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Below, Luke Goss poses as Prince Nuada Silverlance, son of King Balor from the film Hellboy II, the Golden Army. I wrote my character Pietas four years before this film was released. Except for his scars and golden eyes, the Prince reminds me strongly of my turquoise-eyed, lethal, icy, and immortal Lord Pietas.
Scroll down for the video "Pietas, Lord of the Immortals"
On the idea pages, you can find things that inspire me as I write, such as videos and music. I spend a great deal of time doing research for ideas and concepts, and most of them come from music or movies. However, rather than simply copy an idea from a movie -- I will buy one so that I can get a better visual image of how a certain character moves, or acts. I use it to learn how to describe a fighting move or defensive posture.
Hellboy copyright Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Prince Nuada's grand entrance into his father's crumbling throne room after many centuries of exile was accompanied by the falling glitter of golden leaves through holes in the ceiling. After showing proper respect and announcing his attention to take back the elven lands and declare war on humanity, the Prince finds he must fight to the death; his father refuses to let go of the only honor he has left -- his vigilance over the truce between human and the Shadowlands where faerie and other creatures dwell. What follows is one of the most exacting and well-executed fight scenes in movie history. Luke Goss and the staff of martial artists in this scene are brilliant. The soundtrack by Danny Elfman is full of power, rage, and yet has moments of peace and comedy. I've played the music for this fight scene hundreds of times while writing action scenes. You'll find it in the list of Amazon products below.
Pietas appeared in the 2004 version of For Women Only. When I saw Luke Goss portray Prince Nuada in Hellboy II, the Golden Army, I bought the three disk set as soon as it was available (2008) so I could study what about Nuada made me immediately identify him with Pietas. I watched scenes with the Prince backward and forward, studying each nuance of movement to see exactly what the actor had done that so convinced me of the Prince's nobility, royal demeanor, and his absolute lack of concern for humans. He was so much like Pietas -- even in coloring -- that it was spooky to watch him. Pietas is milky-white-skinned and has silver hair, with turquoise eyes. Luke Goss's portrayal of Nuada has been a fabulous character study. If any of my Tarthian Empire books were made into a film, I can think of no one better to play Pietas - the Marauder - Soul Ripper - Destroyer of Worlds - than Luke Goss. You'll find links to purchase the film on this page. In other sections, you'll see links to films and music I've found inspiring throughout the years.
Likewise, I listen to music while writing, and my major characters each have a theme song. You'll discover themes of other characters as well as book themes on these pages as well. I have multiple playlists for some books, and some characters. Izzorah "Rah" Ceeow has his list of drum songs, favorites, and songs he shares with Luc. Some crossover all three lists. I dedicated Jawk, Tales of the Chosen to the group Audioslave because their music so strongly influenced my writing.
An honest smile here -- one of few shown by the prince. Sadly, in this scene, he's imagining what will happen when he releases a deadly swarm of creatures. Although he is fond of his sister -- overly fond in fact -- he rarely smiles at her, but treats her like a treasured pet.
Likewise, Pietas treats his sister, the Empress Destoiya, the same way. The parallel between the two was eerie.
A different view of Prince Nuada's uniform. Note the royal seal near his waist. Body language and clothing are strong indicators of character. Nuada holds his head up, shoulders back, jaw thrust forward, all symbols of power and authority.
Pietas
in an excerpt from
For Women Only
Click the title to view the publisher's book page
or HERE to view another excerpt on this site.
Click HERE to find wallpaper featuring this or other characters in the books (opens in a new window).
Scroll down to read an excerpt with Pietas.
Palace District, Imperial Palace
Office of Her Majesty Rheyn Destoiya
Empress Rheyn Destoiya's office door flung open. She jerked back.
A hooded and cloaked man dragged Alitus backward into the room. A strangled gasp left her assistant's mouth. The man gripped him by the throat with one hand while the other jammed a burn-gun against his temple. The intruder towered over Alitus, held him as if he was not a grown man a head taller than herself, or a Better whose touch immediately captured a human's will and brought them under his spell.
Who is he? What is he, that he can resist Alitus?
Time perception slowed. Red dots from laser sights crawled across Alitus and the intruder. Two Kin Praetorian Guards took up vantage points in her office door. Two knelt inside the doorway, hands bracing multibarreled guns aimed at the man's head.
Staccato voices. Guns humming into full power. Boots on the tiled floor. More Praetorian swept into her office from a different door and surrounded her.
Captain Dhia Ruh, the senior Praetorian, shielded Destoiya while she hustled the empress toward the exit. The Kin officer already had her claws out, ears laid back and fangs bared.
"Vaara!"
Destoiya held her breath and turned toward the sound of the man's rich tenor.
"Vaara," he repeated.
It meant peril, in a language no one in this room knew. Except her.
He tossed his head, shook off the hood, and revealed his face. He turned toward Destoiya. Long white-blond locks spilled against a black leather cape. He had the face of a fallen angel. Perfect beauty, flawed by its own perfection.
The Conqueror fell back a step. "You!"
Dhia Ruh flashed her a sharp look. "You know this man, Your Majesty?"
All too well. She wet her lips. "Yes."
The universe knew him by many names. Impaler. Hammer of God. Marauder. Soul Ripper. Destroyer of Worlds. Slayer of Innocents. The Hound of Hell. All names of a man centuries dead. Dead to all but a few. The few who knew he could never die. Never be killed. Never surrender his soul. Never reach heaven.
Destoiya knew him. Knew him as well as her own dark soul.
Her opposite in everything. His silver hair contrasted her black. True turquoise sparkled in his eyes. Colorless gray marked hers. Pietas exemplified beauty. She reflected dignity and power. He slaughtered. She executed righteously. He judged. She redeemed.
Pietas. Her twin.
"Let Alitus go."
Pietas flicked his brilliant turquoise gaze down her body and back up slowly, sneering.
Her assistant's face tightened with fear. He grasped at the hand crushing his throat.
"Let him go. Please."
Her brother glanced toward the uniformed soldiers. The gold fist emblazoned on their black jackets marked the Kin as the elite squad that enforced her will. One small nod, one gesture, and they'd splatter his brains across the wall, even if it cost Alitus his life.
Pietas cocked his head in their direction. "Call off your dogs, and I will."
A collective hiss escaped every one of the Kin at the insult. A dozen guns hummed to full power.
He grimaced. "Hmm. Bad choice of words." He tugged his captive closer, pulling Alitus off his feet with one powerful hand.
Destoiya motioned to the Kin with both hands. "Stand down."
Dhia Ruh stepped between the Conqueror and Pietas. "Your Majesty, we can take him out."
"Back off, Ruh. Now."
Alitus choked, but he shook his head, eyes pleading with her not to comply.
"At least let him breathe!"
Pietas loosened his grip slightly, and Alitus gasped for air.
"I said stand down!" The Conqueror clenched both fists.
The squad lowered its weapons. Ruh shot her a questioning look.
Destoiya nodded an assurance. "Get out, Ruh, and take them with you." She jabbed a finger toward the Praetorian. "Now."
They went, noisily sliding clips and holstering guns. The doors closed.
The man let Alitus go.
Alitus positioned himself between her and imminent danger, withdrawing a gun from inside his coat. He aimed at Pietas with both hands. Steady, calm hands, though he gulped air.
Pietas unpinned the leather cape and dropped it on the floor. He tucked the gun into his belt. "I'm impressed, Rheyn. Out there, in his office, this one looked like nothing more than your usual toy. Does he know how to shoot that thing?"
Until this moment, she'd had no idea Alitus owned a gun, let alone knew how to hold one.
"I never miss." Alitus thumbed the weapon, and it hummed, charging to full power. "Put your gun on the desk. Use two fingers only."
A dozen Praetorian had failed to disarm her brother, and Alitus thought he could do it?
Pietas tossed his head, sending a long lock of silver hair over his shoulder. In this rebirth, his face was that of a man in his midtwenties. Easy to underestimate his power. His ruthless determination.
Pietas shrugged, lifted the gun with two fingers, and dropped it on the desk. "Or what, boy? Are you going to kill me?" He leaned against the wall.
Nothing could kill her brother permanently. If he was shot through the heart, before Alitus could check for a pulse, Pietas would revive. And then kill Alitus for soiling his shirt.
"Say the word, Your Majesty, and he's a dead man." Alitus never looked her way, never lowered his weapon.
Destoiya laid a hand on her assistant's shoulder. She touched the red splotches that marred the skin of his throat, the underside of his smooth jaw. They'd be bruises soon.
"Don't be afraid, Your Majesty. I won't let him hurt you."
Pietas observed them both like a brooding angel of death, awaiting the chance to strike.
She had to get Alitus out of here. "I know you don't understand, Alitus, but believe me, I don't need protection. I'm safe with him."
Her brother turned his face skyward, smirking.
Alitus still did not so much as glance in her direction. "He's dangerous, Your Majesty. I can feel it."
"Yes, he is. But not to me."
---
For Women Only
Khyff is a master of pleasure with a tortured soul. Can she redeem him, or will he destroy her for trying?
http://www.loose-id.com/For-Women-Only.aspx
ISBN: 9781607374350
Genre: Erotic Science Fiction Romance, Action Adventure, Multicultural, Interspecies
Warning: this book contains smokin' hot sex, humor, and angst. This combination has been proven to be addictive. Author assumes no responsibility for the reader's battery consumption in adult toys while reading this book.
Copyright Kayelle Allen
All rights reserved
Cover art by Anne Cain
Trailer by The Author's Secret
Photos:
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Art by Nimajination Studios
