Moonstruck
For the fraction of a second, Livia's mind was filled with a frightening, all-encompassing emptiness, while a stifling silence descended upon her, its weight slowly but steadily threatening to crush the young woman underneath it. This state was replaced by confusion paired with budding rage, which took hold of her and nested itself in her thoughts, in order to take up roots and let them sprout at a rapid pace. Her face reflected the alchemist's chaos of emotions as she clenched her teeth tightly together and looked angrily after the vampire.
"Dettlaff!" Livia was dismayed to discover that she had hardly recognized her own voice. She felt like a stranger trapped in her own body. Livia rose slightly unsteadily from the bench to chase the vampire through the mass of swaying bodies. During her pursuit, she felt the hot breath and isolated droplets of saliva from the celebrants, which she pushed past, on her exposed skin. Warm sweaty flesh was pressed against her numb body, the instrumental accompaniment, just a dull monotonous roar in the background.
The mostly uncoordinated movements of the intoxicated people, their piercing clouds of odor surrounding them, which were extremely dominant due to the mixture of alcohol, vomit and feces, and the both old and fresh smell of sweat, which developed during the dancing and the associated close rubbing of the bodies, were only subliminally absorbed by the young alchemist.
Meanwhile, below the light-giving torches, other charred bodies of various moths gathered unnoticed by the celebrating crowd.
Off the festivities, the vampire finally paused. The moonlight played gently around his silhouette, a fascinating play of shadows could be observed on his black leather coat and let the elaborately crafted golden decorations of the dagger's sheath shine in a cold black leather of his coat, however, seemed to absorb most of the moonlight, resulting in the vampire's body almost merging with the night. The mild afternoon breeze had gone and was now replaced by a surprisingly cool spring night.
"Dettlaff." Livia exhaled exhausted through the mouth, shoulders slumped slightly forward. "If I' ve hurt you in any way by my behavior tonight, I'm sorry."
The vampire's posture stiffened before he slightly turned his head to her direction. "You've done nothing wrong." There was a resigned undertone in his voice and the hard contours of his striking face gave him a grim expression.
"You are lying! Something is wrong! You've been acting strangely since Gaunter came to our table!" The cheeks of the young alchemist were glowing, due to the consumption of alcohol. "What the hell is wrong with you? If you don't tell me what your problem is, I can't help you!"
Dettlaff frowned confusedly for a barely noticeable moment before he turned to the distraught young woman with a determined look. "Livia, you are not to blame. It is...", he sucked in the fresh air of the evening with trembling nostrils and pressed his lips tightly together to form a hard, narrow line.
Livia noticed, despite her slightly tipsy state, that he was fighting an inner conflict with himself and was at odds with himself as to how to describe it to her. It almost seemed as if the vampire was suffering from physical agony.
"We... don't have to talk about this now." Unintentionally Livia spoke to the vampire in a whisper.
His intense look made Livia's heart beat noticeably faster. Almost painfully, it pounded like a staccato against her irregularly rising and falling rib cage, while it continued rhythmically in her ears. With his blue eyes, he seemed to be able to look down to the bottom of her soul and allowed her a deep insight into his as well. Endless longing spread through the vampire's blue eyes as he tried to close the distance between himself and the young woman.
"Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey!" A loud belching pervaded the night. "Fuck the hell out of the girl!" From a distance of a few meters a young man, swaying strongly, pushed himself out of the bushes and tried unsuccessfully to stand upright while pointing in the direction of the two with an uncoordinated hand movement. "What a shit! One looks forward to 'a performance and then this! Man, her ass is hot! Why don't you rip her clothes off and fuck her until dawn or do you have no balls?! She won't be able to walk straight for a couple of days. Fuck her tits! Fuck her mouth! Fuck her ass! Fuck..." The drunk man continued his enumeration unabashedly.
Livia stared at the shameless man with wide open eyes and slightly open mouth, probably due to the high alcohol consumption, surprised and shocked at the same time by the potential possibilities he mentioned in his never-ending enumeration, while Dettlaff gave the drunk man a disgusted look.
Livia cleared her throat and scratched her elbow in embarrassment. "Well, the party's not over yet. Shall we go back? I'd still like to see the bonfire."
The vampire didn't seem particularly taken with her request and frowned.
With surprising determination, Livia grabbed one of his large hands and enclosed it with hers, with Dettlaff's prominent fingernails scratching lightly against her palm, causing the hair on the back of her neck to stand up instantly. "Remember? I promised to be your good luck charm tonight. I will not leave your side tonight!" Full of zest for action, she took the vampire with her, ignoring the drunken young man who continued to be occupied with his enumerations.
"Blijf voor eeuwig aan mijn zijde."
The young woman blinked and turned to Dettlaff. "Did you say something?"
The expression in his eyes became soft as he watched the young woman in front of him. "No. Let's watch the bonfire."
The flames of the bonfire shot up, consuming more oxygen, while some sparks flew into the grass in a high arc and went out smoking. Children ran barefoot amidst the colorful hustle and bustle, competing to see who could hold one of the glowing pieces of wood in their hands for the longest time, while some were already sitting on the bank and dipping their hands in the cold water howling. The dancers, who had been responsible for heating up the atmosphere at the beginning of the festival, were not to be found among the dancing masses, instead many couples had formed, who laughed and circled the warming fire in traditional dance.
Before Livia could reply, a full beer mug, the golden contents of which sloshed slightly over the edge, was pressed into her hand. Confused, she looked at the waitress, who had already disappeared into the raging crowd again to hand out more drinks. Shortly afterwards, the blonde-haired woman's shoulders began to shake before a bright laugh escaped her. The vampire stared at the young woman with a puzzling look.
"You just look too grim! No one dares come near you."
With crossed arms the addressed looked amused at the alchemist. "I don't seem to frighten everyone off with my fierce presence."
"No, but your unpredictable moods could soon make it so." After the biting comment, Livia took a strong sip and shortly after, disgusted, moved her mouth. " By Marjoran, I doubt if we'll make much progress tomorrow. Would you like some too?"
Dettlaff's lips opened slightly while he thought about her offer in surprise. When he was about to answer, Livia lifted the jug again to drink and emptied it with long strokes. With a sweeping movement she slammed the empty jug onto one of the tables, quickly wiped her mouth and turned again to the bonfire. The reddish color on her cheeks seemed to stay on her face that evening as she watched the dancing couples with bright eyes.
The sequence of the individual dance steps was quite simple. The man simply wrapped one arm around the waist of his dancing partner while he held her hand with the other. With almost bouncing steps they danced around the fire. When the flute was used, the men pressed the woman closer to him, while turning with her around their own axis.
Sighing, she watched the scene before her gaze slipped further towards a man wearing a headscarf. This man was currently in a heated discussion with some of the older people. "...and I tell you, witchers have a heart! I was in captivity of mangy Scoia'tael when the white wolf appeared. He saved me in a heartbeat!"
"So what? He certainly didn't do it for nothing! How much did you have to pay him?"
"Nothing! I've offered to welcome him anytime and I'll be happy to cut his hair."
One of the men within this round slammed his jug on the table and belched noisily before responding babbling. "You must have dropped your pants in the woods for him. No witcher works for...", the grey-haired man did not get the chance to finish his sentence, because the angry barber gave him a strong punch straight across the chin. The situation escalated within a few seconds and the men beat each other up. Livia had to blink at this sudden change of mood within the men's round, several times.
She flinched in shock when an older woman stepped on her. "Young lady. Have you ever been to this kind of festival?"
"No, I'm sorry."
Laughing, she patted the young woman on the upper arm. "Well, that doesn't matter. Let me enlighten you for a moment. The dance around the bonfire is only one of many highlights of the festival. But there is one that all women eagerly await."
The alchemist's curiosity was aroused. "And what is that?"
"Water represents life. It has the power to end it, just as it can save life. Throughout the year, thin cotton dresses were sewn, which the virgin ladies of the feast put on and wash themselves in the water clean of all worries. The men are forbidden to follow the women into the water. They must wait on the beach for their return. Would you like to participate in this custom?"
Thoughtfully she looked at the older woman. "Isn't the water of the lake quite cold in this time of year?"
A deep throaty laugh escaped the old woman. "The youth today! If the temperatures don't play along, they immediately pull in their tails."
"No!" A little softer, Livia continued. "No. I'll do it. How long do I have to stay in the water?"
"As long as you wish . Go to the hut where some young ladies are already standing and get a dress, too. Wash yourself clean and enjoy the tender bloom of youth!"
Unsettled, Livia looked at Dettlaff. "Is it all right with you if I," she hesitated before continuing, "take a bath?"
Amusement spread through the blue eyes. "She said nothing about vampires. If you should cry out for help, I will pull you out of the cold water again. But don't complain about the cold afterwards."
Livia was briefly surprised by the vampire's unexpected sense of humor before she cheekily stuck out her tongue and ran to the aforementioned hut for the changing room.
For a moment the cold water took her breath when she tried to start swimming. Several other women seemed to have a similar problem, as they stood on the beach and watched the others. The young woman gave herself a push and confidently repelled herself from the ground.
Livia closed her eyes and let the gentle waves of the lake carry her, ignoring the hustle and bustle in the background and the coldness. The dull moonlight gave the water a mysterious glow and made her white dress shine brightly in sharp contrast. The thin cotton fabric of the garment had by now completely absorbed the ice-cold water and embraced Livia's body like a second skin, while her long blonde hair played around it.
Time and space did not seem to exist while her awareness of her body gradually faded. She felt numb and empty. The young alchemist pondered in her mind whether alcohol stimulated the thought processes to a certain degree after ingestion. Many of her past events and points of view now seemed obsolete to the young woman as she wondered what sense her existence had. There were unknown powers slumbering in her, which she could not consciously use, not to mention to controlling it. What kind of power lay hidden within her and was waiting to be released? Would she find answers in Oxenfurt?
She was jerked out of her thoughts as the panicked cry of a partridge pierced the silence of the night. With moderate astonishment and narrowed eyebrows, the young alchemist had to realize that she was meanwhile far from the celebrating society. The voices of those celebrating were lost in the cool breeze of the night, only the continuous drumming of the music could be heard as a dull roar.
As the young alchemist approached the shore area, soft sand enclosed her bare feet and let them sink in slightly as she walked along. Livia paused as the water merely played ankle-high around her legs and gazed almost reverently at the moon. Small clouds covered it, but moved on with surprising speed, allowing the young woman an unobstructed view of the mysterious celestial body. She could understand why beings of the night felt attracted to it.
Goose bumps spread over her body, while the now transparent dress left no room for fantasy for the viewer. Her breasts were marked by a discreet drape of the dress on her upper body, while the mamilles stood out clearly. The cotton fabric nestled up against her narrow waist, converging at the crotch. The gentle curve of her butt was accentuated to advantage by the tight-fitting garment. Ice cold water trickles, which made her body shake, ran from her hair over her trembling body, converged in the pubic area and finally found their way back to earth along her inner thighs.
An unnatural fog obscured her vision for a short time and played around her body before Dettlaff materialized next to her. Obviously ignoring her attractive appearance, he looked at the young woman with concern. "That's enough Livia, you should go back to the fire and warm up. It's too cold."
An irrational disappointment, due to the vampire's lack of reaction to her current appearance, spread to Livia and made her sigh with resignation. "I would like to stay in the water a little longer."
Confused, the vampire narrowed his eyes and briefly followed Livia's gaze to the moon.
"Don't you think the moon is particularly beautiful today?" With her lips slightly open, her arms wrapped around her upper body, her cheeks still reddened from the alcohol, she looked up into the sky and again pondered lost in her thoughts. It escaped her attention that the vampire had once again turned his gaze towards Livia and hauntingly stared at her body in the soft moonlight with his blue eyes. Dettlaff's facial features relaxed and in his eyes a warm expression paired with deep longing appeared.
"Yes, indeed. Beautiful." His deep voice was muffled while an admiring undertone resonated.
He moved closer to the young woman to place his heavy coat over her trembling shoulders and pull it together in front of her upper body. "Usually the beautiful things are so close and yet so far at the same time. It is a wish to be able to touch it, to find a reason for one's own existence, to receive happiness, to feel complete after an eternity, but it is not granted. What remains is the unquenchable longing and the painful wishful thinking that the future might bring an unexpected change."
The cloak enclosed with trembling fingers, Livia bridged the last distance so that her delicate body touched his. Dettlaff's posture was clearly tense. "Why are you waiting for a change? You're responsible for your own future, so only you can influence it."
He tightly gripped her narrow shoulders while his nails pierced the resistant leather of the coat. "Do you think I haven't tried this enough in the last 300 years? Tell me, why should I tirelessly strive to change things in a world where everything is fleeting and short-lived?" His voice had the same hostile tone as when they first met at the Trastamara hunting lodge.
Grief and pity were reflected in Livia's gaze before she started to respond. "No being wants to spend a lifetime in solitude"
Dettlaff gave a deep growl and his pointed teeth came out. "I am not alone. Countless of my kind have joined me."
The young woman shook her head gently. "And yet you are drawn away from them. Dettlaff, stop lying to yourself. What are you looking for?"
The vampire's breathing accelerated. "I don't want any creatures too scared to come near me. I don't want to have to hide and always be careful to keep up my outward appearance. I do not want to be reduced to what I am."
Livia put her head slightly tilted. "And what exactly are you in your own eyes?"
Dettlaff bit his lower lip and closed his eyes resignedly. "I am a monster. A monster that everyone is afraid of. A monster that should not exist in this world."
Viscous blood flowed thickly along his lower lip down to his chin and seemed to be as black as the night.
His eyes opened suddenly as Livia followed the warm trail with her index finger. With a curious look she stared at her hand before leading it to her mouth. Resting her finger on her lower lip, she ran her tongue along her fingertip and tasted the blood of the higher vampire. Dettlaff's rib cage rose and fell at an unnatural speed as he picked up the image of the blood-drinking young woman. Livia swallowed the content and gazed at the vampire with an undefinable expression. "Strange, your blood tastes like human blood to me. Are you sure you're a monster?"
He seemed to almost devour her with his gaze. Dettlaff moved his large hand under her chin before he embraced her cold cheek and touched single strands of wet hair with his fingertips. The other hand moved around her waist and pressed her lower body more firmly against his, causing Livia to exhale in surprise. The vampire bent down to the young woman and tenderly ran his tongue along her lower lip, feeling her excited breath on his face and tasting his own blood. He detached himself a little from her, but Livia gripped tightly around the collar of his red tunic, the coat slipping off her shoulders and falling into the water. She pulled him down to her again. Possessive, her tongue traced the blood on his chin until it touched his trembling lower lip. Gently she stroked over the already healed wound and absorbed every single drop of blood of the vampire.
When she couldn't taste any more blood, she detached herself from Dettlaff, her arms resting on his chest and looked at him with a blurred expression. "Come to think of it, you taste rather sweet. Like a forbidden fruit ripe for harvest."
Dettlaff's iris turned white, while another cloud moved in front of the moon.