Good grief, just the title had me laughing.


Oh my, this time getting it completely wrong works in Maxical’s favor. Or at least I think it does!

Then the scene with the list of the dead and Maxical’s thoughts about Fathis’ fate was sobering.


How funny. It’s great to see Hannibal again! And Eyja with her boots and trout is bound to have some ideas for Maxical to be grossed out over. What a fun chapter!

I’d just as soon be locked in the bathing room at the Bloodworks than here.
Then the legion will be pressed against the door!

His odd stare made me long for my sword…and armor, dear gods I was undressed! No wonder he was staring!
What is Maxical doing wandering around the palace naked?

Damien’s attempt to make Gils sound like he was with another woman didn’t quite work the way he planned.

Uriel’s letter to Eyja!

Dagoth Malan as Damien= Good looking cat. No homo. And I love fish, and you by all means seem to have killed my desire to eat trout.


That's nothing! She also plays the lute shirtless too! Woot! Woot!

“I am NOT on Skooma, ARGH!”
Lies!

She doesn't have to be good at the lute to still make money playing it then.

QFT.

*

@ Ghastley - Thank you so much for the spelling correction !!! You were exactly right, that was the correct word I was trying for. And you are right, Maxical never met Sir Damien before, all she knows is that his accent changes and she doesn't trust assassins, lol. Thanks again, Ghastley !!!

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@ Acadian - Thank you so much Acadian !! You had me rolling with this comment, lol !!!

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@ Grits - Thank you so very much Grits !! I so hope you are well, I've been worried over you being in pain a LOT lately !!!

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@ King Coin - You and Darkness had me rolling with your topless troubador jokes, ROFL !!! Thank you so much KC !!!!

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@ Darkness Eternal - ROFL !! No more trout, you had me dying laughing with that !!! Thank you so much Darkness !!!


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Chapter 147: Stealing Malan’s Treasures



“Er…Eyja? Er…you wouldn’t happen to know…er…any way a girl can, uh…lose something…uh…without, you know.” My face turned beet red.

“Answers like that cost, you know. Nothing’s free.”

“Oh! Er…I have…uh…wait.” I dug in my pockets. “I found a Septim, will that be enough?”

Eyja eyed it disappointedly before snatching it from my fingers. “I don’t know what the hell you just asked, but I earned the Septim for the time I spent trying to figure it out.“

“I need to lose my virginity without being with a man. Is there a way?”

“Oh, like women, do you?”

“Sure, just fine I guess. OH! No, it’s not like that. I just…look, can you just tell me the answer?”

“You got any more gold?”

“No.”

“Why don’t you let me fix you up with one of my clients? They are very discreet, and some won‘t even mind the fur since you‘re a virgin. They’ll pay a fortune for that, but I get a percentage for finders fees.”

I gaped at her. “No, I…just forget it.”

“Hey, wait a minute! I know you, you’re that Ape woman! From what I heard you liked monkey’n around. HA! Get it?”

“Uh, I was told to leave after giving you the note.”

“Okay. Well, according to this, I’ll see you later.” She blew me a kiss and winked at me in a saucy way. I hurried out with a bright red face.







***


The mansion was across the quad from the Inn. Banging on the door brought no response, but the handle turned when I tried it. The stench of dead bodies was strong, and as soon as I opened the door I knew why.

A bloated corpse lay just inside the foyer, dressed all in black. Was that the person I was supposed to give Uriel’s orders to? I caught sight of the blackened bare feet and realized with a shock that this was one of Sir Damien’s men.

I held my nose and cast a Daylight spell several times to illuminate the room better than the puny streams of light making their way through the heavily curtained windows. What caught my eye was the glass display cases lining the walls, all empty of any treasure. Had the place been looted?

One tall glass case held an ancient ornamental sheath and sword, in perfect condition as if it was purchased new and preserved without ever being used. I fiddled with the glass case and pulled the sword from the sheath. Dear gods, it was an ancient Akaviri Katana! It was absolutely beautiful, and in pristine condition. The sheath itself was as fine as the one Uriel had given Fathis, intricate stitching in a pattern I’d never seen before.

Today was Uriel Septim’s actual birthday, Ocato had held the celebration early this year to catch the crowds that were in for the music festival. I’d already given Uriel a present, that enchanted robe Fathis had bought. But today was the day he should be celebrating it, and with this war on he would not be. Eighty-seven years old, that was a birthday that deserved recognition.

This place had been Malan’s lair, the history books were filled with treasures he had stolen through the centuries of his life. This could be one of them.

Everything in here was supposed to be sold to set up a fund for the Lost Children of Cyrodiil. It had obviously been looted, or all these other display cases wouldn’t be bare. It was about to be looted again. I’d make a donation to the fund for the sword once the war was over. I was giving Uriel a birthday present.

I sheathed the sword and shoved it down inside my cuirass at an angle. Sometimes being flat chested has its advantages. A nearby wine rack was filled with Tamika’s 399 and several bottles of her best brandy as well. I took one bottle of each and tucked them into my cuirass, cinching the waist tightly so they wouldn’t fall out.






***


Uriel said there were several men here, I only found one body. “HELLO!” My own voice echoed back eerily, and from somewhere upstairs I heard the heavy flutter of bird wings. Dear gods, was Malan nesting here as a bird?

“GAAAAH!” I darted out the front door, knocking down a tall man covered in a cloak and dark cowl that was pinned against the door alcove…obviously avoiding sunlight. I bolted past him well into the sunlight before spinning around, the Legion sword Uriel had loaned me drawn.

“Maxical! It’s me, Janus Hassildor. The Immortal.”

“I don’t believe you, remove the cowl so I can see your face. Urk! Okay, it’s you. You can put it back on.”

“I’ll have you know I am considered quite handsome by many! Never mind that now, I must warn you about Jak. He’s after your blood, you’re in danger.”

“Yeah, yeah. Warn me that a vampire is after my blood, right? And what are you then? And why are you following me?”

“Well…hey, wait! You knew I was a vampire when you met me! I’ve never made you uncomfortable, have I? I swear to you I’m not after your blood, but I’m the only one in this city that isn’t.”

“And lets see, I should believe you because you are so honest? You told me Jak was a bird, and let me stroke and kiss what I assume now was his private areas without telling me any different!”

“I told you to stop fondling him, you refused to listen!”

“You said it was a bird, they don’t have private areas! Don’t you think I would have been a lot more cautious if I knew it was a vampire stalking me and not a sweet bird?”

“He is not sweet, he uses charm spells! Well, he does have a certain charm, but that isn’t the point!”






***


“I’ll tell you what the point is. You taught me that all vampires are liars, even the ones you think are intriguing and have interesting accents. You are no friend of Fathis’s or mine. Why’d you tell me he was dallying with some woman he loved on our wedding night? You vowed to bring my husbands back safe, where are they? Now you warn me your good friend Jak wants my blood, finally after everyone knows he’s one of Malan’s makes. Don’t worry, I doubt Jak dares cross Malan and that’s who is after me now. So thanks for your warning, Immortal.”

“Dagoth-Malan is after you? What? Wait, Jak can’t be one of Malan’s!”

“I guess his turning into a huge predatory bird didn’t give you a clue. Do you know any other lines still in existence that do that? That clan was from High Rock, and was extinguished ages ago, their line only exists today in Malan‘s cocktail vampires.”

“Dear gods, he is one of Malan’s? Why wouldn’t he have told me? Maxical, I didn’t know.“

“How could you not know? Wouldn’t your vampiry senses tell you? Tell the truth, if you can that is. You keep hollering about wanting to kill Malan, do you mean it? That‘s the whole reason Hannibal gave you Diplomatic Immunity, he put all his faith in you saving Cyrodiil. Look around you and see this war your maker started, what are you doing to stop it? Because your cloak looks pretty clean to me.”

“Maxical, I have stayed isolated in my castle over fifty years. I‘ve not left it since the attack on me.”

“That’s funny, I could swear that’s you standing right in front of me! Oh, and didn’t I meet you at the Arena two weeks ago? Weren’t you the one that sat next to Fathis and called him friend, then stood by and let Malan kill him? All these vampires following me around like I‘m the chicken dinner, HA! They‘d have a better meal at your table!”

“Maxical…wait, did you just call me a chicken?”

“Why, would that ruffle your feathers?”

“Listen to me, Maxical. I may be immortal and made from the same batch as Malan, but I have spent fifty years suffocating my nature so I wouldn’t be like him. Not even Jak is afraid of me in my giant form, him barely six foot and sticking his finger in my face. I was never trained in combat as a man or vampire. Malan has honed his skills to unmatched proportions, armies can’t kill him. Traven’s hope is my immortality will merely outlast Malan in battle, but you know it takes more than that. It takes skills I don’t have.“






***


“You are the only one who can stop him, Janus. If you stand by and do nothing, Uriel will be sacrificed in Malan’s greed for power. He’s already breached the Palace for my blood, but you know he‘ll go for the throne next.”

“I’d have to let the vampire out to practice, and face Uriel’s Law if I do. Those of us with Diplomatic Immunity can’t just run out and fight vampires, Uriel’s own troops would kill us right along with all the rest. There has to be a plan in place so his army recognizes us as a part of his forces.”

“We? I thought you were the only one on that program.”

“Traven signed my friend Jak into the program just before war broke out. Does Traven know Jak is one of Malan’s? They can’t fight against their own clan, though I’m sure Jak has nothing to do with the rest of them.”

“I’ll tell Hannibal if Uriel doesn‘t. Anyway, there is Crimson Scar out there too, but will Jak fight for the Empire?”

“I can’t speak for him, but he may. He is fearless and loves a good scrap. I‘ll ask him.”

“If he will, set up a meeting with Uriel and bring him with you… er…just don‘t bring Jak around till I no longer draw his interest, which should be tomorrow. He wouldn’t stay in the program long if he leaped on me like a hungry leopard in front of Uriel.”

“What?”

“Never mind. I’ll see you there if you come, I’m living in the Palace for the time being.”

“Maxical, what is supposed to happen today that will alter Jak’s interest? Wait, didn’t you say Malan is in the Palace already? You can’t safely return to the Palace if he is, your blood is an overpowering draw!”

“I thought you said it didn’t interest you.”

“It doesn’t, but I can still smell it and know what he would be thinking.”

“HA! I knew you couldn’t be trusted. HMPH!”

“Maxical!” He called it into my back as I stomped off, being careful to stay out in the sunlight the whole way back to the Palace.






***


In my anger I’d forgotten my plan to cast chameleon before entering the Palace district and sneak over to the Arena. It was too late by the time I remembered, I was already in full view of Uriel’s dome windows.

After some quick thinking I aimed straight for the Palace entrance, planning to cast chameleon once under the doorway alcove and dart around to the Arena. It would look like I had entered the Palace, and if Uriel was watching he‘d just think I was dallying on the way to his chambers. He would yell, but it would be worth it if I could find Gils.

Before even reaching the Palace steps I could see someone standing in the shadow of the entranceway alcove and slowed my steps to give them time to leave. They didn’t, and as I drew nearer I realized who it was. Sir Damien! I ground to a halt, fuming.

He’d run tell Uriel if I didn’t enter now. I was livid, and stomped the rest of the way to the entrance. Now I’d have to go in and pretend to go up, at least to Evangeline’s suite.

“Who has ruffled your fur?”

“You mean aside from Skooma addicts eavesdropping on my personal conversations last night? Everyone.”

“Maxical, I do not, nor have I ever taken Skooma. If I was out of sorts it was from my own rage at being forced to invade your privacy. I was following Uriel’s orders, just like you have to. Should I run?”

“From Uriel?”

“From your temper fit.“

“I’d advise it, I’m not fit to be pleasant right now.” I waited, hoping he would. He didn’t.


*

A wonderful chapter!

At least Eyja has narrowed her suggestions for dealing with Maxical's virginity problem down to more appropriate species than the suggestions the poor girl has received to date.

’Sometimes being flat chested has its advantages.’
A sword, a bottle of wine, a bottle of brandy. . . Uriel will have to learn to hold her by her feet and shake out all the loot when she gets back to the palace. Maxical gives a whole new meaning to ‘look what the cat brought home’.

The meeting with Janus is more evidence about red heads and tempers. . . enough so that it seemed perfectly natural for Maxical to storm all the way back to the palace – almost forgetting about the Arena. Then Damien got a taste of her temper as well.

Poor Maxical! Eyja’s getting ready to sell Maxical’s virginity to the highest bidder!

Maxical just walked over the dead body of one of Damien’s men and she’s concerned about stealing a birthday present? And then meets Janus. Or is it Janus? Yeah it’s Janus, it sounds like him.

Well, that bit about her thinking better when she’s angry… I’d distrust it. Oh and Malan’s been following her around. He won’t be very pleased with Janus. Or was it Janus?

Can’t… stop… laughing… *GASP*

Maxical’s whole thought process from the time she entered the mansion to when she started stuffing loot down her top was wonderful to follow.

I love the whole conversation with Janus. The two of them are hilarious together, but also so much more. She called him a chicken!

What a fun chapter! But Maxical STILL has her little problem!! Though now she has the wine and brandy, so maybe she can find a romantic spot and deal with it.

Aaargh!!...Missed commenting one one...*Slaps wrist*...Bloody work... ...So sorry...

Loved both...Um...parts...As it were...

Made me laugh that she keeps getting the wrong idea about the horse thing... ...

And that Eyja made me laugh...



That was just funny...

Janus Hassildor!!...I like him...He's my friend in the game...Yes...Yes he is...

That bit in the previous one where Malan saw Maxical in a...State of undress was funny...And that she suspected him of being a skooma addict... ...

Loved both sections, I did read the previous one...My work was preventing my brain from working to it's normal standard...Yes, it was that bad... ...Sorry about that... ...

Nice one!!...

*Applauds heartily*...

Kudos for Janus Hassildor. One of my favorite Vampire characters! He's so well-developed! Looks like Maxical was given more options for her "pure" predicament! Reminds me of that movie, the Forty-year old virgin a bit. Only because the friends were trying to help out the virgin, haha! Of course, it is a dire situation, considering she can be chicken dinner! . And happy birthday, Uriel! Eighty seven and a full head of white hair!



Hahaha! This truly is hilarious! Poor Janus! Give Maxical some drinks! That helps the situation a bit.

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@ Acadian - ROFL !!! I could visualize Uriel shaking Maxical by the feet after reading your comment, ROFL !! Thank you so much Acadian !!

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@ King Coin - ROFL, I have to kill Malan off so everyone will be who they say they are in the story now, I can see that, lol !! Thank you so much KC !!!!!

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@ Grits - Thank you so very much Grits! Your comment made my day, you are so appreciated!! I can't write a scene for Janus and Maxical without sparks flying, but always the wrong kind of sparks, lol. Thanks again, Grits !!

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@ McBadgere - Thank you so much McB !! I was getting worried we'd lost you to another tractor accident, since it's harvest time! WOO HOO, you're back !! Thanks again McB !!

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@ Darkness Eternal - Thank you so much Darkness!! ROFL, Maxical will never live down fondling that bird !! The chapter where she did that has always been one of my faves to write, lol. Thanks again DE !!!


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Chapter 148: Confrontations and Crime


“Between your fierce glare and scowl and the fact that you are stomping as you walk, I‘d say you are ready to draw weapons.” Sir Damien attempted teasing me.

“Don’t tempt me! Er…sorry.”

“You look like you could use a good sparring session.”

“Actually, I really could use one. Right now the only thing that may improve my mood would be to battle, not just spar.”

“Now that’s something I wouldn’t suggest. What has you so upset?” He indicated we step into the Palace and led the way to the upper corridors.

“Everything. It started last night before the incident with you and keeps growing. The list is long.”

“I have long ears.”

I eyed the mask that obscured all of his head and face with the exception of his jawline and mouth. It was impossible to tell even what race he was, other than the white coloring and skin eliminated a few. I’d always assumed he was Imperial, was he saying he was an Altmer?

“Er…you do?”

“That was meant to be a joke.”

“Oh. OH! I see, I guess. Well I can’t work up a fake laugh right now, so make better jokes if you’re going to cheer me up.”

“Ouch. Why don’t you start at the beginning, who besides me has stirred your wrath?”

I ground to a halt and turned to face him. His eyes were looking into mine like Khajiit do, reading my thoughts. I didn’t want him to see the bleakness I was feeling written there, so looked to my feet while I kicked my toe against a block of raised corridor stone.

“You want it all? It’s a lot.”

“Better unload on me before you burst out with it on Uriel.”

“You’re right there, I guess. It is Malan, Sir Damien.”






***


“You’re wanting to kill Dagoth-Malan now?” Sir Damien held the door to the upper floors open for me to pass through.

“Yes I do. And not just Malan. The Immortal, and I guess all ancients. The truth isn’t in them, they are consummate deceivers beyond my ability to comprehend. Between them and my task for Uriel I’m in over my head, Sir Damien. I feel I’ve been dropped in the middle of the ocean and left there, not knowing how to swim or even which direction I should be going. No one is as they seem anymore, I don’t know who to trust. I ache for this to be a nightmare I’ll wake from, but it’s always still here.”

“Let‘s sit.” He pointed to a corridor bench and sprawled his lithe frame onto it like a cat would have. “Now tell me what Dagoth-Malan did this morning that‘s got you so upset.“

“It will make me sound every bit the child Uriel thinks me. Maybe he’s right, I guess that’s what I am. Malan is the one that has caused me the most pain of my life, but brought me the only solace I’ve found since this war began. If it was real, that is.“

“Malan brought you solace?” He sounded shocked. Maybe I shouldn’t have admitted it.

“I’m not sure. I’ve got this memory of him. Uriel thinks he planted false good memories in my mind so I’d trust him, that he’s just after my blood. Since I’m in the Palace, that puts Uriel at risk. Even I know Malan will go for that throne. Uriel said to talk to you because you were an expert on Malan.“

“That I am, Lass.”

“Two weeks ago Malan killed Fathis, someone I’ve turned to my whole life whenever I was scared or in trouble. Fathis always gave me comfort and protection from anything. Now when I have the greatest need of him, he’s gone and I have no one. Uriel won’t allow me the grief any widow should have, he gets in a rage if I cry. Inside me is a gnawing pain, and a keening that may never stop if released. Bottled by Uriel it grows to anger, and hatred for Malan for taking him from me.”






***


“You’ve no proof Fathis is gone.”

“I have proof, Sir Damien. If he was alive he’d have come for me before anyone else, maybe even Uriel. I saw the spot he fell, he had mortal injuries. I always trusted Fathis would be there the rest of my life. I don’t know how to live on Nirn if he isn’t on it. I’d rather he found love with another like that lying Immortal said, at least I’d know he still lived.”

“I went through this when I lost my wife. The grief never goes away, Maxical. Uriel is right to push you beyond it now, or you’d sink yourself into it. This way you are forced to think of it in short moments, not let it take you over. And how did Dagoth-Malan bring you solace from it?”

“Because of this war I’ve felt the need of comfort beyond words to express, but have no one to turn to anymore. Malan is the cause of me needing it, but it‘s from him the comfort came.” I felt like I might choke talking about something good he may or may not have done in the face of all the evil I knew he did.

“Aye, Lass. There’s bad he’s done, I know that better than anyone. But once he was mortal like us, and seeing that side of him is rare. Tell me what happened.”

“The first time I was seven years old. Malan and Seridur came to the orphanage to kidnap children. Seridur loathed us, we were terrified of him. We thought Malan was a giant ogre come to eat us. Instead he picked me up like a baby, held me right up against his chest and rocked me. The orphanage didn’t waste water on beasts, I was filthy…but that didn’t seem to bother him. He sang to me, and it took my fear away. The whole time in that orphanage no one had ever held us or sang to us, but Malan did that night. I remember him smiling down at me, if the memory is real. I thought he must be a god that loved children, that he came from another realm to save us from Seridur.”

“The kindness you saw in Malan is the man he was before the beast took him. Go on, Lass.”

“Malan erased my memory of everything that night, not just of him and Seridur but even of my best friend Nissy. Last night Akatosh gave my memories back and I saw it all, just like I was there. That moment he was holding me in his arms, just for a second I felt comforted and protected. I forgot for that moment that he was there to kidnap us and drink our blood, trusted him. But then he left with Nissy and I remembered what he was and what he did to her.”









***


“It’s possible she received the same kindness from him…”

I cut him off. “But that’s just it, he never did show her any kindness like that. That’s why I can’t believe the memory, I’m sure he planted a false one so I’d trust him. She rotted in a cave for ten years till she was ready to be fed on. He stole her childhood and a happy life she could have had just because in a decade she would be tasty to him. And not just her, there were probably hundreds throughout the years.“

“Farming, Lass. It’s no different than the calf your father brought home and stuck in that stall so small it couldn’t move, just so the meat wouldn’t be toughened by exercise and it would fatten quicker. It was confined so not to spoil your dinners when it could have been happy running through the meadows. It got no love at all, you weren’t allowed to even pet it or you’d be too attached when time came to slaughter the beast.”

“How did you know about that?”

“Unless you grow up in cities this size, everyone has experienced that calf many times over. How many of those calves became old pets at your home, and how many went to slaughter?”

“After they adopted me just the first one, Girty. I loved her, couldn‘t let them kill her. I threw the biggest fit of my life. We went without beef all winter, Abhuki was livid. After that I stayed away from the calves, and they had beef every year. It was the same with the first chicken I saw. We had Chickie-girl for a pet till she died of old age. The rest got eaten.”

“Aye, Lassie. Attachment brings guilt, and guilt keeps the farmer from doing what he has to do. Dagoth-Malan had one calf go to slaughter because the guilt took him over and he couldn‘t do what he must to keep her alive. He’s killed none since, better to stay away from that calf pen than suffer the horror of slaughter later.”

“Huh? I don’t understand.”

“Dagoth-Malan breeds the virgins before he feeds on them so they can‘t die. He hasn’t killed one since the first year, centuries ago. Just like you with those calves, he learned to not get attached so guilt wouldn’t take him over.”






***


“But they were children, not cows! How can you even compare the two? And it sounds clean to use terms like ‘breeding’ for his taking of them when they became women. The correct term for what he did is rape, they had no choice but to comply. Those children suffered a decade of imprisonment in a dark cave without love and care just so he wouldn’t suffer guilt for the few minutes he spent in raping them, all to sate his bloodlust instead of controlling it.”

“At least they weren’t killed in the act, as Seridur did. Maxical, listen to me. It’s the nature of the beast, they can‘t help what they are. As well blame the leopard for killing the rabbit. The nature of the ancients isn’t higher or greater, no more controlled than the same feral beast that went into the making of Khajiit. They may be clothed in the fine cloth of human form and speak as one, but are no more mortal than the Daedra.”

“But they were men once, Daedra never were. That side of them must still exist somewhere inside them, you just said the kindness of Malan’s human side was able to show through with me.”

“They can’t exist simultaneously, Maxical. The vampire nature is like having a feral beast dwelling within oneself, the man has no control over what it does. Virgin blood incites that beast to a frenzy beyond comprehension. The man side of him can’t live with even the memories of what the vampire has done, he would kill himself in a heartbeat if he could. The nature won’t let him, it comes out to protect itself. Men like Malan learn to live with the vampire out all the time rather than face what it has done. Others like Seridur and Vicente become inured and hardened to it. Which is worse?”

“Still, that doesn‘t explain why he tossed them in the street to starve once they were no longer of use to him. The Khajiit were sealed to him by Azura, he didn’t even supply them with his vampire juices. Not getting attached wouldn’t minimize his responsibility for them, he owed them at least their care for what he did. They have no one.”






***


“That orphanage for the unadoptable was the same, was it not? Just tossing them to the street.”

“They didn’t drink our blood or breed us first so we were sealed to them. And we weren’t unadoptable either. I was adopted from there and pampered beyond any child‘s dream. I vowed Nissy she’d come with me, Alix and S’Jirra would have adopted her in a heartbeat. She lost the life I promised her she’d have, the one I had…what she deserved to have.”

“Ah, Lass. But you’ve found each other now, so…”

I interrupted him, jumping up from the bench. “So all is well? It will never be well! Malan erased all my memories of her so I couldn’t search for her. She was my best friend and thought I’d forgotten her. How long she must have waited in that cave thinking that I’d come for her! How long before the hope I would come finally died?”

It choked me to even say the words aloud. “Nissy expected me to save her. Dear gods I want to kill Malan for what he put Nissy through, but more than that…because he did it in my name.”

“Do you wish he’d kept those memories from you then?”

“No, but he may wish he had.”

“You may be right about that, Lass.”



*


Malan as Sir Damien:






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This post has been edited by mALX: Jun 5 2012, 04:33 AM

“I have long ears.”
Only Maxical could pull off taking this literally!

Wow, this was fascinating – and frightening. Maxical opening up to Damien about Malan while only we realize that he IS Malan. Yikes! You continue to weave Malan as someone we definitely hate, but just as definitely recognize shreds of humanity within. Simply a magnificent job you did of tying all this together!

Simply heartbreaking about Nissy and the guilt Maxical feels.

Long ears, only Maxical would think he was talking about his race!

It always freaks me out, knowing Damien is Malan and he gets to learn just about everything that is going on.

Damien sounds awfully defensive of Malan.

I’ve noticed ‘Lass’ used quite a bit. Isn’t that particular to Malan? He’s not keeping his disguise very well. I assume it is because of Maxical.

Poor Nissy, she thinks that she was tossed aside by everyone, including her best friend. I hope Maxical is able to apologize to her or make it up in some way.

Agent Booth!!...I mean Angel!!...

Of course...Silly me...

See! got there early this morning!... ...

An excellent chapter...Another one so chocked with info and lore and backstory that I should have paid you for it!!...

And yet again, totally brilliant ability to do so without clogging up the pace...That's so amazing...

Yeah, the knuckle biting going on through that was just painful... ...Talking it through with Malan himself...Aaargh!!...

Blimey, me thinks he doth protest too much though... ...Surely that'll be his undoing...

And where is Damien?!!...

Excellent story...Excellent writing...

Nice one!!!....

*Applauds hertily*...

Oh NO! Maxical really laid out her grief over Fathis, gut-churning conflict over Malan, and guilt over Nissy. And Malan had the nerve to try to tell his side of the story as Sir Damien. He was a really good listener, though. I guess that’s how he’s so good at manipulating. I’m sure he’s saving up every little tidbit to use later!

Maxical’s story about Girty and Chickie-girl was sweet. She was a champion of the weak (and infuriator of those in authority) even then!

It was fascinating to see more of the complexity that is Malan. The glimpses of the humanity that was might just be trickery, and that makes it even more interesting!

Brilliant chapter! So witty and quirky, definatly my type of read

“I have long ears.”
He he I loved this line. So small and so literal, but so hilarious!!

I like the character of Malan. So far he is peaking my intrest and I can't wait to see how his character develops!

Also might I point out, I love who you imagained Malan to look like

I'll most likely read this again and edit my comment with more thought's, but it's a great chapter

LOVE ITTTT!!

I love Malan! Love him! Such a deceptive weasel sneaking around with such a skill! And Maxical's innocent candor makes the scene an excellent one! Deception, guile and manipulation makes Malan a truly wonderous charactar. Don't hurt me if you find me rooting for him in the end. *hides from everyone*.

Malan the Giant Ogre vampire!