Part 11
It had been two years since she first confronted him in the alley in Britain. Two years since he begged her to let him go with her. It was tempting at the time - he was a delight to the eyes and she didn't doubt he would be a delight to the body as well. But he knew not what he asked of her - to take him then would be to make him a monster.
And so she left him and watched from a distance. For two years she kept an eye on him - Iblis al Djinn, the master sculptor. For two years she remained hidden to him - subtly encouraging his obsession with her. For two years she followed his progress - at the right time letting him learn the truth of what she was and smiling as he threw himself into learning more about vampires. And now, after two years, he was almost ready. She would make herself known to him soon.
But not yet.
He had learned much. He wielded great power - greater than most mortals she had known. But for him to become her childe he would have to prove he could control that power. She would not bestow the gift upon one who was undisciplined. Hidden atop a guard tower, she watched with mild curiosity as he left the city and head into the woods. Wondering what quest drew him out of the city, she uttered the words to change to the form of an eagle and followed from on high.
She had little concern when he ran into the bandits along the road. She knew he could easily dispatch them. But something about the road he traveled made her uneasy. A scent on the wind - the scent of danger - the scent of death. Her concern deepened when she saw the tower in the distance. Alyssa? What could he possibly want with her?
Illestra knew this one and loathed her. Everything about the bitch irked Illestra, right down to her name - the same name as her mortal niece whom Illestra would do anything to protect. In Illestra's eyes Alyssa was a mockery of everything Illestra had built for herself. Whereas Illestra had learned control and dignity, Alyssa delighted in cruelty and debauchery. And this fool was striding right in her door as if he belonged there.
She dare not follow him in. The animosity between herself and the ones inside was too great and alone in their lair she would be at a disadvantage. So she sat perched in a nearby tree, reaching out with her senses to try and discern what was happening inside. The first thing she noticed was fear - Iblis realizing the terrible mistake he made in coming here. This was followed by the growing excitement of the kindred inside, accented with Alyssa's laughter.
The door burst open and she saw Iblis take off through the woods, spurred on by fear and a realization of his own mortality. She watched as the vampires casually followed behind - toying with him. They need not rush - they could track him farther than he could run. But they didn't want him to think he had lost them - that would ease his fears and there would be no fun in that at all! And so they pursued him back towards the lights of Britain in a deadly game of cat and mouse.
She could not take on so many alone - she would need help. Leaping into the air to follow after them, she summoned Talon. She hoped the large eagle would make it in time as she flew back towards the wretched city where it all began two years ago.
And so she left him and watched from a distance. For two years she kept an eye on him - Iblis al Djinn, the master sculptor. For two years she remained hidden to him - subtly encouraging his obsession with her. For two years she followed his progress - at the right time letting him learn the truth of what she was and smiling as he threw himself into learning more about vampires. And now, after two years, he was almost ready. She would make herself known to him soon.
But not yet.
He had learned much. He wielded great power - greater than most mortals she had known. But for him to become her childe he would have to prove he could control that power. She would not bestow the gift upon one who was undisciplined. Hidden atop a guard tower, she watched with mild curiosity as he left the city and head into the woods. Wondering what quest drew him out of the city, she uttered the words to change to the form of an eagle and followed from on high.
She had little concern when he ran into the bandits along the road. She knew he could easily dispatch them. But something about the road he traveled made her uneasy. A scent on the wind - the scent of danger - the scent of death. Her concern deepened when she saw the tower in the distance. Alyssa? What could he possibly want with her?
Illestra knew this one and loathed her. Everything about the bitch irked Illestra, right down to her name - the same name as her mortal niece whom Illestra would do anything to protect. In Illestra's eyes Alyssa was a mockery of everything Illestra had built for herself. Whereas Illestra had learned control and dignity, Alyssa delighted in cruelty and debauchery. And this fool was striding right in her door as if he belonged there.
She dare not follow him in. The animosity between herself and the ones inside was too great and alone in their lair she would be at a disadvantage. So she sat perched in a nearby tree, reaching out with her senses to try and discern what was happening inside. The first thing she noticed was fear - Iblis realizing the terrible mistake he made in coming here. This was followed by the growing excitement of the kindred inside, accented with Alyssa's laughter.
The door burst open and she saw Iblis take off through the woods, spurred on by fear and a realization of his own mortality. She watched as the vampires casually followed behind - toying with him. They need not rush - they could track him farther than he could run. But they didn't want him to think he had lost them - that would ease his fears and there would be no fun in that at all! And so they pursued him back towards the lights of Britain in a deadly game of cat and mouse.
She could not take on so many alone - she would need help. Leaping into the air to follow after them, she summoned Talon. She hoped the large eagle would make it in time as she flew back towards the wretched city where it all began two years ago.
posted by Shadowsong | 11:34 AM
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