Vampire Rose

Copyright © 2021 by Dan Harrington
 
All rights reserved.
 
No part of this publication may be produced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.
 
ISBN
(eBook) 9781005084608

Vampire Rose

I sat here. In, the carriage with a potted rose in my lap. Soon I shall be home with my wife. I looked down at the plant and frowned. It was a bit withered. I had watered it, but I just had no knowledge on how to take care of it. My wife was talented in such areas she had the green thumb. She had a garden at the Manor. There were herbs and roots, medicine plants, she called them. I took out my pocket watch from my vest pocket. The time was a quarter past one in the afternoon. It was an overcast day partly sunny here in there. Not too hot just the perfect temperature. I peeked out between the drapes and looked outside. There I could see the Manor in the distance. Would not be long now until I was home. I decided to pull out my small ledger to look over some of my business notes quickly. I ran some numbers and made some corrections. By the time I finished we had just passed the gates of the property line. I felt I could no longer contain my excitement. We went around the horseshoe driveway and pulled up to the front walkway. My wife stood at the top of the steps waiting all smiles. The driver opened the carriage door for me I thanked him and climbed the stairs to kiss my dear wife who I have longed for these long days. It was such a warm greeting. I handed her the potted withering rose. I apologized about its condition. She smiled.

“It is fine my husband. Nothing that a little tender loving care cannot handle,” she replied tenderly. Then drew her hand quickly away and put her finger in her mouth. I asked if she was okay.

“I am fine beloved,” she said.  “How Careless of me. I know better when it comes to roses. Come now you must be exhausted from your trip,” she said as she put her arm within mine and we went into the Manor.

Later that evening we had dinner. We dined on succulent beef roast, boiled carrots sprinkled with brown sugar, and fried potatoes with herbs and spices. Everything was delicious and the wine was a fine Monet. Only the best for her. Alas she stood up after she had wiped her mouth with a napkin.

“I am feeling a little sleepy dear care to join me?” She hinted with a slight turn of her mouth. I said I would gladly join her. That night we had made passionate love like nothing I have ever experienced before. We stayed embraced the whole night. Never have we ever felt such security. The next morning or mid morning when we awoke and went downstairs for tea and breakfast. We sat at the table outside on the porch by the kitchen. It was a beautiful sunny day birds chirped their gay songs. This would be a fine day of relaxation. I asked my wife if she care to take a stroll around the Manor grounds. She accepted by taking my hand. We walked for many hours until she suddenly grew faint. I held on to steady her.

“I am fine dear perhaps I shall lie down a while,” she mentioned. Well without argument I picked her up and carried her all the way to our bed chamber. I helped take her dress off and tucked her into bed. She smiled warmly at me then soon fell asleep. The next day I came out of my den to have tea with my wife. She sat outside at the table, with the potted rose. It did not look so withered anymore. It had improved. The day was sunny with some scattered clouds. My wife was beautiful as ever but seemed out of sorts. She did look a little haggard. She even yawned briefly with her hand over her mouth. We then spent the day sitting in our swing divan talking and she seemed to regain some of her energy back. We liked to chat just about everything, she was an intelligent woman bright in all areas of conversation. Again, that night we made love and held each other. We gave kisses till we fell asleep. I awoke the next day and left carefully not to wake her. I thought it best to let my wife sleep in. I would do some paperwork then have our cook make something special. I later wandered to our regular meeting area, but my wife was not there. I asked the maid if she had seen her, and she replied that she believed the lady of the house was still in her room. I thought this strange since I had lost track of time and it was now mid afternoon. I went upstairs to our room. She still lay in bed. Not only that but with fever. Right away I sent for the doctor. This day had been cloudy and gloomy indeed.

Later into the night the doctor arrived he was soaked from the rain. This whole night was nothing but a storm. Rain pelted the roof and thunder rattled the windowpanes. Lightning flashed vicious forks in the dark sky. My wife's condition worsened the doctor had no idea how to treat her condition and perhaps I should prepare for the worst. The doctor mentioned briefly how my wife was wonderful with plants and complemented The Rose at the bedside nightstand. It was in full bloom in good health it's pedals dark as blood drops. By the next morning I held my wife in my arms as she slipped away. My tears, my anguish, my sorrow torn pieces of my heart away. I truly did not know how I would live without her. After the funeral one of the maids asked about what to do with the potted rose. It had looked withered again. I told her to get rid of it. As she picked it up, she had pricked her finger. That is when I realised the events that happened to my wife would happen all over again with this maid. (04/06/19)