"Will it be a blood-soaked battlefield, or a garden of roses reborn? The full moon's return holds the answer, a destiny woven from hope and fear."
- Roses and blood
🅩🅔🅟🅗🅨🅡
1875
To the average eye, the forest is a dark abyss at night, illuminated only by the meager light of the moon in this remote place.
But our eyes have the ability to adapt to the darkness, so we have no trouble navigating, no matter how dark a place may be...
As I am now, I have left our territory and am currently traveling through the forest to visit and see Nieves...
Their home is surrounded by a secluded forest, far from the town... Since the night I erased Nieves' memories of me, I haven't stopped visiting her...
Every night,
I secretly watch from a part of the forest far enough away to see her...
I always see her happy with her family, something that is enough for me, that at least I see her smiling...
As I walked the path towards them, a smell suddenly met me...
Fire... I whispered to myself.
I followed the scent. A wave of anxiety washed over me when I realized that the path I was taking to find the source of the smell was the same path leading to Nieves.
When I saw a light coming from their direction and heard the shouts of people, my body seemed to fly and join the wind's journey towards the light which, if I'm not mistaken, was...
Fire...
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The night is beautiful...
The city's lights are a distant hum, yet I can still see the breathtaking view from up here.
I'm on the rooftop of my condominium, gazing at the stars and tonight's star, the super blue moon in the sky.
Actually, this is a ritual I've carried with me for centuries.
Every night, I seek peace under the open sky, looking at the moon and stars, they are the silent witnesses to my solitude.
It is a comforting routine... It's a way to ground myself, to remind myself that even in this vast universe, I am not completely alone. That even in my sadness, there is a strange peace, the knowledge that even amidst darkness and despair, there is still beauty in the world.
As I gazed at the moon, I couldn't help but think of her laughter, her fiery spirit, the way her eyes would light up when she looked at me.
I closed my eyes.
Whispered a silent prayer, a plea for strength, for a reason to continue, for I knew that even in my loneliness, there's still hope, the promise of a new dawn, a new beginning.
And the last, repeated and relentless prayer I offer.
Goddess of the moon,
Hear the yearning of my heart,
Our reunion with my beloved...
Okay, let's revise the monologue to reflect that Thomas was flirting and Zephyr was bored, leading to Zephyr leaving. We'll maintain the humorous tone.
Yes, every full moon, I always pray to see her again, even if it would take a dove to turn into a hawk for it to happen. But if that were even remotely possible...
I promised myself I wouldn't repeat the same mistake. I won't let love bloom between us again. My love for her alone is enough, even if she never returns it, because that's what would destroy us again. The important thing is to keep her safe. That's how I love Nieves.
Back then, fate played games. She felt love for me too, something I never expected. She loved me even though, in the eyes of mortals like her, I'm a monster. Maybe it's true then, that even in the face of darkness, love can find a way to shine.
I opened my eyes when a familiar chime sliced through the quiet, jolting me back to the present. I fished my phone out of my pocket, the screen illuminating my face with a pale, blue light. It's Thomas.
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From Thomas:
Why did you leave me? You're so mean!
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I snorted, a sound somewhere between amusement and exasperation. Seriously? The nerve of this guy! He was busy batting his eyelashes at every girl within a five-meter radius, completely oblivious to the fact that I was practically melting into the tablecloth from boredom. Three hours of watching him work his charm (and let's be honest, it was work, not natural talent) while I sat there nursing a lukewarm beer was enough to make even a seasoned immortal like me consider early retirement. So, yes, I left. And honestly, "You're so mean!" is his takeaway? The sheer lack of self-awareness is astounding. Maybe I should send him a link to a how-to guide on "Basic Social Etiquette: Don't Leave Your Friend to Fend for Themselves in a Crowded Bar." Or maybe a picture of me peacefully meditating under the super blue moon. Yeah, that'll show him. He'll get the message eventually. And then I can go back to my moonlit prayers. Much more peaceful. And much less likely to involve lukewarm beer.
I was about to type a reply, my fingers hovering over the screen, when I felt something...
A whisper of cold air, a gentle brush against the nape of my neck. It was the kind of sensation you get when someone... is standing very close, their presence felt more than seen.
I bravely turned around, feeling my eyebrows arch in surprise at the sight of a figure standing not too far from me. A white cloak enveloped the figure, the hood pulled low, concealing their face in shadows, making it impossible to see any features—eyes, nose, mouth—all shrouded in darkness.
"Who are you?" I asked...
I spoke with determination, facing the stranger now standing in front of me. In an instant, I felt my eyes glowing red, a sign that my body was preparing for battle. My muscles tensed, ready to fight whatever stood before me. This is our primal, physiological response, a fundamental mechanism of our survival instinct, triggered when we sense danger or intimidation.
"I'm asking you... Who are you?" I repeated, my voice steady but laced with urgency.
Now I'm clenching my fists...
The figure raised a hand and carefully removed the hood of her cloak, revealing a face of breathtaking beauty. Her eyes, luminous pools reflecting starlight, held an ancient wisdom that transcended time. There was an ethereal quality to her, a grace that suggested power held in effortless repose. She was undeniably otherworldly, and yet, strangely comforting.
"You address me as if I were one of your kind, little vampire," she began, her voice a silken whisper that seemed to caress my very soul. "You've called to me, prayed to me, countless times, Zephyr. Have you never wondered why I delayed my response?"
I remained silent, my gaze locked on hers, a storm of questions brewing within me. The image of this radiant goddess clashed sharply with the shadowy figure that had moments before filled me with apprehension.
"Because the sweetest fruits ripen slowly," she replied, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Patience, little one, is a virtue often underestimated."
"What is your purpose?" I demanded, my voice sharper, cutting through the mystical ambiance she'd woven.
She moved closer, her gaze intense, as if peering into the very core of my being. The air crackled with unspoken power. She stopped just a breath away, her presence both captivating and unnerving.
"I am Selene, goddess of the moon," she announced, her voice resonating with an authority that was both gentle and absolute.
"And you, Zephyr, are one of the few who still give meaning to my existence."
Speechlessness overwhelmed me.
"You are a truly noble being, Zephyr, and I can feel the love you hold for Nieves. I've lost count of how many times you've mentioned her in your prayers."
"In gratitude for your loyalty, and for the love you've bestowed upon Nieves and the kindness you've shown to her fellow mortals, I bring you news you must hear, Zephyr." She continued, her eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine.
I remained speechless, utterly dumbfounded, waiting in anticipation for what she would say next.
She turned her gaze toward the heavens, as if searching for the right words.
"Fate has long fulfilled the desires of your heart..."
Thoughts raced through my mind, each one more hopeful than the last, but I resisted the urge to cling to them. I wanted to hear this directly from her.
And with the next words she spoke, I felt my breath catch in my throat.
"Nieves, the one you love, has returned to this world. Twenty years have passed."
A wave of hope crashed over me, as if a powerful tide were about to sweep me away in its embrace.
Words failed me, and a single tear escaped, tracing a path down my cheek.
"How can you convince me that you're telling the truth?"
My lips trembled with each word.
She responded with a gentle smile. Raising her hand, she conjured a vision that left me in awe.
My eyes widened as I watched a holographic display of the eight phases of the moon swirling and dancing in her palms.
"What does this have to do with Nieves' return?" I asked, my gaze riveted on the celestial spectacle unfolding before me. The phases began to coalesce into a single, shimmering sphere—the full moon that mirrored the one hanging in the sky tonight.
The beauty of it all was mesmerizing, but my heart raced with questions. I needed to understand the connection, to grasp the significance of this cosmic dance in relation to the woman I loved.
"From this night forward..." she began, her voice steady and soothing.
Her palms cradled the swirling holograms of the moon, showcasing a mesmerizing transformation from New Moon to Full Moon and back again—a cosmic dance unfolding before my very eyes.
With each word she spoke, my feelings of hope began to swell, igniting a flicker of belief within me.
"The moon will pass through its various shapes and phases," she continued, her gaze fixed on her hands. "And on the night when it returns to its full, round form in the dark sky, the world will be bathed in its silvery light."
"The new body of your beloved Nieves will emit an enchanting, sweet, and intoxicating fragrance of roses. And on that night, Zephyr, you will have the chance to see her again, to recognize her."
I struggled to comprehend each word that flowed from her lips, my mind racing.
I frowned, trying to piece it all together.
A new body?
Did she mean that Nieves' soul had returned to the mortal realm but in a different body and identity?
Who could it be?
"Why can't I meet her now?" I asked, desperation, hope, and curiosity lacing my voice.
I felt a pang of disappointment at her reaction. She sighed, as if the weight of my question was too heavy to bear.
"I can't answer that, Zephyr. But on that night, the scent of roses will guide your search," she replied, her tone growing cold, filled with foreboding.
"Hurry, for your kind and your enemies will also catch the intoxicating aroma. Her blood will herald a night of tragedy, with many falling prey to its allure. If you don't act quickly, she may be one of those lost, and you may never see her alive again."
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut.
"You mean that very night could bring doom to Nieves?"
She placed her palm on my shoulder, her gaze piercing through me as if she were unearthing a mystery I couldn't grasp.
"I do not know what fate holds for you both that night, Zephyr," she said softly. "But her safety lies within your embrace."
"Thus, with the next full moon, her life and destiny rest in your hands. This is the message fate wishes to convey to you, Zephyr."
With those final words, they served as a signal for her departure, and she began to fade from my sight, leaving me alone with the weight of her revelations.
She slowly faded from my sight.
I turned my gaze to the moon, a bittersweet smile forming on my lips. Many days would pass before I could once again behold its full, radiant form in the night sky.
Perhaps a month. And in those nights, the different phases of the moon would silently bear witness to my vigil. I would endure this wait if my reward would be our reunion.
The thought brought me comfort, a glimmer of hope amidst the uncertainty. With each passing night, I would count the days, each phase a step closer to the moment I longed for. Whatever challenges lay ahead, I was ready to face them, fueled by the promise of seeing Nieves again.
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AUGUST 20, 2024
MOON PHASE: WANING GIBBOUS
🌔
"I don't get it, Thomas... Why are you drinking coffee? We don't even sleep!" I said, trying to wrap my head around his strange obsession.
He just laughed at my bewilderment, clearly enjoying my confusion. It was like watching a cat play with its prey, and I was the unsuspecting mouse.
I mean, seriously—vampires and coffee? It's like a fish trying to climb a tree!
"I'm telling you, it's not about sleep," Thomas said, grinning widely. "I just love the aroma. Trying every blend and flavor is now my ritual... It's a yummmm..."
He even closed his eyes and pretended to sniff the air dramatically, licking his lips like he was savoring the finest wine.
This guy is something else...
He leaned in, hands still gripping the steering wheel like it was the holy grail of caffeine.
"Coffee is the best, Zephyr," he declared, his voice filled with passion. "I swear it's better than blood..."
I grimaced, shaking my head. "Dude, you're obsessed. Next, you'll be telling me it has magical properties or something."
As we finally arrived, Thomas expertly maneuvered his car into a parking spot like he was auditioning for a Fast and Furious sequel. We both got out and headed toward the entrance of his beloved Starbucks. Just as he pushed open the glass door, I followed closely behind.
But then I suddenly stopped.
A familiar presence sent a jolt through me, like I'd just touched a live wire.