08-14-2018, 11:48 PM
As Jacques began to speak, Evelyn wished someone would have sent her the outline of his speech to review. Oh he did a fine enough job, certainly wasn't bad, and the fact that he was easy to watch would help his career in the long-run, but Evelyn could have helped him. The craft of speech making was an art. A few, minor recommendations here or there might have made him truly great.
She clapped anyway, eyes crossing with Nikolai's as she did. He was absolutely stunning. No prodding or tweaking needed when he spoke. Nothing big, anyway. Everyone could find room for improvement no matter who they were. Nikolai, though.. She drew a deep, calming breath to ease the flutter to her heart. When his gaze roamed away, she actually ached for it to return to her, but jealousy was unbecoming, she told herself. She had to learn to share him, just as he would learn to share her in return. Two figures in the public eye belonged not to one another, but to the people of the countries they served. Evelyn and Nikolai belonged to the world itself.
Jacques continued to speak, but it was Nikolai who suddenly seemed distracted. Evelyn glanced beyond one bare shoulder, seeking understanding. An odd feeling tingled. Concern pinched her brow. What--?
Something drifted low. A cold mist like a fog brushed her skin as it passed. She gasped, but reason was slower than instinct. Fear gripped her heart as the thing pulsated between mist and man. She shivered, eyes glued to it.
It flashed agitated red, and Evelyn shouted to warn him, but she was too late.
It rushed upon Nikolai. His scream pierced her to the bone. He was perched on a step when he collapsed, palming the floor in torment. The mist flittered and throbbed as it coccooned around his body.
"NIK!" She yelled and ran to him. He didn't see her. No awareness. The whispers cut her heart out. She tried to grasp it, but the mist melted between her fingers.
He begged for help. The thing spoke so near that Evelyn thought it meant to probe her very mind with the threat. Words clashed that she didn't comprehend. Then heat flashed. Evelyn screamed, trying to throw herself around him, but she was a poor shield. A whip snapped on her ankle. Another pang flashed an arm. The chaos continued, but they were as ineffective as she.
Desperate, she huddled alongside him, closed her eyes and prayed.
Jesus, please help me!
His light filled her with hope. She stood up, its power threading the air as she did.
She clapped anyway, eyes crossing with Nikolai's as she did. He was absolutely stunning. No prodding or tweaking needed when he spoke. Nothing big, anyway. Everyone could find room for improvement no matter who they were. Nikolai, though.. She drew a deep, calming breath to ease the flutter to her heart. When his gaze roamed away, she actually ached for it to return to her, but jealousy was unbecoming, she told herself. She had to learn to share him, just as he would learn to share her in return. Two figures in the public eye belonged not to one another, but to the people of the countries they served. Evelyn and Nikolai belonged to the world itself.
Jacques continued to speak, but it was Nikolai who suddenly seemed distracted. Evelyn glanced beyond one bare shoulder, seeking understanding. An odd feeling tingled. Concern pinched her brow. What--?
Something drifted low. A cold mist like a fog brushed her skin as it passed. She gasped, but reason was slower than instinct. Fear gripped her heart as the thing pulsated between mist and man. She shivered, eyes glued to it.
It flashed agitated red, and Evelyn shouted to warn him, but she was too late.
It rushed upon Nikolai. His scream pierced her to the bone. He was perched on a step when he collapsed, palming the floor in torment. The mist flittered and throbbed as it coccooned around his body.
"NIK!" She yelled and ran to him. He didn't see her. No awareness. The whispers cut her heart out. She tried to grasp it, but the mist melted between her fingers.
He begged for help. The thing spoke so near that Evelyn thought it meant to probe her very mind with the threat. Words clashed that she didn't comprehend. Then heat flashed. Evelyn screamed, trying to throw herself around him, but she was a poor shield. A whip snapped on her ankle. Another pang flashed an arm. The chaos continued, but they were as ineffective as she.
Desperate, she huddled alongside him, closed her eyes and prayed.
Jesus, please help me!
His light filled her with hope. She stood up, its power threading the air as she did.