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- Chimera of Life -
Story Three: Remnants of Reality
He woke up to the sounds of
creaking iron. Always the light sleeper, Quatre stood then walked to the window
instantly… This was the fifth consecutive night that his sleep was disturbed by
it. Whatever it was. Right now,
he’s going to find out.
Quatre plastered his back
against the wall then slightly leaned towards the window after he made sure
that his face was hidden beneath the shadows.
A figure in black slinked
into the night with a small lantern that illuminated the fluttering coat. The
person stood in stark contrast against the darkness of the night. Quatre’s eyes
slanted in suspicion until the harsh wind lapped at the cloth and blew away the
hood… A flowing mane of red hair erupted from underneath, just as moonlight
seeped through dark clouds as if only to shine upon the strands…
‘Yvan…?!’ Quatre’s eyes
widened. ‘What are you…’ He didn’t let himself finish as she apprehensively
looked left, right, and then ran to the direction of the forest.
Curiosity and the want to
make sure that she wouldn’t get hurt made Quatre follow her. He didn’t even
bother to change. He just grabbed the nearest coat and slipped on shoes while
he hopped on one foot and then the other down the stairs to lace them.
The moon was covered by dark
thick clouds overhead… Sounds of crashing thunder after a snake of lightning
sparked through the sensitized air and Quatre could only wonder-
‘What is she doing out here?
A storm is brewing and she decides to go for a midnight walk…’ He opened the
gate and hurriedly walked out then sprinted towards the direction he saw her
last without bothering to close the gate. All right, so he was a little angry
because his continuous search had turned up with nothing… no weaponries, no
Une’s cousin…
He ran as fast as he could
though he was not sure where he was going… though he could not truly see the
path he was traveling on until… a fluttering dim light within a clump of trees
on one side caught his attention…
Quatre slowed to a walk and
followed the only light within the darkness… ‘Yvan?’ He didn’t dare talk just
in case the person was an enemy. Just in case the person holding the lamp was
what Quatre needs to bring Morley down… Going to the widest tree he could find,
he made sure he wouldn’t be seen then slowly leaned sideways.
It was Yvan… on her knees,
caressing a knee-high white stone by the edge of the cliff… If he wasn’t such a
sensitive person, he would have thought her crazy… insane… but… he was a
sensitive person… and he could feel the depth of emotion that was flowing from
her.
The screaming wind died down
to a low moan.
“Papa… I’m here again…”
‘Papa?’
Quatre frowned. Could
it be that her father’s buried… there? If so… maybe he should leave her be…
then again… what if someone’s around her right now and causes her harm?
“I know you’re looking down
on me… Guiding me…” A sob escaped Yvan’s lips as she released the emotions she
hid from the public view.
Quatre saw her hunch over
the stone and embrace it. Her shoulders rocked and he had the urge to go to
her… he wants to put his arms around her and let her cry over his shoulders
instead of that stone but… he didn’t move. He couldn’t… in a way, this side of
Yvan had surprised him and he knew he shouldn’t intrude.
Yvan leaned down and kissed
the rock, then placed her cheek over it. “I’m doing my best, Papa… But you
already know that, don’t you…”
Suddenly, a menacing sound
came out of nowhere and before Quatre could react, something pounced on his
back and he fell down on his face.
“Who’s there?!” Yvan quickly
stood up as she heard the grunt.
Quatre quickly turned around
and brought his hands up. He gripped a furred neck before it had a chance to
bite him.
Yvan slanted her eyes,
already accustomed to the night, she saw figures fighting just a few feet away
from her.
‘A dog…! A damn killer dog!’
The thought registered in Quatre’s mind as his grip nearly slipped because of
the dog’s jerky motions. Pain registered throughout his body as claws dug into
his chest and arms.
She walked to the sound and
saw the distinctive blonde hair that shone against her lamplight. Anger sparked
in her and almost made her want to leave him but… she couldn’t. “Brule! Down
boy!”
Her strict voice instantly
stopped the defiant, killer dog. It jumped off Quatre’s chest and walked to one
tree, now completely placid.
“Sit!”
The huge black dog sat, tail
swishing and wagging, while Quatre tried to catch hold of his breath as he lay
on the damp soil. Wearily, Quatre brought his arm over his face and started to
wipe the saliva away.
‘And to think that I like
dogs- correction… used to…’ His arm left his face and when he opened his eyes
once again, Yvan was glaring down at him. For a moment, he decided he would
rather face the dog once again… “Before you start scolding a down man, let me
explain.” Slowly, he stood up.
Yvan tilted her head while
she crossed her arms over her chest, her raging anger showing in her flaring
lavender eyes. He’d seen her during her most precious time. No one had ever… No
one… until now. “Of course… I am not James Morley… I usually let the offender
defend himself before I decide.” This had better be good… “I’m all ears…”
Quatre rubbed his temple and
then looked up and met her eyes. “I was worried. I saw you leave the estate and
I didn’t know where you were going… There’s also a storm coming… I did the only
thing I thought was right.”
She glared into his eyes,
wanting to see if he was lying… but only saw the hard truth… and… one cannot
truly be angry at truth…
Quatre felt her anger slowly
subside, her tight shoulders eased, and decided to converse. “Yours?” he
motioned to the dog, playing with a twig.
“No. James’.”
Quatre nodded. Her
tight-lipped answer showed that she’s still a bit angry. Ah well… he couldn’t
lie to her. She’ll probably ask him later on anyway. “I saw and… heard you…”
‘I know…’ Yvan looked away.
Embarrassment started to fill her but she mentally forced it to stop. She
shouldn’t be embarrassed… What’s there to be embarrassed about anyway? She
shook her head and heaved a sigh, then shrugged. “So you have…”
Quatre watched as she walked
back to the stone, sat beside it and then place a loving hand over it. He
remained silent, feeling Yvan’s need to talk.
“He was the best soldier
under all of James’ men…”
Her voice was almost a
whisper. She was confessing to a man barely knew but… a person could only
bottle up so much before everything explodes inside… and right now, everything
was threatening to drown her. She had withheld so much for so long that she
yearned to be heard now… to share it with someone…
“So… he wasn’t an artist…?”
Yvan shook her head. “He
was…” A slight smile appeared on her lips. “But he was also one of his men… I
never told James because…” She paused, trying to figure out how she would
phrase her words. “My father was accused of being part of the rebellion…”
Quatre nodded, understanding
the situation. “Is that where he’s buried?”
Yvan shook her head. “No… I
don’t know where he’s buried… All I know was he hadn’t called us for over two
weeks… he never did that…” She felt tears prick her eyes as she remembered
those painful times. She would listen for his transmission in her radio and
wait for the postman for a message… but there was nothing. “I snuck in here… My
dad took me to this place once, to paint…” She placed her cheek over the stone
once again. “So, this was where I went first… and I saw dried blood…”
Quatre couldn’t stop himself
anymore and kneeled beside her. With his right hand, he reached for her
shoulder. It was the only way he knew to give support. There was nothing for
him to say right now…
The feeling she had when she
learned it was her father’s came back to her once again… “I had it tested… I
was hoping it wasn’t his… But… it was…” She already had a feeling that it was…
and now, she wasn’t going to rest until… it’s over.
Understanding finally dawned
on Quatre. Now he understood… Now, he finally realized the answers to his
questions… “You don’t want Morley… You want his land…”
Yvan’s back straightened, at
the same time, she turned around to face him. He’s so near the truth! “No!
You’re wrong! I want Morley! I want him!”
He saw her cold eyes… that
calculating look returning, but the sight he just saw a few minutes ago
dominated over them… No wonder her ballet performance was so good… she was
dancing out her own emotions… letting it all go through her body… and, he
received it. “You want his land.”
The way he stated it… hinted
that he wouldn’t budge from what he knew… Fine then… Let him think that way.
Yvan looked away… He was half correct anyway… “Yes… fine… are you happy now?
You’ve got me all figured out- I want Morley because of this land… because of
my father. Now why don’t you just leave me alone.”
“I apologize… I can’t do
that.” He couldn’t leave her alone like this… Her lavender eyes went back to
his face, her skin streaked with tears…
“And why, pray tell?”
Her voice had become as cold
as the night breeze that fluttered his bangs, but he could sense her hurt.
“Because I cannot leave you alone in the state you’re in… or just simply
alone.” He just couldn’t.
“I can take care of myself,
thank you.” She turned her back to him. Men! They’re all alike! Just because
one looks weak doesn’t necessarily mean- she gasped when she felt his hand
under her chin, her face slowly being turned to her side.
“I know that you can take
care of yourself.” He didn’t want to end this conversation with any of them
feeling irked at each other. No… not after what he just saw… Not when he just
figured her out… and liked what he saw.
Her initial anger
disappeared as she stared into intent, serious aquamarine eyes… Her pulse
started beating faster…
He shouldn’t have touched
her… damn! He thought it was just a fluke… that he was just invigorated because
she questioned him, because she challenged him. But… he could feel for himself
that it wasn’t so… “Yvan…” He didn’t even notice that he used his name for her.
The way her lips were parted seemed to call to him… and he didn’t want to fight
it.
Another gust of breeze
rustled the leaves around them and lifted a strand of Yvan’s hair.
Before she could ask why-
she saw why. Quatre leaned down to her and she almost went cross-eyed as
she stared at his closed eyed face. She stiffened… Why she didn’t struggle… she
doesn’t know… Why she didn’t slap him silly… God could only answer… Why she damnably
closed her eyes and wantonly met his lips… she couldn’t… remember…
People had talked of time
standing still… She had always thought it possible, but only in fairytales… He
had always thought it impossible… but right now… they knew they were wrong…
The moment was fragile.
It was a gentle kiss… The
brush of his lips over hers… Her hands moved up to lay flat on his chest as if
she would push him away, but instead, she rose to her toes while he drew her in
closer… A simple, light kiss and more…
It was dizzying, melting, addicting…
The breeze scurried about
them and the couple shivered, but not from the cold… Quatre only wanted to give
her one kiss… just one… just to satiate himself and tell himself that he wasn’t
really attracted to her but… Allah! Her softness against his… He couldn’t stop
his suddenly independent hands as it moved to cup her bottom and lifted her
against him… into him.
Fire exploded in Yvan. It
consumed her… She gasped in rapturous pleasure. She couldn’t get enough of him
and he couldn’t get enough of her…
From somewhere nearby, Brule
whined.
Panic raced through her
blood and Yvan quickly pulled away. ‘Oh God! What have I done!’
Quatre’s arm tightened
around her as she tried to push away. He could not remember ever having felt
this way with a woman… ever. “No… stay…”
“Yes… No! Oh God! No!
Quatre, you don’t know what you’re doing!” And neither did she… She didn’t want
to go… but she must remind both Quatre and herself… “James!”
Quatre blinked and it was as
if a heavy curtain parted in front of him… He shook his head and a word left
his mouth. Neither could tell whether it was a curse or a blessing but nobody
cared. His arms fell to his sides and they both took a step back.
“Yvan… I’m… Damn! I didn’t
mean…” What the hell did he do?! He cleared his throat and tried to gather his
wits around him. “I didn’t plan on that to happen…”
“Fine… It didn’t.” Yvan
tried to catch her breath and pressed a hand against her frenzied heart. Her
lips were dried by the wind and she touched it with her tongue… She tasted him…
Damn! Oh… she needs to think of James… James… James! ‘Yvan think of James!’
Quatre’s hands shook as he
combed his hair… He truly didn’t plan for it to happen…
With a cry of frustration,
Yvan turned and sprinted away from Quatre, leaving him where he stood.
Quatre forced his feet to
stay still… He watched as she disappeared from his view and then sighed as he
dropped down on his buttocks. He didn’t want to let her go… But he had to…
Once again, his hands combed
through his hair, nearly ripping it apart in anger. He had a taste of her and
wanted more… Damn, he wanted more! And damn but he wanted to make love right
then and there!
“Shut up!” His voice was
harsh and directed to himself alone. He never experienced this… He never did
this. He never! How could he have done this stupid thing? She wants Morley… He
wants her… He shouldn’t interfere… But what he felt when they kissed… what he
had been feeling since he saw her dance that first time… He realized that he
couldn’t have stopped himself from tasting her, and that he didn’t regret
kissing her… at all.
“You have one wonderful
daughter, Mr. Matfei…” His eyes went to where she disappeared with Brule by her
heels. “One wonderful daughter…”
…
‘Papa… what have I done?!’
She slowly closed the door behind her and then leaned against it as she tried
to catch her breath. Her hand went up to her lips and touched it… They still
trembled… Her whole body was pulsing, expecting… She has more restraint than this! What had that man done to her?!
Morley was a handsome man
but never in her life had she felt anything like this with him. Not his smile,
not his touch, not his gaze nor… his kiss… Then again, they’ve never kissed…
but still… Quatre’s so different… He seemed different from all the other men
she knew and-
“Stop! Stop it Yvan!”
Quatre’s beautiful voice
rang in her head and she quickly ran to her bed and dropped on top of it and
brought a pillow over her head at the same time.
She must stay focused… She
must remember her goal… So near… Besides, Quatre is a gigolo… Quatre is a
player… Quatre is… one good kisser…
A frustrated scream escaped
her lips, hindered by the cushion of her bed while her turmoil filled mind
tried to gain back a sense of balance.