So often we seek out a story with the goal to make us laugh, to make us love, to leave us in suspense, or even to make is cry. However, with "Ruins at Dusk," I am not only entertained, but am left inspired. I find that not many stories are able to have that effect on me.
I am just in awe of this story, in every way and shape possible. Kyilliki is a brilliant author whose command of the written word is unrivaled. Her Caius is multifaceted in his stoicism. Calculating, yet afraid of showing love, as to him it translates to weakness. Didyme is a frail, deceptively fragile thing with a devastating power. Aro is a man who seeks control, and will exploit even his own flesh and blood to obtain it. And Marcus, dear Marcus, is gentle and kind, but his human-like nature separates him from his own kind.
I found this story when I was searching for a Caius fic without Bella as the leading lady. When I saw the pairing, Caius and Didyme, my mind immediately swirled with the possibilities. A mental image of the forlorn Marcus came to mind, grief-stricken over his lover's infidelity. The thought of a love triangle fueling Caius's spite also took shape as a possibility. What if Caius truly loved Didyme, knowing that she belonged to another? I dove right into "Ruins at Dusk" to find my answers, and immediately recognized the writing style. Kyilliki submitted "The Edge of Crimson," a Marcus/Didyme pairing, for our first annual Softer Side of Villainy Contest. Honestly, I felt like a dumbass for not checking out her other stories sooner. Though today I'm adVocating "Ruins at Dusk," I highly recommend you check out everything this woman has ever written. I'm fairly certain she walked out of the womb with the ability to weave a story already mastered.
