The Monster

I had woken up to the sound of two birds on the top of my head. They were singing. I felt a connection I had never experience to those two birds. The essence of they, waking me up with their delights and stories was contributing to a peace I had never experience.

-Lady Blake, where are you? - I heard in the distance while I tried to wake up. I knew the calling was for me, because I could not recall how many hours I had fallen asleep beneath this tree. As I incorporated myself, I startled.

There was something near the boat, or inside the boat. I gazed and stared to the boat and how it moved in the lake, slowly, peacefully. I knew something or someone was there, but decided to ignore it. I had this feeling in the past, from my childhood memories, as I went to look for a man who was usually sited on the lake, fishing or just reading. I never talked to him, and never thought about playing near him. I stared at him for long hours, without leaving, just staring at his big leather hat. I could say I was fascinated with him. But, as time went by, the man started to appear less and less frequently, and I forgot about him. I used to take books when I went to see him. I pretended I read as if he was not there.

But the air changed when he was around, I could feel the wind stop and become something warmer, but empty. It was like that man was not supposed to be there, never. Like he did not belong in the picture. As I turned around, I could hear something splashing into the water. I turned quickly but saw nothing more than the boat, now waving violently with the flow of the lake. I stayed for a minute to check if something came out of the water, but with no response. I ran towards the villa, away from whatever was there. I thought little of my dress or my shoes at the moment, and when I go to the gardens next to the social room, my maiden, Stella, stared at me in a shocked way.

-Milady, your clothes! - She pointed. As I stared down to my light peach dress, I saw the spots where dirt had made a home, and a few pieces of fabric loose, crawling with each step that I gave. It was not of importance, since I could have people made a new dress in one night.

-Stella, I’m frightened! There was something on the boat near the lake -

-Milady, you know it’s dangerous to be there alone. Creatures lay in the dark, waiting for beautiful pale girls like you to go alone and be devoured by them - Stella replied in a secure voice.

I knew that was nonsense, a story made for women to stay home, trapped in those cages the people usually called “chateau”. I was not going to believe such stories, such imaginative religious nonsense. As we went into the house, my mother, the Duchess of Blake, waited for me. I bowed as I was costumed to do, and stood there, contemplating the sight. She was next to my father, the Duke, and Sir Boyle behind them, talking something to his Lord.

-My dear Eliza, we have great news to give to you. I have… - she stopped as she saw my dress, filled in dirt, branches and fabric hanging. Her face was horror, pure, exploding horror. She made a gesture to Stella, and quickly was taken to my chambers, leaving the pending conversation unfinished.

-I think he is going to marry you, milady. They say Sir Boyle is a fine young man, who has favored you in other places. – She said while holding my black loose hair.

Robert and I had been great friends since we were small infants, playing in our villas; chasing imaginary ghosts and listening to the stories of the New World. The darker, the better. The friendship never stopped, and since we are now 16, time had come for us to get engaged. But although this thought was beautiful as a sunrise, the truth is that I did not loved Robert.

Or at least, not in a sense of passion. Certainly, we kissed before, and have taken long walks to the river, where, sitting on the boat with the inside filled with fur of our father’s hunts, we explored our bodies in a passionately and dark way; but never would I think to spend the rest of my life as a wife, and nothing more.

-I do not know how to reciprocate these feelings, Stella. I do have a high regard on Robert, but I am not decided. –

-Milady, you know that you are not the one to judge in those matters. Us, the common, have that freedom that I would gladly give you, but I fear, I cannot. – She said as she kissed my hair.

But he was not the one my heart desired, but the mystery of the new, the unknown was what called for me. I wanted to know the world, to be in those places the stories our older maiden used to tell us. I wanted to see the Dark North, the tropical forest of Africa; the great camps where buffalos can be seen running in the New World, and the humidity of Asia. I wanted to be more of what I was, more of the world and its greatness and beauties.

And a marriage to Robert would bring me none of these, and he knew it. He knew that tying me up prevented me from fulfilling my dream, a dream I knew was not meant for my sex. As I came down to the social room once more, I found them playing cards. My mother and Lord Boyle were addicted to poker, a type of game I was not a fan of. I was wearing a purple with black velvet dress, with my hair in a ponytail so my choker with the pink pearl could be seen. As I entered my mother stood up and came to meet me, smiling as she grabbed my hands.

-My dearest Eliza, your father and I have decided that it is time for you and Robert to be wed. We had planned this very carefully, so we have decided that it was time to plan the official announcement. – She hugged me and whispered softly. – He will give us the money so we can start the trading business again. –

I knew there was something behind the idea of me being wed to Robert. He looked at me and smiled deeply, as if this was a deeper idea than that.

He came with his secure air and charismatic walk, offering a glass of champagne to my mother. -Well, well, Eliza, this is such a good news no? Finally, after all these years, we have come to fulfill our relationship. – He laughed and raise his glass. – For a beautiful beginning! – and he drank.

-Robert, that is not the way to talk in front of your future family-in-law. – Lord Boyle said.

-Oh, Lord Boyle, do not worry, we know him since he was a small child. He was already part of the family since then. – my mother replied.

I went to hug Robert, as I would in moments like this. I felt his cologne and the intoxicating smell of wine, as he had been drinking a lot. I turned away and kissed my father’s hand, as he smiled.

-My dearest, I wish you nothing more than a good house and a prosper future. – And turned to continue the conversation of scientific and geographic exploration.

-Excuse me, I need to powder my nose. – I said while I left the room. As I walked out of the room, I heard a carriage arrive. I wanted to leave the upcoming party as soon as I could, because I was definitely not in the mood to celebrate.

I had to live this double life, this exchange between who I really was and who I was supposed to be. I wanted to be free from all those things that held me there. I walked into the back corridor and grabbed a lamp. I started to walk to the lake, slowly, thinking of the great darkness and listening to the sound of a million different creatures. As I made my way to my destination, I saw another light at the distance. As I got the view of the lake, I found someone was sitting on the boat. The man startled and got up, as my lamp caught his attention. I was afraid; and I knew I should have run, but the air and the presence of that man were somehow different.

-Sir, where you the one watching me sleep this afternoon? – I demanded. I do not know why it felt like the right inquiry. His presence was the same to the presence I felt on the afternoon. – I demand you, give me your name! –.

-I must oblige to answer you, my lady Eliza, and indeed, it was I, watching you… watching you since a long time ago. I know you will not be scared, for you have been watching me too, and know I exist. – he said in a calm way.

- What do you mean? – I said.

- Since you were a little girl, you would come to this lake looking for me. Don’t you remember? –

-I do not sir, but you will you tell me your name? – I asked, in a more calmed manner. I knew I was lying, and he was the man I watched all those years ago.

-I, milady, do not have a name, for I was created without love or compassion. I have no God, no mother and no name. My name, if I would have one, would be Monster. –

- Monster? – I asked as I came closer to the boat.

- Yes, Eliza, Monster. – He said. – Come closer so you can see me. Then, you will understand, child of God. – He said while he extended his hand in a manner of invitation.

I came closer to the boat, not knowing why I was not running away from that creature, that strange looking man. As I came closer to the man, I saw the scars on his face, at least three or four. I saw his suit, lacking blouse, and his chest, with different tonalities of skin, and scars all over. I was scared, but fascinated. I came inside the boat and sat.

-Would you say I find that you are a monster? Sit, and we can talk. – I invited him as I sat on the other side of mystic ship.

He sat, and in his face, I could see nothing more than fear. A rejected soul, unloving creature left to die with time, as autumn leaves fall. He sat in front of me, staring, shocked by the impulsive words I had just spoken. We looked at each other for a few moments, without making a sound or disturbing the peace in the air.

-Now you know, innocent one, what this world has made of me. I have come from those bodies forgotten in the lands where no living man can rest. I was reborn because a sinner, wanted to be God, and wanted to be the one deciding the fates. You see, child, I was not meant for this world. I came after one that was the same as me. He was the son of Frankenstein. The devil, as we called him, was nothing more than a mad man, who created my father, and my father, years after confronting one last time his Creator, created me, to honor his legacy. –

This was a thought that never crossed my mid. The idea that someone could replicate life was something I could only hear from the conversations of my father. “That is impossible, and no man should linger between life and death, for death will make him a slave”. That common posture of my father to the whispers of Frankenstein in the scientific community was also the most popular. I had never believed those stories, of science bringing the dead back to life. But there he was, staring at me with those yellow looking eyes.

-Why are you here? – I asked.

-I am here because I was looking for you, Eliza. My nature is of the ones who death cannot touch, I’m in the need to exploring the pleasures of the flesh. A flesh that will not die… you see, Eliza, I’m looking for a bride. And since I have found you, I will take you as my companion. – He asked as he tried to take my hand. I quickly dashed his touch, and stared at the horror of my destiny. I wanted to run away, to leave until he was no more than a ghost and this exotic, dark meeting was nothing but a wet dream from a summer night. But it was real, and the power he possessed over me was overwhelming.

-How do you know I will accept such a macabre proposal? – I implied, terrified.

-Because I can offer you the one thing your heart desires; freedom. I know you are trapped by the chains of society, and the God that does not light His Existence over me has forced you into a body which makes you vulnerable. I may bring your beauty to the maximum expression, make you whole and free. Us, the inmortal, the unloved, are forever going to be roaming the Earth, alone, or, if you would accept me, together.

***To Be Continued***