Not a bad writing day so far. 1044 and counting on chapter eleven. Dishes are done, laundry's put away, slept the usual not enough hours, caught a decent nap, it's hotter than a fry pan outside, and I go to work in five hours for an all nighter. (I also have the next three days off! WOO HOO!)

As I mentioned earlier on, I’ve been reading the Ender series by Orson Scott Card again. I finished up the third book, Xenocide, a couple of days ago and began Children of the Mind. And it suddenly occurred to me despite all the many times I’ve read this series . . . I’ve never read the fourth book! When it came out in paperback, I snapped it up and set it on the shelf for the next time I wandered through Ender’s universe. All in all, it ain’t too bad. I still enjoy the first book the most, however. Ender’s Game is a stand alone and quite enjoyable.

Off to get dressed and brave the hot day. I'm in need of peach sorbet from Walgreen's.

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Only 606 words today. Worked a ten hour shift last night and didn't get home until midnight. As my body insists it's time to get up at 8am, I had little sleep. Tried to take a nap but could only doze a little. sigh

Time for all good little writers on Forward Motion to belly up to the bar and join the next Dare!

I’m a bit less ambitious this time around. I’ve only signed up for two. New Material / Master Level in which I add eight new chapters of 1000 words minimum and Novel Rewrite / Journeyman Level where I slog through one completed novel and get it to final draft. I’ve got two months to do both of them.

Now, I need to plug in On Azrael’s Wings to the Writer’s Dreamkit and see what happens!

1090 today. Also had to break chapter nine into two parts. By the time I finished, it was over 4k long! YIKES! So, while I was almost finished with chapter nine when I started this morning, I'm not almost finished with chapter ten instead. LOL!

Jenna's discovered that fear is a great motivator for her hunger, that she enjoys it a lot more than lust. Unfortunately, it also disgusts the hel out of her because she's lived as a Human for so many years. And Valmont is a good little contagonist, luring her to the dark side with well thought out arguments.

We'll see if Jenna can remain Jenna through this book or not.

Misty began to cry, her sobs punctuated by pleading. She had all but forgotten Jenna’s presence until inadvertently bumping into her as she tried to avoid Valmont. Terrified, the woman gasped and jerked away, then decided to appeal to another female.


“Please! Don’t do this. Don’t let him do this.”


Jenna staggered under a wave of hunger. The fear from Valmont’s prey was strong, rolling away from her as ripples in a still pool disturbed. Jenna had never felt anything like this. The desire to sink her teeth into their prey’s flesh hit her with such strength, she bared her fangs.


The woman recoiled, eyes wide. She attempted to put as much space between them as possible, and backed into Valmont who wrapped his arm around her.


Using his free hand to pull the prey’s head to one side, he asked, “Would you like the first taste?”


Jenna did not know which was worse, this aching need to appease her hunger or the absolute revulsion threatening her. Unable to speak from the ongoing war within, she shook her head.


“Suit yourself.” Valmont promptly attacked the woman in his arms, holding her tight as she struggled against him, ignoring the shrieks piercing the room as he suckled her life’s blood from her neck.


Misty passed out, the abrupt silence deafening. Jenna,;s ears still rang with the sound, and she swallowed thickly against her need. Stumbling forward, it was as if her body had its own will. The smell of fear and blood overwhelmed her.


Valmont finished, a grin on his lips as he licked them. He held the woman’s slack body in his arms and readjusted her, revealing the other side of her throat. “Go ahead. It’s still good.”


Unable to hold back, Jenna sank her teeth into the offering. The blood was hot, and it tasted of smoke and seared flesh and tears. It soothed an ache deep within Jenna she did not know was there, one that had always dwelled in the darkness of her soul. Or was it in Elisibet’s soul?


When she had drunk her fill, she disengaged. Valmont had pulled away at some point and she held the unconscious Misty in her arms. The woman seemed on the verge of wakefulness, murmuring weakly, brow flickering with confusion. Jenna glanced around the room and finally carried her to a table, laying her gently upon it.


“Well, that was nice.” Valmont went to the door and unlocked it. “Come on.”

Boss called me in to work early today. Blech. I'm betting I have graveyard shift on Saturday night. He promised to give me a looooong weekend if I came in early today. (i.e. he's attempting to bribe me with the holiday and four days off so I'll work graveyard without complaint.)

Instead I spent time researching languages online. I don’t want to use English or any truly recognizable language for the Sanguire. So I’ve kinda mixed Greek, Ancient Greek, and Maori together. LOL! Weird, huh? I think it’ll work. Not that I plan on using a lot of language, as I did in Tiopa Ki Lakota. I primarily wanted words for titles and the like. Everybody uses ‘Your Majesty’ and such. Wanted something different to reflect a different race.

Kitchen floor is mopped. Cats are still antsy thinking the broom was going to get them. Amber, the biggest of them all, is also the most terrified of the broom. She’s on top of the cat tree where she hides behind the post (and generously spills out either side) with only one golden eye visible as she watches the broom’s progress.

And I remembered something about Matrix Reloaded I disliked.

The scene where Neo sees the Oracle. Once she leaves, the rogue program, Agent Smith shows up. He has the ability to copy himself now and several of him arrive to try and kick Neo’s butt. Okay. I get that. The program can copy, it’s rogue, yadda, yadda, yadda. I kind of figured out the magnitude of Smith’s abilities when the thirtieth or fiftieth duplicate showed up. But then they start pouring into the area from all entrances until there’s several hundred. Good gods! They don’t have to beat me over the head with it! I figured it out already!

And the same scene as Neo does all sorts of things that are physically impossible (except for the One,) is very obviously computer generated. Not like the first movie where the cool scenes were photographed in rapid sequence. No, this reminded me of Shrek. Jolted me right out of the story line.

I’m off to shower and then prepare to write that journal entry about the weird email I received yesterday.

Nada. Nichts. Nein. Nil.

Which is not to say there was a crisis today as previously reported a week and a half ago! No. This was intentional!

My first day off after seven days of work and I had some big plans.

First off, I took my wife to a little Asian place I pass every day on my way to work. It’s called Hot Pot City. The premise is that you choose one of seven basic soup stocks and they set it to boil right there in front of you. You, in the meantime, go to the buffet line and pile up a plate full of raw veggies and meats. When you return to your table, you add the items to your hot pot and have a wonderful soup. (My wife’s favorite food group is soup. Go figure. Nasty stuff. I’ve never been too hot on boiling my food.)

Then we wandered over to Bath & Body Works. Our supply of shower gels and foaming body washes are woefully low. So we spent a half hour or so replenishing our stock. Got lots of cool nose candy. Peaches and cucumbers and citrus, oh my!

Afterwards, we strolled across the corridor to Waldenbooks. This was the big surprise for my lady love. She had eyed the upcoming release of Harry Potter and Whatever This Installment’s Danger Is for weeks, always convincing herself not to put a copy on order. When we got there and asked, there were only three copies left in the store. Bought it on the spot for her. She’s already past page fifty (and she’s a very slow reader,) so I think I did good.

Brought her home for an hour or so because we had to wait on a movie. Could have seen it downtown, but there’s only one theater that has assisted listening devices (wireless headphones) for the hearing impaired. So we had to wait until 4pm to catch Matrix Reloaded at Century Eastport Theaters. Not a bad flick, actually. More questions raised, of course. Bummer of an ending . . . reminded me of spring season endings on television. Fortunately, I’ve heard the final flick is out in October. (And I want THAT soundtrack, too! Sounded like they used the same artists as the first one!)

So there ya have it. My slacker day.

Oh, and I got a really weird email from my mother . . . I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow.

Jenna and Valmont are at a club called Tribulations. It has a healthy mix of Sanguire and Humans. Jenna hasn't been in the company of both races in such numbers and she's noting the differences between them. She has a unique perspective in that she wasn't raised Sanguire but Human, her parents dying when she was a child.

As she watched, she began to note the disparities between Human and Sanguire. Before she Turned, she had not only been oblivious to the existence of her people but did not know any. Jenna had been drawn to Castillo when they had met but did not understand why. Since her Turning, she had been sequestered away for her own safety, the aborted assassination attempt by Rufus Barrett giving rise to the threat against her life. She had been surrounded by Sanguire security ever since, her only Human contact being Vessels brought to feed her and the arrival of her friend, Gin.


The differences were subtle, hardly noticeable to someone not looking for them. The Humans, of which there were many, acted as they always did in this sort of atmosphere. They focused on drinking, dancing, and having a good time. Their short lives necessitated a certain level of franticness to their actions, as if they subconsciously knew they could die any day and wanted to experience the most possible before that happened. Their mode of dress ranged from Euro trash to historical garb as they pretentiously attempted to express vampiric personas, completely unaware of the Sanguire among them.


Jenna’s people however had hundreds of years on their hands, and it showed. They moved fluidly and at a more sedate pace. Their voices were low, and their gestures smooth as they conversed, flirted, and seduced their Human prey. When they danced, it was for themselves; when they made eye contact, it was to pass hidden messages to their friends; when they focused on a Human, it was an elaborate hunt for food.


The idea of a Human / Sanguire pairing came to Jenna’s mind again. She saw, at least here, such a relationship would be impossible. Her people seemed only to see Humans as prey and nothing more. Was it natural for a Sanguire to feel superior to Humans? Or did this supremacy come about from years of indoctrination into Sanguire society?

Back on track! Here's hoping it remains so!

Tomorrow's also my seventh day in a row at work. Blech. I'm beat.

Valmont and Jenna are on the road, preparing for her first hunting trip. They’re discussing how the various emotional responses in Humans cause different flavors in the blood.

“What’s your bias?”


His grin was mocking. “I prefer fear. Something I picked up from your predecessor.”


When she did not respond, Valmont glanced at Jenna to find her eyes distant as they stared out the window. Another memory? He entertained himself with conjecture about which one. Her expression was chill as she remembered, and Valmont felt another tremor in his heart at his rainha’s reappearance. She felt so much like Elisibet at this moment. He half expected her to turn, and give him a sarcastic smile and comment.


Jenna turned to him, her face solemn. “I don’t think I’m able to induce fear like her.”


The illusion shattered, Valmont swallowed and turned his attention to his driving. Somehow the admission made her seem far more real to him than anything else. “I think you can. You just need the proper motivation.”


They continued in silence, both wrapped in their thoughts and memories.

I'm really liking the way Valmont and Jenna interact.

On to Chapter Nine!

This last chapter reintroduces Jenna's street friend, Gin, from the first book. It's been six months since Jenna disappeared from the streets. She hasn't had any contact with anyone and is really homesick for her previous life and her best friend. So, she invites Gin to visit her. The scene is from Gin's point of view.

“In answer to your first question, My Liege is another way of saying Your Majesty.”


Gin took a drink of her soda as the import of J.D.’s statement sank in. Sputtering, she barely refrained from inhaling the liquid, and tears stung her eyes as carbonation backed up to burn her nose. She coughed and sat the glass back on the table with shaky hands. “What did you say?” she demanded.


J.D.’s skin flushed, and she had trouble meeting Gin’s eyes. “I think you heard me well enough.”


“They think you’re -” Gin abruptly realized the loudness of her voice and dropped it to a whisper, leaning forward to be heard. “They think you’re their queen?”


Her response was a nod.


Gin slumped back in her seat and stared at J.D. “Good Lord, I knew you had a great scam going here, but this?”


J.D. chuckled and Gin could not help but join her. The thought of these people mistaking a street kid for royalty topped any tall tale she had heard on the streets. Hadn’t there been a children’s story like that? Some prince who swapped places with a poor kid?


Their laughter, triggered by nerves, finally faded, the last of their mutual discomfort disappearing. J.D. slid the tray closer to them, offering Gin a sandwich. They ate as they talked.


“So all this security is for you then?”


“Yeah. There are two dozen guards roaming around at any given time.”


Gin frowned at her half eaten sandwich. “Which explains why you’re technically able to leave but not really.”


J.D.’s smile was rueful. “Yeah.”


“So, I was right. You are trapped.”


“Trapped?” The woman raised an eyebrow. “Where’d that come from?”


“Just something I thought of one we drove up to the house. I was feeling sort of trapped with all the guards and the gate and stuff. I wondered if you felt that way, too.”


J.D. grinned. “Yeah, I guess I do feel trapped sometimes. Not much to be done about it, though.”


Gin finished her lunch. “You can always leave, J.D. Just because they believe you’re some royalty, doesn’t mean it’s true.”

Next up! Valmont takes Jenna hunting for the first time.

2k in 2 days. Whew! No daily crisis to interrupt. I wonder if this is only going to happen on my days off? LOL!

Work is . . . work. Just finished reading Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card for the umpteenth time. Starting on the sequel, Speaker for the Dead today. Listening to Queen of the Damned soundtrack to keep me in the vampire vibe.

Not much else going on. Maybe I'll post a snippet tomorrow.

Only 600 words today. But that's cuz I have to go to work in about twenty minutes. Cuts into my writing time (first thing in the morning after email and coffee.) I'll be back on the same ol' same ol' tomorrow.

Total of 1455 words! WOO HOO! Spent the afternoon finishing this scene of Valmont ruminating (read 'brooding') about the whole situation with Jenna.

When he put his mind to it, Valmont could easily remember the bright days of his youth. Nahib had fostered Valmont after his Turning; both he and Bertrada had shown him the ways of Elisibet’s court – the proper etiquette, who of the lords and ladies to avoid for their iniquity or ineptitude, which of them were honorable and decent. When Valmont was finally presented to Elisibet at court, all he could see were those pale eyes.


He fell in love with her then. Valmont wondered what would have happened to him had he been delayed in his presentation. What if it had been a few more centuries before they had met? Would he have felt the same knowing how Elisibet murdered her own people as viciously as she did Humans? Certainly by then he would have known Nahib’s political complaints regarding Elisibet's rule, and perhaps would have agreed with his mentor.


Of course, Valmont knew Elisibet preferred feminine company when he met her. Her predilections were hardly secret with Lady Margaurethe constantly at her side, on the dais or in her bed. He knew his love for this stern queen would never result in a dalliance. Valmont satisfied himself with being in her presence, enjoying her companionship, and becoming her friend. He satisfied his lusts elsewhere, never settling on one woman. For only one woman held his attention.


Valmont realized his glass was empty. His fingers found the bottle on the floor beside his chair and he picked it up, pouring another glass.


He had long ago claimed his fair share of guilt. He had no doubt that much of what happened with Elisibet was magnified by his presence. The pair of them seemed to urge each other on to greater depravities as time passed, daring each other to come up with more and more gruesome punishments and executions. Valmont wondered if Elisibet would have reached those heights – or was it depths – without him to help escalate matters. Poor Margaurethe had little recourse but to leave the room when the pair of them got started; she had learned earlier on that arguing over ethics and morals only annoyed her lover.


Valmont frowned. Had Margaurethe been as jealous of him as he had been of her? There was a thought. Why had it never occurred to him before? It would certainly make her behavior more understandable. After these last months, she could not still be worried he would murder Jenna. Perhaps she had seen the dangerous potential more clearly than he, had seen how easy it would be to slip into the same trap they had all been cursed with before.

I broke 1k today! WOO HOO!

I wonder if it had anything to do with the fact that my wife was off running errands and unable to be a magnet for trouble today? LOL!

Got some chores done and am off to Coffee People. Maybe I can get another five hundred in!

. . . to write something in the journal today . . . er . . . yesterday. Whoops!

Just home from work. Not too bad a night. Hope to get out early tomorrow night just cuz I’m scheduled for a three day weekend. It’s always good to get out early before one of those.

Wrote a bunch today. Don’t remember exact word count and I’m too tired and lazy to look it up. LOL! I made my 1k, guaranteed. Jenna’s learning how to play with her food as Valmont suggested; ‘rummaging in the refrigerator,’ as it were. A little experimentation, a little seduction, and – Hey! Presto! – a little nibble tastes a lot different! Now she has more food for thought.

Tomorrow (today? Heh) I work on her and Margaurethe. Still don’t know if it’ll be from Jenna’s POV or Margaruethe’s. Something’s got to be done about their little blow up in front of Dorst. Hopefully, it will put the two at odds while at the same time bring them closer together romantically. Seems weird, but I think it might work.

On ’s sales pitch in her journal and on Forward Motion, I’ve downloaded the trial version of Dramatica. Since it’s a trial version, I can’t save or print anything so I didn’t really plug in a whole hel of a lot of information last night while goofing off with it.

WOW!

I love it! Dammit! Now I have to come up with $264 to buy it! ARGH!