[Requiem] First Kiss

[lucara.livejournal.com]

(Some disturbing themes)

Elio climbed high in the tree, grinning his rather dashing if still boyish grin as he moved higher and higher. Gianna and her older sister stood below the tree, watching the boy move with grace through the branches, calling a mix of encouragement and teasing requests that he come back down. Elio, for his part, flashed them another smile as he edged out onto one of the limbs, seeking a new handhold and revelling in adoring audience of his two younger friends. He knew how much Gianna in particular enjoyed his antics, feats of daring that he had been scolded for by his parents and the serving staff many times but which only served to make the game more taboo and thus enticing for the children.

The children played together often and as they grew these more unruly and rebellious games had become their favourites. Elio approached manhood while the older girl, Adelina, was most assuredly a woman. Gianna, the youngest, watched the coy flirting between the two with the envious and slight bafflement reserved for a younger sister watching her elder sibling gain the attention of a mutual friend. She was a shy girl and the occasional affectionate look passed her way by her friend was usually enough to send her blushing and rendered speechless.

And so with the rapt attention of the girls below him Elio moved out along the branch. He felt his way with feet and hands that gripped limbs too small to provide any real support but enough to give a precarious balance. Suddenly his foot slipped, the older girl let out a scream as the boy fell to the ground with a sickening crack of bone. He’d not let out a sound, too shocked by the sudden fall to scream and then silenced as his head struck the ground and split, the sound of bones breaking sending a shiver through the girls watching nearby.

Blood pooled about the boy’s head, his neck at a most unwholesome angle, his young features caught in a surprised grimace. Dust and dirt mingled with blood marking his face in streaks. Adelina screamed again at the sight before sinking into a gurgling cry of fear and running off to find help. Gianna said not a word as she approached the broken body of her friend and knelt at his side, careful not to let her skirts touch the blood as it flowed across the ground.

Plucking a handkerchief from her sleeve she dabbed at the dust and blood around Elio’s face, carefully cleaning away the grime with loving motions. She smiled shyly and glanced down as the boy seemed to look at her, but the life was gone from his eyes and with it the terrifying uncertainty Gianna had felt when he looked at her, she could say anything to him now and not fear rejection or disappointment. Timidly she leant forward and stole a kiss from the still warm lips.

But all too soon the moment was gone as servants arrived with Adelina in tow, crying out in surprise at the boy’s body and ushering Gianna away from the scene, comforting the young girl as they took her from her friend’s body. She kept hold of her handkerchief; still marked with the dirt and small traces of blood from Elio’s face, kept like a lover’s token hidden by the young girl.

Comments

[mksc.livejournal.com]

I like it and it really shows Gianna in an oddly sweet but disturbing light

[sl4irl.livejournal.com]

That was very...well, not nice.

But well done.

It seemed very well controlled in terms of use of terms used, pace, emotion...I thought it conveyed her very well.

[lucara.livejournal.com]

Thanks :) Rather enjoying getting a hold on this ghoul's backstory like this.

[josie richardson (from livejournal.com)]

Even before she was claimed by us, she was on a path of truth.:-)

[lucara.livejournal.com]

Totally was :)