Written by Monse L.

 

  I stood in the middle of the neighboring fortresses of trees. My eyes searched for him. Somewhere behind their shadows he was concealed. I marbled I could hear his heart beat. I walked ahead. My heart skipped at the thought of him following me. I could remember the cool touch of his finger tips on my skin. And his soft resonating voice whispering that I was his forever, but I was left with memories. And the feint presence of him with me. The moonlight seemed to glow brighter then usual as if to say “look he is near”, but he was not and I felt unsafe.

  I ran, out of the woods with danger at every corner. I came to a waterfall. How quiet it sounded. I reached and caressed the water with my fingertips. Cold it was. But not our love? A sweet solitude came to me. A hymn beckoning me to follow, but I stayed. Yes he is near. I knew the rules and I played the games. Must it always be this way? I chanced the opportunity. He would never know. I walked into the water and forced myself under it.

  He would come for me and the game would be over. I raised my hands above my head and I felt soft silky cold hands grabbed them. Pulling me out with fearful eyes, he sighed. The game was over. No more games? He shook his head no. I smiled as he held me in his arms. The sweet solace igniting from him even though he was never to see the sun. The moon was my loves only light.

  “But you are my solace my love. The solace I had renounced, is deep inside your very soul. You are my prize, the gift I always wanted. The debt is now paid, I may never see the sun, but you will forever be mine my love,” a soft sigh came from him and I was mesmerized by his words. His voice seemed that of an angel. Yes my angel, my cherub, my God.

  I closed my eyes. I could feel the wind caress my skin and I was cold. My wet light blue dress clung to my skin. I shivered and he held me tighter.

  “Please my love, open your eyes. I want the ocean of them. The deep blue depths. Yes.”

  And I did. Only for him. I rested my chin on his shoulder and I let myself embrace him. My love who was preserved a little too young. I young man of 17, living for almost 5 centuries. With a cherub face and auburn curls. A beauty who died too young, my love...

 

                                "Heavenly Damnation"

                                     Written by Monse L.

Disclaimer: This story is fiction, I don’t own anyone else but Avelencia and a few other characters that will appear later in the story...This takes place in the 18^th Century. This is all based on my imagination. None of this has or will ever happen and is not real. I think everyone reading this knows that so on with the story…and yes this is a Cradle of Filth fan fic.

Chapter One

I arrived by carriage to a ball I had been invited to. Slowly I stepped out of it and looked around my surroundings and wondering what special mortal would be my latest victim. I was always delighted when surrounded by humans. The sweet smell of their blood intoxicating and filling me with pure bliss. And though I was never displeased by any mortal, I always sought the evildoers. I loved their struggle, their curses, their facial expressions when they finally realized what I was. I was always filled with such passion, both moral and immoral. I loved looking at the pretty mortal women and smelling their perfume and lusting blood.

I approached the doors of the castle-like-mansion, and instantly loved the site I created as I entered The Masquerade Ball . The people looked at me as if I was an angel that had fallen from heaven. I smiled proudly as men and woman gathered to talk to me. And I told them stories of the world.

Without much caution my eyes quickly diverted to a young female mortal. She was sitting alone on the side benches, watching the people in front of her dance. She would smile from time to time as she was noticed by the dancing people. Such an innocent beauty…so pure she is, I thought. Her hair was long and full with black curls. She was pale and she wore no make-up unlike the other females; whose faces were painted white and wore deep rouge. How she stood out from them all. She did not look British though, and I wondered where she was from. She wore a silver saffron gown that seemed to make her skin luminous. In her hands she held a black mask with white small feathers and silver glitter.

Without thinking I ignored the people I was speaking to and approached her and sat next to her. A light fragrance of lavender and lemongrass came from her. She smiled at me, her deep blue eyes searched my profile with warmth. She then looked back at the dancing figures before her.

I felt rather exhausted and sighed. The young woman noticed this, “Hello my name is Avelencia, what is your name?”

“Well hello Avelencia, I’m Daniel but call me Dani. Would you like to dance?” I said smiling.

“I would love to”, she said as she rose up from the bench.

“You know its been a while since I have danced…” I said rather shyly.

She laughed, “I’m sure you dance well.”

I took her hand and we began to waltz. She laughed when I would spin us in circles. I loved her rich laughter. It seemed she could laugh and make someone fall in love with her. I put my arms on her waist and she put hers on my shoulders and we danced slowly to the sweet music being played.

“See,” she said. “You could dance.”

I laughed, “With you, I could dance forever!” I said as I span us into circles again.

She threw her head back and laughed, “Forever and ever!” she said with sweet sarcasm.

“You are not British? Where are you from,” I asked her as we took a seat at a table.

“I’m from Italy. I came here with my family…” she said quite timidly.

“Ah, and how long have you been here?”

“For about 4 years, I love it here, though I miss my country.”

“Italy is very beautiful,” I said and she smiled and nodded.

“Avelencia!” Someone from behind yelled. I turned to see who it was as did she, though she knew who it was.

“Avelencia, where have you been? Father has been looking for you. He wants to introduce you to some young man; whom will betrothed you!” a young boy told her in Italian and grabbed her arm to take her away.

“What? Giovanni what do you mean?” she said as she gently pushed him away.

“Father has chosen this young man to marry you and is looking for you! He is getting angry Ave!”

“Oh no! I cannot believe this! Its too soon. Tell father that I have gone home, I have fallen ill. Please!”

The boy sighed and nodded, “I shall tell only because I do not want you to marry this man anymore then you do.”

“Thank you, Giovanni” she said as she hugged him and he left.

I looked at her. From her mind I took that she was only a girl of 17. She did not want to marry yet. She wanted to enjoy her freedom. She wanted to marry someone she truly loved. Oh the laments in her pure young mind!

“I am sorry that your father has found you someone to be betrothed by.”

“You understand Italian? Oh nevermind, I am sorry too. I don’t really want to destroy my fathers honor if I do not marry this man. I should have known he would have done something like this.”

I nodded, “Who is your father?”

“Giovanni Christano Di Giaconni the 3^rd,” she said cynically.

“Ah,” of course I knew this man. He was one of the richest bastards in all of England. The Queen herself would have him at her dinning room.

“I can’t stay here, my father will be looking to make sure that I am at my home.”

“Would you like for me to take you home?”

“I would love for you to do so,” she winked at me and laughed.

I smiled. She looked like a siren. I took her hand in mine and walked us to my carriage…

Chapter Two

We had stopped at a gate. I looked at her, and she nodded, as if reading my thoughts. The gate was slowly opened by two young guards. It seemed a ritual to them. As if they had spent their whole lives doing this routine. Yielding only to those they knew were kinsmen to her family. It was rather a short ride to her house, but when finally we reached it she thanked me and said goodbye. I looked at her in dismay. I wanted to see her again, would she want that too? I stopped her. I would not have it any other way.

“Will I see you again?” I said to her.

She looked at me with curiosity, “I’m sure you will.” With that she stepped off the carriage. I knew not what to think of it, so I signaled for the coachman to take us away. Quite honestly, I expected our exchange of goodbyes to go by in a more convenient matter. At that moment I did not realize the hunger I did not have for her, that I could be with her and not think about draining her. Well I soon realized it when a short pain in my stomach began to rise, as if reborn from the first night I was made.

I did go back to the ball. I found a rather plump cheating bitch waiting for me. Of all the criminals I have tasted, this one I found very arousing. She wanted me, poor hag.

I led her to a room, though you could still hear the music and drunken dancing voices, I tried to drown them out. She kissed my neck. She thought I wanted her. I stepped back from her and laughed at her scornfully. She immediately flushed with rage.

“Is it not what you want?” her voice was flustered.

“Oh, and what is it exactly that I want?” I mocked her.

She exposed her breasts. I laughed at her again, only this time with amusement.

She looked at me as if I had scarred her ego, “You blood-,” but I had her and I sunk my teeth into her neck before she could finish her insult. Her struggles were weak but all the more delighting.

“Hmm, yes. ‘You blood’ thirsty creature?” I said as I drank from her.

She gasped. As if she was drowning she raised her hands above her head and tried to scream. Without thinking, I put my free hand to her mouth, my other hand holding her head in place. With each gulp, I saw her colors. Oh, she wouldn’t lie or cheat anymore. Her whole life was a lie. I swooned and released my grip on her. She fell back on the bed. Yes, she would never have to worry about lying anymore (not that she did).

“I think perhaps I will leave you here, your kinsmen will be delighted seeing you like this,” I whispered to her ear. She was still alive, in a matter of minutes her body would shut down. Of course, her mind was a torrent of confusion, so she could not tell them what exactly had befallen her, were that she were to live long enough.

I got up and left the room. I walked out of the mansion and went straight to my carriage. I hesitated a moment. I looked around. I felt I was being watched. Somewhere behind the fortresses of trees, someone was watching.

Shrugging it off I addressed myself to my coachmen, “Erland?” I said waking him up.

“Sir?” he replied. His voice was groggy.

I sighed, “Take me back to my lair.”

“Yes, sir.”

I got inside the carriage and we rode to my home. The night however, was still young. It seemed forever the ride to my house. All the while I couldn’t help but think about Avelencia. She was pure. Her blood was pure, but alas I had no thought of draining her. And yet why would I ever think of draining her? My thoughts were disturbed, I felt an estranged feeling, as if your private thoughts were being intruded. I sighed, I knew this estranged feeling and I dreaded it.

The carriage had stopped, I got out. Trees surrounded us. I turned around and started the walk to my house. The gravel seemed to move beneath my feet, and I had no light to guide me. I really had no intention of getting there as quickly as possible, for I dreaded even the thought of going home, for the simple reason that my “mistress” was there.

“Once again on the prowl?” a feminine voice said from behind me.

I turned around, “What do you want?” I wanted nothing to do with her, but I knew she wouldn’t give up easily.

“I would want for you to be with me more often, Daniel.,” she said walking ahead of me.

“We’ve been together for so many years, what bloody more could you want?” I said catching up to her.

“What have you been doing tonight?” she said raising a golden eye brow.

“Why? Why should I tell you?”

She laughed, “Oh, you look so guilty!”

Her laughter was mocking, never genuine or filled with emotion. Eupraxia. Yes, she was my maker, my mistress and my companion. I do not love her. I did however, once so long ago love her. She was nothing to me now but a walking damned killer, who was more of an obnoxious sister then a mistress. Why did I stay with her? After so many years of mockery and bitter arguments, I found I still needed her. She is an essential key to

what I am. Despite her arrogance, she had some value in her, but I strayed from her. I didn’t want to spent more then a few hours with her. In time we would go our separate ways.

“Have you taken an innocent life?” she said as we entered the house.

“No, but of course you have.” I said mocking her.

She gasped, “Me? Take blood from innocent mortals? Well I don’t believe you! How could you accuse me of such a thing?” she laughed with amusement.

“Eupraxia, you give me a headache,” I said.

“There now, Dani. I don’t mean to do such things, but really how goes with your mortal fascination?”

“Oh shut it,” I said with little compassion and she looked at me as if I had smacked her pretty face.

“What is wrong with you? Surely men do not have hot flashes, let alone male blood-drinkers.”

I rolled my eyes and headed to the study room. I put up a fire in the chimney and I sat on a red velvet chair. I stared at the fire intently and it seemed hours had passed by. Eupraxia came and sat in a chair next to me.

“You know, you can’t always treat me this way,” she said softly.

“What do you mean? I treat you no different then I did when you first made me.”

“Oh ho, now we both know that that is not true,” she said surprised.

“My apologies Eupraxia, but how would you want me to treat you? As if I loved you? Well I do not and I refuse to be folly with you," I said to her as kindly as I could.

She shook her head and looked at me sadly, "You don't have to love me to treat me as if you care about me. Do you even care about me?" I shrugged, "Daniel, I made you and I only did because I thought that we could spend together forever. Not much as lovers, but friendly companions. I fell in love with your mortality and for that I am greatly damned. I suppose immortals aren’t meant to spend their eternity together."

It had been so long since she spoke to me like that; with emotion and obvious truth. She was gentle and serene, but she was nevertheless saddened by my words and my actions. I did not like disappointing anyone, and I felt I had disappointed her.

"Look, I don't know how our relationship came to be this way, I suppose it was because of your remorseless actions and your cold heart, but I don't want it to be this way if we continue to be together."

"Cold heart?" she said.

I nodded, "It's rare to see you act warmheartedly."

She shrugged, "Not much compassion," she looked at me and smirked as she got up and left the room.

I continued to stare at the fire. Could I be different with her? Could we start all over? Was there hope for us? It seemed that I couldn't answer these questions at the moment. If I was going to spend my immortality with her; then she would have to change her ways. Or perhaps what she had said was true, that immortals weren't meant to spend their eternity together.

I got up, I felt dawn coming. I was already lethargic and my immortal sleep was begging to come sooner. I put out the fire and walked out of the study room. I look around the living area, Eupraxia was sprawled on the couch reading some book. I shook my head. She was always reading a book before dawn came. I started my way to the cellar.

"Off to your slumber?" she called out.

"Yeah, so see you in the evening," I said without turning my back.

The cellar was cold but I didn't mind. The cold was no different than hot weather to vampires. Though we are more keen to it then mortals, we do not feel it the way they do. It's rather pleasing; the weather temperatures.

There was no light here, but I could see clearly. I made my way to my sarcophagus. I hesitated a moment, I could feel the sun beginning to rise and I heard the cellar door open and lock. Now mind you the door is quite heavy and it would take many mortals to open it. I looked back at the stairs as Eupraxia was making her way down.

"Did you lock up?" I said to her.

"Of course," she said as she got inside her sarcophagus, "Nice dreams, Dani," she said as she closed the lid.

I got inside the sarcophagus, as the deep sleep was coming. The lid closed, or rather I closed it with my mind. I closed my eyes and slept well before the deep sleep came.

Authors Note: Phew that was exciting (mmhmm)! More to come...!