Her story begins................
Near exhaustion, she leaned against a tree, not hearing the sounds of the night, not even noticing they were absent. Not able to walk another step, she slid down to the ground, curled up and within minutes she fell asleep. This night she had no fear of the creatures that stalked the woods. Why no fear? She just didnt care anymore.....
Her dreams that night were filled with images of days past. Oh how when he lovingly caressed her face with the back of his hand, did she feel complete and loved. But now his hand was cold and rough. His smile, once tender to her, now appeared before her in a vision of rotted teeth and bleeding gums. His lips once feeling of silk to hers of satin as they kissed, were now held tightly closed. The laughter they shared, the secrets they told, the nights spent together as one, now passed in this nightmare, distorted and vague.
As she tossed and turned upon the ground, no one would have suspected what was now in her heart. If any looked down upon her face, they would see the torment within. Soft, troubled moans broke the silence of the night. Did anyone hear her?
Nora had to support her ill mum. In order to do so, she began to sell flowers in the inns. The mage that supplied the many potions and medicines for her mum, took all of her earnings and gave Nora only a pitance to live on. Her mum had alwasys been ill as long as Nora could remember. As long as this mage helped her mum, Nora didnt mind. It did her well to no longer think of the man she had loved with every breath she took.
When she wasnt selling her flowers, she would venture to the village and listen for hours as the elders told the tale of the vampire at Villa Aquitae. Cross-legged in a corner, she would nibble on a stale crust of bread and listen to the menfolk spin their yarns of the horrific monster. If she closed her eyes, she could actually see him drinking the blood of the maiden he had professed to love. The young maiden's skin would become so alabaster that for many hours, those who had a glimpse of her, thought her dead. The stories were never the same, for many versions existed. Each one was more chilling than the other.
After her noon day apple, Nora would begrudgingly leave the menfolk to their tales. She had to gather the wild flowers to sell in the inns each night. Nora had to sell every last flower before coming home. Some nights the walk was so long, she didnt know if she would make it. But she endured.
Her mum never seemed to get any better, but in truth, she didnt get any worse either. Nora's feet would burn as she came in to kiss her mum good night. With a gentle kiss to her mum's brow and a slight curtsey to the mage, Nora turned and made her was to the straw pile in the corner. Here each night she would curl up under a worn and tattered blanket, praying sleep would come fast.
Never having known her father, Nora would love to sit in the park, watching the other children playing and running with their fathers. Sometimes she would run along with them and pretend that the man was her father as well. Other times she would draw close to a family, just to hear their laughter and conversation. And still other times she would sit against a tree and pretend that she and her father were on many adventures.
The early morning of the crow woke Nora each morning. As she stood up from her bed of straw, she saw the mage already up and hunched over the fire. He was making one of his daily concoctions. "Good morning Elsbane", a slight curtsey to him was offered. With her eyes downcast, for she feared looking into his, she rushed past him to go outdoors to wash.
But before she could do so, without even turning from the fire, he reached out with his gnarly hand and grabbed her slender wrist. "You have been spending too much time away from home", his voice cruel and evil sounding. "I have also heard that many of the tenders and hosts pay thee much more than you are giving to me." Slowly he turned, forced her chin up as he looked directly into her eyes. His hold upon her wrist grew tighter. His long nails cut deeply into her skin. "Remember dearest Nora, without me your mother would die and then so would you.". His eyes felt as if they had penetrated her very soul, his smile was that of a skeleton's. She pulled away and ran to wash up.
Once outside, the warmth of the sun on her face, the chittering of the squirrels and the chirping of the morning birds, helped to raise Nora's spirits. This day was special. For this was the day she had chosen to go to the Villa Aquaitae and begin her search for the vampire's grave. She leaned against an oak tree and imagined that her vampire drew her close to him for a kiss. She heard the whisper of the winds as her eyes closed. "One day we shall meet dear Nora. One day my lips of silk will press against yours of satin."
Looking back to the humble shack in which they lived, she decided not to do her chores. Swiftly as a deer would run, she made her way to the Villa. Punishment in the eve would be harsh, but well worth it if she found the grave of Sinistre. She knew with all her heart he was still entombed in it.
The Villa, his Villa gave her much comfort and joy. Oh how she pretended he was there with her. Nora began to tend his gardens and vineyards. As the noonday sun grew high, she passed through the alcove where the tiled fountain was. Once inside the Villa, the temperature was cool and refreshing. She knew her way around the Villa after exploring it several times.
Many days did she search for the grave. The stories of a mound of dirt, red with the spilled blood of his love, Nikki, fresh in her mind. On that fateful day, she found a passageway that led to a door she had never before seen. Her heart fluttered so hard in her chest, it felt like a captive bird's. Slowly, after making the sign of the cross, she pulled the heavy, oak door open. The sound it made as it creaked almost in anger filled the silence of the Villa. She winced and had to stop several times before opening it just wide enough to slip into the room. Pure darkness overwhelmed her. Standing still for what seemed an eternity, her eyes never did accustomed themselves to the dark. Angry at herself for not bringing a candle, she slipped back out and went upstairs to the main part of the Villa. Here she found what she needed. She made her way back down the steps that led to the room at the end of the passage.
This time she had no fear. She knew deep within her heart, if he were in his grave, he would not hurt her. So innocent was she, the idea of death or even worse, never entered her mind. Once again she pushed upon the door and slipped into the room beyond. As she held the candle high, her eyes found what she had searched for for over two years. There in the middle of the room was a mound of dirt. It was the vampire's grave. Only a whisper, "Oh Nathaniel, I have found thee my love."
As if in a trance, slowly she circumvented the mound of dirt, never once stepping upon the grave. No blood did she see, no real trace of any recent activity. Slightly disappointed, afterall the villagers had said many times over that his grave was still freshly covered with the blood of Nikki, she sat cross-legged upon it. Whether the dampness of the cold within the room made her shiver, no one would ever be able to convince her that it was not Sinistre in the grave who was attempting to make contact with her.
For over an hour she sat upon the dirt. The candle nearing the end of it's life soon began to flicker. And as all candles burn their brightest before their demise, it did sizzle and extinguish itself. No longer needing the candle to see in the dark, she rose from his grave and made her way back to the upstairs part of the villa. What Nora never knew was that Sinsitre rose from his grave that night. He would find the one called Nora.
The sun now so low in the western sky was near to disappearing down the horizon. Panic overtook her. How would she explain that she picked no flowers this eve to sell in the inns? Without the flowers, she would not be able to bring any money home to please Elsbane. Knowing that a beating was inevitable, she picked as many wild flowers the last few minutes of the day.
The inns that eve were mostly filled with drunks, whores and demons. Hardly any of her flowers were sold. As she walked back to the shack, she saw his face peer out from behind the shadows. Before she could run from the shack, back into the woods, he yelled to her. "COME HERE! NOW!" Nora froze in her tracks. Never had she heard his tone so threatening. His voice cut through her like a knife through butter. Slowly she approached him with great hesitation. This angered him even more. "So", his voice dripping with hatred and disgust, "what a pretty new dress you have bought yourself. WITH MY MONEY!" She fell hard against the wall as he backhanded her. The taste of her own blood in her mouth angered her more than she had ever felt before. The rage in her eyes, blinded her mind from what action she took. She lunged at Elsbane with every ounce of strength she could find. Her nails worked slowly down his cheek, the taste of his own blood, now upon his lips.
With his dagger now drawn, Elsbane slammed her up against the wall. The cold blade of the dagger was now upon her throat. She could only begin to say her prayers. His eyes filled with rage, lust and hatred. Savagely he tore at her dress, ripping it from her bosom. He sneered visicously as he pawed her, his spittle now mixed with his blood was now upon her neck as he kissed the soft areas.
Nora never had been touched before. She screamed inwardly in silence. Now raging with lust, Elsbane pushed her down to her knees as he undid his pants. His manhood was already stiff from touching what he desired all these years. He pushed it to her. At that moment, her own mind took her away, deep into it's own recesses. Seeing the vacant look in her eyes, his desire faded. Again he shoved her backwards, then stormed out of the shack to look for a better way to relieve himself.
From her bed, Nora's mother, weak from all the potions and medicines, struggled to raise herself. "Run my dearest Nora. Run and never come back." Hearing her mother's tender voice released Nora's mind. She ran to the frail woman who for years spoke no words. She hugged her tightly.
"I shall nae leave thee Mum. Come with me. Please."
With all of her strength gone, Nora's mother collapsed on her bed. "MUM! I shall be back with Nathaniel. He will end this curse upon us. I promise thee!" She gathered some things. Suddenly she heard Elsbane's footsteps on the porch. Nora raced from the house and made her way to Rhydin. All that night she searched for anyone who may have known Sinistre. She stopped strangers in the streets, hoping to find just one who knew him. Her serach proved fruitless. At the last inn, she made her way to a table and hide among the shadows. She felt as if everyone knew her shame. It was then she heard the his voice deep within her mind. "Nora..........................."
Her chest felt crushed as she ran all the way to the Villa. But not once did she stop to catch her breath. Nathaniel had called to her, this she knew. Her face, badly brusied, lips that had been split open when the mage backhanded her, eyes nearly shut from the bruises on her face didnt keep her away from the Villa. Black and blue marks shaped like fingers appeared on her breasts where Elsbane brutally squeezed them. Finally she saw the silhoutte of the Villa ahead, under the waning moon. It had an eerie appearance this night, far from the lovely and serene Villa of the day.
The guard wolves and ghouls would be about, but Nora knew the secret to gain entrance. She had read the vampire's journal she found in the room where his grave was. Suddenly she stopped, knowing she couldnt meet Nathaniel looking as she did. She knew she would be safe here, even if Sinistre wasnt about. The mage detested vampires and would never follow her here. She went directly to the vineyards she had come to love.
Here she curled up and within seconds fell into a restless sleep. Restless, yes, but still a respite from the mage.
In the deep recesses of her mind, she heard someone talking, whispering to another. Slowly she opened her eyes and saw two shadows. At first she thought she still continued in a dreamstate. But then she recognized one of the shadows. It was her vampire, her Nathaniel at last. As much as she loved him, she prayed he would not find her this night. But as fate would have it, that was not to be. A low growl was heard, followed by his whisper, "Old girl, what is it?" Nora held her breath as she saw the wolf next to Nathaniel.
The wolf had scented Nora and made his way to her. She stood up and began to run through the vineyards. But the vampire, Sinistre stood right in front of her. "Please, go away", she whispered through swollen lips.
But Sinistre didnt leave. His eyes blazed red in the night, his blood was near boiling, for to look at Nora, he visualized the beating she took. Whispered through lips that still bled, "Oh please Nathaniel, look at me not."
"Nora, come, tell me what happened." And as she recounted the beating to him, he planned the death of the mage. No more would this vile being be allowed to continue tormenting Nora. Nora, so innocent of mind and body. So childlike in her ways, yet a grown woman, quite beautiful in fact.
Sinistre demanded that Nora stay at the Villa while he went to the shack where Elsbane held Nora's mother captive under his potions and spells. His wolves and ghouls followed their master. Those were not the only ones to follow. Nora silently kept her distance, but not close enough for the vampire or his wolves to scent her.
As Sinistre approached the cabin, he saw Elsbane inside. The vampire kept his distance, waiting for the perfect time to cast his spell of blood to destroy this evil being. It was then that one of the wolves scented Nora. Suddenly without warning, she ran towards the cabin, screaming over and over, "MUM!" There on the porch, hanging by her neck was Nora's mother. Elsbane had brutally murdered her, knowing Nora would come back if she heard her mother was dead.
What Elsbane didnt know was that his own death was only a few minutes away. As Nora ran to the cabin, Elsbane made the fatal mistake of gazing out the window. It was then that Sinistre struck and cast the spell of blood. Almost immediately, the blood of the mage began to boil, pus pockets opened on his skin, blood spurted all over. His flesh could not hold the boiling blood. Within a few seconds his entire body was consumed in flames.
Nora knew that the spell had been cast. The cabin that was her home all her life was in flames. She attempted to let lose the body of her beloved mother. Try as she might, she couldnt cut the rope that bound her mother's neck. Screaming, frenzied, she pulled and pulled on the body. If Sinistre didnt grab her and lift her to his shoulder, Nora too would have passed on to the next life that very night.
Nora's nightmare was finally over. She didnt mourn her mother. She celebrated her death, knowing that her dearest mum was finally at peace. She and Nathaniel walked back to the Villa in silence. The actions of this night spoke for both of them in the silence of their minds.
Many months passed. She loved Sinsitre more and more. One day he told her that he would never embrace her. Deeper and deeper into despair and lonliness did she fall. He told her she was too good. Too innocent. Nora couldnt stay at the Villa any longer. She couldnt bear to be near him, knowing he would never love her. She left.
Time passed. Nora still tended the gardens, for indeed the roses seemed to bloom almost as she touched them. Sinistre left upon a journey. One day word reached her that Nathaniel had fallen in love. The news of his return to the Villa with his bride tore her heart to shreds, until nothing but what was once a true love layed destroyed.
Nora contines to sell flowers in the inn. No one seems to notice the flower girl as she approaches. Only the tiny bell on her basket signals that she has entered the inn.
"Flowers for sale. Fresh cut flowers. Heather...lavendar......."
My address.........
