DELETED SCENE Avow (Scarlet, Tristan & Nate Tracking Ashmen)

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

IN THIS SCENE

Scarlet, Tristan and Nate have just realized that Gabriel and Heather are missing and their only lead is a wandering Ashman. 

(Again, I know this doesn't fall into the final version of Avow, but whatever.)


***


“Shh!” Scarlet waved at Nate to stop speaking as a shadow at the far end of the alley moved through the moonlight.
An Ashman.
Scarlet pulled her knife back, ready to throw.
“Wait,” Tristan said, motioning for her to lower the weapon. “If we follow the Ashman he might be able to lead us to Gabriel and Heather.”
“Ooh, good thinking,” Nate whispered.
The three of them crept up on the Ashman—who looked a bit disoriented and lost—and stayed hidden as they started to follow him out of the alley, across the street, and through a few neighborhoods.
Two miles later, Nate was out of breath. “I think we gave up on the dungeon/black van idea too quickly. This is a lot of walking. If I’d known we’d be trekking through the entire city, I might have suggested taking the car.”
Tristan followed behind Scarlet as she slinked through the outskirts of the parking lot. “Right. Because that wouldn’t be obvious. Driving through alleys and parks behind a dead guy.”
Nate shrugged. “I’m just saying this was poorly thought out. What if this Ash dude isn’t returning to Raven? What if he’s hoofing it to Texas to watch a bull riding competition? This could be a really long walk.”
“We’re not even to the edge of town yet. Quit complaining.” Tristan watched Nate’s labored breathing. “And maybe invest in a treadmill so the next time we have to track a bad guy by foot you’re not reduced to wheezing.”
“Oh, I’m sorry Mr. I-jog-everyday-and-shoot-arrows-in-my-free-time. We can’t all be freakishly in shape and built like gladiators.” He made a face. “And what do you mean, next time? How often do you plan on us tracking people?”
“Look,” Scarlet said, nodding to the Ashman who had just moved down a hill and into the warehouse district at the edge of town.
They followed after him and crouched at the top of the hill, watching as the Ashman entered through the backdoor of an old brick warehouse below. Three other Ashmen stood guard in front, staring blankly at the night.
Tristan glanced at Nate. “I guess we’re not going to Texas.”
“Shut up.”
“Do you think Gabriel and Heather are in there?” Scarlet frowned at the large brick building.
Tristan inhaled. “Maybe. We need to get a look inside. Stay here. I’ll be right back.” He stood and started moving down the hill.
“Stay here?” Scarlet whispered across the night with fight in her eyes. “Why do we have to stay here?”
“Because one person sneaking around is less obvious than three,” Tristan whispered back.
“I am not obvious!” Nate’s whisper was louder than the others and one of the Ashman guards looked up. He pursed his lips and quieted his next whisper. “Just kidding. Carry on.”

DELETED SCENE Avow (Gabriel & Crazy Heather)

There are so many deleted scenes. It was really hard for me to choose!

IN THIS SCENE...

Heather has just been poisoned with water from the Fountain of Youth and, being a magical substance, it is slowly making her lose her mind. Gabriel was put in charge of her safety at the cabin while the rest of Team Awesome prepared for their journey to find the fountain.

(I know this doesn't really fall in line with the final version of Avow, but just go with it.)

Enjoy! :)

***

Gabriel banged his head against the wall and muttered, “I feel like I’m being punished.”
“You think of me as punishment?” Heather’s face scrunch up into an almost-fit and Gabriel knew he was screwed.
“Oh no. No. No," he said. "That’s not what I meant. I meant—I meant—
Damn, what had he meant?
Heather broke into a wail, crying unabashedly against his expensive comforter. Loudly. “You don’t like me. You think I’m punishment.”
Tears and snot ran down her face and he tried not to be disgusted at the sight. “No, no, no. Don’t cry.”
Dear god, don’t cry. I hate it when she cries.
She sobbed even louder, shoving her blonde face into his pillow dramatically. “Numph-mum-muph-mee.”
Gabriel was utterly helpless. “What?”
She raised her face half an inch and wailed, “Nobody likes me!”
“No. No, that’s not true. Hey.” He waited for the crying to calm, but the torrents of tears kept coming, drenching her face—and his pillow—in a very boogery way. “Hey, now. Don’t cry. Uh…”
What do I do, what do I do?
Gabriel stood up and carefully inched his way over to the crying time bomb of crazy. “Shh." He reached a hand out to sooth her, but let it hover above her small back, not sure if he wanted to make contact with the wet mess on his bed. “Shh, there-there.”
Since when did he say shit like “there-there”?
Since Heather, dammit.
“You’re not punishment and everybody likes you,” he said.
Hesitantly, he set his palm on her back—still shaking with sobs—and rubbed it a little. It felt awkward and extremely uncomfortable.
Heather whipped her head around, her eyes hard with fury and pure crazy. “Don’t pet me like a rabbit, Gabriel! I’m not a rabbit! Do I look like a rabbit to you? Do I have fur on me? Look at me! LOOK AT ME! Do I have fur?”
Scratch that. This felt awkward and uncomfortable. “Uh…no?”
“Then don’t pet me like a farm animal!”
“Okay.” No touching the crazy chick.
That wouldn’t be a problem. Like EVER.
Gabriel stepped back and stood over the bed as she went back to crying. He was at a total loss. And his bedspread was in need of a serious washing.
Eventually, Heather’s sobs turned into quiet whimpers and then subsided all together. He thought she’d fallen asleep and was about o make a vey quiet exit-- from his own damn room—when he saw her slender arm reach up and start twirling a blonde curl.
Shit. The crazy wasn’t over yet.
She sighed happily, as if she hadn’t just lost her mind and boogers on his bed, and said, “You know what I think?”
No. Please, don’t tell me.
“I think,” she said. “That if I was a bunny, I’d be pretty. Don’t you think so?”
Well, how the hell was he supposed to answer that question?
“Sure.”
“Sure? Sure?” she looked like she was going to cry again.
“Yes! I meant yes! You would be a pretty bunny.”
My life sucks.
She smiled dreamily at him, closed her eyes, and started to snore.

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What does that mean? 

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In honor of this special occasion, I think I just might post a deleted scene from the Archer of Avalon series later today. Stay tuned...  ;)