by P. L. Kurup
xxx
Amelia woke early the next day and looked out the window. The shroud of snow covering the courtyard and beyond had thickened. She stepped down from her bed and gasped as her bare feet touched the cold wooden floor. After retrieving some clothes from her suitcase she crossed to the bathroom and shut the door. It was too cold to linger so she hastily drew a hot bath and slid into the water. As she lay there, she tried to unravel the reasons for their hasty departure and her reasons for being there. After all she had done nothing besides read a few chapters and accompanied him to London. If anything she seemed to be a companion to a very lonely man. A knock at the door interrupted her concentration.
“I want you to come downstairs,” Samuel said from outside the door.
“Alright.”
She got out of the bath and changed into the knee-length dress and brushed her long hair until it was untangled. Since mirrors were absent she was denied the chance to see what she looked like. Taking a stern breath she headed downstairs. The closer she got to the drawing room, the more her heart thumped.
When she got there she saw a fire burned in the hearth and a cup of tea and a plate with two slices of toast rested on the table.
“You look radiant,” he said.
She twirled and saw him walking into the room.
“You too,” she replied. “Something wrong? You look worried.”
“I’m afraid you can’t leave the manor,” he mumbled.
“I know. I have to stay here for the whole of the holidays.”
“Perhaps longer,” Samuel divulged.
“What?”
“The man who attacked you may have discovered where you live. Therefore it’s safer for you to stay here.”
“I’m not a prisoner!” she barked. “No one can tell me where to go.”
“The last thing I want to do is make you unhappy, Anna. If you don’t listen to me your life will be in danger. So I can’t let you leave.”
She realised it wasn’t a joke. He wanted her to remain at the manor.
“For how long?” she demanded.
“Indefinitely.”
Amelia shoved past him and ran upstairs. The moment she was inside her room she slammed the door, backed up to her bed, and sat down on it. Her gaze shifted to the window and she saw that the snow cover was almost two feet high meaning her rickety car wouldn’t cope. After calming down, she retraced every part of the day from the moment she awoke to the time she re-entered her room. Doing so she noted two things, the first that he had some kind of fascination with her, and the second that he had accidently called her Anna.
Chapter 16
The next day Amelia opened the door in her pyjamas and saw a full length, free standing mirror in front of her. She rejoiced at finally seeing her reflection and noticed that she looked thinner than she’d done a few weeks ago. Her eyes drifted to the wounds she received in the attack. They were healing well and there appeared to be no scarring. She turned and saw Claude standing beside her. Amelia yelped and lurched back against the wall. With her breath quickening, she turned sideways again. Relief washed over her when she saw there was no one there.
“Pull yourself together,” she told herself.
She dragged the mirror into her room. It was a heavy contraption and she wondered why Samuel didn’t help her. She placed it on the right side of her bed which was where she liked it. A small chime alerted her to a text on her phone. Snatching up her phone, she saw it was a message alerting her of special offers for the holidays. This confirmed that no one missed her during her time at the manor.
Since it was Christmas day she changed into a dark blue gown, wore a pair of stilettos, put on some make up, and styled her hair into curls. When she finished she gazed at herself in the mirror. As far as she was concerned she had a passable beauty that was neither extraordinary nor sophisticated. Although, she thought the dress complimented her well. She didn’t go downstairs straight away as she still reeled from their argument the day before. The thought of him demanding that she stay ‘forever’ was too ludicrous to comprehend.
“Amelia, could you come downstairs?” he hollered.
“Of course, Mr d’Orleans. I am at your service,” she said mockingly.
Amelia left her room and took her time wandering into the drawing room. The moment she did she gasped in awe and all her worries flittered away.
Samuel had decorated the room with a giant Christmas tree that almost touched the ceiling. The fireplace, doorway and pillars were wrapped in ivy and bells. A hundred candles were scattered about the place and a silver wreath was placed on the wall. Her eyes crossed to the tree adorned in red and gold ribbons and a hundred pinecones. Beneath it were three presents each wrapped perfectly.
xxx
Samuel bit his lip realising that she was well and truly in his presence. The third time she had been in over a hundred years. As he watched her admire the decorations, it occurred to him there was magic in their meeting, a universal law that brought them together time and again. It was a principle that not even Lucas could shatter. Walking over to her, he too admired the trinkets on the tree.
“How long did it take you to do this?” she asked him.
“Half the night.”
“That means you must have had about three hours sleep. Why are you doing all this for me? I’m puzzled as to what your motive is.”
“My motive is that life is unpredictable so we must enjoy it as much as we can,” he answered.
“With that I agree. You just have to look at all the illnesses people have. It’s a constant reminder that life is too precious.”
“Please open one of the presents,” he told her.
“You can’t give me presents. You hardly know me.”
“It would break my heart if you don’t accept them,” Samuel replied. So she reached for the smallest parcel. “No open that last.”
Her fingers moved away to the second largest present which was wrapped in silver paper. She tore off the wrapping and her eyes lit up as she saw a brand new fountain pen.
“Samuel, it’s stunning.”
“A busy student needs such a device don’t you think?”
“I love fountain pens. It’s like you can read my mind.”
He cleared his throat and said, “Open the next one.”
She placed the pen on the coffee table and picked up the next gift. It too was covered in silver paper. She pulled away at the paper and saw a crimson jewellery case. Opening it up, she beheld a magnificent emerald necklace.
“Why?” Amelia whispered.
“You’re a nice person so you deserve to be happy. It would break my heart if you refuse it.”
“The last thing I want to do is break your heart,” Amelia said.
He removed the necklace from its case, walked behind her, and tied the necklace around her neck.
“What do you think?” she asked facing him.
“You look astounding.”
“Thank you, Samuel.”
xxx
She crossed to the sofa and he sat beside her. She looked at him and was overwhelmed with a familiar feeling. A belief they had met before in some distant land.
“What happens after the holidays are over? Will I see you again?” Her voice had a tinge of sadness in it.
“If you want to see me again I would welcome it with all my heart.”
“Do you want me to read to you again? ‘A Christmas Carol’ would be fitting today.”
“No books. I want you to tell me about your life. Something cheerful.”
“I love to travel, but I’ve only been to Spain, Amsterdam and France,” she revealed.
“France?”
His eyes lit up at the disclosure.
“Paris,” she replied.
“I prefer Scotland to Paris,” he admitted.
“Where in Scotland?” she asked curiously.
“Just outside Perth there’s a small village that’s more beautiful than anything you’ve ever seen.”
“I’ve never been to Scotland. Although, I’d like to visit one day.”
“Open the final present,” he said.
“Very well.”
Amelia walked to the tree and picked up the last box which was as light as a leaf. She opened it and saw a page with the words “‘Dance with me’” written in an elaborate hand. She saw him standing before her while holding out his hand.
“Okay, but I don’t know how good I’ll be,” she garbled.
Samuel clasped her left hand and placed his other hand around her waist, thus holding her in a waltz stance. As she looked up at him she couldn’t help feeling in awe for he was both dashing and gentlemanly.
“Now you must count, one two three, one two three. Step forward with the heel, step backward with the toe of the foot.”
He moved forward and she moved back. She lost her balance, but Samuel didn’t let her fall.
“One two three. One two three,” he counted, holding her firmly.
His soothing voice steered her into a realm of contentment she hadn’t experienced before. It enabled her to follow his instruction with ease and within minutes she waltzed as if she had been doing it all her life. They weaved between furniture and ornaments and covered the entire length of the drawing room. It was the most invigorating time of her life.
When the waltz ended they stood in the centre of the room and looked into each other’s eyes. Amelia was too caught up in the moment to notice he wasn’t breathless. He leaned in and kissed her on her lips. She closed her eyes in response and kissed him back. It was the first time something like that had happened to her and she relished every part of the caress.
xxx
In the midst of that wonderful act, he felt the unwelcome urge of hunger. He heard her blood flow around her body and smelt the elements that made it up. His feelings built up into a frenzy and it took everything he had to pull away.
“What’s wrong?” she asked him.
“I have to go for a walk,” he said.
“I’ll come with you.”
“No!”
“I think you’re hiding a terrible secret from me.”
“I have to do this on my own that’s all. I will be back in a few hours,” he said.
Samuel stepped forward then stopped suddenly prompting him to dip forward. His face took on a worried tone and he looked back at Amelia.
“Under no circumstance must you invite anyone into this house. Be they injured, hungry, frightened or bedraggled.”
“No one ever comes here,” she replied.
“Do you promise me, Amelia?”
“I promise.”
Samuel gave her a lingering stare and marched into the courtyard via the patio doors.
xxx
Amelia watched him leave and was untroubled by his instruction not to let anyone in. It seemed an absurd request considering they were in the middle of nowhere.
Chapter 17
Amelia peeked out the window to see him disappear to the side of the house. His departure gave her the opportunity she needed to resume her search of the property. Since it was winter, the day grew as dark as night by 4pm. She turned on the lights in the foyer but found they didn’t work. It meant she was forced to go upstairs in the dark and was grateful for the shafts of moonlight that lit her way. When she reached the top of the stairs, she caught her breath, and walked to the attic door. She turned the doorknob, and as the door swung open she saw a pitch dark room twice the size of the drawing room. She stepped inside and attempted to turn on the lights, but here too, they refused to work. It left her no choice but to traipse round centuries old floors in the dark. The draughty attic was ice cold and she rubbed her hands together to gain a little heat. The place had a terrible aroma of stale air and was in need of a good airing. It was more or less empty as far as she could tell.
Approaching the far end, she noticed the faint outline of the paintings hanging on the wall. However, she was unable to decipher the subjects due to the darkness of the room. She spun round and stubbed her toe on the wooden chest.
“Damn it,” she cursed, massaging her injured toe.
When the pain subsided she stared down at an antique box. It had a golden handle worn with time and resembled any other trunk one might find in an attic. She threw open the lid and stared at its contents. At the top was a dress that was folded neatly. As she picked it up and unfolded it, she found its texture and shape unextraordinary. Amelia dropped the dress back into the chest and rummaged through to discover a collection of letters tied with a silver ribbon. She thought about putting one of the letters in her jeans pocket, but changed her mind. Her hand delved deep into the trunk and she plucked out a leather notebook.
Eagerly, she opened the notebook to find sketches of women in different clothes. Her eyes squinted as she tried to decipher the detail of the figures, but once more she was hindered by the lack of light.
He may be back any minute so she folded the dress, placed it haphazardly on the curios in the trunk and slammed down the lid. The noise reverberated through the room and she was glad no one was there to hear it. She wasted no time in returning to the sanctuary of her room.
xxx
Samuel stood in the woods and couldn’t sense a vampire for miles. He ventured into the woods, and although ravenous, he searched again for the merest suggestion of the undead. Like before his senses revealed there was no one for about a hundred miles. Once he was satisfied Amelia would be safe, he delved further into the forest and hunted for prey.
His gaze captured expressions of creatures that were terrified of him. He showed no remorse on what he was about to do and pursued the creatures without mercy. As his mind focused on the task at hand, his ability to detect other vampires became redundant. It was a drawback that had caused the death of more than one immortal over the centuries.
Samuel spotted a rabbit and chased after it with the speed and agility of a wild cat. After capturing and feeding on it, he perused the area for more creatures he may feast on. His hunger wouldn’t abate until several more pints of blood were consumed, and the more he hunted, the further he strayed from the manor.
xxx
Clara walked through London and blended into the surroundings as aptly as any resident. She wore a thick woollen coat, a scarf, heavy black shoes and gloves. Dozens of people nodded to her, the way they’d done with Samuel. Unlike Samuel, Clara nodded and smiled back giving them a great deal of joy. A little girl dropped her doll and Clara picked it up and handed it back to her.
“Thank you,” the girl said.
“You’re welcome, sweetheart,” Clara replied.
The woman appeared in no hurry to leave and treasured everything the city offered. Her trek was similar to Amelia and Samuel’s tour in that she took in famous landmarks and iconic streets. She reached Madame Tussauds and stopped in her tracks. Amelia’s scent was everywhere and impossible to ignore. Clara followed the unique aroma to Oxford Street where men, women and children walked beside her ignorant of how lethal she was. She saw a meek dog tied up to a railing, but as she passed by, the creature barked and snarled without restraint. The incessant noise irked her no end, so much so she turned back and glared at the beast. The dog stopped barking at once and cowered against the railing. Clara glowed at her triumph and continued with her journey.
She reached the outskirts of the city and laid eyes on the vast road brimming with vehicles. Samuel and Amelia were thirty miles due west from where she stood, and the best way to reach them was by trampling through a snow-covered field on her right. Clara did just that, showing little distress.
As she reached the middle, she took off her gloves, scarf and shoes, and tossed them to the ground. Finally, she removed her coat to reveal a full length lilac gown that made her look stunning. She stood barefoot on the frigid snow and despite the icy temperature, she didn’t shiver.
She walked to the field’s edge and stepped onto a desolate and uninviting road that had nothing on it accept the manor some fifteen miles aw
ay. When she sensed Samuel was no longer concerned with Amelia’s welfare, she cranked her neck from side to side, cracked her fingers, and took a massive step forward.
The darkened winter sky didn’t distress her and she behaved as if she was strolling on a summer’s day. Her pace was swifter than the fastest athlete and despite the brutal nature of her stride her lustrous raven hair remained stunning and her body didn’t tire.
After ten miles her gait slowed and her expression became a touch more focused. She extended her arm and twisted it with force. This made her humerus bone jut out. Whereas a human would yelp in agony at what had happened, Clara made no sound, nerve endings and pain receptors belong to the living. Afterward, she carried on down the road getting ever closer to the manor house. She suddenly felt peckish and searched all over for a meal. To her misfortune there was nothing living for miles around. The hunger she experienced urged her to walk more briskly.
When she was eighteen miles from the house she curtseyed and brushed her fingers through a patch of mud on the road. As she stood back up, she brought her filthy digits to her face. The pungent odour was far more acute than she imagined and made her heave. Regardless, she smeared her face and neck with the soil and wiped the remaining grime into her dress and hair. The result made her look bedraggled and forlorn.
Clara arrived at the threshold to the manor and tore her dress at various places and placed clumps of twigs and leaves into different parts of her hair. She crossed into the grounds and the snow-covered courtyard proved no barrier for her to march across. Her unemotional eyes welled up and a torrent of tears cascaded down her cheeks. Before long, she reached the door and knocked on it five times.
Amelia opened the door and her forehead scrunched on seeing the pathetic creature in front of her.