New Beginnings: Act I
And in my prayers I dream alone
A silent speech to deaf ear
If you want love you must be love
But if you bleed love you will die loved
No more the lie upon you
Cast into stone and autumn shade
Desolation yes, hesitation no
Desolation yes, hesitation no
As you might have sensed we won’t make it home
Desolation yes, hesitation no
Before the rites of spring - Come to mean all things
A little taste of what may come - A mere glimpse of what has gone
Cause for the moment we are free - We seek to bind our release
Too young to die too rich to care too fucked to swear that I was there
Desolation yes, hesitation no
Desolation yes, hesitation no
As you might have guessed we won’t make it home
Desolation yes, hesitation no
The Smashing Pumpkins, “Age of Innocence”
“Your fortune is bright,” The words were soft, an underlying knowledge present. “Do you want to know the specifics?”
She was skilled, very skilled, and the one seated across from her knew this. This woman, who looked so strange and wise all the same, had power. She was real. This thought alone was enough to allow the other solace in the unknown.
“A good fortune is a good fortune, I say! No need to jinx it with specifics.” The client replied hurriedly amidst her glee.
The fortune teller was not surprised. Her business was purely by ‘word of mouth’ and therefore all her clients and potential clients knew she was 100% real from other’s reactions. Only a few times before had she been asked to peer into the future for specifics.
“As you wish.” The fortune teller replied simply, a small smile on her face. “But know that at any given time, things can change. There are no constants in the world of the unknown.”
Before the client could reply, the door swung open, causing a gust of cold, wet air to infiltrate the room. Despite her blind eyes, she found herself looking up. With her heightened senses, and her bizarre vision, she could see him. It was a vague outline, a silhouette… but it didn’t matter.
He was there, standing before her. He was home.
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June 9th, 2007 at 9:35 am
Aw, Valerie has it big for Nicolas.. she does look creepy as an old woman though. She’s much too cute to be made like the circus freak…
Oh so some thing’s gonna hit the fan again… intriguing! And she can’t feel the Eras anymore? That can’t be good!
*hugs Mao* I’m so excited! A new story a new beginning… *squealing and clapping*
Mao edit: Well, she did have a crush on him in KiD.
Lotta stuff is gonna hit the fan… but you will have to wait and see what! Glad you are excited. 
June 9th, 2007 at 10:33 am
wow!!! yay!! first update. valerie looks sooooo pretty. wow, Nicolas is quite the serious one now. Wasn’t he always the playful one in KiD?
Mao edit: Valerie did turn out quite pretty. She looks a lot like Abigail. I don’t recall Nicolas being overly playful, just sarcastic. He’s only temporarily serious… he just got back and failed at finding his sister, so he’s not very happy.
June 9th, 2007 at 11:10 am
Great first chapter Mao - I’m sensing another hit already! It’ll be interesting to see things develop between Nicolas and Valerie (even if there’s no romance involved), and learn more about what happened in the six years between the end of KiD and the start of this story
Mao edit: LOL! Thanks.
Nicolas and Valerie’s dynamic promises some… interesting twists.
June 9th, 2007 at 11:33 am
Nice. Valerie sure has grown up quite a bit.
Why does he want to find Melissande so badly?
Mao edit: Indeed she has! Melissande is Nicolas’ older sister. We’ll find out later why he is so dependent on her.
June 9th, 2007 at 11:45 am
I love the last quote, Mao!!! “I don’t think we’ll be so lucky this time….” That’s awesome.
I’m not as annoyed at Nicolas as I was with Beryl with the relationship thing…partly because Christian was much more hotter. 
Mao edit: LOL! Thanks.
Nicolas definitely comes into his own in WoS… but I don’t forsee him usurping Christian anytime soon, haha.
June 9th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
Wow, interesting. There’s definitely a spark between Nicolas and Valerie. But also creepy. (What is it with Vampires and people they watched grow up, ew?) So, Valerie can ‘feel’ the Eras, too bad she doesn’t know what’s going on in the Demon Realm. Great chapter, Mao, you’ve whet my appetite for more! ^-^
Mao edit: Nicolas hasn’t watched her grow. They’ve just been reunited and then he left for a month to try and find Melissande once they learned vampires were dropping like flies. Nicolas left after they got Beryl back in KiD, remember? Hehe. Valerie would know, if she could still feel ‘em… but her connection to Sessy has been severed… dundundun.
June 9th, 2007 at 12:20 pm
Interesting opening chapter! I’d say Nicolas is one pissed off vampire! Valarie has grown up…Nicolas shouldn’t fuss so much, at least she is bringing in money. Now, the others? Where are they? What’s going to happen? *biting nails*
Mao edit: Haha, Nicolas is just moody… as he always is.
As for the others… we will see, we will see!!
June 9th, 2007 at 12:49 pm
I see … me! =)
Great start. Can’t wait to see how the realtionship between Nicolas and Valerie grows, twists and turns. He is gorgeous, and she has grown to quite a beautiful woman. Another great story on the horizon!
MiniROLL
Mao edit: Indeed! In full, uh… Mao-O-Vision, LOL!
Thanks!
June 9th, 2007 at 1:25 pm
Awww poor Valerie, me thinks her feelings for him are more than platonic and Nicholas is just not seeing her as she is now but as that little girl from long ago.
Mao edit: I think that perhaps you may be right!
June 9th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
Yayyy!
Wow, I really think that Valerie is amazing. I could say she is *maybe* like Claudia from ‘Interview with the vampire’ but only viceversa: a child in a woman’s body, I mean, a very intelligent child.
Nicolas…quote: ” is one pissed off vampire” I agree but in the same time I understand him, he lost his sister and he feels frustrated. Heh, I think Valerie will make the first step and ask him out on a date…*laughs*
Mao edit: Oooh, that is an interesting parallel… I hadn’t thought about it like that, ha! Very cool. I’m glad you understand where Nicolas is coming from. LOL, I don’t think Valerie would know where to even start, or if she even fully understands her own feelings.
June 9th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
ooo i can sense another great story coming
Altho i like Nicolas, he sucks for being so grumpy! lol. Still he is right in a sense…
Mao edit: Aww, thank you! Nicolas is a grump, but he’ll lighten up.
June 9th, 2007 at 5:23 pm
Cool start to what I know is gonna be a very cool story. I really wish Nicholas liked Valerie as much as she obviously likes him, shame poor girl has such a huge crush. Looking forward to more!
Mao edit: Thanks! Hehe, yeah… but that would be too simple, now wouldn’t it?
June 9th, 2007 at 7:21 pm
I’m so happy that another story has started! I was a little scared that you might have put up an update and I wouldn’t be able to read it until late, but you hadn’t until today…lucky me. Anyway, their feelings for each other are insanely obvious…and funny..Nicholas might not share the EXACT feelings as Valerie does, but I can tell there is something there. Anywhoo…did I mention how much I looovvee Nicholas’ sarcastic attitude?
Mao edit: Yup, yup! All aboard the new story train, hehe. His sarcasm is definitely fun for me.
June 9th, 2007 at 9:33 pm
yay! this is interesting… “not as lucky as last time” this should make for an interesting sequal!!!!!!! i guess valerie is alittle horny- *raises eyebrows and shakes head in disgust*
Mao edit: LOL!!! LIZ! No, not at all. We have to remember that Valerie isn’t… 100% ‘there’. She’s kind of… well… ’special’. She’s behind and she doesn’t think like an adult female would. She doesn’t fully understand her feelings. The whole dress thing was she didn’t realize just how inappropriate it is for an adult female to undress in front of an adult male.
June 10th, 2007 at 12:26 am
I really would segue into an in-depth enthusiastic monologue about the trials I endured to read this . . . but I’ve been practicing piano and doing stress-relief sessions of Rubik’s cubing until my head feels woozy. And it’s only 9:26 over here. *sigh* I feel so woozy it feels this is a dream . . . but if it is, it’s one of the best I’ve ever had. A very lucid dream, too. ^^ Cheers, Mao!
Mao edit: Oooh, piano! I’ve always wanted to learn–very cool.
LOL thanks!
June 10th, 2007 at 1:19 am
Awesome introduction Mao! I think Val is beautiful but she does have a lot of maturing to do before I think Nicolas will take her seriously. I wonder what happened to the Eras? This is great, I’m really looking forward to WoS!
Mao edit: Thanks! Unfortunately, Valerie isn’t really the type that can mature like us. It’ll be an interesting ride, LOL! Thanks!
June 10th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
Im just curious, how do you pronounce Sesanahael, and Laszael’s names. And great update!
Mao edit: Good question! I actually don’t care you pronounce it–but as for how I pronounce them… Seh-sana-ahl and Lah-zay-el.
June 10th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
Nicolas is certianly very fascinating - though perhaps a little harsh on poor Valerie. She’s obviously very pretty - and she clearly had something of a crush on him ever since KiD. The old romantic in me wants him to be a little more responsive…and then again I haven’t seen anything of the new characters, so I may form couples in my mind that I like better! I suppose Valerie’s naivety accounts for her odd behaviour and…ahem…impulse undie-showing - that and the fact that she seems to have difficulty hiding that big ol’ schoolgirl crush on Nicholas!
I really like this beginning, and I’m looking forward to more of Nicholas’ sarcasm next time!
Mao edit: Nicolas can be a bit harsh, but that’s what happens when he feels “backed into a corner”. Haha, she doesn’t really hide it, true… but it is difficult for her, as she doesn’t full understand it, either. It accounts for a lot of awkward moments and tension, LOL!
June 10th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
In response to Hannahs post, LOL I’ve always pronounced Sesanahael See-shan-al
Also, if you’re thinking of using some sorta evil overlord thta is a guy in this story, i highly recomened the lyrics ‘King of Kings’ by Motorhead. If you read them you’ll know why
Mao edit: Motorhead is good stuff!!! Unfortunately, our baddie is another female. Haha, why are my baddies always female!? Maybe it is my dislike of females in my life bleeding through bahaha. And that’s an interesting way to pronounce it! Like I said, however you guys want, that’s cool with me. You can even just call her Sessy, LOL!
June 10th, 2007 at 8:10 pm
Wow…Valerie. I remember saying a long time ago it would be interesting to have a sequel about her, and it certainly is. She hasn’t matured alot, though, and knowing you, she may never.
Mao edit: Indeed you did. And that got me thinking… plus my boyfriend constantly insisting he wanted to know what happened with the past in regards to the Demon Queen. We will find that Valerie can’t really “mature” like we do. She’s… special, haha.
June 10th, 2007 at 8:16 pm
Awesome start. Valerie is just great, love the way she seemed so ‘put together’ then Nicolas shows up and she can’t maintain the illusion. Very anxious to read more.
Mao edit: Ahh, yes! You noticed. Valerie has her moments of clarity… but Nicolas seems to have an effect on her…
June 10th, 2007 at 11:30 pm
What a wonderful way to start the new week, with an update of WOS! I am so happy that Valerie can see just how gorgeous Nicolas is. Now if only Nicolas wasn’t so blind and could see how beautiful our little Valerie has become. Mao, thanks for the hint of romance, it is greatly appreciated. The awkward sexual tension is great. Nicolas should know that anybody wearing that lingerie is no longer a little girl.
Mao edit: Glad to help you start your week off right!
Nicolas is well aware of how pretty Valerie has become (as will be noted soon enough), unfortunately that just makes things worse… as Valerie isn’t a normal person. Plenty of awkward tension ahead! And this is just the beginning… many, many characters and dynamics that have yet to be introduced. 
June 11th, 2007 at 1:17 am
Oh, I just love Valerie. She’s a truly fascinating character; I love that she’s this wise and powerful seer, but hasn’t really tapped into her potential yet, and the way she sees things in such a childlike way make for a cool point-of-view. She’s a great contrast to Nicolas and his acid tongue. He’s cool in his way, too (and a cutie, of course).
Excellent chapter, Mao!
Mao edit: Thanks, Jen! The thing with Valerie is she is this really powerful Seer… but she’s also very, very weak. It is a fun contrast.
Nicolas does look nice cleaned up, doesn’t he? I have fun with face shots… he gives me the funniest faces!
June 11th, 2007 at 9:11 am
I thought that looked like Min in the beginning!
Shame on Nicholas for taking out his frustration on Valerie. Especially since he knows that she’ll never truly grow up.
I think WoS is off to a great start, Mao!
Mao edit: Thanks! Yup, yup… our very own MiniROLL!
And Nicolas isn’t exactly Mr. Nice Guy… but we’ll soon see he isn’t all bad. He’s got a soft spot for Valerie.
June 11th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
Awesome, dawson!
Very good start for your new story. As for Nicolas and Valerie - I love Nicolas. Maybe more than Christian, though we’ll see as time goes on. Valerie - well, just because she’s “special” doesn’t mean she can’t ever have a relationship. She’ll just need a person who’s special enough to understand her “specialness”, if you get me.
Mao edit: Hahaha, oooh… Do we have a conversion? Not that it was my intent. Christian and Nicolas are both very different and fortunately for Christian, his role/impact in both stories vastly overshadows Nicolas’. Nicolas has his own merits, though. He’s quite a pretty boy.
And very true about Valerie… very true.
June 13th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
i luv it
Mao edit: I’m glad!
June 15th, 2007 at 10:29 am
awww valerie and nicolas are just so darn cute! you can just feel the tension between them. i love tensions heehee! nicolas is certainly growing on me, yea i like him even more than christian (oops, sorry christian’s fans). i guess it’s cuz of nicolas’ personality that’s so real. sarcasm, seriousness, playfulness, charm etc all rolled into one. christian’s a bit too angsty for me. ah! i shouldnt be comparing! a brilliant start no matter what. i look forward to more!!
Mao edit: Haha, it is okay to like Nicolas better than Christian… as long as you don’t try to compare them as characters. They each have their merits.
However, Nicolas is equally as angsty… especially with his sister gone. It just depends on what kinda guy you like when it all comes down to it. You seem to like that snarky edge. Hehehe
June 16th, 2007 at 6:39 am
Awesome post Mao! It is so fun seeing Nicolas and Valerie again. I love those two. And I’m not surprised Val’s feelings for Nicolas have grown… she liked him a lot back in the day. But please… you’re not going to pull another unrequited love thing on us… I don’t think my silly, little romantic heart could bear it :). And Nicolas sure is pretty.
I wonder what did happen to Xavier and Melissande. And I’m mega-excited that Drusilla is back - even if it is only at the bottom of the page
Mao edit: Drusilla will return… but not yet!
Nicolas is quite a pretty boy, LOL! As for unrequited love… Verity, Verity… we’re only on chapter one! No love yet. But I’ll let you know there are a LOT more romantic entanglements in WoS. It doesn’t just focus on the are they or aren’t they relationship between Valerie and Nicolas. 
June 19th, 2007 at 2:30 pm
Yay!! It’s great to see Valerie again! I can’t wait to keep reading, lol. Great start!
Mao edit: That’s the best part about being behind, hehe! No wait for updates.
June 28th, 2007 at 7:03 pm
There is certainly an interesting dynamic between Valerie and Nicolas. Valerie’s tendency toward childishness seems very fitting and appropriate for her character. She has been through so much and much of her childhood was tangled with a lot of disaster and problems. Now Nicolas is the only person she has left and she definitely clings to him.
Mao edit: Ahh, I am glad you find it interesting! And Valerie is childish for more reasons than just what has happened to her. She’s a bit slow.
July 2nd, 2007 at 4:08 pm
Well I finally got to read chapter 1. I’m so excited for a new story line! You’ve already introduced several conflicts. I’m anxious to see where this all goes. I think your character dynamics right now are even better than those in KiD, but I’m not one for early judgements, so I’ll wait and see!
Mao edit: Thanks! I am a bit more in my element now, and a lot of characters are already established. I also had more time to think and plan this one… so here’s hoping it is a lot better than KiD.
March 10th, 2008 at 11:26 pm
I just read all the comments {something I don’t usually do!} And I am just thinking, Nicolas is hot, but Christian is the hottest. I mean, Nicolas is second and I s’pose, maaaaaaaaybe Eckhard is third, but Christian just blows them away. I want him up for download or something. You know the markings ’round his eyes make it hard to see his eyes? I liked KiD where he had that little black thing round his eyes.
Mao edit: Hahaha, Christian and Eckhard are related, so they look pretty similar. It’s really the skintones that make them not look so much alike. Nicolas looks a lot different, though. He and Melissande are carbon copies of the same sim.
August 20th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
ups… I skipped this chapter!! Sorry… lol!!!
Glad Valerie didn’t turn into a old lady!! I was scared when I first so the gray hair and the dress!!!
lol
I don’t know what else to say, lol since I read act II first, lol…
anyway, I really hope Nicolas will find Melisande soon!!
Great pictures, I love the lighting, do you use a lighting hack? or something?
Mao edit: Haha, it’s okay! Valerie’s costume was pretty funny. As far as lighting goes, I do use GunMod’s Lighting Hack.
September 8th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Very intriguing indeed, but I love vampires myself! Nicolas seems to be carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders…maybe I should go read the first blog!! LOL!
Loved the whole fortune teller bit, and the lighting is incredible! I have gun mod’s camera hack, no idea he had a lighting one!
Nicely done, Mao!
December 27th, 2009 at 12:57 am
I love the relationship between Nicolas and Valerie. This should be really interesting to watch!