Post by silent.lullaby on Apr 30, 2009 16:18:03 GMT -5
Night Children [Chapter Seventy Four] Bruce
When I awoke, I was no longer laying on Viktor’s chest. I had rolled over to my other side in my sleep. I could tell from the lack of warmth I was alone in bed, but I could hear Viktor talking quietly so I didn’t fret. I sat up and noticed the children were still sleeping, a smile flicked onto my lips. I wished every morning could be so easy.
My legs dangled from the bed as I sat upwards. Looking over to the living space I could see Viktor and Douglas talking. It was nice to see them getting along, especially after... all that unpleasantness.
I stood up and walked toward the bathroom, Viktor’s eyes latched on to me from the second I stood till I shut the door behind me. I felt a bit of a blush on my face as I ran water for a bath.
Once dressed, I braided my long hair back and walked out. It seemed most were waking up. Colleen and Seth were both back, a few maids were wheeling in carts of food for everyone. I woke the children so they could get some while it was still nice and warm.
Alaric and Adeline seemed most content with this food. I smiled, I wasn’t a good cook, but people worked for me who were. Adeline yawned widely her mouth still filled with eggs, she started chewing again happily.
The early night passed quickly, everyone eating breakfast, talking, joking, Alaric and Adeline were playing checkers. A hand rested on my shoulder and I looked up, I hadn’t realized Helena had come up behind me. She had been pacing for the better part of an hour but I hadn’t asked anything. I figured, in time, she would tell me. “May I speak with you for a moment?” She asked politely before adding, “privately?”
“Yes, of course,” I responded quickly getting to my feet. I could feel Viktor’s strong gaze on me as Helena and I walked out onto the balcony and shut the door behind us. “What is it?”
Helena was wringing her fingers, biting her bottom lip, her face looked tense like she was trying not to cry. She looked up to the sky, I could tell it wasn’t to admire the stars but to blink back tears. “I- I need your help,” she said after a long while.
I stayed silent waiting for her to continue, when she didn’t I spoke, “with what Helena?” I placed my hand on her arm and she brought her eyes down to me, they still glistened with tears.
“I suspect Markus told you of Bruce, and his... owning me.”
I frowned and nodded. Of course I remembered, how could I forget. How could anyone own her, someone so powerful. Then again I knew who the elder was and I shivered. He was capable of doing something so horrible.
“Only an elder can undo it.”
“Consider it undone.”
“Like the arrangement, it must be a public thing, like an announcement to everyone. I’ll have to be there, so will he.” Helena was shaking.
“He won’t hurt you,” I reassured. “They won’t let you,” my hand waved to the door where Night Children, Daylight Guardians sat. “I won’t let him.”
Helena looked over the balcony, “can I have a moment alone before I go back in?”
I nodded, “take as much time as you need,” I said rubbing her back before going back inside.
This time both Markus and Viktor were staring at me. Lukas was now back and stared at me as well for a quick moment before a yellow ball hit him in the head, he smiled and grabbed it rolling it back to Alaric.
I sat down, “Douglas,” Douglas looked up from his book to me. “I need to get Bruce to the square, can you do that.”
He nodded and rose to his feet, he put his book back on the shelf and left quickly. “So she asked,” Markus said with a sigh I could only put into the category of relief.
“Yes she did,” I responded staring at the wood doors that lead to the balcony. I wondered if the Night or Moon Children could hear her crying?
Markus seemed a little smug, Helena came back in fully composed. She looked at me with her big eyes, “you should look a little fancier than that.”
I smiled, “fine, fine.” I went to my closet and Helena and Alana were at my side quickly both of them giving fashion advice, “was there a course your mothers are suppose to teach you about fashion that I just missed out on.”
“Yes,” they both answered quickly.
I frowned, “of course there was.”
Once dressed appropriately, not just me, but everyone looked very formal, other than Lukas and my father. They were going to stay with Adeline and Alaric. I feared that there might be violence when I breath the arrangement and I didn’t want them there to witness it.
The back of my silver silk dress trailed on the floor behind me. Viktor in a suit took my arm and walked me down the stairs regally. I smiled over at him and he was smiling as he looked forward. I put my eyes back to the stairs considering my spiky shoes. If we should have this kind of happiness, so should Markus and Helena. There would be nothing, no one to stand in their way. I would make sure of it.
Outside the air was cool, but it hardly bothered me anymore. Colleen shivered on my other side and Seth put an arm around her shoulder pulling her into his warmer body. Damn they were cute together.
I walked over the square platform, Bruce was already there, Douglas standing tall near him. People were standing around wondering what was going on. More and more came out of their homes as they seen the precession of myself and my friends.
Viktor helped me up like a gentleman. I looked over my shoulder to Helena who looked nervous but Markus stood to the side, just a little in front of her. “Bruce?” I said calmly.
Bruce took his angered eyes from Markus and Helena and locked them onto me. “Yes, elder?”
“I revoke ownership of Helena from you,” whispers started in the crowd, there were shocked gasps.
Bruce looked pretty angry, Douglas was keeping a close eye on him, “really now?” Bruce asked his voice filled with venom as he stared at me, he took one step forward and black smoke swirled around Douglas’s hand, Viktor was in front of me in a millisecond snarling.
The crowd responded once more in gasps and whispers, some people covered their eyes or the eyes of their children. They could tell violence was not far off.
“Stay away from her, she no longer wants you around.”
Bruce looked to Helena, “you bitch.”
This time it was Markus who was snarling angrily and I looked to him hoping he would keep his temper under check. Helena touched his back and he stood tall once more and stopped the snapping startling sound that was ripping from his throat.
Bruce looked now to Markus, “you are a dead man.”
Markus looked cocky, “somehow I doubt you could kill me.”
People were starting to fret now, panic was sweeping the place. “Everyone back to your homes,” I said, “there is nothing more to see, this is over.”
Some people dispersed, others stayed. I walked over to Markus and touched his chest, I could feel the rumbling inside his chest, the anger he wished to release, “take Helena back to the house.”
Markus tore his eyes from Bruce and looked at me for a moment, he must have seen something in my eyes that kept him from arguing and he grabbed Helena’s hand carefully, “come on,” he looked to Bruce who was infuriated by Markus’s touching of Helena that smoke covered his hands and he dove.
Douglas grabbed his collar and pulled back, Bruce turned and swung, the black smog stinging as he punched Douglas with a heavy left hook. Douglas fell to the ground unconscious.
Markus froze looking back, I yelled at him, “get her inside.”
Viktor snarled and Griever stood in front of Viktor pushing him back, “you watch Evan,” Griever growled, “I got this jackass.” Viktor wasn’t use to being told what to do but he listened and came to my side holding me behind him.
“Honestly Viktor!” I said quietly as I watched Griever fight with Bruce, “I’m the one who should protect you.”
“If you truly believe that,” he responded never taking his eyes from the match, “you are seriously confused.” When Griever went down Alana rushed in and kicked Bruce back giving time for Griever to get back to his feet. “Seriously have your gender roles been completely broken?” He asked me with an eyebrow raise.
“If so does that make you a tiny bit gay?” I asked with a smirk.
He messed with my hair. We wouldn’t have been joking if we thought the fight wasn’t going to end the way we wanted. We really didn’t think Bruce had that much power. I looked over my shoulder seeing Markus and Helena still standing there watching the fight in awe or fear.
When I looked back Griever, Alana and Douglas laid motionless on the ground. Bruce was smiling as the smoke grew covering his arms.
When I awoke, I was no longer laying on Viktor’s chest. I had rolled over to my other side in my sleep. I could tell from the lack of warmth I was alone in bed, but I could hear Viktor talking quietly so I didn’t fret. I sat up and noticed the children were still sleeping, a smile flicked onto my lips. I wished every morning could be so easy.
My legs dangled from the bed as I sat upwards. Looking over to the living space I could see Viktor and Douglas talking. It was nice to see them getting along, especially after... all that unpleasantness.
I stood up and walked toward the bathroom, Viktor’s eyes latched on to me from the second I stood till I shut the door behind me. I felt a bit of a blush on my face as I ran water for a bath.
Once dressed, I braided my long hair back and walked out. It seemed most were waking up. Colleen and Seth were both back, a few maids were wheeling in carts of food for everyone. I woke the children so they could get some while it was still nice and warm.
Alaric and Adeline seemed most content with this food. I smiled, I wasn’t a good cook, but people worked for me who were. Adeline yawned widely her mouth still filled with eggs, she started chewing again happily.
The early night passed quickly, everyone eating breakfast, talking, joking, Alaric and Adeline were playing checkers. A hand rested on my shoulder and I looked up, I hadn’t realized Helena had come up behind me. She had been pacing for the better part of an hour but I hadn’t asked anything. I figured, in time, she would tell me. “May I speak with you for a moment?” She asked politely before adding, “privately?”
“Yes, of course,” I responded quickly getting to my feet. I could feel Viktor’s strong gaze on me as Helena and I walked out onto the balcony and shut the door behind us. “What is it?”
Helena was wringing her fingers, biting her bottom lip, her face looked tense like she was trying not to cry. She looked up to the sky, I could tell it wasn’t to admire the stars but to blink back tears. “I- I need your help,” she said after a long while.
I stayed silent waiting for her to continue, when she didn’t I spoke, “with what Helena?” I placed my hand on her arm and she brought her eyes down to me, they still glistened with tears.
“I suspect Markus told you of Bruce, and his... owning me.”
I frowned and nodded. Of course I remembered, how could I forget. How could anyone own her, someone so powerful. Then again I knew who the elder was and I shivered. He was capable of doing something so horrible.
“Only an elder can undo it.”
“Consider it undone.”
“Like the arrangement, it must be a public thing, like an announcement to everyone. I’ll have to be there, so will he.” Helena was shaking.
“He won’t hurt you,” I reassured. “They won’t let you,” my hand waved to the door where Night Children, Daylight Guardians sat. “I won’t let him.”
Helena looked over the balcony, “can I have a moment alone before I go back in?”
I nodded, “take as much time as you need,” I said rubbing her back before going back inside.
This time both Markus and Viktor were staring at me. Lukas was now back and stared at me as well for a quick moment before a yellow ball hit him in the head, he smiled and grabbed it rolling it back to Alaric.
I sat down, “Douglas,” Douglas looked up from his book to me. “I need to get Bruce to the square, can you do that.”
He nodded and rose to his feet, he put his book back on the shelf and left quickly. “So she asked,” Markus said with a sigh I could only put into the category of relief.
“Yes she did,” I responded staring at the wood doors that lead to the balcony. I wondered if the Night or Moon Children could hear her crying?
Markus seemed a little smug, Helena came back in fully composed. She looked at me with her big eyes, “you should look a little fancier than that.”
I smiled, “fine, fine.” I went to my closet and Helena and Alana were at my side quickly both of them giving fashion advice, “was there a course your mothers are suppose to teach you about fashion that I just missed out on.”
“Yes,” they both answered quickly.
I frowned, “of course there was.”
Once dressed appropriately, not just me, but everyone looked very formal, other than Lukas and my father. They were going to stay with Adeline and Alaric. I feared that there might be violence when I breath the arrangement and I didn’t want them there to witness it.
The back of my silver silk dress trailed on the floor behind me. Viktor in a suit took my arm and walked me down the stairs regally. I smiled over at him and he was smiling as he looked forward. I put my eyes back to the stairs considering my spiky shoes. If we should have this kind of happiness, so should Markus and Helena. There would be nothing, no one to stand in their way. I would make sure of it.
Outside the air was cool, but it hardly bothered me anymore. Colleen shivered on my other side and Seth put an arm around her shoulder pulling her into his warmer body. Damn they were cute together.
I walked over the square platform, Bruce was already there, Douglas standing tall near him. People were standing around wondering what was going on. More and more came out of their homes as they seen the precession of myself and my friends.
Viktor helped me up like a gentleman. I looked over my shoulder to Helena who looked nervous but Markus stood to the side, just a little in front of her. “Bruce?” I said calmly.
Bruce took his angered eyes from Markus and Helena and locked them onto me. “Yes, elder?”
“I revoke ownership of Helena from you,” whispers started in the crowd, there were shocked gasps.
Bruce looked pretty angry, Douglas was keeping a close eye on him, “really now?” Bruce asked his voice filled with venom as he stared at me, he took one step forward and black smoke swirled around Douglas’s hand, Viktor was in front of me in a millisecond snarling.
The crowd responded once more in gasps and whispers, some people covered their eyes or the eyes of their children. They could tell violence was not far off.
“Stay away from her, she no longer wants you around.”
Bruce looked to Helena, “you bitch.”
This time it was Markus who was snarling angrily and I looked to him hoping he would keep his temper under check. Helena touched his back and he stood tall once more and stopped the snapping startling sound that was ripping from his throat.
Bruce looked now to Markus, “you are a dead man.”
Markus looked cocky, “somehow I doubt you could kill me.”
People were starting to fret now, panic was sweeping the place. “Everyone back to your homes,” I said, “there is nothing more to see, this is over.”
Some people dispersed, others stayed. I walked over to Markus and touched his chest, I could feel the rumbling inside his chest, the anger he wished to release, “take Helena back to the house.”
Markus tore his eyes from Bruce and looked at me for a moment, he must have seen something in my eyes that kept him from arguing and he grabbed Helena’s hand carefully, “come on,” he looked to Bruce who was infuriated by Markus’s touching of Helena that smoke covered his hands and he dove.
Douglas grabbed his collar and pulled back, Bruce turned and swung, the black smog stinging as he punched Douglas with a heavy left hook. Douglas fell to the ground unconscious.
Markus froze looking back, I yelled at him, “get her inside.”
Viktor snarled and Griever stood in front of Viktor pushing him back, “you watch Evan,” Griever growled, “I got this jackass.” Viktor wasn’t use to being told what to do but he listened and came to my side holding me behind him.
“Honestly Viktor!” I said quietly as I watched Griever fight with Bruce, “I’m the one who should protect you.”
“If you truly believe that,” he responded never taking his eyes from the match, “you are seriously confused.” When Griever went down Alana rushed in and kicked Bruce back giving time for Griever to get back to his feet. “Seriously have your gender roles been completely broken?” He asked me with an eyebrow raise.
“If so does that make you a tiny bit gay?” I asked with a smirk.
He messed with my hair. We wouldn’t have been joking if we thought the fight wasn’t going to end the way we wanted. We really didn’t think Bruce had that much power. I looked over my shoulder seeing Markus and Helena still standing there watching the fight in awe or fear.
When I looked back Griever, Alana and Douglas laid motionless on the ground. Bruce was smiling as the smoke grew covering his arms.