The Revenge of the Melancholic Moon

In the dim of the night, where the skylark soared above the setting sun, the demon had gotten what it wanted. in the cold, dark corner lay a bleeding half-naked and half-alive girl. Her eyes were soft brown and her skin was pale like an ivory. Her heart was barely beating and her weak cries were impossible to hear. The suffocating mist clouded her and left her shivering. Sadly, the girl was me...

I was so young, only seventeen. Being the daughter of the Earl had been my fortune because my future stretched infinitely forward. Of course i was arrogantly in love with a young man whose name was Brian. He was my father's servant so falling in love with him was forbidden. Instead, i was betrothed to another man. His name was Philip. He was a rich merchant who owned vast lands in Europe. But he was five years older than me. I didn't like his demeanor and the scar in his face. It stared from the bridge of his nose until his jawline. Brian was, in his own way, handsome. His bronze-tinted hair glinted under the glorious rays of the sun. His eyes were emerald green that fitted his perfect skin perfectly.

Under the radiance of the moon and the lustrous twinkle of the stars, i found Brian sitting on the wooden bench which faced the extensive garden of my father's land. This was our usual rendezvous at night after making sure that my nurse was already asleep. This was the place that we could freely hold each other and talk to each other. I took a seat beside him.

"The moon is beautiful tonight, don't you think?" I asked softly. He took my hand and secured it around his.

"If you look upon your reflection, do you think the moon could withstand it?" He retorted kindly.

"Tell me, Brian. what do you think of me?"

"You are the girl goddess Aphrodite wouldn't dare to compete. You are the most beautiful thing that happened in my life. I could see more of you behind your eyes." He held our gaze for a moment that suddenly seemed to become an infinity. Then he took my face in his hands.

My chest tightened.

I wasn't ready for this kind of thing. I had never kissed a man in my entire life. I just closed my eyes and waited. Then his lips brushed softly against mine until my breath came into wild spurts. I clutched Brian to me, my fingers knotted his hair. He responded quickly to my kiss when suddenly, something moved behind a bush. Brian drew an arm around me protectively.

"What was that?" i asked nervously.

"I don't know but we must get out of here. Something's wrong." We stood and hurried back to the mansion. We slipped to my room and then Brian said,

"I must go and see it. Lock up all your windows. I love you." He swiftly brushed his lips to mine and then he jumped out of the window.

"I love you, too. Take care Brian." I whispered as he faded into the darkness.

The next day was my mother's death anniversary and my father invited visitors across the country. I was wearing a black, satin dress with white laces. I was sitting on the front porch when i saw Philip arrive. Brian. who was watering the plants, saw him too and looked at me. He smiled and nodded and returned back to work.

"Hello, my lady." Philip said when he reached my place.

"Good morning, my lord." I saw Brian clench his hands to fists when Philip kissed my hand. I drew my hand back.

The whole day passed without much excitement and i was back to Brian's arms under the moon. We were about to kiss when Philip suddenly emerged from the trees.

Philip's eyes were burning with anger and in his hand was a pistol. Brian rose and so was i but he shielded me with his body.

"Just stay behind me." He said. i was trembling with fear but i managed to keep my feet on the ground. "Philip, drop that gun."

"How dare you say that to me, servant!"

"Drop that gun, now." Brian said firmly.

"This?" Philip held the gun up high, leveling it to Brian's forehead.

"No!" i shouted but Brian held me back.

"Why, sweetheart? are you afraid of your husband?"

"You're not my husband Philip. I'm not even afraid of you. I'm afraid for Brian. Don't do this." Tears swelled up and started streaming down.

"I don't care!" His forefinger lingered on the trigger and he walked to close the distance to twenty feet.

"She didn't betray you. Who are you anyway? you're just a stranger to her."