Rachyl could tell Meegan was taking the onus of presenting Aron with the information pretty hard. She reached out and gently squeezed the designer's hand.
"He attacked me last night at Meegan's dog-walking park. I could tell he was... different. Same as I could tell you are. But he felt... wrong. I can't quite describe it. Somehow I was able to talk him down, to calm him."
Rachyl shuddered as she continued, "He wanted somewhere to stay, somewhere anonymous. So I put him up at Meegan's condo. Told him not to go into the master bedroom. I know I made Meegan really mad at me, but, well, I figured if he knew who I was just by seeing us in the newspaper, he knows where she lives anyway..."
She knew she was digging herself deeper into a hole, and stared at the floor, embarassed and sheepish.
Before Dusk((lock))
Jeeves carried her bag into the house for her. She bit her lip, to keep from saying anything. It was just one bag, she could have carried it. As soon as Jeeves shut the door to her and Aron's room, she began to undress. 'Whoa, when did it become my room?' She looked around her, a pair of her shoes sat next to the new dresser, and her jewelry was layed out on top of it. Yes, it very much had become her room, shared with Aron. 'Well there's a first time for everything.'
She tugged off her boots, skirt, shirt and underclothes. From a drawer she pulled out a pair of lycra/spandex bike shorts, and a matching sports bra. She pulled them on, and fished out her new socks and shoes. Meegan sat down on the edge of the bed to pull on the footwear.
Rachyl
18 years ago
Aron Swiftwood
18 years ago
He raised an eyebrow. Of all the places in all the world, that was probably the last one he would have expected. Rachyl had invited Meegans attacker to stay in her apartment. It had a taint of very dark humour to it.
"So much for burning the place where he stays...."
And so much for trying to take him by surprise. Aron had willingly walked straight into traps a few times, but it had not been very pleasant and it was not something he wished to repeat. All in all, it would come down to gambling with Meegans life....or his own.
Well, at least it was an easy decision.
"Still, it's quite a bit better than not knowing where he is at all....opens up a whole new set of opportunities... Though, it might be better if you stayed here for a few nights Rachyl. I somehow doubt he is above hostages"
"So much for burning the place where he stays...."
And so much for trying to take him by surprise. Aron had willingly walked straight into traps a few times, but it had not been very pleasant and it was not something he wished to repeat. All in all, it would come down to gambling with Meegans life....or his own.
Well, at least it was an easy decision.
"Still, it's quite a bit better than not knowing where he is at all....opens up a whole new set of opportunities... Though, it might be better if you stayed here for a few nights Rachyl. I somehow doubt he is above hostages"
Rachyl
18 years ago
"If I thought it was a good idea I'd suggest visiting Veronica in Milwaukee for a while."
Rachyl looked at Aron. "He already displayed his willingness to take hostages when he almost kidnapped me from the dog park. I shudder to think what would have happened. I shudder to think," she continued, her gaze swinging to Meegan, "what could happen period."
Rachyl's mind piped up briefly, 'if only Meegan had come home with her when she asked, none of this would have happened,' but hind-sight is always twenty-twenty and if wishes were horses Rachyl wouldn't be the woman she had become.
Rachyl looked at Aron. "He already displayed his willingness to take hostages when he almost kidnapped me from the dog park. I shudder to think what would have happened. I shudder to think," she continued, her gaze swinging to Meegan, "what could happen period."
Rachyl's mind piped up briefly, 'if only Meegan had come home with her when she asked, none of this would have happened,' but hind-sight is always twenty-twenty and if wishes were horses Rachyl wouldn't be the woman she had become.
Meegan
18 years ago
Meegan sat and tried to hide the misery on her face. It was real now, very very real. That man was in her home and she would never be able to live there with out knowing that. Her heart hurt with the loss and she sat trying to simply not cry.
Aron Swiftwood
18 years ago
He suddenly became aware of Meegans pain, fear and despair. He wanted to hug her, keep her safe in his embrace.... "Make her one of our own". Well...that too. But not until she was ready, not until she wanted to.
Instead he put his hand on hers, covering it completely.
"He won't hurt you princess, I won't allow it. I won't allow anyone to hurt you"
Instead he put his hand on hers, covering it completely.
"He won't hurt you princess, I won't allow it. I won't allow anyone to hurt you"
Rachyl
18 years ago
A tiny voice in her head whined pitifully, "But what about me?"
One of the other voices said quietly, "I thought you weren't going to be selfish?"
"There's a slight difference between selfishness and self-preservation..."
Rachyl, watching quietly as Aron comforted her, felt as if she was stuck on a boat, the waves of emotion crashing around her, battering her.
She closed her eyes for a moment, allowing some of the warmer waves to crash over her, and settled against solidity. Opening her eyes again, she found they were only slightly misted as Meegan stared at Aron.
One of the other voices said quietly, "I thought you weren't going to be selfish?"
"There's a slight difference between selfishness and self-preservation..."
Rachyl, watching quietly as Aron comforted her, felt as if she was stuck on a boat, the waves of emotion crashing around her, battering her.
She closed her eyes for a moment, allowing some of the warmer waves to crash over her, and settled against solidity. Opening her eyes again, she found they were only slightly misted as Meegan stared at Aron.
Meegan
18 years ago
Meegan's sad eyes met Aron's. 'He wouldn't allow it?' Some how that both comforted and annoyed her. She honestly at that moment scared of Panos. She mourned the loss of the one place she had been able to call home after her parents died. She loved her home, very very much. Sure they were just things and it was just a building, but damn it it was hers. That was lost and it pained her.
She pressed a hand to her heart, trying to make the pain stop as tears spilled over nearly transparent lashes.
"I know, Aron. I know." Her voice was barely more than a whisper. She would allow herself this cry, and then that bastard would not hurt her again, not her heart or her body, she was done with him. She just had to find a way to make him permanently done with her.
She pressed a hand to her heart, trying to make the pain stop as tears spilled over nearly transparent lashes.
"I know, Aron. I know." Her voice was barely more than a whisper. She would allow herself this cry, and then that bastard would not hurt her again, not her heart or her body, she was done with him. She just had to find a way to make him permanently done with her.
Aron Swiftwood
18 years ago
He looked into her eyes, saw the tears forming, and anger floated up into him. The bloody bastard had hurt her, actually hurt her. He would make him pay, a thousand times over if possible. He knew what had to be done now, let the hunter become the hunted.
"I'll find a way...I promise"
With a bit of luck, Panos would be permanently done in every sense of the word.
"I'll find a way...I promise"
With a bit of luck, Panos would be permanently done in every sense of the word.
Meegan
18 years ago
Meegan felt suddenly and completely exhausted. Her shoulders gave and she rested her head against the wing of the chair back, and her vision filled with the dancing flames of the hearth before her. Every bit of her felt thick and weighted as though she had been drugged. It worried her a bit, but then again it did not. It seemed almost right.
She realized that if she wanted to look at anyone she would have to move, and she decided that she just didn't want to look.
Jeeves picked that moment to enter with the coffee and desserts. She felt sad that she would not be able to indulge, as she wanted to go to bed, or just fall asleep where she sat, she didn't particularly care.
She sniffled against the tears that continued to make silver tracks on her cheeks. She;d forgotten she was crying, and that mad her all the more sad. Panos was a evil vile thing that had snuck into her very heart. She mourned the hate she felt and that made her all the more tired.
Meegan's eyes drifted against her peaches and cream cheeks, as Jeeves set the laden tray on the small table.
"Lady Meegan looks asleep where she sits."
She realized that if she wanted to look at anyone she would have to move, and she decided that she just didn't want to look.
Jeeves picked that moment to enter with the coffee and desserts. She felt sad that she would not be able to indulge, as she wanted to go to bed, or just fall asleep where she sat, she didn't particularly care.
She sniffled against the tears that continued to make silver tracks on her cheeks. She;d forgotten she was crying, and that mad her all the more sad. Panos was a evil vile thing that had snuck into her very heart. She mourned the hate she felt and that made her all the more tired.
Meegan's eyes drifted against her peaches and cream cheeks, as Jeeves set the laden tray on the small table.
"Lady Meegan looks asleep where she sits."
Aron Swiftwood
18 years ago
"Then perhaps I should take her to bed"
He put an arm under her legs and behind her back, and lifted her. She was so light, a snowflake in his arms. A snowflake he would not let anyone destroy.
"Jeeves, if you would prepare a guest room for Rachyl?"
He looked into Rachyls eyes, and smiled.
"Have no fear, in this house you can sleep safely. Nothing will hurt you here"
[I want to offer you something: the power to protect those you love. The power to defend yourself, the strength to overcome your fear. I offer you to become one of my kin. You do not have to answer now, my offer stands as long as Meegan is in danger...]
He began carrying his princess to their bedchamber.
He put an arm under her legs and behind her back, and lifted her. She was so light, a snowflake in his arms. A snowflake he would not let anyone destroy.
"Jeeves, if you would prepare a guest room for Rachyl?"
He looked into Rachyls eyes, and smiled.
"Have no fear, in this house you can sleep safely. Nothing will hurt you here"
[I want to offer you something: the power to protect those you love. The power to defend yourself, the strength to overcome your fear. I offer you to become one of my kin. You do not have to answer now, my offer stands as long as Meegan is in danger...]
He began carrying his princess to their bedchamber.
Rachyl
18 years ago
Rachyl couldn't help but stand speechless at the offer Aron presented her.
Part of her wanted to yell at him, to scream at him saying that if only Meegan had listened, if she hadn't been her usual stubborn self...
But then she realized "ifs" weren't going to help the situation at all. She managed a meek, "Thank you" as Aron left with Meegan in his arms.
"I could do that," the corner of her mind petulantly claimed as Jeeves appeared.
"This way Miss Rachyl."
As she followed, part of her brain kept track of the halls they moved down while the other concentrated on keeping her feet moving. Up, forward, down, back. So much happening in such a short time...
"But Aron doesn't seem to understand it's not fear of Panos that's causing me anguish... And I don't think I'll be able to make him completely understand."
The door to the guest room ("Probably one of many," she thought) swung open. He indicated the bathroom, fresh linens, and a robe. "Thank you Jeeves. Have a good night."
After the butler departed - What do butlers do when they're not butling? Butling? What a word. What does a butler do? He butles. But of course! and that train of thought threw Rachyl into a fit of giggles. Not quite but near-hysterical as she stripped off her clothes, tossed them in a pile at the end of the bed, and slowly moved over to the bathroom with a towel and a robe.
Part of her wanted to yell at him, to scream at him saying that if only Meegan had listened, if she hadn't been her usual stubborn self...
But then she realized "ifs" weren't going to help the situation at all. She managed a meek, "Thank you" as Aron left with Meegan in his arms.
"I could do that," the corner of her mind petulantly claimed as Jeeves appeared.
"This way Miss Rachyl."
As she followed, part of her brain kept track of the halls they moved down while the other concentrated on keeping her feet moving. Up, forward, down, back. So much happening in such a short time...
"But Aron doesn't seem to understand it's not fear of Panos that's causing me anguish... And I don't think I'll be able to make him completely understand."
The door to the guest room ("Probably one of many," she thought) swung open. He indicated the bathroom, fresh linens, and a robe. "Thank you Jeeves. Have a good night."
After the butler departed - What do butlers do when they're not butling? Butling? What a word. What does a butler do? He butles. But of course! and that train of thought threw Rachyl into a fit of giggles. Not quite but near-hysterical as she stripped off her clothes, tossed them in a pile at the end of the bed, and slowly moved over to the bathroom with a towel and a robe.
Meegan
18 years ago
Meegan let her head fall against Aron's shoulder, her hands resting in the bowl made by her legs and hips. She wondered if this was what a nervous break down feels like, as she certainly felt like she was losing her mind.
She tried to clear her mind and concentrate on the sound of Aron's steps and her own breathing. Slowly the soft tap of his shoes on the floors, lulled her to sleep. By the time he reached their bedroom, Meegan was fast asleep.
((Meegan out pending responses))
She tried to clear her mind and concentrate on the sound of Aron's steps and her own breathing. Slowly the soft tap of his shoes on the floors, lulled her to sleep. By the time he reached their bedroom, Meegan was fast asleep.
((Meegan out pending responses))
Aron Swiftwood
18 years ago
Aron smiled as he put her down on the bed. He carefully undressed her and put her into a nightgown, all without waking her. So peaceful in her sleep, no worries to touch her.
It was too early for him to join her quite yet, and there were things he needed to do. A letter he needed sent, a very important letter indeed. And he needed to keep track on his business. Life wouldn't become easier if he lost his fortune.
"Ohh yes, because that is likely to happen. Left unattended it might be gone in the flash of a century"
"Shut up May" he said quietly. For now he just wanted to sit and watch Meegan sleep. Just for a short while.
((Aron out))
It was too early for him to join her quite yet, and there were things he needed to do. A letter he needed sent, a very important letter indeed. And he needed to keep track on his business. Life wouldn't become easier if he lost his fortune.
"Ohh yes, because that is likely to happen. Left unattended it might be gone in the flash of a century"
"Shut up May" he said quietly. For now he just wanted to sit and watch Meegan sleep. Just for a short while.
((Aron out))
Rachyl
18 years ago
Rachyl showered quickly and efficiently.
While normally such proximity to Meegan would... prompt certain actions, she neither felt the inclination nor the privacy to indulge herself.
Especially after Aron's offer. "Quickly and efficiently" became "stand under the hot water til something makes sense or it gets too cold for comfort."
Turning the showerhead to pulse-massage, and standing under the streaming hot water, she turned her face towards the stream and let it bounce off her forehead.
Knowing Meegan was so tired as to fall asleep in the chair - she didn't usually sleep in such strange positions - Rachyl imagined Aron was either going to go back out to feed again (she shuddered at the thought) or was going to do something else around the house.
And knowing he could sense her thoughts - had she really been so transparent? Or was it something else making her mind's workings more available? - she tried to think without talking to herself, and imagined a projector flashing images against the inside of a brick box.
In High School she had considered herself a Goth frontrunner... That is, she always wore black, always had the makeup on... if "always" counted for about a year and a half. She didn't remember much of her attire prior to that... But she did recall a few of her regular... "friends"... who were always jabbering about some spell they'd "cast" or some person they'd met who they hoped could turn them into a vampire.
Nothing ever came of that, of course.
But then, who is to say that they weren't wrong? After all, Aron himself was - no, is - one. Panos is one. And now Aron is offering to Rachyl the chance to become one.
The idea of protecting Meegan was certainly an attractive one. But the consequences were... untenable. She despised the sight of blood, the iron scent. For the most part she even disliked engaging in certain activities with Meegan and Veronica - "Boy, I miss her" - while they were menstruating. An ironicly coincidental aside to that, they had even begun cycling at the same time. Strange how that happens... When her own periods had started her mother had noticed she fell into an almost exact duplicate of the elder Walker's monthly schedule. Give or take a day or two. Made it easy because they didn't need to shop quite so often for supplies.
She loved sunlight, and the way it felt, the way it warmed her, made her feel alive. Losing that was... unthinkable.
She loved to eat, and Meegan had certainly helped her indulge in that favorite pastime over the past few months by taking her to so many different, unique restaurants and hidey-hole eateries... at least that would be a pleasure she could continue to indulge in. And obviously vampires still could have sex...
While Rachyl had always imagined she'd have a child of her own, the future she'd briefly fantasized about with Meegan didn't necessarily include any. She would have volunteer... No no, she needed to stop that train of thought right there or she'd start crying, desiring comfort... but the one person she wanted comfort from was... no longer there.
Well, she was there, just not... there in the same way as a week ago.
Goodness, had it only been a week? Okay, week and a half.
Rachyl stood under the searing umbrella of water until it started to cool. The pounding of the jets against her skin hadn't helped in any way, hadn't driven any answers into her. She dried, dressed in the robe, and curled onto the pillows at the top of the bed, not even bothering to slide under the covers.
(( Rachyl out. ))
While normally such proximity to Meegan would... prompt certain actions, she neither felt the inclination nor the privacy to indulge herself.
Especially after Aron's offer. "Quickly and efficiently" became "stand under the hot water til something makes sense or it gets too cold for comfort."
Turning the showerhead to pulse-massage, and standing under the streaming hot water, she turned her face towards the stream and let it bounce off her forehead.
Knowing Meegan was so tired as to fall asleep in the chair - she didn't usually sleep in such strange positions - Rachyl imagined Aron was either going to go back out to feed again (she shuddered at the thought) or was going to do something else around the house.
And knowing he could sense her thoughts - had she really been so transparent? Or was it something else making her mind's workings more available? - she tried to think without talking to herself, and imagined a projector flashing images against the inside of a brick box.
In High School she had considered herself a Goth frontrunner... That is, she always wore black, always had the makeup on... if "always" counted for about a year and a half. She didn't remember much of her attire prior to that... But she did recall a few of her regular... "friends"... who were always jabbering about some spell they'd "cast" or some person they'd met who they hoped could turn them into a vampire.
Nothing ever came of that, of course.
But then, who is to say that they weren't wrong? After all, Aron himself was - no, is - one. Panos is one. And now Aron is offering to Rachyl the chance to become one.
The idea of protecting Meegan was certainly an attractive one. But the consequences were... untenable. She despised the sight of blood, the iron scent. For the most part she even disliked engaging in certain activities with Meegan and Veronica - "Boy, I miss her" - while they were menstruating. An ironicly coincidental aside to that, they had even begun cycling at the same time. Strange how that happens... When her own periods had started her mother had noticed she fell into an almost exact duplicate of the elder Walker's monthly schedule. Give or take a day or two. Made it easy because they didn't need to shop quite so often for supplies.
She loved sunlight, and the way it felt, the way it warmed her, made her feel alive. Losing that was... unthinkable.
She loved to eat, and Meegan had certainly helped her indulge in that favorite pastime over the past few months by taking her to so many different, unique restaurants and hidey-hole eateries... at least that would be a pleasure she could continue to indulge in. And obviously vampires still could have sex...
While Rachyl had always imagined she'd have a child of her own, the future she'd briefly fantasized about with Meegan didn't necessarily include any. She would have volunteer... No no, she needed to stop that train of thought right there or she'd start crying, desiring comfort... but the one person she wanted comfort from was... no longer there.
Well, she was there, just not... there in the same way as a week ago.
Goodness, had it only been a week? Okay, week and a half.
Rachyl stood under the searing umbrella of water until it started to cool. The pounding of the jets against her skin hadn't helped in any way, hadn't driven any answers into her. She dried, dressed in the robe, and curled onto the pillows at the top of the bed, not even bothering to slide under the covers.
(( Rachyl out. ))