Nothing About The House Had Changed, But Something Was Different. Vases Were More Likely Not To Have

Nothing about the house had changed, but something was different. Vases were more likely not to have flowers and those flowers that were tended were of a darker hue. The servants, always inobtrusive, seemed to bristle with an unknown emotion, perhaps anger or even fear. And there was a sort of silence, not that of muffled shoes on thick carpet, but of a -lack- of sound: the chortle of a young man and the playful, gruff noises of a faithful hound. Though she didn't know it, Lady Valister was escorted into the same parlor where Claire Norrington had first met Havelock, a child his parents couldn't keep. There was a certain amount of poetry to it, that his presence in her life ended where it had began. She had been informed that the pair of them had left, had read Havelock's hasty, vague note. Had been told, later, of Livinia's marriage to the man they had been running from. Claire Norrington was not a woman who deluded herself. She knew what was coming. The parlor was a shining place, placed at a corner where windows in each wall could catch the afternoon light. The flowers in the vase on the central table were lilies. The couches and chairs were white with small flower patterns embroidered carefully in silk, meant to be admired more than occupied. Claire was the dark spot in the room, her dress a dark shade of green highlighted in blue. She sat on the couch, her saucer in one hand, teacup in the other, watching the world through the window. Claire looked up when Livinia was announced. She did not smile. "Lady Livinia."

Rae had been distracted. Too many people, too much nearness and it eventually made her lose track of Ciara while she found a quiet spot to sink into. It was only for a night.

One night too many.

When she found the woman again, it was with a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. Despite the rest, despite her happiness at seeing Ciara, it was all clouded. Like the miasma of red and black that surrounded her.

Rae rushed at it, trying to push it away as she did before, but she just heard a chuckle all around her.

Silly girl, said the sibilant voice whispered, did you think I would let you have her? She is mine.

"No!" Rae shouted, though the sound would be nothing but wind in the real world. "Let her go! She's not yours. She doesn't want you. You're...you're hurting her!"

The ghost slammed herself against the miasma, watching Ciara move from man to man with abandon. Rae cried, moaned, wailed, and none of it seemed to help. Nothing got through.

When the miasma finally started to clear, when the awful thing was sated, Rae was there.

"Ciara, Ciara please look at me," she begged, making herself as solid as possible, leaning over the woman with beautiful aqua eyes. "Don't let him do that to you. Ciara...I need you. You're not alone. I'm here for you. Always."

She wrapped her arms around the woman and hovered close. The next time she saw the red and black cloud, Rae vowed nothing would stop her from destroying it. Nothing.

Ciara was hers.

“I’m done with this. You’re boring and a waste of my time.”

It ran through her head, over and over again as she fingered the scorch mark on her discarded leggings. Ciara spat again, trying to get rid of that peculiar taste in her mouth, and dropped her forehead onto her left knee. Again, she saw Serenity’s smile as the echo of a pistol being cocked rang overly loud in her ears.

 Again, she heard those words.

 Again… She heard the gunfire.

  I told you, sweetness… There’s only you and I.

Her jaw tensed, and without intending to, the thief broke into a bitter laugh.

  That’s it, my love. I will never leave you. I will never discard you. Your choices cannot hurt me, and I… Well… 

It was almost tangible, that echo of sensation, as if a warm hand stroked her cheek. 

  I will not let you be hurt anymore.

Sometimes a new set of armor helps change your attitude. Sometimes it just makes you feel pretty.

Ciara seemed to have a...fondness for getting herself into trouble. Rae noticed this, saw how the woman flung herself into danger, sometimes to save another, sometimes not. If she'd had a body and a heart within, she'd have said it made her heart pound.

The woman's bravery was without question. But sometimes Rae wondered if her methods weren't...too much. Too brazen. Without care for her own safety.

Far too often, Rae would be the only one sitting beside her as Ciara stitched yet another cut, wrapped yet another busted joint. "Ciara, you cannot keep hurting yourself so," she admonished, knowing her words wouldn't reach the woman, but wanting to say them anyway. "You must save a part of you for you."

With a steady hand, Rae touched Ciara just over her heart, pressed her hand there. As always, it was a rewarding jolt, a burst of energy and strength. A connection she'd never had with anyone else. "You are still important," she whispered, willing the words to be heard. Then she released the other woman.

Her eyes searched the lovely face, kept so blank most of the time except when she was alone. And then...always so sad. Rae drifted close, hovered as only a spectre could. She ran her hands over Ciara's hair comfortingly, pushing the locks away from her face. Touching her was always exhausting, but worth it.

After she did, Rae nearly felt...human. Like perhaps she could care about Ciara as more than just a connection to the world, a curiosity. An oddity that she had to share with no one else.

But then, where would she go anyway?

secrecy. on We Heart It. http://weheartit.com/entry/8002349?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=image_share&utm_source=tumblr

With 106 Followers now, this is a little overdue, I will admit. But let’s get started! :D

Hello, everyone! It is time for Happily-Hunyya’s 100 Follower Giveaway Spectacular!! 

First Prize: a 2000 Gem Card!

Second Prize: a 1200 Gem Card!

And Third Prize: 800 Gems worth of giftable Gem Store content!!

Gem Card Codes will be sent to the winners once names have been drawn!

The Giveaway period will end on February 22nd, at about 9PM EST. Entries after that period will not be counted, sorry. Winners will be determined shortly after

Here are the rules:

You must be a follower. New followers ARE allowed to enter, and you MAY unfollow after the giveaway, if you reeeeeealy want!~

Reblog this post for an entry!

If you have your Main Blog separate from your GW2 Blog, have some way for me to find your main blog. Like a link or something. I will gladly do the extra work c:

Please do not use a Giveaway Blog. I will personally check every blog to ensure that they don’t leak in.

Please allow some way for me to contact you. Ask page, Fan-Mail, in-game name, etc. I can’t give you a prize if I don’t know who you are!

A big thank you to all 100+ followers! I <3 you all!!

(Message to last giveaway’s winners: If you did not receive some part of your giveaway by now, please contact me ASAP!)

When I turn around, he cups my face in his hands and he kisses me so deeply that I don’t know who is breathing for who, but his mouth and tongue taste like warm honey. I don’t know how long it lasts, but when I let go of him, I miss it already.

Melina Marchetta, On the Jellicoe Road   (via painfulbliss)