Please let me know if you see any inconsistencies so I can fix them. I've just started typing out a timeline of everything, which I should've done from the start. I also want a new first name for Devin.
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Character Profile:
Name: Devin Lenaud Strauf
Sex: Male
Age: 52
Year of Birth: 1075 N.E.
Race: Human
Born into the noble family of Stauf, Devin was pressured into achieving a respectable position in the Rokan Empire. All his life he lived near Rokan Castle in the capitol city, tied into the social weave of the upper-class, and the castle itself. Being the nephew of Lady Margaret Strauf, wife of General Kaelis Atraea, Devin received a lot of attention and special treatment in the military. At the age of 20, he began studying directly under General Atraea in order to become a suitable member of the Royal Guard. At the age of 24, Devin was graced with honor of becoming Queen Natalia's Guardian shortly after being married to King Marcus. However, Devin still had much to learn and continued studying under General Atraea. Eventually, Devin was promoted to serve as the King's Guardian, and as the Silver Guard, at the age of 34 after General Atraea's untimely death.
Throughout the years, Devin grew close to General Atraea's family. He watched them grow up over the years, and eventually took in Razelin when he was 40, as if she were his own daughter, after her parents had died. Primarily being raised in the military, and guided by General Atraea, he lacked confidence in his skills as a parent and turned to raising young Razelin as her father had raised him, as an apprentice. When Devin was 46, Razelin became a member of the Royal Guard, serving as Queen Natalia's Guardian. Two years later, Devin requested to resign his position as the Silver Guard due to his age, and the firm belief that Razelin's rapid learning had surpassed his own capabilities. His request was granted and his position was replaced by Razelin. Devin continues to serve as the King's Guardian and work closely alongside Razelin.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Character Profile: Devin (v1)
Monday, April 13, 2009
Beastiary: Land Trapper
A random post because I had this idea after visiting an aquarium (yes, it sounds unrelated, but it isn't I promise).
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Land Trapper:
This large and unusual creature burrows into the ground in fields and plains with it's four sharp legs. It then backs into the hole, legs first, so that it's mouth is just below the surface. Extending from its mouth are sturdy tendrils that have a fern or brush-like appearance. Exposing this plant-like bait, the Land Trapper preys on animals that wander above its mouth. From it's tendrils sprout sharp spines that grasp the Trapper's prey. The tendrils then lower the prey into its mouth. Land Trappers consume any land animal from squirrels, to large wolves and humans.
If the Land Trapper is threatened in any way, such as the severing of tendrils, it defends itself by resurfacing and using it's mouth and legs. Despite its choice of hunting method, Trappers make a fearsome foe when they feel threatened. Their legs, strong enough to dig through stone, and sharp enough to pierce rock, can easily impale its enemies. The legs of a Trapper are encased in a rock-hard carapace, but it's body is less protected. When standing, Land Trappers average roughly 7 feet in height, reaching 11 feet with legs fully extended.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
The Siren's Daughter, End (v1)
And here's the end of The Siren's Daughter. I will probably take a small break from posting story content before resuming posts on my book.
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She kept running down the road, crying. She didn’t even look back. I slowed to a stop and stood there in the rain, watching her fade into the darkness. She was right. I should have done more to take care of them. I should have stepped up. I should have been there for Cassandra. I should have protected her. I should have taken them in…I should have kept my promise. I had to keep my promise. I couldn’t give up on it. Even though I made horrible decisions in the past, I couldn’t let it happen again. I had to find Razelin. I had to protect her. I had to care for her. She was my responsibility and I couldn’t let her father down again. I had to find her.
I walked back home to see if Razelin was there. I asked Eliza if she saw her.
“You mean to tell me that after all this time you still haven’t found her?” she asked.
“I did, but she ran off.”
Frustration filled Eliza’s voice. “Don’t you see, Devin? That girl isn’t worth the trouble. Just let her be on her own. She’s not even your child!”
Eliza used to be so understanding, so compassionate, and so supportive. It frustrated me that she became so selfish, especially when I needed her support the most, but I managed to keep my composure. “You know I can’t do that. I made a promise to take care of her, and I intend to keep that promise.”
“And you’re willing to sacrifice your life for it?” she yelled. “Your work is already suffering from having to take care of her. And what about the nights you can’t sleep because you worry about her? You’re always distracted and distant now.”
“If that’s what it takes, then so be it. But I’m sure things will improve soon. She just needs time…”
“You always say to give it time. Well I’ve given it plenty of time. For a year I’ve stood by you and watched the time go by. Apparently, time just doesn’t help. All time has done is made you more become more obsessive.”
“It will get better soon, I promise,” I assured her. “Just give it a little more time.”
Eliza fought back tears, her voice strained. “What about us, Devin? What about our time? Ever since she showed up, we never have time anymore. I bet you don’t even remember what day it is today.”
I walked out the door toward the cemetery. “I can’t deal with this right now. I need to find Razelin.”
Eliza ran after me in the rain and grabbed my shoulder. "Devin. I’m tired of being second to that child. I tried to be patient, but I just can’t anymore. It’s either her or me.”
I looked into her pleading eyes. The woman I thought I would spend the rest of my life with was reaching out at me with all of her heart. Her desperation pained my soul, not because of confusion or conflict, but because there was no hesitation in my mind. I closed my eyes in a silent farewell and shrugged away her hand. I continued toward the cemetery, never looking back. I couldn’t look back. I knew what I had to do, with or without Eliza’s support. No more excuses. No more distractions. No more regrets. I had to find Razelin. I had to keep my promise.
Razelin was sitting on the ground in front of her sister’s grave. Her face hid behind her knees as she hugged her legs close to her body. Her sobbing was hardly audible through the pouring rain. I stood next to her, unsure of what to do. She turned her head slightly as she heard me approach her. After a moment’s silence, she buried her face into my chest, embracing me.
“I’m sorry, Devin. I’m so sorry…I just…I—”
I hugged her back, stroking her hair. “There’s nothing for you to be sorry about.”
It had been nearly three years since I felt her sweet embrace. It was a feeling I would never forget. The warmth it brought soothed my soul. It was a sense of comfort I had never felt before. It was the first time I truly felt like a father.
“I…I don’t know what to do. What do I do…what should I do…?” she sobbed.
“Just be strong, Razelin. Make your family proud and be strong.”
The rain died down to a light shower. She calmed herself. “Can we go home now?”
I nodded with a smile. “Of course.”
We returned to the warmth of our home. I started a fire before walking into the master bedroom, as Razelin changed into something dry. Several of Eliza’s clothes and belongings were missing. A small note sat atop the covers of the bed:
I looked around the bedroom. It looked so empty. As I changed into dry clothes, I couldn’t help but notice how little of what was in the bedroom was mine. Although it looked as though half of the room was missing, I didn’t feel lonely. I crumpled the note and threw it away before returning to the living room to check on the fire. Seeing Razelin curled up on the armchair near the fire brought a smile to my face. I draped a blanket over her as she slept soundly. I kissed her forehead and stroked her hair gently.
No more mistakes. No more regrets.
First: The Siren's Daughter, Part 1 (v1)
Previous: The Siren's Daughter, Part 9 (v1)
Friday, April 10, 2009
The Siren's Daughter, Part 9 (v1)
One more part after this!
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“You’re right. You deserve to know the truth.” I took in a deep breath in a feeble attempt to steady my nerves. “As you know, your mother also used to work at Heaven’s Perch. She used to sing and dance there before it became the most popular tavern around. Remember when I told you that your father was one of the main reasons Heaven’s Perch became popular?”
Razelin nodded.
I rubbed the back of my neck. “Well, your father fell for Jasmine when he first heard her sing. Ever since, he would visit the Perch at least twice a week just to see her. And well… how do I say this…Your father—if he had met your mother about five years sooner, the he would have been around more.”
She looked at me confused.
“When your father met Jasmine, he was already married.”
“Married? To who?”
“He was married to Lady Margaret, the King’s cousin,” I replied.
“The King’s cousin? But then, why?”
I sat down on the edge of the chair facing her. “The love between Lady Margaret and your father faded a few years after their marriage. They carried on with their marriage, more for political purposes than for romantic reasons, even though they no longer loved each other like they used to. However, they agreed to let each other live their own separate lives outside of the castle, for the sake of their own happiness. So in essence, their marriage became more of a legal companionship, and nothing more.”
“But once Lady Margaret learned of your mother, she became very jealous, despite their agreement,” I continued. “As time went on, she became more and more jealous of your mother, which created tension between the three of them. Your father tried to alleviate the situation by limiting the time he spent with your mother and seeing her in secret.”
Razelin walked over to the bed and sat down. “What about my sister? Did she know about this?”
I nodded. “Yes. The birth of your sister was the breaking point for Lady Margaret. Ever since then, she always resented your sister, since she was the symbol of the love your parents shared. As Cassandra grew older, Lady Margaret’s jealousy grew as well. She always went out of her way to make things more difficult for Cassandra and your mother. But your parents didn’t hate her for her actions, and they didn’t want you to either. That is why we never told you about her.”
“What about after my father died?”
“The situation worsened after your father’s death. Lady Margaret was the reason you and your family received little support after his death. When people mourned the loss of your father, they sympathized more with your mother than Lady Margaret. Naturally, this angered her, and she took it out on your sister. She prevented your sister from being able to find a job. Heaven’s Perch was the only place your sister could find that didn’t give into Lady Margaret’s threats.”
Razelin looked up at me. “I thought you told me you promised my father that you’d take care of us? Why didn’t you do something to help her find another place to work?”
“I tried,” I insisted. “But Lady Margaret held a lot more influence than I did. I had just been appointed to fill your father’s position at the time, and many felt I was unfit to do so. Following in your father’s footsteps is difficult since people always compare my actions to his.”
Her voice grew frustrated. “And what about Clyde, did you know about him too?”
I tried to keep my composure. “I only knew that he was one of your sister’s more frequent visitors, but not much more than that. Your sister voiced her concern about a few of her visitors, but that’s a common thing for anyone working in the Perch.”
Razelin rose to her feet. “So you just thought nothing of it? You didn’t think she needed protection or something?”
“I tried to offer her protection, but she insisted she was just venting and didn’t need it. And like I said, women who work in the Perch always have similar concerns about their visitors, but nothing usually happens.”
“Even if she didn’t want your help, why didn’t you help her anyway? Why didn’t you take us in even though she refused? I thought you promised my father you’d watch over us. I thought you promised to take us in, to make sure we’re safe. But now…my sister…she’s—”
“I wanted to, Razelin. I tried. I insisted, but she always refused. I didn’t have the legal right to tell her to do anything. Plus, I hardly ever had time…I rarely had the chance—”
“What about after my sister disappeared? Where were you then? Why didn’t you help me? Why didn’t you do anything?” she demanded.
“I was swamped with work; I didn’t even have a chance to leave the castle. I wanted to be there, Razelin, I swear. If I had a chance to do everything differently, I would. You have no idea how much I hate myself for everything that has happened.”
Razelin glared at me with frustration, tears trailing down her face. She ran out of the room, sobbing hysterically. She ran down the road in the rain. I tried to chase after her. “Razelin, wait!”
First: The Siren's Daughter, Part 1 (v1)
Previous: The Siren's Daughter, Part 8 (v1)
Next: The Siren's Daughter, End (v1)
Thursday, April 9, 2009
The Siren's Daughter, Part 8 (v1)
This is...part 8 right?
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When I saw Devin’s face, my body froze in shock. To see a familiar face after so long… a face that I trusted... I was overwhelmed. I was at a loss for words. I didn’t know how to react, or what to say. I could only stare back at him, confused and frightened, yet relieved.
Clyde regained his bearings. He pushed me back against the glass cabinet, which caused it to shatter and shower over me. Small shards of glass pierced my bare back as I fell forward on the ground. He grabbed the vase from the table near him and smashed it into the side of Devin’s head. Devin stumbled in a daze from the blow as blood seeped down from the side of his head. Clyde pinned Devin onto the ground, strangling him.
“You should’ve minded your own business,” Clyde growled.
I watched in horror as Devin struggled for air. I had to do something. I had to help him. I grabbed the knife from amidst the pile of glass and stabbed Clyde’s back. Again, and again, I stabbed him. I knew I had done enough, but I couldn’t stop myself. I could do nothing but weep uncontrollably as I watched myself stab him over and over again, until my body wore itself out.
* * *
Razelin looked back at the mirror and gazed at her reflection. She lightly touched her cheek, as if she were unsure if it were real. I wanted to comfort her in some way, but I was speechless. I hadn’t the slightest idea of what I even wanted to say, much less how to say it. How was I supposed to respond to such a story? Having learned the truth about her mother and sister’s occupation…having undergone such atrocities… what could I have possibly said to comfort her?
“All my life people have been hiding things from me. Even my sister kept things secret from me.” She turned toward me. “Why, Devin?”
“We wanted to protect you,” I assured her.
“Protect me from what?”
“You were young, Razelin… we didn’t want to ruin your outlook on life—”
“And what good did it do me?” she demanded. “Tell me, what did hiding all of those things do to help me? Did it help me to not know what my sister did? Did it help me when she wouldn’t come home all night and I was left worried, not knowing where she was? Did it help that I didn’t know about her work, or her frequent visits from Clyde?”
I averted my eyes in shame and shook my head. Razelin was right. In the end, hiding everything from her only ended up making her life worse. If she had known about Clyde, and the fact that he was a potential threat, she could have avoided her cruel fate. It was naïve of us to believe that shielding her from reality would grant her a happier life. And because of that, she suffered for our ignorance.
“What else has everyone been hiding from me?” she demanded. “Why did my father rarely visit? Why did no one ever talk to me about him?”
I swallowed nervously as I rubbed the back of my hands. “Your father was a very busy man. He was usually at the castle serving as the Silver Guard.”
“I know you’re not telling me something.”
I gazed into Razelin’s eyes, searching for the little girl who always used to greet me with a smile full of life and energy, but that little girl was gone. She was growing into a young woman, one who had experienced cruelties that none deserved. She wanted to hear the truth, and would settle for no less.
“You’re right. You deserve to know the truth.”
First: The Siren's Daughter, Part 1 (v1)
Previous: The Siren's Daughter, Part 7 (v1)
Next: The Siren's Daughter, Part 9 (v1)
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
The Siren's Daughter, Part 7 (v1)
I need more sleep.
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I ate every bit of food Clyde left for me. I had to regain whatever strength I could for my escape. After what felt like two weeks, my opportunity arrived. The sound of someone banging on the front door carried down into the basement along with a man’s voice.
“Clyde, hurry up! The General is already on his way. We have to go!”
Clyde swore under his breath as he tossed me aside and stumbled up the stairs. The front door slammed loudly as he rushed out of the house. Fortunately, his careless habits continued, once again leaving behind his basement. The moment of my escape had finally come.
Climbing up the stairs from the basement left me out of breath. My body throbbed and ached. Merely walking was a chore from having been in that basement for several months. As I managed to round the corner at the base of the stairway, someone began trying to unlock the front door.
“What the hell are you doing? We have to go!” said a man’s voice.
“I forgot to lock the basement. Damn lock, open!” came Clyde’s voice.
“The basement? Why would you need to lock your basement? Well, whatever. I’m going ahead. I don’t want the General on my ass.”
I began pulling myself up the stairs in fear, dragging myself one step at a time. I felt the blood pumping through my veins as I struggled to make my way up the stairs as quickly as possible. The front door slammed shut. I heard Clyde dart toward the basement as I neared the top of the stairs.
“Damn it, she’s gone!”
I reached the top of the stairs and staggered into the bedroom in front of me. I stopped in my tracks, gazing into the mirror that sat across the room. A torrent of emotions drowned me as I stared at the tortured, starved figure that looked back at me. Scars and bruises covered my body. A hint of every bone was visible underneath the battered, pale flesh that clung to it so desperately—the emblem, roughly etched into my chest.
I became blinded with rage as Clyde’s hurried footsteps climbed the stairs. I wanted nothing more than vengeance. For all he had done to me…For all he had done to my sister…He deserved to die.
With a surge of adrenaline, I charged into Clyde once he reached the top of the stairs, causing him to lose his balance and teeter backwards. Clyde flailed his arms, grasping at whatever he could to save himself from falling. Although he managed to grab one of the thin wooden rail supports, it snapped under his weight and left him rolling down the steps. The supports didn’t break under my weight as I grabbed them, but my grip was too weak to stop me completely from sliding down the stairs. Luckily, his crumpled body broke my fall, leaving me with only minor injuries. A small pool of blood formed under Clyde’s head as he groaned in pain, grasping his right arm.
I ignored the pain and scurried into the kitchen nearby to grab a knife. I couldn’t give him a chance to recover from the shock of the fall, so I rammed the knife into his leg. Clyde screamed out in pain, staggering backwards into a stool in the den. He fell to the ground with a loud crash, his leg oozing with blood.
Banging came from the front door, followed by a familiar voice. “What the hell is going on in there?”
I was running out of time. I had to kill Clyde before the other person could stop me. With what strength remained in me, I leapt onto him in a desperate attempt to stab his heart. I put all of my weight into the attack, but Clyde was able to resist despite his injures.
“Clyde, what the hell is going on? I’m coming in,” called the voice.
“No, don’t!” Clyde yelled back.
I pressed down with all my strength, but it was hopeless. My withered body was no match for his athletic physique. Despite the fact that the situation was clearly in my favor, I remained powerless. I strained and strained until tears streamed down my face, but the blade wasn’t going any lower.
The front door smashed open. A man ran in and pulled me off Clyde, stripping me of any hope of escaping. The man stared at my face in disbelief. “R—Razelin?”
First: The Siren's Daughter, Part 1 (v1)
Previous: The Siren's Daughter, Part 6 (v1)
Next: The Siren's Daughter, Part 8 (v1)
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
The Siren's Daughter, Part 6 (v1)
What should I make my website look like?
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Ever since that day, I had given up hope. I came to accept the fact that no one would save me from the nightmare that had become my life. Shrouded in darkness for so long, I began to fear the light, as it only ever meant one thing. No longer did I resist. No longer did I beg for mercy. Ever since that day, I would just lie there. No longer did I care about being cold. No longer did I care for the scarce scraps of food he would give me. I only ate when the hunger became unbearable. No longer did I care for my life, as my life had become nothing but a living nightmare.
In time, he finished inscribing me with his knife. Clyde’s family emblem glistened with fresh blood on my chest as I lay on the floor in the lantern’s glow. He grinned with content at his work, as it forever labeled me as his property. But I no longer cared. Despite the fact that he would often accidentally leave the basement key behind, I no longer had the energy to escape. I had given up hope.
Sometimes Clyde would talk to me at night, usually when he gave me his remaining scraps. I never cared to listen to what he had to say. It was often mindless droning, or ranting about how things never go his way, and every time I listened, I felt nothing but frustration toward my situation. However, one night was different.
“Sometimes I wonder just how popular you would have been if you followed in your mother’s footsteps. Given your lineage, I wouldn’t be surprised if you were more popular than even she was.”
For the first time in what felt like months, words came out of my mouth rather than sobs or screams. My voice sounded so weak and strained that I wasn’t even sure if I was speaking. “My…mother?”
An awkward look struck his face. He smiled a happy, yet sad smile as he became lost in his memories. “Jasmine was really something special. She was the first person to really make me feel happy. She was like the eye of a storm—the prize at the end of a race. I went to Heaven’s Perch every night to enjoy her company and listen to her sing.”
At the time, I only knew that Heaven’s Perch was the place that my sister used to work at. But that was when it all began to make sense. I didn’t want to believe it. All I had known was that Mother and Cassie used to dance at Heaven’s Perch. I cringed at the thought of learning what they have hidden from me. Sadly, it came.
“But after she died I didn’t know what to do,” he continued. “She kept me going; kept my spirits up. Luckily, Cassandra came along about a year after. She made me forget all about Jasmine. I thought Jasmine was something, but wow, Cassandra was amazing. She would make me feel like I were the only person in her life. Just seeing her made me smile, and being with her was absolute bliss.”
Clyde sat on the crate near me as he continued. “She would always greet me with a smile, and I would tell her stories. She always loved my stories. Normally the women at Heaven’s Perch wouldn’t work overtime outside of the tavern, but Cassandra did. A few nights out of the week she would come back home with me, sometimes until morning. Waking up next to her felt…right.”
Clyde shook his head and clenched his hands. “Then one night I decided to confess my love to her. I asked for her to stay with me, and told her that I would take care of both you and her, but she panicked and tried to run away.” I could feel him look down at me, as if I would reply. “Why would she try to run away? We were perfect together. Why didn’t she want to stay?”
Emotions I had forgotten in the endless darkness began to seep back into me as Clyde continued. “I didn’t want to lose someone so dear to me yet again. I had to take control. If I let Cassandra run out that day, she would have never talked to me again. She should have never tried to run away. I didn’t want to have to force her to stay, but I didn’t know what else to do. She should have never tried to run away.”
His voice began to tremble as he fought back tears. “Every day she would beg me to let her go. Every day she would try to run away. I kept getting more and more frustrated…I didn’t want to. I swear…I didn’t want to.” He punched the wall, splitting the wood. “We were perfect together! She should have never tried to run away…”
Anger and sadness ate away at me as he walked out of the basement. The reason my sister was missing…the reason she was dead…it was all because of him. She didn’t do anything wrong. She never hurt anyone. She was the kindest person I knew. And yet—. That was when I made up my mind. I had to escape. I had to make Clyde pay for everything he had done. No longer was I just going to lie there and let him use me as he pleased.
First: The Siren's Daughter, Part 1 (v1)
Previous: The Siren's Daughter, Part 5 (v1)
Next: The Siren's Daughter, Part 7 (v1)
