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July 25, 2009
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Stone by Shannon S. (Toxicmachine)
This is a story I wrote for a contest a few months ago. People seemed to like it, and I hope you like it too!
- Shannon
“Papa! Papa!” May cried, abandoning my hand and trotting off into our father’s arms. He knelt down to embrace her, closing his wrinkled old eyes in satisfaction. May’s mousy brown hair came loose of her simple ponytail. The hem of her dress was black with grime. I wanted to run and hug my father as May did in five year old simplicity. But I was a woman. I remembered my place, keeping my head down, my hands crossed, and my pace steady. I would get a scolding for a dirty dress, as May would not. My hair was pulled tight into an elaborate up do, tugging sharply at my scalp. My new dress was heavy and uncomfortable, the corset that cinched my waist was limiting the amount of air I could take in at one time. I let my eyes wander slightly. There were dirty grimy men with unfriendly faces. The docks were no place for a woman. But Virginia had insisted we meet my father as soon as his ship arrived, direct orders from my stepmother. I settled myself in front of my father, awaiting an embrace. Instead, he placed his hands on my shoulders. I could not look into his twinkling eyes. His mustache was sprouting gray and his dusted brown hair was thinning. There were wrinkles lining his face. He was not the father that had left me 2 years ago. He was someone else, embracing a daughter he hardly knew and barely touching the one who knew him best. I looked away in disgust. I suddenly hated May, she was stealing my father. She didn’t even know who he was until today, barely remembered his face, only talked to the photographs in my stepmother’s room.
“And what a lady you’ve become, Evelyn! We’ll have no trouble finding a husband for you!” He said, trying to catch my eye. I ground my teeth. He was already talking about selling me off to a stranger.
“Now, now, dearest. Is that very becoming of a lady?” He asked, tilting my chin up with his old wrinkled hand. I bit my tongue instead.
“I thought I was already promised to someone…” I said, looking behind him.
“Aah, yes! I’ve already forgotten! What two years does to a man! And I’ve been sailing around the world with him! Aaha! I’d forgotten all about him at the sight of you striking young ladies!” He exclaimed, petting May’s head. She giggled.
“When can I see him? I would like to see him now, Father.” I said, standing on my tiptoes to see behind him. Not very lady-like at all.
“Well, Mr. Thomas has already left the ship. He promised to attend the General’s Homecoming Ball though! So you shall see him this evening.” He said excitedly. He picked May up and held her in one arm. Terrance, the servant picked up Father’s luggage and stood for orders.
“Now let’s go home now. Shall we?” Father said, tickling May’s cheek with his mustache. I looked towards the blue sky, eying seagulls and clenching my jaw. I wanted to be five again, or to at least be fifteen as I was before he left. I followed my father and Terrance hesitantly.
May sat on our father’s lap in the carriage. I sat opposite them, fidgeting on the seat, smoothing out wrinkles in my new dress. I refused to look at them, to see them smiling and laughing. I focused on the clattering of the horses’ hooves on the road. I focused on what was to happen this very evening. I would be dancing in the arms of Charles once again. I would forget May and Father and my rarely seen stepmother and being a lady. I would be with him. Nothing could ever be wrong when I was with Charles. I forgot the world. It was just me and him. I closed my eyes at the thought, fantasizing. I drowned out the noise of the carriage with the sound of our breathing, our sighing. I replaced the darkness of my eyelids with hungry kisses and flashes of skin. Nothing could ever be wrong when I was with Charles. We’d already given ourselves over to each other. Already been promised to one another. He was mine and I was his. Being apart from him had ripped holes in my head, made everything wrong. I had often created scenes of him and myself, greatly impossible scenes, but they had gotten me through the two years. I sighed at the thought of his face, chiseled and strong, his chocolate tousled hair, his sculpture-like body. And just that thought had gotten me through the three hours of preparing for the Ball.
Virginia tugged at my hair. I winced in pain. Tanya pulled sharply at the strings of my corset. I did not complain, I knew it was all for beauty. I had to look my best for him. Lacey painted my lips red and lined my eyes with black. She rubbed scarlet into my cheeks and brushed something into my lashes. When she was done, she hung a line of gold around my neck. When they were all finished, they helped me into the gown. It was heavy and stiff, but it was beautiful. The rose colored silk exaggerated my chest and the ivory ruffles draped my body. I slid into my slippers and slipped my fingers into the silk of my gloves.
“You are beautiful, my mistress.” Virginia said, smoothing out the skirt. I nodded and smiled.
“Thank you. Would you like to escort me downstairs?” I asked. It was a polite thing to do, even though not very lady-like. They grinned and nodded.
The Ball was bright and loud as the carriage pulled up to the mansion. It seemed more a palace. My stomach fluttered and I felt as if I could throw up, though nothing was in my stomach. Ladies were not supposed to expose themselves to food. A servant opened the door. Father got out first, then my stepmother in her furs, and myself. May tagged along behind me before catching up to my father.
“Lieutenant William Guard.” The servant called out loudly as my father walked through the big doors. They didn’t bother with my name. It was huge. The floors were polished marble and the ceilings and walls golden. Chandeliers dripping with crystals were alight. Tables of champagne, trays of delicacies, everything was magnificent. The orchestra sang melodies I’d never heard, gowns swirled and chatter bubbled in the air.
My father was crowded by people as soon as his name was rung out. He held May in his arm and my stepmother had a hand on his shoulder. I was alone in the swirling gowns. I stood on my tiptoes and strained my neck, scanning faces, looking for those who had just arrived. I wondered if he was here already, or if he would show up soon. People eyed me warily. A few men failed to avert their eyes from me, they gawked in awe. I ignored them and listened for “Charles Thomas” to be called out in the air. Soon, names stopped being called and the big doors slammed shut. A man with a big white mustache and a balding head stood atop a wide ivory staircase. The music quieted and bodies stopped spinning and the chatter diminished. He wasn’t here… I looked down at my gloved hands. I was blinking back tears. Everything had to be wrong this day, didn’t it? The man at the top of the stairs, General Gordon, started to drone on about the journey that he and his men had just returned from. I tried to think of something other than my own despair. I tried to remember the wives’ tale Father had entertained May with in his study. I was lounging in my mother’s chair, the only thing of her he hadn’t thrown away. May was on his lap and a fire roared in the fire place. He was talking of tales he’d heard in South America.
“Much like demons they are, they bite the ones you love most and in a matter of months, your loved one is a demon as well! Hard as rock, pale white eyes and senseless! Mad and driven by hunger! During the day, they look normal, act normal, but in the moonlight, they peel off their human skin and…Raw!” He yelled, tickling May’s stomach, sending her into a frenzy of giggles. When she had calmed down he told more.
“I was sure I saw one! Lurking through the trees and the brush, waiting for us to fall asleep so it could bite us all! Turn us all into senseless demons!” He said excitedly. I had gotten up and left the study, sickened by his excitement to be home with his little girl.
That was all I could remember of today, besides the imaginative scenes in my mind of me and Charles. I blocked those thoughts from my mind. I couldn’t think of him. It brought the pain of longing back. I decided to scan faces again, he must be here. I stood atop my tiptoes again and strained my neck. I didn’t recognize any as my Charles. I sighed, trying to swallow the lump in my throat. Then there was a hand on the small of my back and lips on my neck.
“Looking for me?” His voice murmured against my skin. Gooseflesh ran down my back and a shudder ran through me. I turned. His handsome features were much better than my memory, his touch much more satisfying than my imagination.
“Oh, Charles!” I said loudly, flinging myself at him. General Gordon stopped talking and a few guests muttered in disgust. I didn’t care. I was with my Charles now. And nothing mattered when I was with him. He embraced me back, kissing my hair and whispering ‘I love you’s in my ear and bringing my face up so he could kiss it. And people stared in horror at our public display of affection. General Gordon decided to put it in as part of the plan.
“Aaah, the love that was never broken! Miss Evelyn Guard and Mister Charles Thomas, Ladies and Gentlemen!” He barked, clapping his hands. The guests joined in on the applaud, but never in their lives had they heard of ‘love’. It was unspoken of. It was all arranged now. Love was a taboo.
“That’s my Evelyn!” I heard my father yell. General Gordon wrapped up his speech rather quickly after that. Charles held me all night. We swirled on the dance floor. I snuck kisses to his neck when I was sure no one was watching. Actually, we couldn’t keep our lips off each other. I kissed the chest of his suit more than once and he always seemed to be whispering words against my hair, my ears, my cheek. After the dance floor started to empty, we were still swirling, even after the music stopped.
“Evelyn! We must be getting home.” My father said, breaking us apart. I held Charles’ hand. He was warm and perfect.
“Maybe, Mister Thomas would like to stay for a late night tea?” He asked, excitedly, looking from me to Charles to me again.
“I would very much like that, Mr. Guard.” He smiled politely. My father clapped his hands.
“Very well then!” He said, carrying a sleeping May in his arms. We walked outside.
“Now. Do you have your own carriage, would you like to ride with us?” My father asked. The night was chilly, and quiet, the night was black.
“I do have my own carriage. Would you mind if I…stole Evelyn for the ride to your estate?” He asked, pulling me in close.
“Aha! That would be splendid! You and my Evelyn have a lot of catching up to do!” He said loudly. May stirred in her slumber. We made our way to the carriages. As soon as the door closed behind me, I was on top of him. I kissed him, his lips warm on mine. His hands were on my back gently, holding me to him. I kissed down his jawline and moved my way to his neck. His skin was soft and flushed.
“Evelyn…My Evelyn…” He whispered. I let out a sigh on his skin. He was better than anything in the world. I began to slip off my gloves, touching him with my bare hands. I laid my lips against him again, kissing the hollow base of his throat. Then I attacked his lips hungrily, sliding my tongue between them, holding his head with my hands. I could barely see him in the black of the night. Where was the moon? I pulled away for a moment to catch my breath.
“Evelyn…wait…” He said, restraining me with his warm hands.
“What is it?” I asked, my voice worried. What had I done?
“We can’t do this now. We are almost to your home. Tonight.” He said. I opened my mouth to object, but he covered it with his before anything could come out.
I was supposed to be upstairs for the tea, but I listened intently from outside the door. Women were not supposed to be present for late tea. They were talking about the marriage. I giggled inside. It was to be in 10 months time. I couldn’t bare it anymore; I squealed and ran into the parlor to embrace my father.
“Thank you, Father!” I yelled. And he was too excited to scold me on eavesdropping.
“It is quite late; I think you should escort Mister Thomas to the door.” He smiled at me. I nodded, but could barely contain the scream I held inside. I took Charles’ arm and led him out of the study. As soon as we were out of sight, I jumped into him, kissing him fiercely. He laughed and opened the front door. He stood in the black of the night, barely visible. I felt my face fall.
“You said…tonight…” I whined, not letting his hand leave mine. He leaned in and whispered against my cheek.
“It will be, my love. It will be.” His breath was like vanilla and cinnamon, sweet and spicy. I noticed my father’s presence behind me. He was watching.
“But…how…” I started quietly.
“Tonight.” He whispered against my cheek. Then he pecked my lips and started toward his carriage. I watched him as he was swallowed up by the darkness. I closed the door quietly. My father was waiting for me at the foot of the stairs, a dripping candle in hand. He presented a hand which I took and we proceeded up the stairs.
“I’m very proud of you. You are to be a woman! Married to a respected man! I cannot think of how happy you will be. My daughter, you are truly a prize. Sleep well, Evelyn.” He said, kissing my cheek, tickling my skin with his graying mustache. He opened the double doors to his bedroom and walked through them. I skipped through the darkness to my own room. I closed the door and felt for the key on my windowsill. It wasn’t there. I opened the curtains, hoping for some pale moonlight to illuminate the room. But the night was pitch black as well. I stood in front of my mirror, unable to see anything. I heard a click of metal. I turned around to face the darkness. ‘It was nothing’ I told myself. I turned back to my mirror. I reached up to take pins out of my hair. It was a relief when my onyx hair swirled around me, no longer pulling at my scalp. I slipped my gloves off again and kicked my slippers into a corner. I unclasped the gold from around my neck and placed it carefully on the vanity. My maids were asleep already and I didn’t want to wake them. I reached back, trying to figure out how the dress worked. Then there were hands on my shoulders and lips on the nape of my neck.
“Need some help with that?” His voice asked, creamy and lush. He pushed my sleeves off my shoulders and kissed the bare skin. I felt a few tugs and the gown crashed to the floor, leaving me in my corset, slip and stockings. I turned.
“How did you get in here?” I asked, curiosity edging my voice.
“Your…window…was…open.” He said between kisses.
“How did you get up here?” I asked, pulling away from him for a second.
“The vine climbing up the wall.” He said. He was gone. Lost in the darkness. I heard drawers jiggle open and closed. I shimmied out of my stockings. I shivered. The house was cold. I heard the scrape of a match and the lighting of a candle. Charles darted to the other side of the room to light another candle. I could see him now. He was my Prince Charming. I remembered my mother telling me fairytales and tucking me in. There was always a Prince Charming, handsome and dashing, brave. But he was always faceless, never having a personality or even emotions, except for love. Charles was my Prince Charming, but he had a face, he was everything packed into one. Perfect. I turned back to the mirror. Charles stood behind me, resting his hands on my hips, his lips at my neck.
“I do need some help.” I admitted, trying to figure out the corset. He tugged a string, pulling the laces loose. The corset slipped off my body. I stood in the sheer white fabric of the slip. The shoulders of it sagged. I turned to Charles, kissing him lightly. He lowered me to the bed. And the rest is already known…
I kissed his bare chest. He traced my spine. He kissed my hair.
“My Evelyn…” He whispered. Moonlight finally spilled into the room, throwing shadows across our bodies. I noticed a line in his skin. I traced it.
“A battle scar?” I asked, worried. He sat up abruptly, throwing me to the side.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“No!” He yelled. He got up and closed the curtains.
I sat up, covering myself with a sheet. He blew out a candle and grabbed my shoulders roughly.
“Hide, I don’t care where, just hide. Don’t look, whatever you do, don’t look. Don’t come out either.” He said harshly. I opened my mouth to speak.
“Evelyn! Do this. My love…Do this.” He said before he covered my mouth with his.
“Run!” He said. There were more lines in his skin…no they were cracks. I felt the bile rise in my throat. I hurried into the closet as Charles blew out another candle. He looked like a shattered vase put back together again. I looked through the crack between the between the doors of the closet. He told me not to look… He made a groan of pain. I almost burst out of the closet to comfort him. A sliver of moonlight lit up the room through the curtains. Then the unthinkable happened. He started to peel pieces of his skin off, throwing them to the ground. It revealed a rough gray underneath. He looked up. His eyes had glazed over a milky white. Wings ripped through the skin of his back, sending shreds of it everywhere. I swallowed the bile that had come up in my mouth. Echoes rang in my head. “Much like demons they are, they bite the ones you love most and in a matter of months, your loved one is a demon as well! Hard as rock, pale white eyes and senseless! Mad and driven by hunger! During the day, they look normal, act normal, but in the moonlight, they peel off their human skin and…” My father’s voice said. “I was sure I saw one! Lurking through the trees and the brush, waiting for us to fall asleep so it could bite us all! Turn us all into senseless demons!” He continued. He had seen one. And it had taken my Charles. The creature looked sorry. Its face was apologetic, pleading, and sad. I wasn’t afraid. It was still Charles. Still my Prince Charming. I opened the closet doors and crept out. The creature’s eyes flicked toward me. I reached out a hand. It flinched away from it. He was just scared, that’s all.
“It’s alright.” I said. He seemed drawn to the sound of my voice. I stroked the side of his face. It was cold and hard and rough. Just like stone. He leaned into my hand.
“Oh, Charles…My Charles…What has the world done to you?” I asked softly. I ran a finger across a stone lip. He lashed out to bite it. He released as fast as he had taken it. His teeth were razors. I gasped and pulled away. Blood oozed from the wound. I put my finger in my mouth. The creature had that sad look on his face, lonely and anguished and sorry. It was still him…I knew it was. But he was so…savage. “Bite us all! Turn us all into senseless demons! Driven by hunger!” My father’s voice repeated in my mind. I knew what he wanted. I extended my neck, pale as the Lady Moon herself in the white light. I had to be strong. This was Charles. My Charles. I had to be strong like…like stone. I tilted my head back.
“Come to me, Sweet Prince.” I whispered.
