Day 2, and still on track
02 November 2005, 21:06

Day 2, and it was hard getting started, but once it started to flow, it was all good.

India
His smile was one of pure joy as he read the battered letter. She was coming finally; she was coming to him. He could not count the amount of letters he'd sent to her, pleading with her to leave her horrible husband and come join him in India. That she was bringing the boy was exciting as well. He hadn't seen him at all, only heard of his existence. He stood and stretched, leaving the letter on his desk as he pondered the mystery of what had befallen her husband.
"His sudden death caused quite an uproar, but it's well enough he's gone. He was ever the boor. And his threats were really all I could bear." He read the line over once more, an inkling of what may have happened forming in the bit of his brain that knew Lucy better than anyone else did. He smiled in anticipation of the delight they would take in such a delicious shared secret.
"Lucius?" The muffled voice came from the grand bed near him. He cringed, wondering what he had ever seen in this dalliance. The night before, he had found pleasure, even love in the body currently reclining on his decadent bedclothes. Now, in the rising heat of midmorning, with the thrill of Lucy coursing through him, he felt nothing save disgust. "Lucius? Come back to bed?" Again, the nasal tone pierced his thoughts and instead of walking towards the bed, he strode to the door and down the hallway, searching out the valet that was so inconveniently lagging this morning. A gasp from an appalled maid reminded him he had not dressed, but was marching through his house with his dressing gown streaming behind him like a cape. He sneered at the girl, but pulled it closed none the less. Appearances did matter, even in his home. He had never had the skill at choosing servants the way Lucy did. His had a habit of telling tales when they were out and about, tales which would no doubt find their way to the ears of those who had enough influence to make his life here in India misery. His mood was buoyed by the thought of Lucy again. She would put his house in order, he was sure of it. Everything would be perfect once she arrived. At that moment, he nearly knocked his valet over.
"James! Where have you been man?" His voice had lost its harsh edge, but his eyes flashed, sparking James into action.
"I'm sorry sir, what is it you need?" Lucius shook his head. Yes, she would have to do something about this as well. None of his servants were up to standard, but he dealt with them because he knew it was the best he could find and maintain.
"Have my bed emptied and made up." His glance intensified and James knew exactly what he meant. He nodded curtly and excused himself, rushing off to obey his master's orders. He wondered how this latest conquest had displeased Lucius so quickly, lasting only a week before being expelled. He only hoped the youth didn't try to fight the inevitable. He could see the master was in no mood for a scene, as there often was. He pushed the door open gently, never sure what he would find behind it. This time, he was pleased. The young man he was expecting to have to force into clothing was nearly dressed and standing at the master's desk, glancing up guiltily when James cleared his throat. His gaze darkened when he saw whom it was.
"So, this is how it is to be?" Accusation dripped from the words he spat at James.
"Yes sir."
"I hope the bitch he has coming to replace me is as vicious as he is." He threw a letter he had been reading onto the desk and continued to dress. James watched without staring. Contrary to the master's opinion, he was a well-trained servant that knew his place. When the boy was dressed, he escorted him to the side door. As it closed, he noticed a smirk on the boy's face. This one would come back to haunt the master. James knew it for certain. There had been emotion involved, and the boy had social connections that could ruin the household. The mention of a woman sparked his interest, and he resisted the urge to go read the letter he had delivered that morning, the letter that had started what would no doubt be a vicious turn of events. He would not do it; the mere thought of invading his employer's privacy disgusted him. Instead, he went to find the girl that made up Lucius's room.

Somewhere between England and India
"Stephen?" Father Lawrence called the boy to him. He was fast losing control, and he needed relief. Stephen's quick glance was shaded, as it always was. The boy was a stone. Silent, a slight figure that somehow seemed to hover everywhere all at once. He had never even heard the boy's voice, but he had a sense he was by no means mute. He was also not stupid, possessing an intelligence that frightened the Father. "Will you go see if Lucy is ready for me to receive her confession?" The boy jumped to his feet from the perch near the ship's rail where he spent most of his days staring out to sea, growing nut brown and lithe. A few of the ship's crewmembers had taken a liking to him and showed him how to tie knots. Sometimes he spent an entire day fetching things for the men, climbing up and down the rope rigging with a skill that proclaimed to all his ease and confidence, as though he'd been born on the ocean, not just stepped on to one a mere month ago. Other days, he sat near the rail, practicing knots and gazing over the ocean with an ease neither the Father nor Lucy felt. As Father Lawrence watched the lad scurry away, nimbly leaping over obstacles and ducking around the men on deck, he wondered if it might not be better for him to perhaps join the Royal Navy. He decided then that he would speak to Lucy about it. Not that he thought it would do any good. He had no idea what the boy's relation to her was, but there was a faint resemblance. Perhaps a younger brother? He knew she had not borne Lord Smythe any sons, nor any children at all.
Stephen knew better than to knock. Knocking was never necessary. He only knocked on doors when he was escorting someone, and that was merely to warn Lucy of pending company. No, he had skill and sense enough to open any door with the slightest of sounds, something that had served him well throughout his short life. He practiced his skill just now, slipping in and closing the door just as silently. Lucy had just risen it seemed. She caught sight of him in the mirror and beckoned him to her with a smile. He had been basking in her continued love since they had boarded the ship, and it thrilled him to he core with hope that it would continue in India. She caught him in her arms and kissed his hands, examining their newly acquired roughness before playfully pushing them away from her.
"You grow so dark and worn! I barely recognize you!" She continued smiling and offered him her brush, which made his heart throb. He adored brushing her hair, and she knew it, only allowing it when she was especially pleased with him. He pulled the bristled through the rich chocolate waves gently, continuing in silence until it was as glassy as the sea he had come to love so well. When he had finished, she kissed him again, telling him to send Father Lawrence to her and go enjoy himself above decks. As he was closing the door behind him, she told him they would have tea together, a sign that he would have the day to himself and the night in her company. Oh, if only they could stay at sea forever!
"Enter." Her voice pierced the heavy wooden door after Father Lawrence's tentative knocks. He did so, not glancing at her, turning around to close and latch the door behind him. He opened his mouth to speak and she cut him off. "Well Father, are you ready to begin?" Chills ran down his body, gripping his abdomen tightly. He nodded slowly.
"Yes my child." She smiled, a sight that was both thrilling and terrifying. She stood expectantly, waiting. He knew what was expected of him, what he must do to fulfill his unhealthy need. He approached her slowly, past memories of his sins boiling within him. Sometimes he wondered if he shouldn't just kill himself, put the fitting end to his life and guarantee his place in hell. Placing his hands on the front of her gown, all thought fled him and he stripped her of her layers of clothing with a hand too well practiced to be that of a priest sworn to celibacy.

[INSERT SEX SCENE HERE]

India
Lucius paced in front of his carriage. He had received word that the ship bearing Lucy to him had been sighted on the horizon, and he dropped everything to rush down and meet it. He knew full well that it would be a good many hours before it arrived at the docks, but he was determined to have Lucy in his arms as soon as he possibly could. He had prepared his house for her arrival, preparing the room adjoining his for her and a room down the hall for the boy. He had lectured his staff, demanding that they treat her as the lady of the house, respecting and deferring to her on all things. His accounts were merely awaiting her signature before she had full access to him. Finally his Lucy was coming back to him and he vowed to do anything to please her, to ensure she would never leave him again. Memories of the first time he had realized he loved her, the first time they had shared their bodies, the moment they had made that final connection, had been occupying his thoughts since the day he had Kristophe removed from his bed.
At last, the ship was being docked. It wouldn't be long now before Lucy was back where she belonged, and his body ached for her. He watched the activity; people milling about the ship like ants around a dead beetle. His eyes danced across the scene at a frantic rate, searching for her. What seemed an eternity passed, and suddenly, there she was. As always, she was stylish and beautiful, daintily picking her way through the chaos. He saw a small form behind her and knew it was the boy. He recognized his driver as he approached her, and saw her eyes fluttering about just as frantic as his had been. He willed her to look his way, and when she did, her smile, wide and heavy with emotion, was as large as his own was. She rushed to him, her stately carriage abandoned. She was a young girl once more, throwing herself in to his arms. He pressed her to him, feeling her heart fluttering wildly in her chest, fascinated with the feel of her. Unable to resist, he kissed her, crushing her lips with his own before parting them with his tongue. He devoured her, melting with the taste of her. It was an equal exchange; he felt her taking from him as much as she gave. On and on, he explored the mouth he knew as well as his own, molding her body to his, as it had always been. Finally they parted, and he smiled against her face, tears of joy welling up in his eyes. He gave no thought to the staring crowd around them. There was nothing, no one, except for her. His heart swelled and he nearly sobbed as the strength of his adoration threatened to crush him.
"I have missed you Lucy."
"I've missed you as well brother." Stephen stood to the side, gazing up at his uncle, coldness creeping into his heart. He saw pain and death. He doubted that he would be enjoying the spotlight of his mother's love for much longer. The longer he gazed at the man he had often heard mentioned, usually during fights between Lucy and her husband shortly before he died, the colder he felt. By the time Lucy and her brother had managed to separate themselves from one another, Stephen began to wonder if it was he that would be the death of Lucius.
Father Lawrence finally made his way to the pair. The sight of the man that had been the twin's confessor since their parents died made Lucius smile. His eyes raked Lucy possessively, barely able to keep from tearing her clothes off and enjoying what he had no doubt the good father had sampled on the voyage. Soon, he told himself. Soon enough, she would be his, as she had been since they had shared their mother's womb.

As you can see, I'm still not into the idea of writing erotica. Had I been able to come up with a good sex scene, I'm sure I could have boosted my word count by at least 500.

Also, things are already beginning to take on a life of their own. I hadn't expected to get into the horror aspect of this story yesterday, as I did briefly in the description of the death scene. I'm quite proud of those descriptions, I have to admit.

I also hadn't expected to reveal the relationship between Stephen and Lucy. I'd meant to leave Stephen's heritage a complete secret until about midway through the book. Also, the dynamic of their relationship has changed slightly from what I'd planned. If you click on the link to the cast page over there to the left, you may infer that I'd meant Stephen to remain cold and mysterious. Instead, he's turned into a sad little boy that craves his mother's attention to an Oedipal degree.

The introduction of Kristophe was a surprise as well. I'd meant to bring him in later. Kristophe is a mutation of my orignal "fop" character. Also, it seems that he's not so foppish and helpless as I'd planned.

Amazing, how my characters are getting up and dancing on their own.

Now a bit of a reveal as far as the naming of my characters. Some are random, some are pop culture references, and I've named a few after people in my life, but don't be insulted if you are or aren't one of them. If you aren't one of them, ask me, or better yet, bribe me. I love Starbucks, vodka, chocolate, tulips, and crafting. If you are, I didn't name a character after you because the character reminds me of you. It just...happened. When it came time to type a name, my brain went on shuffle and you came up. And since I obviously love you enough to immortalize you in my novel, you're not allowed to be insulted.

Lucius is named after Lucian, but also Lucius Clay from the Charlie Daniels song. That was the first thing I remember terrifying me as a child, and I wanted to pay homage to that.

Lucy is named for Lucy in Bram Stoker's Dracula. The book, not the movie.

Lord Augustus Robertson Smythe is named after the stuffed ghost Halloween decoration that I named because I was bored at work one Friday.

Father Lawrence is named because I was listening to the TV whilst typing and heard an ad for the showing of the movie Lawrence of Arabia.

Stephen is named after my cousin Steven, spelling changed to fictionalize it and because the "ph" version seemed to fit better.

Kristophe is named after Kriztov, again, spelling changed to fictionalize and fit better.

Something I've been pondering lately: I've been pimping my effort to just about anybody who will stand still for more than a minute. I've also been pimping this site. I wonder what sort of reactions I'll begin to receive if/when these people that I work with/serve on a daily basis read any of this.

Official Word Count: 4122
Listening To: My Launch station
Fueled By: Monster Khaos

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