Memories

Raina found herself in a beautiful garden with a multitude of flowers and colors all around her. The fragrances were mesmerizing, and she found herself touching the frail petals of a red lily that was throwing its sweetness in her nose. She could smell so many beautiful flowers that she couldn't register anything else. As she was looking around the place trying to pair the smells with the flowers, she saw a movement on her left. She turned and she saw Eric coming toward her. His beautiful appearance was completed by a black tuxedo, complimented with a with shirt and a black bow. He looked like the perfect gentlemen, ready to go to the perfect ball.

He extended his hand to her and she slowly put hers on his. She realized she was wearing a ball dress, white, off shoulders with delicate lace with lily motives all around. Her hand that held his had a wedding ring made of two thin golden vines woven together. She wondered where this ring was coming from. Her last wedding ring was long sold to pay for her debts, and it looked like a normal wedding ring.

As she was eyeing the ring, he heard Eric say in a gentle voice "Come, love, we are going to be late." She followed him without hesitation as if it was the most normal thing in the world. It was like they were meant to be together at that place, although Raina knew she shouldn't be here, and she shouldn't be so intimate with this man. They went through the garden and a black carriage was waiting for them with four purebred horses with their beautiful manes shining in the breeze.

He helped her climb the step to enter the carriage and then took his seat next to her. She looked around in bewilderment. A carriage? What was this place? Or maybe when? Her gown looked like it was a seventeenth century model, she felt the corset around her bosom and every stitch seemed manually made. The crinoline added to the heaviness of the dress, she couldn't imagine how many layers were underneath her dress. Even the lingerie felt uncomfortable.

"Why are so quiet, love, are you not feeling well?", Eric asked, beginning to feel worried.

"I am fine, just a little absentminded," Raina answered quickly.

"All will be well, love, they are only coming to pay their respects," Eric added caressing her hand gently.

She hummed in confirmation and turned her head towards the carriage's window. This felt familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. After what seemed like an hour later, they arrived at a beautiful mansion with a grand garden in front. The front pillars were from white marble and everything seemed to scream grand, pristine, clean. They descended from the carriage, with Eric first, helping her climb down afterwards. They were greeted by a butler and two maids. The butler held his hand pointed to the opened double doors, pointing for the couple to enter.

They entered in a grand hall, about four meters tall and with an ostentatious crystal chandelier in the middle. They were guided to a double room on their right, opening to a grand ball room that had now long tables on each of the three sides near the walls. There were a lot of people in the room and all of them stopped what they were doing when the couple entered the room and bowed deeply. She heard most of them saying "Greetings to the royal couple," with voices full of respect. She asked herself who the royal couple was.

They entered further in the ballroom and headed to the centered table where two seats were empty for them to take. As they took their seats, a lot of people formed a queue in front of the couple to present their greetings and some of them even brought presents. She had a fake smile plastered on her face as she couldn't entirely comprehend the situation. On the other hand, it all came natural to her, as if she were made for the role she was in right now. After the long queue ended, a beautiful man and woman approached them with a bow. The woman said, "Raina, I know you were not to fond of coming at this gathering, but I am happy you could make it. It is in your honor, after all." Raina only smiled and bowed her head without saying a word. Eric did the same, but the smile on his face seemed somehow strained and a flicker of annoyance passed through his eyes. Was he mad about something? Raina wondered while taking a closer look to the couple. The man threw her a shrewd look and Raina suddenly felt a cold shiver running through her veins.

Fortunately, another person approached them. She was surprised seeing Howard in front of them, holding the hand of a petite brunette that had delicate and gentle features which Raina realized complemented Howard's flowery boy appearance. They really did look good together.

"Your majesties," the petite woman greeted them with a beautiful smile on her face and involuntary, the smile on Raina's face changed too into a warm one. "Howard, June, a pleasure to see you two. We missed you on our travels," Eric said with a gentle smile on his face. "Raina spoke often how June would enjoy this view or another," Eric added looking at Raina lovingly.

"We have missed you too," June said in her small voice. "We waited impatiently for the day of your return. Raina, there is a place I wanted to show. I have discovered it recently. It is like a piece of heaven. I am sure you will fall in love with it," June said excited.

"Then you better not show it to her," Howard said jokingly. "Eric might destroy it out of jealousy," he continued in the same teasing voice.

A laughter escaped Eric's mouth and Raina was completely fascinated with it. "True, I might," Eric said amused.

"I am sure I will love it and I will keep it a secret from the man on my left, do not fret," Raina said. 'Strange', she thought, 'I didn't mean to say this.' It was like her lines were predetermined. 'So this is not a dream?', she asked herself.

"We will be taking our leave, the dance will start soon," June said.

They bowed to each other slightly and the couple left. Eric offered Raina his hand which she quickly took. "It is time we open the dance, love," he said lifting her up. They went to the center of the room and a classic waltz "The Blue Danube" started playing from a quartet that was situated in a corner.

The gracefully started to dance in the center of the room and were soon joined by other couples. She was baffled as how easy was she following Eric's movements as she barely had taken a couple of dance lessons all her life and she was not a natural at it. After the dance was over, she excused herself to go to the powder room, and Eric left her go with a kiss on her hand.

When she exited the powder room, she was met with the woman from before, the one who gave her goosebumps. "Your majesty, an acquaintance of mine would be honored to meet you," the woman said. "Would you like to take a walk in the garden?", she asked. Raina looked at her suspiciously and looked around to meet someone she knew. She found June and she took her arm and followed the suspicious lady in the garden. As they made their way to the garden, Raina watched to see if the guards were at their posts.

Seeing the guards at the front doors and a couple in the garden, she felt a little relieved, but she still felt uneasy. She knew she had to show no fear in front of this woman, but she felt something was not right. They made their way to the back of the garden and they saw a man standing in a corner.

"Your majesty, my name is Jacob Mallory, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance," he lifted his hand for her to take, but Raina looked him in the eyes and didn't move.

"What is your business with me, sir?", Raina asked with indifference in her voice.

"I only wanted to give you the chance to choose, my queen. With or against us?"

"What are you talking about?", Raina asked puzzled.

"Eric's era is coming to an end one way or another. Which side will you choose?", Jacob added.

"Hmmm… it seems you are in over your head, sir. Eric will never bow in front of other, nor will I," she said, keeping a sly smile on her face.

The next minute she was attacked. She and June found themselves surrounded by more then ten vampires, their eyes red, ready for attack. She kept her smile on her face and looked back to Jacob and tried to find the woman who brought her here. But she was no longer in sight. She realized Eric was in danger and she must solve things here fast to go to his side. She brought her back to June's and they attacked at the same time. Her fangs and nails elongated, and she reached for the closest vampire, slashing his throat in a split second.

The five other vampires didn't stand a chance in front of hers' and June's attacks. Seeing things turning bad for them, Jacob decided to step in. "Go to Eric," June told her as she faced Jacob.

Raina didn't wait for another second and she made her way to the mansion. The walls that were once white an pristine, were now filled with splashes of red blood. A fight was still going on inside and she hurried to get to the ballroom. When she entered, she found Eric and Howard fighting back to back with twenty vampires. She made her way through the crowd slashing throats left and right, making her way to Eric.

When she reached them, she told Howard to go outside to help June and she took his place behind Eric. They fought for a while and they were about to finish the fight when a spear was thrown forcefully towards Eric, aiming his heart. She moved in a split of a second, without even realizing what she was doing and pushed Eric aside. But it was too late for her to move and the spear went through her throat and she fell on the ground.

"Raina!", she heard Eric's desperate voice, but she could sense death enveloping her bit by bit. She couldn't even utter a word as she watched Eric taking her into his arms and shouting her name over and over again. She reached his hand and tried to squeeze it to tell him that everything will be alright, but she didn't have the strength anymore.

She looked directly into his eyes, trying to convey her thoughts to him, but she was soon to tired to keep her eyes opened and she slowly closed them, taking her last breath at that moment.