Valkyrie - the Vampire Princess

by Pet TorreS

“What’s this on your arm?”

  Curiosity had been more intense than my own silence at that moment.

  “This is a ‘symbol of Neptune,’” he answered while he lifted up his shirt sleeve and showed me the engraving clearly.

  Then I felt a strange sensation as I was gazing at that design. I imagined I had seen it before at some place, but I didn’t know precisely where and when. I didn’t remember how.

  “You surprise me every day. I swore you didn’t like these things,” I said as I felt a little giddy.

  “I didn’t make it because I wanted it,” he gazed into my eyes. “It emerged on my arm.”

  “You always make use of your mood sense to justify all the wrong things you do.”

  “Do you think this is wrong, someone having a tattoo?”

  I turned my gaze aside and answered him. “I think it is wrong - the manner in which they are used. ”

  “In my case my tattoo makes part of my survival.”

  “Are you some Mafioso?”

  “Do I look like one?”

  “Uuuhh, I don’t know... sometimes you are so... mysterious,” I answered gazing at his face.’

  “Does this disturb you?” I was faced by his enigmatical gaze.

  “It does, a little...” I answered and went out of his way. I wasn’t able to continue that conversation, much less gaze into his eyes.

  CHAPTER 20

  I hosted a dinner for my two school friends, Mirta and Eros. My mother wanted to get to know them.

  Eros was the first one to arrive. I went to my home’s front door to welcome him. I cared about doing my hair before opening the door for him.

  “Come in!” I told him.

  “Thanks.” He looked tense.

  We moved to the living room and my mother stood up, observing us.

  “Mother, this is Eros,” I said, nervously.

  They stared at each other.

  “Hi,” she first said.

  “How are you ma’am?” he asked.

  My mother looked at Eros. Her eyes seemed as vigilant as always.

  “Sit down,” my mother gently prodded.

  Eros sat on the sofa and my mother sat on a chair next to the couch. I went again to the front door to receive my girlfriend Mirta. I barely opened the door and she walked in, as if she was my family member.

  “Where is your mother?” she asked, looking up at my home’s decoration.

  “There,” I pointed a finger at my mother.

  Mirta glanced at Eros, with his back to us while he was sitting on the sofa.

  “Why didn’t you tell me he would be here? I would have dressed in more appropriate clothes,” she whispered into my ear.

  I looked at her from top to toe and checked out her clothes. Mirta was wearing a miniskirt, her legs were exposed. Her clothing was like an invitation to any man, including Eros, to travel through them.

  We finally went to the living room.

  “Ma’am, are you Valkyrie’s mother? You’re so young!” Mirta said this before I had introduced her to my mother.

  “How are you? My daughter speaks very highly of you!” she said and stood up.

  “I am fine,” she answered and smiled genteelly.

  Then she stared at Eros, who was still sitting on the sofa. He seemed not at all happy at her presence.

  “Hi, Eros!” she said and smiled at him.

  “Hi!” he said, seriously.

  I didn’t notice him staring at Mirta’s legs and that had created a feeling of relief inside me.

  We sat on our chairs at the dining table when dinner was finally ready. My mother sat at the head of the table. Mirta sat by my side and Eros took a seat opposite me.

  “Who are your parents, Eros?” my mother asked after she placed all the food on the dining-table.

  “My parents… don’t live in this town,” he responded, quietly.

  “What about your parents, Mirta?” she continued, looking at Mirta.

  “My father is a lawyer and my mother is a housewife,” Mirta said proudly.

  “Mother, we’d better eat,” I said.

  We all had dinner quietly. Later my mother brought the dessert.

  ***

  After dinner, we went back to the living room. We sat on the couch and talked about the town and about school, too.

  Unexpectedly, we heard the sound of a horn. Mirta skipped quickly and rose from the couch. Eros’ gaze stopped on her legs. I felt afflicted as I was jealous because I knew his eyes were focused on something interesting, that is, a wonderful pair of legs.

  “It’s my father. He came to fetch me!” she said.

  I walked Mirta to the front door after she said to everyone,

  “Have a good night.”

  ***

  Then I came back to the living room and Eros was talking to my mother. He had the intention to leave, too. I stood near him.

  “Good night!” Eros said, distantly.

  My mother touched his cold hand and looked into his eyes. She shivered and got a strange feeling.

  “Good night!” she said, stunned.

  I walked Eros towards the front yard while we walked side by side.

  “You are leaving so soon,” I said, outraged.

  “It is late.” He stared at me for a moment. “I’m going to bed early.”

  “Did you enjoy having dinner in my home?”

  “Yes.” He nodded.

  “And did you like my mother?”

  “I think you should ask her that.” His voice was troubled.

  “Why? Did she treat you badly?” I was preoccupied with this subject now.

  “No, but my presence bothered her,” he confessed and his gaze searched the darkness.

  “She’s like that. My mother always tries to protect me from everything. ” I was embarrassed.

  The silence lasted for a long moment until he finally said, “Have a good night, Valkyrie.”

  “I can ask my mother to take you home!”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll go walking,” he said and kept walking slowly.

  Every time I stared at his back, he seemed further and further away. He was so fast.

  ***

  I locked the front door and went over to my mother. She was standing in the living room after she leaned her face to the window and saw Eros and me in the front yard.

  “Your friends are very interesting!” she said in a low voice.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked, staring at her face.

  “Mirta’s clothes are so short!”

  “What’s the big deal about that?”

  “Your friend Eros…” she grimaced.

  “What’s wrong with him?” I asked, apprehensive.

  “He’s a weird and distant guy … he has an enigmatic gaze… like…”

  She didn’t finish her sentence and watched me, intently.

  “Like who?” I was so intrigued.

  “Like a person I met once.”

  “Like my father?” I insisted.

  My mother stared at me and then her eyes met the floor. “How do you know this?”

  “I guessed.”

  “He reminds me of your father; not his physical look but his gaze… his icy hand…” my mother said as she looked puzzled at him.

  CHAPTER 21

  I took a seat at the table in the school cafeteria for lunch with Mirta. Christian came in along with his three friends. They sat apart from us.

  I noticed that Mirta could barely eat in Christian’s presence and I also noticed he was staring at her all the time. I looked at Douglas. He was sitting next to Christian and I realized he was staring back at me. I lowered my head, turning my hair down to hide my face. I didn’t look at him anymore.

  A few seconds later I withdrew my eyes to my left and I saw Eros sitting at a table in a corner. As always, he was by himself.

  I was dying to escape from where I was sitting and go to him. I bit my lip, trying to control my wish. All the time he kept his head down. Everything around him did not at
tract his attention. That’s what I thought about him.

  Eros listened to every conversation that came from the students in the cafeteria including the subject Christian was discussing with his friends.

  “Go there and talk to her!” Christian advised Douglas.

  “Before the other guy invites her to the rock and roll concert,” another boy said.

  “I think she might decline my invitation,” Douglas said. He was embarrassed.

  “Do you want me to talk to her?” Christian asked, trying to help him.

  “No, I’m going there to talk to her.” Douglas took his courage and stood up as he looked at his friends.

  “Go on, kiddo!” they said.

  Mirta realized he was coming towards our table and then she said discreetly, “He is coming.”

  I kept my head down, just staring at my food as I was trying to avoid Douglas’ presence. Eros carefully listened to everything and he knew Douglas was walking to my table. He also knew what his intention was.

  He thought he should do something to stop Douglas before he could come to talk to me. He raised his head and looked up at the lunchroom ceiling. Then he saw a ceiling fan. It was just above Douglas.

  Eros stared attentively at that object and narrowed his eyes, exerting efforts to make something happen. At that moment the ceiling fan got loose, hitting Douglas’ head. The boy fell down, unconscious. Everyone became frightened because of that accident.

  Several people came closer to him. Christian and his friends were the first to aid him. Mirta pulled my arm and we approached him. There were more people around him.

  Eros had the opposite reaction to the other students. He stood up and stepped out of the cafeteria without at least checking how the unconscious boy was.

  ***

  Sitting on a bench in the schoolyards, I was trying to put my books in order. Mirta came closer to me. She was thrilled.

  I looked away from my books and paid attention to her. She was all in pink.

  “You won’t believe what happened!” she exclaimed and her voice was filled with cheer.

  “Considering your enthusiasm, it must be something related to Christian,” I deduced.

  “He invited me to go with him to the rock and roll concert,” she told me.

  “That’s all you always wanted,” I said, with a faint voice.

  I was really happy for her. However, I thought she deserved a cool guy, someone more humble.

  “I’ve waited for this for a long time!” she confessed.

  “Congratulations!” I said, laconically.

  “What about you?” she asked.

  “Me?” I wrinkled my nose.

  “Aren’t you going to the show?”

  “I don’t have company,” I said and she could sense the distress in my voice.

  “That’s because you don’t want to go,” she said.

  “What are you talking about?” I asked firmly as I looked at her face.

  “I heard Douglas wants to invite you to the rock concert,” she told me, grinning.

  I returned to concentrate on my books, as I was disappointed.

  “What do you think of that?” she insisted.

  “I could never imagine that - me going to the rock concert with him,” I confessed, gazing down at the floor.

  “He thought of you.”

  “Do you want me to accept his invitation? Is it ust because he is Christian’s friend?”

  I shook my head. “Of course not!”

  She sat closer to me. “He must like you.”

  “So am I compelled to go out with him?” I asked.

  “You don’t understand… he just wishes to invite you to go to the rock and roll show,” she answered, calmly.

  “I am so sorry… but I won’t go to that rock and roll concert with him.” My mind was made up.

  “And with whom will you go to the rock and roll show? Will you go with your weird friend?” Her voice was weird.

  “You’re saying this, not me,” I said and looked back at my books.

  “Did he invite you?” she insisted.

  “No.” My voice sounded vacillating.

  “So you invite him. If he declines your invitation, you go with another boy.”

  “I won’t do that,” I said, harshly.

  “So you will stay at home,” she said and shrugged her shoulders.

  CHAPTER 22

  Mirta succeeded in convincing me to talk with Eros. I had seen him standing in the school hallway. He was looking at the notice board.

  I had butterflies as I approached him. I didn’t have the courage to stare at him. I squeezed my own hands, trying to tell him what I had arranged with Mirta minutes before.

  “Have you heard about the rock and roll concert in the town?” I carefully asked him, fixing my glance on the floor.

  “It’s the topic of the day.” His voice sounded sarcastic.

  “I … want to go…to the rock and roll concert, but I need someone to go with me.” My voice was faintish.

  He grinned.

  “Do you want to go with me?” His voice become soft and his eyes gleamed.

  My eyes widened. After all, I was surprised at myself for having the courage to invite him.

  He noticed my concern as I was waiting for his answer.

  “Have you thought of me just because you have no choice?” he asked, in a different tone of voice.

  “Well, actually… no.” I sighed, nervously. “It’s that… I… like your… company.”

  “I don’t think I’m a funny person.” His voice was earnest.

  “So… your answer is… ‘No’.” I concluded, hopeless.

  I turned my back immediately and he was still looking at me. He then pulled my arm, stopping my movements.

  “I didn’t say that.” He removed his hand from my arm and returned to the place he was before. “I don’t appreciate it much … having fun… close to many people.”

  “You don’t have to worry. You have the right to say no. ” I said and looked in other direction.

  “I know…” He was staring at me and analyzed my disappointed face.

  “I’m not upset… I’ll invite another boy.”

  I said that and slowly walked away. He made me feel angry. Intrinsically, I knew he would say ‘No’, but I had insisted because Mirta asked me. She had encouraged me to talk to him.

  He was standing away from me, watching me while I walked away. Then he turned his face to the wall and said something I didn’t expect.

  “I’ll go with… you!”

  CHAPTER 23

  A forest, with its floor covered up with dry leaves.

  The brown color prevailed at that empty and obscure scenario, in which the sound of an angry wind sung a chilling melody.

  I found myself lost and frightened. It seemed like I was the only person in that terrible place. I was trying to find my way back home and see my mother again.

  I restrained my steps when I realized the wind was blowing much more violently, unleashing all its fury on the trees, which didn’t stop shaking. I sat on my haunches and placed my face between my knees, avoiding looking around me.

  That was when, in the middle of that agitation, I heard different sounds, as if someone was close. I lifted my head a little and saw that man again, the same man who was always in my dreams, since I was a child.

  He was wearing dark clothes.

  He stretched his hand so I could walk in his direction. I stood up quietly, looking straight ahead. I stared at him again and his hands grabbed mine. I could feel his frozen fingers on my warm hands.

  I looked up into his eyes, trying to find an answer for his frosty hands. I was still looking at him and could see his chest. He had an amulet made of iron around his neck.

  There was an engraving on it. I stared at it and then I was taken aback.

  It was a ‘symbol of Neptune’…

  When I opened my eyes, I realized it all had been just a dream. I sat on my bed as I was intrigued about that
dream and also about Eros’ tattoo. I associated one thing with the other.

  “It was in my dreams…I knew I had seen it before!” I said to myself aloud.

  I lay down on my bed again, staring up at my ceiling, with my hands touching my head. I was completely puzzled.

  “What does Eros have to do with this?”I asked myself, surprised, trying to find an answer. I couldn’t understand why.

  That strange man was in my dreams almost every night. The amulet made of iron, with the symbol of Neptune on it, was exactly the same as the tattoo on Eros’ arm.

  Could everything be a great coincidence…?

  CHAPTER 24

  I stayed in the school library, making a summary to be delivered the next day. At the library exit I noticed it was already night. The sky was cloudy and hoping for the right moment to rain.

  Then I advanced my steps, hoping to arrive home in time, before the rainfall. The street was deserted and silent and I begn to hurry to reach my destination, as I felt a constant danger.

  Later on, I saw Eros was standing at the end of the street and he looked like he was waiting for me to approach. However, his apparition was strange. He was just waiting. Certainly he perceived I was frightened.

  “Eros!” I exclaimed, surprised.

  “Come with me! I want to show something to you,” he said seriously in a determined voice.

  I said nothing, I just went with him, without thinking what it could be. The fact I was in his company made me secure and intrigued by what I was to uncover at the same time.

  We walked silently to our destination. I thought the place was far, but his company turned our journey into a pleasant one.

  The place was deserted and obscure. It was a hiding place amongst the woods. It was similar to the landscape from the dream I’ve been having for some time.

  It was an antique and dispossessed house for somebody to dwell in. It had no electricity and a minimum of comfort that was claimed by a half-witted person.