I love it when a character does something so unexpected and then explains to me why it was done. Stone completely shocked me with his actions in the last sentence. Before this scene starts Ser the clone and Stone saved her from being kidnapped. She realized that Ser is the one from her dreams who saved her before. They are in a van taking her back to the apartment where she has been staying.
Stone turned my face as he surveyed the damage. I felt sore but fine. “Looks like you are fine. Now how do you know Ser?”
“Ser?” I asked. “Short for serpent?” Ser nodded.
“Fitting” I said. “When I was a child I was kidnapped, but you know this. What you don't know is that I was rescued out of that filthy cage by a beautiful man who reminded me of the snake I caught. All I remember is him telling me not to forget him and come back to him one day. He told me I would be strong and save them. I also remember how gentle he was with me. The experiments they conducted were pretty bad and it hurt to be touched but Ser was gentle.” I turned to Ser. “Thank you for that.”
“You are very welcome, Larch. We all have been waiting for you to return. Stone has some information for you to look at but he will not be able to do that until he is with you again so can you go back to the Compound?”
I didn’t know if I wanted to return to the compound. I had been free to do as I pleased the past week but after the debacle at the shopping mall, I could probably kiss that freedom good-bye. There was no way to keep this attack from Thomas.
“I am willing to do anything I need to but don’t understand any of this. Why do they want me so bad?” This was a puzzle I had been trying to figure out ever since the dreams started and I realized I was kidnapped for something more than to hurt Thomas, there was a purpose.
“Stone can explain all of that when you see the research. I’ll let the two of you talk in private for a few minutes.” Ser went to the front of the van and climbed into the passenger seat. He also replaced his mask.
I looked at Stone. He had not taken his eyes off of me since he pulled the mask off. I reached my hand up and touched his cheek. It was rough from the slight beard that needed shaving. I looked at his lips and couldn’t help but remember the kiss. I thought he would kiss me but he sat back. I was disappointed.
“So Stone, what have you been doing and what was Ser talking about?”
“I’ve been with my father. As far as the other, we don’t have time to discuss it right now but I will talk to you about it when the time is right. Ser thinks you can help him and his friends because you are smart. I want to help them too.” I wished he would stop looking at me the way that he was because it made my blood heat up.
“I guess it can wait.” I lowered my eyes too afraid of rejection to say what I was feeling to his face. “I missed you.”
For an interminable time nothing was said and my face heated up from embarrassment. Ser cleared his throat in the front. I raised my eyes to Stone’s as he cupped my face and made me look at him. It looked like a war was going on in his mind and it played out in his facial expressions. He leaned forward inch by inch and put his lips on mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck and gave in to the kiss. It was hot and heavy and I felt like I was flying. It was as good as our first kiss. Electrifying.
The van slowed down and stopped. Stone pulled away from me and I felt the connection between us break. “This isn’t right, Larch," he said as he shook his head. "We’re here at your stop.”
He opened the back doors and pushed me out.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Teaser Tuesday
From the NaNo again. Since I have given Stone's POV for two weeks, I am switching to Larch today. She is in the hospital after nearly burning in a fire and can't open her eyes. She just heard a conversation take place. Ms. Snarky is actually cleaning up her act since she has no one to interact with, I find that very interesting. As always, 1st draft.
Who would I never have to worry about again? And was that Thomas and Stone speaking? I tried to open my eyes but could not, I felt like I had sand in them, they were so gritty. This thing in my throat was about to drive me crazy and I wanted it out. I needed someone to help me but the swishing and beeping were lulling me back into sleep.
The door closed and someone approached the bed. I heard the dividing curtains close and felt the mattress sink as someone sat beside me and took my hand. The hand was warm and rough. I knew immediately that it was Stone.
“Come on Princess,” he whispered. “Come back to me. The doctors said you had such a shock that you need to retreat into yourself. I think that’s bullshit because you are strong, so very strong. What you did during the fire was amazing, I’ve never seen a braver person. Come back Larch so we can see what is between us.”
I wanted to do as he said but I couldn’t. I remembered the searing kiss we shared not long ago and I remembered how I felt when he touched me but I also remembered that my parents expected me to be with Thomas and he loved me. I knew that Stone had some issue with me and I still wondered what it was.
The feel of his hand on mine was amazing. I felt secure and peaceful but most of all happy. I let myself relax and the dreams started again.
I was a little girl laying on top of my best friend. He had found me hiding in the lab. They were going to take me away from him and I didn’t want to go so as we were playing I ran away to hide in the forbidden room.
My dark haired boy looked into my eyes, His eyes looked like the sky after a storm and he promised to protect me. I was happy and secure with the boy I loved.
The door opened and heavy footsteps came towards me. Someone put their arms around me and pulled, dragging me off of my boy. I held on to him but was no match for the strong arms. I heard him cry out for me as the door shut. I knew I would never see him again.
I looked into the face of the Professor. This was a man who scared me. I associated him with pain and I knew from the look in his eye that I would be in pain again.
The dream shifted.
I was older and in another lab but was locked in a cage like an animal. I tried to bend the bars and escape but they wouldn’t budge. I knew I had strength but for some reason was unable to make the bars move. I didn’t understand. I hurt. There were pieces of gauze taped to my skin. Terrible things had been done to me.
Someone came in and looked at me. He was different than anything I had ever seen before. His skin was the color of mine but it was smooth and scaly just like the snake I caught in the garden. He had no hair and his eyes were slightly slitted like my Japanese nanny. He was beautiful.
“I’m here to save you, Larch but you must return to save us one day. You’ll be strong. Don’t forget me and come back. We’ll be waiting.”
The cage door swung open and he picked me up. It hurt when he touched me but not from him, I hurt from the nasty things done to me. Skin was scraped off and needles were jabbed into me. I had been hooked into machines and my throat was parched from the screaming.
Everything went black.
Who would I never have to worry about again? And was that Thomas and Stone speaking? I tried to open my eyes but could not, I felt like I had sand in them, they were so gritty. This thing in my throat was about to drive me crazy and I wanted it out. I needed someone to help me but the swishing and beeping were lulling me back into sleep.
The door closed and someone approached the bed. I heard the dividing curtains close and felt the mattress sink as someone sat beside me and took my hand. The hand was warm and rough. I knew immediately that it was Stone.
“Come on Princess,” he whispered. “Come back to me. The doctors said you had such a shock that you need to retreat into yourself. I think that’s bullshit because you are strong, so very strong. What you did during the fire was amazing, I’ve never seen a braver person. Come back Larch so we can see what is between us.”
I wanted to do as he said but I couldn’t. I remembered the searing kiss we shared not long ago and I remembered how I felt when he touched me but I also remembered that my parents expected me to be with Thomas and he loved me. I knew that Stone had some issue with me and I still wondered what it was.
The feel of his hand on mine was amazing. I felt secure and peaceful but most of all happy. I let myself relax and the dreams started again.
I was a little girl laying on top of my best friend. He had found me hiding in the lab. They were going to take me away from him and I didn’t want to go so as we were playing I ran away to hide in the forbidden room.
My dark haired boy looked into my eyes, His eyes looked like the sky after a storm and he promised to protect me. I was happy and secure with the boy I loved.
The door opened and heavy footsteps came towards me. Someone put their arms around me and pulled, dragging me off of my boy. I held on to him but was no match for the strong arms. I heard him cry out for me as the door shut. I knew I would never see him again.
I looked into the face of the Professor. This was a man who scared me. I associated him with pain and I knew from the look in his eye that I would be in pain again.
The dream shifted.
I was older and in another lab but was locked in a cage like an animal. I tried to bend the bars and escape but they wouldn’t budge. I knew I had strength but for some reason was unable to make the bars move. I didn’t understand. I hurt. There were pieces of gauze taped to my skin. Terrible things had been done to me.
Someone came in and looked at me. He was different than anything I had ever seen before. His skin was the color of mine but it was smooth and scaly just like the snake I caught in the garden. He had no hair and his eyes were slightly slitted like my Japanese nanny. He was beautiful.
“I’m here to save you, Larch but you must return to save us one day. You’ll be strong. Don’t forget me and come back. We’ll be waiting.”
The cage door swung open and he picked me up. It hurt when he touched me but not from him, I hurt from the nasty things done to me. Skin was scraped off and needles were jabbed into me. I had been hooked into machines and my throat was parched from the screaming.
Everything went black.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Teaser Tuesday
This excerpt is from the first time Larch and Stone have a sparring session. He doesn't like her because he is prejudiced, against clones, although Larch is not your typical clone. Ignore writing oops, this is NaNo and has no editing. Stone's POV.
I got up and we began circling each other again. We punched, kicked and blocked over and over. It didn’t matter what strategy I used, she blocked every move. I couldn’t let her knock me on my ass again. She’d done it twice already.
I feinted right and dropped to the ground. She lost her balance and I finally got a punch in.
She was tough, I’d give her that. She spun around with a roundhouse kick that cracked into my jaw and I went down. She walked over and looked down at me. She probably thought she knocked me out. I scissored out my legs and caught her around the waist and flipped her onto the mat. I was up in a second and fully stretched out on top of her. My six foot frame completely covered her small, five feet and I could feel how soft she was.
We were both breathing hard. Her lips were in the perfect spot for me to kiss. I forgot she was my assignment for a few minutes.
She looked up at me in surprise. Then her eyes began to darken and I could feel her heartbeat speed up. It had nothing to do with our sparring session.
“You think you won Stone?” she whispered and licked her lips.
“Oh yeah, Princess. I got you down and I’d call that a win.” I felt blood rushing through my body and did not want to move. The only thing I wanted to do was kiss her long and hard.
I got up and we began circling each other again. We punched, kicked and blocked over and over. It didn’t matter what strategy I used, she blocked every move. I couldn’t let her knock me on my ass again. She’d done it twice already.
I feinted right and dropped to the ground. She lost her balance and I finally got a punch in.
She was tough, I’d give her that. She spun around with a roundhouse kick that cracked into my jaw and I went down. She walked over and looked down at me. She probably thought she knocked me out. I scissored out my legs and caught her around the waist and flipped her onto the mat. I was up in a second and fully stretched out on top of her. My six foot frame completely covered her small, five feet and I could feel how soft she was.
We were both breathing hard. Her lips were in the perfect spot for me to kiss. I forgot she was my assignment for a few minutes.
She looked up at me in surprise. Then her eyes began to darken and I could feel her heartbeat speed up. It had nothing to do with our sparring session.
“You think you won Stone?” she whispered and licked her lips.
“Oh yeah, Princess. I got you down and I’d call that a win.” I felt blood rushing through my body and did not want to move. The only thing I wanted to do was kiss her long and hard.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Victims
I am officially a victim, or at least that's how the police report reads. Someone broke into my car last Friday and took off with my purse. I didn't realize how much was kept in my purse. I loved that purse, it wasn't expensive but it was cool. It was a hobo type bag that was plaid. The strap was short and the drawstring to close it was cool. I could pull it open and see everything in there and pull the strings together and go, knowing it was closed.
The things that were obvious to me that were permanently gone were my: iPod touch and leather case, prescription Rayban sunglasses (who but me can wear them?), checkbook, credit card (yes, I only have one), and license. As I have been completing an inventory for the insurance company Horace Mann, which so far has been wonderful, I began to see the little things that were missing: hand sanitizer, deoderant, makeup, receipts, membership cards, bandaids, notebook and pens, calendar and other small things.
It has been a hassle closing accounts, waiting for a new credit card (and learning how to use cash again), getting a new license and dealing with the loss, but the thing that really got me was the bank calling yesterday morning. Someone (possibly the person who took my purse) forged a signature on the back of one of the already made out checks, made out two more checks to himself and cashed them. Of course my bank is refusing payment but seriously? This person cashed them at a convenience store and put the same phone number on the check already made out and the ones he wrote to himself.
So this should be easy, right? The police can go to the person who cashed the check and question him. Maybe find something out. Obviously this person knew I did not write the checks to him, so he has done something wrong. Is this happening? The police have not called me back since I reported this development, so I have to go there tomorrow and see what's going on. It's not as if I live in a huge city, we have a city population of 2700, and I am hoping this can be resolved.
I didn't realize it, until today, that I am truly a victim. Someone violated my space and is continuing to violate me when they write checks out of my checkbook, look at the registry and see where I have spent my money, read the notes I have written in notebook, look at my calendar and know where I will be through the end of the year, have my appointment numbers and doctor's names, and more.
Someone will enjoy the free sub from Blimpie (I was saving this for a time when I had no money). Some child or children will enjoy three free trips to Jump City (I was saving these for my children to celebrate my son getting his cast off). Someone will go to the pizza place and use the 200 tickets my son was saving to get a big prize. Probably that someone will not use the 40% off card I have that was $20 away from being full (for my students piano books) or the clothing card that was 75% full. That someone will have no use for my Insurance card, Membership cards or license.
Perhaps the worst thing of all is that now, while I am in town, I look at a certain type of person and wonder if that is the person who stole from me. And it angers me that that person had to live up to the stereotype that is placed upon him. I used to argue that everyone is equal and we shouldn't judge based on race, religion, sex or money, now I just don't feel like arguing.
The things that were obvious to me that were permanently gone were my: iPod touch and leather case, prescription Rayban sunglasses (who but me can wear them?), checkbook, credit card (yes, I only have one), and license. As I have been completing an inventory for the insurance company Horace Mann, which so far has been wonderful, I began to see the little things that were missing: hand sanitizer, deoderant, makeup, receipts, membership cards, bandaids, notebook and pens, calendar and other small things.
It has been a hassle closing accounts, waiting for a new credit card (and learning how to use cash again), getting a new license and dealing with the loss, but the thing that really got me was the bank calling yesterday morning. Someone (possibly the person who took my purse) forged a signature on the back of one of the already made out checks, made out two more checks to himself and cashed them. Of course my bank is refusing payment but seriously? This person cashed them at a convenience store and put the same phone number on the check already made out and the ones he wrote to himself.
So this should be easy, right? The police can go to the person who cashed the check and question him. Maybe find something out. Obviously this person knew I did not write the checks to him, so he has done something wrong. Is this happening? The police have not called me back since I reported this development, so I have to go there tomorrow and see what's going on. It's not as if I live in a huge city, we have a city population of 2700, and I am hoping this can be resolved.
I didn't realize it, until today, that I am truly a victim. Someone violated my space and is continuing to violate me when they write checks out of my checkbook, look at the registry and see where I have spent my money, read the notes I have written in notebook, look at my calendar and know where I will be through the end of the year, have my appointment numbers and doctor's names, and more.
Someone will enjoy the free sub from Blimpie (I was saving this for a time when I had no money). Some child or children will enjoy three free trips to Jump City (I was saving these for my children to celebrate my son getting his cast off). Someone will go to the pizza place and use the 200 tickets my son was saving to get a big prize. Probably that someone will not use the 40% off card I have that was $20 away from being full (for my students piano books) or the clothing card that was 75% full. That someone will have no use for my Insurance card, Membership cards or license.
Perhaps the worst thing of all is that now, while I am in town, I look at a certain type of person and wonder if that is the person who stole from me. And it angers me that that person had to live up to the stereotype that is placed upon him. I used to argue that everyone is equal and we shouldn't judge based on race, religion, sex or money, now I just don't feel like arguing.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Teaser Tuesday
I am participating in NaNoWriMo so all projects have been put on hold for the dystopian about clones. I must say I am loving my characters. Larch is snarky, Stone is an ass, Thomas the Dictator is the perfect boyfriend material (even if he is 15 years older than Larch) and there are minor characters like Rodriguez who pushes Larch and jokes with her, Mrs. Gruen who is a five letter word and the screwed up failures of the cloning program who can be pathetic. So this week, I am giving you some of the messed up clones from Stone's pov, it's kinda long so you get to meet three of them. Eric is mixed with an eagle.
Eric turned around and came back in the room. He took a seat on the bed beside Lora and turned paisley blue like the comforter. Looked like I would have my work cut out for me since Lora's chameleon genes were going crazy.
“Truth time. I can’t help you if I don’t know what happened.”
Lora’s head tucked into her chest. She seemed downcast but I couldn’t really tell while she was blended in to the surroundings.
Eric surprised me by speaking up. “Stone, we love each other and want to get married. We were, um, doing what married people do when Ser walked in on us. It scared Lora. She was controlling really well till then, honest.”
Oh shit. I didn’t think they had feelings like that. Dad was not going to be happy. I realized that Ser wasn’t in the room with the others earlier when I came in and was the most sensitive.
“I need to go find Ser. Lora, think about your body and concentrate on what you are supposed to look like. Mind over matter. Get up and let’s see what happens.”
“I can’t, Stone. I’m naked.”
Holy hell. At least I couldn’t see her. “I’ll be back after I find Ser.”
I started to walk out of the room but Eric jumped up and grabbed my arm. “I know what will ease her stress. We’ll just finish what we started so give us time.”
“TMI, Eric. I really don’t want to know.” I pulled away and left the room, closing the door behind me.
I looked at the hallway as I searched for Ser. He was one of my father’s first creations that survived and the oldest in this group living below ground. None of the Others were allowed to leave the Underground bunker. A leftover facility from the time when America had a large armed forces, the bunker was hidden from outside view by a sewage treatment plant. It was a C.I.A. training facility at the turn of the century. Although the C.I.A. was not allowed to operate on US soil, they still had to train and house their agents.
The hallway I was walking down looked like the inside of a submarine. I came to Ser’s door and entered without knocking. I knew it was rude of me but I had no idea what I would find.
Ser was on the floor naked, writhing and slithering across the dingy carpet. His skin had already peeled off of his head. The roll of skin was almost at his shoulder blades. New scales were shimmering with an incandescent glow on his face. It would take several hours before his skin was back to normal. Normal for him was smooth and scaly, just like a snake, which was in his DNA.
“Ser, what can I do, man?” I asked. I tried to keep the disgust from my voice. I usually hid it well.
Eric turned around and came back in the room. He took a seat on the bed beside Lora and turned paisley blue like the comforter. Looked like I would have my work cut out for me since Lora's chameleon genes were going crazy.
“Truth time. I can’t help you if I don’t know what happened.”
Lora’s head tucked into her chest. She seemed downcast but I couldn’t really tell while she was blended in to the surroundings.
Eric surprised me by speaking up. “Stone, we love each other and want to get married. We were, um, doing what married people do when Ser walked in on us. It scared Lora. She was controlling really well till then, honest.”
Oh shit. I didn’t think they had feelings like that. Dad was not going to be happy. I realized that Ser wasn’t in the room with the others earlier when I came in and was the most sensitive.
“I need to go find Ser. Lora, think about your body and concentrate on what you are supposed to look like. Mind over matter. Get up and let’s see what happens.”
“I can’t, Stone. I’m naked.”
Holy hell. At least I couldn’t see her. “I’ll be back after I find Ser.”
I started to walk out of the room but Eric jumped up and grabbed my arm. “I know what will ease her stress. We’ll just finish what we started so give us time.”
“TMI, Eric. I really don’t want to know.” I pulled away and left the room, closing the door behind me.
I looked at the hallway as I searched for Ser. He was one of my father’s first creations that survived and the oldest in this group living below ground. None of the Others were allowed to leave the Underground bunker. A leftover facility from the time when America had a large armed forces, the bunker was hidden from outside view by a sewage treatment plant. It was a C.I.A. training facility at the turn of the century. Although the C.I.A. was not allowed to operate on US soil, they still had to train and house their agents.
The hallway I was walking down looked like the inside of a submarine. I came to Ser’s door and entered without knocking. I knew it was rude of me but I had no idea what I would find.
Ser was on the floor naked, writhing and slithering across the dingy carpet. His skin had already peeled off of his head. The roll of skin was almost at his shoulder blades. New scales were shimmering with an incandescent glow on his face. It would take several hours before his skin was back to normal. Normal for him was smooth and scaly, just like a snake, which was in his DNA.
“Ser, what can I do, man?” I asked. I tried to keep the disgust from my voice. I usually hid it well.
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