Teressa Lavalais
Fine. You?re rehired. Now shut up or I will run you through.
Posts: 248
|
Post by Teressa Lavalais on Sept 5, 2012 17:04:37 GMT -5
It was four o' clock in the morning. Teressa had awoken suddenly in a cold sweat, her hair standing on end. She'd had another episode in the night, that was the only explanation. But...why four nights in a row? And every night at four o' clock? Why couldn't she get back to sleep? No matter...no matter...Getting up, she slipped into one of her less modest Persian outfits and set out to the Ballroom. She needed practice, and it was alright if she wore this. Surely no one would be up and about at this time of night.
Slipping from the house, she stole one of the little red lanterns from the front of the pier before getting to the other shore and darting up the stairs. Bustling quickly through the corridors, she came to the closest set of double doors and darted in.
The ballroom was empty. Moonlight shimmered into the hall through the large windows, and Teressa smiled slightly. Finally, a chance to practice without being interrupted. Fixing her mask more firmly onto her face, she walked calmly to the center of the room and closed her eyes. Taking a deep breath through her nose, she focused all of her energy. Then she was off.
She leaped through the air, spinning and tumbling before getting back up and pirouetting across the floor. And then a transition, from her ballet into something more sensual...Her hips swayed with nonexistent music, her arms wove to imaginary drumbeats, and she sighed as though she was in the most relaxed and relieved form of afterglow. It was wonderful, being able to dance how SHE wanted to dance again...
|
|
Claude Delacroix
Did you really think that we would ever let you go?
All that you love shall become shadow. All that you see shall become death.
Posts: 165
|
Post by Claude Delacroix on Sept 5, 2012 22:03:31 GMT -5
The ballroom was dark except for a few stray candles flickering about. Everything was very still during this time of the day, no one was usually around for HIM to bother which left the demon bored and anxious. Claude growled to himself and slunk up from the underground tomb which held Emma Ravenhearst's remains. He ventured through the corridors, dormitories, even the library. Nothing. But then... He noted that the ballroom doors were pushed partially open, which was rather unusual. Was someone in there?
The priest poked his head through the door and saw a girl dancing all by herself. His eyes widened when he saw how seductive and sensually she moved her body. A dark grin slowly stretched his face as he slipped through the threshold and into the room. He slunk back into the shadows to remain hidden from sight. He continued to watch her dance from the darkness.
The swirl of dancing and her outfit was almost too much for Claude but he stayed perfectly still until she had finished her routine. He clapped slowly and stepped out of the shadows. "Bravo, miss," He cooed smoothly, that twisted smile never leaving his face. "We have never seen such dancing before... Claude Delacroix, dear." He took her hand in his and gently kissed it.
|
|
Teressa Lavalais
Fine. You?re rehired. Now shut up or I will run you through.
Posts: 248
|
Post by Teressa Lavalais on Sept 6, 2012 10:11:47 GMT -5
Teressa flinched when the stranger stepped out of the shadows...Had she known...she'd never have danced like that. Then the stranger kissed her hand. She blushed lightly, giving a little smile and looking somewhat bashfully at the ground. Compliments...she'd always had a weakness for compliments.
"Teressa Lavalais," She bowed her head politely, then looked up at the man. He had a grin on his face that unsettled her. Something about it didn't feel right. Reaching behind her, she took her hair out of its usual braid and covered her chest modestly with it. She was embarrassed, being so nearly naked in front of this man. He was dressed in priest's alms, which made it all the more awkward for her. He must think her some sort of whore. She hated it when people mistook her as such. She may be a dancer for the Persian shah, but that did not make her one of his harem whores.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Monsieur Delacroix." She chided herself internally for thinking such wretched things in relation to the man. After all, he was a priest, and he probably wasn't judging her as most people would. She gave him one of her most charming smiles, in compensation for the judgmental thoughts she'd had.
|
|
Claude Delacroix
Did you really think that we would ever let you go?
All that you love shall become shadow. All that you see shall become death.
Posts: 165
|
Post by Claude Delacroix on Sept 6, 2012 15:53:58 GMT -5
Claude only smiled and kept his gaze fixed upon the beautiful girl. He always enjoyed looking at a beautiful woman (and even a man, if he were so inclined). After he had released her hand, he folded his hands together and gave a small bow.
"A sublime name for such a radiant beauty like you," He responded smoothly, noticing her unnerved expression. She had begun to move her hair in front of her glorious chest for humility's sake... This made Claude frown a bit. From the moment he saw Teresa, he knew he simply HAD to have this ravishing young thing.
The priest only smiled and shook his head. "The pleasure is all mine, I assure you." He stared deeply into her eyes, seeming to study her very mind. Her thoughts were easy to sense and it made his fingers almost twitch with excitement and anticipation. Something about this girl made him feel weak, even more so than when he had met Christine. She will be mine, He thought to himself. Oh, yes... She will be mine.
|
|
Teressa Lavalais
Fine. You?re rehired. Now shut up or I will run you through.
Posts: 248
|
Post by Teressa Lavalais on Sept 6, 2012 16:13:31 GMT -5
"Thank you..." Teressa beamed and looked down at the floor again for a brief moment. Biting her bottom lip slightly, she looked back up at the man.
"What brings you to the ballroom at this time of the morning?" Teressa had just noticed that it was hardly even four thirty, and she didn't think that anyone else would be out here at this early hour. She didn't expect to have anyone walk in on her until at least six, and by then she would have been done and gone.
|
|
Claude Delacroix
Did you really think that we would ever let you go?
All that you love shall become shadow. All that you see shall become death.
Posts: 165
|
Post by Claude Delacroix on Sept 6, 2012 19:45:51 GMT -5
"Please," Claude insisted, beckoning Teressa on. "Do not stop dancing on my account. You are very beautiful and quite the dancer... You have a most lovely body, if I may be so bold."
"Nothing much, my dear," His fingers twitched as he gazed Teressa upon and down. "I usually cannot sleep in the confines of the manor and tend to wander. The library, opera house, forest, wherever I feel I may clear my mind. But when I had decided upon the ballroom, I could not help but notice that the doors were opened... That was when I saw you dancing."
He took a few steps forward in order to have a better look at the masked woman... What was behind the mask, he wondered? It mattered not; all he was interested in was possibly a little fun with this bit of temptation before him. And the Devil often indulged himself in temptation upon a whim. He clapped his hands together and suddenly music began. A slow waltz, the 'valz de la muerte'. Claude hoped that the dark strings would stir up some emotion within Teressa as he extended a pale hand to her. "Shall we dance, my dear?"
|
|
Teressa Lavalais
Fine. You?re rehired. Now shut up or I will run you through.
Posts: 248
|
Post by Teressa Lavalais on Sept 6, 2012 22:18:30 GMT -5
Teressa jumped. Music, out of nowhere, had started playing! She half-stepped back, shrinking just a tiny bit away before the man said something that caught her attention....Shall we dance...no one ever asked her to dance! No one! And while she had an eerie feeling about this man...she...she was awfully curious. Curious enough to ignore the impossibility of the strings...
Tentatively, she reached out and took Claude's hand. A dance...so far, at the manor, she'd danced with three men. Her Erik, Erik Lavalais, when he'd been trying to cheer her up about her time here at the manor; Erik Lenoir, that sweetheart who'd helped her when she first arrived here and who Teressa thought she might have genuine feelings for; and Erik Destler, the man who wanted her...Lenoir and Destler confused Teressa, made her feel things she'd never felt before. Lenoir made her feel warm all over, and Destler was exciting, almost a sort of adventure. They wanted her to choose, between the two of them...But she shouldn't think of that now. Not when there was a dance she could be doing.
|
|
Claude Delacroix
Did you really think that we would ever let you go?
All that you love shall become shadow. All that you see shall become death.
Posts: 165
|
Post by Claude Delacroix on Sept 11, 2012 11:51:58 GMT -5
Claude's hand pulled Teressa's waist close against his own, spinning each other around to the 3/4 time of the music. His snake-like smile never left his face as he gazed deeply into the lovely woman's eyes. He had not found her name in the guest log, yet she had been brought here by some force. He didn't bring her here but someone else did... It was very odd to him. But there was something about her that he liked. He couldn't place his finger on it but he did like her.
The music finally came to an end as the priest dipped the woman down close to the ground before slowly pulling her back up. "You are an exceptional dancer, my dear." He smiled and pushed back his hair from in front of his face. "Where did you learn to dance like that?"
|
|
Teressa Lavalais
Fine. You?re rehired. Now shut up or I will run you through.
Posts: 248
|
Post by Teressa Lavalais on Sept 12, 2012 8:40:10 GMT -5
"I--" Teressa cleared her throat. "I learned on my own, Monsieur. I very rarely ever find a partner to dance with, and even so, they're usually horrid dancers..." Something about the man both intrigued and scared her. He was alluring to her sense of curiosity, and she didn't feel easy about it...
"And you? You dance very well, I've never been around someone who knew how to dance like you do..." Teressa blushed, out of embarrassment. She was acting like a frightened little girl, not like who she was. She needed to toughen up. And ignore the nagging feeling in her stomach.
|
|
Claude Delacroix
Did you really think that we would ever let you go?
All that you love shall become shadow. All that you see shall become death.
Posts: 165
|
Post by Claude Delacroix on Sept 12, 2012 14:20:14 GMT -5
"On your own? Then you have learned very well..." He paused and looked deeply into the girl's eyes as they continued to dance. He didn't miss a step as he gazed into her red eyes... He smiled and twirled her around before suddenly stopping.
How would she react? Would she want more? Resist and pull away? He was very interested. He smirked to himself proudly as she complimented his dancing. "Well," He chuckled, pushing back his hair. "I had to sell my soul to the Devil to learn..." He smiled and patted her hands reassuringly. "Kidding." He liked how she was reacting, she seemed rather embarrassed and a bit afraid.
|
|
Teressa Lavalais
Fine. You?re rehired. Now shut up or I will run you through.
Posts: 248
|
Post by Teressa Lavalais on Sept 14, 2012 11:30:26 GMT -5
"Well I'm glad you did." Teressa smiled, brushing her hair out of her face. She pushed it back behind her shoulders and nodded. She became more relaxed as she became accustomed to the company of the man. "Otherwise, I wouldn't have had such a brilliant dance partner just now."
Though she was still nervous, she knew she shouldn't act that way. It might.make the poor man uncomfortable, and after his compliments, she didn't think he deserved that.
"How long have you been here, Monsieur Delacroix? I've been here for a little over a month, I believe...the days seem to lapse into each other nowadays..." When did he arrive here? Teressa was very curious, as she hadn't heard from anyone that there was a new person in the Manor...
|
|
Claude Delacroix
Did you really think that we would ever let you go?
All that you love shall become shadow. All that you see shall become death.
Posts: 165
|
Post by Claude Delacroix on Sept 17, 2012 22:02:36 GMT -5
Claude grinned inwardly. His trap was set, now just to reel her in and that sweet soul was his for the taking. But what could he offer that she would want? He needed to get to know Teressa more, learn about her secrets, desires, wants, needs, everything!
He shrugged his shoulders and continued to dance a little more before letting Teressa rest. He was becoming far more interested with her than anyone else in the manor. Well, there was that young Christine girl but he only liked to tease and torment her. But Teressa... There was something unusual about her. And he liked it... He liked her. Very much.
"I have been here for a very long time. Well, not here here, I mean. I have traveled quite a bit. I suppose I meant to say that I have been around the area a lot. The village is so quaint and I love all the souls- er, well people. Th-They look up to me, you see, for guidance."
|
|
Teressa Lavalais
Fine. You?re rehired. Now shut up or I will run you through.
Posts: 248
|
Post by Teressa Lavalais on Sept 18, 2012 7:35:31 GMT -5
Teressa raised her eyebrows beneath her mask in surprise. "You're from the village?" That confused her a little. What would anyone from the village want here? Erik wasn't too thrilled about the village. It didn't seem safe, he thought. But this man seemed safe enough.
"They look up to you? You must be quite the upstanding citizen, n'est-ce pas?" she brushed her hair out of her face. It was always getting in her face when she didn't need it to.
|
|
Claude Delacroix
Did you really think that we would ever let you go?
All that you love shall become shadow. All that you see shall become death.
Posts: 165
|
Post by Claude Delacroix on Sept 22, 2012 17:39:33 GMT -5
"Well, you see, I am not exactly from the village," He explained, gently patting her hand. "I am here to perform the ceremony for Christine DaaƩ's wedding in the following month..." His words trailed off as he looked at Teressa again... Just the sound of her voice was enough to pull him in, to draw him to her.
"I-In a way, yes," He blushed a bit, trying hard to pretend to be modest. "I am, what you would call, a sort of caretaker to the people. I bring them closure should they have a dying loved one or need someone to confess to." A smile tugged at Claude's thin lips as he continued to look into the woman's eyes again. "Are you married or in need of some guidance, my dear?"
|
|
Teressa Lavalais
Fine. You?re rehired. Now shut up or I will run you through.
Posts: 248
|
Post by Teressa Lavalais on Sept 23, 2012 11:17:01 GMT -5
"Married? No..." Teressa's smile faded a little. "I was to be married once, but that was a long time ago...But lately, I have been having troubles...You see, I have become confused by my feelings for two men who have been so good to me, but they continuously fight each other. It's been the most trying thing I've been subjected to here, and I have no idea why they fight so..."
Teressa was talking about Lenoir and Destler...she probably shouldn't be, but this was a priest, a man of God. Surely he could advise her? She wasn't very religious, but Erik was, and perhaps something was right about his beliefs in God and miracles.
|
|