Is this what that means?
02 Mar 2012 Leave a Comment
in Excerpt, Tale of the Past, Team Theta
I was supposed to write a scene with tension between the characters – where someone is hiding something. I think this qualifies… Logan is definitely hiding something from Cyrus at this point. Although, Cyrus has already guessed at what it is. Cyrus, for his part, is hiding something from Logan. That remains known to only me and Cyrus at this point in the story, though.
**
Cyrus paused to frown at him and Logan shook the thoughts away. Smiling, he said, “What?”
“What?” Cyrus said, mimicking him perfectly. He laughed and shook his head, turning back to the kitchen. “That was you, undressing me with your eyes again. That’s what!”
Logan stifled a laugh. “I don’t undress you with my eyes,” he protested, as he moved to his feet and followed Cyrus into the kitchen. It was clear that Cyrus had started his cleaning in this room. All the metal surfaces seemed to gleam in the early morning sunlight. Even the wooden surfaces seemed brighter than normal.
“No,” Cyrus said, his tone doubtful. “Not at all. You just imagine me in my altogether, yeah?” He chuckled and shook his head. Waving a finger at Logan, he said, “You look at me like that – with those thoughts in your head – and you wonder that them at school think we’re dating!”
Logan stifled another laugh and shook his head. “As I recall, it was you, my dear Cyrus, that was shocked by that bit of news,” he said. “I’d known for some time about those particular rumors.”
“And you didn’t tell me?” Cyrus said, moving over to the stove.
“At the time, that’s all they were: rumors,” Logan said. He shook his head and sat down. “It didn’t seem important to tell you what they were saying.” He looked over at Cyrus again and saw that the younger man was frowning at him. “What?”
“At the time, you said.” He tilted his head to one side, “What are they now, then? We’re not dating, not so far as I know. You think different?”
A teasing smile touched Logan’s lips. “You came with me to England on summer holiday,” he said, his eyes narrowing. “We’re sharing this cottage. What would you call it?”
Cyrus flushed and spun away. “You are an incorrigible flirt is what I’d call it,” he snapped. Shaking his head and mumbling to himself, he dished out two bowls of porridge. He poured them each a cup of tea and then set the meal in front of Logan.
“Thank you,” Logan said, a faint smile playing at his lips.
As he started to eat, Cyrus said, “You’ll wipe that self-satisfied smile off your lips, or you’ll wear that porridge.” When Logan looked up at him, a practiced expression on innocence on his face, Cyrus glared at him. “We are not dating!”
“Not at all,” Logan said, schooling his expression. He turned back to his meal and smiled again. “You’ve come to England with me, at my invitation. We’re sharing this cottage, so that I can protect you. You’ve made us this fine breakfast, because… why?” he said, looking over at Cyrus archly.
“You slept in, didn’t you?” Cyrus said, flushing further. Shaking his head, he focused on his food. “You make me crazy. You do know that, yeah?”
“Oh, yes,” Logan said, smiling, “and I enjoy each moment of it.”
Cyrus nodded. “Just so we’re clear,” he said, his voice soft.
Changing Feelings…
27 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment
in Excerpt, Tale of the Past, Team Theta Tags: Cyrus, Logan
A little scene that I think shows my characters falling in love. At least, I hope it does…
**
“I’m for bed,” he announced, moving towards one of the bedrooms.
“Sleep well, Cyrus,” Logan said, as he moved to stoke the fire into life.
Cyrus frowned at him. “You’ll get some sleep too, won’t you?” he said, regarding Logan with a worried frown.
“Soon,” Logan said, giving him a weak smile.
Cyrus frowned at him for a moment. As tired as he was, he was hesitant about simply going to be when Logan seemed this tense. Sighing, he stepped close to his partner. “What’s got you so worried, then?” he asked, tilting his head up to look into Logan’s eyes.
“What makes you think I’m worried?” Logan said, his lips quirking into a smile. However, the smile didn’t reach his eyes. They remained hooded – guarded, almost.
“We’ve worked together for over a year, now, haven’t we?” Cyrus said, shaking his head. He frowned. “You’ve not said more than you had to since we arrived in England, have you? You don’t think I’ve learned to read you by now?”
When Logan said nothing, Cyrus persisted. “Logan,” he said, his tone coming out a bit petulant. “We’re partners, aren’t we? I want to help you! Yeah? How can I do that, if you won’t tell me what it is bothering you?”
The forced smile left Logan’s features. “I don’t think you realize the danger you may be in, Cyrus,” he said, his voice soft. He shook his head. “I feel – I’ve placed you in this danger and you seem so… oblivious to it!”
“I’m in the middle of a village surrounded by people cursed with lycanthropy,” Cyrus said, his voice soft. His brow furrowed. “I don’t know who among them – or even if any of them – are as diligent about taking the medicine as you are. Believe me, Logan, I know how dangerous this place might be for me.”
Logan sighed and looked down at the floor. “I’m concerned, Cyrus,” he said. His voice was hardly more than a murmur. Cyrus leaned in close to hear him. They were mere inches apart. “You’re young and, I appreciate that you want to help me, but… maybe I don’t want your help?”
“I think,” Cyrus said, his voice just as soft as Logan’s own, “that you’re scared. Yeah? I think you might have brought me here – three nights before the full moon – hoping it’d scare me off from you.”
There was a soft gasp and Logan lifted his gaze, meeting Cyrus’s eyes once more. He opened his mouth to speak, but Cyrus stopped his words with a finger against his parted lips. “I don’t scare so easy, Logan Rembrandt Starke,” he said, a faint smile touching his lips. “Not near so easy as you do.” Then, he turned away and headed into one of the bedrooms.
Connecting on another level
20 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment
in Excerpt, Tale of the Past, Team Theta
This is my attempt to show how their intellectual attraction… not sure how well I did.
**
Cyrus chewed his lip and finished sweeping the corridor. Then, he headed to Logan’s room. He was careful not to be seen entering Logan’s room – or even knocking on the door. He looked up, his cheeks warming when the door opened.
“Morning,” he said. His words came out a bit breathlessly, as if he’d been running. He felt a bit as if he had too, given the way his heart pounded in his chest. “I… wondered if we could talk. Yeah?”
“Certainly,” Logan said, stepping to one side.
Cyrus slipped into the room and then spun to face Logan as the older man shut the door. “I’m confused,” he blurted out. He flushed when Logan gave him a quizzical frown. He shook his head and spun away. “I know how you feel about me. I’m just… I’m not sure how I feel about you. How do I know if it’s love or lust or – or some echo of your emotions?”
He felt Logan’s arms wrap around his shoulders and sighed, leaning back against the older man. His eyes closed and he relaxed. His racing heart slowed and his breathing evened out. “I’m a little scared, too,” he admitted. “No one’s ever made me feel the way you do.”
Logan kissed his neck and then moved upward. His lips brushed their way along his jawbone and then back to his ear. Cyrus moaned, turning his head so that Logan had better access.
“No one’s ever made me feel this way either, Cyrus,” Logan said, his voice low and husky. He rubbed circles into Cyrus’s abdomen with one hand, while caressing his chest with the other. “As to your questions: what is love?”
“Caring for each other,” Cyrus said, his voice soft. He did care for Logan, otherwise, he wouldn’t have agreed to the binding in the first place. “Wanting to be with each other… for always.” That was there too. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have run to Logan’s arms when he was feeling confused and frightened by his emotions and scattered thoughts.
“So, you love me,” Logan said, his voice soft. “I think, my love, what you’re truly worried about is not whether what you feel is love or not. It’s more a question of… is it the right sort of love? You love your parents and your sisters. Correct?”
“Yeah, but… not the same way,” Cyrus said. His brows furrowed. “I love my country and my sovereign, too, but… in another way still.”
Logan nodded against his shoulder. Then, he turned Cyrus in his arms and looked into his eyes. “Love is something you work at, Cyrus,” he said. “It’s an emotion, but once you move beyond that emotion and beyond the physical attraction… there needs to be more, or else we can’t make it work out.”
Cyrus nodded. His eyes were locked on Logan’s face. He searched the other’s face, seeking the answers to his unspoken questions there. What was it that made Logan want to be with him, of all people? What would make him want to be with Logan, over anyone else? “You’re so kind,” Cyrus said, his voice soft, “and brave – in ways that I’m not and – and never could be. Yeah?”
Logan smiled and cupped his chin. “You have your own kind of bravery, my love,” he said, his voice soft and hoarse with emotion. “As well as quiet strength and dignity. It was that which first drew me to you.”
Nodding, Cyrus smiled. “You – you want to protect me,” he murmured. Dropping his gaze, he leaned into Logan’s chest. As the older man enfolded him in an embrace, he said, “I want to do the same for you. More than that, I want you to be happy. I want to make you happy.”
“You do,” Logan said, his voice faint. “I want that for you as well, Cyrus. Can you be happy with a person like me? As dangerous as I am?”
“Yes,” Cyrus said. There was no hesitation in his answer. His doubts were gone. In the light of day, he knew the answers to his questions. He loved Logan and in a way that could be so much more. It wouldn’t be easy and it would take time. However, he was determined to make it work.
Just make up already!
17 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment
in Excerpt, Tale of the Past, Team Theta
That’s great in theory. In practice, Cyrus is a bit confused as to when they started dating…
**
“Cyrus?”
He looked up from the growing pile of dust and debris at his feet and blinked. The potions’ master was standing a few feet away, regarding him with a curious frown. “Yes, Professor Caimier?” he said, tilting his head to one side.
“Are you and Professor Starke… fighting?” he asked. He flushed and looked up at the ceiling, shaking his head. “It’s none of my business, I know, but… he’s been even quieter this last week than normal. He’s even been avoiding Athena – like he’s not in the mood for her games.”
Cyrus blinked. “I… wouldn’t say we were fighting,” he said, shaking his head. He bit his lip and then looked down at the pile of dust. They’d fought and Cyrus had stormed out of the room, leaving the matter unresolved. He sighed and shrugged. “There might be hurt feelings, I suppose.”
“I wish you’d make up, already,” Caimier said, shaking his head. “It’s like walking around on pins and needles whenever I’m in the room with Starke.”
“What?” Cyrus said, before he could stop himself. Make up? What was that supposed to mean? He flushed when he realized the implications. “But we’re not… I mean…” he trailed off. How was he supposed to explain that they were partners, but not in the way that Caimier thought?
“What makes you think we’re… em, seeing each other?” Cyrus said, his voice faint and high, but not in the way it was normally. Now, it was shock and embarrassment that made his voice sound that way, not an attempt to seem sweet and innocent.
“Oh, well, we all just assumed,” Caimier said, blinking. He flushed and started waving his hands wildly. “I mean, the way he stares at you when he thinks no one sees – not exactly sweet looks of longing, but… I’ll shut up now.” He spun away and disappeared back into his office.
“They all assumed we were dating?” Cyrus said, blinking.
Under the Moonlight
14 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment
in Excerpt, Tale of the Past, Team Theta
And the beginning of the physical attraction between the pair… I like the reaction Logan’s werewolf side has to his “romantic” notions around Cyrus.
**
Logan had never thought of walking under the moonlight with anyone until that day. To him, the light of the moon was something to fear. It meant the return of his wolf. Now, though, as he stood on the walkway at the top of the fortress-like school and waited for Cyrus to join him, it stuck him as romantic. The half-moon shining down on them and the twinkling stars filling the blackness of the sky… Cyrus would be like a star himself, a point of light in the shadows that had filled Logan’s heart for so long.
That’s pushing things a bit too far, his inner wolf chided.
He could feel the disgust of cursed side of himself at his sentimental notions. However, for once, he didn’t care. He heard a boot scrape against the stone and turned. Cyrus had stepped out onto the walkway as well. He was standing in the doorway, in fact, staring at Logan with wide eyes. Standing there, lit as he was by the light from the inner corridor, Cyrus looked like an angel.
Logan smiled at the mock-gagging sounds that echoed in the back of his mind. “Hello, my love,” he said, giving Cyrus a half-bow.
Cyrus stepped forward and took his hand. “It’s rather a nice night, yeah?” he said, his voice faint. He looked up at the stars and shook his head. “It’s not even too cold to enjoy a walk outside.”
“Nor too warm for me to set my arm around your shoulders,” Logan said, setting action to his words. Logan smiled when Cyrus rested his head on his chest. Then, they were walking together along the top of the fortress.
Joining of Souls
14 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment
in Excerpt, Tale of the Past, Team Theta
This is an excerpt from the story I’m writing. In it, Logan, a werewolf, needs to bind his curse to the magic of a wizard. Otherwise, he might die. Cyrus, his partner, volunteers to be that wizard. The binding will strengthen whatever kind of relationship they already have. For Cyrus, it was friendship. For Logan, it something far more…
**
Logan took a deep breath and then looked Cyrus, his eyes locking on Cyrus’s own. “You’re sure about this?” he said, his voice weak.
Cyrus nodded. “I don’t want for you to die, Logan,” he said, his voice soft. He set his hand over both of Logan’s hands, which were folded on the table. Leaning forward, he added, “Mischa said it would change our relationship. If we’re friends, we’d become like brothers.”
“Being bound to your core,” Logan said, his voice soft, “would be like joining our souls. We wouldn’t feel each other’s pain or know each other’s thoughts, exactly. However, we’d… know when the other was in pain and we’d sense each other’s emotions.”
Yet again, Cyrus nodded. “It’d end any doubt about what you feel towards me, then,” he said. “Is that why you’re so reluctant?” He searched Logan’s eyes, as if he could see the answer to his question written there.
Logan blinked and sighed. Shaking his head, he said, “I don’t know. I just… I know I’m afraid that the drain will be too much – with your affliction. Can you afford to let me draw on your energy in that manner?”
“I’ll just have to keep track of the lunar cycle. Won’t I?” Cyrus said. He grinned. “My affliction isn’t so terrible as that, Logan. Normally, I have enough energy – and more to spare. It just… I don’t gather energy the way I’m meant to, do I? I keep my energy sink near when I’m sleeping and… the moon rises mostly at night – when I’ll be abed.”
Nodding, Logan said, “You’d be in a state of energy gathering when I’ll be drawing on your core.” He seemed relieved, if only a little. He looked into Cyrus’s eyes once more and Cyrus blinked. They were mere inches apart. All Cyrus could see were Logan’s warm brown eyes.
His lips parted and, in that instant, Logan leaned forward. Their lips met and Cyrus gasped as Logan’s tongue slipped into his mouth. For a moment, Cyrus tensed. Then, he felt something stir deep inside. This was the binding ceremony! Logan was sealing his curse to Cyrus’s core in this simple act.
Cyrus moaned softly as Logan deepened the kiss. He was dimly aware of Logan cupping the back of his head with one hand, while the other settled into the small of his back. Cyrus felt his heart racing as his magic rebelled, if only for a moment, against what Logan was doing. Then, as if a switch had been thrown, Cyrus relaxed and he was no longer simply being kissed by Logan. They were kissing.
As Logan broke the kiss, Cyrus took several steadying breaths. He blinked rapidly and then looked up at Logan. Suddenly, as their eyes met, he felt… Logan admired him and was deeply attracted to him. Cyrus felt his cheeks warm and he fled.
He didn’t know why he ran; only that he needed space. He didn’t go to the cottage. Instead, he ran into the trees at the edge of the village. He stopped, heart pounding, at the edge of a small brook. “What… was that?” he breathed. Feeling foolish, he shook his head. “Why’d I just… run like that?”
Time and again
06 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment
in Mini-story, Tale of the Past, Team Theta Tags: Cyrus, Logan
Logan and Cyrus had met each other before – worked together, even. However, that was years ago and things change with Time.
–
Logan felt a bit nervous as he moved down the corridor. It was one thing to be assigned to one of the intelligence teams. He’d been expecting the call for years now. Ever since he’d contracted the curse, he’d known the day would come. He’d never expected to be assigned to the administrative team, though. What did that even mean?
He looked up as he reached the door. Frowning, he touched the Greek letter that was emblazoned on the crazed glass. A theta – the symbol for their team. He sighed and was about to push the door opened. It fell back, away from him, and he stepped back with a stifled gasp.
The first thing he saw were wide, hazel eyes. “Oh,” a soft voice said. Logan blinked and he looked at the person in front of him more keenly. He took in all the details: the untidy red-brown hair, the careless way he wore his uniform and, there on his shoulder, the symbol marking him as…
“You’re the team’s second?” Logan blurted. He shook his head. “You’re hardly more than – than a child!”
“I’m plenty old enough, Starke,” the other snapped. His brows furrowed and he bit his lip. Whirling away, he waved an arm at Logan. “Found Starke,” he said. Then, he crossed his arms over his chest and strode back to stand beside a female agent – the team leader.
Tiana Hartfield smiled. “Agent Starke,” she said, waving at the young man beside her. “I believe you’ve worked with Agent Grayson before?”
Logan blinked and looked at the younger agent again. Some things were the same, now that he knew the man’s name. The same eyes, of course. His hair was longer now – messier than when they’d worked together all those years ago. There were other differences, too. Grayson wasn’t a boy now, not really. He was a young man and a rather handsome one.
A faint smile touched Logan’s face. “My apologies,” he said, using his most charming tone. He bowed slightly. “I didn’t recognize you, Time. You’ve… matured. It’s very good to see you again.”
Grayson frowned at him, his expression guarded. Then, he sighed and rolled his eyes. “Whatever,” he said, shaking his head. He finger-combed his hair and smoothed out his uniform. “It’s not as if I don’t get told to smarten up my appearance often enough by Director Haruko.”
“Time you listened,” a low voice said.
Everyone in the room straightened at the sound of their director’s voice – except Grayson. He sighed and rolled his eyes again. “Yes, Uncle,” he said. Only then did he straighten as well. Logan hid a smile. Oh, yes. He remembered Grayson well. That attitude, like his eyes, was the same as always. He looked over at Grayson again, this time with a bit of respect. It would be a pleasure to work with Time again.
“Nice of you to finally join us, Chance,” Haruko said, his tone a bit annoyed.
Logan bowed slightly. “I apologize for my tardiness, sir,” he said. Straightening, he met the director’s eyes. “Full moon last night.” He nearly smiled as the director’s pupils seemed to twitch – the only hint of fear the arrogant man would give.
The magic seed
23 Jun 2011 Leave a Comment
in Mini-story, Tale of the Past Tags: Keenan, Rusty
Keenan frowned at the potion that was bubbling in his cauldron. It was missing something. He knew that much. The problem was, he didn’t know what it was missing. He dipped the spoon into the brew and stirred it a few times to the left, then back to the right a couple times.
He ladled out a bit and dropped it onto the plant on his workbench. The leaves shriveled where the brew touched them. No, it was definitely missing something.
“Gah,” he said, rubbing his hands through his hair in frustration. What was he missing? He went through the ingredients in his mind, counting each component and the attributes it was supposed to bring to a potion.
Suddenly, his eyes widened. He knew what it needed! He spun away and hurried to the shelves that held his potion ingredients. His gaze scanned the little bottles and jars, finally landing on a large bottle a wide mouth.
Keenan snatched the bottle off the shelf and returned to his workbench. He pried off the lid and tipped the bottle. Drip, drip, drip… with the third drop, the potion changed from an icky brown to a vibrant green. Satisfied, he straightened the bottle and set it on the workbench.
He dipped the spoon into the brew and repeated the earlier test. This time, instead of shriveling, the plant burst into bloom. The damaged leaves also healed themselves. Keenan let out an exultant yell and took the potion off the heat. He quickly wrote out the process he’d used to craft the potion. Then, he poured it into a bottle. Rusty, he knew, would be pleased.
To be a discoverer you hold close whatever you find
16 Jun 2011 Leave a Comment
in Mini-story, Tale of the Past Tags: Keenan, Teagan
Teagan frowned and looked around for his apprentice. He’d finished his morning chores, but where was he now? Sighing, he headed out to the front step. The boy was crouching on the ground. He held something between his hands and he kept peering at it between his thumbs.
“What have you got there, Keenan?” Teagan asked, looking intently at his young apprentice.
Keenan looked up at him, his dark eyes sparkling with excitement. “I dunno,” he said, shaking his head. After standing a bit awkwardly, he scampered across the yard to his master’s side. He opened his hands and then gasped as whatever he’d been holding flew upward.
Teagan’s eyes widened as the little sprite glided upward, towards the sky. He’d never seen a sprite quite like that before. He looked at his apprentice. “How’d you catch her?” he asked, tilting his head inquiringly.
Shrugging, Keenan scuffed his foot against the turf. “Just did,” he said, cupping his hands over the air. He looked up at Teagan and then bounced. “What was she master?”
“A sprite,” Teagan said. He ruffled Keenan’s hair and said, “Should you catch another, bring it to me straightaway.”
“Yes, sir,” Keenan said, nodding.
Smiling, Teagan tugged on one of the dark locks and added, “Lunchtime, my boy. Go and wash those hands.” He watched as Keenan scampered inside to obey his words. He’d had many apprentices but none was ever the same. Keenan, of all of them, had ways of surprising him the most.
You were saved not in order to live.
11 Jun 2011 Leave a Comment
in Mini-story, Tale of the Past Tags: Keenan
I knew I didn’t have time for tears. Master Teagan was dead and whomever had sent the tree after us had to be nearby. Pushing my grief to the background, I looked around. I spotted him a few feet from the base of the tree.
He was tall and blond-haired. Most people would have found him quite handsome. However, I could feel the dark energy rolling out of him, like bubbling tar. I almost asked him what he wanted. Then, I saw it.
The man was pretending to use magic against the tree. If I hadn’t seen my master doing just that in earnest when I was attacked, I would have been fooled. I gasped as the tree released me suddenly.
As I slipped free of the branches, he caught me and drew me back protectively. Bright blue eyes locked with mine and I suddenly felt dizzy. “Are you all right, lad?” he asked, smoothing my hair.
I swallowed thickly and nodded. “Master,” he rasped, looking for Master Teagan, but the man stopped me by cupping my chin. “My master…”
“It’s too late to help him, little one,” he said. He sighed and shook his head. “I was barely in time to save you.”
I bit my lip and shivered. He drew me forward and I balked. Then, in my head I heard a soft voice said, “Go with him!”
I stumbled forward, looking around for whatever might be speaking to me. I didn’t have far to look. Half-hidden in a thicket, there was a small brown rabbit. One look in the intensely blue eyes told me all I needed to know. It was familiar that Phillip had told me I should have had long ago.
“He wants you to increase his power,” the familiar told me. “That’s the only reason he didn’t kill you when he did your master. If he learns that you know what he is, things will go much worse for you. Just… go with him, Keenan.”
I swallowed thickly and then looked up at the man. I recognized him now, but I couldn’t remember his name. “You are…”
“Malloran,” he said. “I will teach you magic, little one, if you choose.” My mind whirled as I tried to think of some way out of that. Nothing immediately came to mind.
“My – my name’s Keenan,” I said. That, at least, wasn’t committing to anything one way or the other. I could figure out what to do about the other matter later.
