Death Advances (Open)

[Merry Noelle Lovelace]

-----------------------

[/b]

-----------------------[/b]

If Mari had a thought of her daughter's methods she said nothing. She had gotten used to years of saying nothing to Dameon when he was being particularly paranoid or asinine and it was this skill that she used on her daughter now. She felt her temples throb and part of her wished she was anywhere but here. Her daughter was angry and petulant and she really didn't know what to do about it. Katia, for all that she had been through hell and back had no idea what it was to live. She had no clue how feelings really worked because she had never experienced the ones that she was most angry about. As if that lack somehow had to be taken out on everyone around her.

As they rode and Katia lashed out at her mother Mari winced and there was pain in her eyes, "Your father had a kingdom to run and did so longer than you have been alive. When you can claim to have lived for nearly two millenia as Lady Death against all those who would take it from you then you will understand what it is like to sacrifice what you want for the good of others. Your father put the kingdom before everything else. Something his own people honor him for and you judge me for finding the happiness I could with him? Would you have felt better if he had beaten me in front of you and you'd grown up hearing my screams of pain and fear as he took what he wanted? Love is not something that has to be returned. I loved your father and I did what I could for him. He saw that and tried to make my life as happy as he could in gratitude for helping run a kingdom that was the exact opposit of what I am."

"You talk of hatred and being misunderstood for a mere fourteen years of your life and think that it gives you the right to judge others and lash out at them. I put up with fear, loathing and hatred EVERY DAY for almost two millenia I could sense everything the council wanted to do to me. Everything that every Duke wanted to do to your father, to you and to this realm and I defended this kingdom in spite of all that. I vanquished more vampire lords before your conception to keep the realm free from tyranny than you will ever realize. All of this I did to keep your father safe. On the day of your birth I even fought off an attempt at a coup hours after you were born. I rose from my bed, blood dripping down my legs and killed five of the old council myself when they attempted to steal you to be raised as a hostage for your father's compliance. If I did wrong then so be it but until you have loved someone as much as I loved your father and you do not judge my choices or your fathers."

"I understand your hatred of me. I don't expect your forgiveness but it doesn't stop me from loving you, Katia. You have to deal with your own hardships. But then everyone does. I have gained the council's trust because they respected my right to defend my family and work with them. You are their princess. It is your right to take a Council seat if you wish it."

"Your brother is as smart as you were and just as precocious. Lucien was his father figure and for that I am greatful. He helped teach him in your fathers name. Your brother is very thoughtful and generous but far from naieve. He listens and while he has times when he is impulsive he is a an honorable man. He will rule well when he is ready and he will do our family proud."

-----------------------[/b][/center]