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Ten - Carine
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Shadows Of The Heart Eleven - Vanadine
Perched atop the roof of the Daniel Colefax rescue centre, his dark outline melding seamlessly with the night around him, Vanadine peered carefully in through the roof light, the slanted window offering him a view of the interior.Carine sat hunched over some paperwork she was writing something on, moving the occasional sheet to another stack. One hand braced her head, her delicate fingers cupping her chin as her ringlets of hair hung down like a curtain. Vanadine felt a smile cross his face as he saw her tapping one finger on her cheek occasionally as she concentrated. The sounds of some evening radio show filtered up to his sensitive ears. One of the dogs barked, setting off a flurry of yaps and barks that dissipated into the darkness. His eyes drifted to the back of her chair where he saw she had hung his coat and feeling of needy warmth spread through him at the thought of her small frame wrapped in his old coat.Desire crashed through Vanadine as he watched her processing the mun
Shadows Of The Heart Twelve - Carine
Huddled in the toilet, Carine braced the door with her back as she relived the event that had forced her to hide here.In the middle of assessing some applicants who wanted to adopt dogs she had stretched, her aching back.Poor posture. She had thought.The face that had been staring down at her from the roof had terrified her, her intestines going cold as they seized up. Fingers of ice had trailed down the inside of her ribs, clamping around her heart and squeezing until she thought it would stop. Without looking again she had bolted for the toilet, slamming the door and locking it before sliding down it and hugging her knees.It’s Hann or Glenn come to finish the job! Her mind screamed.It can’t be. A more rational part told her. They don’t know where you work and Vanadine made sure they were out of action for a long time. How would they even get up there? You imagined it because of the stress and being here alone at night.Despite the soothing words her mind offered, Carine knew sh
Shadows Of The Heart Thirteen - Vanadine
Nerves jangled as he sat in the taxi. His proximity to her was driving him insane with the need to touch her, to hold her and never let go. Yet the more rational part of him still overrode his needs, constantly reminding him he was dangerous, his darker side just seconds from being free at any point. Even so he could feel the darkness had abated, retreated farther back into his psyche and a hope sprung up in him.Might it be because of her? He wondered as lights flashed into his eyes. Could it be that being near her forces the darkness back?Wishful thinking. Another part of him said. That is what you wish to believe, therefore that is why you feel the darkness has retreated.Vanadine tried to ignore the savage voice as they took the turn towards the centre, the darkness almost swallowing everything but what the headlights revealed.“Thirty quid, gov,” the driver said when they reached the building.Vanadine handed him some notes without counting and opened the door.“Hold up, mate, y
Shadows Of The Heart Fourteen - Horann
Black rage had driven her onwards and her twisted claws drove her towards the thin Vanadine had disappeared into.Do that to me!? She had raged inside her shattered mind. I will kill you whether in the human world or Elaris!Talons had dug into the soft grass on the far side of the thin and her vision adapted rapidly enough to see Vanadine slip from one shadow to the next. What had once been a hand but was now a clawed paw of a thing, lashed out, sending a psychic tag to attach to Vanadine. Her power failed and she ground her fangs in annoyance.No magic here? What a pathetic excuse for a world! She had thought disdainfully as she had set off after him.Dropping to all four limbs like some twisted animal, Horann reached the edge of the park and watched as Vanadine scaled the facade of a building across the street as if he was on a stroll. Horann matched his grace, heading for the opposite side of the street they were on.Do not approach too closely, he is still strong. Her mind warned
Shadows Of The Heart Fifteen - Carine
He is insane. Carine thought with a stab of sadness. I thought he was a little quirky but this..? And I can see he believes it utterly. He actually believes he’s a dark Elf from another world.Misery spread through her tempered by a heavy dose of pity for him. She had read stories about people who believed they were different, believed they were superheroes or advanced in some way. The human brain could convince itself of almost anything under the right conditions. A slight chemical imbalance and people were seeing fairies or thought they could wrestle tigers.But this?“I said you would not believe me. I said you would think me mad if I told you,” Vanadine said in a sad voice.“It’s not that,” Carine said carefully, not wanting to upset him. “It’s just a lot to take in,” she added gently.Now what? I can hardly say I believe him but we’re here alone and no one knows where I am, if he decides to attack me they’ll just find my corpse ripped and bloody.Don’t be so dramatic! Her mind sn
Shadows Of The Heart Sixteen - Vanadine
Carine was silent as he escorted her to her flat. She would not let him hold her hand or touch her in any way and had pulled his coat around her tightly, walking with her head down.Great job! His mind said nastily. Now she is likely to shun you as everyone else does.Disappointment rippled through him at the thought of not being able to see Carine, or speak to her. The memory of the kiss in Elaris still played over his mind as did the feeling of her body pressed tightly against him, warm and soft, supple and ripe. His mind craved more and he would be denied the contact if she no longer wanted to see him. Physical pain carved a hollow in his chest at just the thought and he walked along beside her in the dark, hoping she would accept what he was.A bastard hybrid of Elf and human? How can anyone accept you? You are nothing but a failed experiment, the product of rape and Carine would be far better off without you.Vanadine tried to ignore the nasty voice within his head but it was ins
Shadows Of The Heart Seventeen - Carine
Even the warm buzz from the wine could not reduce the pounding in her heart at having Vanadine in her room. It seemed even smaller than normal with his huge presence filling it. He stood by the door as if waiting for instructions as his eyes roamed over the few things she had there; chest of drawers with various items of make up and perfume on top, a mirror hung on the wall and the stuffed rabbit on her bed. A shock of embarrassment hit her at the thought he saw the toy but he said nothing about it and looked at her as she crossed to the far side of the room.“You can come in,” she said. “I won’t bite.”“Pity,” Vanadine said with a smile.Her stomach flipped as she realised his mind must be in a similar place to hers.“Was that a joke?” She asked in a playful tone. “Mr. Serious has a funny side?”“I happen to be hilarious, especially in social gatherings,” he said. “Oh, no, wait a second,” he added with a smirk.The expression combined with his dark eyes made things squirm deliciously
Shadows Of The Heart Eighteen - Carine
“I’m gonna be late,” Carine said, standing.“What for?” Vanadine asked as he sat back, satisfied.“I’m in work today,” she said. “We take it in turns to go in at the weekend and today it’s my go.”“Shall I come with you?” He asked as she went to the bathroom.Carine paused and leaned against the frame, looking at him.“I’d like that, she said.Half an hour later they were on the bus, Vanadine looking about nervously as his hand on her leg shook slightly.“What’s the matter?” She asked gently.“I am unused to being so...exposed, he said. “It is unnerving to be seen by so many.”Carine looked about the bus, apart from the driver there was an elderly man dozing in his seat, a teenage boy glued to his phone and a pair of women in their thirties who chatted and stared out of the window.“Nobody’s looking at you,” she said. “No one’s interested in anything beyond the end of their nose,” she told him, squeezing his hand.Vanadine nodded but did not seem to calm much.“Haven’t you been out in
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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
