Suddenly, it seemed the whole household had gone into mourning as if
Lillith were dead rather then just missing. The servants, whom Lillith had
greeted every morning by name, grew sullen and cold. Lith's private garden
fell into disrepair, though Damien had tried his hardest to keep it alive.
The house grew darker by the day and winter seemed to make the darkness
grow. Damien was starting to withdraw from everyone around him and spent
most of his time either holed up in his room or wandering the halls like a
ghost. Christmas time was growing near and the house was getting busy
despite the lack of help from Lillith and her special decorations.
It was time for the Governor's ball and Will and Elizabeth thought it a perfect time to force their son from his hiding. Damien stood by the door greeting the guests with a very forced smile. Will put a hand on his sons shoulder. "How're you holding up, son??" Damien heaved a sigh. "It isn't the same, Father. Lillith and I would joke about how the women were dressed all frilly....we can't do that anymore...." Will nodded as a group of girls passed, giggling and pointing to the governor's handsome son. "I understand, but it seems you're getting a lot more attention since Lillith's left your side. Perhaps you'll find a sutiable wife." Damien shook his head as his father walked away. His father just couldn't understand that Christmas just wasn't Christmas without Lillith.
After all the guests had arrived, Damien was ushered into the ballroom to watch over the guests. He was asked by countless girls to dance but he turned each down. Finally, during the middle of the dance came the part where the Governor and his family would each take turns dance. Every year it had been the same; Will and Elizabeth, Dierdre and Francis, Damien and Lillith. This year, it seemed, Damien was dancing alone. As Dierdre and Francis finished their dance, however, a young woman dressed in a splendid dress of gold and jewel-toned colors walked up to Damien and bowed. Her features were obstructed by a golden mask and she spoke no words to Damien as she grabbed his hand and pulled him onto the dance-floor.
What unnerved Damien the most about this was that as they began the dance was that the strange woman danced the exact steps he and Lillith had created by themselves the year before. When the dance ended, the people around them began to clap and the woman gave a bow, trying to walk away but Damien grabbed her hand back. "M'Lady....what might your name be?" The woman shook her head and moved from Damien, rushing into the entrance hall. As the dancing resumed, Damien followed at the woman's heels. Finally she stopped in a dark hallway. Taking a few slow steps towards her, Damien tried to be consoling. "M'Lady, please. I only want to know who you are. You remind me of someone I once lo---someone once I knew." The woman's hand came up and she beckoned him closer.
Damien took a few more steps, fully enshrouded in darkness now, he wondered what would happen. Suddenly his thoughts were boggled. The woman, whoever she might be, had kissed him; full and passionate on the mouth. A delicious sense of protection and warmth filled him but almost as soon as the moment had started, it ended and by the time Damien had come to the woman was gone.
Running into the ballroom, Damien's eyes were big, searching for the golden dress the woman had been wearing. Will noticed his son's frantic gaze and rushed over. "Damien?? What's wrong??" "It was Lillith...she's here, father. I know it." While he spoke, Damien searched over his father's head. Will sighed heavily. "Damien, son, I think it's time you made your leave and went to sleep." Damien shook his head. "No...I'm just fine, honest. Please, father. You have to help me." Will took his son nearly painfully by the arm. "It's time for bed, Damien."
Taking his arm from his father, Damien took off at a run, rushing through the dancing crowds. Bursting into the gardens, Damien took in a deep breath of frigid air; his breath coming out in steam. The full moon shone down and Damien looked up to it. Lillith had come and gone in more then a moment. It had to be her, Damien knew it in his heart. He sighed and walked back inside, saying goodnight to his mother and father.
Up the stairs he went and halfway up the stairs he began to undress. His father probably thought he was insane thinking Lillith had been here. Throwing his door open, Damien slammed it shut behind him and fell onto his bed. Leaning up he began to punch at his pillows, grumbling angrily to himself. "You'll destroy those pillows...." came a voice. "They're quite comfortable." Damien looked around, his eyes big to see better in the darkness. A figure was draped over his desk chair, bathed from behind in moonlight.
"Who are you??? What are you doing in my room??" The figure altered its position. "Did you enjoy our dance??? Or was the kiss your most memorable part of it??" Damien felt his heart racing as he climbed off his bed and started to walk towards the figure. "Lillith????" Damien asked, his eyes wide and hopeful. Reaching over, the figure turned on a gas lamp. Lillith was there, dressed in a pair of pants and a loose shirt. Around her neck dangled an old looking charm. Her long dark hair was plaited roughly into a braid but her eyes dazzled in that beautiful ocean color of theirs. "Hello, Damien...." she whispered.
Damien's face broke into a great big grin and he grabbed Lillith's hand, pulling her up. "You're back! I knew it was you!!" Damien hugged his old friend. Lillith smiled, as he pulled away. "Where did you go? Why did you leave???" Damien asked frantically. Lillith shook her head before taking his hand and leading him to the window. "Do you really want to know???" Damien nodded. Lillith held out her hand. "The sea was calling to me. I had to go." Damien gripped Lillith's hand. "But you left...you didn't tell me anything. You always tell me, Lil."
Lillith nodded. "I know....I usually do. But this time---it was something I had to do on my own. You know???" Damien nodded almost sadly. Lillith turned his head towards her. "But I came back, didn't I???" Damien nodded again. Lillith reached up and touched his cheek. "For some reason I always come back to you...." Leaning forward brushed the back of her hand against his cheek, resting her forehead against his. Both were suddenly so close to one another Damien felt he could just reach out and hold her forever. But as his arms extended, Lillith moved slowly away. "No, Damien...I can't stay." Damien looked to her with sad, heartbreaking eyes. "But you just got here...." he whispered. Lillith gave him one of her dazzling smiles and kissed his forehead.
"And I'll come back....but for now..." Reaching into a side pack she held, Lilith held out a small box. "Merry Christmas, Damien." Damien smiled weakly as he opened the box's lid and lifted out if it a charm matching to that of Lillith's. Taking the fine gold chain, Lillith lifted it around his neck. "I bought this in Cancun. I asked for a set of two. That way I could always spot you." Damien lifted the charm and ran his fingers over the skull emblazoned on the gold. "It's supposed to halt sudden death." Lillith whispered. Damien looked up and smiled. "Thank you, Lil. But--won't you please stay???"
Lillith smiled and her sun-beaten face still colored that certain shade of red. "I wish I could, Damien..." "Please, do. At least come downstairs and say hello to my mother and father. Please??" Lillith shook her head with a smile and touched his cheek. "I can't, Damien. The sea beckons again." Reaching forward she hugged him warmly. Damien shook his head. "No...you can't leave, not so soon." Lillith pulled away and smiled at her friend. "I promise...I'll come back for you." Kissing his forehead, Lillith walked out to the balcony. Swinging her leg over the railing, Damien rushed after her, thinking maybe he could talk her out of leaving again. Giving a small whistle, Lillith stood on the edge of the balcony and flashed Damien her dazzling smile before falling gracefully from the railing.
Damien uttered a shout before looking down and seeing there was a small group of men down below waiting to catch her. Lillith waved up at him before disappearing into the shrubs. Damien stood outside for the longest time, feeling the ache of loneliness return in full force and then some. Walking back inside, Damien picked up the box that Lillith's gift had been in. In a wave of anger he threw the box against the wall. The box fell apart and a note that had been inside, fell out. Walking over, Damien picked up the reminence of the box and lastly, the note. Opening the tiny strip of paper was a short note, scrawled very fast.
'Meet me New Years Day at the harbor. Midnight. Don't be late.'
It was time for the Governor's ball and Will and Elizabeth thought it a perfect time to force their son from his hiding. Damien stood by the door greeting the guests with a very forced smile. Will put a hand on his sons shoulder. "How're you holding up, son??" Damien heaved a sigh. "It isn't the same, Father. Lillith and I would joke about how the women were dressed all frilly....we can't do that anymore...." Will nodded as a group of girls passed, giggling and pointing to the governor's handsome son. "I understand, but it seems you're getting a lot more attention since Lillith's left your side. Perhaps you'll find a sutiable wife." Damien shook his head as his father walked away. His father just couldn't understand that Christmas just wasn't Christmas without Lillith.
After all the guests had arrived, Damien was ushered into the ballroom to watch over the guests. He was asked by countless girls to dance but he turned each down. Finally, during the middle of the dance came the part where the Governor and his family would each take turns dance. Every year it had been the same; Will and Elizabeth, Dierdre and Francis, Damien and Lillith. This year, it seemed, Damien was dancing alone. As Dierdre and Francis finished their dance, however, a young woman dressed in a splendid dress of gold and jewel-toned colors walked up to Damien and bowed. Her features were obstructed by a golden mask and she spoke no words to Damien as she grabbed his hand and pulled him onto the dance-floor.
What unnerved Damien the most about this was that as they began the dance was that the strange woman danced the exact steps he and Lillith had created by themselves the year before. When the dance ended, the people around them began to clap and the woman gave a bow, trying to walk away but Damien grabbed her hand back. "M'Lady....what might your name be?" The woman shook her head and moved from Damien, rushing into the entrance hall. As the dancing resumed, Damien followed at the woman's heels. Finally she stopped in a dark hallway. Taking a few slow steps towards her, Damien tried to be consoling. "M'Lady, please. I only want to know who you are. You remind me of someone I once lo---someone once I knew." The woman's hand came up and she beckoned him closer.
Damien took a few more steps, fully enshrouded in darkness now, he wondered what would happen. Suddenly his thoughts were boggled. The woman, whoever she might be, had kissed him; full and passionate on the mouth. A delicious sense of protection and warmth filled him but almost as soon as the moment had started, it ended and by the time Damien had come to the woman was gone.
Running into the ballroom, Damien's eyes were big, searching for the golden dress the woman had been wearing. Will noticed his son's frantic gaze and rushed over. "Damien?? What's wrong??" "It was Lillith...she's here, father. I know it." While he spoke, Damien searched over his father's head. Will sighed heavily. "Damien, son, I think it's time you made your leave and went to sleep." Damien shook his head. "No...I'm just fine, honest. Please, father. You have to help me." Will took his son nearly painfully by the arm. "It's time for bed, Damien."
Taking his arm from his father, Damien took off at a run, rushing through the dancing crowds. Bursting into the gardens, Damien took in a deep breath of frigid air; his breath coming out in steam. The full moon shone down and Damien looked up to it. Lillith had come and gone in more then a moment. It had to be her, Damien knew it in his heart. He sighed and walked back inside, saying goodnight to his mother and father.
Up the stairs he went and halfway up the stairs he began to undress. His father probably thought he was insane thinking Lillith had been here. Throwing his door open, Damien slammed it shut behind him and fell onto his bed. Leaning up he began to punch at his pillows, grumbling angrily to himself. "You'll destroy those pillows...." came a voice. "They're quite comfortable." Damien looked around, his eyes big to see better in the darkness. A figure was draped over his desk chair, bathed from behind in moonlight.
"Who are you??? What are you doing in my room??" The figure altered its position. "Did you enjoy our dance??? Or was the kiss your most memorable part of it??" Damien felt his heart racing as he climbed off his bed and started to walk towards the figure. "Lillith????" Damien asked, his eyes wide and hopeful. Reaching over, the figure turned on a gas lamp. Lillith was there, dressed in a pair of pants and a loose shirt. Around her neck dangled an old looking charm. Her long dark hair was plaited roughly into a braid but her eyes dazzled in that beautiful ocean color of theirs. "Hello, Damien...." she whispered.
Damien's face broke into a great big grin and he grabbed Lillith's hand, pulling her up. "You're back! I knew it was you!!" Damien hugged his old friend. Lillith smiled, as he pulled away. "Where did you go? Why did you leave???" Damien asked frantically. Lillith shook her head before taking his hand and leading him to the window. "Do you really want to know???" Damien nodded. Lillith held out her hand. "The sea was calling to me. I had to go." Damien gripped Lillith's hand. "But you left...you didn't tell me anything. You always tell me, Lil."
Lillith nodded. "I know....I usually do. But this time---it was something I had to do on my own. You know???" Damien nodded almost sadly. Lillith turned his head towards her. "But I came back, didn't I???" Damien nodded again. Lillith reached up and touched his cheek. "For some reason I always come back to you...." Leaning forward brushed the back of her hand against his cheek, resting her forehead against his. Both were suddenly so close to one another Damien felt he could just reach out and hold her forever. But as his arms extended, Lillith moved slowly away. "No, Damien...I can't stay." Damien looked to her with sad, heartbreaking eyes. "But you just got here...." he whispered. Lillith gave him one of her dazzling smiles and kissed his forehead.
"And I'll come back....but for now..." Reaching into a side pack she held, Lilith held out a small box. "Merry Christmas, Damien." Damien smiled weakly as he opened the box's lid and lifted out if it a charm matching to that of Lillith's. Taking the fine gold chain, Lillith lifted it around his neck. "I bought this in Cancun. I asked for a set of two. That way I could always spot you." Damien lifted the charm and ran his fingers over the skull emblazoned on the gold. "It's supposed to halt sudden death." Lillith whispered. Damien looked up and smiled. "Thank you, Lil. But--won't you please stay???"
Lillith smiled and her sun-beaten face still colored that certain shade of red. "I wish I could, Damien..." "Please, do. At least come downstairs and say hello to my mother and father. Please??" Lillith shook her head with a smile and touched his cheek. "I can't, Damien. The sea beckons again." Reaching forward she hugged him warmly. Damien shook his head. "No...you can't leave, not so soon." Lillith pulled away and smiled at her friend. "I promise...I'll come back for you." Kissing his forehead, Lillith walked out to the balcony. Swinging her leg over the railing, Damien rushed after her, thinking maybe he could talk her out of leaving again. Giving a small whistle, Lillith stood on the edge of the balcony and flashed Damien her dazzling smile before falling gracefully from the railing.
Damien uttered a shout before looking down and seeing there was a small group of men down below waiting to catch her. Lillith waved up at him before disappearing into the shrubs. Damien stood outside for the longest time, feeling the ache of loneliness return in full force and then some. Walking back inside, Damien picked up the box that Lillith's gift had been in. In a wave of anger he threw the box against the wall. The box fell apart and a note that had been inside, fell out. Walking over, Damien picked up the reminence of the box and lastly, the note. Opening the tiny strip of paper was a short note, scrawled very fast.
'Meet me New Years Day at the harbor. Midnight. Don't be late.'