The Monster and the Maiden: Ch. 02
January 28th, 2008
Note: This is a Worlds Apart Alternate Universe story.
As Edmond flipped another musty page of the spell book he was studying, he thought that the old house had never seemed so quiet and empty. Perhaps it was time to make some friends in Mission Bay. With a swift shake of his head he quickly nixed that idea.
No, he thought as he got up and placed the book back on the shelf, there were just too many complications implicit there. He did not want to start a friendship with anyone that he could not be totally truthful with and somehow he thought telling a person that he sucked blood for sustenance might put a damper on whatever attachment he managed to make with him or her.
Even if he hastened to assure them that they were safe from him ("oh, but I will not suck your blood!"), he could imagine them either being terrified and disgusted ("stay away from me, you demon spawn!") or even insulted ("my blood isn't good enough for you?"). Then there was always the danger that one of those so-called friends might turn him into the authorities for preying on the citizens of the Greater Seattle area.
It would be much easier—and safer—to hold himself aloof for the time being. He would just have to content himself with calling Rafe when the loneliness became unbearable.
Massaging his temples to ease the low-throbbing headache that had started, he turned back to look at the books that still awaited him. Spell books and grimoires that he had hunted down over the internet and in used bookstores were littered over his work table, strewn about the various shelves that lined the room, and clumped into haphazard piles on the floor.
He had slowly been working his way through these books for a year now but had still not found the counter-curse that would return him to a normal human. If he had to search them all, he was afraid it would take him years. It was discouraging, yes, but he was positive that he would find what he was looking for someday—if not in these texts than in others that he had not examined yet. A new shipment of grimoires was due in any day now from an obscure black magic shop that he had found on the internet, perhaps his salvation would be in one of those.
He just had to remind himself to be patient. It was a theory, of course, but he was almost positive he was immortal now, based on the fact that his suicide attempt shortly after being turned into the being he was now had failed miserably—the skin on his wrists had heeled as soon as he had made the deep cuts with the ritual knife he had been presented with upon first becoming Koryll's apprentice.
At the time, the only way he knew he had even made the cuts were the thin lines of fresh blood that stained his wrists. There had not even been any scars to hint at his past transgression. He was immensely glad he did not have any physical reminders of his suicide attempt. It had been a weak-willed solution to his problem and he was ashamed that he had even tried it.
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15 Responses to “The Monster and the Maiden: Ch. 02”
January 28th, 2008 at 7:26 am
Argh! Cliff hanger ending, or more precisely ladder hanging! Poor Edmond's really at war with himself isn't he – wanting to make new friends but knowing that things would likely turn out badly if he told them about his curse (or if they found out some other way) 🙁 And I wonder who his visitor will be, the maiden perhaps …? It's very interesting that whoever it is, he or she made his wards react differently. It seems to suggest that the visitor is friendly, even though the reaction was different from that produce when Rafe visited. Or of course it's just meant to make Edmond – and us – think that it's someone friendly. It could really be someone who knows how to fool the wards …. Can't wait to find out 🙂
*puts parachute on and sits on edge of cliff*
January 28th, 2008 at 8:46 am
Oh poops, I hate cliffhangers. Bah, humbug!
I'm really feeling sorry for Edmond now – but not that sorry; let me tell you, I rubbed my neck a LOT when I was reading this, lol – and I hope this visitor is friendly. Well, even if it's not; at least it makes him feel good! Though that does make me think – maybe it's an evil person in disguise? Or maybe it's another vampire?
I love the sets, by the way. They are all so beautiful and elegant – very French, in a way, but also really vampire-y. Stunning.
I'll be looking forward to the next update! 😀
January 28th, 2008 at 9:02 am
Ahhhh, even Edmond has irrational fears! And vampire or not, he can still enjoy a sandwich. He should be thankful for that, at least. 😉
Is there a woman waiting at the top of that ladder? Hmm, hmm…
January 28th, 2008 at 9:42 am
January 28th, 2008 at 10:20 am
omg, I can't wait to see who it is…another perfectly done chapter kara:)
January 28th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
me again….I think the visitor is a female….yeps!
January 28th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
well, the visitor better be me. . .and we better engage in something starting with S and ends with an X.
January 28th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
January 29th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Who is this guest ? To be continued on the next episode ^^
I want to know ! What suspense !
Ps : Sorry if I made mistakes, but I usually speek French.
January 29th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
A vampire that eats a sandwich? I wonder if he eats meusli in the morning too so he does crave blood as much until lunch! Im really curious as to who is at that door, you got me rattling in my chait till next monday *FINGERS CROSSED IT'S WOMAN* lani totally read my mind on what i was gonna say next!:lol:
Another superb chapter Kara 🙂
January 30th, 2008 at 8:43 am
January 31st, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Despite his worries, poor boy does need to get out a bit more. Or maybe not, since he does have someone new and kind of tingly waiting at his door.
February 1st, 2008 at 10:52 pm
Waaa…. you leave it at that cliffhanger you evil woman you. I'm going to guess it's a woman but who knows? I loved your attention to detail in the set- it looked very realistic and ancient.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
I am on pins and needles about who the mystery stranger is. I loved this insight into Edmond's thoughts, his reflections and sense of determination in trying to discover a cure for his vampirism.
Another great update as usual.
I'm hooked.
September 28th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
Edmond is fabulous. i love cliffhangers, as one could tell by my own stories haha.