Arranged Marriage

This Story Doesn't Make Sense!!

Rachel swept her silken nightgown behind her, slowly dropping each foot down onto every marbled step with a flourish. She reached the bottom of the long winding staircase, and elegantly draped herself onto her favorite armchair. She gazed out the window, beholding the soft lunar light of the half-moon.

This was the time of month she liked best. During the full moon, when Werewolves couldn't oppose the moon's pulls any longer, they set out during the night. In the days leading up to and following, townspeople rushed about, frenzied with hiding their meat and animals, yet strangely optimistic.

On new moon nights, however, Vampires simply couldn't resist the temptation of even the moon's soft light gone, with no illumination whatsoever to distract them. Everyone stayed hidden in their homes from sunset till sunrise, not even willing to glance out their windows. It was dangerous to tempt a vampire at their strongest, with absolutely no human left in them at all. In the days before and after, a gray cloud appeared to shield people's visions of the world.

But now, in the middle of the month, no one was drawn to do or feel anything that didn't suit them. By staring at the moon, Rachel found herself feeling fuller, more alive than ever before. She seemed to be absorbing the moon's power, touching the surface of things she could not understand, sending ripples into a wave of nothingness. The moon seemed to be talking to Rachel, though she couldn't fully understand it.

The moon gave her everything it had, and Rachel soothed it with soft, snake-like words, this time focusing on the dark side. She had no idea what she could be saying, but somehow couldn't stop.

Half lighted, half not, the moon drew Rachel in and she felt that she couldn't pull herself away. It was helping her, talking to her, listening to the problems no one else seemed to care about. In turn, she listened to his.

Come down, she coaxed it gently. Please join me, down here. Suddenly, she realized that it wasn't the moon itself she was talking to; it was something, someone, the moon was holding.

The man in the moon, Rachel's favorite childhood phrase came to her.

Come, please come, if you want to come, please, you can, you can, please come down here, with me. Please. . ? Rachel begged him to come down, just for a short while, he could go back when he was needed. Didn't he want to come down? Didn't he want to see the place he had stared at for centuries?

Turning her back to the window, Rachel swallowed her tears. Why? How could she cry for someone she had never met? She stepped smoothly over the tiled floors, not making a sound but for the occasional clink of her shoes when she misjudged her pace.

She reached the foot of the stairway, but was hesitant to go up. Barely turning, she craned her neck, not expecting to see anything. Instead, a lone, dark figure in the shape of a boy her age stood, outlined by the open window. Letting out a quick gasp, Rachel ran towards him as gracefully as she could.

"Hello," he called to her when she was not ten feet away, and she slowed down.

"Hello," she replied, nodding her head. "What shall I call you?" she asked as an afterthought.

"Terra," he said, smiling.

"Earth?" she translated over from Latin.

"Yes," he said. "And what shall I call you?" He reached out. Holding her chin delicately, he forced her to meet her sea green eyes with his silver-rimmed ones. Caught in his eyes, she held his gaze, studying them. The rims were a dark gray, shifting and catching light with every movement, no matter how slight. His irises were a gray-silver, not as bright as the rims, but still spectacular. His pupils were of the purest black, reflecting in them everything he saw.

"Rachel," she sighed after a pause. "You may call me Rachel." He seemed surprised. Had he been struck by her eyes, as well? No, he couldn't have been. Her eyes were pretty, but not much else.

"Rachel," he breathed slowly. Terra seized Rachel's hands gently, leading her to the window seat. He sat down, with Rachel following, her hands still being held by his. He leaned towards her, placing his hands around her.

Rachel had not noticed how cold she was, but she was trembling. He hugged her, keeping her warm against his body.

Rachel closed her eyes, and leaned in against his chest. She listened to his slow, steady heartbeat as it lulled her kindly to sleep.

"Terra?" she called before she drifted to sleep.

"Yes, my love?" he whispered back. Rachel smiled. Love, she thought He loves me. And I love him, too. Yes, I do, I do love him.

"Stay with me forever, Terra, I love you." She murmured.

"Always, Rachel, I'll always be with you. I love you." He spoke softly, and Rachel could feel his breath on her neck. "Thank you, my love. Good night," she said quietly.

"Pleasant dreams, Rachel," was the last thing she heard before she floated to sleep.