It was always lonely for me
At the Zoo. My sickness made
Me as p ale as parchment,
and my body needed multiple
transfusions of blood to keep me
healthy. The servants ignored
me, whispering dark rumors
behind my back; and Amshel
and Joel were busy working
in that building of theirs…but
at least Joel looked at me as a human,
a daughter even, rather than a talking
specimen. He gave me my hearts
desire, gowns of pinks and blues,
but he knew I favored red the most.
I found Diva on a sunny day, her operatic
singing pulled me in like a fly to
light. I roamed the property alone,
usually, picking flowers or practicing
my fencing on an old tree. I walked
into an open court, ruins of walls
and a lone tower covered with ivy and
vivid blue roses came into view. I called
out her, asking for friendship, someone
locked a tower for their whole life
would yearn for that. My sister's answer was
only silence and a single blue rose. I asked
her name, and replied that she none, I thought
hard, remembering the show I viewed
when I went with Joel to the city. It was
about a poor girl who made it in the city
as a singer, her name was forever etched
in my mind. "Let's call you Diva, for
only a star could make music like you",
I called up to her; a small giggle floated
down as she repeated the name. I visited
Diva everyday after my studies, telling her
about my interests and cello. She asked
the most about the outside world, she
said that she wished to see a kitten
and hold a newborn child in her arms.
I promised her that I would let her
go…but that's when I met Haji.
He was a quiet boy with midnight
Dark hair. He had intense blue eyes,
With a sharp tongue to match. Amshel
Told me he was to be my friend but him
Rarely spoke a kind word to me. I began
to detest him, he wouldn't do a thing I
told him; when I discussed this with Joel,
he just laughed, telling me that wasn't how
you obtain friends, that you show kindness
to the person. I made up my mind that I
would my Haji my friends no matter what.
I was trying to teach him to play the cello,
he became stubborn and I yelled at him. I
found out that he was sold by his parents for
food and that he was to be my future suitor,
tears came to my eyes as I held him in my
arms; Joel always did this when I was sad,
his warm arms took the pain away. Haji
opened up after that day, he was my first friend
I ever had, not including Diva. He grew handsome
after the years, and taller too, so tall he could play
the cello better than me. My promise to Diva began
to fade away, only to reappear on Joel's birthday; I
wanted to surprise Joel, to show her talent to him.
Diva was secret I kept, even to Haji, and it was time
to let it be known. I went into Joel's office and found
a rusted key; an engraving of a tower at the top told
its use. I also went to my room and pulled a long
blue and white gown for Diva to wear for the party.
I ran to the courtyard and went up the steep
tower steps to a long and wide hall filled with
Diva's roses. A heavy door was at the end, which I
opened with the key. "Saya…I don't know
about this, what if no one likes me?" Diva
whispers from a dark corner of the room,
I just smiled, "Who wouldn't like you, you sing
like-", my words were cut off as I heard Haji
call my name; he had prepared a picnic for me
and wanted to discuss Joel's present. I ran
from the tower, telling Diva that I would come
back. Haji set up the picnic on a tall cliff that
overlooked the lake, as we ate he asked me
what I was getting for Joel, I smile in reply, telling
him it was secret. I walked over to the edge of the
cliff, pointing down at two dazzling orange
lilies, "I want to give these to Joel, as a part of
his gift", I told Haji. I began to climb down
the rock face, when Haji stopped me. "Saya, let
me go, you might injure yourself and I'm sure
Joel wouldn't like it if it were for a flower."
I considered it, Haji always had great common
sense and was stronger than me, so he could
hold on longer. I climbed up as he went down
pausing once when his foothold seemed loose.
He reached for one; I quickly corrected him, "To
the left", I told him. He glanced up, his beautiful
face filled with determination; he tried again and
within centimeters of purchase he leaped to grab
the flower. The world was muted of sound as
he fell, only to return when his head slammed into
the ground below. The blood thundered in my
ears, "Haji! HAJI!!" I cried as I ran to him. His
blood spread from his wound like ripples on a
still lake; I wailed as his skin became hard
and cold. As I sobbed I remembered a conversation
Joel had with Haji discussing my sickness. "Why does
Saya have all these transfusions…she never gets hurt?"
asked Haji as he stands in Joel's office, Joel had retorted
with, "She needs blood to Haji, without it she would die…
It is a complicated process that I will share with you one day
when you are older." I pulled a petite knife from his
jacket and with one stroke, slit the palm of my hand. I
put it to my lips; the taste of salt, rust, and an unknown
substance filled my mouth. Bending down, I opened
Haji's mouth and poured my blood through his
throat. A loud, raspy sigh came forth, his eyes
opened wide as his body shook violently, cracking
bones sounded like gunshots. This continued for
another minute then his body relaxed. I shook
him, hope falling fast to despair. I sprinted to the
mansion, hoping Joel could get help in time. I
rounded the corner as I heard her song, her white
clad stood out against the red hot flames of
the fire. In her arms, Joel lay wide eyed and
still, blood dripped from her mouth as
she raised a pitch in the song. Her eyes
found mine, and a smile came to her
lips, she gestured with Joel's body to
come and feed. I only stare, not for
the death of my foster father nor
my long time friend…but that her
face matched mine. Hair just as dark,
only her frame was thinner and eyes
glowed with a bright and sickly delight.
anger rose from the depths of my conscious
and screamed for vengeance. I opened
my mouth to address my sister, "Diva!
I promise you that you will die my hand,
even if it takes eternity, to avenge my
father's death!" She just stares, a slow smirk
curls on her lips and the fire roars along
as she sings, an awkward duet in the night.
AN: Haven't updated in long time and this has to be one of my longest FanFictions. Also I'm sorry for any spelling mistakes, I just got some teeth pulled and I'm on painkillers, so if you could just notify me what is wrong, I'll try to correct it. TDA will be updated soon, so please sit tight 3.
Thanks for reading,
-Pen