Xan: A Butterfly for the Queen of the Damned
We’d already picked our butterflies for the sisters when I began to write Xan, so I had to go back to the Dover Chinese Butterfly book to find one for her. It had to be beautiful and elegant and wonderful, but it also had to be, well, Xan-ish. It had to fit a woman who would do this:
“You can’t do this!” Vincent said. “Do you know who I am?”
There was a rattling behind the paneling, and Xan said, “Oh, hell,” and looked at Vincent. “You’re a cockroach,” she said to him.
“Name-calling is so middle class,” Vincent said.
“No, Vincent,” Xan said. “You’re a cockroach.” She waved her hand and he turned into a cockroach on the table in front of her, and while he sat there stunned, she leisurely upended his empty wineglass over him. He scrabbled at the sides of it, trapped there, the only thing human about him, his weak, pale gray eyes.
So I found a butterfly that was close to what I wanted and then altered it a little (picked off some of its wings, which seemed appropriate) and here’s Xan’s butterfly:
I just love it. It’s so Xan.
12 Comments so far
Leave a reply
Now that is one wicked and evil butterfly. Good job, Jenny! Chapters next week? Think I could make the time go faster if I flipped the pages on my desk calendar ahead? No it never does work.
Okay, THAT’S my favorite butterfly. I love Lizzie’s, too, they both look like they could stir up a tornado, but I just love the wickedness!
That is one spidery looking butterfly. One that looks like it could turn some guy into a roach.
Definitely the most sinister butterfly! If you’re going to fly and be fabulously beautiful, scruples just weigh you down.
Oh boy! Chapter One Month! Followed by The Month of Men! (Don’t I wish.) You’re so good to us!
That butterfly looks a little scary. Maybe it’s those two white spots on either side of its head that look like slanted eyes in a mask.
That looks like a fast flying butterfly….0–60 in two seconds and spins on a dime. Way to go, Xan.
Exerpts! Chapters! The future reading looks great.
omibob, i changed my mind. i want that butterfly, not mare’s. that one is wicked and funky and ready to bite someone’s head off.
i thought Mare got two guys, that’s why… so looking forward to the next couple months.
Why is it that stripped down BLACK butterfly looks so evil? Something gaunt and spectral about it. Good choice.
that butterfly still makes me sit up and go, “ooo, watch out. someone’s about to be eaten”
Okay, I’ve changed my mind… this butterfly is my favorite. Wow! It just looks so take command and sure of its destiny. Like it knows where its going and no one or nothing will get in the way of those goals. That is one powerful bug…I can’t wait to read this book!
Geez, I’ve been missing out. Haven’t been over here in forever. Why do I think vampire when I see that butterfly? Heh. Can’t wait for the book.
I love this butterfly. Of all of them this is my favorite. I’m thinking about getting a tattoo and this may be the one I get.