He should have stuck to the streets. That was the first thought to cross his mind as his ice blue eyes took in the "party" that spilled onto the grounds of the sprawling estate before him. He had assumed that a gathering of the town's top socialites would give him a much needed respite from his usual routine. Clearly, he was wrong. He had heard of the event in passing; in truth he wasn't even aware what necessitated the forced celebration. Oh, the sounds and sights were right; but the faces, the grim smiles, they were all wrong. Perhaps he had walked into a lively funeral. The irony made his eyes crinkle with his grin. After nearly a thousand years, he had learned to entertain himself.
He stuck to the shadows along the trees that lined the long drive up to the front door. No reason to make his presence known just yet; although no one would truly recognize him. He had traveled the world as a shadow himself. Never staying in the same place for more than a few weeks, a few months at the longest. Never returning until those that could recognize him had been buried in the earth. This was the longest he had ever stayed put in quite awhile. Close enough to London to escape into the city when the country nights became too boring. He had been itching to move on. But he couldn't shake off the feeling that he wasn't finished here. There was still more to do.
His long, cool fingers wrapped around the head of his walking stick, leaning against it as he rolled around his plan for the night. Glamour his way into the party, enjoy a few of the humans that looked tastiest, and then disappear back into the night? Or slaughter the lot of them and leave the mystery for the newspapers to pick up in the morning. At the moment, neither option did much to excite him. His mind was already made up to return to town, perhaps find nourishment in the warm body of the mistresses that never seemed to be in short supply. He wasn't sure what made his head turn back to look at the house; it was instinct.
The light from the top story window was subdued, as if the inhabitant didn't wish to be there themselves. But he could see her; there was no hiding from him. He could see the way her corset showcased her tiny waist, pushing her breasts up deliciously. He could see the way her blonde hair was fashionably styled; twisted intricately with soft curls spilling over her shoulders. And her dress; the exact crimson of blood. It was wrapped around her small frame, contrasting with her pale, smooth skin. As if she was gift wrapped especially for him. If he still had breath to take, he would have gladly given it for the woman in the window. His eyes followed her as she paced the room, reminding him of a caged animal. She looked like one of the characters he had seen human children read about; A princess, locked in a stone tower.
As she turned to start yet another short walk across the floor of the room, he saw the reflection of her tears on her perfectly miserable face. At once, his heart clenched, vowing to destroy whoever had made this woman weep. It mattered not that he didn't so much as know her name. As she turned away from the window once again, he forgot himself, and took a step out of the shadows. He wanted, needed to be closer to her. She was his now. That simple fact he knew. And it was all that mattered.
He didn't move back as she came round to face the window again, as if daring her to notice him. His lips curled into a smirk as she hesitated by the glass, the moonlight playing across her face. She wasn't destined to be a mere human. She was destined for something else. Something greater. Destined for him. Even as she stared across the vast lawn, he knew she could not see him. Not yet. Not until he chose to make himself known. But for the first time in centuries, he found himself second guessing. Her blue eyes, which he could see so closely matched his own, were looking right at him.
He could almost see the battle raging behind her eyes, though her face remained calm, with only the trickle of a tear giving her away. He couldn't help himself. He took another step out of the shadows, just as she flung open the window.
