05-24-2010, 01:09 AM
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Something changed in her face, something that made his own blackened mask turn stony. He felt as if they were on the cusp of some great exodus, on the edge of a cliff with no warning as to what lay below. Diving into water, that was it. Like diving into dark water. So he sat, across from her, studying her face and attempting to read what was there.
When she spoke, it was as if he hit that water. It was cold, but deep. He sucked in a breath and felt it fill his lungs with her scent. That was it. She smelt the way Faolin had. The way his mother had. Gabriel blinked owlishly and then opened his mouth. It remained that way for a long time before he shut it, then tilted his head to study her. What could he say? Sorry? Congratulations? This was a mess of his making, something he had not even considered might happen.
Finally he swallowed the lump in his throat. “They’ll be yours,” he said lowly, then fell silent forever. Her children to raise, to do with as she willed, in her pack, in her tall trees and safe world. Not here. Anywhere but here. Even Ezekiel and Talitha had been raised outside of Inferni and still felt the wrath of his enemies. “Do you want me to be a part of this?” He finally asked, dreading the answer.
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Something changed in her face, something that made his own blackened mask turn stony. He felt as if they were on the cusp of some great exodus, on the edge of a cliff with no warning as to what lay below. Diving into water, that was it. Like diving into dark water. So he sat, across from her, studying her face and attempting to read what was there.
When she spoke, it was as if he hit that water. It was cold, but deep. He sucked in a breath and felt it fill his lungs with her scent. That was it. She smelt the way Faolin had. The way his mother had. Gabriel blinked owlishly and then opened his mouth. It remained that way for a long time before he shut it, then tilted his head to study her. What could he say? Sorry? Congratulations? This was a mess of his making, something he had not even considered might happen.
Finally he swallowed the lump in his throat. “They’ll be yours,” he said lowly, then fell silent forever. Her children to raise, to do with as she willed, in her pack, in her tall trees and safe world. Not here. Anywhere but here. Even Ezekiel and Talitha had been raised outside of Inferni and still felt the wrath of his enemies. “Do you want me to be a part of this?” He finally asked, dreading the answer.