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Fate and Blood, 50 percent Solution	By : HimeAndi Category: S through Z > The Saga of Darren Shan Views: 1359 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: All characters used without permission and are owned by respective Creators . See contect for specific copyright

Chapter List
- 1
- 2
- 3
Various required disclaimers, too long to be posted properly:

Cirque du Freak created and held by Darren Shan and various world publishers. All characters are used without permission. HimeAndi makes no money from this story.

Shattered Glass created and held by Elaine Bergstrom, soon to be re-released as self published material. All characters are used without permission. HimeAndi makes no money from this story

Twilight is owned and held by Stephenie Meyer, published by Little and Brown. All characters are used without permission. HimeAndi makes no money from this story.

Basic Instinct is held by Carolco Pictures. All characters are used without permission; HimeAndi makes not money from this story. (yes I said Basic Instinct!)

Sabelle Simone held by the author, please contact for any possible use (Right...)
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Darren eyed his hands; he was almost annoyed to see that they were pristine, still unmarked visibly by his attempts to “train his nails” as ordered by Crepsley. They did not even hurt; since he had changed, the typical Vampire coloring and slowly crept over his body and his nails reflected this with a slightly unpleasant reddish purple hue. He frowned as he inspected the nails in question; despite everything, they were longer than most human males would keep their nails, and gleamed like he had clear nail polish on them. He did not bother to file them into the points Crepsley and others did; he was still a bit freaked by that idea. He had tried to trim his nails back, but he had to use his teeth and when he slept they grew to exactly the same length as before he had trimmed them. He found it confusing since his hair grew normally; it didn’t go crazy when he slept.
Sighing heavily he shook his hands out and went back to work: Crepsley liked for him to be able to show his work, so he better have a whole bunch of slashes and broken trunks to show his master when asked.
However he eventually grew bored. He turned to find his tent, maybe waste some time with his friend Evra and squeaked when he found Crepsley right behind him.
“I am sorry, I should have been listening better I know I just...”
“Hush Darren. I just got here. Nice work, you are taking this seriously at least. Come, let us talk a bit about the changes we are going to deal with for a while.” Crepsley was usually only this nice when shit was hitting fans, so Darren was wary as he sat by his mentor on a fallen tree; Crepsley had felled this himself with a mere three slashes of his claws.
Larten spent about ten minutes explaining some but not all the points of Sabelle’s story. Darren knew he was leaving things out, but nothing could move his mentor to explain anything further if he was not willing to speak.
“So, she’s human… but drinks Vampire blood. She’s buddies with at least three other types of Vampires that even you didn’t know anything about, and all those want to help us against the Vampaneze?” Larten chuckled; that was it in a nutshell. Darren was good for such simple synapses.
“Yes, basically. Of course there is more, but we cannot really explain these things to you yet. This is for your own safety, Darren. One, you have little control when you are talking to your friends here, and two, you are headstrong and silly. We cannot have you making a rash choice and running off. So trust me for once; what is pertinent you have been informed of. Some of the things Miss Simone and I need to handle will have little or nothing to do with you, and we want it to stay that way. So, no snooping around my tent, please. And the story about Miss Simone is that she is an old friend of mine from when I took a break from Du Cirque. I am certain people will have the wrong idea about this, since she is staying in my tent, but in a real sense she is also going to be protecting me during the day. So that cannot be helped.”
Darren’s eyes widened; was Crepsley blushing? He had colored on rare occasions before, though Darren was sure no human eye could see it right now.
“Does that bug you? People thinking you, you know... have a girl with you for,” he cleared his throat and wagged his eyebrows, “Interesting reasons?” He grinned as his mentor glared at him with blazing eyes. “Aw its ok, you wont be such a stick in the mud then! You should play it up, totally make it more than it is!” Darren laughed and leapt away as a blurring hand swiped at him, then flitted off to his own tent before Crepsley killed him.
“That boy is such a bother! I do not need to be seen as a... what do they call it? Player! I am not a player and I do not need yet another woman to mess my life up!” Larten growled. Maybe he should move her to a vacant tent... she could stay with Gertha or Truska...
Yes, Sabelle really should not stay with him after all. He did not want the rumors to fly and get back to the Mountain... the very thought of the teasing of his peers made him wince. He stood and flitted back to his tent, striding inside then pausing. It was quiet in the tent, but he smelled steam. He strode to the bath area and came around the corner then stopped short. Sabelle looked up and stared at him with wide blue eyes. She was wearing only a towel, which barely covered her. It was too short in either direction to cover her well; she was holding it over her bosom, her side and the curve of her left breast quite visible, and it barely came to the tops of her thighs. Her long black hair was falling over her shoulders and clung to her skin wetly. He felt himself staring at her, amazed by her pearly pale skin, which was marred here and there by what could only be bite marks, old scars from her meetings with these other Vampire types she had told him of.
“I... I did not think you would mind if I cleaned up, I have been traveling and that... when you attacked me in the woods...” her voice was barely a whisper as she took a half step back from him. His eyes met hers; she did not look scared of him as much as... what was this expression?
“I do not mind if you bathe.” He said, and felt himself writhe with embarrassment on the inside. His voice was strained and he realized he was feeling a very male reaction to the sight of her like this. He could not move or speak, only look at her, and his eyes roved over her with embarrassing obviousness.
“I... could use a moment to... Larten, please don’t look at me like that.” She said suddenly, her voice dropping to a deep huskiness. “You’re making me...”
“I am sorry.” He gasped, eyes snapping to her face again. But he was not sorry. She was like a fantasy, the sort of woman young men dreamed of finding in just such a situation. Sabelle closed her eyes and shook her head.
“Please... You’re driving me crazy, looking at me this way. It is far too tempting, Larten, please let me have a moment.”
Tempting? He was tempting her?! His head tilted to the side like a curious animal. “Tempting?”
“You’re tempting, yes. Very tempting. Surely you know that you’re attractive, surely you’ve used this to lure females to you...” He smiled suddenly. Her eyes dropped as she tugged her towel in a futile attempt to cover herself better. He pondered what she was saying; far from being afraid of him, she was attracted to him. His eyes landed on a glaring mark on her thigh; it was obviously a bite, though the deepest impressions where what looked to be fangs were not in the front as expected. They were in the back, as if the biter had fang like molars instead of extended eye-teeth. Had some other Vampire “tempted” her? Or worse, used her against her will?
Sabelle turned her back to him suddenly. “I am not a child, even though you might feel I am due to your age. I am not being funny. Please, please leave me alone for a moment.” She hissed, lifting a shaking hand to toss her hair back over her shoulders. He moved closer however.
“You are no child; that much is very obvious. But if you are not afraid, why push me away? If you want something, then take it.” He whispered, shocked at himself. She hung her head.
“The Old One... Francis...” she touched her left thigh, where that odd bite scar was. “He… wanted me and he took me. I was not entirely adverse to him, but... he left his marks on me, Larten. And I’ve learned that no one wants used goods.” Her shoulders sagged. “I have not wanted anyone after him either, till now. It is like he cursed me with his body and his blood. You’re tempting me with something that I do not deserve.” He frowned at that; she felt marked, used and unwanted? He wanted her very badly; however a small part of him was wondering if it were really the woman he wanted, her body, or the blood she was literally infected with that was more desirable.
“Turn around.” He ordered firmly. Sabelle looked at him over her shoulder, eyes taking in his face. He held his hand out to her. “Turn around.” She obeyed, eyes full of the fear of rejection. “Now come here.” She bit her lower lip but came over to him. There was not much room in the bathing area; the tent was hardly a huge space to begin with, though. There was merely a long Japanese screen hiding it from the rest of the tent. She was trapped even if she tried to flee, which she seemed to have no intention of doing. She kept her gaze down at his shoes, somehow perfectly clean after running about in the woods, and then felt him slide his fingers under her chin, lifting her face. He was much taller than she, which made him feel like she was even more vulnerable to him, as if being naked but for a too-small towel was not enough vulnerability.
“You are not ‘used goods’ and you are no child. You asked me to trust you, and I have. Now you have to trust me, Sabelle. You are desirable, and if you find me to be desirable, then by all means, let me know... by letting go of the towel.” She did not smile, nor did she flinch as she released of the near useless cloth. He could not help a gasp at her boldness, baring herself utterly like this. He had half expected she would slap him or something. He made it obvious that he was looking at her, enjoying the sight of her naked wet skin. She was curved and strong, her legs long and her breasts lush. He wanted to touch her, see if her skin was really as soft as it looked. He almost flinched, the spell broken as her hand came up slowly and touched his scarred cheek. Her fingers traced the marks cut into his skin so long ago with a feather light touch that made him shiver.
“Larten?” she breathed, and he pulled her against him, flitting to the loveseat, then scooping up a blanket that he only kept to make the room seem more cozy. He wound it around her wet body then nodded.
“Hold your breath.” She sucked in a lungful and he swept her up, moving with every bit of his speed and stopping a few moments later. The moon was high and bathed the night with silver light. They were in a small enclosed clearing, the trees letting the moon though in a patterned display. He took the blanket back and spread it over the ground. Sabelle did not try to cover herself as he did this, simply watching him closely. His movement was graceful, elegant and she found it erotic indeed. Such care to spread a blanket surely was a hint of things to come… He disrobed using his Vampiric speed and then held his hand to her. She smiled and took it, stepping closer. She rested a hand on his chest, fingers pressing into his flesh, smiling wide for some reason. He had no idea that most of the other Vampires she had known were so much more firm, almost hard as stone and just as cold in many cases. They were almost universally slender, looking so fragile that one feared they would beak with too swift a touch. She smiled wider as she felt his heart beating under her hand; it was so unique to feel even his slight body heat, soft natural feeling flesh, and a heartbeat in such an obviously more than human male. She looked up at him then stood up on her toes. He was no idiot; he took the hint and kissed her hotly.
Neither seemed prepared for the shock of heat that raced through them. Sabelle pressed herself against his bared flesh and slid her arm around his neck, her hand once more pressed to his scarred cheek. His hands smoothed down her back, then pulled her even closer. She purred as irrefutable evidence of his status as being more alive than dead pressed against her. She explored his mouth for fangs and failed to find them. Instead, those nails of his gently scratched at her skin, making her shiver now. She fitted her fingers into the scars, her other hand sliding through his crazy red hair; so soft, very typical of any Vampire…
“How can you think you are not desirable?” he moaned against her lips. She did not bother to answer, sliding her right leg up his left instead. He grasped her knee and hiked her up his torso before dropping to the blanket. As short as the flit had been, it had dried her hair, which fell around her head fetchingly as he broke off the kiss. She gasped for air and wrapped both arms around is shoulders.
“How can you not realize that you’re desirable?” she purred then, legs spreading so he had to nestle between them. He smiled a little sideways smirk and lifted his body off of hers.
“You are so eager...” She moaned in reponse and tugged on him, her legs winding around his.
“You don’t understand, Larten. You have driven me crazy all night, and now... So cruel to tease so...” She sighed. Her words certainly stirred him and inflated his pride. He was almost ashamed he had not felt the same about her until now, but he was certainly going to make it up to her. He felt his control slipping as she reached between them and slid her hot little fingers around his excited flesh, making his eyes close in sheer enjoyment at the contact. Her skin was like silk, and the smell of her was enough to make him salivate. It was more than the Vampire blood in her veins, it was her, Sabelle the woman and all her mysterious scents. Suddenly he was very eager too. He slid one hand under her back and nestled close to her again, his free hand searching for her entrance and finding her more than eager; she was ready. Her petals were so hot to his fingers; it was beyond enticing to have such heat against his cold skin.
Sabelle was breathless and struggling for patience. It had been almost two years since she had been with anyone, two years since Francis had set her loose, but she had not been truly free. To feel this way, so normal and natural and have it returned despite her physical and emotional scars was a heady feeling indeed. The Vampire in her arms was not ever going to be considered a beauty but he was certainly damn sexy. Her body ached for him, and she whimpered and writhed under him as he slowly rearranged their positions just so. He bent over sharply and kissed her again, pausing before driving into her quickly.
She gasped and tilted her hips to take him deeper, her chest arching up into his. He groaned into her mouth and slid back, starting a pace few human males could have maintained. Sabelle’s nails dug into his shoulders as her tongue twined with his, giving into the moment utterly. Larten slid a hand up her arm and pulled her hand away from his back, twining their fingers as he added more force to his thrusts. He was losing control quickly; he had not been with a human woman in nearly a hundred years, and holding back to not hurt Sabelle was becoming nearly impossible.
She gripped his hand with hers with all her strength, and wriggled under him in delighted response to his quickened and more forceful motions. Her head arched back, breaking the kiss as she sucked air between her teeth. Her body held his with a lush hot embrace, which was growing even more luxuriously tight. He growled and nipped her chin, moving even faster and harder, barely able to hold back by now. Some instinct made him cover her mouth just as she broke into a violent shiver and wailed happily as she climaxed. Her body arched up into his so hard she lifted him off the ground as she vibrated, eyes wide and sightless. Larten shoved himself into her with abandon, his head also arching back as he broke and froze, biting his lip to stop his own sounds of pleasure from escaping. Sabelle wriggled under him for a few seconds then fell back tiredly, damp and trembling. The both were breathing hard as he relaxed against her, bringing her hand to his face and kissing her fingers while slyly checking to be sure he had not broken her hand again. She seemed fine; she was after all a bit tougher thanks to that blood she had taken.
Sabelle smiled and suddenly wrapped her limbs around him. “I needed that.” She stroked his scarred cheek again then tilted her head. “Things are not going to get weird, are they? Because, I am fine, and I think you’re fine...”
“No weirdness. I am able to adapt. But please for the love of God, do not tell Darren. That boy has a mouth like a sieve.”
“Oh my no. If people guess then we can simply be evasive. And I wanted to say I am not adverse to a repeat of this, but if you’d rather not, that will be acceptable too.” Larten huffed cheerfully.
“We will take things as they come, as it were. The night is not over however...” he lifted his brows hopefully. She smiled coyly.
“You do have me at a complete disadvantage you know. I meant what I said, you’ve driven me crazy from the moment I saw you. Its like... you’re a magnet. No offence meant but many of the Vampires I’ve known including Francis were inhumanly beautiful... but you... There is something so much more attractive and satisfying within you. It’s a relief to not be staring at an angels face with a cold, inhuman heart behind it.” He lifted a brow, not at all offended. He was surprised however; his scars and supposedly ugly face made most people unwilling to even be near him.
“Stop it, you are going to make me blush.” He said with a smile as he slid over to her side. She chuckled.
“Who should be blushing here? You order me to drop my only covering and snatch me into the woods stark naked, and I do it?! Ah well, as you said I am no child, I can choose to do what I wish to do, including sleeping with a Vampire I just met.” She covered her mouth and laughed, eyes meeting his and sparkling with mirth. He shook his head and leaned up on an elbow.
“You are such a strange creature. I cannot quite figure you out. By the way, I have not been with a human woman in a very long time. Usually I am not so, shall we say, urgent either.”
“I am not strange... well not that strange. Just because I like Vampires and drink Vampire blood so I cannot be so easily killed while working for them… that’s not too weird is it?” She smiled and let her head fall back, eyes staring up through the canopy of leaves at the sparkling night sky. “I did not want to wait either, you know. Taking the edge off makes for a better second round. If there is to be a second round.”
He smirked a bit at that and rested his hand on her left thigh. His fingers traced the bite scar there as his eyes lost focus. Flickering images of a beautiful, tall dark-haired man with eyes like glittering, lifeless garnet drifted before his eyes, telling him very little really… Sabelle’s eyes shifted to his then widened. She grabbed his hand and thrust it away before she tried to rise. He blinked then held her down, baffled by her behavior.
“You… you did not tell me you’re psychic too! You were reading my scars!” She sounded horrified and hurt as she shoved at his arms; of course now he showed his strength fully.
“Sabelle, stop it. I have the most minimal ability to read an object, yes, but it is very unreliable. You have no idea how sad you look when you speak of this Francis. I did not think it would be very polite to ask if he had been abusive to you, so I took a little peek, that is all.” She glared at him then huffed and lay back again.
“Larten, my will was not my own when I was in the Keep. He was terrible, and lonely, he made me want to protect him, from what I can’t imagine. He made me want to flee in fear. He made me dance like a puppet on strings of gold, made me writhe like a cat in heat, made me starve then fed me like a queen… Abusive? That does not begin to label how he was to me. Yet we are tied by the blood until the day I die, or he does; and I will certainly die first. If I am in too much danger, he or his son Stephan will come for me if I call them. So I avoid real danger as best I can.” Her voice was strained as she spoke, her eyes cold. Yet her heartbeat told the truth; she was growing more agitated as she spoke, not less. He pressed his hand between her breasts and felt her heart throbbing in her chest, and then leaned over her, forcing her to look at him.
“He is far from here, that much I saw. You handled the situation as best you could, moment to moment. That was all you could do with such a creature. And now you honor me with access to your body, after all that… I am humbled.” Her eyes met his, and read the sincerity of his words. She smiled slowly then pressed her hand over his heart as he was doing to her.
“I am sorry about my reaction. I just had no idea you could do that. Alice did not see any of your sort of Vampire using psychic skills at all. And… I do not want pity about Francis. It was horrible and yet beautiful all at once. He’s so far from human, that he has little idea how to be humane. The fact that you can, that you have eclipsed him even for a few moments… I am grateful for that, Larten. Very grateful.” She sighed and then dug her fingers into his skin.
“So, you claimed you are not always so hurried… care to prove it?” He smirked at that and leaned back onto his elbow again, his hand sliding up her chest to the hollow of her neck.
“You sure you want me to take it slower this time?” his deadly claws traced her collarbones, and then swept up along the jugular, feeling her heart race in response. She felt much cooler than a human should, but showed no sign of distress or weakness. Her neck was long and sleek, her bones fine and sculpted. He wondered briefly how old she was; she could not be as young as she looked with her dolls face. She barely looked older than Darren’s true age of twenty. She had already been pale when he first saw her, but with the Vampire blood she had taken, she was now almost as pale as porcelain, adding to her doll-like appearance. Her eyes closed as he trailed his fingers along her jaw then up her cheek, the backs of his fingers caressing her cheekbone. Despite the perfect appearance, her cheekbone had indicators that could only be felt that they had been broken; so did her jaw. His eyes tightened a little.
“He did this, didn’t he.” His fingers swept over the other cheek, again feeling mended bone.
“Actually no. He fixed it when communist soldiers caught me and accused me of being a spy. He saved me from them, but not before they tortured me for three days. I managed an escape, and I was shocked that he answered when I called him as loud as my voice and mind could scream. He was curious, and while I am hardly as powerful a psychic as I would like to be, he was able to feel my presence and my pain. He was already coming to investigate when I called for him.” She never opened her eyes as she spoke, and he continued to stroke the planes of her face, smoothing her eyebrows, petting her eyelashes, then when she stopped speaking, touching her petal soft lips. He had to admit, her beauty was seriously endangering his heart. He was still a man, despite everything, and that such a goddess was attracted to him of all the males in the world was incredibly flattering.
“I have to say it, you are lovely, simply beautiful. I am confused, yet also flattered that you feel as you do…” her lips spread into a smile.
“You’re dead sexy, no pun intended. And that hair of yours, mmm.” She said softly, enjoying his chuckle in response. His fingers moved back down her chin and neck, then went straight for her left breast, swirling a claw around the taught flesh. She bit her lower lip, eyes opening slightly. She noticed he was watching his fingers as he cupped her breast and squeezed her gently before repeating with her other breast. He certainly looked like he was enjoying what he saw, what he was touching. She was certainly enjoying it herself. She glanced at his chest, her eyesight enhanced enough that she could see him with great clarity. She was a little startled to see that his body was as sculpted as Michelangelo’s David. Most Vampires were frozen as they had been at the moment of death, though the living Vampires were also unchanging, they were obviously not dead and had a natural proclivity to being fantastic specimens of heath. She had the strong feeling that Larten’s body was trim and fit due to how he lived, not due to how he had looked when he was changed. It only added to his appeal; and only she knew what he was hiding under his well dressed exterior. That thought was thrilling indeed.
She felt a breeze waft over her skin and realized he had moved, kneeling between her knees and leaning over her body, hands on either side of her waist. She felt a shiver of anticipation and need as he nuzzled her breasts. She had no idea what he was doing after that, he was moving too fast; but it felt amazing and had her writhing in seconds. Her eyes rolled back, eyelashes fluttering as she moaned prettily. She found his arms and gripped his triceps, thrilling as his muscles flexed and rippled while he continued his oral assault on her chest. She moaned louder, which gained some response from him; he moved up and nuzzled her cheek, breathing heavily into her ear.
“So responsive… So sensitive…” he whispered huskily, then licked her earlobe quickly. Sabelle gasped and shuddered, fingers digging into his skin even as she tried so hard to hide her response. He paused, not because of the tiny bleeding crescents she had dug into his arms, but because of her response; she was indeed obviously enjoying everything he could think of to do, but this…
“Oh I see… this,” he nipped her earlobe and smirked as her entire body shook then went still as she tried again to hide the response, “means you have an erogenous zone by your ears… Nice.” He literally shoved her head to the side and attacked her ear and neck, which drew a startled squeak from her. She began to moan inarticulately, obviously trying to say stop it, but failing. He breathed into her ear then began whispering some very vulgar things he wanted to try to do to her, testing just how much this little action was affecting her. Sabelle moaned louder, and then startled him as her hand found and encircled his straining shaft. She squeezed him with a tremendous grip; even enhanced she could not hurt him but it certainly felt delicious. He growled then leaned back, shoving her hand aside and then flipping her over onto her belly.
Sabelle instantly shoved her knees under her, lifting her hips for him. He smirked and slid his thumb along the seam of her cleft, then licked the heavy fluids there off his fingers. He leaned over her back and slid an arm around under her, holding her in place as he positioned himself then slid deep inside her willing flesh. Sabelle’s head arched back as she let out a soft sound of pleased surprise and pressed back into him. He moved his hand back so his fingers pressed onto her core as he pulled back then slid into her again. She moved to meet him again, but had to simply let him control their movements as he started thrusting much too quickly for her to keep up. She let go of her control, allowing him free rein and making gasping little moans as he worked her juicy flesh.
The scent of her excitement was making him mad with lust, and not just for her flesh. He could smell the alien Vampire blood in her veins, and his Vampire nature wanted it, wanted it as much as the release they strove for. He pulled her torso up and sniffed her neck, tongue sliding along her sweat dampened skin before, perhaps unwisely and certainly against all he believed about his clan rules, sinking his teeth into the junction of her shoulder and neck. Sabelle gasped and twisted her head aside, not cognizant enough to stop him, as he lapped at the gently bleeding bite. His saliva healed the wound too quickly so he bit again, and again. She shuddered and moaned every time, then stiffened, her chest arching back as she saw white. He felt her body clamp down on him and thrust even harder, pulling her back so she was straddling his lap, arms sliding around her as he bit her far more violently. His dangerous nails scored across her belly and breasts as she vibrated over him, arms rising so she could twine her fingers into his crazy hair.
“Larten?” she whispered, her voice soft and drenched with desire and pleasure. He moaned against her skin, slamming up into her as he climaxed violently. Her head rested back against his shoulder as she panted for breath, body still too flushed with bliss to notice the painful marks he had inflicted just yet. Larten’s instincts were fading; yet somehow he was able to close the bite on her shoulder and stop feeding off her. He felt the blood moving through his body, fighting his own and hoped it was not going to affect him for too long. It was hot and prickly, but not unpleasant. His quick assessment was that he would survive but he might be uncomfortable, even weakened if he did not take some sort of action soon.
“That was…” He started then paused. What was it anyway? That had not really been lovemaking, but she had not been unwilling.
“Yes, it was…” she chuckled and lifted one of his hands to kiss his fingers. She paused and stared at the darkened fingertips. “Oh… Ow!” the slashes on her torso suddenly throbbed into her awareness. “Well, you certainly are a Vampire, can you maybe heal these cuts?” she asked ironically. He nuzzled her neck and smiled.
“Sorry, I will do that in a moment.” He moved them so she was laying on her back with another of his quick movements, then licked his fingers, wincing at the blood hitting his tongue. He drew the salvia over the cuts, erasing them completely; he was a bit startled still by the absence of any scarring but assumed it was natural due to the blood she drank along with his salvia’s work. “I think I got too much of your blood. I should feed before dawn.” Sabelle’s eyes widened.
“Are you all right?” she touched his scarred cheek tenderly, eyes concerned. She knew she had to hide just how smitten she was with him; he was certainly the sort to back away from such emotional displays, and she did need him to be trusting and willing to work with her in the future.
“I am fine. I simply wish to be careful. We will rest a while, and then I will get you back to my tent.” He said smoothly, and to her delight, turned his head to kiss her hand. He did not feel affection very quickly, usually. He was cautious to a fault, after all. Sabelle laid back and sighed happily, seeming to understand and appreciate his feelings
“You better be careful. I have quite the libido, once it is awakened.” He smirked and flopped back beside her, eyes on the moon as it peered through the leaves overhead.
“I am a Vampire, but I am also a man, so maybe it is you who should be careful. But we cannot let this distract us from the work at hand either. And I do not think it is a good idea to let everyone know just how intimate we are, yet. Mr. Tiny is sure to get word of your arrival and will come to investigate. He would love to use you against me.”
“Well don’t let him, whoever he is. I am not about to be the damsel in distress, Larten. I would rather die than be used like a pawn by these Vampaneze and their supporters. But I think we will play that part by ear. Maybe this Mr. Tiny should get an eyeful of me. He might be confused by all of this.” She smiled, not at all vain but fully aware that she was a pretty young woman, and utterly willing to use this fact to her advantage any way she could. She stretched and then hiked herself up on one elbow. She took in all of his bared flesh visually, noting that he was scarred here and there as well. Mainly the marks looked like stab wounds: obviously these were marks from Vampire claws, which she understood they used like daggers. Still, there were also some old bullet wounds, and a nasty bite mark on his right leg. She touched the bullet scars.
“How old are these?” He shrugged.
“Very old. From when I was still new to this life and rather foolish. I had a crush I think you call it, on a young woman who was about my human age of twenty. However, she was protected by some overzealous older brothers. One of them suspected what I was; after all, we are pale and have signs of severe anemia. He tried to test me, but since much of the lore is bullshit, he was baffled by me. We are not allergic to garlic, we can cross running water, have no fear of crosses or silver… but dogs do hate us, as do cats. In a pinch we can drink animal blood but not dogs or cats, mainly large domesticated animals. Dogs and cats smell like hell anyway, ugh.
“He finally decided I had to be something other than human, even though I have a heartbeat and so on; possibly I was a werewolf or some such nonsense. He confronted me and tried to trick me into revealing what I was. I am not that stupid, so I was able to avoid the verbal traps, but then he had had enough and shot me anyway. He was trying to pierce my heart but luckily he had terrible aim. It still hurt though. I did not have time to think, I closed one of the holes with my saliva, and that was how he got me. I was forced to run when he pulled out a bow and arrow. So archaic but I can be killed just like a human, by damaging my heart.” He sighed and smiled. “The girl was so mad at him. Turns out she knew what I was and was hoping I would change her. I would never do such a thing, so I suppose it ended properly after all.”
Sabelle shook her head and slid her fingers down his chest, marveling in his physique. He was firm and fit, his muscles defined and displaying almost no fat on his body. Yes he was a hint jowly, but it seemed to reflect his age, not his general fitness.
“Most Vampire lore is incorrect. It’s almost entirely made up, by American movie scripts no less. Crossing running water is supposed to be hard for the revenants in Europe because Vampires are very light. They are UnDead, and most are supposedly near skeletal. They can always jump over water of course… It’s odd that you call Darren a Half Vampire; such creatures are actually born, according to the Gypsies. Dhampir they are called, and they are fine Vampire hunters. However they do not live long, they age to maturity very fast, and have no bones, simply stiff cartilage that makes them able to stand and such. They are usually very ugly and very unwanted, despite their services as hunters of the UnDead.” She said casually. He was fascinated; he had never really done much research about Vampires, once he was fully aware of his nature and what of the lore was true and false, he had pretty much ignored the supposed past of his race.
“Well, I should feed and you probably need another bath.” He said at length. Her touch as she traced his musculature was far too nice, and distracting. He felt his blood struggling against what he had ingested and he did not want to alarm her about it. Sabelle sat up then smirked.
“Oops. I have no clothes. I know you can move faster than the eye can follow, but really, how can we get back to camp without anyone seeing me like this?” She crossed her arms over her breasts and looked at him expectantly. He chuckled and retrieved his shirt, sliding it onto her and buttoning it shut despite her protests that she could dress herself. He got dressed then eyed her; she was, as most women were, utterly tempting as she stood there in his shirt, legs bare, body clearly visible through the sheer cloth. Her hair was a lovely tousled mess, and she was still flushed from their recent activity. He grunted, hoping his reaction to her was not too obvious. He scooped her into his arms and flitted back to his tent. He had set her on her feet before noticing that Darren and Mr. Tall were waiting for them.
“I see that the rumor you two are old friends is not untrue, Larten.” Mr. Tall drawled. Sabelle turned a lovely shade of pink as Darren stared agape at them.
“Do not assume things, Hibernius.” Larten said smoothly, however he was also flushing a bit despite himself. Mr. Tall nodded then smiled.
“You cannot hide the truth from me Larten. I am not judging, you know that. I wanted to speak to Miss Simone about what she might be able to do for us, and to point out that her bed is here.” He pointed to a pretty little trundle bed in a disused corner of the tent, already made up for her to sleep in. A small trunk was at the foot of the bed, probably for her personal items.
“Oh thank you Mr. Tall. I was not looking forward to trying to sleep on a loveseat. Pardon me while I get dressed.” She said with dignity, carefully retrieving her bag and moving behind the restroom screen. Darren looked at Crepsley with a shocked expression. He had been joking about his master acting like a player, but he had never expected him to really take up the role. The idea of his master actually… ugh!
“Get that look off of your face Darren. You have no idea what has really happened; we are trying to make it seem as if Sabelle is supposed to be here at my invitation, not like she is here to do what she is to do.” Larten snapped. Mr. Tall rolled his eyes and looked at Darren wisely.
“It is what it looks like, so accept it Darren. They are adults, and can do as they please, no?” Larten pinched the bridge of his nose as they spoke.
“But… Crepsley is so… so old!” Darren blurted. He flushed a bit then looked at his master apologetically. “Well you are 200 years old! That’s kinda gross!” Larten lifted a brow then smirked wickedly.
“Maybe I am older, but even so, Sabelle is too old for you Darren. Sorry about that.” Darren’s jaw dropped as he flushed bright red and Mr. Tall laughed delightedly.
“That’s not… I didn’t… gah stop it!” the boy spluttered helplessly.
Sabelle growled behind the screens; she could hear them quite well after all. She tossed a tight black tank top and leggings on and dragged a brush through her wild hair, grimacing as leaves and bits of grass were pulled free. She must have been quite a sight to their guests. There was certainly no doubt about what she and Larten had been doing! She stepped back into the main area and scowled at all three males.
“I can hear you, you know. Darren, sorry to offend your sensibilities, but I’ve always liked men over boys. And yes, now the rumors have some back up, so I won’t be looked at as more than an old flame or something. Perfect cover, hiding in plain sight. Now then, Larten, go and feed, and you two can leave now. I have some things to do before dawn.” Mr. Tall heaved himself to his feet and headed out of the tent, Darren following him in a daze. Larten sighed and then looked closer at her.
“You are certainly distracting dressed like that.” He murmured. Sabelle smiled and shrugged, not helping his state of mind at all. He took a step towards her, eyes darkening.
“Oh no, you need to feed, I can see that you’re growing pale even for a Vampire. If you hurry I might still be awake when you return. Now shoo.” She turned her back and started to dig into one of her bags. His jaw clenched, but he did as she said, disappearing from the tent quickly.
She checked her blood supply; it was actually the bulk of her bags contents, and if needs be she had another stash nearby. She had plenty, luckily. She still was worried; she had a feeling, an intuition that she would need a lot more. She placed the entire stash in a wooden box, and then set it aside as a reminder to ask Larten about hiding it so it was safe from prying eyes and sunlight. She then pulled her clothes out, folding them neatly and pressing them into the chest provided for her. She occasionally smiled as her body shivered with remembrance of how she had spent the last hour or so. She needed to focus, however. She would not be able to provide much help if she were sighing and daydreaming over her charge, as it were.
She felt a slight draft as the door opened. She acted as if she had not noticed, put palmed a throwing dagger from her things as she continued to move her clothing into the trunk. Her heightened senses told her the newcomer was neither Larten nor Darren. She glanced at the doorway and froze. The woman looking at her was quite lovely, with long dark hair and deep dark eyes. She was staring blindly at Sabelle, eyes unfocused. Sabelle waited, curious. Finally the woman spoke in a hollow voice.
“Death will come no matter how you plan against it… His soul is in jeopardy, and there is no way to be sure it will be safe!” The woman intoned them blinked. “What did say? Who are you? Why in Lartens tent?” Sabelle turned to face her, understanding her despite her broken English, which was odd after her perfectly pronounced omen.
“Hmmm. You mentioned something about someone’s soul being in danger. I am Sabelle Simone. I will be staying with Mr. Crepsley for a while. And you are?”
“His soul?” The woman gasped and stepped closer.” Larten in danger!” Sabelle nodded.
“I know. So is Darren, and so am I. How do you know this though?” She did not sense danger from the woman, but she was not about to trust her so quickly. She was obviously a psychic (So many of the people here seemed to be so) but she seemed to not be able to control her gifts well.
“I… oh, I am Truska… I am actually bearded lady. You stay with Larten? Why?” Truska’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t even know how got here, was headed for Truska’s tent.” Sabelle smiled tightly.
“Does it really matter what I am doing here? I am going to try to help Mr. Crepsley and Darren, I should think you realize that.” She waited as Truska started to pace. The woman seemed agitated.
“Larten never listen to Truska. Foolish Vampire!” Just then the foolish Vampire appeared, face slightly flushed from feeding.
“Truska? What is wrong, you look... whoa!” he ducked as Truska turned and chucked a pillow from the loveseat at him.
“You what’s wrong, why you no run if in danger?!” She scowled, and Sabelle blinked as a long luxurious beard suddenly began to grow on the woman’s chin. Larten smiled indulgently.
“I am a big boy Truska. I can take care of myself.” He picked up the pillow and replaced it on the loveseat. “I take it you have met Sabelle? Sabelle, this is Madame Truska, the Cirque’s prettiest fortune teller and only bearded lady.”
“Do not try distract Truska! You know Triuska always right! How can human girl save you from Vampaneze Lord?!” Truska exclaimed and smacked his arm. He shook his head and moved to remove his coat. Truska’s eyebrows went up as she stroked her beard, noticing that he was not wearing a shirt, just his beautifully tailored vest.
“Larten… where is shirt?” He paused then swung to look at Sabelle. She shrugged; there was no way to hide the entirety of their very new relationship, it seemed. She still blushed as he turned back to the fortune teller.
“You know what is going on, Sabelle needed my shirt for reasons you can surely guess at.” Truska blinked at him then blushed and laughed.
“Oh no! You more stupid than Truska thought! Truska warned you that you were lonely! Larten too old for this! And you, only a girl, making naughty with a Vampire?” She turned to Sabelle who bit her lips and looked at her shoes. She giggled too, to her embarrassment.
“It takes two to tango, Truska. So stop insulting us and have some wine before you go to bed.” Larten said smoothly. The woman threw her hands into the air.
“Fine! Act like teenage boy, if Larten ends up in his hands forever and ever, who cares about that!” she sat and rubbed her temples while Larten retrieved some wine and glasses for them. He poured then retreated behind the restroom screen to change into more comfortable clothing. Sabelle sat by Truska, liking her more for her obvious worry about Lartens safety.
“Truska, I am really here to help him. I do not care to see him dead or worse… but who is this person he might end up trapped by?” she sipped the wine and waited as Truska swallowed half her glass in a gulp.
“Larten knows. Mr. Tiny. Tiny behind all of this; can feel it in my beard.” She muttered. Larten emerged from the screen.
“I agree with you there. He has been up to something for the last twenty years. He is far too determined to have Darren for my taste.” Truska nodded.
“Larten, please, can just leave? Staying now… he will come… what he will do to you and the boy? Or the poor girl?”
Sabelle chuckled. “I can handle myself, Truska. Can’t you see what he’s after? Surely you have some way to peer into that intent?” She sipped the wine again then yawned. Funny, she usually could not sleep so quickly after taking the blood.
“Truska can only see futures of those she is with. Seeing Mr. Tiny is far too hard anyway. He is outside fate. He makes fate, somehow.” Larten had not taken any of the wine he had poured yet, simply swirling it in his glass.
“Am going to tent. Will tell if Truska dream anything, Larten. Sabelle, be careful, do not under… underestimate Mr. Tiny, should meet him.” Truska also yawned, swallowing the last of her wine before rising and leaving the tent. Larten followed her to the door then locked the rather useless latch.
“She is right, you cannot underestimate him. We do not even know what he is; more than human, but not a Vampire, or a freak. Some say he created us, the Vampires and Vampaneze.” He said thoughtfully. Sabelle tried to ponder this information, wondering how true it was. However she was growing incredibly sleepy. She looked down at her glass then up at him with wide eyes.
“What did you do?” she gasped. He took the glass from her as it began to slip through her fingers. He scooped her up and sighed.
“I am simply being sure you do not do something stupid during your first day here. It is also gratifying to know that sleeping draughts will work on you.” He said casually. She growled at him angrily as he moved across the room, and then gasped as he opened his coffin.
“What the…” He smiled serenely.
“Shush. I want to be sure you do not slip off to cause trouble.” He stepped into the box as Sabelle’s eyes widened even more. Things were going fuzzy as he laid her next to him and closed the lid. He stroked her cheek, wincing a bit at the accusation in her eyes; he doubted she could see him as clearly as he saw her in the utter darkness of the coffin; he was gifted with better vision than most Vampires.
“I am certain Mr. Tiny is coming this evening. He might come out sooner though, and I really cannot have you meeting him without me there. He is dangerous, very dangerous. Mr. Tall will protect Darren, and I will protect you.” He soothed. She was now so weak and sleepy she could barely rearrange herself comfortably. She huffed and let go of her annoyance; it was pointless to be angry now that the deed was done. She cuddled closer to him and smiled; in the closeness, she could smell his unique scent clearly, and he was indeed warm, his heart beating slowly under her cheek. She signed and pinched his side fiercely as her eyes closed. He chuckled and moved her hand, holding it in his so she couldn’t do that again.
He listened as her breathing slowed while she slipped into sleep. The dawn was still a while off; he could move about in the day, even fight if he must but it took effort and he would always need the shade to prevent the sun burning his skin. Sunlight would not immolate him instantly, but it still hurt him quite a bit to be in direct sunlight. He sighed and watched Sabelle’s doll-like face; in sleep she looked like she was barely older than Darren. She actually appeared almost lifeless, her breathing shallow, her body utterly still. But her heartbeat was strong, and she was warm, not as warm as the average human, but still, warmer than he was.
He grimaced in the darkness; he really was not looking forward to dealing with Desmond Tiny that evening, or whenever he finally showed up. Being such an unknown power in this game, Larten was sure Desmond would see right away that Sabelle was also a bit more than human. Even if he did not, the tiny people would be watching them like little vultures, making it very hard to even speak to each other without care. And Sabelle would need to go to great lengths to take the blood when she felt the need. He smirked a bit; however it might be a good idea to let the little creeps know they were bring intimate. Let Desmond cringe in horror about that; Tiny hated all signs of affection and Larten could not imagine anyone touching the man romantically.
Sabelle frowned in her sleep and mumbled something, then pressed her face into his chest harder. He found himself petting her hair automatically; how simple and easy it was to slide back into old, soft habits. He thought about Arra, and their time together. He closed his eyes as his chest tightened. He missed her still, but they had been separated for so long now. His unwillingness to become a Prince had not surprised her, but it had disappointed her. Sabelle whimpered and pressed closer to him, her fingers clinging to his shirt. He frowned and listened closer to her voice. She was remembering something… she murmured softly in a strange tongue, and then whimpered a name pleadingly. He leaned his head closer to her ear.
“Sabelle, he is far from here. I will keep it that way.” He said quietly. His voice seemed to soothe her, but her fingers still held their death grip on his shirt for a while. He began humming some old songs from his youth; the humming seemed to work. She stopped whimpering and seemed to fade into a dreamless sleep, and when his eyes finally closed, he also did not dream.
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