The Monster and the Maiden: Ch. 05, Part II
October 20th, 2008
"How do you explain the fact that you have not aged at all? It's been fifteen years. You should be at least in your late thirties."
So, there it was. His house had not been the object of her curiosity or, at least, not the only object. He supposed he should have been flattered, but he was not about to reveal any of his secrets to this woman he barely knew no matter how attracted he was to her, especially since her curiosity seemed academic. Not to mention, if she did find out what he was, how could she consider him anything but a monster. He shied away from the very thought that she might think of him in that way.
"I am thirty-seven, actually," he said. "I simply have good genes. My mother always looked younger than her real age too."
The tendrils of brunette hair that framed her face alternately whipped her cheeks as she shook her head. "It's not that you just look young for your age, Edmond, it's that you look identical to how I remember you."
He longed to reach out and tuck back the strand of hair that had gotten caught in her lipgloss when she had shaken her head. Would her skin feel as soft under his trailing fingertips as it looked to his eyes? Instead, he folded his arms across his chest so that his hands would not be tempted to act without his permission. "I am not sure whether to be flattered or insulted. I either looked very old back then or I look amazingly youthful now."
With an air of casual efficiency that spoke of long habit, she hooked her finger around the stray strand of hair that he longed to touch and released it from its glossy trap. "So, you are saying I just imagined it then?" she asked, disbelief in her voice.
"I could not say," he answered in a coolly impersonal tone while inside he berated himself for making her doubt memories. Her sense of observation was keen though. Indeed, he had not physically aged in all these years—just one of the many side-effects of his curse.
Her aura, which had been a subtle shimmer of calming white noise at the edge of his perception, seemed to contract until he was no longer aware of it. Its sudden absence left him bereft. Her eyes strayed to his mouth again. "What about your fangs then? You aren't going to tell me I was imagining those too."
"Fangs?" He laughed and hoped it did not sound as forced to her as did to him. "Does it look like I have fangs?" He bared his teeth at her, displaying his straight white teeth. "It sounds like you have built me into quite the mythical creature over the years. A vampire even?"
"No, of course not, it's just…" Her brow knitted in confusion. "I know I'm not misremembering this."
"It was a long time ago." Please, drop it, Emily, he pleaded with her in his mind.
22 Responses to “The Monster and the Maiden: Ch. 05, Part II”
October 20th, 2008 at 6:57 am
*drools profusely* Rawr, Edmond is so freaking hot. I feel bad for him now that's he's found out that Emily is engaged.
October 20th, 2008 at 7:47 am
Look at this. I stop reading for a bit to come back and have my heart aching for poor Edmond. You are truly amazing, Kara. I can't state it enough! Your Sims, the settings, the pics. The stories! Oh egads, this is like my personal internet soap opera. Every chapter leaves me yearning for MOAR!!
Emily's grown up gorgeously! I simply must know where you got her outfit. :XO: And Emond…. *purrr* Oooh Edmond… He just tugs at my heart strings. Devour him? Pity him? I just don't know what to do anymore! LOL, I love you, Kara!! :up:
October 20th, 2008 at 8:01 am
Edmond, Edmond, Edmond…..Can you just grab Emily, kiss her and live happily ever after!? But I know life is never that simple. Another great update.
October 20th, 2008 at 10:12 am
October 20th, 2008 at 10:27 am
😳 Aww poor Edmond, I was hoping he would get a little something out of Emily…must all Shadowtalons play hard to get lol. I have a feeling Emily's husband is Bobby Campbell, the dude who dared her to go to Edmonds house. Im probably way off aren't 😡 . Im annoyed with Emily though, coming there just for business matters and not to give good ol' Edmond a nice visit. Good Update Kara. Hug Edmond for me though, :XO: please? *hug*.
October 20th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Wait…what? No! 😕 Poor old Edmond – he didn't get any sweet, sweet vampire-y loving. Dang it.
I have to say I didn't expect that, but it's keeping me on tenterhooks. I really can't wait to find out what happens next (IF anything like "that" happens, eh?).
But Emily's diary entry in the teaser has me interested. I wonder why she thought that? Maybe she was hoping something would happen, too… After all, she did hesitate a bit when she went out the door. And the tone of her writing definitely seems a bit disappointed. 😉
Grr, damn her and her fiance! We all want some vampire loving!
October 20th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
I think Emily and I are identical in what in having interests in paranormal activities, lol! ,I watch Ghost hunters too, that's one of my favorites shows :P.
Kara you killed me with Emily engaged, poor Edmon…but oh well…life is full of surprises 😛
October 20th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Pauvre Edmond!!!!!!
Once again, a lovely installment. So much envy of your talent!
October 20th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Oh, come on, Edmond. Don't blame your attraction to her on her "aura". She's hot, okay? Accept it. Then kiss her. Often, and with great zeal.
October 20th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
Poor dear Edmond.
Great update, Kara. As usual I love your photos because they compliment your storytelling so well. Beautiful work.
October 21st, 2008 at 2:31 pm
The more I stare at her, the more Emily looks like her father, and she's absolutely beautiful. I don't blame Edmond for his infatuation at all, and I commend him for his self control. I do hope that Emily had ulterior motives for her visit outside of wanting to check up on the paranormality of Edmond and his household. Motives that will hopefully bring her back to his doorstep ;).
Wonderful update, as always! And the outtakes are indescribably hot.
October 21st, 2008 at 4:50 pm
good chapter, & I love the first photo you had in your possible headers, it was REALLY REALLY nice. :XO:
I just love edmond, he's soooo hot and I adore his hair. =P.
October 22nd, 2008 at 12:16 pm
I really enjoyed the interaction between Emily and Edmond. I think the slight unintentional adversarial tone is electric. 😉 I'm looking forward to what more will happen between them!
October 22nd, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Oh Edmond just kiss the girl for heaven's sake! You know you want to…
This was yet another wonderful update. Emily is one smart cookie…she is going to figure him out soon enough. And she is engaged? That was a surprise…
Your writing is always so masterful and the images are total perfection.
October 22nd, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Looking at Emily's diary entry, I'd say she feels the same as Edmond.
BUT, maybe you just want us to feel that, and in reality, she's just referring to her thoughts of him being a vampire, which he rejected.
I can't believe she's getting married! When did she find time to get engaged? Didn't she live her whole teen years yearning after that smexy thing we call Edmond? I know I would. I wouldn't even care that he was 30-something.
October 22nd, 2008 at 10:18 pm
Oh poor Edmond. I feel truly sad for him, here he finds the one person he can care for and she is engaged. 80) Still I cant help but feel she had more reasons than to just check out his paranormal house. lol! Possibly she is looking for a reason to end the engagement, or possibly it was just a ruse to get under his skin.
Still silly man, he really should have gone after her and how nice she knows about the wards. Ha take that you secretive guy, I am sure she will figure him out eventually.
Great update, I am on edge for the next. 80)
October 24th, 2008 at 8:02 am
Oh, I never expected Emily to already be engaged! You can't imagine the shock I felt! But you did make me happy with that statement of hers though… If she's engaged to someone (and if you're not planning on making her leave that person) then there's room (at least in my brain) to think of other partners for Edmond.
RAFE…!!! Where's that load of hunk-licious of a man?! 😮
And let's not forget the twins either! Where my twinies?! Hehehe.
October 26th, 2008 at 8:26 am
November 1st, 2008 at 10:02 pm
Hopefully, Emily's outfit that's now up for download will tide you over until the next chapter is released.
Nope! NEED MOAR!
It's truly sad how much I look forward to story updates. I agree with Decoral. The banter between Emily and Edmund is slightly adversarial, but still pleasant. And even though she's engaged, she's just indulging an old fantasy.
Harmless stuff…. aheh…. <..> *cough* 👿
July 21st, 2009 at 6:18 am
HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT! I just love that latex suit. I used to have it on my computer, but I accidentally deleted it… Could you maybe tell me where it's from? 🙂
July 22nd, 2009 at 7:58 am
July 28th, 2009 at 4:39 am
thanks 😀 btw I can't wait for the next chapter.