Taming an Immortal Updates Chapter 7-10

I've finally finished Chapter 8 and am fleshing out Chapters 9 and 10. It's a mess because I inserted new scenes in between and rewrote some earlier ideas I had of the ending. Initially, the story was meant to end by chapter 9 but is it just me or do I feel the characters need a bit more time and space to develop?

Thus the rewrite. Chapter 9 is currently so epic, I feel like I'm in some LOTR scene or something.

Battle scenes are not my favourite which is why I don't understand WHY my brain always gravitates towards stories that have such conflict in them. TAM was supposed to be a purely romantic, angsty, I love you but you don't love me kinda story but now it has evolved into an entire universe of its own! Lol.

Anyway, I'm updating because I think Chapters 8-10 are going to need a bit of time to stew as I'm writing it so fast that when I re-read them again, I can see the gaps. And if I can see them, then as readers, you will surely feel a bit lost.

I'll post Chapter 7 sometime next week and then 8,9 and 10 in June. Chapter 7 is full of the hot stuff by the way, so do look out for that! Meanwhile, here is a short scene from Chapter 7 that made me go 'awwww'.

Sometime in the middle of the night, Rose had rolled down from her bed, curling up into a cocoon as she always did as a child. Nesting her against his chest, he kept still, drawing the blanket over both of them to keep her warm.

It was only when she started to stir awake did he move to look down at her.

“You fell off your bed,” he whispered, nuzzling his face in her hair. “I didn’t want to wake you up.”

“Are you comfortable my Lord?” she mumbled; eyes still closed with a sleepy drawl in her voice. “I have more blankets if you’re cold.”

He felt her body relaxing into sleep again.

“Rose?”

“Hmm?” One sleepy eye opened to look at him.

“When we are alone like this…” A warm hand stroking back her hair. “I want you to call me by my name.”

She nodded against his chest, a soft purr in her throat. “I love you Etienne…”

And then nothing, not even the booming thunder could wake her up.

Taming an Immortal -map of the three territories

Hi everyone,

So here is an image roughly of how the TAM 'world' looks like in my head. I drew it when I first started writing the story so I can visualise how the travel would be like. Hope it helps you guys too! It's not a complete map but I'll add it on one of the tabs and update it as the story progresses.

Chapter 6 is already up and I'm furiously writing chapters 8 and 9 to keep up with the posting. I hope you are enjoying the story and I do really hope to get more comments from people - I live for them! When you don't get paid, that's the only payment you can get I guess. :)

Taming an Immortal Ch 6 teasers

Chapter 5 is out and I've started editing Chapter 6 -one of my favourite chapters in this entire story - which you will find out when it's out!

And because I am evil, here is just a sneak of our protagonists' development. It's getting very difficult for me to keep Etienne in character but I think these small episodes where he loses control of his emotions are very poignant especially when it is only meant for Rose. :)

Chapter 6 should be up by this weekend!


***

Tonight, he had worn a robe of pure black silk; the contrast bringing out the silvery shine of his hair as they swayed in the soft breeze of the night. Rose reached out to catch a handful of his strands and watched as they slipped past her fingers.

“We will have another visitor in the morning,” he said, stopping to allow Rose better access to his hair. She knew this was the one privilege she had – the right to touch and play with a Pureblood’s status symbol as she wished.

“What is her name?”

“I do not care for that,” he admitted, looking down at her face. “What would you like me to do with her?”

Another concession. What was wrong with him? Didn’t he realise that this was not a choice she had to make?

“As you please my Lord,” she replied, biting back the rising anger in her voice.

Lord Etienne remained silent, continuing to walk in the darkness with her at his side. It was only when they reached his bonsai garden did he stop to look at her again.

“This cherry tree is very special to me.” He pointed to a tall blossoming tree surrounded by various shapes of bonsai. “My father and I planted the seed of this tree when I was four. It bloomed every year until the day he left this castle.”

His hands held her face gently, rubbing at her cheeks with his fingers. “I haven’t seen it bloom since, but yesterday I found this.” He took a small pink flower from his pocket and tucked it behind her ear.

Rose turned her face into his hand, leaning into the warmth of his body. How many more stolen moments like these did she have left?

“Look at me Rose,” he ordered; a finger tilting her chin to face him. “I will ask you one more time. What would you like me to do with her?”

“What I say shouldn’t matter my Lord… after all, I am only human and I have no right to counsel you.”

Bringing his lips to an inch away from hers, his throat growled low, almost into a purr. “What do you think you are to me then? A pet?”

Clenching her fist tight, she thumped them against his chest in anger. “It doesn’t matter! You know this won’t go anywhere. It cannot! You are a Pureblood Lord and I am a peasant girl. Even if you love me, mate me, raise a child with me, we both know that it is temporary. I will age and die and then you will mar–”

Her words died against the brutal onslaught of his kiss. His hands cradled her face tight, angling it to give his tongue more access to her mouth to draw hers out in a furious dance. Rose gave a hard shove, nails scratching him as she fought against his strong hold; but Lord Etienne was too strong.

When her body grew limp against his, he simply grabbed her by her thighs and lifted her up, wrapping her legs around his body.

The sudden move caught her by surprise and Rose pulled away from the kiss; instinctively holding on to his neck for dear life, falling perfectly into his trap. Without warning, he pushed off from the ground, leaping up to the nearest branch above them and then higher and higher until they were under the stars.

“Why are we here?” she demanded, looking all the way down.

“I didn’t want to be disturbed.” His silvery eyes twinkled in the dark. “Here under the stars, is more…suitable for you than the mundane sheets.”

Rose found herself smiling despite being angry at him. That was as romantic as Lord Etienne could get.

“And what does my Lord have in mind?” 

Taming an Immortal Chapter 5

I have been editing and re-editing Chapter 5 for a week now - and it's giving me a headache. To help with the gaps from the previous chapters and to flow the story better, I've had to do a lot of fixing, which meant that later chapters also required some touch ups.

I'm not entirely happy with this chapter but since I'm not publishing it for a book [yet] and this is meant as a trial draft, I'll post it up soon so that you readers can enjoy the story as it is for now.

So while we wait for the usual 72 hours before the chapter goes live on Lit, here is a short peek at one of the most important points of tension that would follow through the next few chapters.

***

The ride home was a blur of movement, scent and heat. All she remembered after leaving Titus and the others was collapsing and feeling soft fur against her face –she barely got any sleep after tending to the children for two days straight. When she woke up, Lord Etienne was holding her in his arms; her head rested against his chest.

“You should wake up now,” he murmured into her hair. “I could hold you like this through the night… but there is a witch waiting outside my door.”

Rubbing her eyes, she tried to make sense of her surroundings - she had barely a minute before his study door flew open.

“My, my… I heard that my son had a human pet but I never thought those rumours were true!”

Rose saw the physical resemblance but apart from that, the two looked like they would rather kill than sit in the same room with each other.

“What are you doing here mother?” There was no joy nor heat in his voice. Lord Etienne simply kept a straight face for her benefit.

“Can’t a mother visit her son?” Lady Elisa purred but her attention was solely focused on Rose. Tracing a long claw over her face, the Pureblood then ran her fingers through Rose’s hair.  “What beautiful hair you have my darling. I can imagine it fanned out behind you when you sleep. Isn’t she a beauty Etienne?”

“Keep your hands to yourself if you treasure them.” It was a gentle reminder.

Elisa clutched her chest, in an exaggerated show of sorrow. “Why do you always hurt your mother so? I have but one son! And my only family has no regard for my well-being.”

“I will not repeat myself mother. If you have no business here, please see that you leave tonight.”

“I don’t know why I put up with this abuse!” she wailed. “After all the trouble I’ve gone to select your future wife, this is the thanks I get?”

Wife? Her eyes immediately snapped wide open. Lord Etienne on the other hand barely turned his head. He was leaning against the window, the wind blowing his silver hair back.

“Etienne? Are you listening to me?” When she received only a blank stare, Lady Elisa continued; her eyes flicking from her son then to Rose. “In sixty days, your father’s current hold on these lands will come to the table for inheritance, as is the mourning customs of our kind. I do not wish to remind you my son that you have a duty to your people and your lands.”

Lord Etienne made no comment, his silence fuel to her temper. “Etienne! I will not stand to tolerate this insolence! I will send a Pureblood woman every two weeks and by the end of the sixty days, you are ordered to choose one to be your wife!” She was almost screaming. “If not… well, you will know the consequences.”

“Thank you mother. I will have you escorted out now.” He grabbed his mother by her arm, ushering her towards the door. “Your speech is starting to bore me.”

Rose only heard unintelligible screams and growls from behind the door; catching a glimpse of the Queen Mother with her hair aflame before Lord Etienne closed the door behind him.

“Please excuse my mother. She has no manners.” He moved closer to touch her; knuckles grazing her cheeks lightly. “Pay no heed to what she says Rose.”

“But it is your duty my Lord. Don’t you love these lands?” Rose looked down on the floor. This had to be said. “Someday, I will die and when I do, you will be alone.”

Another gentle caress on her cheeks. “Don’t say that.”

“I only say what is true.” Rose struggled to pull back her tears but her eyes betrayed her; a drop trickling down her cheek. “I was foolish to dream that something could happen between us. That was the child’s wish - but the woman, this woman, only wishes for you to do what is right.”

“Rose…” He tried to hold her but she had enough. Pushing past him, she let herself out before he had a chance to catch up to her.

Flicking back her tears, Rose ran all the way down to her room, finding the darkest corner to hide and dropping to her knees as she poured her frustrations away.

Taming an Immortal revisions

So, I've been getting some very constructive feedback following Chapter 4 and I've had to pause writing the later chapters to go back and examine the gaps.

I do admit that I have a problem with pacing – often, I already have the story planned out in my head and as I rush to get from point A to point B, I often write too fast because in my head things are moving too slow. Ahah.

Well – though initially I had planned for TAM to be merely a short ‘stopover’ while I cure my writer’s block with WCTM, I think there is actual value in this story arc so I’ll pay a bit more attention to the gaps from henceforth.

I’m rewriting Chapter 5 to include a few more scenes to explain some of the gaps in the earlier chapters and I’m concurrently also adding more scenes to chapters 6, 7 and 8.

Hopefully I’ll be able to finish Chapter 5 by end of the week and it should be up by mid next week!

xoxo

Taming an Immortal updates

I'm very happy with the progress of the chapters so far. Am starting Chapter 9 today and re-editing chapter 4, so that should be within the week.

I've had great comments - mainly from Inuyasha fans but I have to say that even if you're not a fan, I think I've done a decent job of giving enough back story for you to appreciate the plot - which on its own has nothing to do with the anime.

As I go along, I see the subplots coming together for possible future continuation of the story, so if you have any favourite characters you'd like me to write about, please do write to me!

But for now, if you haven't guessed already who the characters are based on, here's a picture that I've blown up in my study room to inspire me. (Credits and thank you to the original artist for this!)

It's not a romantic picture per se but you can see the undercurrents in their face and the way they stand close, yet apart. His eyes are softened; almost sad when he looks at her while she has this hopeful look that is laced with sorrow. And yet, these are the only two in the world who accept each other as they are - she, the cast away orphan and him, the much feared demon lord (or in Totosai's words - evil incarnate).

It is the essence of their relationship. So poignant.

*sigh*

Okay I'm off to finish Chapter 9!

Taming an Immortal (Chap 1 and 2) trailer

I am really happy I started writing on this new story. I'm in love with the characters and world building just allowed the ideas to flow!

I initially wrote another modern paranormal romance to replace WCTM but when this muse struck, I've been honestly writing continuously every single day for the past 2 weeks! Am now at Chapter 7 (36,000 words) and Chapters 1 and 2 have already been submitted and pending approval.

Similar to how To Love a Were started, this story was also inspired by the relationship between Sesshomaru and Rin from the anime Inuyasha. I would say this is a kind of post-canon story based on the circumstances of the two characters but placed in my own world with new characters and challenges. The anime doesn't proceed with Rin aging nor does it explore the relationship between them but I feel that a story should have been written about them! And thus Taming an Immortal was born.

I have changed the characters' names of course so if you know the anime, you'll be able to roughly guess who is who. But if you've never watch it, that's brilliant, because you can just follow the story from scratch. I am obsessed with our hero. I think the cold distant, unyielding kind of man always turns me on, that's why I love writing about them.

I'm really excited to finish writing the full story and I'm also looking forward to hearing from you! So as always, a short trailer from the two chapters coming up soon on Lit!

***

He didn’t recognise her at first.

Where her hair had been jagged and cropped short as a child, it now flowed straight and silky down her shoulders to the small of her waist. She was so much taller now!

But her brown eyes were just as wide and curious as she inspected him. Etienne had no need for her approval but he kept still, allowing her eyes to trail along his body before resting on his face.

No one dared hold his gaze for that long. But for Rose, it was an exception.

“Hello Rose.”

The human girl –no, woman, made no move to welcome him in. She had to be in shock.

“Rose, can I come in… please?” He moved closer, rubbing his knuckles lightly against her cheek. It was something he had always done to appease her as a child when she was in a feisty mood.

Pulling away, she took a step back and bowed slightly.

“Yes…. I will get Kirke for you.”

He watched as his Rose turned to run up the stairs to look for her guardian. Had it been that long? Gone were the chubby cheeks of the girl that he left, the awkward stumbling teenager swimming in her clothes.

This was a woman whose body was ripe for bearing children – just like that of the vendor’s wife. He had not scented a child in Rose and it had pleased him to know she was still pure. He would not have allowed that to happen without his permission.

“My Lord!” Kirke hobbled down the stairs; her hands busily twisting the greying bun on top of her head. “It is so good to see you. Would you like some tea?”

“Rose will do it,” he said, watching the young woman’s eyes light up with an emotion he was not used to seeing. Rose was always happy or scared and sometimes playful but the look that crossed her eyes were of another kind altogether.

“I am surprised she barely said a word,” said Kirke, watching as Rose dashed into the kitchen.

“Has she been troublesome to you?”

“No, never! She is an obedient child.” The old woman bit her lips slightly. “Although I must say that I am glad you are here to take her away.”

The finality in her voice made him raise an eyebrow inquiringly. “What makes you think I am here for that?”

Cool grey eyes met his. “Are you not then?”

Etienne tried not to take offence at the challenging tone of her voice. If not for the fact that she had cared for his Rose for seven years, he might have swiped her down for her insolence.

“The choice will be up to her,” he said matter-of-factly. “It is not my wish to impose on her, her right to have a family… or choose a human mate.”

Kirke looked like she was hiding a laugh as Rose walked in with a teapot and some cups. “Of course my Lord.”  

Etienne said nothing. He allowed Rose to pour tea for Kirke and himself before pushing an empty cup towards her.

She pushed it back.

“I must refuse my Lord. I am needed somewhere else.” Turning to Kirke, she pressed a kiss on the old woman’s cheeks. “I’ll be back with lunch!”

“Rose!” He knew she heard him but his little human ward flicked a warning look at him before running off.

“There was no need for her to procure provisions,” he said flatly. “I have ordered Keiko to see to that.”

The old Priestess smiled, the joke too much for her to handle. “I believe she is exercising her choice my Lord.” Kirke dared to laugh. “I believe it is what young lovers –”

He was out of the house faster than her next breath. He did not wish to hear the words coming out of Kirke’s mouth! Rose was out to meet a lover? How dare she!

Like a predator on a hunt, he tracked Rose’s scent towards the village centre with vengeance, annoyed that he lost her to the intermingling of human scents swirling in the air. The Rose he knew would have had jumped at him, burrowed her tiny head into his sash and armour in happiness. But this woman… this human had looked at him straight in the eyes and basically told him to fuck off.

Damn that girl! Where could she be? Scanning the chaos in front of him, Etienne tried to sieve through the scents to zero in on the subtle hints of Rose when a high pitched voice interrupted his concentration.

“Master? You are still here?” Keiko dropped a bag of provisions at the front of his feet.

“I seem to have lost Rose.” Looking down at the overflowing potatoes and onions, he frowned. “Keiko, leave those here and bring Rose to me,” he ordered, leaving the confused Noble flustering over his purchase.

Etienne continued along a path bearing traces of Rose’s scent, pausing a second in front of a shop.

She had stopped here.

The bell on top of the door clanged in announcement of his entrance. A quick scan revealed no Rose but a couple of terrorised human and a pâtissier that was about to faint at the sight of him.

“Did a human by the name of Rose pass by here?” Nods were his only answer with a meek finger pointing in the opposite direction.

It had taken him five more steps before her scent consumed him. It was one that he remembered – of flowers and laughter. That was when he spotted them.

A human male had his hand resting on her knee.

“You obviously do not cherish your limbs, young man.” His voice boomed over the giggling duo – one looking extremely livid while the other smiled and continued nibbling at the pastry in her hand.

“Lord Etienne!” The young man pulled his hands hastily, bringing his body to a bow.

“Who are you and what are you doing with my Rose?” Etienne kept her voice level, not wanting to scare Rose.

“Cha… Cha… Charlie my Lord! We… we are friends!” He was halfway into apologising when Rose stood up and simply walked away, licking the honey coating her fingers.

The sight of her plump lips making contact with the innocent syrup had him shuddering slightly on the inside. Ridiculous!

But Etienne allowed her to leave – making sure she had turned into the corner before elongating his fangs into a snarl; his face inches away from the human.

“You smell of her.” He grabbed a fistful of Charlie’s shirt.