Sweet child of mine [Faylice]

.Avanti.

Why so serious?

I'm not the monster, I'm just ahead of the curve

From the balcony it was just a soft sight, even in his eyes. But it was enough to see how well protected she was … good. His fingers tapped silently on the balcony as he followed her security detail over the path. They really listened well, even from here he could hear one heartbeat out of tone and it was the guard who knew what was at stake. But given Faylice looked from this distant not to nervous told him that she didn’t know. And that just made it more fun as he slipped away from out of the light back into the darkness. Avanti always had some of those victims he had a hard time of letting go, Delaney was one of them, Faylice was another. He didn’t know what it but being around them give him a bigger urge, a stronger hunger. All the way down to the courtyard he couldn’t put away the sound of her timed heart, her soft breath, that pure innocents in her eyes. And only because of that he wanted to sink down his teeth in her neck and never stop. Lucky for her Avanti had a strong control over himself, leaving her partly unharmed was key to everything he had in mind.

Standing against a wall, in the shadow his eyes scouted over the soldiers escorting her. They all looked a little uncomfortable by the change in air, he knew all too well that he was responsible for whatever they were feeling. You couldn’t hide the darkness, you could only hide the source. As she spoke his eyes traveled back to her, clenching his teeth as he maintained his breath over her soft voice. His eyes rested on her tender fingers, stroking over the horse like it was some sort of therapy. She was preparing herself, for her father … a father she wouldn’t have much longer.

As he spoke, so tenderly soft almost her body reacted in all the right ways. Her heartbeat fastened, her breath hitched and her body turned the right way, towards him. He generously rewarded her for that by stepping out of the shadow. Her first direct words made his eyebrows from in amusement. ‘What is it then?’ He asked, tilting his head. ‘Shock? You really thought you wouldn’t see me again?’ His voice dropped a little in the end, like he was sad that she thought that. With her question he clicked his tongue, dismissing it with a shake of his head. But her saying his name, a very slow smile came on his lips, so dangerously slow. ‘I love to hear you say that. Sounds so much more innocent.’ He whispered while gazing her right in the eyes. He squeezed them a little together, like he noticed the change since the last time they saw them. ‘A question for a question, hmmm?’ He asked, gesturing her the way inside the building with a slight smile. ‘I’m here for your father.’ He answered her question. Avanti wasn’t a liar sadly, he could be ruthless honest if he wanted. ‘Now,’ he held the door for her open. ‘How are you doing Faylice?’ He asked, generally serious, he almost stretched his hand, a finger wanting to touch the little scar above her eyebrow but he didn’t. The smile died a little away, his steps hollow and elegant on the same time. ‘Everybody treating you well I hope.’ And that just contained such a warning, not for her really, rather for everybody around her. He strangled his hand through his dark blond hair, shifting aside in the shadow as some soldiers walked through the hallway. He laid his finger against his lips, smiling devious to her. In his mind this was all a game, a little hunt, oh did he love to hunt.

Faylice 

Why so serious?

I'm not the monster, I'm just ahead of the curve

Shock, yes this had to be quite the shock for her. Yet she did a rather good job in hiding it … on the outside at least. On the inside everything in her body was screaming, he could feel it, smell it, see it. That horse wouldn’t be a backup for longer, now she just was clamping herself on it, even when the horse was just as scared for him. Animals always knew it faster, if death and despair was coming, they smelled his darkness from miles away. He smiled, a lazy one, when she backed away, standing completely against her horse. He frowned his eyebrows, like he asked if that would even help her feel more secure. He changed his weight a little, almost balancing on one foot as she said it sounded reasonable. ‘Good.’ He just said, not expecting another answer. Hij placed his foot back, hard and the horse startled back from the sound of his foot. Avanti never made much sounds, giving it now, all of the sudden well … ‘You see, he can’t keep you safe.’ His pale finger pointed towards the horse before he gestured her to go inside. ‘I on the other hand,’ he stepped aside her, leaning closer. ‘can.’ He whispered with a certain amusement before holding the door open for her.

He wouldn’t lie, he never did. So when he answered her question she got only more confused. Avanti looked aside him to her, studying her face while she processed this kind of information. He thought she would ask something immediately back but she didn’t, instead of that she answered his. Avanti took a deep breath in, pushing it slowly back out through his nose, cracking his neck in the progress. ‘You wouldn’t lie would you?’ He asked, sounding like he was tired of all the lying around him. ‘I hate liars.’ He stated, giving her a sweet smile, not assuming she was one … just stating his opinion. And if she knew him a little she would know that came as a direct threat.

She owned the game with a new question and Avanti bite his lower lip in anticipation for his own answer. ‘We are having some kind of an arrangement.’ He answered, giving her a joyful look. ‘A deal, you will see tonight.’ He followed, rather airy, like it was no big of a deal that she got invited tonight, to be in between her father and Avanti himself. The guards in the hallway made him sneak back in the shadow. Nobody aside Thriumph and those two guards … well one guard, know he was here. He rather kept it like that for the time being. He saw her looking at them, like she wanted to speak up but she didn’t because of him. ‘My turn,’ he said, stepping back out of the shadow to walk aside her again. He carefully kept his body away from her, knowing whatever touch would be enough to steer his hunger even more. ‘any dark secrets I need to know of while we didn’t saw each other?’ He asked curious. His body lightly took the stairs, almost dancing, knowing the way to her room way to well. His eyes shifted back to the scar, clenching his teeth lightly while opening a door to another hallway. He held it open but in order for her to pas she had to step pretty close aside him. He had that challenging smile on his lips, attractive almost. Challenging her to just that, collect her bravery to be just those two seconds way to close to him.

Faylice 

Why so serious?

I'm not the monster, I'm just ahead of the curve

It was wrong to ask a monster like him if he would protect her. Yet she did it and Avanti asked himself if she just asked because she truly believed it or if she just asked it out of fun. He knew she somewhere had to ask it herself, that she somewhere had room to believe it, why asking otherwise. For that Avanti had to do everything to not laugh out loud, his expressions stayed in that on neutral place as he frowned his eyebrows lightly on her question. ‘Did I not bring you home last time?’ He asked rhetorical. Avanti never did something without a counteraction. He may not have asked something then, he may not ask something now but a good solid soul would know there would always be a price to pay. Especially if it was with Avanti. ’Depends I guess,’ he started, all light and airy again. ‘of how big the monsters are where you need protection from.’ He pulled his eyebrows up twice, joking almost. Everybody knew he was one of those big monsters, soon her father would join these ranks, becoming a predator rather than a pray.

Liars, it weren’t his favorite people, certainly because he could hear their heartbeat fasten while their faces tried to stay normal. Her heartbeat was already out of control by everything that happened around her so he couldn’t really tell. But her words stated her honesty, yet he could hear the slight change in her face. ‘Excellent.’ He smiled a little on the dark side, giving her a long good look. She looked different, more grown up maybe? Older? He, a vampire, that never changed had a hard time seeing those little changed. He honestly didn’t care about looks but given she was that fine art piece, it was easy to see, especially with that scar above her eyebrow. It was almost challenging him, he didn’t even know why he was getting so upset over it to begin with. But just as everything else you didn’t saw it, still that empty pit of darkness.

She seemed so tempting, but aside a little not the guards passed her without saying a thing. Not even noticing the tensing in her body. If he would be here for a while he surely would try to knock … or bite, some sense in those guards. This were the things he demanded, that they put more interest in the details. But that were just humans, never caring much until the problem was right before their nose. When she took the stairs up his question confused her in her steps. Avanti who never stopped walking aside her almost stretched his arm to keep her forward by giving her a little push in the back. But just like every other urge he stopped the movement before he touched her. ‘Nothing dramatic happened?’ He asked, turning his body half so he stepped backwards, giving her a long promesing look. ‘Do not tell me you don’t have something useful for me,’ he smiled slowly. ‘everybody has secrets.’ He whispered with that same promesing look. But just as much he wanted the answer she was already firing another question. He chuckled, amused by her interest and curiosity as he turned back around and pushed open the door. ‘No love,’ he muttered, challenging her with that look to take the space in that was nothing much. He pressed his tongue against the back of his teeth when she started to squeeze herself between the opening and him. ‘you are the witness.’ He whispered, smelling her sent as she was on the closest part before she almost stepped quickly further. Avanti stayed put in the doorway for a minute, shaking his head before he walked behind her, getting himself back together. ‘Did you ran away from daddy dear?’ He asked, catching up with her, knowing the way to well as he stopped before her door, leaning against the doorframe. ‘You must been tired.’ He guessed, all that charm and deadly perspecion back in his purple eyes. He was playing her and he loved it, at least he kept him from doing other things … for now.

Faylice 

Why so serious?

I'm not the monster, I'm just ahead of the curve

They hardly stumbled upon people in their walk through the hallways. It was like the people knew darkness was swirling around there and they stayed hidden behind the doors. In that way it was easier for Avanti to give Faylice his full attention, if she liked it or not. His eyes rested on the route they took, for her a moment to breath because he wasn’t looking all that intensely. But as soon as she started to talk his eyes floated back to her… he couldn’t get enough from the softness in her voice, wondering if he would make her scream it would contain the same softness. ‘Oh really.’ For a moment he let his mask slip, sounding way to joyful in the fact he was the monster on top of many lists. He loved to be on top of a list. He took a breath, looking down to the ground as he realized she got an extra glimp. He could hide it but he didn’t, he just fully stated what he was. ‘It isn’t. I’m a monster.’ He reacted honestly, still looking at her. ‘Does it bother you that I’m not big enough a monster for you?’ He asked. He could tell her confusing came out of that. She expected him to be brutal and in very bad behavior but he wasn’t, he was the opposite, edgy but charming friendly almost. He could easily change that balance, but was that really wat Faylice wanted.

Her hand grabbed towards the handrail just after he almost pushed her slightly in the back. He suppressed a chuckle, looking straight in front of him as he waited patiently for her answer. The last time they saw it each where a couple of months ago, it couldn’t be that nothing happened in the meantime, from where would she has that scar otherwise? He almost stopped as she started softly, knowing, hearing that what she was gonna say was serious. His expressions flattened for just a second before the surprise came on his face. ‘You challenged Aeron? Thriumph his brother? You?’ He asked, softly laughing, proud almost. ‘You always seem to surprise me princess. What did you do?’ He whispered, nodding approvingly. He sounded so normal in that moment that you couldn’t even notice that he was the real monster here. Or at least until she talked about the king of Valyria. ‘Larethian.’ Something in his voice became a little darker. ‘My friend, or at least,’ he chuckled, clenching his teeth. ‘was.’ He finished, getting his underlying anger back in control. In a flash that smile was back, like nothing even happened. Larethian was a sensitive subject for the king of the undead, he asked himself if she would know, what Larethian once was. But he lost the thoughts as she tried to squeeze herself in between him and the door.

The little game they played, a question for a question wasn’t really a game anymore. She talked rather normal to him, like he wasn’t all that bad. If she was to scared she wouldn’t say a thing, she wouldn’t even ask what was going to happen with her father. But she did, what only said she was pretty sure he wouldn’t react to bad on it. Avanti looked up, pressing his lips together while he thought of a good way. ‘An upgrade.’ He finally said, nodding to her. ‘I’m gonna help him improve in a way.’ He wasn’t lying, but he wasn’t telling her the real truth either. He asked himself how long it would take for her to figure it out.

As they arrived at her door Avanti leaned himself in the doorway, for a moment looking to the closed door before looking back to her. ‘Why?’ He asked curious. Why would she run away from this castle. Surly Larethian wasn’t that good a babysitter. He knew the king and Thriumph where rather familiar, but caring for one another their children … maybe to much. When he asked if she was tired he gave her an easy choose. She could have said she was … then he would leave her alone. But she didn’t and a slow smile rose on his lips. ‘Can I come in then?’ He asked softly, with that intense look like he was compelling her to say yes. He held it just long enough before his eyes darted back into the hallway. ‘What people would say if they saw you standing here with me.’ He lifted his hand, stretching his finger but not yet touching her. ‘So much temptation so close by.’ He whispered, drawn in the sound of her heartbeat. He swallowed, tearing his eyes away from her as he pushed away from the hallway. ‘You should at least take a little rest, it will be a long night.’ He suggested, impatience, on edge. He shook his head, trying to get himself together before throwing her a fast grinn. ‘Or unless you have more questions.’ Leaving her the choice again, folding his hand with ease together behind his back, his pale face probably even more tired then hers. Days were not for him, he was a creature of the night, something you saw but couldn't feel.

Faylice 

Why so serious?

I'm not the monster, I'm just ahead of the curve

Why would he protect her .. that was the question. Why would a monster like him even care about a perfetic little soul as her. Any other vampire would go straight for the kill, for her blood, in that way was Avanti so much different. Time learned him to be patience, to see further then only hunger and destruction. After having Ayana at his side he realized that he could be bigger, better, the monster where parents tell their children about. Every little bit of his actions was for a bigger purpose. He helped Thriumph out for a bigger purpose, he kept Faylice safe for a bigger purpose. They were a pieces in a game and he was carefully spreading them over the board. His wandered a little in those thoughts before he looked aside to her. Noticing her curiosity he kept his face rather neutral before answering. ‘The bigger picture.’ He just answered. ‘I may be what everybody tells you but,’ he shook his head. ‘Nevermind.’ He hated it as he had to talk about himself. Explaining how different he was involved history, a long forgotten history. A history he rather not talked about. He pulled softly the corner of his mouth up on her words but that was it. He suppressed the subject with the neutral empty look on his face.

That she kept surprising him brought his mood a little back and he tilted his head. ‘Come on, you are human, not because I live already so long that I can’t be surprised anymore.’ He winked. He noticed that her confident was slipping back and that was something he had to feed, with charm necessary. As she talked her voice shifted a little, drawn back in the memory and Avanti clenched his teeth together. ‘Did he gave you that?’ He asked, pointing his finger to her eyebrow where just a fraction of a scar was still visible. Now he wanted to know, offcourse he wanted to know. His persistent radiating look down to her said already enough, he didn’t even used his words.

It was a simple word, poured in an question and he slowly looked back aside. Larethian, where even to begin. First a monster and now a descent king, he pulled it off quite nice, had it all figured out. ‘Everybody has secrets, you, me … even Larethian. His is a pretty dark one. You should ask him about it some day.’ He looked aside to her, challenging her almost to do so. He would pay gold to see the kings face as Faylice said she met Avanti. Another point of leverage. But Larethian was not her main concern as he just said that her father would get an upgrade. Her question came with such an insecurity that Avanti almost rolled his eyes. ‘You will see.’ He answered, almost reassuring. ‘I will be there, to,’ he chuckled. ‘protect you, remember.’ She probably would need it, newborn vampires had a huge hunger. The only thing between the new Thriumph and her would be him. Those thoughts amused him and he almost forgot he asked why she ran away when she answered, codly. He opened his mouth, to comment on her rather cold answer but instead he closed it, squeezing his eyes lightly. ‘Care to share?’ He asked. Normally he would force it out but he know he would have far better results in this way, asking nicely. He had to be honest, all that friendly behavior was working his nerves, yet you didn’t noticed the annoyance on his face.

His intensity, his curiosity was immediately sparked when he stood aside her door and she didn’t told him she was tired and needed rest. The whole goal of this conversation was to get her trust and cooperation. She was the next person for on the throne, he wanted to secure that position. So when he asked if he could come in she was just looking and he looked right back. In those long seconds he wanted to do nothing else then grab her face and sink his teeth down in her neck. But just as his eyes became to darken in desire she said yes. And there it was, she caved for a monster. All his manipulation had made his purpose. He really should get into that room but he kept stuck on her eyes, lifting his hand but without the touching. He could see her looking and he kept them in place for a reaction. It was like she almost wanted it, he felt her heart overrush in the urge of wanting to touch him. The power rushed through his body, eager on getting things done. He forgot about his annoyance, his magic worked, at least that charm was something good for. Her question interrupted that moment and Avanti lowered his hand softly as he laid it on the doorknob and pushed it open. He nodded with his head inside and when she turned her back he couldn’t resist on the darkness crawling all over his face. His smile was nothing but heartless as he looked how his priced animal, his victim, walked into her room. He looked shortly into the hallway before walking behind her in her room. This wasn’t the first time, he had been here sometimes before, waiting for her. ‘Your father asked me something and I’m granting it him.’ He turned away from the door to her. This is what he wants so don’t start judging me for it.’ He already was gluing the pieces for afterwards. ‘I’m gonna be honest, you gonna see some things you won’t like. He invited a monster into his home,’ his words trailed as he gave her a promising look. ‘a monster he will get." He pushed his fingers through his dark blonde hair, turning around his body before he laid his eyes on her bed. It seemed like the most normal thing, like he was a boyfriend coming to visit. He let himself fall on it, closing his purple eyes as he softly hummed in the thoughts of tonight. ‘We gonna have so much fun.’ He muttered to himself, enjoying the darkness he felt around him, feeding his energy with it. He wanted to say she didn’t need to be scared but he wanted her … he wanted her to scream, to fight, he desired so much of her that he almost couldn’t wait until tonight.

Faylice 

Why so serious?

I'm not the monster, I'm just ahead of the curve

Seeing so much of the world didn’t meant he knew it all. But in a way he understood why she said it, he was old, over aged all of the people living here, they parents, their parents. It was an easy life, being an immortal like him, no emotions, no sense of time, no need to care about anything else then himself … and Ayana. It was old news that people thoughts that vampires had seen it all. For that he looked back at her with an almost relaxed neutral look. ‘No person is the same twice.’ He just said on the most normal tone you could imagine from him. ‘Besides, it says more about you then it does about me.’ He continued with a promising look sideways. Here she was the most innocent and fragile person he could imagine. He never heard of her before, or at least nothing aside an name and rank, he never saw anything of her. And then she told him she challenged somebody, something that he didn’t saw coming given she was trembling on her feet with every occasion he looked at her. But maybe she was more fierce around the people she truly know. He rolled his jaw under his teeth while see told him the scar came from Thriumph his brother. Maybe Thriumph his first act of business would be summoning his brother to court, Avanti would love to leave so scars. But that wasn’t who he was, not for a girl like Faylice anyway. She touched her brow softly and Avanti his eyes pulled towards it, frowning his brows as she spoke. ‘Beauty shouldn’t be disturbed like that. Does he has a scar to remember that eventful moment? I would love to gift him one.’ Some people could think he was joking right now, but his words and face were just as normal as before. What would leave her questioning if he meant it or not.

The more the air changed around them, following his mood, the faster Faylice started to adapt to it. On a certain level it didn’t harm her anymore if he got sharper, not like it did the first time they met. She started to anticipate his behavior, started to accept it maybe. That was precisely what he wanted, for her to relax around him enough to spill the secret. And spilling she did. When he asked why she ran off she answered something about a mistake. Curious to her mistake he asked rather than commanding it. But the answer as not what he had expect. His body froze in the doorway, ice cold eyes looking down to her as his brain worked over hours. She was pregnant, was? His eyes lowered down to her stomach, for just a second before his jaws tensed. He had marked her the moment she stepped from her horse, every word behind it was a trigger to his possessive behavior. ‘Was?’ He repeated, so cold, so distant, so totally Avanti. It took him a moment, in his mind racing the possibilities of that scenario. ‘What happened Faylice?’ He asked with a voice that was completely under control, soft almost. But his eyes carried such a demand she wouldn’t be able to ignore it.

Even with this all she still invited him and he used his eyes to roam her chamber rather than to look at her. The longer he silenced himself the more he regained control over himself. If Ayana would see him she probably would force him to bite Faylice, given he could silence her afterwards. She had said a few things that got him on edge, a scar, a lost pregnancy … and here he was thinking he would need to keep a close eye on Thriumph. He could better spend his days hunting her around then sitting aside an immortal king. This was the freedom he took from her, this possessive behavior of him only because he wanted to secure the throne if Thriumph would fall away. If he was inside already mad because of that, god help her if she did something like that now.

As he landed on her bed, falling into her smell the thoughts slipped away out of his mind and his head became a little more clear. He massaged the hunger away uit of his temple. With closed eyes he looked almost peaceful. But that was until she figured it out and his purple eyes flew open again. He laid completely still, gazing to the ceiling while he waited her real panic. But it didn’t came, not right away anyway. He was surprised it took a clever girl as her so long to figure it out. When she hinted that it would happen tonight he slowly pushed up on his elbows, a deadly serious look on his face as he nodded on her two questions. When she walked one step back he was in a flash between her and the door, slowly shaking his head as he run his hand back to his hair. ‘Faylice.’ He whispered, so sweet, so convincing. ‘He wants this,’ he clenched his teeth together. Her heart was racing and his eyes lowered to her neck. ‘If you would know how it feels you would understand.’ He wrapped his hand over his own mouth, slowly lowering it before he made a fist of it. ‘Don’t make me do this now. I can explain it but you will have to see it, I want you to see it.’ He lifted both his hands, wanting to lay them around her face but in the end they just hang above her shoulders. ‘I’m here for you, to protect you.’ He sounded so convincing in his words, fisting his fingers again before pulling them softly back. He wasn’t here for her, she wasn’t the main reason. It was a partly lie. But all he could think of right now was to sink his teeth down in her throat, then she would understand because a little bit of his vampire vennow was enough for her to start craving it more, to crave him more ...

Faylice 

Why so serious?

I'm not the monster, I'm just ahead of the curve

Something changed in Faylice, he noticed in the way she looked back at him. This was something he worked to, to get her trust, to let her see he wasn’t a monster. Surely he would destroy that soon enough, Avanti had control but not that much either. After days of not eating her skin smelt even better, radiating the sweet smell of her blood that ran underneath it. Tonight would be her horror … her worst nightmare but now, now he saw her eagerness, her curiosity, he even saw a little tug in her lips. He was placing himself in a weak position only to get her, getting her meant he secured the throne and that was of more importance than wanting to drain her empty. ‘Little, maybe.’ He said so soft she probably caught only a little something from it. ‘You are destroying the little pretty picture I had of you, but,’ he felt silent, given her a quick smile. ‘in a good way, you can handle more than I thought you could.’ He followed, not sure if she could handle what he would throw at her tonight.

Her looking, it became longer, intenser a sign that she wasn’t afraid to look anymore. He kept his gaze carefully on her as she spoke again about the scar that shattered her beautiful face. It broke her fragility, or at least the fragility he thought she had. Maybe she was right, not that he cared but the thought of that man looking down to a scar she placed wanted him to kill and destroy. A scar wasn’t that bad after all, everybody had scars, everybody except for Avanti, a vampire skin was harmless and he had been a vampire for way to long. It were her next words that made his blood freeze right and there on the spot. She had been pregnant and it was killed. Would that leave a scar to. His face was empty as he looked down to her, to the emotions, the doubt in her eyes. He just looked, kept her eyes caged in his while his thumb stroke over his other fingertips. He had little feelings for pregnancy, or for anything really so he didn’t said a thing. He let his eyes do the talking, forcing them to show a little compassion before he could lose his mind. Maybe he should cage her, restrain her, imprison her. The longer he looked, the more the idea sounded appealing to him. Luckily her room was the release of that gaze, a second longer and he would do things he couldn’t take back.

Falling down on her bed he released the energy this all took from him. This was not Avanti, this kind, this patience, this charming … he would never be like this. But given he had to it was almost as easy as killing. Ayana understood the matter, that they needed Faylice as much as they needed Thriumph. If the princess would escape Navarre and go back to Larethian they were screwed. No, Avanti wanted her to go back some day, but with her heart in his power. He would release her one day, it was just the same manipulation he used on Delaney to, waiting for them to fear him but still desire him. And for that he didn’t care how strong his mask and act had to be, as long as he could break her.

He was hardly visible in his way from her bed to the door, blocking the one way that could lead to her freedom. His lips parted before they came back together, eager and in hunger. Her words, her confession made his eyes trail back down. She would be a poor vampire, not capable on doing anything bad. But that wasn’t key of being a vampire, it was the bloodlust, the power immortality gave you that strengthened you. ‘No.’ He whispered, seeing how she stepped back even more. ‘I’m gonna make your father invisible, I will give him a power and strength he didn’t had before. That is what my venom does,’ he tilted his head, looking her straight in the eyes. ‘I can let you taste it, just a little bit but you would have to let me,’ He felt silence, wiping the strains of dark blonde hair out of his face. And then she said something that let his mouth slowly fall open, a warm breath leaving his lips as he looked at her. ‘I will.’ He nodded softly. It would come against a price but that she didn’t realize, not in all this panic at least. ‘I promise.’ And just those two words sounded so affectional, so deep and tender almost while his insides were screaming. While he wanted to no nothing else then rip her apart. He hardly recognized himself in all of this but patience was key and after tonight it would be all so much better.

Faylice