe eyed i’ve got a huge crush on you stuff like she was when she was a teen. As she pointed out, he destroyed that in her back when he ‘used a sword’ on her. *nodnods*
wait for it… wait for it.. ah its coming.. not sure what ‘it’ is but my guess is its one of the trio (Eva, Christian or Echkard).. then again I could be wrong and it could be death but doubtful
Reads comments before posting: Ha! No Mao you are not the only one with a dirty mind.
Ylva is chaotic Neutral (showing my inner nerd)
I totally agree, the shots and everything that transpired between Val & Nicolas was fabulously done.
January 12th, 2010 at 1:09 pm
First can I say YES!! Caught up. I thought I left a comment at the end of The Werewolf part, but I was having trouble that day. Not there now, anyway, Sensuous writing and shots between Nicolas and Valerie, such a thin line between hate and lust, it seems.
And can I squeal here *Reyes without a shirt! Screeeee*
Thank you, had to get that out of the way.
Hmmm. Sorry to See Marcus knocked on his ass, but with Eck, what would you expect.
And Christian continues to fascinate. Not exactly warm, fuzzy family feelings between these characters, are there? Makes it all the more delicious to read.
January 22nd, 2010 at 2:39 pm
I just knew Marcus was no match for Eckhard… lol… but I did think for a moment that maybe Marcus could bring him down… I’m gald he didn’t lol… it would seem like ‘out of place’ if Eckhard died without facing Christian again… lol…
anyway the conversation with Valery and Nicolas is hilarious… lol I love when he said he doesn’t hit girls… and then he refers to Melisande as his slutty sister.. lol she is still a girl, you know!!! :D lol well at least he is still his old cocky self… :D lol it was nice to have his humor back… last chapter he really looked all shadowed by something invisible… anyway…
Now I want to cry… :( I feel so sorry for Valerie… Nicolas is right… I mean… seriously what was she thinking when she thought of Christian as a man… :( her obsession for him is consuming her slowly… she looks like crap… i don’t know how you do it, but damn, you really captured ever single emotion in her face… those dark circles under her eyes make her look like a thousand year older than she really is… she does look like a crackwhore….
oh…. well I’m glad Nicolas and Valerie talked about the past… lol…
and what happened in between was just FANTASTIC, FABULOUS and not expected at all…it was damn sexy and so well written!!!
I wonder what Ylva is up to… she is a very interesting character…
I love the way you end each chapter.. lol I can’t never seem to get enough of your writing… :D
Wonderful chapter Mao!!!
February 18th, 2010 at 7:32 pm
“I should kill you… but I’m afraid that I’m not quite thinking clearly lately.”
To say the least!
And OH WOW! I so was not expecting that with Valerie and Nicolas, even though that’s usually the first place my mind goes! LOL. That was amazing.
That first picture of Reyes on this last page is excellent. Something about it is perfect.
And what’s coming?!?!? I love a good cliffhanger!