Contradictions of the Heart

Marius looked out beyond his window, to where Armand and Guenevive were speaking. He could hear there voices, but chose not to. Blocking the sound, he continued to paint the picture which he had been working on.1

It had two beautiful children, one a boy about seventeen, the other a girl just at the peek of nineteen, dancing in circles. The girls arms were around the boys shoulders, and the boy had the girl lifted of the ground, her long skirt and hair swishing with the force. Their faces were open and happy, with a song in their throats. Another stood off to the side, a taller, much older man, with blond hair and a long red velvet coat. He was also laughing and clapping. Marius sighed and stopped painting. It was finished, the memory which he wished to preserve in his mind forever, the memory of his child, and his child's child, happy, in love, and together.2

Guenevive brushed her hair, something she had not done in a long time. As a vampire, her hair was luminous and bright, easily picked out in a crowd, so she usually braided it back. It had been such a long time since she had taken it out, but she had ever since Armand had risen. When she was born into darkness, Armand never allowed her to pull her hair back, or to try and cut it off. He forced her to wear it down, even brushed it himself every night to make sure the tangles were gone. But that's not the only reason he brushed it. He brushed it because it satisfied his need for someone to love, someone to take care of, someone to take care of him. He had chosen her for a reason, and that reason was obvious. Guenivive looked at herself carefully in the mirror. He loved me, she thought to herself. He watched me at night, I remember him now, the angel with the black wings, as my mother called him. Guenivive smiled. Angel with the black wings, she thought still combing the persistant tangles.3

Armand paced in his room, aware of all that was around him, yet not concerned. All he could think about was Guenevive, all he could see was her. She had looked so beautiful, so terribly ferocious with her feelings, that it had made Armand weak. What he had wanted to say didn't come out right, and he had let his gaurd down. He told her his secrets in hopes that she would do the same, but she didn't. She had changed over the years, her pride, her independence, her self worth. Armand felt his anger rise. Why had he been such an incompedent fool? He thought he was doing the right thing, when all along he was in the wrong. How had this happen, this wall between us? Armand thought. Sitting on the unused bed he put his head in his hands as he remembered the first time Guenevive rose against Armand, the first time he had ever felt a pang of guilt for hurting her.4

THE STORY OF GUENIVIVE'S QUESTION AND ARMAND'S CONFLICTIONS5

Armand watched Guenivive watch him, smirking at the way she wasn't ashamed at her admiration of him. At least he had thought it was admiration. 6

"Armand, are you ashamed of yourself?" 7

Armand could barely keep his anger from rising. What sort of trick was she playing? Armand looked at her calmly resting on her stomach on the useless bed, and gave a small laugh.8

"Me, ashamed? What for?" Guenivive smiled and looked down.9

"Maybe for allowing your followers to slay a whole carivan to get one girl to be your child." Armand shifted his position in his chair. Pretending the remark didn't spike a hint of embarresment, he laughed.10

"You think I killed a worthless carivan for YOU? Please, my dear, I have killed better whores than you."11

"THEN WHY?" Guenivive screamed,jumping off the bed and standing in front of Armand. "WHY WOULD YOU KILL EVERY PERSON I KNEW, MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS, AND LEAVE ME HERE IN THIS ROTTING EXISTANCE OF A BODY? COULDN'T YOU HAVE AT LEAST LET THEM LIVE?" 12

Armand felt his anger over blow at the sudden out burst from the usually quiet Guenivive. Faster than she had expected, he closed his hands around her neck and pushed her to the wall.13

"HOW DARE YOU QUESTION ME! I AM YOUR MAKER, AND YOU CHOSE TO STAY IN YOUR BODY. I KILL BECAUSE I CAN, AND IF I WOULD HAVE LEFT THEM ALIVE, YOU WOULD NOT STAY WITH ME. DON'T JUDGE ME, OR YOU WILL NOT LIVE TO SEE ANOTHER DAY." Guenivive smiled as red tears flowed down her eyes.14

"Kill me then, Armand My Maker. I cannot stand to see another day, if all that's left is you." Armand felt his strength drain away. Dropping Guenivive, he ran. He ran for many nights, sleeping in the sand during the day, and when he returned Guenivive was gone. Of course, Armand knew she would be, but he still felt a tremendous loss, and that night he slept in his coffin alone and miserable.15

Armand felt a presence near him, a strong famaliar comfort that had been hidden from him for so many years. Marius was sitting on the window ledge, a sad smile on his face.16

"Armand, my son, why are you so twisted against Guenivive? She is your daughter, your sister, your lover." Armand turned from Marius.17

"Why do you ask such things, Marius? I cannot hide the fact that I love Guenivive, but she has not aproached me yet. How can I be twisted against her when I am deeply devoted to her?"18

"My son, you have much to learn. She is still a child, a lost girl without her maker to show her the way."19

"I showed her the way,"20

"You didn't show her the right way." Marius corrected.21

Silence.22

Armand felt his mind fill with self doubt. Had he been so selfish in thinking she left him when in reality he made her go? Had he forgotten to show her his passion?23

"The night she left you, Armand, she came after me." Marius said. "It took her a century to find me, but when she did she opened her mind to me. She allowed me to see you, and what you had become. True, you have changed since then, but Guenivive is still in doubt." Armand turned away for only a moment, but when he turned back, Marius and his presence was gone.24

Guenivive saw Marius' reflection in her mirror. She did not stop bushing her hair, but she smiled at him. 25

"Marius, I didn't expect to see you tonight." Marius walked over and took the brush from her hand.26

"No, I don't think you ever expect to see me." He started to brush at her roots, working his way down.27

"What is that supposed to mean, my lord?" Guenivive asked respectfully.28

"It means that you assume I am always with Armand." Guenivive smiled.29

"Yes, I can only hope that Armand will allow himself to be with someone, like his maker, that he can learn from." Now it was Marius' turn to smile.30

"You care so much for him, don't you?"31

"You speak truth when you say I still care for him, but sometimes I wonder how I can, when all he does in cause me grieve."32

"But he causes you joy also." Marius smiled as he felt confusion. Guenivives mind was open with the confusion that poured from it.33

"What do you me-" Before she could finish, someone entered the room. Guenivive turned to see Armand, his face contorted in an unusual frown.34

"Guenivive, please listen to me..."35