RED EPHEMERAL MOON

CHAPTER TWO CASTIGATED CARYATID Part 1



It has been so long, a decade, since I have clearly seen your face. The boy I once knew is now a man. Your innocent brown eyes have turned deep and restless although your face has grown even more handsome. You’ve cut you hair shorter that shiny black mane now rests on your shoulders. Broad shoulders and a slender waist…I can tell you’re very well built simply from your posture. I wonder if that quiet scrawny boy has completely disappeared. Most would say that a child can not fall in love because they are too young to understand the meaning of such a powerful emotion but how do I explain the feelings I had for you as a child those feelings that I still have now as an adult.



Regardless of the fact that you believe, like everyone else, that I am dead I still sense you in familiar places. Even when I have least expected it, I sense and even see you about in your daily life, I want to run to you call to you, hold you, and ease your grief.



Sadly, I cannot because the reality of what I am prohibits me. I am no longer human nor am I a beast rather a twisted collaboration of the two species. I have been altered by this ‘gift’ that has turned my soul into the very bane of my existence.



“Oh Dominic” sighing as I whisper your name. I knew you went to this college, but I lied to myself. I constantly told my mind that I only wished to learn about the stars I so dearly love when it was you who really concerned me. I planned to dissociate myself from you. I tried so hard to forget you but that is impossible. I knew this place had a familiar scent but I didn’t even bother to consider it. I’m such a fool, Dominic.



My last memory of you is so sweet I think of it often until it becomes clouded by thoughts of my more recent and violent past. The things I have done and seen have permanently scarred my mind. The inner ghosts of those I have killed and the carnage I helped spread viciously scratches at me.



Nowadays I have far better control of the blood beast, the monster inside my soul would love to claw my heart out and take residence in the gaping hole left thereafter. To tell the truth, Dominic, what I am is a being of pure havoc. If I allowed myself to succumb to this hideous blood lust I would destroy many beautiful lives maybe even yours.



That is why my clan is so important to me, due to their loyalty, love, and strength I have been saved. By their teachings I have learned to live with what I am, the beast is under my control, I can unleash it now, without doubt of attacking anyone falsely, but only to a point. The kinship of my Clan constantly surrounds me, offering love and wisdom when ever needed. How is it then that I feel so empty? Is it because I miss you Dominic more each day? After all these years I have thought of you but never has loneliness and…longing been this unbearably profound. It almost burns now, a dull pain of wanting and needing you near. How did this come to be and why now? Why is this happening now?



I could only stand there as Mr. Lockhart announced her name…Adelia Sapuron…is it really my Adelia. The same name how could this be, she now stood facing the class, a short breath passed my lips. I remember she had long wispy black hair and her once bright brown eyes that would captivate me and could cause a searing happiness in anyone who saw them looked the same but a deep sad loneliness hide within those chocolate depths. The only thing that seemed the same, as I remember, was her skin. That bronze burgundy skin that was as smooth as freshly spun silk. There she stood surveying the crowd before her, that piercing gaze flowed softly, but never met my own even though she was only a few yards from me.



“You can take any available seat, thank you Adelia” Mr. Lockhart smiled softly.



“Thank You Mr. Lockhart” She spoke softly but I heard her voice plain as day, mature, and honeyed, even Mr. Lockhart paused in awe. The moment her first footstep fell I could not breathe.



“Adelia” I meant to say it aloud but it came out in a faint whisper, she had to of heard me because she paused as she climbed the stairs and turned her head toward me but her eyes stayed on the ground…tense hesitation…it was clear as day, her tightly clenched fist on the strap of her book bag was what proved it. She then took a seat in between a few girls whose false greetings and sly smiles proved their jealousy of her was disgustingly obvious.



‘Bitches’ I thought to myself they were already plotting against her. I sat four seats away in the row behind her but the classroom blurred in my vision and all I could see was Adelia and I watched her intently, I could do nothing else but stare at her.



I remember one of her bad habits as a child she would tug on her earlobe when she was nervous or scared. All that time I sat there staring at her must of made her incredibly edgy because in that moment she began to tug and rub on her right ear. A soft smile crossed my face and I could feel my eyes begin to water; it was my Adelia, just from that little motion proved all my doubts. She suddenly stopped her tugging, realizing what she was doing caused her to turn and look right at me. Her eyes held guilt and regret…why…was she trying to prove me wrong? Adelia had come back into my life only to hide from me…no…impossible she had returned for a reason and I had to know. I held in my anxiousness until the end of class, I would not make a scene for her sake and my sanity. I had to get her alone and when class finished I would take my chance.



I tried to pay attention to Mr. Lockhart but my emotions and thoughts made it impossible. Suddenly a sound broke me out of my daze…the class bell…I immediately scanned the room for her but she had disappeared.



“The exits” I said to myself as my eyes darted from the two exits one above me at the top of the seats and the one to my left. I saw a tuft of dark red hair near the top exit and I bolted through the crowd pushing people aside and apologizing. Out in the hall even more bodies got into my way but my eyes caught a dark red head to my right and I was off again. She was fast but I was very determined no relentless I needed to see her face to face, hear her voice, touch her skin to be positive that she is absolutely real and not a figment of my own mind’s trickery.



“ADELIA!” I finally shout and some people stare at me, I must sound hysterical but I didn’t care, she was gaining ground she was much faster than I remember, I’m terrified of losing her. The crowd starts to thin out and I can she her back clearly.



“ADELIA” I shout again this time she turns to look at me, I see her eyes, filled with tears and wisps of scarlet hair blow past her face. She whirls around and takes off down the west hall, I was about to speed up but something caught my footing and I went crashing to the floor painfully.



I look up and Adelia is gone…I groan in pain and anger as I turn onto my back to find the person who tripped me and see the one face that I really don’t want to see at this moment.



“Jolene!” blonde, busty, and rich…she was only dating me because I had a great reputation around campus in sports and academics. Dating me made her daddy happy.



He was chasing me…screaming my name, oh God! Why did I do this to him? Why did I have to be so damn curious so determined to be close to him. I was so blind, so brainless to think that he would not know me. I should have just run when I sensed him and never looked back…but even after all these years he hasn’t forgotten me. He still cares for me, I could see the desperation in his eyes, but still it isn’t worth it I can’t even though I could see the pain and need in those desperate eyes.



I’m Sorry I’m Sorry Dominic I’m Sorry I’m Sorry I’m So Sorry!



I want to tell you Dominic I want to show you, but you don’t deserve such a cold evil disruption in your life. There is so much death, carnage, and the merciless disregard for life. No I can’t, no matter how badly I want to provide you an explanation I won’t drag you into my world. I can only watch over you and protect you from it…it would be much better that way Dominic.



I lean against a pillar as tears stream down my face. This hall is void of humans and I can see a courtyard a few feet in front of me. I walk out to see the moon shining brightly and I decide to take a different form “Effingo a Canis.” (Latin - 'To form a Dog)