| Kindred |
[27 Nov 2007|08:23pm] |
'And lo, Elfleda’s light became snatched and taken from all mortal grasp. The Beastly Leviathan, it did prosper and called to midst it was. Elfleda’s virgin heart seduced.'
Rhiannon’s fingers hooked behind the mottled page but didn’t turn it. She read the passage over again and wondered if the living Elfleda had wanted to be taken, if she had succumbed to corruption and gone willingly, or if it had been the horrific separation from home and family that the words made it seem. She thought it would be ironic if the latter were true. The Elfleda that Rhiannon knew cared little for the feelings of other beings, though she did prefer persuasion over force. The Slayer supposed it made for a greater victory.
She closed her index finger in the book and looked at the wall. It wouldn’t be long before Elfleda came for her. So far, no one had returned her calls about Atia. It was just as well. Her body wasn’t yet healed and her mind was a mess. Just how she was meant to help restore Elfleda to power, effectively cutting Atia out of the picture, she wasn’t sure. There was no guarantee it would work.
Rhiannon set the book aside.
There was a warm glow in the apartment. The night before, she had gotten bored and wasted, too. So much for temperance. With a bottle in her hand, Rhiannon climbed on a kitchen chair and strung holiday lights from tiny nails in the brick mortar. They were haphazardly done, but something about acknowledging the season appealed to her. It stuck a middle finger up at her circumstances.
Now she stared at an orange bulb and thought about cigarettes.
Relieved. A whole new definition of the word 'relieved', actually. Connor had gotten Rhiannon's text message while on the bus, and he felt so much better about everything that he didn't even mind the six blocks he had to walk from the place he exited the vehicle. The sun was down now, but not even the shadows disturbed him as he walked. His shoes made hollow sounds on the metal staircase as he climbed to the Slayer's porch, and a pack of cigarettes protruded from his shirt pocket.
His knuckles made sharp contact with the door, and he realized that knowing she was alive and not in a dumpster somewhere made him want to yell at her. She'd worried him, damn it, and worry wasn't something he acclimated to easily. The Destroyer's spine stiffened against the slight bite in the night air, and he jammed his hands into his pockets while he waited.
Don't yell. She's okay, that's what you wanted, remember? Stop being a loser.
"I even brought you some smokes." Like he'd brought her an offering as thanks. "I'll have one with you." The heel of his hand struck the door with a bang, echoing past him down the stairs. "Come on, okay?"
Rhiannon’s head snapped. “Ow.” She rubbed her neck and looked at the door locks. They were firmly in place. Whoever knocked on a door like that couldn’t be thrilled to see her, but they hadn‘t tried the knob. She got up and went to answer it in her bare feet.
“Hold on.” She twisted the deadbolts and unlatched the chain. When the door came open, a rush of cold air washed over her toes. She crossed her arms for warmth. “Connor?” He was the first friend that she’d seen since getting home. He looked worried-- hair in his eyes, a crease in his forehead. “Hey. You okay?”
He felt like an idiot, and he had to turn away from her and look towards the parking lot as he composed his face into a less tight-mouthed expression. He was wearing a blue thermal shirt, and he plucked at the slightly frayed hem of it as he concentrated on the way the passing traffic looked. One breath. Another. A third. Better? Maybe.
"I tried to call," he said in a mutter, turning back to face her. Forcing the eye contact despite feeling like he might cry. God, he was such a loser. "A few times. I figured you'd just lost your phone or something."
Pause. Yet another breath, his chest so tight it would barely allow the oxygen to pass by. "I'm sorry, can I come in?" He plucked the cigarettes out of his pocket and held them out to her in the palm of his hand.
( The World's Youngest Stalker )
( Bride Number 2 )
( Watch Your Back )
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