audette rousseau
Her vision was blurred beneath the veil of those luminous tears that slid down her creamy, radiant skin. She was ignorant, at that moment, of the paradoxical vision she had become. That light that emanated from her skin made her appear the very embodiment of all that was holy, those blonde ringlets so framing her face as her frail frame so collapsed in stark contrast against the filthy concrete of the alley floor. The French fae was hardly prepared for his touch as his fingers reached out for her. She flinched away, her light shone with an increased intensity, mirroring those feelings of fear that afflicted the poor fae. His fingers, however, were surprisingly gentle as his callous hands brushed against her silken skin. The Hunter caressed her cheek with a lover's touch, smearing the wetness and blood upon her skin in some effort to wipe away all that afflicted her. Audette sniffled as her cinnamon-hued irises turned downwards, purposefully attempting to avoid his probing eyes. Maybe, if she could subdue that vial antipathy that ravaged his emotions, she might be given a chance to return to the welcoming embrace of home. How tempting it was to simply never leave her shabby apartment again when the city held such deep darkness within its depths!
The powerless tone of his voice caught the young woman off guard. Her mahogany eyes glanced upwards towards him, sneaking a peek at the worry that painted such a peculiar picture upon his features. His inquiry caused her to shift ever so slightly and though the possibilities of all she could ask for danced across her mind, it was one singular thought that punctured through them all. Home. She wanted to go home - alive. That very last portion was particularly important. Audette's voice was soft as she requested that, maybe this time, he could make an exception, just for her. Maybe this time he could just...let her go. She promised she'd be good. No more jaywalking! No more shady alleyways. She'd stick to the sidewalks and even use her phone's GPS to safely and harmlessly travel from one location to the next. It sounded, at least in her mind, like a perfectly wonderful compromise. Audette would be a good citizen and he wouldn't have to give her a second thought. She could hardly help the hope that filled her gaze as she finally dared to look up at him, those large, chocolate brown eyes more akin to a canine than a mere ballerina.
She was hardly prepared for the gruff laughter that reverberated from his lips. The bitter sound caused her head to tilt ever so slightly and yet, a peculiar sensation of desolation filled her. Was he...laughing at her for thinking she had a chance to survive this encounter? Was this all some cruel twist of fate to provide her a glimmer of hope only to rip it away from her? Her eyebrows furrowed and yet, Audette remained silent, waiting for any judgment he might pass on her. After all, escape, she knew, was not an option. Though she was desperate, he was far too close to her to even attempt such a move. That sudden syllable on his lips drew her gaze back to him, those tears slowly drying on her cheeks as Audette regained some level of placidity that was often required of her in spite of the butterflies that presently, and so often did, afflicted her. Whatever sentiment the Dark Hunter intended to speak, however, died upon his lips. His head shook and in response, the corner of her lips tilted downwards. She sniffled as she watched him, only for the man to mutter something about taking her home. Home!
"Thank you." She voiced softly, her soprano voice strikingly gentle for all that Audette had just endured, her French accent all the more audible. That sudden inquiry to turn her affinity off however, made her pause. She was, admittedly, hardly masterful of that gift she had been given. It had, for some time, been more akin to a curse, her ability to become some beacon when those anxieties tugged at her and yet, over time, she had gotten particularly skilled at remaining calm. Tonight, however, was a strike against her usual serenity. "Um....ma....maybe..." She muttered softly, purposefully taking a deep breath in an effort to steady those emotions and the terror that had so gripped her with his icy hand. That soft sigh upon his lips caused her to glance up at him only for the Dark Hunter to offer her his hand. For a moment, Audette eyed it wearily before, slowly, she placed her far more delicate hand into his own. Her simple acceptance of the man seemed to have an enormous effect upon her gift in turn. Her light dimmed, receding into her very skin till they were left once again in the staunch darkness of night. At the very least, she had succeeded in fulfilling his request.
She was almost tentative as she spoke up, the ballerina admittedly bashful at confessing her own failure. "I um...don't....exactly know where home is...." Audette eyed the man in front of her as if waiting for that rebuke all the while continuing with the hopes that maybe he would understand. "I've only just moved into town on Tuesday and I...am still trying to learn my way around. My street is called Kingwood Avenue in the West but..." She bit her bottom lip, purposefully cutting herself off from any other words she might have uttered that, in turn, might have only furthered his exasperation. She was trying to assist...but...maybe he would know those roads with far more familiarity.