Anna

My party is splendid. As they always are. In fact, their unrelenting splendor has become quite boring. So many parties, so many friends and associates, so many lovers have come and gone over the long years.

           I scan the gaily decorated ballroom, looking for Anna. There she is, chatting animatedly with the Prime Minister, as if he were a close friend. The Prime Minister seems captivated.

           Anna is exceptional in so many ways. In all my years, I’ve never met anyone like her. I regard her as my equal. I wonder if she has any inkling at all of the gulf between us? And if she came to know, how would she react? Would she see me as a monster?

I feel an ember of jealousy begin to burn in my chest. She’s chided me about it many times. Again and again, she’s reassured me that she’s mine and only mine, but I can’t help myself when I see her smiling and laughing with another man. Is it the weight of the secret I’ve kept for so long I feel pressing down on me? If I revealed it to her, would she still be mine, forever and ever? Or would she run from me in fear and disgust?

I’d never thought to reveal my secret to any of my lovers until this moment. None of them had ever been important to me. But Anna is different. I picture myself spending an entire lifetime with her. Lifetimes upon lifetimes. Until the end of time.

The orchestra begins to play Anna’s favorite waltz. I use it as an excuse to break into Anna’s conversation.

“Pardon me, Mr. Prime Minister, but would you mind if I interrupt? This is Anna’s favorite waltz,” I say, looking Anna directly in the eyes and she in mine. True to her reassurances, the Prime Minister is all but forgotten the moment I come near.

The Prime Minister’s eyes shift between Anna and I. “Not at all, my boy.” He takes Anna’s hand and bows formally. “Until later, then.”

“Thank you, sir.” I take Anna by the hand and lead her to the dance floor.

Waltzing with Anna is exhilarating, effortless, like floating on a cloud. We move together as one, our eyes locked all the while, a broad smile on her face. I can feel an identical smile on my own. I release her, she twirls, we come back together and whirl ourselves around the floor. The other dancers pause to watch us. When the music ends, the others applaud. Moist with a sheen of perspiration, we hold hands and bow, then make our way to a table with refreshments.

           “That was lovely,” I say, dipping a ladle in the punchbowl and pouring Anna a glass.

           “Quite lovely,” Anna says, taking a delicate sip. “I do so enjoy waltzing with you, Emmerich.”

           “And I you, Anna. I must say you are the most talented dancer I know.”

           “Not so talented as you, my love.” She winks at me and beams.

           My expression turns serious.

           “What is it, my love?”

           I start to speak, but cannot continue. I love her so much, but I know if our love is to endure, I must reveal my secret. Yet it is so difficult! I fear I will lose her.

           I cover my mouth with my hand and cough. I feel a tightness in my chest that I cannot bear. Emotion overwhelms me. I must do it.

           “Would you. . . would you take a walk with me, my darling? Around the lake?”

           “Of course, Emmerich, but what is it? You seemed so happy just a moment ago but now you seem. . .” she pauses, searching for the correct word. “You seem distraught.”

           “I have something I must tell you,” I say, glancing around at my guests. “But not here.”

           Anna holds her hand out to me and I take it. We walk through the arched doorway and out to the wide stone patio. I lead her to the stairs that take us down to the lawn, and beyond that, to the lake. Its surface is as smooth as glass, and a mirror-image of the full Hunter’s moon, just risen, is reflected in it.

           “Isn’t the moon beautiful?” she asks. I see the moon reflected in her eyes, as clearly as I see it reflected in the lake. She is a vision; her beauty unearthly. The moonlight makes her pale complexion even more so; her silky skin seems transparent, as if I could see down through the depths of it, all the way to her soul.

           “I find the night so much more to my liking than the harsh daylight,” she continues. “It comforts me.”

           I feel joy at hearing Anna’s words, for I, too, am a creature of the night.

           We find the gravel path that follows the lakeshore and walk for several minutes in silence until we come to the boathouse. Now is the time, and this will be the place.

           I turn to look back at the bright lights shining from my enormous mansion. People are silhouetted in every window. Some are dancing, some are kissing, some are engaged in other amorous activities. People will be people.

           I turn and gaze into her eyes. We’re in the shadow of the boathouse and her eyes appear as black as coal.

“I’ve never revealed to you how I obtained my wealth, have I, my love?”

           “No.”

           “Have you ever been curious?”

           “No, my darling. Your wealth is not the reason I love you.”

           “I’m so glad to hear that, because my story is not one that I’m proud of. I’ve kept it a deep, dark secret for years.”

           “Oh, Emmerich, are you about to reveal it to me? Please don’t. It isn’t necessary.” She puts her arms around me and pulls me to her, nearly crushing me with unexpected strength.

           Love wells up within me. I feel a hunger growing, and I struggle to contain it. I lean down and put my lips against hers. She parts her lips and lets her tongue meet mine. I break the kiss and put my mouth on her neck. I feel my teeth scraping the corded muscles as she bares her throat to me. The fragrance of her perfume mixed with the musk of her body is so intoxicating, I fear I’m about to lose my mind. I must know. I must know now.

           I regain my self-control and hold her away from me. “I’m afraid, Anna. I’m afraid that once you learn the truth, you’ll run and I’ll never see you again. But if that’s what’s to be, I need to know sooner than later. I won’t be able to bear the consequences if my love for you grows much stronger.”

           Anna stares into my eyes. I cannot tear away. It’s as if she’s hypnotized me.

           “Don’t worry, Emmerich. I’ll never leave you. And after tonight, you’ll never leave me.”

           The spell is momentarily broken. “What do you mean?”

           “I mean, I know your secret. Your wealth is ill-gotten. I know because your ancestors stole it from me.”

           “From you? What are you saying? It happened generations ago.”

           “Yes. And yet I was there.”

           “No. You’re barely nineteen.”

           “I was already a thousand years old when the theft occurred. I had the misfortune to be posing as a Jew living in Germany in the year 1936. I was stripped of my possessions and property and left to fend for myself on the streets of Leipzig. I survived drinking the blood of Nazis. Now, I’ve found my fortune again, and I’m going to reclaim it without spilling any more. Or very little, at least.”

           “I don’t understand.”

           “You will. I don’t blame you for your family’s evil acts, Emmerich. I love you. Do you love me? Do you want to marry me and be by my side, forever?”

           “Yes.”

           “Then we shall be married.” Anna’s eyes glow as she buries her fangs in my neck and punctures my jugular. I feel no pain as my love drinks the blood that flows freely from my wounds.

THE END