Saving Grace - part 5 (End of 2nd Story arc) (599 hits)
Category: NoneLabels: Kaote
Rating: 1.94 on 18 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by kaos-king (View user info) at 2005-09-21 00:11:55 EDT
Last Chapter - http://www.ubersite.com/m/75519
Ed sat at his computer, typing furiously. He had a deadline to meet for his internet anthology and he was already pushing it close. Downwarden.com was a great place for up and coming horror authors to get their start, but he only had so much leeway with them. They were not going to give him another extension on his second short story, regardless on how well his first one was received.
It was all his own fault. He had spent way too much time in the last two months drinking. The last month had just been filled with weirdness. Vasquez's death, Hadrian and Lucinda abruptly bailing out, Grace wigging the fuck out. Grace. Grace was the hardest one to deal with. Casually typing with his left index finger, he reached over and grabbed a cigarette. He expertly flipped open his zippo and lit it up, inhaling sharply. Grace. What to do about Grace.
Not now. He was blaring a Warped Tour CD at top volume and he was writing. He had to concentrate. The piece he was working on had been taking him forever. It was about a urban legend in a small town, a walking demon that awoke once every year as a signal to the village to hold an annual festival. He was trying to capture a certain mood in the piece, a kind of feeling of desolation, of alieness to the town that was all american at the same time. It was proving to be a difficult story.
The music was so loud, he was so into his writing, he didn't hear the knock at his apartment door.
How does one write a tale about some thing that is suppose to be so normal, so accepted, yet is truly so abnormal it is an abomination? How did Lovecraft do it? Was that really what he was going for, a story with the vibe of old H.P.? Maybe he should explore more of the townspeople first. He could look into the traditions that played out every year that the monster arose and what it meant to the town. Yeah, if he explored the concept of the...
"Hi Ed."
Ed jumped about three feet out of his chair, flinging his cigarette across the room.
Grace let out a full bodied laugh from behind him. She picked up his smoke and placed it in the overflowing ashtray beside his computer monitor. Ed was dry washing his face and starring at her with wide eyes behind his spread fingers.
"That... That was very uncool."
"What are you talking about. That was awesome."
She had on baggy kaki cords and a faded blue wife beater tank top. She kicked her sandals off across the room and plopped down on the couch. Grace had the attire of a recent beach trip, had it not been for her pale complexion. With her black hair it gave her a "Snow White" look. Had Snow White been a little punk rock chick.
"How's Italy been?"
"Good."
"Listen, I've got to finish this story for..."
"We really need to talk, Ed."
"Grace, there's nothing to talk about. We're totally cool. I just need to..."
"Please."
Ed ran his hands through his short brown hair and turned back to his computer. He hit save and turned off his music. He knew that this talk had been coming, and he had been dreading it. Mostly because he really wasn't sure where it was going to go.
"Ed, why did you say 'no' to me the other night last week?"
Ed sighed. "Because you were drunk, and I didn't want you to regret anything in the morning."
"You know I wouldn't have."
"I don't... I wouldn't have known that. Neither would you. I'm not going to lose what we have over something like that."
"What if I told you it didn't matter?"
"What didn't matter?"
"I'm not drunk now, Ed."
Ed paused, trying to absorbed what this meant.
Grace smiled, trying not to scream at Ed's stupidity.
"Edward, I liked Vasquez. He was a great guy, and I will always have a place for him in my heart. But Ed, I'm pretty sure that I'm in love with you."
Ed's cigarette made it about two thirds the way to his mouth when it stopped.
"I think I've always known," Grace continued. "You were always the one who was there for me. You were always a friend, a brother. And you are attractive, but I never really thought about it. We started out as friends and I just was so caught up in seeing the world I never looked back at you. I'm looking back now, Ed."
"Ummm..."
" I took you for granted. I had you all along, and I never noticed. Now, I have my suspicions on how you feel about me, but maybe I'm wrong. If so, that's fine. If you don't feel the same way, it doesn't matter. I'll still love you. I feel as if I'm a better person for knowing it now. I'm a better person for knowing you, Ed."
Ed stared at her blankly.
"I know this is a lot to dump on someone like this. I had this whole plan laid out, and it was going to be really smooth. But then I teleported in to your living room when you didn't answer and saw you at your desk. I saw you just sitting there. I saw you and my plan went all to hell. I'm the Daughter of Lies, Ed, and I can't lie to you. And I don't want you to lie to me. Please say something. Say anything. Tell me I'm a crazy bitch, tell me I'm stupid little girl, I don't care. Just don't sit there like that!"
"Grace..."
Ed got up from his chair and walked over to her. He stood in front of her and motioned for her to stand as well. She closed her eyes and stood up in front of him. She stuffed her hands in her pockets, fists tightly clenched.
"Grace, I love you so much it has hurt me at times."
Just as her lower lip began to tremble she felt his lips slide gently against hers. Carefully he kissed her, just tentatively. Grace's arms reached out around him, embracing him, holding on to him. She kissed him deeper. Ed ran his hands across her face, his fingers playing at the sides of her cheeks. The tips came away wet with tears.
They both stepped back towards the couch, kissing, their hands exploring each other. Grace moved her hand through his hair, Ed's hands found the small of her back. She rubbed his chest, he caressed her stomach. Both pair of hands found each other's asses. Ed picked up Grace's small frame and carried her the short few feet to the couch.
He sat down with her on his lap. Grace turned and straddled him with her slender legs. He tilted her back and kissed her chin and neck, causing her to moan a slight bit. Grace closed her eyes again and bit into his shoulder. His hands found her small breasts and began to massage them. As she started to rhythmically rock back and forth of his groin, Ed let out a small sigh. Through the kisses, Grace said his name.
"Ed..."
"Yes..."
"Take me to the bedroom."
Ed picked her up just as she was positioned, with her legs wrapped around his torso, arms wrapped around his neck. She was so small she barely weighed anything. He walked her across the living room, kissing the whole way. She broke it off just as the reached the doorway.
"What's wrong?" asked Ed.
"Bloody Hell, this went much better than I expected..."
User Reviews
Submitted by Axolotl (user info) at 2006-10-26 13:49:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Hey, it's Ghola.
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2006-10-01 10:00:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Ditka (user info) at 2006-01-07 22:54:01 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
i'm a bit tired so i'll only +2 the end of each arc at this point.
Submitted by RyuFu (user info) at 2005-09-28 12:30:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Ohhhhh....well, I guess the Heir to the Throne of Real Hell is a better choice than an accidental Minor Kaote for Ed. I forgive you for passing up on Andrea now.
But the real question remains: who would win in a fight between Grace and Winter? Eh? Anyone?
Submitted by Crystle (user info) at 2005-09-22 17:20:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Magic_Monkey (user info) at 2005-09-22 05:42:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
If you ever stop posting , i will find you ... and hurt you ... and then force you to write some more ! Can`T wait for the next ones
Submitted by Brdn_Nkd (user info) at 2005-09-21 12:20:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Average_Dan (user info) at 2005-09-21 10:59:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Ohhh, that dirty little bitch!! Is it wrong that I have a massive erection right now??
Just being your self-proclaimed author, I just wanted to point out:
"It was about a urban legend in a small town"
and
"She broke it off just as the reached the doorway."
Should be "An" Urban, and "they". Just something you might want to correct if you are saving these.
+2 for a stiffy!
Dammit I love this series, just email me the whole thing...please??
Submitted by LadyPlural (user info) at 2005-09-21 08:43:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
<ejaculates>
This was probably the best installment so far, in my unspeakably humble opinion. The characters actually seemed more than two-dimensional, and were just more... human isn't the right word, obviously, but it seems to be the best one I can come up with. Jolly good, old chap.
Submitted by iradney (user info) at 2005-09-21 08:31:52 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by thecaes (user info) at 2005-09-21 07:30:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
But but but...
Does Ed finish his story ON TIME??
Just kidding. Nice chapter. Gaidenchick makes a good point, and one that applies to a lot of your characters: it can be hard to accept the idea of a very abnormal or supernatural person doing such normal things and acting in such average ways. You would think Grace would be a little more evil, or that her background would show through in her actions a little more -- but then, you've never delved far into her background.
Anyway, I liked this chapter a lot.
Submitted by Nellypaal (user info) at 2005-09-21 05:23:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Very good indeed. I'm going to read the rest of the series now. Didn't like the picture though.
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2005-09-21 05:06:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I love that body type on teh womenz
Submitted by Barnymeinhoff (user info) at 2005-09-21 04:46:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Benny (user info) at 2005-09-21 03:19:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Very nicely done. I have a feeling that the next series is going to be pretty awesome.
I can believe that the princess of hell can fall in love. It might not be the same kind of love that a human feels though.
Submitted by GaidinCanuck (user info) at 2005-09-21 00:24:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
You're an amazing author, but I have serious trouble accepting the Princess of Hell to be a lovey-dovey high school emo type.
As much as all your other works deserve +2, I just can't bring myself to give it to this.
Submitted by Saxon (user info) at 2005-09-21 00:20:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I cant fualt it man, this is a good series.
Submitted by kaos-king (user info) at 2005-09-21 00:17:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
As I remember, this was the the most difficult chapter to write. I worked on it for a couple of weeks, and I'm still not really happy with it. However, I'm not entirely sure why...
Oh well, Ed and Grace are now together and Poor Vasquez is dead. He IS dead, right? Nope. Please read my next series, "Fallen Faith."