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ValkyrPermalink Reply by ✓ Baptiste "Owl" Dupuis on April 27, 2019 at 19:50

The last couple weeks had been utter hell for the Valkyr. First, he had attempted to get absolution from his pastor when he was interrupted with a mobster/drug dealer right there in the church during a confessional, then as if that wasn't bad enough, a messenger had cornered Baptiste to deliver some pretty disturbing news. Unsettled? that was an understatement for how Baptiste felt. Hos own demons had apparently made a trip to the city, and he knew exactly why the moment their messenger told him that they wanted to meet up with him. Lately the Valkyr had went into hiding, only coming out when he was working in the bar where plenty of people surrounded him. Surely Roseline and Noe wouldn't be that bold; or would they?

Baptiste had been working out for the past hour, but to no avail. The Valkyr was still riddled with anger, and fear. Roseline and Noe had abducted him years ago, and then kept him for decades, using him as a human blood bag, and packing him around like a piece of furniture when they had to move from town to town after villagers noticed that the twins were evil; or when they started calling them monsters. Now that he was living his life, being approached by those two had done nothing but set Baptiste back. Placing himself in hiding, was no way to live, in Bap's opinion, he may as well have rolled over and died now rather than be taken away by those two again. Roseline's definition of love, was pretty different than others. She had fallen for Baptiste, and often she would let him out of the cellar that held him prisoner to roam the village with her during the early morning before Noe woke, then when the time came for him to die, she had turned him into the very same thing that she was. Baptiste being a priest, how could he see that as love? He saw himself as an abomination, it wasn't God's will for people to cheat death and illnesses like Baptiste had.

Taking a much needed shower, Baptiste dressed into his usual style of clothes to go to work. He knew he wasn't in the right headspace to be working in a bar, because lately, most nights had ended with him consuming as much alcohol as the regular drunks did. Tonight probably wouldn't have been an exception. Clocking in early, Baptiste began serving those who were already there; the day time drinkers, trying to keep himself as busy and as distracted as possible until a familiar face approached the bar asking for what she always had on the rare occasions that she came into a bar. Baptiste had met Elle when she moved into the city five years ago, the two had hit it off with one another immediately, and shortly after befriending each other, something much more romantic sparked up between them, and it was on a level serious enough to leave Bap devestated when she left the city; completely vanishing from Bap's life.

This had been the first time he'd seen the Therian ever since. For a moment, every thing Baptiste had planned to say to her if he ever saw her again, had escaped him, words becoming something foreign to him in this very second as a lump formed in his throat that he just couldn't seem to swallow. While letting one of the waitresses tend to Elle's drink, Baptiste walked to the back to calm himself, but that only ended up with him slamming his fist through the mirror that hovered over the bathroom sink. With glass littering the floor, Baptiste only got angrier, and walked back out with cuts along his knuckles, a rag drapped over his hand to hide it as best he could. "Baptiste; what's going on with you today? If you need to go home..." one of his waitresses said, but Bap cut them off mid sentence, walking back over to the bar where she sat, only eyeing her at first.

"fancy seeing you here, it's been a while; Elle" he stated, obviously angered by how she had disappeared from his life. "It's not often you come to a bar and drink, what's got you so distraught?" he questioned before making himself a drink and walking to a back corner, gesturing for her to follow if she wished. Sitting down in the darkest corner he could find, Baptiste happily tipped his glass up and chugged until he emptied his glass, exhaling happily. This was going to be a long night, Elle showing her face for the first time since he had last seen her on top of Baptiste looking over his shoulder every five seconds for the two sadistic twins he was currently hiding from, he certainly wasn't drunk enough for.

TherianPermalink Reply by ✓ Elle-Mae Vivienne Lovett on April 28, 2019 at 1:12

In front of her was someone very familiar. It took her a little while to snap back to reality; her eyes growing slightly wide; her mouth opening to say something else. But no words escaped her.  She wasn’t sure, if it was the sight of Baptiste, or the familiar warm scent, that she had missed the last 5 years, that made her bit speechless. Elle-Mae almost had to remind herself, that he worked at a bar. This bar in particular. It’s not like she had forgotten, but somehow this little detail had slipped from her mind. Closing her eyes briefly, Elle-Mae sighed slightly. Looks like, this night was about to get a bit more complicated. Was she ready for complicated? It seemed, like her life was complicated enough in itself; without extra things tugging at her heart-strings. And right now, it was the guilt of leaving Baptiste the way she had done 5 years ago. The last time, she had been in Evermore; Elle hadn’t been planning on staying there long. Only a few weeks, before moving onto another city or country whilst working. That had been Elle’s routine; travelling to various places whilst working on different books for her publish company. But Baptiste had changed everything for the young Therian. Elle had fallen for him, much more deeply than she had expected. With her also having a growing fondness for the city, she had stayed in Evermore for around 6 months. But Baptiste, had been her main reason for staying so long. But after, getting anonymous messages and threats concerning their relationship; Elle done the hardest thing of leaving him and Evermore behind out of the blue. It broke her heart, knowing she was breaking his. But she wanted to keep him safe.

The Valkyr never left her mind, if she was to be honest. Often thinking about him; how he had been coping the last 5 years. Leaving Bap, was one of her biggest regrets; but at the time she thought it was for the best. Elle-Mae had left him a goodbye letter; but known to her. That letter never got to Baptiste. Was it pathetic, she had wrote him a letter? It had been the only way, she could think off to say goodbye to Baptiste; as she wasn’t sure if doing it in person, would have caused more issues, putting them in more danger. No doubt, he had a lot to say to her. The last few weeks, that she had been in Evermore; Elle had wanted to reach out to Baptiste, to see him. But she wasn’t sure what she would say, or do. But here they were now; meeting again.

As the waitress attended to her order. Elle-Mae closed her eyes when her hearing picked up on Baptiste smashing a mirror in the bathroom. The sound making her flinch. Holding her one of her glasses. Elle took a big swig of the strong cocktail. In hopes, it’d help her cope with everything going on at the moment. The strong scent of Iron, hit her senses. Blood. Baptiste was bleeding.  When he joined her at the bar; She noticed the rag around his hand, trying to hide the injury. For a few long moments; she felt him staring at her. His gaze digging into her. The Therian could feel her heart racing inside of her chest.

Hearing the anger in his words. Elle felt her heart clench. “Baptiste.” she breathed out softly. “Yes...It’s been a while. How have you been?” Almost regretting the question, that had slipped out, but Elle did want to know; how life had been treating him, since she had been gone. Hoping something good was still in his life, after her departure. Her gaze still fixated on the Valkyr. His question made her think for a few moments. In that moment, she wasn’t entirely too sure if it was the memories of her past that were haunting her still, or if now the regret of leaving him and what they had what caused her mood to be going even more sadder than when she first walked in. “Having, bit of a rough night.” Elle-Mae breathed out slightly shakily. It wasn’t always, that Elle was nervous. But she wasn’t sure what to expect from the Valkyr, given how she had left. Taking a sip of her drink. She watched him retreat into a darker corner of the bar. Picking up her other glass, she followed him. Taking a seat from across from the Valkyr, after setting her drinks down. Elle-Mae’s gaze floating down towards his bloody hand. “Bap...you hurt yourself?” Her words, coming out more like a question rather than a statement. But there was concern in her eyes and her voice. Did her presence make him that angry, or upset? Maybe bit of both.

“You can say it….” Elle-Mae breathed out. “Whatever you need to…” The Therian was bracing herself for an impact. She wasn’t what words would come out of the Valkyr; harsh,cold? Concerned, confused? There was probably so many ways the conversation could go. Elle wondered what was going on in his head, at the moment. Her greeny-blue eyes lingered on him for a few long moments, before dropping down towards her lap, with guilt and sadness. Elle felt like her head was spinning with so many thoughts. She didn’t know where to even begin explaining herself, if he asked for an explanation. Maybe, that’s why it’s best if he spoke first. At least, she could try and sort things out in her head whilst listening to him.

ValkyrPermalink Reply by ✓ Baptiste "Owl" Dupuis on May 4, 2019 at 21:13

Baptiste inhaled and exhaled.For what felt like ages, he had been holding his breath, or maybe he was simply unable to breathe because of the sight in front of him. Sometimes when two people loved each other, it felt as though they never seperated after spending such a long time apart, but Bap couldn't say that for himself where it concerned Elle; It felt like she had been gone for as long as she had, and every day that he had missed her, he grew more cold towards her. Baptiste wasn't even given so much as a warning before she left, he knew she had started acting strange, but never did he think that he'd lose her the way he did.

After clearing his throat, Baptiste gazed down to his battered up hand, noticing that the cloth on it did very little to hide the injury, and sarcastically, he began laughing when she asked how he had been. "Really?' he asked out loud, giving her a bitter glare. Still snickering like the arrogant moron that he was being right now, the Valkyr made eye contact with her finally, though he regretted doing so immediately "How have I been.. well that's a heavy question Elle" he continued, and after knocking back another drink, he pressed on "Ive been about as good as I look; I haven't slept right since the night you left. I wanted absolution for exploring a dark side of myself that I never knew existed after the guy I was seeing, also left the city. But, going to the confessional; that too got interrupted, so on top of not sleeping, not getting absolution to continue as the priest my father raised me to be, ive also come to the conclusion that two monsters from my past have returned.. shall I go on?" he questioned, but deep down, he knew he was just angry and that he had already said enough to make her feel guilty.

Now that she had sat down opposite of him, and reminded him that he'd hurt himself, all he could do was chuckle. "This?" he questioned, holding up his bloody hand "This don't compare to the hurt ive actually felt lately, it will heal" he added, trying to keep himself off this path of negativity with her. Because as mad and hurt as he was, he was also pretty damn happy to see her again. When she told him he could say it, he knew exactly what she was telling him he could say, almost like she was able to read his mind, but he was conflicted on how he felt being around her again; a mixture of emotions had began drowning him. "Say what Elle? I can't keep being pissed at you, and honestly, i'm not just mad at you, i'm happy to see you.. im happy to see that you're still alive. I had no idea why you left, or if someone had taken you, hurt you, if you left because you were bored of me.. and ive tortured myself with all the possibilities" he expressed all within one breath of air.

Figuring since she was already guilt-stricken enough, Bap wouldn't add no more weight on her chest. Standing to his feet, the Valkyr joined her on the other side of the table, sitting beside her so he could be near her after all this time. Reaching over, Baptiste placed his fingers underneath her chin, tilting her head to look her in the eyes; "I'm sorry Elle. Im just.. I was hurting, I still feel a lot of that, but where did you go? and why? I was worried about you too, Like I said, it wasn't just anger.. I was scared something had happened to you" he expressed, almost fighting himself to not lean in just a little and kiss her, but he'd save that for a more appropriate time. "Ive missed you, Elle" he added, before falling silent to let her explain, in hopes that it was her intentions to tell him why she left him like that.

The music in the background, somewhat helped him relax, and as he waited for them to start serving him one drink after the next, he hummed along, giving a side glance towards Elle every so often, and finally, he was able to give just a sliver of a smile, when he realized just how gorgeous she was. If one thing was still the same about her, it was that she was still beautiful. He couldn't help but stare.

TherianPermalink Reply by ✓ Elle-Mae Vivienne Lovett on May 5, 2019 at 15:41

Was it possible, to still love someone you’d consider your first love, or someone whom held your heart even after so long of separation? Elle, hadn’t been in many relationships. Baptiste had been her first major other-half, that she could have seen herself having a future with him after the months they had spent together. No one prior, or even afterwards that had been in her life; could compare to the Valkyr. Her ex in high-school had been a major ass; more focused on being popular and getting all the girls. At the time, Elle-Mae was too young and naive to see he was only using her for her smarts, and beauty. At the time, she was hurt and heartbroken after finding out he had been sleeping around with other girls in school. But truthfully, the last 5 years had been the heart-break. Leaving Baptiste, hurting him and hurting herself also; that was true pain of having to let someone you loved deeply go. If anyone thought it was an easy choice for her to make; it was the hardest thing she had ever done. The most painful; and it caused so much regret and hurt.

But here, right now. She really didn’t know; what to expect from Baptiste. Maybe a lot of anger and even hate? His expressions were bit hard to read at first. Hearing his sarcastic almost mocking laughter, made her heart clench. Struggling to breathe for a few moments again. It certainly wasn’t helping. Catching a glimpse of the bitter glare; Elle swallowed loudly. If looks could kill. The Therian was certain, that was one of the coldest looks she had ever seen him give to anyone. And the fact, he was glaring at her like that. It made her feel even worse, knowing how much damage, her leaving had done.

“I...I know...it’s a stupid question.” Maybe ‘Stupid’ wasn’t even the right word. But, if Elle would try and explain, that’s now how she meant for it to come across. She’d probably be digging herself a grave, trying to explain what she meant.Listening to Baptiste talk, he didn’t seem to waste any time. His words cutting like a knife. He had every right to be mad at her. But he also was making her feel even more guilty, than she had carried around with her the last 5 years. Elle wasn’t even sure what to say. If she asked him to go on; he might just splur more things out at her in anger. And she wasn’t sure how much,she could handle without breaking down in the next few moments. As the Therian was slowly starting to feel overwhelmed with emotions; mainly guilt and heart-ache. Not to mention, he also seemed to be having some other, issues going on as she caught onto ‘past monsters being in town.’

Elle took another few sips of her drink. If only Alcohol could drown out the pain she felt. He may have been hurting, but so had she. Stealing few glances at him; before her eyes returned back to her lap. Unable to keep eye contact for long. Whomever, had went through the trouble to threaten her; had really wanted them to be apart. And they succeed...because the damage was right in here. Two broken people, that had loved each other 5 years ago.”I don’t know...I am sure...there’s plenty you want to say to me.” Elle-Mae said honestly. “You already made it clear, how angry I made you. I am sorry, if I made you hate me...” Her voice cracking, at the last words she spoke. But the rest? She wasn’t so sure. The Therian paused, when he mentioned he was happy to see her? That surprised her. “You...you didn’t look happy.” Elle breathed out shakily. His bitter glare said otherwise. And if there was some hidden happiness in any of his expressions; maybe she missed it. Mainly because she was struggling to look at him; without feeling even more guilty. The longer she would look at him, the more guilt she would feel. That she was certain. And no amount of words, would explain just how guilty and broken she felt herself.

Listening to all the possibilities, that had been running through his mind since she had left. Her heart clenched, feeling tears welling up inside of her eyes at his words. He thought, she left because of him? A part of her hoped, that he still knew how much she had loved him back then; that she wouldn’t have left him like that. But it also made her realise, that because he was questioning the reason why, that he never got the letter she wrote. Elle had spent days writing it, and mainly crying as she couldn’t bare the thought of saying goodbye to someone, whom made her feel complete back then. “Yo….you never got the letter...did you?” The letter was not only an attempt to explain, why she was leaving. But also to let him know, that she’d always love him no matter what was going on. But whomever had been keeping an eye on them back then; got to the letter before Baptiste. Which now left her, with the only option. To explain what had been going on back then. Her voice filled with heavy emotion.

Feeling Baptiste sit near her. Elle felt a familiar cool touch against her warm skin. Her greeny-blue eyes still filled with unshed tears. As he lifted her chin up; her eyes met his for a few moments. If she blinked, all the tears would spill. Hearing him apologise, Elle shook her head softly. She had missed him, and his soft touch. “You have every right to be hurt and upset with me. But leaving...it also hurt me too. You were the best thing, that happened to me back then. Please don’t think, I left because of you...it wasn’t like that..” She needed him to know that. He never done anything wrong. Nor could she grow bored of the man, that meant more to her than anything. It took everything she had in her, not to break down and collapse in his arms as he said he had missed her. Whilst the music seemed to have calmed him down; it certainly didn’t help her in the same way. “I’ve missed you too, Bap.” She breathed out weakly, trying to keep her voice even. As her emotions were getting the better of her. “I was in England for a while...at first, I thought about going back to New York...but..” Elle trailed off slightly. New York, still seemed quiet close to whomever was after her and Baptiste back then.

Elle could feel her eyes on him every few moments. Despite the fact, that he struggled with sleep. Baptiste, still looked as handsome as ever to her. Eternal Youth and Handsomeness. One of the Perks of being Immortal.

“A few weeks before I left...I…” Elle felt like a lump was forming in her throat; trying to find the words to explain. But not just any words, the right words. “One evening, I came home to find an anonymous message, saying that I….that we were being watched. At first, I thought it was some sort of a joke...kids playing about or something. So, I tried to ignore it. But the messages carried on. They were starting to threaten me, and even threatening to hurt...you, if I stayed any longer. Who ever it was, they knew about you...they knew about us,and they were using what we had, to manipulate me. They were intent on hurting you, if they didn’t get their way. It was clear, they’d want me to suffer and watch them hurt you...in…” Elle couldn’t even say it. But she knew, whatever they were planning for Baptiste...it would have been torture for her to watch. And she couldn’t let that happen. It had been painful enough, to imagine what painful scenarios they’d put Bap under. And that itself had been hell for her; before she left. Even if no one hurt her physically, they had hurt her emotionally. Toying with her, scaring her with threats and scenarios of what could be. The tears slowly started to fall, as she spoke. “I didn’t feel like myself, I tried avoiding you for a little while thinking you might be safer.” But she was wrong, nothing ever stopped. And she didn’t feel safe. The only place, she had felt safe had been in his in his arms; but she had to let him go. As Painful as it had been. “But, after I found my apartment trashed and more threats written in what looked like blood, or maybe it was red paint...I don’t know.....I...It’s what drove me to leave. I spent a few days writing you a letter….or well...mainly crying the last few days, because I struggled writing everything down. I left the letter, in our spot. It was the safest place, I could think of at the time.” It was a place, where they sometimes left little notes to each other. But since he never seemingly got it. It was clear, that the enemy even knew about their special place too. So, had gotten to it first; before Baptiste would have found it himself.

At the time, Elle did see much options. It was either stay; and possibly lose Baptiste in a much worse way if someone had killed him. Or to leave; in hopes they’d both be safe. Elle had chosen to leave. But, it came with pain, regret and hurt.

ValkyrPermalink Reply by ✓ Baptiste "Owl" Dupuis on May 9, 2019 at 3:40

Baptiste had been staring at Elle, remembering what he had lost the day she vanished from his life. It had left him with a black hole in his heart, not that Valkyrs had a beating heart, but if they did, Elle would have been the very reason that Bap's beat. When she left, the Valkyr died on the inside and had turned into a shell of a man. He had began questioning his faith, what he believed in, what he didn't. Baptiste hadn't been able to move on even though he had concluded he would never see her again,. Even the fling with Jason wasn't enough to even suffice. Nothing filled that void except for one thing.. blood. When Baptiste fed on a human being, he felt wholesome, and it had eventually led him down a dark path he was stuck on to this very day. As messed up as that sounded, it was true.

Now that she had returned, Baptiste found himself overwhelemed, and searching for a way to resolve the ways he had resorted to, in order to cope with the loss of Elle. Clearing his throat, the Valkyr glanced into her eyes, a set of eyes he could feel himself drown in. He literally melted when he was near her. Her smile, her smell, the cute giggle she had, the list could have went on for centuries, and Baptiste would have never fallen short on things he loved about her. It all compelled him and left him weak as a man. Now that he sat here lost for words and only able to give her a bitter glare, he acknowledged just how cold he was being. At this rate, he was sure she'd end up with frost bite; with that, the Valkyr breathed out, in hopes that he could soften up to her just a little.

Elle's voice began cracking, causing Baptiste to feel like a piece of shit, a pretty worthless excuse as the man who would have walked through the pits of hell for her five years ago. The words she spoke cut him like a knife and he couldn't continue to let her think that he hated her. "Elle the anger you hear in the things i'm saying, isn't hate. God. It's quite the opposite. I love you, there's no denying that, but you left me fragile and weak when you vanished. I blamed myself until I hated myself. It got bad for me Elle.. really bad" he stated with a tone broken enough to match hers. Swallowing harshly, he figured now was the time to continue, to lay it all on the table for her right here and right now, that way she could decide if he was worth even returning too. "I started feeding on people. You know I don't do that, unless I have to, but the fact remains, is thatv even when I have to because of what I am, I only ever fed on people who done wrong, people who hurt themselves or others, those who damned their souls. Now it's a new ballgame. The blood from the innocent has put me in a dark place.. and i'm not really sure if that's fitting for a man who once called himself a priest."

After his rant, the Valkyr hung his head low, shameful and guilt stricken. A low chuckle escaped the Valkyr's lips when she expressed how he hadn't looked happy to see her, Bap shook his head amused. "Well, Elle as miserable and pitiful as I look, seeing you is probably one of the best things that has happened to me in five years.." he admitted. Baptiste' widened eyes met her very broken, teary ones when she expressed that he hadn't gotten her letter. He could feel his blood pressure rising again, anger boiling his blood, practically setting his skin ablaze "A letter.." he repeated her, before looking back down to the ground, grimacing. "So you said goodbye in a letter?" he questioned, wanting to put himself in denial; as many amazing memories as they had shared, a letter just didn't seem to be enough for him. "No Elle. I didn't get a letter" he then stated and sighed. He knew yelling at her, or making her feel any worse than she did would only turn around to bite him in the ass and make him feel just as bad.

Baptiste felt that nagging ass painful lump forming in the back of his throat again. Her words chimed out as angelic in his ears, though she had hurt him worse than anyone ever had in his life, she was still his Elle and she could have gotten away with murder and it be okay, at least in his eyes. He knew one thing was for sure, he was never the type of man to cry, and shed tears. So even though that's who he was, he now sat her holding back the waterworks when she started explaining herself. He knew for sure, he just knew that she didn't care for him and that she had just up and left him. But now, he knew something much different, something more sad than that. "I'm sorry Elle, I guess I was too hurt to even think leaving may have hurt you too. But, when something like that happens, a person is always left to think they've done something wrong, something to cause the best thing in their life to walk away" he started off, swallowing harshly, and somehow still holding the flood gates to his eyes closed.

"But what?" he then asked, arching a brow. He could sense that something had ran her away from him. And, after getting news hat Roseline and Noe had made it into the city, he couldn't help but clench the muscles in his jaws, knowing that the possibility of Roseline terrorizing Elle right out of Bap's life made much more sense than Elle just leaving him. When Elle then went into full detail, Baptiste finally let it hit him, and though his reaction to it was odd, it was that of him breaking down to know Roseline had succeeded with her psychotic brother in breaking him and Elle apart. "You're kidding me.. TELL ME YOU'RE FUCKING JOKING" he shouted angrily, the cup full of whiskey in his hand, breaking into pieces beneath his grasp. Baptiste immediately stood, he didn't want to hurt no one, at least no one here. He was livid though, and that side of him had proved time and time again to be dangerous for those around him.

"Elle, I wish I had known. But this isn't okay, I have to stop this.. no matter what it takes. If it means giving myself over to them again, to keep you safe ill do it" he then expressed, knowing they'd have to leave now that he was mad enough for the veins in his neck to bulge. Baptiste had never dealt with anger well.. and it had turned out to be a blood bath for people around him if he didn't isolate himself. But, now with the facts on the table, he wasn't going anywhere without Elle being with him, he had to know she was safe, and if that meant dragging her every where that he went from now on, then so be it, he'd do it. "I have a lot to tell you too.. now that you've explained all of this Elle. I'm just sorry I never shared the story of my past with you in depth until now" he started off, but began pacing the more he spoke of it. "Years ago, my sisters husband was murdered in broad daylight, byt the male who had moved to our hometown with his twin sister. He took a liking to my sister. It didn't even matter that she was a married woman, Noe didn't care. I tried to be everything to my sister when she lost her husband, but nothing was enough to console her broken heart. Due to grief, my sister killed herself. And, when that happened, I decided to take matters into my own hands, I went to the twins house, I wanted answers, and well, while i was nosing around outside, seeing if i could find anything, Noe grabbed me from behind and locked me in a cellar."

The Valkyr breathed out before he continued. "They kept me hostage for decades upon decades after that. I was their source of blood, their entertainment.. i was their life" he stated, clearing his throat "Roseline, Noes sister took a liking to me, so much that she turned me when i was on my death bed, to keep me from dying. When i  gained my freedom, it was a day that a pack of Therian's got into the cellars where they kept me and some others hostage, i never saw Roseline or Noe after that, because escaped, now they're here, in the city. If they're here, that only means they've come back for me. Roseline will stop at nothing to have me as hers, and Noe wants me dead" he breathed out, and silenced himself. "I never meant for this to happen to you Elle. It should have been me who left.. i'm so sorry" he stated truthfully before leaning down, reaching for her hand. "Lets get out of here. Suddenly feeling eyes all over us, and I have no idea who they know" the Valkyr added, shaking his head, waiting to lead Elle to safety, and keep her there if she'd allow him.

Little did they know, their hell was just beginning. "You must know that I never stopped loving you. And i'm saying it now, I am still very much in love with you Elle. I won't let them hurt you, I promise you that, just please trust me." he added and ran a hand through his messy hair, feeling that he had already been captured by those bastards again.

TherianPermalink Reply by ✓ Elle-Mae Vivienne Lovett on May 9, 2019 at 17:50

Elle could feel his eyes still set on her. Her breathe mainly caught in the back of her throat, finding it hard to breathe with how much he was staring at her. Baptiste always had very expressive eyes, beautiful in color. Maybe it was for the fact, that hadn’t seen him the last 5 years, and the way that she left; that his eyes were filled with more emotions all at once; it was a bit hard to keep track off. But the Therian was holding her breathe; almost like she may have forgotten to for a few moments. Despite, the fact that he was a Valkyr and she a Lycanthrope; she always felt the most complete when she was with him. Now, the 5 past years after she left. Elle-Mae felt like a part of her, a big part of her was missing. She was as broken as he was.

She missed the past. Things felt more simple back then. They were happy. Not having a care in the world around the bad in the world; until enemies drove them apart. Now, here they were. Equally broken. And even though Baptiste still looked as she had remembered him being, the past 5 years had changed him. And she was partially to blame for those changes. The things, she drove him to? She was just about to find out. There was only so much of the staring she could take. It made it extremely hard to look at him, without feeling overwhelmed by all of the emotions and guilt at once.

If she could take back, the last 5 years she would have. But she knew, if she would have stayed. What would have happened then? Would things turned out better or worse, than they were now? As he said, he loved her. Elle felt the tears form in her eyes even more quicker than before. The Therian didn’t know what was going on inside of his heart, besides him being hurt. But knowing, his feelings for her never went away, just like hers for him never did either. It was something. Elle felt choked up. Not sure what to say for a few moments. Or even begin to explain, how much she still felt for him. But if anything, her eyes spoke volume in her emotions. Despite how teary and guilty she looked. The deep love and affection for the Valkyr was still there also. Her heart clenching as Baptiste told her about what he had been doing. The time, that Elle had known him. He never really fed heavily; only when he needed to. And it was never innocent people. And she could respect him for that. He didn’t want to hurt innocents. But knowing, what a twisted dark spiral he had been going down. She couldn’t help but feel, like her leaving drove him towards that. Was it fair to blame herself? Maybe not...but so much blame was already on her. More wouldn’t  make much more difference.

That certainly, wasn’t a change to Baptiste that she was expecting. He sounded so broken. Like her. “I know...I know, it’s not like you to do something like this.” Elle breathed out shakily. Her voice still filled with guilt. As she got the courage to look at him again. Elle was doing her best to hold back her tears. “No amount of words, will ever say just how much I am truly sorry. I can’t help, but feel like it’s my fault...that you ended up doing this to yourself, Bap. But you can get through it...you’re stronger than that.” she said softly. Her hand reached out slowly. Her warm fingertips wrapping around his good hand, to give it a gentle squeeze. Even through his self-loathing moments. Elle-Mae always had faith in him. That he’d pull out through the tough moments, he was going through.

Judging from the expression on his face; he wasn’t very happy to hear about the letter. Elle was half expecting him to loose it again, to yell at her, make her feel like a piece of crap because he deserved better. In a way, they both deserved better than a letter for a goodbye. But, as much as she wanted to. She couldn’t bring herself to do it; because of the danger that was lurking about at the time. She shamefully hung her head again, with a sigh. And to her surprise, he didn’t snap at her about it. “It was the only way, I knew how to say goodbye with what was going on…..I know, I owed you more...I owed us both more...and it was hurting me….because I didn’t want to do it.” Elle’s voice was shaking. But she felt like, she didn’t have a better choice. Not if she wanted him safe.

If anything, Elle-Mae cared for Baptiste more than he realised. She knew how her actions made her look. How it seemed like she dismissed their entire relationship and him. But with him finding about the truth, he’d know different. The Therian noticed the unshed pools of tears in his eyes. Her heart aching. Baptiste was always strong, composed. She never ever known him to cry. But here he was, fighting the tears as much as she was. But generally, women seemed to be bit more emotional and she was always struggled, with keeping her emotions in check. So, she was the first one to be breaking down, first.

The Therian could understand where he was coming from. Why he resorted to thinking through every situation possible. If she was in his spot, she would have probably racked her brain thinking through everything too. “I know...there’s probably a lot of bad thoughts going on in your head. And I know, how my actions back then made me look. But leaving you...it was the hardest things I ever done...and it didn’t just hurt you. It broke me, knowing I was leaving you.” And Elle wasn’t sure, that she could even forgive herself for hurting them both like that; especially him. Knowing what her leaving resorted him into doing.

His explosive words to her explanation made her jump; especially as the glass in his grip shattered. Of all the possible reactions, he could have given her. That was unexpected. Elle knew how much of a temper Bap had. But 5 years away, it caught her off guard almost. But she wasn’t joking. She couldn’t joke about something like that. The Therian slowly shook her head. “No….It’s….the the truth.” She breathed out. Baptiste looked like he was ready to rip heads off. Almost, like he knew or suspected whom it was; that drove them apart.

As more tears slide down her cheeks. Elle rubbed at her face to stop more falling. “I wanted to tell you...I was scared. Who knows, what they would have do to either of us, if I came clean. I hated to leave,but I needed to protect you.” And in a way, herself also. Rose and Noe had done a good job, of terrorising her into keeping it quiet from him also. The thought of giving himself over to them, made the Therian panic. “Baptiste...please...no...you can’t do that.” Elle-Mae was silently begging him, to think over that thought.It’s what they wanted back then. And good knows what they would have done to him. “If anything happens to you because of me….I couldn’t bare that thought back then. And I can’t bare that thought now!” She would never forgive herself, if something happened to him. Because of her, or any other reason. When Baptiste proceed to tell her, about his past. Elle-Mae was a bit surprised. He never shared much of it. She knew it was rough and held bad memories for him. Bap always said, it wasn’t God’s Will to cheat Death, like he had. But it might have been Fate...or they wouldn’t have ever met. And she wasn’t sure, that she could imagine a life without ever knowing him, or loving him the way she had. The Therian was quiet, listening intently. Quiet shocked and also sympathetic, sad at what tragic and hard events he had to go through, as well as his sister. “Oh my god...Bap.” she muttered with heavy emotion and sadness. “I...I...that’s horrible.” She couldn’t even imagine, what it was like back then. To suffer through so much. Roseline sounded more twisted than any other supernatural being she ever heard about.

When she had returned to Evermore, she thought that the threat might be long gone. With few reasons bringing her back into the city. Baptiste was one of them. She heard him apologise. “It’s not your fault.” If he left, what would have that changed? The situation would still be the same, just positions reversed? As his hand reached for hers. She took it without hesitation. Standing up herself, a little shaky from everything still. But he raised a good point. Who knows who the twins knew. “Let’s just...figure this out together.” Elle breathed out. She gently touched his face, her thumb brushing against his defined jawline. Something, she always done to tone down his anger. She didn’t want to leave him alone to deal with the twins. Yes, they might have been his past demons. But they were the one’s, whom broke them apart. And Elle wanted to help him through it. To find a way to stop them. Back then, she had no idea whom she was dealing with.

Even if she might not have been sure, due to his conflicting emotions. His desire to protect her, matched the words he spoke. She could see it, in his eyes. Her heart speeding up slightly. The Valkyr still had the same effects on her, as he always did back then. “I never stopped loving you either Bap.”  For a few long moments, her eyes were fixated on his. Before she wrapped her arms around the Valkyr, hugging him. A moment of weakness, but she need to. Elle missed being in his arms. The way she always curled up against him, laying her head against his chest. Despite no heart-beat. It always brought her comfort being in his arms like that. Elle buried her face in his shoulder. Breathing in his scent. “I do, trust you.” she said softly. Elle just hoped, that Bap still could trust her also, especially after how she left him.

ValkyrPermalink Reply by ✓ Baptiste "Owl" Dupuis on August 18, 2019 at 0:24

Baptiste knew the way hed been staring her down, had finally made her uncomfortable. It almost seemed as though his daggering glare was crippling Elle, and that wasn't his intentions at all. But the last five years had been hell for him, and never had he known why she just up and left him the way she'd done. But, during those five years. Baptiste had discovered things about himself, that wouldn't allow him and Elle to move on and be a happy couple as they once were. The news he would be revealing to her today, would probably shake them up even worse than they were right now. Baptiste knew she wouldn't take it lightly, that he had found a man to make him happy during the time she had been away frm him. Jason had left the city though, and now Elias had returned. With Elle and Eli both back in Colorado, Bap's head truly was spinning. 

Baptiste knew Elle was no fool though, so he knew she'd caught onto the fact that he had changed with time. Usually, time changed everyone, but the changes Baptiste had made with himself, weren't typical ones. His sexuality for one. He didn't see it as a change though, he felt it was something he had always been, and it was just itching it's way out of the surface until he met Jason; after turning Jason into a Valkyr though, to keep the love of his life from dying in his arms, like the last one did, he left him. Real gratitude, Baptiste thought to himself, shaking his head absently. 

Folding his arms, Bap finally forced himself to tear his gaze away from her. But, enough was enough. There was only so much a man could take, so much hurt he could deal with and he could see that he wasn't alone in that boat. Elle looked equally haunted by the choices made to protect him. But what she didn't realize yet, was how bad it wounded a mans pride to know his woman left just to keep him safe. It should have been vise versa, Baptiste should have kept her put, and fought for what they had. However, he didn't know at the time, that him and her were both in so much danger. When the Therian dipped her head down again and sighed, Baptiste reach out and tilted her chin back up to look at him. "I know ive yelled, cursed at you, and ive pretty much made it impossible for you to even breathe around me this evening. But, I get it. I get you did what you had to do to protect us.. it just hurts that it was you.. you were the one keeping me safe from my own demons. That's not fair to either of us Elle, and as a man, it was my place to do the damn protecting" he expressed, and gazed from her eyes, back to the floor below them. 

After running a hand through his jet black mane, Baptiste inhaled and decided to continue fighting off his own emotions. He knew how to shut down completely if he needed to. It's just a trick he picked up after his first lover died in his arms. "You don't have to keep hurting yourself by reminding yourself that you left me.. It's okay Elle. I just wished I could have fought for you, and I would have done so happily, had I just known. What's done is done, and unfortunately, we'll never get those five years back, but we can move on" he said, dead pan. 

The shards of glass in his hand didn't even phase the Valkyr as Elle continued speaking of the enemy that put a wedge in between them, and he didn't even care that his hand was pouring blood everywhere. "Did they touch you?" he asked, through gritted teeth, balling his hands up once more, causing the shards to cut through his flesh even deeper. "I swear to you Elle, I will make this right" he then said, and pulled her in for a hug. Baptiste didn't wanna let go. He knew she'd been through hell, especially now. 

"I have to Elle, I can't let anyone else that I love, be tormented and controlled by those sadistic freaks of nature. You have no idea just how far Rosline will go just to make me hers, and how far her brother will go just to kill me.. but he won't kill me first, first he will kill everyone i love... then me" he expressed, giving her names, to make sure that it was Roseline and Noe who'd ran Elle away from him. Baptiste hung his head low, after Elle expressed how horrible his past sounded. He knew how bad it would sound to her, it's why he had never shared it before now. And even now, he struggled to tell her everything. He was scared of being completely open to someone, giving someone that much power over his life was something he'd never do, but Elle wasn't just anyone, she'd been through some of the worse things with him, and some of the best. Because God knows, things hadn't been all bad for them. 

In fact, the two of them once lived their lives like a fairy tale. Now, it was a true nightmare for each of them, being replayed over and over again. Baptiste frowned at that realiztion. This was never how he imagined things being for him and the woman he gave himself too. But if history had proved anything, the last woman he loved, died right in his arms. So, maybe this was just how life was meant to be, that Baptiste wasn't meant to be happy and settled down in a relationship. When Elle finally reach out, and brushed her thumb against his jawline, Bap reach up and cupped her hand with his own, enjoying the touch, even if it wouldn't last. Because he knew once he broke the news to her, that they'd never be the same again. Bap however, looked into her eyes, smiling happily "Thank you. No ones ever been able to do that" he admitted a small truth, about how easily she calmed someone with such a raging temper down. 

Baptiste allowed himself to embrace the Therian, for as long as she'd keep her arms around him. Though Bap's world was painted with a different picture now, one that involved Elias, he still and always would love Elle. She would never be someone he'd forget or just move on from. He knew the limits, and he knew what not to do to keep his loyalty to Eli. Leaning down, Baptise kissed her forehead, and stepped back as his hands cupped each of her cheeks, while locking eyes with her. "Together then" he stated, and withdrew his touch from her, but still, he wrapped an arm around her shoulder to walk with her. He didn't mind her head on his shoulder during this walk either, because he needed to keep her as close as possible, he wasn't sure what was lurking around the corner. And now that the two of them were together for public eyes to see, he knew Roseline and Noe knew it. They were smart, and were always one step ahead, at least in the past. He was sure that hadn't changed. 

"Elle there's a lot more to talk about" he expressed, but used the time to walk her to his place, and reflect on everything, and just how he'd say all of it to her. Once they arrived, Baptiste unlocked the door and pushed it open, expecting to find Roseline sitting there with a wicked grin on her face, and no clothes, wrapped in his sheets and expecting him. That's how sadistic and twisted she was. He could even see her wearing one of Elle's old house robes, just for fun. Rolling his eyes, Bap stepped in before Elle, making sure there was no one there. Thankfully, they were here alone. "It's clear, come in" he stated, and made himself a drink; something else he never really did until now, and made her one as well before having a seat on the sectional. "Five years is a long time Elle. I wish I had known what was going on though. But I didn't and well - -" he stopped mid sentence, swallowing harshly at the framed picture of him and Elias. He hoped she didn't see it before he had time to explain at least. 

"I met someone.." he finished off, and took a swig of his drink, wincing at it's bitter taste. 

TherianPermalink Reply by ✓ Elle-Mae Vivienne Lovett on September 11, 2019 at 16:11

The Therian couldn’t blame him, for how he was looking at her. But it still did enough discomfort. If she had been a mere stranger, or they weren’t as close, as they once had been. It wouldn’t have affected her so much. It just added more to the guilt, that she already felt. But all of that was nothing, compared to what would soon come.

There had been times, where Elle wished she could have turned the clock around. Done things differently. But she couldn’t change anything now. What was done, was done. She slightly swallowed, as she felt him tilt her head up. Her eyes locked on him again. “Yeah, you haven’t exactly given me an easy time, trying to explain myself...but I get it. I hurt you, a lot...I probably deserved the yelling and curses.” Or at least partially. Even if she had good intentions of wanting to protect him. The Lycan sighed softly. She understood why he would feel wounded. He was the man in the relationship back then. It were his Demons. Not hers. “Should it be? They might be your Demons...but they would have had your head on a skewer...if I said something.” Elle sighed, deeply. She couldn’t help but wonder, if things would have been different, if she told him the truth. Or would it have put him in more danger? “I don’t see a win win, of how things could have been easier back then.” She said honestly. It was either him protecting her, or her protecting him...or nothing. There was no easy solution, to this mess.

“Easier said then done.” Elle said honestly. That decision had haunted her the last 5 years. And here he was, sitting in front of her. Previously angry at her, for her decision. It wasn’t so easy to shake off. His deadpan words, made her nod slightly. There was probably nothing they could do, right now. But move on. They couldn’t wind the clocks back 5 years ago, even if they would have wanted to.

The smell if blood and iron was getting stronger. But he didn’t seem to mind. But Elle was concerned, for him causing himself more injuries. “No..” Elle sounded a bit unsure, as he asked if they had touched her. “....I don’t think I ever met either of them in person…” Or she hoped, she didn’t. If she had, they probably went by different names, just to keep themselves disguised. “I don’t even know how they look like...so I can’t say I ever met them in person.” She looked bit confused, by it. Trying to recall someone that struck her as odd; around the same time the threats were happening. But no one in particular struck her mind. Taking it as a sign, that she hadn’t met them, in person. Not yet, at least.

Hugging him back. Elle closed her eyes, as she held onto the Valkyr. His embrace bringing her some sort of comfort, for a few moments. “Then what do we do? They’re gonna try and hurt you...no matter, what we do.” They needed to figure things out. But how could they outsmart the twins? Elle swallowed at the thought of Bap being tortured like that, before killed. Those thoughts coming back to her, with his words. The same thoughts that haunted her back then 5 years ago, with each threat she got. The Therian wished, she could have changed his past. Chase away his demons. He didn’t deserve to go through any of that. But all she could do, was help him. 

As she attempted to calm his temper down. Elle felt his cool hand cup hers. Returning the soft smile. “At least, I still know how to calm you down.” she said softly. It surprised her, that after 5 years...it still worked. Elle briefly closed her eyes, leaning her head against his shoulder, as she still held onto him, in their embrace. She had no idea, how long she held onto him. But she eventually let go, so they could leave the bar. With his arm around her, she kept close to him. Walking by his side. She rested her head on his shoulder, for a few more moments. Elle didn’t know if they would be followed, now that she was back. And if they would be seen together, all hell might break loose all over again.

“I am sure, 5 years is a lot to catch up on.” But she didn’t catch the hidden meaning to his words. Once they arrived outside of his Apartment. Elle glanced over her shoulder, just to make sure no one was lurking in the hallways. Once he gave her the green card to enter. The Therian stepped inside. Her eyes glancing around his home. Taking things in. Things didn’t really change much, from the last time she had been there. The Therian’s eyes caught something new though. A particular photo was screaming out at her. Baptiste with a certain young male. The photo didn’t look, casual. It looked more intimate, they both looked happy...from what Elle was seeing in the picture.

She could hear Baptiste talking...barely paying attention...as the photo had snapped her attention away from the Valkyr. But she focused back on him. But from her expression, it was clear. Elle was trying to figure things out, in her head already. “You met...someone?” she repeated.  Like, she was trying to let the words sink in. But it was too late, different images forming in her head already.

5 years, Elle...5 Years. He met plenty of people, in that time. A voice inside of her head scolded her slightly.

“I assume...that someone, has a name?” Elle asked a little bitterly, as she gestured towards the frame picture, that snapped her attention again. Almost, like it was staring her in the face. Reminding her, of what she lost...what she truly lost now...because he was with someone else. The Therian almost instantly backed away, before he could reach out for her. Needing her space. Just using her hand, as a signal to stop him.