amberly

The Stars of Soot

Octavia shook her head slowly, watching for any other sign of movement in the darkness below.

"Best case scenario, we get a full night's head start. Second best scenario, and probably best for your friend, he doesn't notice until it's too late and does his job reporting like he should, but you are not identified.

"You are my secret tonight Mr. Fischer, and revealing yourself is only to be a last resort. If we were caught right now, I will make a distraction and you are to escape so my brother can't have one more thing against you. I could face him without being destroyed, but it would end my best chance of destroying him, so I'm not getting caught either."

"Can you find a hat to hide your face a bit?" She added almost as an afterthought. She glanced his way to see if he was wearing a hat she hadn't taken time to notice earlier.

They floated the Dragonfly to a graceful landing in a shadow. Nothing else seemed to stir in the night as they stole to the hangar door.

the hunter and her prey(a cursed human story, a beauty and the beast alternative to a cursed vampire story)

"Say what direction we need to go, then." He said gently. The poor woman was hardly functioning, they needed to get out of the woods. That's what he told himself to fight back the disappointment that she wasn't happier for him. He's just gotten his life back! But for now he needed to focus on helping both of them get out of the woods. He opened his back and crouched down for her to hang onto him.

the hunter and her prey(a cursed human story, a beauty and the beast alternative to a cursed vampire story)

"The curse is gone. I won't hurt you. See? The veins that drained life are gone. I'm human again, just human." He assured her holding out his hands for her to see.

the hunter and her prey(a cursed human story, a beauty and the beast alternative to a cursed vampire story)

"Point me in the right direction and I'll carry you a bit." Andrew said sanding and holding out a hand to help her stand up. Then here could crouch down and she could just ride on his back. She wouldn't have to be very awake for that.

the hunter and her prey(a cursed human story, a beauty and the beast alternative to a cursed vampire story)

"Sorry," he began more softly, "do you think you will make it on your leg? I could try to carry you piggyback, a little bit at a time. Some progress is better than no progress, isn't it?" He was worried about her. They were both in bad shape really. There weren't towns anywhere near them to go to for help.

the hunter and her prey(a cursed human story, a beauty and the beast alternative to a cursed vampire story)

"Angel, you're up." Andrew called as soon as he noticed her sitting up. He came over and sat down beside her. "We need to go find some food, I don't know about you but I'm starting. I've been looking, but there isn't anything around here that I want to try. Do you remember what way we came?" She was the professional tracker. Andrew really hoped they weren't lost or they might have to try eating those questionable mushrooms he'd seen at the base of a tree.

the hunter and her prey(a cursed human story, a beauty and the beast alternative to a cursed vampire story)

Andrew knew he was not strong enough move her, at least not far. It would be a long walk out of the woods again. He looked up at the sky, there was plenty of daylight left. He paced back and forth, touching trees and grass and bushes and insects in the area around Angel until the excitement died down.

His own exhaustion sunk in again and he lay down to take a nap since that was what they both needed. He fell asleep and woke several hours later with his fingers bent around the stem of a wildflower. He smiled at it and got up to stretch. He went over to see if Angel had awoken yet.

Hold this pumpkin, I'm going to need it later. And other steampunk adventures.

Up front: I'm only around on weekends. I'm here for the story and adventure, romance is not required. Zero smut.

Greetings Dear Seeker,

Once upon a time when balloons were for carrying grown-ups and children carry ink splotched notebooks and dream of being inventors, there lived a crazy uncle. Genuinely crazy, who only managed to live outside the asylum because Lord Fayn so desperately needed him to maintain his clockwork automatons.

The real key to being perceived as crazy, when one is actually a genius, is to expect things you have no right to guess would ever occur. For example, that night you were a reverse pickpocket and put a handful of money your uncle had given you into your father's coat. You stood and watched as the whole party called your uncle a crazy old fool. But he dared them to empty their pockets and to everyone's surprise there was enough money on the table to purchase the land after all.

Your uncle still has a house and a laboratory on that land.

Your uncle trusted you with other odd tasks as you grew. Now as an adult he seems to need your assistance much more often. And lately there has been a young lady you cross paths with who winks at you as she also goes about your uncle's strange business.

--

This is designed to have a series of small adventures throughout the city, back alleys, glittering parties, and aboard airships. Lots of action.

Our characters could connect or form a rivalry. If you're inspired with some other adventuresome character background go for it. He could be my crazy uncle instead of yours, no problem.

You can play female or male, we're here for the adventure!

There's an assignment already waiting for you.

the hunter and her prey(a cursed human story, a beauty and the beast alternative to a cursed vampire story)

Andrew scrambled to his feet and grabbed hold of a bush on the riverbank with both hands. Nothing happened. He laughed again in delight, he had forgotten the softness of a green leaf between his fingers. Now he was sure Angel would be safe from him.

He knelt on the ground carefully shaking her shoulder. "Angel? Angel, wake up."

the hunter and her prey(a cursed human story, a beauty and the beast alternative to a cursed vampire story)

Andrew coughed and rolled to his side as she pulled him out of the water. He quickly reversed that motion and rolled flat onto his back again to catch his breath. He stared up at the sky, the trees above him. They seemed different somehow. He looked over at Angel, collapsed on the ground.

He rolled up onto his side and pushed off the ground. He glanced at his hand and immediately sat back down. He held both hands up in front of his face. They were blank. The marks were gone. He looked at the back and the front again to be sure. A smile broke out as he pushed up his sleeves to see his blank arms. He pulled the collar of his shirt out to look at his chest and pulled up a pant leg to his knee. He was completely free!

He laughed out loud. "It's gone! Angel! It's gone!"