|
Post by Nadir on Apr 13, 2009 14:40:53 GMT -5
The boy was a fine actor, indeed--he seemed to feel it was the truth.
Nadir could only laugh, softly at first, but with helplessly increasing volume and power.
He waved his hands in front of him for a moment, unable to speak between guffaws.
"I--I'm sorry, I believe you just said--you're...oh my God, you're amusing. A vam--" He broke down into chuckles again.
When he had recovered himself enough to speak coherently, he patted Edward's shoulder, shaking his head pityingly.
"...I...hate to wake you from your dream, Edward, but...no. You're not."
|
|
Edward Cullen
- Ingenious Pilot -
What if I?m not a superhero? What if I?m the bad guy?
Posts: 163
|
Post by Edward Cullen on Apr 14, 2009 9:25:38 GMT -5
This was not what he'd been expecting.
Fear, perhaps. Anger, at being lied to all this time. Curiosity. Not... not mocking disbelief. His eyes tightened and his hair seemed to stand up even taller.
He was feeling very affronted.
"I'm stronger than any human. Faster than your eye can see. My skin is as hard as marble. No one has eyes this--" He glanced at Nadir. "Never mind. I'm over a hundred years old. I drink blood." He skin sparkled still in the sun. "This is the skin of a killer."
|
|
|
Post by Nadir on Apr 14, 2009 10:27:37 GMT -5
"Edward...you would have done better to try and convince me you were a mermaid," gasped Nadir between giggles.
"I've no doubt that you're something...but a vampire, you are not. Trust me."
|
|
Edward Cullen
- Ingenious Pilot -
What if I?m not a superhero? What if I?m the bad guy?
Posts: 163
|
Post by Edward Cullen on Apr 14, 2009 10:35:16 GMT -5
Edward had the sudden urge to punch Nadir in the face, but resisted it, because he could master the beast within.
"What do you know?" he almost snarled. "I am one, and have been for a hundred years. Don't you think I'd know?"
|
|
|
Post by Nadir on Apr 14, 2009 11:21:26 GMT -5
Nadir's expression darkened, something sparking in his golden gaze.
"I know a great deal more than you would suspect," he said in a calmer voice. "There is untold evil in this world, indeed; but you are about a benign as a loaf of bread. Yes, there is danger of choking...but ultimately...nothing to fear. Not if you know what you're doing."
|
|
Edward Cullen
- Ingenious Pilot -
What if I?m not a superhero? What if I?m the bad guy?
Posts: 163
|
Post by Edward Cullen on Apr 14, 2009 12:11:35 GMT -5
"How dare you?" Edward demanded. "I. Have. No. Soul. I drink blood. Every day I endure a constant struggle not to devour you. This close, I can hear the blood pumping through your veins, smell it if I'm anywhere within a mile of you. You don't understand the torment. The things I've done... the things I want to do... I'm a monster, Nadir Khan. I'm not your ordinary cutthroat, or even the corrupt businessman."
His eyes darkened, as if by merely talking about it his hunger had grown.
|
|
|
Post by Nadir on Apr 14, 2009 13:44:32 GMT -5
"How dare I? I am not suffering delusions, Edward."
The boy wanted to play hardball, it seemed.
So be it.
Nadir gripped Edward by the chin, forcing him to look him dead in the eye.
"You know nothing of the true vampire, my boy. I have fought them, and I have won. What power moves within you to grant you whatever extraordinary abilities you may possess is at work in the world, and with far more dire consequences. I may be no angelic warrior, but it is within my power to call upon the Amesha Spentas to beat back the forces of darkness that have threatened to consume my world and those I once loved."
With a furious twist of the hard line of his lips, he pushed Edward away from him.
"And that is how I dare tell you that you are a silly little boy."
|
|
Edward Cullen
- Ingenious Pilot -
What if I?m not a superhero? What if I?m the bad guy?
Posts: 163
|
Post by Edward Cullen on Apr 14, 2009 13:58:30 GMT -5
Edward wasn't expecting Nadir to get physical, and the surprise was enough to let the man meet with little more resistance than a normal human. Which didn't help his case, much.
"I have no idea what that is, but I'm not suffering delusions, either," he said coldly. "I was turned at 17, by a man who explained to me what I now was, and am. Over the years I have met many other vampires, just like me. The only difference is that I follow what my... my father taught me, and haven't drunk from a human in decades."
His nostrils flared attractively.
"I am sorely tempted now, however. Who are you to tell me what I am or am not? Whatever it is you've seen--are you the judge of all that you can't explain in the world? What difference is it what you call it--I am a monster, I have killed, and I feed off the blood of living things."
His chin shank, his gaze dropping to the lawn.
"And I have lived longer than you ever will."
|
|
|
Post by Nadir on Apr 14, 2009 14:16:05 GMT -5
"Blood may not be to my taste, but if killing is all it takes to create a monster, well..."
Nadir shrugged and turned away.
"Go home, Edward," he said with a sigh. This discussion brought back a great deal too many memories that pained him. Dracula, Genghis, his mother, Shadi's mother, Georgiana, Xandros, Raoul, and Susanna. Susanna who had never been able to love him as he had loved her...who had only hated him the more when he had tried to protect her.
|
|
Edward Cullen
- Ingenious Pilot -
What if I?m not a superhero? What if I?m the bad guy?
Posts: 163
|
Post by Edward Cullen on Apr 14, 2009 14:39:27 GMT -5
"No," Edward said dully. "It's not all it takes."
But it was enough. Nadir still spoke to him like a stupid child, which was ridiculous, and Edward resented it. Though at the same time it convinced him of Nadir's basic naivete. He chuckled self-mockingly.
"Where would I go?" he said. "In broad daylight? Don't worry--I won't disturb you any more."
He just had to keep out of sight somewhere in the garden until nightfall. And resist the blood that called to him, singing of rosy hours and balmy evenings.
|
|
|
Post by Nadir on Apr 14, 2009 14:52:08 GMT -5
*mental image of Nadir chasing Edward out of the bushes with a hose, screaming at him to get off his lawn*
I doubt you could stop disturbing me even if you tried, though Nadir vehemently, saying nothing as he stalked back to his study, trying to get work done and ultimately failing.
Cooking. He needed to cook. It relaxed him, now, as nothing else did; and, strangely, since opening Chez Alexandre, he had seldom seasoned a single dish himself.
Time to change that... he hummed to himself, walking towards the kitchen.
((Edward could watch him some more, or Shadi could confront him, if she wants to. I'll leave him in the kitchen.))
|
|
Edward Cullen
- Ingenious Pilot -
What if I?m not a superhero? What if I?m the bad guy?
Posts: 163
|
Post by Edward Cullen on Apr 14, 2009 16:50:39 GMT -5
Edward was hit with the vehement thought, but not its meaning, and considered trying to sneak back home through alleyways and the like but considered it too risky. And that argument... it had shaken him. What on earth was Nadir talking about? Some other type of demon? What was this man hiding?
His thoughts were interrupted by the intrusion of another mind. Edward's brow furrowed; the newcomer smelled familiar, the lingering taste of her... father. His nose wrinkled now. Nadir had never said anything about a daughter! A grown daughter, nearly his age when he'd died, if Edward was any judge.
The girl made a beeline to the kitchen, almost as if she could smell him, too, and she was angry. Edward, watching when he could and having her thoughts clearly broadcast, was astonished at what he heard.
What on earth had happened between them? How could she be so hateful? And the mouth on that girl! Er, mind. Her thoughts were as murderous and bloody as ever Edward's were, and there were alarming images mixed in that he was fairly certain he did not want to see, whoever this Valmont fellow was.
|
|
|
Post by Nadir on Apr 14, 2009 16:54:15 GMT -5
|
|