Untitled

[Asila]

Prologue

Ellie sat in the pretty bay window of her bedroom and looked out upon the night scene that glimmered before her. Fireflies winked magically in the silver-lit night, reminding Ellie of the fairies that danced through the stories Dad told her before she fell asleep. At the edge of the dew-dusted lawn, a small stream sparkled like moon-gilded onyx. A silvery fish leaped into the air, flashing white light, and fell back to the water with a musical splash.

Ellie sighed, closing her eyes and listening to the comforting rustle of the wind gusting lightly through the trees, the chirrup of crickets and cicadas sending up a familiar chorus. Half-asleep, she began to dream of tomorrow and all the possibilities of summer. In exactly one week she would be six.

Beyond her door, she could hear the soft tenor of her father’s voice and the musical lilt of her mother’s laughter. She wondered if they were happy about the summer too, then giggled at the thought. They were almost always happy. What difference did the summer make?

Grinning, she turned to last-years birthday present. It was a small sculpture of a pretty fairy girl reaching out a graceful hand to an elegant dragon in jewel tones of sapphire, emerald, and gold. She ran a gentle finger along the fairy’s delicate wings and wondered at how much fun it would be to fly. She was lost in a fantasy of flight upon the back of a dragon when something crashed loudly at the front of her house.

Startled and afraid, she leaped to her feet and surged to the door. She heard her mother scream, her father snarl something in a low voice. Then she yanked her door open and bolted into the hallway.

When she saw the strangers dressed in black, she stopped. There was five of them, each with a long silver blade in his grasp. The daggers glinted sharply in their hands.

She suddenly realized what her father had said. Vampire hunters.

As though the thought had summoned his reaction, the hunter closest to her raised his blade, drawing back his arm as he prepared to throw. He was aiming for her mother.

“Mom!” Ellie shrieked, and charged the room. Just as she reached the end of the hallway, she hit something as firm as a brick wall and as visible as air. She collapsed to the ground with a startled exhalation. She felt as though the breath had been smashed from her lungs.

The hunters turned toward her in unison. Their faces were neutral, devoid of emotion. Inhuman.

Ellie rose slowly, took an involuntary step backward.

Her father stepped protectively forward. “Ellesmera, leave us!”

The hunter furthest from her leaned against the frame of the shattered front door and began to toss his blade into the air, as though bored with the proceedings. Though he caught the dagger nimbly, his predatory gaze was fixated on her. Ellie shivered, but this time she did not back down.

Her father snarled. “Ellesmera, GO!” His voice was loud, furious…and afraid. Ellie could see it in his eyes, the entire iris visible instead of hooded as they were when he was relaxed. His fear began to seep into her.

“No, I won’t go.” Her voice wavered, tears filling her eyes. “I can’t”

Someone chuckled, the sound carrying malicious undertones. Ellie had never known before that laughter could be terrifying. She turned to the pale-haired hunter who had made the sound. His features were narrow, like those of a wolf. Except Ellie liked wolves. It was the entirely human gleam of malignance in his eyes that emphasized the overall cruelty of his expression.

“Have mercy, Jake.” He said, grinning meanly. “I can’t stand another minute of this sentimental foolishness.” His tone made it clear that he was speaking only of himself.

A dark-haired hunter nodded. Their leader, Ellie thought, and a perfectly normal looking man with kind eyes and a patient expression. “Kill the parents first.” He ordered, sounding so calm and rational that it took her a few seconds for her to understand exactly what it was he had said.

Ellie felt an icy jolt twitch through her limbs. How could a man who looked so kind be so cruel?

“The child is a pureblood Sunstrider.” He continued, glancing at her.

“We cannot predict her power. It will be safest to keep her contained until she has broken.”

His gaze lingered a second longer. Ellie found herself baring her teeth in defiance. He looked away, and his hunters struck.

They swarmed her parents, each hunter sweeping forward with lethal grace.

The eyes of her parents began to shine with their own light, her father’s glowing a brilliant blue-green, her mother’s bright amethyst. Her father turned to the dining room table and, lifting it, hurled it at his attackers. The heavy oak table clipped one hunter, causing him to stumble, but the others managed to dodge the flying piece of furniture. One actually managed to roll beneath it.

Ellie’s mother pounced on the first attacker, baring fangs that her daughter had only seen once before…in her own reflection when she had once returned home still furious with her classmates for treating her so poorly. She had thought that she was the only one, but a quick glance at her father confirmed that the fangs, like the glowing eyes, were a family trait.

Before her Mom could dispatch the hunter, another darted forward and sank his dagger into her back. She fell silently to the ground and did not rise.

“No.” Ellie gasped, feeling her eyes light up with rage. The white walls of the hallway took on a bluish cast. The shield before her weakened, visible now as it shimmered with jagged, lightning bursts. Ellie began to throw herself against it, knowing that soon it would give.

“Sari!” She heard her father shout, and almost despaired for the pain she heard in his voice. Mom…She threw even more of her strength behind her attack on the wall, strength she had not known she had.

“Finish him off!” She heard Jake shout. “The shield is failing!”

The shield gave. Ellie stumbled forward, her hands clenching into fists, and looked up in time to meet her father’s gaze. Four knives were buried in his broad chest, only their hilts visible. The glow of his eyes was fading, the green highlights fading from his black hair. A stream of blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.

Ellie looked at her father, his beloved face containing only sorrow and his dying love for her, and actually felt her eyes darken. Her strength began to wither. “Dad.”

“Oh, Ellie.” He murmured, his voice laced with so much pain that she felt herself sob. Moving so quickly that human eyes could only register him as a blur, her father was at her side. He swept her up into a tight embrace. “The light, my beloved.” He whispered, his voice weakening as he sank to the floor. “Don’t lose it.” He released her and was gone, fallen to the floor like her mother, his handsome face stilled by death.

Ellie rose, forgetting the men in black that ranged around her, and moved toward her mother, tears streaming quietly down her face. Her father had died with a peaceful expression fixed on his countenance. Her mother had not. Her violet eyes, once so familiar, stared glassily at the ceiling, her mouth gaping open, surprised. Blood had formed a glistening crimson pool beneath her.

Something within her breaking, Ellie dropped to her knees beside her mother, her legs becoming sticky with blood. She didn’t move.

Distantly, she listened as the men surrounding her moved closer. She wasn’t afraid anymore. They didn’t matter.

Nothing did.

[Asila]

All right, the prologue is the first part of the story I wrote. And it, too, dates before my role-playing days. I could do better now, and there are things I want to add, phrases I want to rewrite, but I know that if I worry about all of this now I will never finish the story.

The term "Sunstrider" is slightly outdated now (mostly because I think the term sounds dumb and I want to change it), but a Sunstrider is kind of like a dhamphir, but slightly different. They are humans who have a peculiar 'disorder'. They have fangs, but they don't need to drink blood to survive, even though doing so does give them strength. But since they perceive themselves as human, doing so would be absolutely monstrous. They are connected with the natural world around them in a way that humans are not, and each one can call an animal of some type to them. They control 'magic', but only in the vaguest definition of the term. They all possess varying degrees of power that excel beyond that of your average human, which usually has no magic at all, but they have trouble accessing it. And their eyes lack pupils, consisting only of the colored iris.

It is thought, in my slightly altered version of the world we live in now, that as Sunstriders gravitated toward others of their kind and had children, the following generations kept gaining power until they became so strong, so infused with magic, that this magic would permeate, or infect, anyone bitten. And the bodies of these humans, born without the genetic disorder that characterizes modern Sunstriders, could not adapt to such a change. So while they gained a Sunstrider's power, their weaknesses (such as the slight intolerance to sunlight that I forgot to mention. They are kind of like an albino) became magnified. (This needs a better explanation. I still have to invent one)

Or this is the explanation of the scientific community. But the Christian community actually has a whole other explanation, and theirs is closer to the truth. They believe that this disorder is directly connected with Adam and Eve's expulsion from Eden, because first generation Sunstriders have a tendency to show up in four forms that closely resemble The Four Temperaments. The color of their eyes are either reddish-brown, the color symbolic of a Sanguine personality, dark gold, the color symbolic of a Choleric personality, dark blue, the trademark of a Melancholic personality, or pale grey, the color representative of a Flagmatic personality. And, the personalities of each individual line up with the symbolic personality of their eyes. An individual with red-brown eyes is always spontaneous and confident, as is the trend for a Sanguine personality. The individual with dark blue eyes proves to be, without fail, the thoughtful ponderer, sometimes artistic and prone to becoming preoccupied with tragedy, as is the case with the Meloncholic personality. ((Thank god I wasn't drinking orange juice when I first heard about this temperament(and the others) in art class. When he started listing the traits of a Melancholic personality, I would have choked. Just read what Wikipedia has to say on the topic. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Temperaments#The_four_personality_types This is exactly what my professor read to us, and my jaw continued to drop with every line. (discussing the Melancholic personality, of course!))) And so on. The Four Temperaments are a direct result of the imbalance in the humors that took place after the expulsion. While in the garden of Eden, the four humors where balanced. It was only with original sin that the four became inequal, with certain humors overpowering others. All Christians are in accord with this tendency. But their is one obscure branch that watched this story evolve. The saw that somehow, the first-generation sufferers where pure in their inferiority, possessing only a fourth of the personality but living free of internal conflict because the other three types where not present. And, more interesting yet, the children of two Sunstriders would possess two of the factions, and in perfect harmony. And so the third generation would possess three out of four. And the fourth generation ascended to the status of angels. The eye color that had become more pure and bright in hue with each generation was suddenly the color of purity itself, a shade that mortals would look at and never be able to recall precisely when they thought of it later. Sometimes it seemed to hold every color in the spectrum...and yet none of them. Some said it was a white so bright and pure it was tinted blue. Others that those same eyes would sparkle like the brightest diamonds. And just as incredible, they had wings, and those wings were just as bright and pure as the indescribable eyes, seeming to be constructed of light itself and entirely without weight. These individuals were born of man, but somehow possessed all of the qualities, the goodness and ability to make all things they touched pure, that the angels themselves were said to have. Christians had become very excited over this, for they were evidence that there was hope for the human race. That it was possible for humans to transcend to such a state of purity, to rise to the status of angels and so avoid damnation. But one by one, these rare individuals began to disappear. And in their place, demons with eyes like pools of darkness that contained within their depths the red light of unholy fire, and wings so dark that it was said they could span the day time sky and drain all warmth and light from it, began to rise up in their place. And all hope seemed to be lost.

But there were those who still had faith, and they banded together and, through the course of decades and the heavy price of thousands of lives lost, they slayed these demons and all humans who possessed the traits capable of giving rise to them. The demons would be no more...but their was no hope in the future for the return of the angels, either. And so these Hunters continued to scour the earth and destroy all beings that displayed traits of the demonic, from the parasitic vampire that was a symptom to full-fledged demons on those rare occasions that they would rise again.

And this is the part where I get to pull all of this stuff together. Everything about the Four Temperaments is a recent addition to my original story. It fit because the girl, Ellie, displayed angelic qualities. That is why the hunters, when they drew closer, did not destroy her as they had destroyed her parents. They realized that, in their efforts to prevent the rise of demons, they had damaged one of the angels, for both came from the same source. (think of it this way. If only Sanguine Sunstriders got together and had children, the imbalance, which is stable in the first generation, would become more unstable in the following ones. I would explain better, but I have only just added all of this stuff to the story, so I haven't gotten much of a chance to straighten it all out, yet.) So they tried to redeem themselves for this sin by taking in the devastated child. But, after this trauma, all of her power had gone into recession. Her eyes had darkened to a crystallized, charcoal gray. She had lost her light, her aura, her wings. (which had only manifested when she tried to defend her parents. I swear to god that I am at least going to modify this prologue. There is so much I need to add...) They had screwed up royally, and it seemed too late to undo their mistake, to help the girl recover her 'heavenly' status, now that she had lost it.

And there is more. Ellie seems to draw vampires to her. Not very many, for they loose interest once they realize the sorry state that she had fallen into, but a few. For there are a few demons in the world still, and they are the ruling force behind the few large vampire covens that have managed to escape the reach of the hunters. Of course, there are people who don't think they are demons at all, only master vampires, but their opinion is not central to the story. Because Ellie has pretty much fallen into the clutches of a peculiar group of religious fanatics, and it is there belief that holds sway throughout the story. Anyway, while it is estimated that as many as half a dozen demons may exist in the world, the hunters only know of one, and he is far to powerful for them to destroy without divine assistance(about Ellie:Whoops.) But Ellie's parents knew of another, a younger, weaker demon, by the name of Larias, who is in direct opposition to the first (this part needs story development too) and needs all the help he can get. Demons, like vampires, gain strength when tied to a human with a Blood Bond. So if Larias could gain someone with Ellie's power, he would be a match for the older, better established, more powerful demon(I still need a name). Ellie's parents had promised her to him, because the truth was, that if they hadn't promised her to Larias, someone else would have come for her once she grew into her power. (Like I hinted at before, her full strength only manifested itself when she was under a great deal of stress. Naturally, it would have appeared as she matured. She was useless to anyone until then) So, when the hunters came for her, Ellie was tied to a demon. And he, like the hunters, hasn't quite given up on her yet.

And so, years later, when Ellie, now known as Celeste, is a nineteen year old young woman who scoffs at the idea of 'angels' and thinks the suggestion that she ever was or is one is absolutely ludicrous, is suddenly 'attacked' by one of Larias' vampires, and all hell breaks loose.

So yeah, demons, angels, and vampires are all connected in this story. And I have a feeling that, if I ever finished it, it would be five-hundred pages long. *makes a face* That's intimidating.

[Seven]

Well, wow! That's a really, REALLY detailed world you created! And you thought my Soul-Eater was any good. The extra info really did clarify quite a few things up though--I don't think it would have been able to get that Ellie's family aren't quite vampire-vampires. The story sounds really concrete, but I can see why you'd like to change the prologue. You have so much excellent world-development that you probably want to some how incorporate it in, right? Well, that's not entirely necessary, from my stand point. If you think about it, a lot of really excellent books that have their own world/mythology/etc slowly bring the reader in, unveiling how the world functions little by little. It's actually really cool when an author does that, because it makes the reader feel as though they're unraveling a mystery.

For instance, if you left the prologue alone, I, the innocent reader, would suspect this to be a regular vampire story. However, as the book progresses through the early chapters, I'd come to realize there must have been something quite wrong in my initial impression, and i'd have to keep re-evaluating what I think I know. The book would further draw the reader in, both through the plot line and characters, AND out of the mysteriousness and desire to learn the 'truth' of the world. *shrugs* I don't know, just a suggestion. I really liked the prologue, and i'm just afraid that perhaps too much background information without context would weigh it down. Don't give the reader all the facts right away--let them suffer a little in their curiosity, that's what I'd do.

I am glad though, that you posted so much of the context of the story here. It makes it a lot easier to brainstorm and for me to relate to you my opinions. You really should continue the story. I mean, you can edit the prologue if you'd like, but don't get so encumbered by the idea that it's not good enough that you let it stop you. *waves an asila flag* so keep fighting on--I'd love to read what becomes of Ellie!

[Asila]

I commend you for being able to understand all that! I had been under the impression that it was all just a rambling mess.

And I thought soul-eater rocked! I still do! It was way better written!

My story wasn't that detailed for a really long time, but then, in my art history course, we started talking about the four temperaments and I just thought "Oh my god! That's perfect!" It really fit the overall theme of my story, because from very early on the eye color of a Sunstrider determined their personality, Ellie was fourth-generation and therefor very powerful and possessing qualities similar to those of an Angel (it was because of her power that the hunters wanted her destroyed. As something less pure and well-meaning, she could have been devastating), the hunters that killed her parents were religious zealots, and Larias was always something between Demon and Vampire. And the stuff I learned about the humors and the way they had split only pulled it all together for me. It was as though that had been the information I had been waiting for. The reason I stopped writing was because I thought my story lacked depth and purpose. And, that day in art class, it gained it.

And I do like to hold information back, but that's kind of a major no no in writing. Editors always suggest/insist that you keep things clear from the start, so I would have to incorporate all of the basics into the first chapter. But I can always go back and fix things if I actually finished the story.

I'm glad the background information helped you! That was the reason that I posted it. In fact, I think that I will probably find a way to place all that information at the start of the first chapter if I actually finish it. I've seen authors do such a thing in a few different ways, and I'm sure I could pull it off. But there's no point in worrying about it now! I should really just start writing again and worry about details later. But thanks a ton for your feedback! I had begun to feel awful about posting my badly written prologue and had already considered deleting it. Self-esteem issues, who, me?

[Seven]

Really? They say to put all the background information in the beginning? But that can be so BORING! *shakes head* Honestly, I think the only reason they say that is because when you try to get a book published, the editors only read the first 2 chapters to see if they're interested. But I always feel that too much background becomes uninteresting, like you're being given a history lesson from a particularly bland teacher. Which is why I have a few tifts with Soul-Eater, as the whole story is just background. I mean, I'm sure you can incorporate it in an interesting way...I suppose how you incorporate background info also depends on the nature of the story, point of view, and characters in it. Like a human character just stumbling into the world's secrets would probably learn things one at a time, as compared to a mastered warlock or something.

In any case, I'm glad you found that special 'thing' that brought the story together for you, and I do hope you continue it. I'd like to read the rest. AND NO DELETING THE PROLOGUE YOU TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE PERSON! *meek* just joking...*

[Asila]

((Well, here's the next page. I like to think that this story doesn't have the same problems with vagueness that Darkest Hour did. I mean, I agree with you about how sometimes getting the whole history at once isn't any fun (though I really did love Soul-Eater!) but characters do have to be explained sooner rather than later, and I didn't explain well at all in my other story. Oh well, here's to a new story and a new beginning. *lifts a glass in salute*))

In the Willow Café, the sizzle of frying hamburger accompanied the low murmur of chatting campus students. The campus restaurant had been unofficially dubbed by students to be one of the official hang-outs of Willow Glen Academy, and during the evening it was packed with students, buzzing excitedly as they waited for the band to set up their instruments and plunge into an hour of rock.

Celeste, however, was oblivious to the excitement. Just a moment ago she had been whisking from table to table as she tried to keep customers in drinks and orders. Now she just stared in disbelief at the man who had just passed through the door.

Gloria, her co-worker, friend, and surrogate sister, paused in her own headlong rush and followed Celeste’s frosty stare. “Ah, your prince has returned,” she chuckled, amused by her friend’s obvious shock.

Celeste ignored the comment, too intent on staring at what she had begun to believe was some sort of well-dressed stalker with impeccable manners. She hadn't thought such a thing existed but- Christ, he was looking their way! Celeste jerked to attention. Grabbing Gloria, she spun both of them into the kitchen.

“Hey, watch it!” Gloria yelped, her hand flying out to steady her tower of weaving dishes. “What is it with you, anyway?”

“It’s him again,” Celeste hissed, looking toward the doorway as though she expected the man to stroll through it at any moment, knife in hand.

Gloria sighed. “Once again, you’ll have to remind me of your reasons for hating our perfectly friendly, much admired customer Andrei.”

“I wish you would stop talking of him as though he were some kind of local hero.” Celeste leaned around the corner, searching for the object of their discussion. There he was, observing her through the black sunglasses he always wore. Pinned by his gaze, she ducked once more behind the wall, breaking his hold on her. She exhaled gustily, feeling as though she had only just escaped some dark fate. “He’s eerie.”

A familiar snort sounded behind her. Celeste was rolling her eyes even before she heard the prep’s response.

“Of course, you would be the expert on creepy, wouldn’t you, Deadeye?” Alexis tossed back her bleached blond hair, smiling brashly at her target.

As always, Celeste stiffened at the reference to her condition. Deadeye was one of the crueler slurs against people with Makirrie’s Disorder, a genetic mutation that robbed the pupil of it’s dark pigment, causing it to blend in perfectly with the shade of the iris. There were those who believed that people with “The Dead Eye” had no soul. Fortunately, the majority of the population was much kinder, though she rarely met a person who could meet her gaze without squirming.

Celeste leveled bleak shade-gray eyes at the opposing waitress. “At least I’m an expert in something, Barbie. All you have is an ability to use you’re whorish good looks in order to get what you’re diminutive intelligence could never retrieve for you.”

Alexis glared at her. Well, it would have been a glare if she had been able to meet the other girl’s piercing blank eyes. Instead, she found herself glaring at a point just to the left of her co-worker’s head. “You think you’re so smart, Celeste, but you’re nothing more than a freak.” She spun sharply on her heel. “If you won’t serve that gorgeous gentleman, I will.”

“Fat chance,” Celeste shot after her. “He tips too well.”

She watched Alexis weave gracefully through the crowd, long pale hair flowing behind her. She had once considered dying her own a different color, anything to distinguish herself from her much hated co-worker, but the light shade of her hair was natural. She wouldn’t change it because empty-headed women like the retreating waitress had adopted the look. Besides, if the shade of Alexis’ hair was bleached blond, hers was more similar in shade to the blinding white of snow.

Throw in the darkness of her eyes, and she’d been told that the combination was striking in it's monochromatic contrast. Hurrah for being unique.

Not noticing Celeste's suddenly distant expression, Gloria put her hand in the air. “Nice return, Ellie. If she weren’t so foolish, she would have learned by now…” The offered hand was still hanging in the air, untouched. Gloria lowered it, noticing now that her sister wasn't entirely with her. “She got to you, didn’t she?”

[Seven]

So Ellie's all grown up now? *grins* Ok, so I sort of have the spoiler that Celeste is Ellie, but I think it's pretty cool that you don't necessarily know that off the bat. I think it's more dramatic to not know and then have to find out later. It makes it interesting, in any case.

Now for a question. Does Alexis have a reason to not like Ellie/Celeste? I think it would be interesting if there was. I mean, the first post is great, and I loved how you introduced the scene so well, but I am worried about Alexis. She's obviously the snooty, rival type, but I'm afraid she could end up lacking depth. Granted, this is only like the first few paragraphs, and Alexis doesn't seem to be an important player, but it would improve your style if she were not so flat. Especially when there's so much you can do with a "mean girl."

Anyways, I really loved it. It's a great entry scene and it's already given the reader a good understanding of what Celeste is like, more or less.

[Asila]

Hmm, you're right, I should do more with Alexis. But that's hard, because my story kind of takes off, literally, in a few more pages and then we'll never see her again. But it's still a good point. I think I'm going to have to do for her what Laurell K. Hamilton does for her minor characters and just write a descriptive paragraph about Alexis that would cover her basic personality and how she relates to Celeste. I should do the same for Gloria. I'll keep that in mind.

Though, right now, this story is more of an outline to me. If I ever finish it, I'll go back and add more imagery, work out good physical descriptions of the characters as well as descriptions for their personality when I introduce them, and add more beginning scenes that I will use to better describe Celeste. This is the only one right now, and it doesn't last long.

[Seven]

I see. That makes a lot of sense actually, and is a really good idea. Plus, that way, down the road, you won't end up having to worry about writing something that conflicts with the imagery you wrote early on.

[Asila]

Yep. Especially since my characters evolve as I write, and trying to pin down so much description so early on would almost be guaranteed to backfire. Especially since my take on my character changes as my mind-set does, which is frequently. If I keep things simple, it's easier to keep them straight. And then, when the story is finished, I can add the fancy stuff.

And now, on to the next page!

[Seven]

Yah! The next page! *claps*

[Asila]

Still staring after the departed waitress, Celeste murmured a distracted “hmm?”

“Never mind.” Gloria deposited her dishes in one of the kitchen’s deep stainless steel sinks and pushed Celeste through the door. “You have a customer, Ellie. You better get to him before Alexis does.”

That jerked her back into reality. “What? No, Gloria, wait.” Too late. Celeste found herself just outside the kitchen door, pinned by Andrei’s cloaked stare.

“Well, after that proclamation, I suppose I should serve him.” She murmured to herself. “You know what they say about facing your fears.”

She really did not understand the illogical terror that she felt when she looked upon this man, but it seemed to her that instinct had guided her well since the murder of her parents, and she had no desire to ignore her sixth sense. It had saved her before and had never been wrong. As illogical as it was to base your actions on what you feel, she would be a fool to ignore those odds.

She straightened up, lifted her chin, and started forward through the ghostly drifts of gray cigarette smoke, hoping confidence was evident in her composure.

Blatant as always, he watched her approach, making no effort to veil the directness of his gaze. Her nervousness winged decisively upward and she struggled to cage it. She would rather wear pink nail polish and a mini-skirt than allow him to catch wind of her chaotic emotions.

“Welcome back, Andrei.” Celeste said with a convincing smile. “What would it be tonight?”

Handsome as always in an emerald silk, long-sleeved formal shirt and solid black pants that were a perfect fit, Andrei smiled back. “Hello Ellie,” He replied, completely unruffled by her abruptness. “Today, I am only here for the scene.”

She tensed at the sound of the nickname. He must have picked it up from Gloria, who seldom addressed her by her full name, but only let her sister get away with this. The nickname was personal and carried a lot of weight and history, and hearing it spoken in the voice of a stranger grated on her.

“You chose the perfect night,” Celeste kept her voice merry even as her insides crawled. The scene… Why did she get the impression that he wasn’t referring to the vibrant crowd? “Silver Chain is starring tonight,” she continued. “They are our most talented local band. You’ll enjoy the performance.”

“You’re so eloquent this evening,” Andrei softly proclaimed, leaning forward as though enthralled by her presence. He didn’t even spare the band a dismissive glance. Celeste wondered if he had heard her speak at all.

Despite the mild concern, she found herself raising a perplexed eyebrow in response to his ridiculous statement. “Eloquent? Compared to what, my behavior on your previous visit?”

Andrei smirked. “Precisely. I don’t believe I heard you speak more than two sentences last we spoke, and I believe I would have heard even less if those questions hadn’t been mandatory.”

Celeste stared at him, her expression sardonic over the clipboard she still clung to. Her pen was poised over the notepad, the white knuckles that gripped the device her only outward sign of unease. “Can I take your order?”

Andrei’s smirk widened into a perfectly charming smile. “Yes, that was basically the entirety of it. I am so pleased to find that you remembered our first meeting so well.” His tone of voice implied that he hadn’t expected any less.

[Seven]

Aw, what a perfect gentleman-stalker Andrei is turning out to be! *grins widely* I'm starting to get the impression though, that Ellie has roots in your own personality, no? Somehow, each line I read about her seems like the way you would think and react. In any case, this segment especially got my attention and hooked me. I want to know what Andrei is up to! *is too paranoid to think he's just an ordinary stalker with ordinary stalker intentions*

[Asila]

Oh, don't worry, Andrei isn't ordinary in the least. And yeah, Celeste is based off of my own personality. So was Midnight, but I was depressed while I was writing Darkest Hour. When I started this story, I was feeling a tad more cheerful. Not much, but enough that my mentality then was closer to the mentality I have now. It was just unstable and didn't stick around for long.

[Asila]

Celeste’s already shadowed eyes darkened in irritation. Could he become any more pompous? “If you still need time to decide, I could come back in a few minutes.” Or in an hour. Or possibly never.

Andrei leaned forward, his smile bright despite her subtle effort to extinguish it. She knew he was clever enough to catch her disdain. Why couldn’t the bastard take a hint? Even now, with her famous glare fixated cynically on him, he continued to grin at her as though they were exchanging nothing more than pleasantries.

“I thought you had the routine down by now, Ellie.”

This time she didn’t react to this unwonted use of her nickname. She had begun to suspect that he enjoyed sticking a wrench in her equilibrium and she didn’t want to fuel such an unfavorable hobby, which is exactly what she would be doing if she allowed her irritation to show. “There is no routine. We’ve only met once before.”

“So it would seem if you cannot remember.” Andrei wasn’t smiling now. His expression had turned unreadable, enigmatic, and his masked gaze remained centered on her own. After a few moments of intense silence, she realized that he was waiting for an answer.

“Riiight. So, do you just want the usual order of nothing?”

Andrei frowned. Wrong answer. Celeste almost smiled at his displeasure, but before her smirk could take hold, his smile returned. “That would be nothing with a very lucrative tip.”

The urge to grin disappeared. “Yeah, about that…don’t you think your generosity is unwarranted?” Before he could answer, she waved a hand in a dismissive gesture. “Don’t answer that. If you didn’t have a reason, however mysterious, you wouldn’t give me the tip.” Eyes still focused on where his were behind the shades, she added, “There are hate groups out there that target people like me. I’ve learned to be suspicious.”

Even if her life had been normal, she wouldn’t trust him. Something about this man felt wrong. The sensation was similar to the fear she had once felt when a strange dog with unreadable eyes had once stepped from the woods a few paces from where she had been standing. It had shown no signs of violence, but it hadn’t looked friendly either.

When confronting Andrei, Celeste felt the same way she had then. She tried to stay calm and avoid angering the creature. Except the dog had been much easier to deal with. It had just walked away.

Andrei said nothing in answer to her question. He just reached for his sunglasses and pulled them off, placing them on the table beside him. Then he lifted his down-turned gaze to hers.

Celeste stopped breathing. His eyes were a solid green, the same color as jade, and with no center of black to mar the color. Makirrie’s disorder. The chances were one in ten million. She had never seen another person like her, at least, not outside the few television programs or news reports that mentioned it every once in a while.

She could feel her surprise shift her expression.

Andrei smiled gently. “I have more reason to help you than I ever would to hurt you, Celeste.”

She continued to stare at him, unsure what she should say.