Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
(DamensStory)
anexclusiveshortstory
By
AlysonNol
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The minute I heard my first love story I started looking for you,
not knowing how blind that was. Lovers dont finally meet somewhere.
Theyre in each other all along. Rumi
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Paris, France
8 August 1608
I lean back against the velvet-cushioned seat and close my eyes to the sound of
hooves pounding hard against the cobblestone streets. Their clip-clopping harmony
keeping perfect tempo with the rumble of carriage wheels, affording a sound as sweet as
A sound thats always served to soothe me in the past, providing the much-needed
assurance that the unwelcome inquiries and suspicions of newly alerted acquaintances
would soon fadeallowing for a brief respite in a new location, before Im on the move
again.
Im a gypsy.
A nomad.
A vagabond.
A drifter.
The things others take for granteda permanent address, an extended family, a
Ive made that mistake before, learned my lesson the hard way. Having convinced
myself it was okay to stay, to settle inonly to be awakened in the middle of night by the
blaze of torches, the threat of drawn swords, and the rising hysteria of a fear driven mob.
I gather the gold tasseled curtain and push it aside, peering out the small square
window and gazing upon a blanket of night sky so dark, so dazzling, so littered with
clusters of glistening stars Im reminded of Drinas jewel casean oversized, silk lined
monstrosity heaping with the finest assortment of gems money can buy.
My mind filling with the thought of herher blaze of red hair, her creamy white
skin, her startling emerald green eyes and cool feral smilemaking for a beauty so
astonishing, so alluring, that for years, centuries really, it seemed like enough.
But no more.
Reduce the girl with whom I spent the better part of my life to a small, distant
Though, in all fairness, its not Drina whos changed. Throughout each passing
year, shes remained exactly the sameno different from the young girl I rescued from
Covetous.
Acquisitive.
Greedy.
Consumed by a whole host of needs and demands that run so deep it appears
theres no endkeeping the most voracious part of her appetite reserved just for me.
And while its true that I once desired her too, these days, I can no longer find it
within me.
My carriage veers to the right but the view doesnt changeit remains as constant
The sun faithfully rising and setting, while the moon and stars glow as brightly as
they did on the day of my birth just over two hundred years earlier. A display of nature I
find myself taking for granted, never pausing long enough to appreciate the true and
A lapse on my part I hope to remedy, just as soon as Im freed from this place.
My driver tempers the pace, a sign we draw near, and I cant help but wonder if
any of tonights party guests, any of my so-called friends, will notice just how much Ive
changedthat Im no longer the same, admittedly vain and superficial person they all
know me to be.
Something has shiftedsomething I cant quite define. Its as though the old way
of doing thingsthe old way of seeing thingsthe old way of beingno longer works.
Leaving me with no choice but to move on toward the one thing I am meant to
The one, elusive, indefinable thing that holds far greater importance than anything
Like the glow from the dock that beckons a sailor to port, its what keeps me
**
My horses whinny and nicker and stamp their feet hard against the cobbled
drivea cue to draw my curtain, run a quick hand over my hair and waistcoat, pocket the
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small package Ive brought for my hostess, nod to my driver, and make my way toward
Goodbye.
Arrivederci.
Au revoir.
Auf Wiedersehen.
Words Ive said so many times, in so many languages, youd think theyd be
And though I havent been in Paris long enough to raise any undue suspicions
two inevitable inquiries that always fuel my flightthese days I find myself restless,
bored, eager to move on toward this untold destiny that surely awaits.
A uniformed servant opens the door and ushers me inside a home so grand in
scale and opulence it could easily house a thousand nobles quite comfortably. And just
before making my way across an expanse of shiny marble floor where Ill seamlessly
blend into the dance of nodding and smiling and double cheek kissing, bestowing the sort
of easily forgettable greetings that are always required in situations like this, I pause for a
moment to soak up the energy. Tuning into the cacophony of each individuals mind,
An overdressed, harshly judgmental sort with a penchant for too much red wine
and a taste for gossip of the most malicious kindthe moment I gaze upon her, the
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moment I overhear the spiteful words that ring in her head, I cant begin to fathom why I
I trust the small velvet box to her greedy, outstretched fingers and bow down
before her, knowing her salacious gaze is due as much to the expensive jeweled trinket
nestled inside, as it is to my newly single status that has not gone unnoticed.
Nothing a quick change in the seating chart cant remedy, she thinks, directing a
swiftly calculating smile at me. Seeing the same thing she always sees when she gazes
upon mean endless source of charm, wealth, and good looks shes determined to use to
her advantage. Having heard of my rumored fondness for beautiful and willing young
thingsshe seats me beside Daphnea pretty brunette whose batting eyes and flirtatious
laugh wouldve been enough to amuse me on any other nightbut not tonight.
No matter how perfectly turned out the young single women may be, theres not
one among them who can hold the slightest bit of interest for me.
Still, I release myself from the swirl of my hostesss mind and focus on Daphne,
going through the motions of nodding and smiling and timing my witty replies as
number of times her hand finds its way to my arm (thirty-seven thus far), while counting
each course of an elaborate meal I merely fudge my way through (so far thereve been
fourincluding the soup). Knowing that with every plate served and cleared I grow
Monsieur?
have I seen eyes so blue, hair so golden, skin so smooth and creamy and inviting Id give
Pardon. She bows, cheeks flushing the loveliest shade of pink as she backs
away from my place. Mistaking my silence for smugness, arrogance, and conceittaking
one look at the cut of my clothes, the shine of my buttons, the full scale of my
ridiculously opulent finery, and deeming me the type of high, lofty person who could
effortlessly off my tongue. Grasping her hand, noting how the feel of her skin is so warm,
soelectricas it presses against mine, Im tempted to linger and never let go. Unable
to stop myself from uttering, Who are you? Then noting the way she glances toward
our hostess, her blush deepening as she dips her head low. Knowing Ive caused her great
embarrassment, and possibly trouble as well, which makes me regret having spoken at
all.
I am Evaline, sir. She meets my gaze shyly, as she tries to free her hand from
mine. May I remove your plate, please? She lifts her chin, looking at me in a way that
causes a stream of quiet warmth to rush through me. But try as I might, I cant seem to
Damen, please. Daphne balks, poking my sleeve with the dagger-like tip of her
sharp, pointy nail. Prompting me to let go of that remarkable handthe sudden loss of
which causes my entire world to darken. What would Drina say to see you fawning all
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over a servant like this? Her eyes move over me, cruel, glinting, having conveniently
forgotten all about Drina just a moment ago when it was she who sought my attention,
but all too happy to reminisce now in an attempt to put this girlthis beautiful,
Drina is in Hungary, I say, forcing myself to tear my gaze away from the lure of
those clear blue eyes and the soft golden tendril thats managed to escape from the
confines of her cap. Carefully taking note of each and every detail of her face, her stature,
her mannerisms, the inflections in her voice, so that I might commit them to memory and
never have to live another second without them. We have gone our separate ways, I
add, knowing the statement will cause much scandal and tongue wagging, but no longer
caring.
Evaline.
My eyes follow as she makes her way around the table. Her lowered gaze and
roughly calloused hands telling me shes grown all too used to the numerous and
frivolous demands of my supposed friendsthough the tilt of her chin and slant of her
Unable to see past the plain and unflattering servants attire thats been forced
upon her, the drab little cap meant to hide what I know to be an abundant mane of golden
blond hairtheyre impressed by the more shallow things in lifestatus, money, class
the very things I possess in abundancethe very reason theyve invited me here.
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Failing to see what I seeunable to look past the dreary exterior to the glory
beneaththey remain frustratingly blind to the very thing that to me, shines so clear:
She is my destiny.
And now that Ive found her, I have no need for leaving. Not when everything I
I settle back in my seat, feeling more at home than ever before. Quickly
reclaiming the role of charming dinner guest, which prompts my hostess to smile and nod
her approval, and Daphne to lean toward me and grasp my arm once again.
There are repercussions for fraternizing outside of ones classand now that I
plan to stick around Ill have no choice but to play by those rules.
The coincidence continuing to repeat itself until Ive had a chance to know her
to earn the depth of trust required to offer her the one thing I havent offered to anyone
My eyes dare to meet hers once again, and I take a quick moment to slip inside
her head. Needing the assurance that its not just methat she feels it toothat
wonderful swarm of tingle and heat and the beautiful promise it holds. A phenomenon
weve no way to explain, its so unlike anything either of us has ever experienced before.
Laughing, drinking, pretending to overindulge along with the rest of themall the while
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