Timeless love

The storm lasted two days, effectively keeping everybody inside. Even Darius didn’t dare going outside, although he felt himself become weaker. He needed to feed but hunting was impossible as long as he was trapped inside the house. Adding to that he worried about Margareta. The girl had stayed in bed the entire time. Her body weakened visibly, yet her mental barrier was as strong as before.

When the storm finally faded and the sun shone again from clear skies Helene urged Margareta to go outside. And so she sat on a bench in the garden, the same marble bench on which she had sat with Darius. Her eyes drifted around and it wasn’t long until she ran back inside, locking herself in her bedchamber.

Her behaviour had the entire household worried and in the end they asked Darius to talk to her. So he stood at the door to her room, knocking. August and Helene stood in the hallway, a few steps away, watching. Darius knocked again.

“Margareta?”

Margareta!

“Go away!” her voice rang from inside the room.

Margareta, listen to me

“Please, open the door.”

“I am not listening!” She was sitting on the floor, hands covering her ears.

Margareta…

“You have everybody worried, please come out.” He could hear her sobbing.

“Leave me alone…”

Margareta, I want to help you.

“I won’t leave until you open the door.”

Please listen to me… He still wasn’t sure if he reached her, but he continued trying.

Let me in…

NO! Her mental scream made him cringe. But he knew he had succeeded. She was opening up to him.

I want to help you, please let me in.

He heard her moving inside the room, then the key was turned in the lock. The door was open.

Helene rushed past Darius into the room. She was speaking soothingly to Margareta but no response came. The girl’s eyes rested firmly on Darius.

Help…me?

He nodded, extending a hand to her. She took it and let herself be pulled through the hallway downstairs to the music room. She still wouldn’t speak, her mental voice fallen silent again as well. He made her sit down in a chair while he himself sat down at the piano. His gaze remained on her face as he began playing. The first few notes quickly formed into a melody. Melancholic at first, speaking of sadness and sorrow. Then it changed, became lighter, finally resembling a bird soaring skywards, free from all restraints.

August and Helene had sneaked into the room and were now watching the entire scene. They noticed the change on Margareta’s face and Helene wanted to rush to her side when the first tears fell from her eyes, but August held her back.

Darius was aware of the other two being there with them and he wished it was otherwise. He wished to take Margareta into his arms and hold her…but that was impossible as long as her father and Helene were present. All he could do was watch her and try to comfort her telepathically. But it didn’t seem enough so he seeked eyecontact with August and then whispered to him: “Please leave.” August seemed to understand, because he rose and took Helene with him.

As soon as the door was closed behind them, Darius rose from his seat to kneel beside Margareta’s chair. He pulled her shivering frame close, wrapping his arms around her. When her sobs ebbed away, he took her by the shoulders and pushed her away slightly so he could look at her face.

“Will you tell me now...?”

“I’m living a nightmare…” she whispered “…everywhere I look all I see is death and decay…When I look at the flowers I don’t see their beauty, I see how they are withering away…and when I look into the mirror I see a mask of death…they are right, I am insane…”

He lift his hand to stroke her cheek, gently wiping away the last tears.

“No, you are not. You are confused…you are facing things that are new to you…those visions…”

She looked at him. “But if I am still sane…what is happening…it feels as if I’m losing my eye for beauty…”

He lightly shook his head. “As I said…it is a side-effect of the visions…and partly I am to blame…it seems my presence here has somehow triggered your abilities…I am very sorry for that.”

Margareta nodded, calming down. It might be true that it was his fault, but his presence made her feel so much better. She leaned forward, resting her head on his shoulder.

They remained like that fore a few precious moments, before Darius broke the contact. He rose to his feet and took her hand.

“Come now. It is time for dinner and you need to eat.” He spoke those words louder than before, knowing that outside the door August and Helene were listening. Which they were indeed and they were rushing to leave the spot at the door.

“He is doing well…she should be calm enough now for you to talk to her about the wedding.” Helene said. August looked at her, slight disbelief on his face.

“I think it’s too early…I will wait a few more days until her condition is a little more stable.”

“Do not wait too long.” she warned him.

“She is my daughter. I know what is best.” August stated. “Now let us go, dinner is served.” With that he turned and left. Helene followed him. Behind them the door to the music room opened as Darius led Margareta to the dining room.

After dinner Darius excused himself and went outside. The night was clear and his hunger was almost driving him mad. The close contact he had had with Margareta had stirred it even more. He felt his fangs growing behind his lips as he lift his face to the waning moon, his eye colour changing from their natural dark brown to a piercing blue.