Prince Charming

Note: I’M BACK. –Ahem- And I’m not dead, just, you know…for the record. Many apologies and all that yada yada, but I get tired of making ‘em as you guys probably do of getting them. So, without ANY further ado…..here’s chapter nineteen!


Chapter Nineteen

The minutes dragged on like hours as Teige waited, his restless gaze turned to the sky in a pose so very similar to the one he’d found himself in every night before his last escape from Cyprien’s clutches. As he watched the grey fade to navy, faint hints of light growing brighter until the endless expanse lay awash with scattered white stars, he realized how much had changed, and how much hadn’t. Cyprien still made his heart pound, his palms sweat, and his eyes fill with tears. He still set his blood on fire, made promises, and offered him everything in the world but those things he needed above all else. And when the barred door to his small room in this ice tower finally creaked open, likely over an hour later, warning him of the vampire’s return, his gut still knotted with fear.

But he had learned some things in the time they’d spent apart, and unlike every night previously, this time, he didn’t wait for the other to make his move, didn’t drag out the moment until he could no longer ignore it. This time, he turned first, meeting Cyprien’s gaze dead on before the vampire had left the doorway.

“Is he alright?” Teige asked, his voice quiet, but steady enough that it traveled clearly to the other’s ears regardless of the distance between them.

For a moment, he thought he saw a flicker of hurt in the immortal’s expression, as if for just a fleeting second, it pained him to hear the first words from his former lover’s tongue inquiring about the well-being of another. Then, the look faded, and he gave a shrug, a graceful roll of his shoulders that neither confirmed nor denied anything.

“He is alive. For now.”

Teige nodded, turning his gaze away from Cyprien and back to the stars before he made his next inquiry. “Does it hurt?” At Cyprien’s silence, Teige continued without emotion, his tone as steady as if he’d brought up the subject of the weather. “To die? I assume…” He turned his back on the window, still holding sheets about himself in makeshift clothing as he came to face his immortal captor. “…you’ve come far closer to it than I have.”

Cyprien took a while to answer, so long, in fact, that Teige almost thought he wouldn’t at all, but in the end, he shook his head slowly, coming forward and revealing himself more fully in the moonlight before he spoke. “When you cross…from one species to the next, giving up mortality for eternal life…you are, in a way, letting part of yourself die…but it does not hurt.”

“I wasn’t talking about that…” Briefly, their eyes locked, and Teige had the sensation of drowning in the airless emptiness of a thousand centuries of bleak, lifeless torment. “Cyprien-“

“I know. But you have no reason to fear any other death than that. You will not die on this night.” When Teige said nothing, the vampire held out several folded pieces of white cloth, striking and pristine as the snow outside; it took him a moment to recognize them as parts of a tunic and leggings. “I assumed…you might prefer something more substantial than that sheet.”

At first, Teige simply stared, then, slowly, an ironic smile crept onto his lips, and he lifted his gaze to Cyprien’s as he accepted the fabric. “Thank you.”

“You seem surprised.”

Teige scoffed. But, for a passing moment, the vampire thought he caught sight of mischief dancing in that ocean blue gaze before Teige turned quickly away, offering him his back. Then, like a stray cloud, the thing grey sheet slid with a rustle to the floor. “Only slightly startled,” the smaller man answered calmly, either oblivious or indifferent to the immortal’s eyes as they traveled freely over his bare backside while he unfolded the leggings before him. “I half expected a dress.”

Behind him, Cyprien made an incomprehensible noise that lead him to glance over his shoulder, his eyes curious as he pulled the fine white cloth over his legs, fastening it with a string belt at his hips. “What? Should I have hid behind the bookshelf so you wouldn’t have to watch?”

Cyprien shook his head slowly, though his eyes continued to draw intricate patterns over the bare flesh before him, still fair, but darker now than his own. “No. It might have been a dress…but this is not my home, merely a monument I use occasionally at my whim. Over the course of centuries…one tends to gather many places of residency, though you’ll have to forgive me for not keeping them all equally fitted with clothes stocked to your…preferences.” When Teige reached for the tunic top, Cyprien caught his hand, and vampire felt it as Teige tensed under his touch, the beautiful body he’d once claimed so many times as his own now still and unresponsive. “You’ve changed, since you left my tower…”

After a moment’s pause, the smaller man turned to him, his blue eyes curious. “Yes, perhaps,” he admitted eventually, though his expression never changed, running his gaze over the vampire repeatedly as if in search of the key to some secret puzzle currently perplexing him. “But you haven’t.”

“I suppose not. What happened?” At first, Teige thought Cyprien wanted to know what had made him change, but then, he felt the man’s hands in his hair, and glanced to the side as the immortal’s fingers trailed loosely through the oddly cropped obsidian locks, making the strands brush slightly across his bare shoulders. “I seem to remember something a bit more…tame. And plentiful.”

Shrugging mildly, Teige answered without much interest. “It was never practical…and it made me look like a woman.”

“I believe, my love…that was the point.” With his words, Cyprien’s fingers pressed gently back at the dark tresses, revealing a long, slender column of throat to his hungry gaze, and Teige shut his eyes at the inspection, as if somehow, by blocking out the image, he could block out the reality as well.

“Don’t do this, Cyprien…” Teige pleaded, his voice barely a flutter of breath as he felt the vampire’s chilling presence loom over him. “You have eternity to find someone else please…just let us go…”

“Kiss me.” Cyprien stated calmly, the decisive words an eloquent challenge on his tongue, and dark lashes flitted open in surprise only to meet with an ebony gaze steady as the earth itself. When Teige’s brow furrowed, confusion marring his features as he opened his mouth to question, the vampire shook his head and interrupted the speech before it began. “Kiss me as you would him.”

“I-“ Again, Teige opened his mouth to speak, but a firm press of lips sealed away his words, and he could only stare, startled and impassive as the immortal laid claim to his mouth. As soon as the weight of the situation sank in, he raised his hands in preparation to shove the other off, but then, the implication behind the vampire’s request hit him, and he paused, hands lying dormant in indecision on Cyprien’s chest as he battled with guilt and uncertainty.

In the end, Teige swallowed down his worry, shutting his eyes as they stung and ignoring the shameful burn in his cheeks as he tightened his grip on Cyprien’s front. He tried to do as requested, pulling the man closer and struggling to imagine Davinoff’s passionate embrace as he tentatively allowed his lips to part, but he quickly found the feat near impossible. When Drake’s lips found his, their kisses mingled, fitting together in a wild, primal dance that depended on nothing but mutual craving and uncontrolled torrents of emotion; when Cyprien kissed him, it was the polar opposite. Not opposite in a revolting or even unpleasant way, but opposite in that everything had reason, purpose, and control. Nothing moved without direction.

When the vampire’s tongue caught his own, engaging him in a slow, choreographed dance, Teige shuddered, feeling the first stinging evidence of tears escape despite his will to prevent them. Then, a cool touch caught the dampness, and his lashes lifted like heavy drapes, reluctant to open even as the immortal backed away.

“Do you cry when he kisses you?” Cyprien inquired softly, running his thumb over the shimmering salt stains left on the other’s cheeks as he spoke.

“I did once…” For a moment, the vampire looked surprised, but then Teige continued, his voice quiet but clear, gaining confidence as he spoke of his lover. “I thought I’d lost him…after spending a day alone, with nothing but him on my mind…I was finally standing there, looking at him…and suddenly I couldn’t think anymore…had no idea what to say, or do…or even what to expect. I half thought he might just shout and turn me away but…he didn’t…and then he was there, holding me and kissing me and apologizing even though it was all my fault in the first place…and-“ Realizing suddenly that he was still talking out loud, and to Cyprien no less, he shut his mouth with a startled blush, frowning slightly before he diverted his gaze. “I was just…so terrified of losing him…”

“And now? What are your reasons?”

“Similar, really…” Teige admitted, keeping his eyes to the floor. “Terrified mostly…of seeing him hurt, not being able to do anything about it…” He looked up then, finally meeting Cyprien’s gaze soundly. “…letting you take him from me.”

“Me? I told you, my sweet…I won’t touch him.”

“Then what about afterwards!” Teige forgot his situation: forgot that he stood half dressed, unarmed, and alone in a room with a man ten times his strength, forgot that Cyprien wouldn’t hear a word he said no matter how loud he shouted, forgot that his tears wouldn’t make a difference. “What about when you suck me dry…leave me in his arms to die! Decay… Will you let him go then? Will you help him!” The last came out as more of a demand than a question, and Teige opened his mouth to continue, but before he could, Cyprien’s grip caught him roughly, one hand clamping over his mouth and the other spinning him until he had his back to the vampire’s chest, his body pinned in a death grip.

“If he is half of everything you make him out to be-!” Cyprien cut off mid-sentence after the brash challenge, his bone-crushing grip dying to a mere cling as if he’d suddenly used all his energy there in that moment. “That man will not let you die…” Instead of a statement, it came out as a plea, and though Teige knew full well that the vampire could snap his neck in an instant, it pained him more than words could describe to hear such a tone from a man he’d never known to show more than the briefest flicker of emotion. In the end though, his anger welled up over the pain, shoving it aside as soon as he could break from Cyprien’s grip.

“So that’s what you’re depending on? That he’ll sacrifice himself for me, and you can have it your own fucking way in the end anyway?” Teige had begun backing up, Cyprien still at the window even as the smaller man drew away.

“Am I wrong in my assumptions?” The vampire questioned, his eyes cold as he surveyed the other, watching as Teige opened his mouth in preparation to protest, then paused with a spark of doubt in his eyes.

For a moment, Teige couldn’t breath, his throat clenching as a cold panic stole over him. What if Cyprien was right? If Davinoff thought it meant his life, would he willingly die in his stead?

“Yes…” Even to his own ears, the words didn’t sound convincing and Teige swallowed the bitterness in his throat. “Yes. You’re wrong. He’s not stupid like that! And he wouldn’t make me kill him…he couldn’t! I won’t kill him to save my life! Even if he asked me to…” The last statement came out deathly quiet, but apparently Cyprien heard him regardless, his tone calm as a glassy sea, undisturbed by the storm of Teige’s desperate denial.

“What if he begged?”

“Cyprien-“ Before Teige could get past the single plea, the vampire closed the distance between them, vice grip catching his wrists and holding him steadfast to his chest. Eyes tightly shut, Teige turned his head to the side, baring his neck openly even as his body trembled. “Just do it. Now. Bite me. Kill me. Get it over with…please…”

He received nothing more than an angry hiss in answer, but apparently the vampire had no further desire to argue, because seconds later, he felt the unmistakable brush of Cyprien’s cool, aristocratic fingers as they swept gracefully over the vulnerable expanse of his throat. “You will live to regret your defiance,” he promised thickly, his tone accented with the coursing need for hot blood. Teige never got another warning.

If Teige could have screamed, he might have, regardless of his pride or determination to pay his price in silence. The instant Cyprien’s fangs pierced his skin, sensation slashed through him in a fiery whiplash of pain and bliss intertwined so tightly he couldn’t have distinguished between the two had his life depended on it. In that moment, a small, fragmented part of his mind wondered if the vampire meant to punish him with such actions, but the other, a part currently swamping him in a blurry sea of delirium, didn’t care what the vampire wanted, he just wanted to give it to him, immediately.

Cyprien’s lips slid across his skin as he drank, dragging the life out of him in a way so painfully erotic that Teige didn’t care if he ever took another breath, so long as the feeling didn’t stop, and when Cyprien finally withdrew, slowly, Teige found himself clutching the thin fabric of his captor’s shirt, completely dependent on the vampire’s support.

“I could take you,” Cyprien whispered thickly, his words impossibly hot against Teige’s suddenly chilled flesh. “I’ve done it so many times before…” Dazed, Teige felt the unmistakable liquid warmth of blood seeping down languidly from his abused neck to the bare expanse of his chest. “You wouldn’t even object…” The vampire mused quietly, pressing a gentle, measured kiss to the small lesion he’d created before mimicking the act with timed precision down the dark crimson trail that followed. “…would you, my sweet?”

Teige shuddered, lashes fluttering indecisively across his cheeks and matching the pace of his uneven breathing. He opened his mouth to speak, but couldn’t seem to form the words, and eventually gave up, catching his lower lip between his teeth and praying silently, though he didn’t know what for. Like most prayers, he received no acknowledgment to know he’d be aided, or even heard, but at that moment, it didn’t matter.

“You will kill him.” Cyprien’s lips felt far too hot against his skin, too much of a contrast, and Teige tried to withdraw, only to hit a wall, his only vocal objection a small whimper that sounded meek even to his own ears. “Your body is already weak and in need of proper nourishment… Nothing else will do.”

“Cyprien…” Teige’s head spun, his scalp prickling and skull pounding as if a novice healer had suddenly decided to practice acupuncture on the roof of his head. As he spoke, his voice cracked and he swallowed in an effort to remove the dry pain in his throat.

“The callous hand of death offers no clemency to the mortal soul, Teige… With him, you would only cripple and decay: rot, like the rest of your meager species. With me, you will have everything.” In his foggy state of semi-consciousness, Teige vaguely recognized the feel of something thin and smooth on his neck, thread-like, a string, perhaps. Then, a cool weight came to rest against his chest, small and circular, but noticeable enough to make him shiver. And just as he felt his consciousness slipping, Cyprien’s last promise came to him. “You will never escape me…”

Before he succumbed to the darkness, Teige’s final prayer came in the form of a name, and Cyprien’s eyes shut in muted pain upon hearing the utterance. “Drake…”


Note: HA! It’s up. Comments, criticisms?


Renair: So, we find out what happened to Drakes brother... I sence a change in loyaltys in the not-so-far-off furture. And how on earth do you manage to end EVERY chapter with a cliff-hanger? Seriously, I want to know... And on a totaly random note, look up a person called Heise on DevieantArt, they have a picture that looks EXACTLY like Tiege and Drake (so much so that I first thought it was fan art) And another great chapter! You've got me bitting my nails for the next one...again ^_^

Change in loyalties? I feel so guilty about that, but you’re probably right. If I can’t find any great creative way to get them out of their fix….it’ll have to be Raspel, all right. Every chapter with a cliff-hanger? Lol. Not quite sure. It must be an inborn talent. I love to write cliffhangers. They are my challenge. And a chapter just isn’t complete without them. (Bear in mind, I hate to READ cliffhangers as much as the next person…)

Awesome artist (Heise). I used to draw a teensy bit, but nothing even close to that caliber. Very cool. Thanks for directing me there! Sorry to have kept you waiting so long…..^^;;

MakaiKitty: Raspel is Drake's brother?! I so did not see that one coming. Good twist though. Poor Cyprien. I think he's really gone and done it now. He's going to have to die. A shame, but you just can't steal another man's bishie without suffering the consequences, no? I'm sure the next chapter will be very intense. Can't wait.

Lol. I’m glad no one else seemed to see it…(because I sure didn’t). It makes me feel better. XP Aye. Poor Cyprien. He gets that a lot. Especially in the upcoming chapters. o_o And you’re right…there must be some consequences, certainly! Evil doth not go unpunished….or….something like that. :gonk:



Corenn: Eyh, in fact of happy holy... holly... hooli... RHAAAAAAAAAH in fact of happy journey in Little Brittain... This was pure hell, my friend (I say "my friend" because I spent my time listening to Rhapsody and Korn - and, after too much Rhapsody, you begin to call the ones you speak with "my friend" or "mighty warrior". The other fans will understand me.). I missed Cyprien and Raspel and Drake and Teige soooo much T___T Even the RaspelXCyprien lemon and the two threesome that I wrote didn't divert me T___T It was horrible...
And I KNEW they were brothers ! XD Gruffy, seme-like... Bro-thers. I want to see a rape of Cyprien last days, I don't know why O__O Maybe the call-for-raping description of him that you put everywhere... Yeah, a rape with many men taking him by force and [all censored]... *day-dream*
Cyprien *gets white (Er... Even more white than usual, I mean...)* *choke something looking like "I see that Liyttle Brittain didn't make your enthousiasm fade" and run away*
Corenn : Buuuuut T____T What did I say ?
Drake+Teige+Raspel *bath into very cold water with red cheeks* No... thing...
Teige *thought* *jump on Drake* *[censored] (yes, the crazy censorerhas followed me here...)*
Raspel : CAN'T YOU STOP TO M

XD I still can’t believe I actually got a fanfic. That’s pretty cool. Even if it is in French! :gonk: (Someday, I’ll just have to learn French, I’m telling you. ^^) You knew they were brothers? XD Coolio for you. You probably figured it out before I did. Rape of Cyprien? Goodness gracious, that poor man. He looses his lover, is replaced by an ape, finally admits his feelings, gets rejected, pushed around, shoved-……ooohhhh. Nvm. But still. Poor Cyprien.

Censors are cool. 8)

Corenn: (damn touch enter... -_-)MAKE OUT IN FRONT OF CELIBATARIANS ???
Drake+Teige : No ^___^
Teige *show Cyprien* He's here. You know what you have to do.
Cyprien : ... It's for the captivity, isn't it ?
Teige : Yes ^___^
Raspel *jump on Cyprien* Libido rules us all !
And my translator give me "carry-jarretelle" for "porte-jaretelle" O_O The most wonderful creation of man since book... Maybe garter, yeah...

XDD Garter…the most wonderful creation of man? Damn I’ve been gone a while… Whatever happened to the wheel??? :gonk: Jk. Many apologies for taking so long to get this up! Hey, maybe I’ll even get around to replying to your email soon so I can get that French smut. :gonk: o_o



Katica Locke:Hey, so far, so good on me reviewing, eh?

I loved this chapter. It felt way too short. Cyprien is so eloquent, I actually felt pity for him, for a moment, then he said he'd kill Drake and all pity went out the window. Beautifully written, absolutely stunning imagery.

I know what you mean about seeing it unfold in your head. That's what takes me so long to write - I'll suddenly blink, and realize I've been watching the show in my head, instead of writing it down, lol. Anyway, great chapter, I'm dying to read more, and I'm glad things are finally settling down for you

Thanks a bunch, *hugs*

Katica

Yes! So far, very, very good on the reviewing. (And the same certainly can’t be said for myself as of yet. I promise, I’ll get to reviewing you soon! I’ll try to do it tonight even, but if I don’t make it…….eh…I’m not sure. I’ll try to get it tonight.)

I’ve always liked Cyprien, believe it or not. But the guy is just destined for trouble in the upcoming chaps. And yes, anyone who threatens the hero…must eventually pay. Phht. End of story.

Whoot! Glad to know I’m not the only one. But sometimes, I really have to just move away from the computer so I can just focus on getting the pictures straight (especially during hard writer’s block). You at least seem to be terrific at getting it all down, though. So cha.

Settling down? Man, I really just need to stop telling people what’s going on in my life. Seriously, I think I jinx myself. “Oh yes, things are going just fine. Everything’s clearing up and stuff should go fast from now o-” -hurricane Ernesto sweeps through Mississippi, school floods, computer breaks down, family members disappear off the face of the Earth- “Nevermind.” XP I’d say I’m going to try to be good from now on…but you know, I really just don’t want to go through that again.



Falcon Bertille: Oh Cyprien, Cyprien, Cyprien... You almost had me feeling sorry for him in this chapter. When he talks about how Teige makes him feel the sunlight, and fills his days with meaning, I really experienced the strength of his longing. Teige's response -- about how he would have given himself to Cyprien, if only Cyprien had spoken of his feelings earlier -- was also quite heartbreaking, revealing that Cyprien once had a chance for happiness, which he has now forever lost. But then Cyprien said he was going to kill Drake, and no one messes with my man Drake (growls protectively) so I'm afraid that Cyprien must be dealt with. Pemanently.

You mentioned that you take extra care when writing Cyprien's dialogue, and I wanted to say that your efforts pay off particularly well in this chapter. His speeches are not only eloquent, as befits his character, but there's also a touch of the archaic to them, a lingering trace of all the long years that he's lived through.

You've set up such a wicked, angsty delima for Teige: kill Drake or die himself. And even refusing to drink from Drake won't necessarily save his lover. I see the possibility of lots of lovely emotional turmoil in coming chapters.

Absolutely adored this line: "Smooth fingers, unmarred by time and age, cascaded down his cheek with the grace of a morning fog, startling the smaller figure into a sharp intake of breath; he’d forgotten how gentle the vampire was, and how cold." The comparison to fog was really original, and the whole sentence was so evocative that it made me shiver.

Anyway, great job, as always! Can't wait for the next bit!

Love,
Falcon

=^.^= You know the coolest thing about you? You can look at the dumbest, most hideous piece of junk…and find something good to say about it. (Not to sound angsty and compare my writing to junk…but really. No matter how much I dread posting sometimes, you always seem to bring to light stuff and make me feel oh so much better about things.)

I’m glad Drake has a protective fanclub, but I’m also happy to see that people haven’t just dubbed Cyprien with the ‘pure evil’ sticker. Of course, the great hero must triumph in the end (aren’t fairy tales convenient?), but Cyprien can’t go off totally unloved. Well, maybe he can, but he deserves some sympathy, right? Phht.

Nice to hear that the language paid off. He’s oh so very fun to write for, but sometimes I can’t quite feel like my writing has lived up to him. Glad to know that, at least for that chapter, it worked out.

Angsty dilemmas! What fun, right? -Ahem- Anyway…yes, never could get enough of that emotional drama. The trick is seeing if I can pull it off write without making it look like a total mess. Thank you as always for your uplifting reviews and wonderful editing help! Sorry it took me so long to get my act together this time. ^^



Sekre: -le gasp- I've just read through your story and thus far, it has been brilliant! I love it all! Can't wait till the next ... And to think, there's still that crazy elven-queen lady to deal with, at least, that's what I figured because of her last threat.

I say, just to solve all matters, Cyperian (I know I spelled that wrong, lol) Teige and Drake should just all get together and do the naughty ^^ Yeahhh -drools-


Great job! you got me hooked!


Sekre

XD The elven lady? You know, for the longest time, I did plan on bringing her back, just to surprise people. But then the idea kind of faded. But who knows! I still have to write the last chapter and so far…I’ve gone through three and deleted them. Maybe it’ll come out different than I expected! ^^

Mmm. If only I could do that and still get away with calling it a plot-filled and logical story……….. Very, very tempting. But I just don’t see how I could make it work. Maybe when I’m bored one day I can experiment with an alternate reality. XD ^^

Glad you liked it! No idea if you’re still reading, considering it took me a thousand ages to update, but I’m happy to know you enjoyed what you read. ^^



Charisa: Gosh! this chapter was really good! You should send it to bishonenplease[at]yahoo.com and see what happens.

Oh, and now it makes me want Cyprien to get Teige... crap... I really want THEM to be together... I don't know why.

And I like the touch with Raspel. I kinda figured he was Drake's brother in the beginning.

A new writing site? Interesting. I might consider it, actually, but probably not for awhile. (As you can probably tell, I’m a little tangled up right now just trying to finish things on this site. But if I ever get an extended period of free time and some initiative…) Thanks for the suggestion, regardless.

A Cyprien and Teige fan? Cool! Probably won’t happen…but I’m glad to know at least SOMEONE doesn’t hate Cyprien. ^^ Thanks for reviewing!