Rho took several deep breaths of the cool air as he leaned over the balcony. He watched as more and more vampyres entered through The Monastery doors. He could feel Caine’s confusion beating at his brain. Digging his hand into the bricks he focused on that pain until Caine’s confusion was just a tiny voice in the cacophony of others. He would never get through with what he had to say if he could feel Caine’s emotions. While skilled at hiding his thoughts Caine’s emotions were erratic and wrapped around him like tentacles.
“Rho, are you alright? You look pale. I mean paler than usual I guess.”
“I just need to drink.” He chuckled when he heard Caine’s boots scrap against the concrete as he took a step back. “I have not drank straight from a source in centuries Caine. And even if I did I would never drink from you.”
“Why? Not that I want you to,” he said hurriedly. “But all the other vamps in there talk about how wonderful Lycan blood is.”
“Because you are Bernard’s son…and he was like my brother. Caine, you have his compassionate heart. That is what lead to his downfall. Do not let it lead to yours. Think with this,” Rho tapped at his skull, “And feel with this.” He tapped his chest. “You must learn to separate the feeling from the thinking.”
“To feel and to think is what makes us human.”
“To feel and to think yes. But to put aside feelings, to think logically and go in for the kill…that, that is what makes you Lycan.”
Quicker than Caine could blink Rho was up on the edge of the balcony. Some of the brick loosened and Caine could hear it hit the ground below.
“Jesus! What are you doing?” he demanded as he leapt forward. With one hand he yanked at Rho’s waist and with the other the back of his shirt. He laughed but didn’t budge.
“Many, many nights I danced on the edge of living and death. After all I am the undead, as they call us. What do I have to look forward to? My own people fear me and, for the most part, humans are too easy to lead astray. What do I have to look forward to?” He stretched his arms out and tilting his head looked up at the sky.
“My family, my mother, my father, they are all dead. The humans that I have befriended? They are all dead. I’m frozen in the a parody of my youth with nothing to hope for while humans make up stories about us, romanticize the killing machines that we are. Tell me Caine. Knowing how much I suffer would you bring me peace? If I gave you the knowledge of what it would take to kill one of us would you use it to end this weary existence so that I may see my family again?”
“What you’re talking about is murder!” Caine yanked again at his clothing but he didn’t move. He couldn’t pull him down from the ledge. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he tightened his grip on Rho’s shirt.
“And murder is what you must do to avenge your father, to bring peace to the Lycan packs being whored and subjected to Ethan’s perverse whims. If you can not kill me, a man you barely remember, how do you think to kill the man who grinned as he murdered your father?”
“Because I hate him! I HATE him! He killed my father! He ruined my life and the lives of countless others! Don’t think for one second that I won’t be grinning as I rip out that bastard’s throat! Now get the fuck down from the ledge!”
And suddenly he was off the ledge and staring at him with a smirk. “And then there are Lycans like you. And they are the most deadly. You made your first kill at ten. You have your father’s compassion but the rage is what feeds you. Do not let it over take you Caine or you will become the thing that you are hunting.” Rho tilted his head. “Although I think that pretty mate of yours will keep you in line yes? Speaking of which…” Suddenly Rho’s eyes rolled back into his head and his fangs shot out before he shook himself.
“She is in peril. Go to her.”
“What? What do you mean-?”
“нет времени! нет времени! No time! No time! Go before-” Rho blinked when Caine leapt over the balcony. By the time he hit the ground he was running on all fours. He strolled back inside.
“Where’d the pup go? He still owes me twenty bucks.”
“Anyone in the mood for a good hunt?”
“Fuck yeah!” Ulrich shoved back his chair and snatching the cigarette out of his mouth snuffed it out on his pants. “About damn time. Who are we hunting?”
“Lycans.”
“Hey, hey! I like the dude! I thought you did too Rho.”
“Not him Ulrich,” Caleb said. “Other Lycans. Who and why?”
“Another pack. Not Ethan’s. And they have his mate.”
“Oh for heaven’s sake. Let them have her,” Victoria snapped as she took another sip from her glass. “She’s not worth our time…or his.”
“Just because you’re like a bitch in heat around him-” Ulrich stopped when Nikita stood up and was on the other side of the room in the blink of an eye.
“What are you doing here little vamp?”
*Big ups to my mom who helped me understand the ins and outs of poker. Never played it but mom pulled out the cards and showed me and the internet did the rest. Also, I don’t speak Russian and the translator probably tore the language to shreds. For that I apologize. If you know someone that does speak Russian…well don’t point them in this direction! O_o Added the Labrousse clan to character bios, added a few more shots to unscripted and added another entry to On the Couch. All links are in the header.Pages: 1 2
Ahh, finally I caught up! I LOL’ed at Caleb describing Caine’s smell, heh. Also, I’m quite fond of Rhostislav’s mysterious but passionate character (I’ve a weakness for Russian and violins xD); that picture of him dancing on the edge and Caine trying to pull him down was wonderfully posed, too. Now I wonder what that girl was doing there (and what is going to happen to Alana and Nolan :0).
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PhoenixFG Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 5:58 PM
Oh wow! Thanks Yuxi! I still have to catch on your story! Man, it looks awesome!! LOL!! Caleb has a dry sense of humor. He cracks me up. Oh man! I had Rho stashed away in BS for months! I really like how he turned out! I love Russia about as much as I love Scotland! I want to go to both places.
Thank you! I’m happy with that way it turned out. Veron’s posing tutorials have been a real help.
That girl is Vivian, from the Southerland pack. I don’t think I ever fully showed her face! Trouble, trouble! As for Alana and Nolan…
next prompt!!!
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i LOVED this update. and i love Calebs hair *covets* I love what you did with my little vampys ^_^ Sorry i couldn’t be nicer to Duncaine in my story.
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PhoenixFG Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 6:02 PM
Thanks Azzy!!!
I was just writing away on this one huh? Calebs hair is from the same place as Ulrich’s. Here ya go.Middle of the page. I love how it’s in his face.
Haha!! They are characters aren’t they!? No, Duncaine is amazing in your story.
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Az. Reply:
October 7th, 2009 at 2:25 AM
ah thanks… actually then i downloaded that other hair from GoS before Danicast had a pissyfit and still had her stuff there.
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This chapter was amazing!!!!
Love all the new information you threw at us… I do like Rho, but I’m not so sure if Caine should believe on him… I don’t know…
I DEFINITELY loved the picture where he is on the edge and Caine trying to pull him back! That was a fantastic! Very realistic!!! I love the way he is smiling!!! lol
Awesome writing and outstanding shots like always!!!
Great job!!! and I’m soo looking forward for more!
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PhoenixFG Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 6:05 PM
I had to giggle at the smiley face Sandy! I love it! Thanks so much! I was worried I was throwing a little too much but I didn’t want to drag it out either! *sigh* Rho’s a good guy. I can tell you that much. Now, I’d watch my back around another member of that clan. I’m just saying!
That’s one of my favorites as well. Used the BV and Seasons boxes for that one. I like the lightening as well. I guess all those crashes were worth it for that one shot! Darn it!
Thanks so much Sandy! And that new shot on your page is breathtaking!
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Caaaaaine to the rescue!
I love the relations between the vamps and the Lycans. Such a complex, frenemy arrangement there. This new development with Rho and Bernard is interesting. It’s nice to see that they were friends despite their… differences, shall we say?
Thanks for the update, Phoenix. I needed this
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PhoenixFG Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 6:30 PM
Maybe not!
I’m really going to do a time line. Maybe go back and edit the previous entries or something. *shrug*
Haha! Frenemies sums it up great! They can live with or without each other…and have been doing it for years!. Yeah, it’s nice to know that Bernard had someone he could completely trust.
Awww…hope everything is going alright Van!!
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This chapter was so dream-like. The music. The glass floor. The man on the ledge. That funky red light.
Uh oh- Are there vamps working for Ethan?
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PhoenixFG Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 8:04 PM
Hmm…I didn’t even think of that! I guess it does huh? I love glass floors for some strange reason. *shrug* And that light was the one from outside that reflected up. Strange but I liked it!
Of course there are. He’s got some of them like junkies looking for their next lycan blood fix. But that doesn’t mean that they’re stronger than ones that have had the willpower to resist…I hope not.
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It might be an uncomfortable alliance, but it at least comes with loyalty and appears to be a quite handy thing to have just at the moment.
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PhoenixFG Reply:
October 6th, 2009 at 7:44 PM
Amen to that. If Caine only had himself to lean on things would go downhill fast!
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Actually, I do speak Russian and that was a bunch- JUST KIDDING!!! I’m joking. I know less than you and I know even less poker. Anyway, great update. Yeah, I don’t think I like this Rho guy and I had a funny feeling about these vampyres from the start.
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PhoenixFG Reply:
October 12th, 2009 at 8:05 AM
LOL!!! Girl, that was so wrong!!
Although if you did speak Russian you would have gotten emails from me so…
Poker was fun to research! Now I want to play it! Thanks Nora! Rho isn’t bad! At all! At least it’s not supposed to be but I never know sooo…yeah! Haha!
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I loved this update! It was so nice to see Caine actually have a moment like that, even if he didn’t remember the guy, he’s been there for him. I laughed so hard at him almost jumping off the building, that pic was awesome!
These vamps are one great addition to this story, I love your take on them and how you describe the way they act and feel, very cool!
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PhoenixFG Reply:
December 10th, 2009 at 6:24 AM
Thanks Emily! Yeah, I had no idea where I was going with it but then it hit me and…there ya go! I love that pic too!
Thanks! Man, I agonized over adding them! Glad you like them!
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Oh no, Alana and Nolan! So they didn’t get out of it, crap. Well, that just puts more bees in the bonnet. At least Caine isn’t going balls-to-the-walls alone. Onward, vampire calvary!
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PhoenixFG Reply:
January 3rd, 2010 at 1:34 AM
Wait…wait! I have to finish laughing at your balls-to-the-walls comment! LMAO!!! Oh god! That made my morning!
Hecks no! You knew trouble was a’brewing Mao! Should be fun times…or not!
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Ooooooo. Whats her name is toast. Doneee for. All of those vampyres are over 100 years old. She has no chance. Its goin downnn. And she’s already in the club.
On another note. Rho is to cool. I like him. He seems really..experienced. And wise. Like the cool grandfather.
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Vivian…I think! I rarely use her but yeah…not a good idea girl! And really…what was she thinking? I guess knowing Caine was there was too much for her!
I ♥ Rho! He’s VERY experienced but not in your face about it which I love. Bwaha the grandfather comment. But it’s true!
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