Sunset Valley was a very insular town. They had little dealings with the outside world, but knew one another one another well. They had their doubts when Elizabeth Merry-Keller joined their ranks. She was sociable and charming, but there was something, something off about her that the others couldn't quite define.
Elizabeth was a fastidious woman who wore her dark blonde hair in a prim bun. Her outfit was conservative too- a high-buttoned shirt and blue trousers. The bizarre thing was that she always wore an apron, even when going out. No one had ever seen her cook, or clean, but that's what she wore. Her makeup, however didn't match the rest of her. She was heavily rouged, wore dark red lipstick and heavy eyeshadow. Perhaps that's why the others didn't trust her- something didn't seem quite right.
It was a small town, and talk circulated quickly. She had moved into a tiny apartment and rumor had it she hadn't even furnished it. She didn't sleep, but spent her nights fishing at the pond in central park until the sun came up.
Elizabeth had been hoping to meet a rich man. She had very little money, and very little need for money, considering that she didn't need to eat, sleep, or even use the bathroom. No, she wasn't a vampire, just what she considered a perfect specimen of humanity. But she wanted money, as a player wants points in a game. She had moved to this town and learned the names of the major players- Geoffrey Landgraab, wife of the wealthy Nancy Landgraab, and Nick Alto, who lived with his wife and child across from the Landgraabs. In spite of their proximity, the two wealthy couples were at odds with each other. It was a case of competing businesses, and old money versus the nouveau riche.
Elizabeth's chance came when she was sitting outside the bookstore reading a book on fishing. She loved the catch the animals, to take them from their natural habitat and watch them suffocate. It was her one interest outside of her life's ambition- to marry for money. When Geoffrey Landgraab appeared outside the bookshop she threw down the book and immediately introduced herself to him. He was a doctor with shaggy gold hair and a goofy expression. It wasn't long before they were flirting and she had invited him back to her house.
She was embarrassed by her home- it had no furniture and she had made no effort to decorate it. But it would have to do- what mattered was that Geoffrey was here. She complimented Geoffrey and held him in a warm embrace. It wasn't long before they were kissing and she had lured him into her bed. She was satisfied when he had gone. She had learned that he was family oriented, and once she had led him to betray his wife, he would feel some obligation toward her. She smiled to herself and finished her book on fishing for lobsters. You had to boil them alive, and she liked the idea of that.
That night she headed to Geoffrey's mansion. In Sunset Valley there a strange idea of propriety, and she was not breaking any rules. She had tidied her apron, and far from being shocked by her appearance, Geoffrey met her on the front porch and kissed her. This was going better than she expected. They pulled apart, holding hands, and Nancy Landgraab appeared on the porch with a look of shock on her face.
Elizabeth smoothed things over and she soon had charmed Nancy. They walked into the magnificent house, and Elizabeth looked around in awe. She complimented Nancy's home and gushed about the local gossip, and they quickly made friends. But as soon as Nancy had gone, Elizabeth took to kissing Geoffrey. Their small son Malcolm, wise for his years, knew what was going on, and called Elizabeth out on her nasty behavior. Elizabeth simply talked how fond she was of Nancy, but the boy knew better than to believe her. Elizabeth walked up to the bedroom where Nancy and Geoffrey were fighting. Neither seemed upset with her, but they were furious with one another. The boy, the little upstart, managed to get Elizabeth kicked out of the house. She walked pertly out and walked to a nearby pond to fish.
She promptly took out her phone and invited Geoffrey to join her. Yes, it was late, but he had been up all night fighting with his wife, and happily came to see her. She was enjoying seeing a trout in his death throes, but quickly turned to Geoffrey. He had been fighting with his wife- he didn't think it would work out. She asked if they could be together and he joyfully agreed. She then took the plunge and proposed marriage.
"Yes!" he said. By now Nancy came and was snarling at Elizabeth, but Elizabeth simply walked away, her apron flouncing. She had the power now. The wedding was celebrated on the beach- there were few guests, but poor young Malcolm had been forced to come: Elizabeth had seen to that.
The laws in Sunset Valley concerning divorce were unjust. Basically, the party that had broken up a couple had the right to decide how the households would be divided. Malcom and Nancy were thrust into Elizabeth's ugly unfurnished little house, and she lived in the mansion with Geoffrey.
That night Elizabeth walked into her new home sighing with delight. She had achieved her dream- almost. She didn't like sharing things, and she though she enjoyed the triumph of the wedding, she didn't like being married. Her husband was warming himself by a stove, and she locked him in. She realized, now that she had taken over the household she could influence his power- it was another injustice of life in Sunset Valley. She pushed him to stoke the fire, over and over until it consumed him. He screamed as the flames enveloped him, but she was thinking about other things.
She felt a sadness in her heart, because she was in a way in love. But she had to do what she was born to. The grim reaper came and took her husband away, leaving a gravestone in his place. By now it was early morning. She picked up the stone, and carried it with her. She already had several trout in her purse- she had an uncanny ability to hold things, lots of things. She cleaned up the floor. She didn't like mess, especially now that the house was hers, entirely hers.