Post by Jenn on Oct 22, 2012 22:00:29 GMT -8
STRENGTH – Though the task at hand is daunting, the strength to see it through, whatever the cost, is within reach.
“Dear Mother,
“I’ve always known that Seattle would change me. What I didn’t realize is that it would make me see how much I’ve changed while staying the same. I met a caitiff, Victor, whose sire is one of the Family. He’s strange to me.
“In one conversation, I mentioned that I might have to kill a tainted, violent servant. Victor was adamant that I -not- kill this servant because with their death, part of me would go with them. Yet, I was thinking that killing this servant was akin to putting down a rabid dog: it needed to be done before more people were hurt.
“His insistence, his vehemence, that all life—even tainted life—was sacred because of what the death did to us, struck me. I’ve been thinking on it for days now.”
RESTRAINT – Even if offered something desired, it may be asking too much or seem ostentatious to accept it. Finding the strength to hold back is called for.
Regina put her pen down and looked at the wall, thinking about her soul—what was left of it. “Craig said I was the reason he didn’t fall to the beast. Me. My humanness. Maybe that’s what I need. A mortal to help me. To remind me…” She picked up the blood filled pendant she wore. “Obviously, this isn’t helping anymore.”
Dropping it back to her chest, she called out to her ghoul. “Wally, I need you.”
The huge man appeared almost immediately. His eyes darted around the room looking for danger before settling on her. “Yes, Miss?”
“You need you to…” She paused and considered him. Wally had been with her for years. Even before her embrace. He knew her best of all her ghouls. She shook her head. It wasn’t fair to ask him to guard her human memory from the Manitou that resided within. “Never mind. I’ve changed my mind.”
“What it is, Miss Regina? You know I’ll do anything for you.”
“Yes. I know. It’s all right. You can go.” She knew and watched him go with troubled eyes.
Regina knew something else, too. Craig had loved her. Still loved her. Truly loved her. And she him, even beyond the blood bond. That was something that would not happen here. That might be the needed factor. She did not know for sure.
EPIPHANY, REVERSED – No matter how dramatically it is revealed, the truth is refused, obscured by cowardice or delusion.
“I still think the servant needs to be put down for the good of the domain but, for now, I won’t call for it anymore than I already have.
“Being who I am, I’ve realized that I was a bloodthirsty monster as a mortal… and that part hasn’t changed at all. I still have the urge to kill and I still remember my kills fondly. Something tells me this should disturb me. But it doesn’t.
“I think I need your advice if I am to keep myself from becoming that which I have hunted most of my mortal life.”
CRIME – Whether violent of petty, someone has committed a crime or is tempted to do so.
Regina stopped writing. The image of her last feeding bubbled forth—a rough young man in the back alley of a bar. He had not wanted to take no for an answer. She had tapped the back of his favorite head against the wall hard enough to make him see stars. Then, as she fed, a quick strike to the solar plexus made him gasp for air until he passed out.
The memory of the hot blood on her tongue and then watching him going limp, sliding down the wall made her smile. It also made her hungry again.
She sighed, a mixture of fondness and regret in the forced action.
IDENTITY – Knowing who someone really is becomes of utmost importance.
“Dear Mother,
“I’ve always known that Seattle would change me. What I didn’t realize is that it would make me see how much I’ve changed while staying the same. I met a caitiff, Victor, whose sire is one of the Family. He’s strange to me.
“In one conversation, I mentioned that I might have to kill a tainted, violent servant. Victor was adamant that I -not- kill this servant because with their death, part of me would go with them. Yet, I was thinking that killing this servant was akin to putting down a rabid dog: it needed to be done before more people were hurt.
“His insistence, his vehemence, that all life—even tainted life—was sacred because of what the death did to us, struck me. I’ve been thinking on it for days now.”
RESTRAINT – Even if offered something desired, it may be asking too much or seem ostentatious to accept it. Finding the strength to hold back is called for.
Regina put her pen down and looked at the wall, thinking about her soul—what was left of it. “Craig said I was the reason he didn’t fall to the beast. Me. My humanness. Maybe that’s what I need. A mortal to help me. To remind me…” She picked up the blood filled pendant she wore. “Obviously, this isn’t helping anymore.”
Dropping it back to her chest, she called out to her ghoul. “Wally, I need you.”
The huge man appeared almost immediately. His eyes darted around the room looking for danger before settling on her. “Yes, Miss?”
“You need you to…” She paused and considered him. Wally had been with her for years. Even before her embrace. He knew her best of all her ghouls. She shook her head. It wasn’t fair to ask him to guard her human memory from the Manitou that resided within. “Never mind. I’ve changed my mind.”
“What it is, Miss Regina? You know I’ll do anything for you.”
“Yes. I know. It’s all right. You can go.” She knew and watched him go with troubled eyes.
Regina knew something else, too. Craig had loved her. Still loved her. Truly loved her. And she him, even beyond the blood bond. That was something that would not happen here. That might be the needed factor. She did not know for sure.
EPIPHANY, REVERSED – No matter how dramatically it is revealed, the truth is refused, obscured by cowardice or delusion.
“I still think the servant needs to be put down for the good of the domain but, for now, I won’t call for it anymore than I already have.
“Being who I am, I’ve realized that I was a bloodthirsty monster as a mortal… and that part hasn’t changed at all. I still have the urge to kill and I still remember my kills fondly. Something tells me this should disturb me. But it doesn’t.
“I think I need your advice if I am to keep myself from becoming that which I have hunted most of my mortal life.”
CRIME – Whether violent of petty, someone has committed a crime or is tempted to do so.
Regina stopped writing. The image of her last feeding bubbled forth—a rough young man in the back alley of a bar. He had not wanted to take no for an answer. She had tapped the back of his favorite head against the wall hard enough to make him see stars. Then, as she fed, a quick strike to the solar plexus made him gasp for air until he passed out.
The memory of the hot blood on her tongue and then watching him going limp, sliding down the wall made her smile. It also made her hungry again.
She sighed, a mixture of fondness and regret in the forced action.
IDENTITY – Knowing who someone really is becomes of utmost importance.