Fire.
Death.
Alone.
“You remind me of her. I see her…”
“…fear in you.”
“I loved her, you know. That’s why I had to let her go. But she didn’t love me. She never came back.”
“And she knew how to come back. She knew how to keep the dark away. But she wouldn’t tell me.”
“You know what that’s like, don’t you? To be betrayed by the person you loved the most, the person you thought would always be there?”
She reached the weed-choked yard and stood for a moment, observing the waterfall and its tragic love affair with the moonlight.
Poor moonlight. She knew what it was to be betrayed and shattered into a million tiny pieces.
“Lilith, come”, the house pleaded.
The very small and pale Lilith doll wanted to protest, to say that Jason had loved her and had sacrificed himself for her.
That was what the very small and pale Lilith doll wanted.
But the swirling blood red maelstrom was in control now.
“You see, Lilith, fire…fire purifies. Fire takes what has grown tattered and old and tainted and makes it new again.”
“The light of the fire is the light of truth.”
“And the truth, Lilith…the truth is that we all burn.”
“Would you like to see my garden?”
“I am coming”, she answered, and began to walk. She was a lifeless marionette, and the house controlled her strings. It pulled her forward, promising warmth and light and love.
“Oh yes, Lilith, we all burn.”
“And I collect the ashes.”
In the Valley of the Sun 
Wow. Just so good. The lighting, the feet, the weeds, the garden, the ending. The intrigue over Seth’s relationship. Well done.
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Thank you! 🙂 I put a lot of blood and sweat into this one and it took the longest to do out of any of them, so that’s good to hear.
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OMG! OMG! OMG!
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So you’re all caught up now, huh? 🙂 Thank you, and I hope you’ve enjoyed it. I will try to get the next update out by next Sunday.
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Ya… I started reading your story a long while ago but it was like 1 am when i started reading and I didnt get all the way through. So I took today to read the rest of it and I sat at my computer for 3 hrs. no joke. But it was definately worth it. Your story is soooo amazing.
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Oh wow. Thank you so much. 🙂 I didn’t know it would take that long to read by now, but yeah – there are close to 30 chapters now.
I love it so very much and it’s been my life for the last four months and I have no idea what I’m going to do when it’s done – the current plan is to start it again as a non-Sims novel.
I’m very glad and grateful that you came back and read all of it and commented – I really appreciate it.
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I really hope that you continue other stories after this one is done.
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Very nice. I love the way Seth abruptly changed the subject (or seemed to change the subject) from the fire and how he sees it and how it works to a very cheerful-seeming invitation to see his garden, lol. He appears unhinged! A maniacal genius. I really wonder what he wants with Lilith….why is he treating her so differently? Is it because she reminds him of his wife? Because he feels like only she can understand him? Even if that were true, how would he have known that? So many questions–but that’s a good thing. 🙂
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Oh yes, insane is definitely one of Seth’s traits. 😉
That is the trouble with reading it in a serial manner – I’ve been telling hoopty some things and he’s like “Oh, now I see.” So yeah. All will be answered by the end, I think.
I don’t think this would be too spoiler-y – Seth does indeed see himself as having a bond with Lilith, and who do you think those reports the police write go to? 😉
Thank you, as always. 🙂
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amazing pictures. ahhhh whats he gunna do to lilith??
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And now that it’s done I will be replying to your email later – although apparently my spousal person and his sister are going to drag me out to dinner and a movie now. Sigh.
Thank you. 🙂 And we shall see what his plans for Lilith are.
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cool…me too. Im goin to chili’s. :p im staaarving.
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Oh my God. That was incredible. That’s all I’ve got to say, that was just so awesome. 😀
I love your story. ❤
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Thank you! I worked really hard on this one – and I don’t generally have to work on them. Most of the rest of it has just sort of flowed out of my fingers. This one, though – this one I had to work for. And I have a feeling that’s how it’s going to be from now on because this is really the most crucial part of the story and it has to be absolutely right and perfect.
I really did use my blood to paint this one. I’m glad that it seems to have paid off.
Thank you so much. 🙂
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So he uses people’s ashes to plant his seeds?
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Life fruit is people, yes. 🙂 I’m actually not clear on the details of it, but the ashes thing sounds like a good interpretation to me.
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Amazing! I can hear his voice inside of me! It sends shivers up my spine. Inside my head, his voice is kinda slow and deep and monotone-ish, like he is at peace with the evil in his head. I love the last line!
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That’s sort of how it sounds in my head too. 🙂
Yay! I felt kind of scared about the end because I did that without the input of my new editor friend, so I’m glad it worked.
Thank you!
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Very interesting ending.
I loved the line about the waterfall’s tragic love affair with the moonlight. Very inspired.
Ah, so Sarah did know the secret after all. I wonder if Seth actually killed her or if she did it to herself so he wouldn’t force the secret from her. Just me speculating as usual.
I have to say that I love the conversation about fire, how it purifies. Fire is such a mystical representation of renewal of life. I can see where he’s coming from when he explains it to her.
I also love the reference to the ashes.
Intriguing update. Keep up the great work!
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Thank you. 🙂
That was a direct quote from Nightmare. Yep, Nightmare turned out so much more important than I ever thought it would be when I wrote it.
And yes, Sarah knew how to make ambrosia and how to get life fruit.
I refer to that bit as “crazy fire talk”, lol.
Thank you!
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Another great chapter!
“Life fruit is people” I shouldn’t because poor Sims have died for Seth’s life fruit but I LOLed.
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Thank you! And heh, yeah – it’s okay to laugh. 🙂
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That’s an awesome twist. I definitely won’t be looking at the life fruits in game the same way. And here I thought they were such innocent seeming plants. Don’t the fruits have little halos?
Ah Seth… Lilith you’re following him into madness!
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Yeah. I’ve taken a bit of artistic license with the game here. 🙂 Thanks.
And yes, Lilith seems to have lost some of her steam when actually confronted with Seth.
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Wow……just wow. I loved this chapter. Seth seemed…..happy….I war really surprised! AWESOME CHAPTER. Once I saw Seth come closer, I thought in my mind” The final showdown!” and then Seth was so calm. I can’t wait for the next chapter!
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Thank you! 🙂
And yeah – Seth was expecting Lilith and planning on her being there. This is the last plot arc, but it still has a ways to go.
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I love Your new Icon!
I got over Jason! Three cheers for Kat!
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Yay! 🙂 *cheers*
And yes, Seth is rather cute. 😉
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Seth’s facial expression is to die for!
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Perfection.
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Yay! Thanks. 🙂 I worked hard on this one, so that’s very meaningful and I am quite grateful.
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I’m all caught up now! 😀
Eep! I would have refused to follow Seth if I were Lilith! She’s so brave! But then again, it’ll be a bad idea to show her fear, if she was scared. Seth would have taken advantage of that. :S Bash his head! Go for the nose, Lilith!
I’m wondering what happened to Emma though. And what made Seth fear death to the point of killing others. That must have been an extremely horrific accident in the lab! D8
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I don’t think Lilith had a choice in the matter really. Seth has that effect on her, you know. 😉
And we will be seeing/hearing about Emma again before the end. And mayhaps getting a bit more exposition on the accident thing too – still trying to see how I could fit in a Seth POV update.
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(is not stalking the responses on this chapter, not at all)
I’m often tempted to make male POV entries for my sims since the females are in charge of my legacy. I’ve managed to avoid this so far bc it would ruin the storyline I think, since the reader becomes too knowledgable about whats going to happen and that kills the suspense (the little I sometimes manage to create).
I’m (really, really) looking forward to seeing if you can manage to make a Seth POV without letting the cat out of the bag, so to speak, since that would be divine.
Keep up the amazing work!
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O_O
NO! Lilith, reclaim control of yourself!
And Seth is wrong – Sarah DID love him.
The photos are beautiful. And the text, while short, is just… oooh. I’d say my favorite part was when Seth said:
“You see, Lilith, fire…fire purifies. Fire takes what has grown tattered and old and tainted and makes it new again.”
(Seth is a little misguided…)
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Being actually confronted with Seth was a bit overwhelming for her, yes. We will see if she remembers the lesson she learned in Water.
And Seth I think is very self-centered. He couldn’t see Sarah’s real feelings. He could only see that she wouldn’t give him what he wanted.
And I took the editing scissors to this one with a vengeance and cut out all the fat. So it is short, but it represents a lot of sweat.
Thanks! 🙂
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Yay post! I loved the flashbacks to the earlier post, nightmare, I think. I don’t want this to end! 😀
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Yep. Nightmare has really influenced the bit from Water on.
I don’t want it to end, either. Luckily I think this last arc of the plot has a lot of updates in it.
Thanks. 🙂
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It’s quite warm here and I’m shivering; you sure do know how to use those words of yours.
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Thank you! 🙂
And I actually spent all day hiking on a mountain in the wind and cold and I don’t know if I’ll ever be warm again on the inside. /is jealous of your warmth
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Awesome as always.. the focusing on the feet and the walking was amazing!
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Thank you! 🙂 Glad to know that bit worked – I was a bit worried about it.
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A-MAZ-ING! This is now officialy(sp?) my fave sims 3 story EVER! i really liked the flashbacks too! i think you should turn this into a non sims novel and honestly, you are an incredible writer!!! thanks,ollie2007/lilac
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Oh wow – thank you so much. I’m all blushy and happy and I am deeply grateful.
Turning it into a novel is actually the current plan. It’s going to take years of work, but I think I’m cool with that.
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Dear Medley, you know how much I value you as a writer and creator of suspense. Therefore, I think I can speak truthfully and say that I think ithis update is good, but that I’m strangely disappointed.
The best line for me is Seth saying “You remind me of her… I see her fear in you”. And I can understand Lilith is afraid, but not to the point of not answering at all. Even the slight about Jason is taken far too meekly… It’s put down to “the very small and pale Lillith doll” who wants to protest, who wants to say Jason SACRIFIED himself for her…
If Lilltith is strong, crazy whatever eough to confront this man, surely she would have said something as disturbing as the things he says to her…
Saying that, I enjoy the story immensely and look forward to more!
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Thank you for the honesty. I respect that.
My first instinct was to explain and defend, but then I thought “Hey, what’s wrong with just accepting it?” I mean, it’s valid and it makes sense.
I hope that future updates will make what’s going on in this one clearer.
Thank you again, and I really do appreciate it.
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Amazing chapter, I really enjoyed how the pictures played out the scene (& the feet)! Seth is amazing, and his lines were ALL awesome (:
I’m on the edge of my seat for the next one!
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Thank you! 🙂 That especially means a lot because I need Seth to be perfect and awesome and cool. Because I love him. 😉 That’s why this one took so long and was more work than the others.
Will probably get started on the next one Tuesday night.
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Ahhhh, I love this!!!! It’s so dramatic (In a good way of coarse)! I am probably your #1 fan! 😀 If this becomes a book I’m going definitely buy it. Not just one copy but TWO copies for my friends (And I’m sure they’ll love it too.) Good luck.
And I have one question: While you’re writing the book version of this (If you are…), are you going to make another Sims story like this one?
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Awww, thank you! 🙂 *is all happy and squishy*
I don’t know. We’ll see. I tend to focus – like I have been focused like a laser on Valley since the end of June. On the other hand, I would imagine that writing a book is very different from a Sims story and obviously it’s going to take a lot longer.
We’ll see how things go.
Oooh, oooh, idea! I could do like little shorts and things in the Valley universe with the Valley characters! That way it wouldn’t take the focus off Valley and it’d actually help with writing the non-Sims version, because I could explore the characters and try different things.
Hmm.
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That was teh Creepy. Made me wanna check my ankles. Like Seth was gonna reach out from under the desk and grab me by them.
Seriously. It sounds stupid as dirt, but if I say something made me wanna check my ankles, it was scary.
Well done, dear.
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Thanks. 🙂 Sorry I haven’t been super communicative lately – this one took three days to do and then I went hiking yesterday, so yeah. Anyway – yay creepy Seth! Although I don’t think he’s creepy. I think he’s beautiful.
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Seth is so tragic. The idea that you can somehow bottle up fire in ashes and keep it and use it again…incredibly beautiful imagery. And the moonlight and the water – never thought of it like that before.
wonderful and frightening. Fabulous work!
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Thank you!
The moonlight and water thing is actually a direct quote from Nightmare. Nightmare has ended up really sort of shaping everything from Water on – which I had no clue it was going to do that when I wrote it.
Lilith is indeed inside her nightmare now. Which, if you’ll remember, ended with the transparent vision of Emma leading her to the stone circle.
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I think I get now why Seth is so awesome to you. I’ve been seeing him as this cruel, unhinged snarly dude in a sweater who goes around burning people alive. Now I see that he feels like a little boy who’s been betrayed by the person who was supposed to love him. He’s still an evil brat, but I can see that he was hurt by what he sees as Sarah’s betrayal. I got a glimpse of his motivation here.
And to Lilith: snap out of it! You can do it! Let the water splash!
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Seth isn’t a total psychopath. He’s insane and he kills people with fire, but he is still human and capable of emotion and perhaps even empathy to some extent. A sick twisted self-centered sort of empathy, but empathy nonetheless.
Lilith thought she was acting of her own free will in Water, but I think it’s obvious that Seth was expecting to find her in his house. However…I don’t want to spoil everything so I’ll shut up now.
Thank you, as always.
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Wow! These pictures are awesome! If I was Lillith, I would ask questions, or just take off running. The 6th picture was sort of creepy but awesome at the same time when he walked into the house and you could see the moon over his head outside. I can’t wait until the next update! You always have me checking back!! This story is addicting!
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Thank you!
The Lilith/Seth dynamic is…complicated. Their interaction is going to be fun to write. I feel that Lilith will start talking fairly soon. 🙂
Oh yes, I love that picture. I actually had to redo it because the first version had an unsupported ceiling lamp in it. The moon was a happy coincidence in that one but it was so cool that I had to make sure it got into the second shot as well.
Awww, thank you! I’m going to try and get started on the next update tomorrow night.
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Oh! I hate it when things get in my picture! I can’t wait until she starts talking. I hope she runs instead though!! I’d be scared to death if I was her! But she can’t escape him right? And, shouldn’t he be a ghost? Or maybe not…because Bella saw him alive!
Can’t wait until you get it up! 😀
If it’s up, I’ll try to get the chance to read it. Hopefully, I get the first comment haha but probably won’t. Anyways, can’t wait until you get it up!
*Gets popcorn ready and finds front row seat :D*
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Thank you!
And no, he’s not a ghost. When he was transparent he was using the teleporter – if you look at the shots in Alive I did try to make it look like he was becoming solid as he stepped out of the teleporter.
Oh dear – I’m starting on it tonight, but I definitely don’t think it’ll be done tonight. I’m not sure if I’ll get more than the outline done tonight. My goal for finishing it is still some time this weekend. This part of the story has to be as good and perfect as I can make it.
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So, how can he live that long if he was an adult and Bella was a kid?
Oh, that’s fine. I’m sure it will be worth it 😀
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He is growing life fruit in his garden. In the game, if your sim eats a life fruit their age meter will go back one day. I took some artistic license with that and in the story’s universe it has a stronger effect. But I think that makes sense, because in the story’s universe you have to kill people to get it and so it should be stronger and more potent than in the game, where you just have to get your gardening up and procure a life fruit seed and grow it.
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Huh, I haven’t ever been able to find a life fruit…yet…
Aren’t they found in the graveyards? Maybe I haven’t found them because I really don’t look there all that much…usually when I do look I find ”special seeds” and I plant them but then I never really go back to the family to see what the plant was lol
Maybe I’ll find one in the next blog I do, if that involves the graveyard alot. I hope I find one! I thought it went farther back then that though, because in TS2 it took it back 3…I think with the life award potion.
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Great update Stacy. I really love the way you frame your shots
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Thanks! I do think that taking pictures of vacant houses for the last four years at work has helped. 😉
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So lets see if I’ve got this straight. He kills people with fire, collects their ashes, and then grows life fruit.
If that’s the case then the ashes he is suing now are jason’s.
SICK!!!
(In both the good and bad ways)
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Yep. That was Jason he planted before going in to talk to Lilith.
Seth is not the most mentally healthy person, no. 😉
Thank you. 😉
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It was amazing. Srry i have not gone to post on your thread in a little bit.
Im twilightsim9. 🙂
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Hi!
Thank you! 🙂 And you don’t have to be sorry about that. 😉
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Oh boy Lilith…you need to snap out of it girl! Maybe the water will guide her back?
Seth’s fascination with fire, how he describes it, is poetic. He seems so mild and yet so very dangerous in his madness.
Gorgeous update.
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I’ve been looking at stuff about the mythical figures of Lilith and Set(h) – the Egyptian god Set is also called Seth.
I found this very interesting.
http://jewishchristianlit.com/Topics/Lilith/lilIsisGylu.html
Verrrry interesting.
And Isis is involved in Seth’s story – he was the one who killed and dismembered her husband Osiris out of jealousy. And he was the god of chaos. 🙂
http://www.pantheon.org/articles/s/seth.html
So much to play with in the non-Sims version. And in the rest of the Sims version – I may have to do some deep planning for the next update tonight.
Oh – err – thanks! 🙂 And oh yes – that’s why Murderers, the Hope of Women by Momus is such a perfect Seth song.
In my pipe and slippers
do I look like Jack the Ripper?
But really, thank you so much! I really needed this today – been kind of bummed out lately and not really motivated. Definitely feeling motivated now though.
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I love love Seth. How did you come up with his…complicated (lol)…personality?
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I love him too. 🙂
I don’t think I came up with it really. Like Valley in general, it just sort of happened.
I am very much enjoying writing the next update – will hopefully have it out tomorrow. It’s from Seth’s POV, and it’s in first person. 😉
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Whoo-Hoo! ^.^
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Each post just gets better and better, when Seth said his first line of the chapter, it was very chilling. Then Lilith follows him outside and I expected him to kill her then and there, but he didn’t. Now I wonder if he’s going to toy with her awhile or if he has something different altogether planned for her. Awesome update!
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Thanks! And yeah – I do think I’ve improved. Especially starting with Strings – I said “Okay, this is Seth. It needs to be perfect.” and I challenged myself and stretched and went beyond my comfort zone. Which is why the updates are taking longer now. I have to work at it now. It’s not pouring forth from my fingers anymore. It’s not hard, really. But it does take more effort now. Which I think that’s a good thing. I’m growing as a writer. 🙂
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A. Ma. Zing.
Simple.
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Awww, thanks. 🙂
I’ve started on the next update, and I don’t know – it’s turning out kind of poetic like this one but it’s Lilith, but well – Lilith is well and truly under Seth’s influence now so I kind of think that she would start sounding a bit more like him. But she is also still her – there’s more words, for instance. And more sanity.
I don’t know.
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sorry I haven’t been commenting. I went away, and my computer got messed up but I’m back and I’m catching up now. Time to read Dark!! 🙂 bye!!
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I had been thinking about you. Hope you enjoy the updates. 🙂 Working on the next one at the moment.
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How could not scream to high heaven? I know I would have peed myself and flailed my arms around!
I liked that this chapter kind of played out like a movie. I don’t know why it feels like that, other than I can imagine them walking with each frame you took. At first I didn’t think Seth was going to take her to the garden but some place in the backwoods.
Horrifying. Cunning. My Rex (RIP REX) would have been envious of Seth. Hands down.
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“Life Fruit is People!!” LOL
One of my favourite movies, great change to a very well known quote!
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Haha I love this chapter, it shows how truly insane Seth is. Everything is so rational to him.
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Yep! Seth is very good at rationalizing, lol! 🙂
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Lol he looks so pleasant but he’s like crazy!
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Yep, that’s part of Seth’s charm! 😉
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Ooh, this is twisted, and I’m loving it more and more! It’s haunting and beautiful and sad… and I really like how Seth looks so normal but is so crazy. The contrast makes him extra creepy.
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Thank you really a lot forever! *hugs*
Yeah, my husband said that Seth looks like a guy who’d have a weak handshake and if he told you that his wife was a good cook, it’d be because he was inviting you over for dinner.
Which…haha. 😉 Not so much, eh?
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To be fair, I can totally picture him having a weak handshake, mostly because weak handshakes feel very uncomfortable and icky, and Seth actually kind of gives me the same feeling without ever coming close to touching my hand.
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Wow…this is so good. I can’t get enough. I feel a little like the marionette being pulled along. Seth is every bit as creepy as I expected. Lilith… what are you doing girl? It isn’t safe. Run away. Gah! Another great chapter and I must start dinner.
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Yay I’m glad you like it! And I hope your dinner was good!
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But I came right back to binge read. 😉
Tuna melts, vanilla yogurt, and hot green tea. Simple but yummy.
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