Merletta

Click, click, click. Her heels resonated like a rhythmic echo, mingling with the soft, tactile whisper of her footsteps on the cobblestone floor of the manor.

The gown she wore clung to her body with a silken touch, accentuating every graceful curve.

A cascade of hair, aglow in the dim light, framed her presence.Grace marked each step she took, a fluid sway of her hips exuding strength.

Her shoulders remained taut, and her head remained held high, a regal poise honed by experience.

Beauty seemed to drape every inch of her; that's what everyone thought, but only she held the key to her inner struggles.

As she spotted the person she came to meet, her lips curled into a beguiling smile.

"Aithne!"

He turned to greet her, a look of surprise on his face.

* * * *

Dylan and I had been engrossed in a conversation at the bar-like structure within the manor. He encouraged me to relax amidst the mounting pressures of our current situation.

However, our conversation abruptly ended as a melodious, velvety voice filled the room.

Dylan hurried to her side, embracing her. I couldn't help but wonder: who was this captivating woman? After all, I was his wife.

Fortunately, Dylan approached me and made an introduction. Her name was Merletta, the first person he met when he entered the world of vampires.

Together, they walked away, deep in their talk. Caitlyn approached me.

"So, you've met Merletta," she said.

"What do you think?" She asked.

"To be honest, I'm not sure. I should feel jealousy, but I don't. I admire her. Her confidence and strength radiate from her."

"That's Merletta," Caitlyn said. "She exudes power and confidence."

Merletta and Dylan eventually returned from their conversation.

"Can I talk with you, Jessica?" Merletta asked.

Slightly flustered, I accompanied her to the garden.

"I was initially certain you'd feel jealousy, but now I see admiration and confusion in your eyes," she observed.

Merletta pulled out a cigarette and a lighter.

"I'm not a fan of smoking," I confessed.

"Neither am I, dear, but I no longer have a heart for it to harm," she retorted.

"What did you want to discuss?"

"Are you in a rush to leave already? Just relax. I feel a need to talk to you."

"It's strange how one's 'heart' can burn incessantly and then suddenly turn to ice."

I remained silent as she continued to speak. She knelt before me, taking my hand.

Looking into my eyes, she shared, "Never, ever let anyone break you. I know what it feels like for someone to shatter you so profoundly that you become unbreakable."

Her eyes, once reflecting a smile, now revealed a swirling storm of emotions. They told a story of relentless trials, a narrative of resilience. She stood and said, "Why the tears, little one?"

She handed me a mirror, and to my astonishment, my face was streaked with tears, as if I had shared her pain. Who was this mysterious woman?

She watched with a grin as I wiped the tears away.

"Remember, when she arrives, give her a chance to explain. Don't let your emotions overpower you."

Before I could respond, she had vanished, leaving me bewildered.