The Descendant ~*Closed for cgraven*~

Nadine violently awoke and frantically gasped for air, her body trembled as excruciating bolts of pain agonizingly ripped through her body. The memory of the woman's eyes burned into her sight…the emerald eyes pleading, begging…filled with so much pain.

Her voice echoed through her head.

“Please? My love…please?”

The desperate whisper rang in her ears. The piercing plea rendered her paralyzed, tearing the last pieces of her soul in a direction she couldn’t recognize. The pain filled her petite, lithe body yet she was unable to move. It absorbed her; Nadine’s mind screamed in torture unable to hide from her plea. In that instant the eyes were gone, the pain resolving to numbness. Jerking to sit upright, her wheat coloured hair stuck to her perspiring forehead, she gazed wearily, her mind desperate to comprehend her surroundings.

A delicate wind blew open a silk curtain, revealing the twilight horizon of the city. Moonbeams highlighted the room; an old bookcase stood in the corner as ancient books overflowed onto the wingback leather chair beside it. An antique wood chest stood adjacent, adorned with newly lit candles and a small pile of paperwork. Satin sheets canopied over her, tied gracefully to the tops of the four-post bed in which she sat. Her body slowly regained its feeling, her delicate fingers grasping at the dark satin sheets below. Laying back she slowly regained her breath, her composure slowly restored as she realised she was in her own room.

Again she haunted Nadine's dreams. Just as every night for the past few weeks, her soul visited her, the same message repeating itself, the pain intensifying as each night passed. Even in her waking hours she could hear it humming in the back of her mind, a voice she could never forget even if she tried. It was her mother; Nadine recognized the sea-green eyes. They were a splitting image of her own. It was if she gazed into a mirror tainted with pain each time the dream swept through her unconscious sleeping state.

Shakily Nadine moved to the open window, shutting it abruptly, shielding herself from the sudden outpour of rain. She watched over the city as the full moon highlighted the streets, the stars flickering across her hazy vision. Her eyes wandered over her room, passing over the mass of delicately painted canvases now hidden below several sheets. It had been weeks since her mother passed away, and she began to neglect her work. The night her mother died was the last time she had painted, no longer finding the burning desire to put a brush to canvas. She struggled through her initial stages of her dwindling inspiration, but as the weeks dragged on she couldn’t physically bring herself to even look at her blank canvas, the space only serving to remind her of the emptiness she now faced, and the grief that had replaced her affectionate heart. Instead she had locked herself away from the world, choosing to hide from its ugliness instead of characteristically fighting. It had been weeks since she stepped outside her own door.

Nadine’s eyes stopped on a half-finished piece that peaked shyly from the corner of a sheet. Hesitantly she made her way to where it sat, pulling the covers to reveal the whole piece to her eyes. She breathed slowly, her emerald green eyes focused intently on her canvas. From a close inspection puddles of blacks, blues and purples were seemingly splashed randomly over the canvas. It wasn’t until one would stand back that the image would appear…a brilliant full moon hung delicately in a sky, its beams highlighting the forest lake below. That was what she loved about her pieces…it took a creative mind to see the beauty she put on paper.

She sighed in discontent. Her piece lacked something though she couldn’t put her mind on what it needed. Another sigh escaped her lips as she peeled her eyes away from her work, her heart fluttering with failure and defeat. She needed to escape, be free of the walls that had begun to close in on her. With each passing second the room seemingly became smaller; her heart began to race as a strange sense of claustrophobia set in. Within seconds Nadine had frantically run from her room and quickly out into the midnight street. Stores seemed to blend together as Nadine strolled through the street and to her car, the morning chill running through to her bones. Boutique stores, upper market bookstores, high class studios and cafes all closed…the normal hustle and bustle a distant memory. Finding her small, rundown Volkswagen Beetle, she started the engine, listening as it coughed to life. She pulled out of the parking space and quickly made her way to the city’s edge, her foot pressing hard on the accelerator as she sped from the city with no intention of looking back. She didn’t know where she was going, she didn’t even care. All she knew was that she could no longer go back.

The moon was full a pale light that filled the night sky. Its soft virginal light bathed the gardens casting soft shadows and the snowcapped peaks of the Pyrenees a brilliant white against the night sky. Michelle de Mons was radiant she was a pale beauty in the first blush of womanhood. She was no longer a child and yet not quite a woman yet. There was an earnest look in her soft eyes as she chastised her brother Samuel.
You’re an unfeeling brute Samuel how can you go off when I am to be engaged to the Count de Rochelle this very evening.

“Michelle ma belle, tonight I must see Nadine de Costa you know how difficult it is given her father’s and brother’s amenity to our family…..”

Samuel took his sister’s hands in his, his eyes holding hers in a tender gaze.

“…..…You want me to be as happy as you are this night don’t you.”

Michelle de Mon through her head back and laughed gaily her soft doe eyes dancing with merriment.

“ Go, fly to your love Samuel and be happy.”

She pressed a sisterly kiss to his cheek as she bid him fly to his love.

”I shall tell father you were called away on business for the duke..”

Samuel de Mon’s heart was light as he stole from that moonlit garden to make his way to his love’s side. He had loved Nadine de Costa as long as he could remember. Their families had been close for generations. Marriage contracts between Samuel and Nadine de Costa where drawn up when Nadine was only three. That was before the religious wars that swept France and the Basque country. The de Costa’s supported the Old Church and the de Mon’s Reformers and their lands ran red with blood. For nine years war raged until Henry IV took the throne and forced peace on the warring factions and enforcing tolerance. A peace that did not reunite the families de Mons and de Costa. Despite the war and the blood feud that now separated the two families Samuel De Mon’s love for Nadine de Costa had not dimmed.
When he had received her note he knew he must rush to her. He stole into the court yard of the wayside inn where he was to meet his love . Nadine rushed from the shadows he rushed to her. Then suddenly the little courtyard was filled with Soldiers wearing the de Costa Coat of arms. Taken by surprise Samuel could do nothing and was taken prisoner. From the shadows the Count de Guise emerged a cruel smile twisted his lips.

Well done my dear you are a most worthy wife to ferret out the heretic.

Betrayed by his love Samuel de Mons was taken and imprisoned . He watched as his family was marched into the dungeons of the castle de Costa listened to the rape and torture of his sister. The hatred that welled up in his soul took on a life of its own. The shy lonely boy betrayed by his lover became a hunter and an avenging angel. His prey would be the women of the Family De Costa. From each generation he would take the most innocent and she would pay for what had been done to his sister. His hatred , his thirst for revenge had sustained him for nearly three hundred years.

Samuel de Mons ran his fingers through his ginger hair his cool grey eyes watched as the slim figure of frantically run out into the midnight street, he watched as she started rundown her Volkswagen Beetle. De Mon slipped his Mercedes into gear and followed the fleeing young beauty at a discreet distance. He would wait for her to run to ground then he would offer her the opportunity to leave her sorrows behind to do some restoration work at the Chateau de Mon to leave all she knew behind and to make a fresh start in the tranquil solitude of the French Basque country. He felt his pulse quicken as the hunt began again.

Nadine sped through the countryside, her old, faithful car weaving amongst the hills and valleys up on the old dirt road. The further she traveled the darker the sky became; the light drizzle that soaked the city streets now a distant memory. The rain hammered on the roof of the car and drizzled horizontally down the windows. Lightening struck in the distance, each clap of thunder sending a jolt of fear through her mind. Yet the car continued, slipping slightly on the road as the gravel became loose from the torrent of rain.
Despite the storm that grew around her, Nadine couldn’t help the thoughts that continued through her mind. Her emotions seemed to be growing with the storm, and as the rain pelted down upon her windscreen a flood of tears rolled down her cheeks. She was tired; tired of fighting the growing darkness that had consumed her soul and the constant ache she felt in her heart. She had heard people attempt to calm her, voicing old prophets that ‘time heals all wounds’. But as far as she could tell, it only severed to increase the agony in which daily living had become. Her hands shook as she attempting to grip the wheel tighter, her knuckles turning white as another surge of pain leaked from her heart. Would this never end? Would she ever be free?

Suddenly a loud clap of thunder broke her attention. The entire sky lit up as the violent bolt of lightning cracked down from the heavens, ripping through the skies to impale a tree beside the road. She watched as sparks danced from the tree as a large branch snapped and crashed to the road only meters in front of her. She spun the wheel frantically and felt the car slip from her control. The car spun uncontrollably, the screech of the tires echoing in her ears. She tried to pull on the heavy steering-wheel into the direction of the spin in an attempt to straighten the car only to hear the loud bang of a wheel and the screech of metal upon the road. Her heart was pounding in her chest, her breath panting in a panic as images of her mother flashed before her mind.

Her mother was smiling which sent a strange warmth through to Nadine’s soul. Her brilliant eyes lit up her face as she reached towards Nadine as if to bring her into a tight embrace. But Nadine couldn’t reach; the blinding white light from behind her mother’s form slowly absorbed her mother’s tiny frame until all Nadine could see was the white light. Suddenly Nadine felt the car crash against the tree trunk, the sudden jolt forcing her head to whip on her neck and clash against the side window. The sudden silence that absorbed her was deafening. She remained still, the sharp pain in her head threatened to overtake her conscious state. But she fought, instead focusing on her breathing and rapid heartbeat and willed herself to be calm.

Nadine slowly unclenched the steering-wheel and shakily pulled on the door-handle, only to find that it had jammed. She peered out the window, the rain continued to pelt down upon the old road, but amongst the blurry outlines she could make out the car had hit the broken branch on the driver’s side, trapping her inside. She looked around the car frantically, her mind desperately fighting to find control over the growing anxiety that was peaking within her. Her eyes fell upon the passenger door, and she silently cursed her stupidity for not thinking of it earlier. Unbuckling her seat-belt she slowly pulled herself from her seat and crawled over the stick shaft to pull open the passenger side door. Her heart fluttered with relief as the door creaked open, and she frantically crawled from the car.

The rain continued to pelt down against her, her bare skin stinging at the force of each droplet. She shivered; either from fear or the sudden chill, she wasn’t sure, but she wrapped her delicate arms around her body in an attempt to calm the tremors that wrecked her body. Nadine couldn’t bring her eyes from the scene before her. The wind lashed at her small body, the rain drenching instantly, her shoulder-length wheat coloured hair whipped around her eyes. But her eyes remained wide in shock as her mind absorbed the scene; her old car had hit the trunk side-on, crushing the entire side with such force that the car only seemed to be half of what it was. It was a miracle she had got out of there alive. She tightened the embrace around her waist as her mind attempted to make sense of what had happened, but the sharp stabbing pain of her head wouldn’t allow for any logical thought. Slowly she raised her hand to the spot and felt the warmth leak onto her fingers. She let her eyes gaze at the small pool of blood that settled in her palm and trickled down her slender wrist. The world around her slowly began to spin before another sharp pain agonisingly ripped through her body. She felt her knees give in and she fell to the ground, each rain droplet seemingly felt of lead as the colours around her blurred into a whirlwind of colours. Then a voice, an unknown voice, deep, husky, masculine rang in her ears as a pair of hands gripped her shoulders gently.

Nadine’s flight into the gathering gloom of the storm seemed to lack rhyme or reason. Her little car careened wildly as she drove like a mad woman. Samuel de Mons found it difficult to maintain a discreet distance to follow his prey without altering her to his presence. He began to wonder if in fact the calmly young beauty had not already noticed she was being followed as was trying to escape. A wry smile bowed his lips, if that were indeed the case, this young beauty would soon find out he was not so easily thrown off the scent of his prey.

The rain was now pelting down and the little red smears that where the tail lights of Nadine’s Volkswagen Beetle were now disappearing from time to time as the wipers of his Mercedes beat a rapid tattoo on De Mon’s wind screen. It was only at the last second as he rounded the next bend in the deserted country lane that he saw the girl’s crumpled Volkswagen Beetle laying by the side of the road like a wounded beast. Its head lights were asque, and the horn had a mute grown like some dying animal. It took all of his skill to miss that crumpled car and the drenched little waif that lay there by it as motion less as death it’s self.

“Maudire!”

The curse fell from De Mon’s lips as he went to that crumpled figure by the side of the road. Slowly he bent over his hand on Nadine’s shoulder.

“Mademoiselle, Mademoiselle are you all right?”

He called to her as he gently rolled Nadine over. He saw the gash on her forehead and the blood that tricked down her face mixed with the pelting rain. It was obvious that the girl was hurt, but how badly was the question. Simon De Mon had to make a decision and quickly lest he lose the object of his hunt. He made that decision and stooping he gathered Nadine into his arms and placed her in his car. De Mons wrapped her in his rain coat and then drove her to the emergency room in the next town.

The next morning the sun was out and Simon De Mon stretched in the chair of the Emergency Room’s waiting room. He went to the casualty desk and asked for the attending Physician.

“Is Mademoiselle alright?”

Why not ask her yourself Mr. De Mon.

Simon was ushered into a small room were Nadine lay on a gurney her head bandaged.

“Nadine this is your Guardian Angel Mr. De Mon.”

A blinding, white haze surrounded her, the soft colour streaming delicately through the window as Nadine finally opened her eyes. She didn’t know how long she had slept for; minutes, hours or days. But the throbbing pain in her head hadn’t dulled since the last time she were awake. She willed her eyes to focus, her eyes slowly making their way around the room. There was a small rather pathetic looking window to her right which illuminated the already starkly white room to blinding proportions. A light blue curtain draped around the small bed that she lay upon, a small plastic chair peeping between the crack between the curtain and the wall. Dials, buttons and cords all sat at the wall behind her head with a steel arm used for holding up a fluid bag remained empty.

Nadine squirmed uncomfortably, her eyes wincing at the painful glare. Somehow she had managed to end up in a hospital bed. And while she was grateful for the generous soul who brought her here, her mind remained blank as to who it was. She slowly sat up, her body quick to scream in anguish as she propped herself against the headboard. What the hell happened last night? Images of the crash suddenly flashed in her mind’s eye. She remembered the loud clash of lightening, and the branch crashing to the road. She remembered the screeching of her tyres as she tried to manipulate the car away from crashing into the branch…and then nothing. Her mind was a complete blank. Frantically she gripped the blankets that covered her as her breath began to pant in a panic. Why couldn’t she remember? What was going on? Who brought her here in the first place?

“Nadine this is your Guardian Angel Mr. De Mon.”

The sweet voice of a nurse startled Nadine out of her panic and her eyes quickly turned to find the nurse and a rather tall man peering in through the curtain. She cautiously let her eyes take him in. His cool gray eyes were the first thing she noticed. They immediately filled her with a sense of longing and sorrow…as if she knew them long ago in a sadly intimate nature. Yet she couldn’t help the shiver of fear that slithered down her spine as his gaze caught hers intently. She winced again as the small tremor that raced through her body agitated the throbbing pain in her head. But she kept her eyes intent on his form. Next she noticed the tightness of his chiseled jaw and the mass of ginger hair that his manly fingers were tensely stroking through. She watched silently as he made his way to her side, sliding the plastic chair to the side of the bed before taking her hand in his and kissing the back of her fingers.

“Mr. De Mon, was it?” Nadine’s voice was weak and husky, a stark contrast to the sweet melodic tone that usually laced her voice. She watched as he gingerly placed her hand back on the bed by her side before a new series of images flashed into her consciousness. She remembered crawling out of the passenger side car door…the image of her old car smashed against the broken branch, the headlights flickering amongst the torrent of rain. She remembered the blinding pain that shot from her head…and blood…and a voice…

“Oh my god! Are you alright? Did I make you crash? Are you alright?” Nadine’s emerald eyes shot open and gazed worryingly at the unknown man before her, her eyes silently begging that his answers were free of injury and disaster.

Samuel de Mon was a hunter and he knew well the cautious look of pry and he saw that look now in Nadine’s soft eyes. The way she cautiously let her eyes take him in. The shiver of fear that slithered down her spine as his gaze caught hers intently. Even she again winced as the small tremor that raced through her body, agitated the throbbing pain in her head. She kept her eyes intent on his form, much like a deer caught in the glare of the headlight of a lorry. Caught in that bright glare, mesmerized, unable to flee from the approaching danger. Impulsively he took her hand pressed a kiss to the back of it,

“Mr. De Mon, was it?”

Her voice was weak and strained from her ordeal and yet, the sweet melodic undertones of youth and innocence could not be hidden. There was a bemused look of confusion on her angelic face, then the flood of memories and half memories as the events of the crash came flooding back to Nadine. Her words came in a concerned confused rush.

“Oh my god! Are you alright? Did I make you crash? Are you alright?”


Nadine’s emerald eyes shot open and gazed worryingly at the unknown man before her, her eyes silently begging that his answers were free of injury and disaster.


“Mademoiselle Nadine I assure you I am quite well and no worse for wear. I fear that cannot be said for you or your little car.”

His voice was rich dark and sensual it was lost somewhere between a base and a baritone. The cadence slow and strangely seductive tempting one to relax and to trust. De Mons canted his head to the side, studying the young beauty then he gasped as if in recognition.

“Mademoiselle Nadine …of course…how stupid of me not to recognize such a talented artist….”


His hand gently took her hand in his. His movement natural, relaxed familiar.



“I was hoping to meet you Mademoiselle but under more pleasant circumstances as I wish to make you a proposal for employment….”


A soft warning cough from the attending nurse made it clear THAT THE INTERVIEW WAS AT AN END.

Yes, Yes you are quite correct nurse Mademoiselle needs her rest.

Samuel De Mons once more turned to Nadine .


“Please give me a call when you are released.”

De Mons pressed his carte de visit into her hand

“Please Mademoiselle.”

He had made contact with her, the next move was up to Nadine. If she called accepted his offer things would be much easier. If not she, he would simply have to make other arrangements. De Mons could feel his pulse quicken and a wicked smile bowed his lips as he pulled on his gloves in the casualty center’s waiting room. The Hunt had begun in earnest.