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Me: Heeeeyyyy... Yeah you thought this story was dead, didn’t you? So did I, as a matter of fact... I’ve been working on this chapter for honest-to-God months ::sigh:: I guess it’s finally finished. Or... maybe not... But at least I can get it posted cause MAN this has been on my desktop for a long time
Tom: How come I’m not in this story?!
Me: You don’t have to be in everything I write, sweetie... Oh. By the by, this is my muse, Tom. You might know him from my other stuff but if not, he’s a moron in a trench coat who’s always stealin’ mah damn cheese...
Tom: Careful... Your Southern is showing...
Me: Please enjoy the chapter. ::mauls him::
Heads up: This chapter is in Fade's point-of-view. Also, I kinda switched tenses. ::cough:: yeah...
It wasn't exactly the most appropriate background music. That would have been some kind of dramatic, instrumental stuff with lots of warning and an ominous bass. Instead, I turned on the radio and Queen was what poured out. Not that I don't appreciate Queen. It was just... well, not appropriate. But I didn't have the nerve to switch stations or turn it off. So... I didn’t know which was more uncomfortable but I didn’t want to find out.
Ooo Love
Ooo Loverboy
What're you doin' tonight?
(Ooo Hey boy)
Set my alarm, turn on my charm
That's because I'm
A Good Old-Fashioned Loverboy
He continued driving and I stared at his hands gripping the steering wheel. They were shaking. I wanted him to calm down because he was making me nervous. But I didn't know what to say to him. How do you explain to someone...?
Ooo Let me feel your heartbeat
(Grow faster faster)
I'd like for you and I to go romancing
Say the word! Your wish is my command!
"Left." My voice sounded indifferent and it made me feel a little more grounded. His fingers pulled nervously on the steering wheel as we started down a darker street. It was getting cold. The music got quieter for a minute and I mused at my hands. Just a moment ago they'd been covered in a white light which was extinguished as soon as I found myself again. I probably would have gotten it under control more quickly if-- When I saw that my own fingers were shaking, I squeezed them tight and took deep breaths. (It just couldn't have been... It's not possible... I don't even know what it’s like...)
Hey boy where'd you get it from?
Hey boy where'd you go?
I learned my passion in the Good Old-Fashioned
School of Loverboys
How could I even begin to know if I had felt-- But I hadn't. (I don't. I-- I don't feel...) I didn't feel. I knew this... But when his hand had touched mine... and his magick, holding me tighter than his firm handshake... Some words came to mind. Feeling words. (Soft, hot, cold, tight...) I couldn't begin to explain it, even to myself. Something was wrong. My magick shouldn't have awoken his like it did. And I... shouldn't have felt... But I DIDN'T FEEL. (I never feel anything. At all.)
Dining at the Ritz, we'll meet at nine
(one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine o'clock)
I'll pay the bill, you taste the wine
Driving back in style in my saloon
Will do quite nicely
Just take me back to yours that will be fine
(Come on and get it)
"Where now?" His voice was soft and frightened. I pulled out of my thoughts and looked at him for perhaps a bit too long before I spoke. Vaguely pointing him down the street and to the right, I murmured something about "first house" and "can't miss it". And, really, you can't. Cole's tastes lean toward the eccentric and the huge, Gothic mansion that stood at the end of the empty street makes you doubt how much you know about the small town, even if you'd lived there all your life. I looked to my left and Connor seemed to be thinking just that as his wide eyes took everything in. It was then that I noticed flecks of purple showing in the gray of them. (Were they always that way?) Had I been too preoccupied to notice? Looking at him as he pulled into the driveway of the house at the end of the empty street, I let myself wonder about him... But the engine died and woke me up, even though the radio continued to play. So we sat in silence until the song ended.
Ooo Love
Ooo Lover Boy
What're you doin' tonight?
Hey Boy
Everything's alright
Just hold on tight
That's because I'm
A Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy
I opened my door and the music died. I looked at him and his purple-dusted eyes widened at me.
“Well...” I said almost impatiently. “Aren’t you going to come in?”
I caught the end of this phone conversation as I unlocked the front door to the lavish Victorian home I shared with my teacher. There was a pause and then that voice I knew so well deepened and said into the receiver, “That’s all for today; someone is at the door. Yes, goodbye, Raye.” I took this opportunity to sneak a look at my ‘house guest’. Conner was staring at the statues on display in the foyer, specifically the scantily-clad ones with pale, orange eyes and come-hither stares. I watched him gaze from the black and white tiled floor (ha, how appropriate) to the crystal chandelier clamped to the richly colored ceiling. With no apologies, I read his thoughts--
It’s beautiful but... kind of garish. The statues are a little much... Not that I'm one to talk about interior decorating. Our living room is like an exact replica of pages forty-five through forty-six of the Martha Stewart Living catalog... And how come I’ve never seen this house before? You think you’d notice a place like this when you’ve lived in a town all your life.
Chuckling to myself, I pitied Cole for thinking we could have blended into such a small community. At least before we had been in L.A.
“Fade. Are you home from school so early? What about those extra-curricular activities I’ve been hoping you would get involved in?”
“Save it.” I flashed back to reality when I saw him standing in the doorway. His amethyst eyes pierced me first and then worked their way up to disarm Conner. He spoke in a surprised but concealed manner.
“Have you brought home a new friend?” He began to introduce himself in a formal way but I interrupted him coldly.
“He doesn’t care about you, Cole. This is important.”
My tutor raised an eyebrow skeptically and smiled at me. “Is that so? Well, what’s so important, Light-Fade?”
I winced at the pet name even though I was used to it and began to tell some version of what had happened that afternoon.
Cole seemed unfazed but the slight raise of his eyebrow showed that he was intrigued. “His magick awakened just now.”
“Yeah... I thanked him for driving me home and suddenly he was Shadow-Magick-City..."
"Beautiful weather they have there..." Cole snickered at his own stupid joke. I was too pissed off and Connor had no idea what was going on so he wound up being the only one that laughed. Without even being fazed, he leaned subtlety against the wall and said simply, "Well then... Perhaps you should take him into the training room and show him around."
I almost let my jaw drop in surprise. "What?... Cole, I wanted to tell you about this cause I thought it was weird. Like, maybe you could clear some things up for him and explain the Facts of Life or... something... But you can't--"
"And why not, lumière se fanent...? He seems eager to learn." Cole's gaze was fixed back on Connor and a smirk played across his lips and he asked him, "N'êtes-vous pas?”
“Cole, would you stop with the damn French already and listen to me?” I had his attention again, though it was wavering. Cole was definitely interested in Connor... I could understand it... I mean, they’re both “creatures of the night” or whatever, with their Shadow-fire... I could guess that my teacher was already processing that Connor’s name foretold how they shared the same magick: both began with a C-O and that’s sort of a tell-tale thing sometimes, don’t ask me why... Also, I couldn’t tell whether or not Cole had already noticed the flecks of purple showing through Connor’s stormy eyes, but if he had, I was sure he was processing that behind his own amethyst irises...
But that didn’t mean he could just--
“You’re being rash and pathetic. Who’s to say that this guy,” I waved at the subject of debate's general vicinity but didn’t look at him, “doesn’t have a life or--or a job?! He goes to school, Cole...”
“Well, so do you, matin fané, and I’d have to say that you get along just fine...”
“I said to quit it with the damn French! Not everyone’s like me... Most people my age have a job, or some school activities, or--”
“Parents.”
He quieted me, as was his desired effect, but I stare grew harsh. Don't Cole... Just don't go there...
“Oh come now, don't be offended... We know you were thinking it..."
My narrowed eyes swept over him, sort of pleading, and he coolly made his way across the foyer. I watched him lift my chin and his hot irises captured me... The color, vibrant as a dying sun and mysterious as a desert flower, ran straight through me like a knife would... Though I had met others with the same color eyes, his always seemed to have a remarkable power over me. I used to think it was only him...
His mind said my name, in English this time, drawing it out. Fade.....
Cole... We can't... He doesn't even know what's going on.
We'll show him.
We can't.
We must... Think of it, dear. You'll have a contemporary... a peer... And in any case, if we don't help him, he won't know how to control that flame. And I can tell by looking at him that he has quite a bit. Think, Fade... We want this... And remember, you're still my favorite...
I let Cole's eyes convince me and when he took them away, I suddenly remembered that we weren't alone...
"So, then, Connor, was it?" Our guest nodded dimly and I at once realized that he hadn't said a word the whole time we had been here.
"If it's settled... why don't you let Fade take you into the training room and she'll give you the basics." A thin smile haunted his face and lingered there. "I'm sure she can answer any questions you may have... I cannot doubt that there will be quite a few."
Tom: ::eats cheese and gives the readers a thumbs up:: Especially you, Isa-san! ::wink::
