Lydia Vasko
RLA D
November 3, 1999

Elice's long golden brown hair flew out behind her as the boat went up and down and then crashed upon the foamy blue, black waves beneath. Dolphins swam alongside the boat playfully as though they were racing to an invisible finish line on the other side of the moon. Her long burgundy skirt was blown back behind her for the wind was fast and strong. Elice's dark, forest green top brought out the misty green color of her eyes. Her hair had been up in its usual twist before a strong gust of wind and the bouncing of the boat knocked it out of place. Sprinkles of water landed on her face looking like crystals in the moonlight. She folded her arms in front of her as she gazed up at the stars as they were starting to appear up ahead glittering like diamonds set in a piece of deep, blue velvet. The moon was massive and incredibly beautiful as it hung right above the water. She loved the sea and the night but the two together made her weak in the knees with pleasure. The moon was her elegant mistress and the stars and the moons shining children of the night. Besides the boat, the dolphins leaped out of the water causing their silver silhouettes to stand out against the moon. She loved dolphins almost as much as she did the moon. They were always so kind, gentle and playful never judging by who or what you were. They had a sort of unconditional love for anyone or thing that was nice to them. But she loved the moon more than anything in the world. It was the one thing that she could depend on. Every night it was always there, shining her glimmering face down on her, ready to listen to all that Elice had to tell. She knew that her goddess would never die out on her, never fail to appear and unlike the people on earth, she was always able to depend on her. Elice always felt at ease when she was with the moon.
The sound of the waves crashing against the boat were the sounds she loved the most. Oh how she wished she were a mermaid instead of a retched vampire. She hated the blood, the lies, and the endless running from everything she loved that had become a part of her life. Her life was not all made up of the bad. No, many good things had happened to her in her 318 years of life. She had had many friends to trust and rely on, and seen many things people would only dream of seeing. There were advantages to being a vampire. Elice had seen all those important moments in time, the world wars, and the French revolution. She had seen Chairman Mao rise to power in China and she had seen Great Britain rule most of Southeast Asia. Infact, she had been to Asia and befriended many people there. She had even seen many of the Chinese dynasties. She had seen the many European era's, seen many rise and fall. Elice had lived through the French and Indian wars. She had had friends lost and won in those many battles. Many were killed and many survived.
Elice loved seeing the changing fashion, drawing all the different styles as they went along. She kept all these historical drawings in a medium sized wooden and metal box under lock and key so that no one would see these hidden treasures from the past. This box was the same place that she kept her prized possessions, memoirs of the many people she had known. Some were photos, others were jewels, and some were torn pieces of cloth worn by her loved ones. One of these possessions was a silver chain with a large tear- drop shaped diamond dangling upon her collarbone. Devin, her very, very good friend, had given it to her, as a Christmas present a year before. She had known him since she came to North Carolina. He was one of the many descendants of the early settlers in the area. Lately he had become more than just a friend. They had grown closer than ever before. They were still friends, just the bond between them had increased. Most of the time, the two seemed to act as just friends but some times, like tonight, it seemed to be a little more than that.
Devin made his way to the front of the yacht and wrapped his arms around her. She put her head on his broad, masculine shoulder. Oh how she loved him. Oh how many men she had loved. 300 years. So much pain, so much hurt. She had loved so many people, each and everyone she had watched die and wither away before her, including her parents. Elice held Devin close to her as she let the gentle spray of the ocean leave dewdrops on her face. She felt so secure in Devin's arms and wished she could stay that way forever. This had to be one of the best nights of her life. She had her moon, her stars, and most of all she had Devin. He had taken her on his yacht, out to the beautiful North Carolina Sea as a gift for her birthday. He grabbed a hold of her hand and pulled her back to the cushioned part of the front of the boat where a large picnic cloth lay. Devin lay down on the cloth and pulled Elice down beside him. She put her head on her chest and together they watched the stars while he ran his fingers through her soft locks.
Elice awoke and Devin was no where to be found. Getting up she realized that she was in a soft comfortable bed with starch white sheets and feather pillows. Long misty white curtains hung down from a canopy above the oak wood bed. Pushing the curtains aside she gently placed her feet on the wooden floor. The room was light and airy. All the furniture was made with oak and its sheets, towels, and linens were pearly white. Elice walked around to the other side of the bed and opened the wooden door that stood right in front of her. She was into a large bathroom that was filled with the beautiful scent of a strange tropical flower. There was a large bathtub with old rustic silver knobs. The sinks were set in smooth granite tiles and the white sink too had old silver knobs that reminded her of her home in Pontivy, France. All those 300 years ago. A feeling of sadness swept over her but she quickly over came it determined to be happy and pleasant for Devin when he walked in. If he did. Terri cloth towels and robes hung down from a silver hook on the wall and she swept her hands across them as she left the room. Across from the bathroom she saw two large white French doors. Wondering what they were and where they led to she softly glided across to them. Flinging the doors wide open she felt a sudden gust of wind rustle her skirt. She was on a balcony looking over a steep cliff that gave way to a tiny beach. The cold Atlantic sea crashed against the already water beaten rocks, sending a frothy foam high into the air. Elice placed her hands on the railing and looked out to sea. On the horizon she saw the sun high above the water. It must be around 10 o'clock she thought to herself, not caring at all what time it was. The cliff tops were covered in long yellow, green grass and red, purple, and yellow flowers. There was a trail that seemed to lead to one of the cliff tops that overlooked the bay. Elice pulled her hair over her shoulder and was beginning to braid it as she turned around to head back inside when the door to her room swung open and Devin walked in.
"Ah Elice! I thought you were still sleeping."
"Oh, " she said with a smile " I woke up around ten minutes ago. I was just admiring the beauty of the ocean. Devin it is so beautiful here! Where are we?"
"We are on one of the islands off the North Carolina coast. This is my father's holiday house. I hope you like it here." Devin said as he stepped closer. He has his hands in his pants pocket. He wore a white sweater with a forest green collard shirt underneath. His slightly baggy beige pants hung just a centimeter above the floor revealing a pair of what looked like black hiking boots.
"Love it here! Devin, I adore it! Is your father here? Did he give you permission to use it?"
Elice questioned excitedly.
"No, my father is not here and he kind of gave me permission to use the house."
"Devin! You're going to get your self in trouble! What would your father say if he found out?"
" Elice, darling, relax. I have permission from my father to use the house whenever I want." He replied as he sat on the bed." Now, I brought you here as a surprise for your birthday. So lets enjoy ourselves. I'm making breakfast right now. Get dressed and meet me in the kitchen. We can have breakfast and then go for a walk on the cliffs if you want."
" Oh Devin! Thank you for bringing me here. I know I will enjoy it. But there is just one thing. I don't have any clothes to change into."
"Have you looked in the cabinet?"
Elice walked over to the cabinet and pulled open one of the heavy drawers. Inside were al the clothes from the hotel.
"Devin!" she exclaimed as she spun around staring at him with her wide round mouth and eyes. He had a childish grin on his face and a sparkle in his eye that twinkled like last night's stars. "How did you get all my clothes from the hotel?"
"That's for me to know and for you to know I know." He said still smiling getting up and heading to the door.
"I'll see you at breakfast?"
"I'm right down stairs." With that he closed the door and Elice searched through the drawer for something to wear.
Elice found a pair of white head shorts and a pale blue shirt. She pulled her hair up into its usual twist on her head. She slipped on her white lace up shoes and headed downstairs. Elice opened the door and she was faced with a long wooden floored hall with plastered walls that were a pale, misty blue. She headed toward the staircase and headed down stairs. The bottom of the stairs led her to a large room that had huge, glass doors that led to a small area of grassy field. There was a brick fireplace on the north wall of the room. On top of the fireplace there was an exquisite bouquet of wild flowers. Right next to these vivid blues, yellows, and purples, oranges and reds there was a picture of a young boy on one side and a young girl with long, blonde, curly hair on the other. Glancing from one picture to another, Elice found herself staring into a painting of the very cliffs and beaches and the ocean she had seen that morning. The painting was so detailed and filled with happiness and humor. Elice found herself feeling if she would ever be so happy as that. In the painting there seemed to be invisible mermaids hiding deep within the ocean strumming their harps and singing so sweetly the whole world was dancing to the music. The waves rolled softly against the sand and the soft wind swept through the grass on the cliffs causing it go sway and dance to the mermaids magical song. The son's rays shone so brilliantly and the blue, blue sky just made the yellow grass fields shine all the brighter. On the cliff's bluff two children were laughing with their heads thrown back, their hair streaming behind them. Their hands were clasped together and the two twirled round and round. The children were so care free in their actions it almost made you forget that there was a dangerous sharp cliff barely an arm length from the twirling couple.
"My great grand mother painted that picture." Devin said walking down the two carpeted steps that came from the dining room.
"It's a beautiful picture." She replied softly, still in the misty trance she had fallen into. Her eyes wandered back and forth across the painting reaching for a trace of evil. There was none. Everything was beautiful and serene. Nothing was missing, nothing was wrong. "Who are those children?"
"Those are her children. My grandmother and her sister Anna."
"Wow. This painting is so beautiful."
"Yes, it is." Devin said stepping up to the fireplace alongside Elice. " They all lived here. My grand mother and her family. This house has been in my family for 100 years."
"That's a long time." Said Elice, she still hadn't drawn her eyes away from the painting. "Well, where's that scrumptious breakfast you've prepared?" she said turning to face him.
"Right this way Madame." He said leading her to the kitchen. The two sat down to a breakfast of pancakes and orange juice.
"Devin, this morning I saw a path from the balcony. Do you think we could go there?"
" Of course. Anything you desire." He said smiling.
The two stood on he cliff, hand in hand, watching the sea and the dolphins dancing and leaping in the waves. Elice wanted so much to feel at ease and care free just like the children in the picture. She wanted to feel that never-ending happiness. She wanted to tell her whole story. She wanted to let all her past and thoughts go to drift far out to sea. She wanted to trust Devin. She did. But could she tell him her 300 year old secret? Would he tell anybody? Would he hate her? Turn his back? She didn't want to be hurt again. Never, ever again. Could she, would she trust Devin with her secret? Could she tell him? The pain she felt. She wished she had died all those years ago. The way humans do. She had to live forever in hate and fear, in love and lies. She loved Devin with all her heart. Could she, would she risk that love and tell him her deadly, frightening, nightmare of a secret. She couldn't, wouldn't know.