forum The Rose and Flame // One On One // Closed // Stalkers Are Hella Cool

Started November 20, 2018 by Deleted user

tune

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Lorelei froze as he held her wrist, her eyes lifting to his. He was still asking about the whole 'what-are-you-running-from' ordeal and she was started to get annoyed. But that annoyance was also starting to turn into admiration. She'd never met someone who had seemed so concerned, not for themselves, but for her.

"You are relentless, Taran. I'll give you that."

The cabin came into view and she jogged the rest of the way, taking two steps at a time up the steps, and onto the porch. She left the door opened for him and walked inside. Her eyes landed on the crack in the ground. She scoffed with surprise. How hadn't she seen that before? Turning to him, she gestured to the crack. "Nice work."

Lorelei knew she was stalling. The look in his eyes told her Taran knew too. Sighing, she sat down on the couch. "It's all a really long, boring story." She stated, running her nail along the couch cushion. Taran's gaze did not ease up. Lorelei gave an exasperated sigh. "Okay…." She couldn't believe she was doing this, speaking the words she'd promised to carry to her grave.

"I was a sap. Naive and young, I lived in a world where rich got richer and poor….well they . Life was dark, disgusting, and painful- but then he showed up. Vincent – He was brave, compassionate, and regal to me. He challenge the rule of the king and showed me that life could be so much better then what we'd been given. He was my savior. I loved him – God, I loved him. Together we ushered in a revolution against the tyranny we lived in. I was his right hand, his counselor, his lover. Life was tough, yes, but with him at my side, it was better. We changed lives for everyone…. but suddenly, that was no longer enough for him…" She looked down at her lap.

"He began to see more fame, more riches, more power. I should've known he was going to reach a power trip…" She fisted her hair in her hands and growled. "Assignments became violent and meaning behind it changed. It wasn't for change anymore, it was recognition. Soon he was taking bribes to kill off nobles and I followed like an idiot. 'It's for the cause, love..' He'd tell me. And I believed him. I didn't look at the people he'd sacrificed, I paid no attention to the real victims he ignored. And then…. one night…he asked me to- to.." she paused. Tears threatened to consumed her whole demeanor, she pushed them away before they ruined her, wiping at the stray tears that managed to escape. Deep breaths she took to calm her ever racing mind.

"He asked me to form a team and assassinate the king. I was against it but he made his way seem so right. I did it, and succeeded to a point. I had no idea he was making me the enemy. The people made him king and he made me his scapegoat…."

And I've been running ever since…

Taran leaned against the wall between the kitchen and the living room, his arms crossed over his chest. His face as still as stone, frozen in a frown that seemed to be his new favorite expression. He didn't know what to think. His shadowy companions whispered within his mind as she spoke, confirming her story and adding their own images of the mayhem and violence Lorelei described. He swallowed, suddenly feeling small in the scope of the things around him. He had entered a realm where he knew nothing. One that was so completely foreign to him it might as well been alien, but Lorelei came from this world and it had turned its back on her without a second thought. That was not right. She deserved more. God, I want to hold her. But he kept his distance, unsure how she would accept his sympathies.

He sighed quietly, pulling a long fingered hand through his tousled hair. "But you're innocent." He stated, taking a step towards her. "If you didn't kill the King before this Vincent, then why run? Why not tell the truth? Prove the truth?"

All valid questions, but a selfish bit of him wondered what this all meant for him. He was Lorelei's fledgling. Somehow he knew that fact meant they were tied together for eternity. If she was caught and executed for her 'crimes'…he would be too.

Lorelei shook her head, her short hair swinging with the action. He just didn’t understand.

“He doesn’t need me anymore. It’s game over for me. I was the sacrificial pawn.” She said through gritted teeth. She hated Vincent with her whole being, but only because she’d loved him first. He had been her beginning and her end. Lorelei clenched her fist with every image that resurfaced. Every touch, every caress, every kiss.

It had all been a lie.

A cruel, blatant, lie. It had all been a trap from the start. By loving her, he had someone to fight his battles and give him a good lay from time to time. And she’d really believed she meant something to him. Lorelei could see him now, built like stone, chiseled to perfect, with long black locks and those eyes…. Red as blood. They had bewitched her for years. And now when she saw them, all she saw was his mocking laughter dancing in them.

“That’s how the game goes… You do you’re part and you get cut. And thus the dominoes fall. One. By. One.“ She growled, slamming her fist on the table, causing a schism in the wood. "And me? I was just a little off kilter…. so I didn't barrel into him when it was my turn to fall. I left as an asset…but if I return, I'm a threat. A threat he could easily get rid of because I'm weak."

There, I said it. "I'm disgusting, pathetic, and weak." She sobbed. Tears blurred her vision as her hands clenched hard, her nails biting into her cold flesh. It was all true. She'd had never been worth the air she breathed. She had never been worthy of Vincent in the first place. She wasn't worthy of Taran right now.

"I should've let the sun devour me."

Taran had moved before he had even realized it. Some deep part of him reacting to his master's pain. Or maybe…maybe it was just him, reacting to the pain of someone he was beginning to care for and admire. He stood before Lorelei, grasping her shoulders and stooping to meet her teary gaze. "You are not weak, Lorelei. You're a survivor." He pulled her into a tight embrace, cupping the back of her head with a large hand. Despite her being small and delicate, he felt the power thrum through her and was proud as hell. His master was not one to back down.

"A fighter. You've survived this long on your own, fighting for what you know is right. Even if it's just your own life." He shifted the tiniest bit, as a shadow outside hissed in displeasure. "You are a threat and threats can be the start of a revolution." Damn where the hell was this monologue coming from? He pulled back to gaze into her eyes again, framing her face with both of his hands and gently wiping her tears. "I promised you I would help you, but I'm not going to help you hide or cower when I know you have more to you than that. I asked the shadows…" He chuckled a bit waiting for her to smile before continuing. "I will help you get your life back. Just like you saved me."

He paused, waiting for all that he said to sink in. He meant it every word, but he left out the selfish part of his speech. That he would help her so that his life would not longer be in danger anymore for just being her fledgling, so he could go home… At least to say goodbye properly. He didn't know if he would leave her side forever, but he just needed that chance.

"Is there anyone you can trust to help us? Because we may be strong as hell." He grinned again. "But there are only two of us and if you think for a second that we can actually turn this shit around, get revenge and restore vampire society to it usual macabre business, shouldn't we do it?"

Redemption is not something you can hid from anymore, Lorelei. I will not let you feel weak or worthless ever again. I swear it.

Why?

Why was she letting him speak? Why was she letting him give her hope? Why did she cling to his every word, like a drowning woman desperate for air? Could they really do it, could they really change the tide of a chase that had gone on for years?

Could she really be free?

Looking into his eyes, she saw an answer; They'd give it everything they had. He was for her, and would never leave. Freedom was possible, as long as she didn't let it slip away. She took a deep breath and removed his hands from her face, though she didn't let them go, in fact, she squeezed them gently.

"I can't believe I'm letting you talk me into this, Taran…." She croaked. "A girl'll believe anything you say when you talk to her like that, vampire or not." She gave him a small smile but it fell away soon after. "Nothing about this is going to be easy. There will be others who are looking for us and even more people that will kill us on sight. You will have to defend yourself, I can't do that for you or we will fail." Her voice turned to stone. Lorelei knew she was being harsh but she had to make him see that once he committed there was no turning back. She had to make herself see that as well.

"There will be some cases where you will have to kill because they will not hesitate to kill you." And I don't think I could bare that…not now. It's too late for boundaries… Almost unbeknownst to her, her core reached out for his, gently caressing him. A fire ignited within her that she fought hard to contain, and it was all for Taran. Brave, strong, loyal Taran. The one to stick by her in her darkest time.

The one who saved me….

She dropped his hands and her gaze all at once. It was too much for her. Too overpowering, the feeling she adopted. And she was afraid of it, it was something she could hardly control and she didn't like that at all. She raised her head but looked past him.

"Are you sure about this?"

It was odd to see her go from gentle affection to stone, and Taran idly wondered what thought tore her so fully from him. He continued to stare at her for a moment trying to read the emotions and thoughts passing through her eyes to no avail. He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose and massaging tiny circles into it. Do vampires get headaches? If he thought about this wild situation he was in any longer, he would find a way to convince himself to bolt. No. No, no. He had promised and for some odd reason he had this wild hope that he and Lorelei would make it through. A fool's hope if he ever had one.

"I'm not afraid, Lorelei. I'm a vampire now for godssake. Death should be afraid of me." He managed a small smile as he spoke, not sure where his confidence was coming from, but riding the high as long as he could. "I swore I'd help. You can't make me back down now. That's not who I am." This last part was said with more conviction and strength, simply because the words were truer than the last. He wouldn't back down. This was his life now, his society to fight for and protect. Taran would not be stopped.

He waited until she met his eyes once more. "I'm sure."

"Then you're dumber than I thought." Lorelei cracked a smirked. Taran was such a new and refreshing soul to her, but he would soon learn that heroism counted for nothing in their society. She held up a hand to stop him from speaking. "The sun will be coming up soon, we'll start hunting tomorrow." Looking at Taran, she gave a small smile, something a bit more sincere. Just then, the negatives fell away, and let herself imagine that they would miraculously succeed. "Tell you what, when this is over, and you have a bit more control of yourself…. I'll take you, to see your family." Looking into his eyes, she saw a yearning in them.

To have a family…. Lorelei had certainly forgotten the feeling. But it was fresh to it him, it matter to Taran.

"I promise you."

Taran stared at her for a long moment, mouth open in a soft 'o'. He was surprised she would offer something such as this, considering she had been the one to tell him that this vampiric way was his life now. Brutal and blood soaked, were going to be his main attributes in the near future. Was that something that he could come to terms with? Was that something he could hide from his family if he ever saw them again? Could he smile and hug his mom while the blood of a dead regime dried on his very soul?

He schooled his features, suddenly closing himself off from Lorelei and the world around him. He needed to be cold and callus for this all to work. So be it. He wouldn't return to his old life. Not with Lorelei. Not with his status as a 'damned creature' hung over his head like a dark cloud. He would only return if and when he knew he was worthy to be with them again.

Taran cleared his throat, rubbing a hand through his messy, dirty hair. "That won't be necessary…but thank you." He smiled at her, the motion a bit to stiff to be taken as genuine. "A shower though would be nice."

That was not the response she had hoped for. Lorelei watched as Taran grew stiff, colder even. She gave a shrug. "Well then, alright. Bathroom is down that hall on the right." Lorelei directed, pointing to the hall adjacent to them. "I suggest you keep your clothes dry, I have nothing else to offer you. Clothes wise."

Lorelei moved from beside him to go stand by a window. The moon was disappearing, leaving a lightless sky. The time before them was unclear and there was nothing she could do to reverse it. She would return to the society and make a choice: Stand and fight or lay down and die.

Taran nodded absently as he turned away to trudged down the hall. He knew in his heart that it wasn't particularly right to use Lorelei's predicament as a way to get back to his family, but he had no other options. He'd be hunted down and killed–for real– if he didn't play this game. It was shitty, but this was the hand he had been dealt. Besides, a small, maybe not so small, part of him really did want to make sure that she had a future, a life to live without fear. She deserved that. How he knew after such a brief time knowing her, Taran had no idea, maybe his new shadowy friends provided that feeling.

He sighed gratefully as the hot water appeared to be in working order. Shucking his clothing he dove into the water, shudder after shudder working it's way through him. Even showering felt insane. Taran's entire body melting into the warmth of the water and steam. He could get used to this little nuances.

Was it too late to back down, to just keep running and hiding? Couldn’t she just find someone to take Taran, train him up, and send him to the society. Did she still have the connections to accomplish even that?

With a frustrated growl, Lorelei shut the curtains and stepped away from the window. Taran was looking for her to be some brave female who had the capacity for change, for justice, even if she was guilty of murder. Was she the person he saw her to be? By the gods she wanted to be, it had been so long since someone saw something good in her. Something she couldn’t see herself. Lorelei held her head in her hands, covering her face. How was this going to work? What was she going to do? March back to Vincent, middle finger in the air, but not with an army, no – with a innocent fledgling who hardly knew who or what he was. Laughing, Loreli lifted her eyes in the direction of the bathroom, where the shower ran. Taran was something special, something she had never seen before. So, not for herself, but for him, she’d go along with any haphazard plan.

But, perhaps there was a better way….