Welcome to Hump Day and another installment of #1lineWed. A few Wednesdays ago, the theme was MEMORY/REMEMBER. In that scene, Sinjen was remembering Sade. Today’s theme is **COURAGE** and in today’s first draft snippet, which occurs a short time after the previous scene, Sinjen is once again contemplating the woman who…well, just read along. 😉
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There were few moments in his long exile from life since Mathias first turned him that Sinjen hadn’t wished for a heart and the emotions that lodged there. As he stared at the cell phone, Sade’s pleas echoing in his brain, he was glad that feelings no longer chained him. Did that make him a coward? Likely. Did he care? Not one whit. He’d wanted her the moment she strutted into his life. He’d been patient, had hunted, had seduced, had claimed. And he’d wanted to keep her. Until he couldn’t.
Sade was human. She would age. Die.
He was vampire. He would not change, except to grow colder, more distant. Until an enemy managed to stake him or he walked into the sun to end his existence, he would not die. They’d argued over something of no consequence, or so he’d thought. Sade didn’t think when her blood was up. And even as a Templar, he hadn’t been a saint.
Sinjen could no longer remember the woman’s name. Hadn’t thought about her, especially not after meeting Sade. Granted, she was attractive, with a face and body that most men would consider beautiful. But after Sade? Women faded into the background, like so much white noise.
He swirled the whiskey, watching the lights sparkle through it. He hadn’t wanted to go to that bloody restaurant in the first place. Then Sade had stepped out to take a phone call. When she returned, the blasted woman was sitting in Sade’s chair, one hand squeezing his arm, the other his thigh, doing her best to look sultry and enticing. He hadn’t been interested.
But Sade overreacted, as she did. So often he found her antics entertaining but that night? He’d been out of sorts. Missing her. Sade. Wanting to take her home to bed. The woman—what was her bloody name? His fingers tunneled through his hair and he forced his hand to return to the arm of the chair. Closing his eyes, he leaned his head back.
The earth spun on its axis. He could feel the slip of time as sunrise edged ever closer. Maybe he would remain here on the balcony, looking out across the lake. He could watch the first rays of dawn without ill effect, then the lethargy of the day sleep would envelop his body. He would close his eyes, a last breath expelled from his lungs as his heart slowed and ceased beating altogether. He could sit here, watch the sun, and find some semblance of peace.
But he wasn’t a coward. He rose from the chair, went inside, empty the whiskey he could no longer enjoy. Courage, he realized, was saying goodbye to the one woman who filled his death with life, so she could live hers to the fullest. And strength was watching over her from afar to ensure she she lived it. Sade deserved her fairy tale ending. And he would never be a prince.
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Sometimes, it takes courage to write a book when you struggle with the words. Sometimes, it takes courage to keep your mouth shut. Sometimes, the words that do come out hurt and it takes courage to type them. This book is going to be dark, and it won’t be on time, but it’s coming to life.
What about y’all? Any courageous words to share today?
Silver James 