The big night finally came and all of us girls were so excited. Diane, Becky and I all went rushing upstairs to my bedroom to get ready for the big dance and Halloween festival down town that night. Each of us carried several bags from the local department stores and costume shops that we had just spent the entire day visiting. We oooed and awwed as we carefully took out all of our purchases and laid them out amongst my bed room floor. We all stood in amazment at our costumes. Each and every part of them carefully choosen down to the very jewels that were to adorn our skin. Diane had decided to go this year as a princess and her dress had been custom made from the finest pink silks and satins. A rhinstone tiara sparkled in her long dark hair which fell in long curls across her slender sholders. She squealed and grabbed the dress off the floor and ran to the bathroom to put it on. Needless to say she was quite stunning when she returned. She looked like a princess that had just walked out of the pages of a old childrens fable. She pranced around the room dancing and spinning making the dress swirl in all directions. While she lived out her fantasy as a princess Becky asked me to assist her into getting her into her gothic out fit. This year she decided to live out one of her wildest ideas and simply go as a goth rocker chick. I had to help her zip her self into her tight black leather skirt that buckeld at the hips with several small silver clasps. She wore several small glittering crosses around her neck and we teased and dyed her bright red hair up in all sorts of crazy colors. The final piece of her out fit was to get her into her rock t-shirt that had been purposely cut in several areas along with the red fishnet stocking that she wore upon her long legs. Finally it was my turn and I grabbed my newly purchased parcels and ran off to the bathroom. This years costume I was so very proud of. This year I was able to come across a decently made pirates costume that was a bit sexy with out going over board and being garish. When I was done placing the red checkered bandana amongst the many blonde curls that hung down across my back I burst through the door screaming " ARGG me ladies lets get our booties a going to the party" . This startled the other girls and they yelled out in excitement and delight at my choice of costume this year. They gushed at how it just seemed so me and before we left for the night we all stood in front of the long mirror at the bottom of my stairs just admiring what we gazed upon. Here stood the three of us, the princess, the gothic punk and the pirate. We laughed at how silly we looked but yet we all still managed to look devilishly sexy and hopefully through out the nights events maybe we would each be able to snag a little "treat" for our selves. We giggled like we used to do when we were mere girls and we all rushed out the front door and started our way down the long road to the festival.
We could smell the scents of the begining festival wafting up the hill at which my home stood. We marveled at the colors that the leaves took on this autumn and since my house set upon a hill with thickets of dense forests on either side it was a marvalous sight to behold. The reds, golds and yellows were just so bright and abundant this year. As we approached the festival closer we started to see all of the people that decided to come to this years activities. The turn out was quite large and everyone looked so delectible in there costums. The crowd seemed to be getting into the swing of things and just enjoying themselves. Us ladies were not there to long when one of Diane old boyfriends , Steve, came up and complimented her on her choice of costume. Dianes face just blushed and she willingly accepted his offer when he asked her to dance. Me and Becky just gave her a hug because we knew that we would not see her for the rest of the night. But before we let her go we forced her to promise that she would meet up with us for brunch the next morning just to tell us all of the juicy details. She agreed and off her and Steve walked to the dance floor.
****
Becky and I gave one last goodbye wave to Diane as we waltzed our way through the crows down through the busy lighted streets. It was now nightfall and a blanket of stars fell over the entire festival. How bright the stars shown through the moonlight. And in the distance we could hear the laughter of children. After going through the local stands for a bit we began to get parched and decided to go to one of the local bars down the street. We had been to this particular bar on a couple of occasions and I could tell that Becky really wanted to go right now.
We snaked our way through the masses of people and once we reached the door we realized just how busy the pub was. It made no matter to us girls and we simply pushed our way to the very end of the bar. There Becky let me in on a little secret. It seems she has had a crush on the regular bartender there and she wanted to show her costume off to him. I must go on to admit that Tommy was one good looking young man. He was in his mid twenties, about the same age as us girls, and he posessed the most gorgeous hair and eyes on a man that I have ever seen. Tonight he was dressed a little for the holiday wearing a costume similar to Beckys. He wore all black with a leather see through shirt that showed off his sculpted body very nicely. He had his long wavy black hair pulled straight back into a pony tail and he to had wore several chains around his neck. They glittered and danced in the dim light of the pub and he was rushing around filling drink orders when he looked up and spotted us girls at the end of the bar. He face instantly lit up when he laid eyes and Becky and her new punk look and I knew then and there that I had lost her for the night as well.
Sure enough as he made his way to us, she melted in her chair before he even made it completely to us. She spun around in her seat towards me and told me that she was sure that tonight was the night that he was going to finally ask her out and if I would be mad if she ditched me to. I just laughed and told her to go ahead who was I to spoil her Halloween fun. And of course after a couple of drinks, that Tommy most gracially paid for, he had her in the palm of his hand. Once the crowd subsided a bit Tommy made his way back to our end of the bar and I knew I had lost the battle when he reached over and whispered in her ear. Becky giggled like a little girl and told him that she would wait for him after work. In reality she had no intention of even leaving the bar and after another pint she grabbed my arm and told me that he had invited her to take a midnight Halloween stroll with him down along the river bank. She glowed like a angel and I knew that I had offically lost the battle. I told her that it was ok and to just stay with Tommy, but I made her make the same promise to me as did Diane that we would meet up at The Gardens for brunch the next morning and she was to required to admit to all the juicy romantic details of there encounter. I finally tired of the whole situation and left Becky and her new found love in the bar. After one last goodbye hug I was off.
So here I was feeling sorry for myself. What started as a wild ladies night out was now turning into a emotional train wreck for me. But who was I to spoil their fun on such a wonderful night. At some point through all of this I just decided that the festival was just not going to be my night for romance and I then just gave up. In stead of spending the rest of the evening dancing with a good looking man or going for a midnight stroll I would settle for going home, putting on my pjs, grabbing some chocolate Mocha ice cream from the freezer and would just veg out for the rest of the night watching old black and white horror movies on the television. Whoo hoo yay for Mary.
On my way back through the crowds I decided to take one last peek at Diane and Steve and just see how the two of them were doing. Things had not changed a bit. After several hours there were the two of them still dancing and holding onto each other like the long lost lovers they were. This made my heart sink even further into my chest and as I turned to walk away from this whole disasterous night I spun and bumped right into a gentleman. Actually I ran into him pretty hard and before I could regain myself all I heard in a soft voice was " Trick or treat my lady".
I looked up and to my surprise stood a stunning vision of a man. His hair was long, just slightly past his shoulders and was the most decitant hue of aubern. It hung in long bananna curls across his bold shoulders. He was dressed simply with a white romantic shirt, black jeans and black leather boots. But what caught my eye the most was the deep red velvet cloak that he had hanging from around his neck. He chuckeled as I stood there admireing the view. I finally was able to come back to my senses and I apologised for the accident. He again laughed and asked me why I was in such a hurry to go. So I thought to myself for a brief moment, should I bore this delicious stranger with my pity party or should I make up some corny excuse. Before I could answer he had grabbed each of my hands and was leading me out onto the dance floor. I could not evade his charm and simply followed him like a little duck would do for its mother. I have never had so much fun dancing. Really I did not even know how to dance but it did not seem to bother the stunning stanger any. He began to ask me again why I was planning on leaving. As we twirled about the dance floor I just began to lie and tell him that I was just a wee bit tired. But now that I had some enchanting company I seemed more enclined to stay a bit longer.
While we whirled around the dance floor to a sonet by Bach, I noticed Diane and Steve sitting at a small cafe table on the edge of the crowd. I just smiled at her and I could tell she approved of my now new beau when she gave me a big thumbs up and waved. I just laughed and as the music sped up its tempo so did our dancing. He spun me around faster and faster and finally I began to laugh out because I was starting to get dizzy. I loved how the light seemed to dance off of his hazel eyes and I realized that he must have been older than me because he had just the slightest hint of wrinkels around the corners of them. At last the song ended and the band was slowing its pace down. My head swam of romantic visions and as my mind was starting to come down from the dizziness I realized suddenly that he was no longer holding my hands. Just like that my new found handsome prince was gone. Vanished out of sight and simply gone.
My heart began to sink, for I did not even know his name. I was so caught up in the moment that stupid silly Mary, I did not even get his name nor did I give him mine. What was I to do. Here I stood out on the dance floor by myself so I just decided again that I would retreat back to my home and ravage a carton of mocha ice cream. My heart again started to sink further into my chest knowing that I did not know who my new crush even was and with one last glance over the crowd I started my long walk home.
The night air was very chilly and I was starting to get cold. As I walked up the sidewalk to my old house on the hill, I could hear the wind starting to pick up and whisp through the autumn leaves. I stop to watch them dance in the breeze and when I was half way home I could not help but stop and look down upon the festival below. I saw the many lights that twinkled and danced in the night sky and I could smell and see the smoke from the fires swirl up through the crisp air. That is when I heard the laughter behind me. I spun around because I knew it sounded familar but where was it coming from? I looked out into the dense thicket and woods but I could not make anything out. It was just to dark out to distinguish anything. I heard the soft laughter again and then I heard a a voice say " up here".
I looked up right above me and there sitting in a old acient oak tree sat my dance partner. I have to admit that this excited me and yet angered me at the same time. But there he sat on a huge limb that stuck out over the road. And how splendidly did he look with his hair blowing in the breeze and the red velvet cloak wrapped around his shoulders still. " Just what in the hell do you think you are doing" I said to him. You scared me half to death. And what do you think, that it was funny to just leave me in the middle of the dance floor alone and now here you are sitting in a tree mocking me. Some nerve indeed. I stamped my foot down on the wet concrete truly miffed at his rudeness.
He began to laugh again. " Please stop doing that" I told him in a huff and just how did you get up this hill so fast? The walk alone is at least a half mile to this point just how did you do it? And how did you know where I live?".
So many questions for your dance partner how about I just hop down there and tell you. " No are you crazy I yelled at him. You are almost fifteen feet in the air. If you jump you are liable to break your leg, just climb down like you climbed up"
"But see that is the point I did not climb up and with that he jumped and his heavy leather boots made a thump on the wet road when he landed.
I just stood there flabergasted. Any normal person would have surely broken something from the fall. I was starting to get alarmed because it was starting to hit me that my "dance partner" was no normal gentelman. He came at me fast and before I knew it he had me by the waist and had me pinned to the bark of the oak tree. I tried to scream but couldnt. " Please stop I begged him" Just let me go. You are scaring me and I just want to go home."
"Let you go oh now I can not do that" he said to me softly. But I will let you loose provided that you do not scream. So just get that notion out of your silly head and lets face it who would hear it anyway. I have no desire to hurt you so just relax. I am just playing with you.
"well stop it I do not like it" I said outloud.
"Alright alright I am sorry. I really am. Sometimes my nature gets the best of me. " Well get yourself undercontrol there mister. Just what kind of lady do you take me for " I said to him with a chuckle. Deep down inside I did not think that he would really hurt me and the same feelings that I had for him started to overwhelm me once more.
"Well I took you for a pirate myself" he said to me. Then he began to speak: My name is Jonathan and he gave me a deep bow. "I am glad to make your acquaitance".
"Well it is now nice to get your name finally Jonathan, My name is Mary". I stuck out my right hand to shake his and he accepted it. " Such formality for a couple of dance partners no" and he again began to laugh. He grabbed my arm and pulled me close to him. I could not help but get lost again in those deep hazel eyes. I knew I was falling hard for him and he knew it as well.
"Just how again did you make it up this hill so fast? I asked and how did you get up that old tree, it is near impossible to climb" pointing towards the oak.
A sly smile came across his handsome face and he looked down into my eyes and said " do you really wish to know my secret"? Or would you rather me show you"? I finally got the nerve to answer and I boldly told him that I wanted the answers to both of my questions. He let out a sigh and he let me go and with a mighty jump he leaped up to the very branch to which he had just sat and gentely came down upon it. And there he stood. Wild hair blowing in the chilly night air and the cloak whipping about. He looked down at me once more and smiled. " See its just that simple, at least for me anyways" Would you like to join me up here?" I let out a gasp because I could not believe my eyes. I stood there in aww looking up at him. He began to laugh and he said "watch this" and down he came to the ground as easily as he had went up. He just laughed while I stood there in sheer amazement looking at him. I could not believe what I had just seen.
I then felt his tight grip once more about my waist and he said aloud "hang on to me Mary" and with that he leap upwards again with me in his strong arms. I just did what I was told and wrapped my long arms around his neck and with a soft landing there we both now stood standing on the heavy branch. " You can let go of my neck now Mary" he whispered to me in my ear. But I could not do it or did I just not want to, really it was a combitnation of both. " Mary let me go, I will not let you fall, I promise" he whispered in my ear once more. So finally with a heavy pit in my stomach I let loose of his neck. I could not believe how high up we both were but here we stood at least fifteen feet off of the ground. " Sit down Mary you are ok" I just stood there shaking all over because I was cold and now the chilliness was much worse being this high up. " You are cold ?" And with a quick movement he unfastened his cloak from around his neck and slipped it up over my shoulders. It was so heavy and warm and it smell so wonderfully of the woods. I finally gathered the nerve to sit and with very carefull movements I made my way to the trunk of the tree and gentely took my seat with my back resting against the mighty trunk of the tree.
He still stood on the branch and then just flopped down onto the limb with his long legs dangleing down. I still had the look of shock upon my face because I thought surely I must be dreaming. This was just not possible I thought to myself. " Oh its possible he said, we just do not normally show our powers that often to humans unless of course we plan on feeding on them" he said kind of low. " So is that what you plan on doing to me, I stammerd, you plan on killing me after all of this don't you". My voice started to crack.
"Oh heavens no Mary I already told you that I am not going to hurt you" If I wanted to kill you I could have done it a long time ago back at the festival." Get the thought out of you head child, you are perfectly safe with me" he gazed into my eyes and I could tell he was trying to read my thoughts. I then got the strength to ask him" Just what or who are you"? I tried to ask him as polietly as I could and he just smiled at my sincerity. Well he said I might as well let you in on my little secret and he leaned closer to me" I Mary am a vampire". I let out a loud gasp and put my hands to my mouth. " What so shocked, you cant tell me that you did not have a clue" and Jonathan started to laugh again. " How else would you explain my speed and agility". He seemed very proud of the fact that he was a vampire and I could tell that he had been one for quite some time. " But how I asked, how did it happen". " Well now thats quite a big question you ask of me Mary he answered as his started to lean back a bit. "It would simply take me the rest of the night to tell you my tale for it goes back a hundered years or so. After so long I loose track of it all" and with that Jonathan hung his head. But if you desire to know my story I shall tell you and with that he began his tale.
All writing and art © Daphne.