Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

Chapter 5

William Donovan was a simple man. In the 1700's, he made an honest living as a botanist and a farmer. He had a happy life, but he longed for someone to share it with. On the outside, he was content with his life; but on the inside, he was torn apart. He would constantly stay in his room, crying due to the fact that he was always alone in this world. But one day, that all changed.
One day as William was in the town purchasing some seed for his farm, he noticed a beautiful woman walking in town. She wore a flowing white dress, with white shoes. She also had on a pair of white gloves and a white hat. Her long brown hair reached down to the end of her back. The white umbrella kept her always in the shade. She must have been from a wealthy family, as all of her outfit looked new. She was a beautiful sight to Williams eyes, and when her gray eyes met William's brown eyes, he felt a strong connection between them. But alas, his thoughts of being alone plagued his mind once again. That is, until she walked up to him.
“Hello sir.” she asked in a kind, soft voice. “I am new here, and I am not sure where to go. Can you help me?”
“Yes miss, I can help you.” William replied, with a little excitement in his voice. “What would you like to know?”
“I am looking for someone who sells flowers, especially roses.” she asked calmly.
“You are in luck miss. I happen to grow them. If you would like, you can come with me to my home, and select some for yourself.” William said, excited.
“That would be wonderful!” she replied. “Do you have a carriage to get to your residence?”
“Well, all I have is a simple horse and wagon... It isn't much...” he said, worried.
“It is quite all right.” she said kindly. “It is better to have that than nothing at all.”
“You are right.” William said, relieved. “Well, my wagon is this way, miss...”
“Elda. Elda Sinclair. And your name is?”
“William Donovan, miss.”
“A pleasure to meet you, William.” she said with a smile. They walked to his wagon. He held out his hand and helped her into the seat of the wagon. He then hurried to the other side, got in, and they set off to his home. It was a small farm, but in the New World, it was a place to live. When they arrived, he got out and immediately helped her down. In the back of his home, he had a small flower garden. It had many flowers. He then showed her the rose bush he had. It had many long stemmed red roses on it. She selected one, and William cut it loose from the bush. She held it close to her and smelled the flower. Its fragrance was wonderful.
“Thank you very much, Mr. Donovan. What do I owe you for this beautiful rose?” she asked kindly.
“Umm, well...” he thought for a moment. “Seeing that you are new to this town... consider it a welcome present.” he said shyly.
“Well, I appreciate it. Thank you, William.” She smiled at him. She had a beautiful face, and to William, her smile was her best feature. William took Elda back to town, where they parted ways then he headed back for home. For the first time in a long while, he didn't feel sad. About a week later, a visitor came to him. It was Elda, and she needed a new rose as the old one had died. So William and Elda went back to the large rose bush in back, and he cut her loose another one. When she offered to pay for it, he kindly declined payment. This continued for a few more weeks, till they realized they had feelings for each other. Their love for each other was pure, and William was, for the first time in a long while, truly happy.
After two months, Elda came to William's home with a worried look on her face. “What is wrong Elda?” William asked. They sat down inside his house.
“I have something to tell you, but I am afraid of what that might do to us.” she replied, frightened.
“Nothing can happen that will hurt us.” William said, reassuringly. “What is is, my dear?”
“As you have noticed, I have always worn gloves and carried an umbrella to shade me from the sun. The reason for that...” she stopped, worried about what would happen next. “...is that I am a vampire.”
“What do you mean? I am not sure I understand...” William said, confused.
“I am a vampire, William. I feed on blood to survive. The gloves and umbrella shield me from the sunlight so it does not burn me alive.” She looked at him, scared. But all William did was look at her lovingly. “Aren't you frightened by the fact that I am a vampire?”
“Elda, my love. It doesn't matter to me that you are a vampire. I love you. It doesn't matter what you are, I love you for who you are.” he replied lovingly.
“Oh, William...” And with that, William and Elda shared true love's first kiss.
Four more months after that evening, and their relationship developed even further. One day William took his life savings, a few pure gold pieces, and brought them to a goldsmith, who turned them into a gold ring. That evening, he wanted to propose to her. He made her a wonderful dinner, and they enjoyed it together. He then told her to wait while he got something. He went to his room to fetch the ring. Outside, a rainstorm was brewing.
Elda sat in her chair, waiting for William to return. However, she started to feel different. Vampires have a curse upon themselves. They must feed on a humans blood every six months. If the do not, then their instinct set in. When that happens, they will feed on any human they can get their hands on. And unfortunately, it had been six months since she tasted human blood...
When William returned with the ring in his hand, he noticed Elda had her head hung low. When he entered the room, she slowly stood up and walked towards him, head still hung low.
“My love, are you all right?” he asked. She then looked at him. Her eyes were a cold icy blue. “Darling, are you...” Before he finished, she closed in and sank her fangs into his neck. He felt the piercing pain as she started to drain his blood. But before she drained him completely...
“...El...Elda.”
She then realized what she was doing and released him. He collapsed in her arms. As Elda sat on the floor, she held her love in her arms. “William! Speak to me! William!”
“...El...Elda...”
“What is it!” She asked, worried.
“...I...lo...love...” But before he could finish, he passed on. His cold hand fell to the ground. In it was the ring he was going to give her.
“William...no...” She started trembling. “William!” She wept openly, while still holding her love close to her. Just then, a man walked in the door.
“Brother, I just arrived from the old country and I...” He turned to see Elda holding the body of William; his blood all over her mouth and dress, with two fang marks on his neck. “You... you monster! Get away from him!” He drew a rapier, but Elda got up and ran out the back door, weeping for her love. She ran past the rose bush that they had treasured and snagged her dress on the thorns. It tore a bit, but she ran on through the wind and rain...
To this day, Elda Sinclair still wears the ring her love wanted to give her. And every time she thinks of it, tears well up in those beautiful gray eyes.