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Fifty-One - Vanadine
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2024-11-11 17:15:41Related chapters
Shadows Of The Heart One - Vanadine
A cool wind ruffled the shadow’s mid length hair as he stared down at the soup of humanity. Four storeys below him the city of Bichester spread away in an urban sprawl. Perched above the lights that illuminated everything with a sickly, yellow hue, he was invisible to all, even if they happened to look up at the bank’s Victorian edifice.Vanadine watched as large groups passed below him, laughing and yelling, pushing and playing. Due to his exile, Vanadine felt an intense jealousy for these people and their lives, envious of something he could never be a part of. The anger began to descend over him at the unfairness of his life, darkening his thoughts and he moved along the narrow, sandstone ledge, the face dirtied by traffic fumes, with an agility and grace that belied his size.He leaped across from the bank to another building, this one brick and slithered up an iron drainpipe that probably removed sewage from the toilets within. On the roof, he slipped through the shadows as if he
Shadows Of The Heart Two - Carine
Staring at the two disgusting men before her, Carine felt a chill run up her spine and across her scalp when the younger one had said about cutting things. Even so there was no way she was about to give these two the satisfaction of dancing for them. They would do what they would do and nothing she did, no sordid act, was going to change her destiny. They were brutal rapists who liked to pick on the vulnerable and weak.Let’s just see how weak I really am. She thought. I’ll scratch eyes and bite faces before they make me submit.While her conscience felt this way, Carine felt the shiver and tremble across her body, the ice crystals forming in her guts and the tightness in her chest and throat when she tried to breathe.How did this happen? How did I end up in this situation?The night had started perfectly, a few drinks and light snacks with some of the animal shelter workers and a few of their sponsors. She had been charming and polite, helping to raise money and awareness of the she
Shadows Of The Heart Three - Vanadine
Darkness swam through his mind as he fought for control of the raging madness that sought to overtake him. It had been her voice, her plea, that had stopped him from choking Hann until his heart stopped. Even so Vanadine thought there might be some permanent brain damage and a savage joy thrilled up through him. His thoughts turned to the woman and how easily he could end her life. Ten different scenarios played across his psyche as he gripped the concrete upright, his fingers aching. Yet the pain and discomfort grounded him, allowed the darkness to abate and his human side reasserted itself, bringing a calm and banishing the chaos.The intensity of his emotions drained him and he slowly let go of the concrete pillar, noticing the cracks radiating from where he had gripped it so hard. Now in control of himself once more, Vanadine knew he had to get away, protect this innocent woman from what he was. Yet as he turned to see her, shivering and in a heap, clothing tattered and face bruis
Shadows Of The Heart Four - Carine
Footsteps echoed in the concrete tomb as she followed the stranger up the steps and into the darkness.Why can I only hear mine? She wondered as she ran a hand along the rough wall due to the blackness being all consuming. She walked into something hard and warm, squeaking at the surprise before she realised it was him.“Vanadine,” he said.“What?” Carine asked in confusion.“My name,” he mumbled. “It’s Vanadine.”“Oh, pleased to meet you,” she said, hearing the tremble in her own voice. “I’m Carine,” she added. “Um, where are we?”“Inside a derelict hospital or clinic,” Vanadine stated the obvious.“Yeah…” Carine said. “But where are we in relation to the exit?”“Not far,” Vanadine said, his voice devoid of any inflection or emotion. “Follow me,” he told her.“Well I would but I can’t see anything,” Carine said, inhaling the warm scent that wafted from him.A mix of the clothing he wore and something undefinable she was drawn to on a primitive level, Carine smelled no artificial scen
Shadows Of The Heart Five - Vanadine
Sickened by his loss of control in the hospital cellar, Vanadine swept through the night towards one of the thins, an area where his world met the human world. There were a few such places he knew of but the closest was in a park a mile or so away. Few people were out at this hour so he risked taking the streets, running along at an inhuman pace and pausing as soon as he saw someone. He hopped over the fence and headed into the darkness again, taking comfort and solace in the shadows.Tearing himself away from Carine had been the hardest thing he had been forced to do in years and Vanadine was surprised at the hollow that grew in his chest when he thought of her face.So small and helpless. He thought. Maybe I should go and see if she is all right.No! another part of his snapped. You know what you are and that is a threat to her. Stay away, stick to the shadows and remain alone for her sake.Vanadine knew his conscience was correct. Carine would be at risk if he was near her and stay
Shadows Of The Heart Six - Carine
Returning home she had showered and changed, throwing her torn and ruined clothes away but keeping Vanadine’s coat. She examined it, finding nothing in the pockets and not even a label to say where it had been made. Yet she could tell from the weave and stitching it was a quality garment and probably expensive. With Laura still out, Carine lay on her bed and covered herself with the coat, trying to get some sleep. Yet despite the comfort and safety she gained from his scent surrounding her and the soft touch of the cloth, every time she closed her eyes all she saw was the grinning, leering faces of Glenn and Hann, ready to grab her again.She woke with a start, a scream on her lips as something grabbed her leg. Thrashing and fighting against the bedclothes and coat, she kicked and grunted, mewling sounds escaping her throat as she tried to escape. When her eyes opened and she saw the lamp beside her bed was on, she looked down to see the bed was undisturbed and the coat lay over her l
Shadows Of The Heart Seven - Vanadine
Muscles straining against the invisible bonds that rooted him in place, Vanadine felt the darkness begin to creep in. Anger and rage at his captivity seemed to develop thoughts of their own, driving him to lash out and maim.Who does this mongrel halfbreed think she is to bind us like this? Burn her alive! Tear out her heart! Kill this bitch in the worst of ways and let all know we are not to be challenged.Vanadine closed his eyes, concentrating on his human side, embracing the lighter, more forgiving aspect of his psyche.This is why you can never be with someone like Carine. His mind said. One slip and she would be dead. One tiny misstep and you would be watching her life force drain out onto the ground.Thoughts of Carine, her beauty and vulnerability, pushed the darkness aside a little and his thinking cleared as he watched the twisted horror of his former friend come into view before him.“I will have you, Vanadine, willingly or under duress but either way you will be mine!”The
Shadows Of The Heart Eight - Carine
Knees up, with arms wrapped around them and her head buried in those, Carine had her back to the door as she sobbed.I’ve fucked it now! She berated herself. And I took it out on Paul. He’s not the type to rape and assault so why did I shout at him?“Uh...Carine?” A voice came through the door. “It’s Laura, can I come in? Are you all right?”No. I’m not all right. What do you think, I screamed at him for fun?Despite feeling safe, cocooned inside the office, Carine knew she could not stay there forever and would have to emerge at some point. Slowly she dragged herself up and peered through the glass panel in the door. Only Laura stood there and she was grateful no one else was rubbernecking behind her. She opened it a fraction before retreating like the abused dog had done earlier.Laura entered and shut the door again, turning to look at Carine.“Don’t,” Carine muttered as she wiped her eyes.“Don’t what?” Laura asked, puzzled.“Don’t look at me with that face,” Carine said.“Okay, t
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Shadows Of The Heart Fifty-One - Vanadine
They had moved under cover of darkness, walking silently along quiet passageways and hiding in empty rooms when the occasional night worker headed their way. Vanadine was unaware of their destination as Horann led them while Marrin made sure any room they entered was unoccupied. The four of them had been forced to turn back several times in order to avoid servants or guards performing their tasks.Eventually Vanadine followed Horann down into the lowest level before they would be back in the carved tunnels, heading towards an area that was part corridor, part living space. A single, old elf lay on a straw mattress, several personal items surrounding him. A chair and table had been placed against the wall, a single lamp burning low to provide light.Horann turned and gestured for them to wait and Vanadine watched as she crept over to the sleeping elf and casually strangled him into unconsciousness. He glanced at Carine to gauge her reaction but she did not seem bothered by the act at a
Shadows Of The Heart Chapter Fifty - Carine
She could feel the rough texture of his skin as she held his hands to her temples. Her breathing and heartbeat quickened in anticipation and fright.Is this going to hurt? Am I going to die?If you do it’s better that it’s Vanadine who will be the one to end you and not those fuckers on the Council.Carine swallowed as Vanadine began speaking strange words, his eyes closing as he prepared to drain her life force.What the fuck am I doing? She thought desperately.Thought was impossible then as a deep sucking sensation tugged at her brain. It felt pleasant to begin with but as the process continued it started to become uncomfortable and then downright horrific. Her vision faded, as if a mist had formed around her, deepening into a fog as she stared at Vanadine. His eyes were closed, his face relaxed as he sucked the life from her as if he had not a care in the world. A thought flickered across her mind...mistake...Yet it was lost in the maelstrom of exhaustion and overwhelming weakne
Shadows Of The Heart Forty-Nine - Vanadine
The two halves of him, only recently united, seemed to split once more.There’s no way you can even consider this. One part said. This is Carine we’re talking about here. What’s it going to do to you if you kill her?Yeah, but if you don’t do it and she dies anyway, how’s that going to make you feel? Knowing there was something you could have done and didn’t out of fear?The thoughts swirled inside his head as he recalled the first and only time he had used this power.***The fight had been brutal. Horann had picked a better known establishment this time, the Gilded Knave being frequented by slightly more affluent patrons than the dives she usually picked.It had been a shock to Vanadine when the fight broke out as she had led him to believe they were simply there for drinks and a meal. Horann had drifted over to the bar, elves watching her ass as she swayed through the crowd. Vanadine had continued his simple meal until he had heard the shouting..When he saw some of the elves pulli
Shadows Of The Heart Forty-Eight - Carine
Oh, fucking what now? She moaned in her mind as she heard the words Horann said.“There is increased activity among the guards, they are searching the citadel. It will only be a matter of time before they descend down here.”“They must know you have escaped,” Marrin said in a timid voice.“That was my assumption,” Horann agreed.“So what are we going to do?” Carine asked, nervously. “Vanadine can’t go anywhere and there’s no way we can fight off guards.”“Unless you have an army,” Horann said.“Actually…” Carine said after a few minutes thought.A groan came from Vanadine as he struggled up to sit against the wall, panting, pale and with a sheen of sweat covering him.“Van…” Carine began.With a massive effort of will and an obvious amount of pain, she watched in anguish as he got his legs under himself and tried to stand. Carine rushed to his side and placed one of his arms over her shoulder, helping him take some of the weight. He stood there, panting with his eyes squeezed shut, a
Shadows Of The Heart Forty-Seven - Vanadine
Guilt ate at him as he relayed his tale to Carine. She was overjoyed to hear Laura was all right but concern clouded her face when she heard about Tony, Tommy and the bomb.“You could have been killed,” she said without malice or accusation.“There was no other way to get through the thin without getting caught,” he said sadly. “I hate that I had to kill so many but there wasn’t much time to get to you before…” He looked away, unwilling to see her face when he asked his next question. “Did anyone..?”“No, babe,” Carine said. “Adnanter would have if Marrin hadn’t helped me escape but no, it was all threats.”“You said he saw you naked,” Vanadine said with anger and misery swelling in his chest.“Yeah but I didn’t think there was any kind of attraction there,” Carine said, pressing herself more tightly against him. “It would be a means to an end with him. He looked at me like I was less than, if that makes sense. Like an animal, cattle. He would have used me but I doubt there would have
Shadows Of The Heart Forty-Six - Carine
His scream caused her actual pain as it ripped at her ears, making her squat against the wall and sob, rocking. Halfway through, his second scream cut off abruptly, leaving a ringing in her ears. Carine stood and peered into the room but was unable to see much past the twisted form of Horann who was still burning him.“It’s enough!” She cried.“It is not,” Horann said, blowing on the end of the stick again before pressing it against his flesh. “I must get all the infected flesh or we will be back in the same situation in a few days.While she could see the sense in that it did not mitigate the fact Horann was essentially mutilating the man she loved and a mixture of hate and acceptance gripped her.She cause this in the first place! She thought.Did she? Or was it the three council fuckers? Are they the ones you should be hating?She was spared the sight and sound of the process but the smell was another thing entirely. A deep, cloying odour filled her nostrils, a combination of burni
Shadows Of The Heart Forty-Five - Vanadine
The voices were incessant. Hitting the edge of his consciousness but not fully audible. Two were hauntingly familiar, the third alien to his ears. He was laid on something hard and rough, something light covering him and warmth coming from his left. He slept.“Carine!” He screamed, jerking awake.The room was almost completely dark and he was alone. Pain began, throbbing from his belly outward to consume his mind and a low groan rumbled from his chest.Am I drunk? Have I been drugged? He wondered as he lay there, unable to move.Weakness unlike anything he had felt before gripped him, making muscles ache with the smallest of movements. Confused and scared, Vanadine lay alone in the darkness until sleep took him again.When he next woke he felt the presence of someone else near him.Friend or enemy? He wondered.Even if it’s an enemy, you’re too weak to do anything about it.He supposed that was right and so simply cracked one eye open. The firelight cast long shadows but was able to s
Shadows Of The Heart Forty-Four - Carine
Hot tears fell from her eyes as she looked into the small room. There was a sweet but heavy smell in the air and Carine knew it was infection from treating dogs with a similar smell at work.Jesus! Work. It feels like years since I was there.Vanadine lay against one wall, looking shrunken and small. The clothing that remained was torn and filthy, covered in blood, sweat and pus. A red, puckered wound rose from his abdomen, the flesh angry and raised, with a dirty, yellow discharge issuing from it. His features looked smaller, thinner and even his muscles looked more defined where his body had used every reserve it had to try and keep him alive.“What the fuck happened to him?” She asked of no one in particular.“I have been unable to speak to him much,” Horann replied. “The wound in his belly is from our fight in the Council chamber but these others were given to him by an animal outside. Other than that I am unsure what has befallen him.”“It looks as if he’s dying,” Carine moaned a
Shadows Of The Heart Forty-Three - Vanadine
Gentle rocking woke him, the action making his belly ache where the infection had made it swollen and hot. Knives of pain made it feel as if his skin was ripping and a low moan escaped his lips as he slipped to one side, laying on the cool granite.“Vanadine?”He opened his eyes a fraction, staring up into her twisted features.“Horann?” He asked thickly. “I should have detected your scent.”“You do not appear to be well enough for such,” Horann growled back.“Where’s the girl?” He asked.“Girl? I have seen no girl,” Horann said, sniffing the air. “There is a faint scent but long gone.”“No,” Vanadine said, his mind puzzled. “Just here.”“You are ill, Vanadine,” Horann said. “I can smell the infection from here,” she added.“Yeah, thanks for that,” Vanadine said with a grin.“We were trying to kill each other at the time,” Horann said, moving alongside him to sniff at his body.“This is deep,” she said. “The wound needs cleaning and draining. “This was not me,” she said, looking at th
