Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Blue Moon ❯ Chapter 1

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

Blue Moon

I nearly rolled my eyes as Maggie spoke more about her new husband's elder brother, a man with this new fangled device. Her husband, Jacob Harper -also known around the area as Duck-face although Maggie refused to call him such after she took her vows, I mean truly she cannot have become blinded to the man's beak- walked into the parlour and strode quickly over to Maggie.

“Good day Miss. Elliot,” he nodded his head and nearly rolled my eyes again as I too dipped my head.

“Too you as well Mr. Harper,” I replied, the words burring on my mouth.

“Jacob please Miss. Elliot,” he shot back, staring out at me over his beaked nose.

“If you wish, Jacob.”

“Oh darling,” Maggie looked up and patted Jacob's arm, how she can is beyond me. “Have you seen Gabriella while you were out, I must speak to her.”

“No Maggie I did not see her,” he looked at me again. “Have you seen her Miss. Elliot?”

“Sorry to say not Maggie dear,” the grandfather clock in the foyer chimed. “Oh dear I must be going.”

“May I walk you home Miss. Elliot?” Duck-face asked.

“No thank you Jacob,” I stood and flatted my red riding skirt. I pulled my gloves on as straightened my black riding hat in the hall mirror. He stepped in with Maggie close behind.

“But I insist Miss. Elliot,” he continued. Maggie nodded furiously behind him.

“My dears, I am an able bodied woman who can walk down a few city blocks. No need to fret.”

“Oh but Alexandria tis so improper,” Maggie added.

“Oh dear, times are changing,” I patted her head and curtsied bye. I stepped out into the crisp white snow that had begun to fall when I had arrived hours before. I waved back to the worried couple and stepped highly through the snow.

“I say Alexandria, what would mother say if she saw you out alone.”

I sighed and turned around to see my elder brother, by a mere year at the age of 21. He wore his basic waist coat mother had gotten him in the New Year. I smiled and held out my arm as he walked forward.

“Mother would have nothing to say because I am soon to be my own woman,” I tugged on his arm and started a brisk walk.

He chuckled. “You mean you will be your husband's woman?” he corrected.

“Please brother, my husband shall come around to my ways.”

“As you wish sister.”

“I do wish. Mr. Adams is a fair enough man.”

“As a child, he had moved way since he was 8 and has not been seen since this fall. You yourself have not seen him more than a half dozen times after he asked father for your hand. Have you talked to him alone yet?”

“And you said I was improper brother. Mother would have my head to be talking alone with such a man until we were wed. But I am supposed to be meeting with him later tonight. He is to take me on a midnight stroll out near the park and pond.”

Philip stopped himself and me, glaring down at me. I rolled my eyes- a nasty habit my mother says I have, a lady does not roll her eyes- and stepped forward without him.

“You better hope mother nor Amanda find out.”

“Mother is a dead sleeper by bedtime and Amanda was to be going out with her son and daughter-in-law tonight until three days hence.”

“You have planned this well sister,” he grinned down at me as he caught up. “A devious little devil are you not?”

“Devious mayhap, devil by surely not.” We finished our walk in silence and headed slowly to our own abode. The street lamp flickering in the light wind outside our simple home, we opened the door to see Amanda standing before us with her hands on her hips. I stepped farther in, ignoring Amanda's death glare and removed my red habit jacket. I looked over at Amanda who wore her basic plain black dress with her worn apron. Her greying blonde hair was pulled back into a tight bun that has not changed since I remembered her tucking me into my crib. The woman had been with our family since my brother was born.

“Out late Miss Alexandria?” she spoke. Philip chuckled.

“Sorry, but Maggie kept me and then duck faced,” she cut me off.

“Those words are for children not young women Miss.,” she scolded.

“Well I prefer to speak my mind Amanda,” I added. She shook her head and took Philip's jacket from him before he headed to the back foyer with mother and father-assuming he was back from work.

“You keep your head about you Miss.” she warned as she too briskly walked to the kitchen to serve my family in the back. I hung up my jacket and walked up the stairs. I lay on my bed and stared out of my window, to the street below. The snow had settled and the wind had died. I bit my lip as I felt excitement well up in me. In a few short hours I would be meeting with Mr. Charles Adams my fiancé. Of course I have not seen him in a month, since the ball at Mr. Miller's. He had changed quite a bit since she remembered him from the age of 7 years. He was taller now, quite tall standing over most. Long light brown hair and deep brown eyes. He was harsher then he was as a child, although it was said the city could do that to a man. Mr. Adams had come back to their small city as a respectable lawyer who had now come into business with my father.

He had arranged this a fortnight ago, and I couldn't wait. Every night I read over his letter- his writing was quite elegant- to me. Mr. Charles Adams was no Shakespeare by any means but his letters of formality still could move my heart. I undressed and changed into my nightdress, and pulled myself under covers, lying quietly. I could hear my brother and parents moving about readying themselves for bed. In the moon light, the vase of flowers, blue died Gardenia's he had sent with the letter. I closed my eyes. It would only be a short while until she could see him again.

I waited quietly for a few hours. Until I heard the family settle in and dead to the world before I dressed myself in my pale blue gown. I quickly pulled my habit skirt overtop. I begun to walk out but stopped. Smiling before I walked over to my vase where I took one flower and placed it in my hair. A few more minutes of silent stepping and careful movements and I had successfully escaped my home and was headed to the park; to Charles Adams. The streets were empty and dark as the workmen had burned out the candles. I walked carefully, nearly slipping several times before I strode through the entrance of the park. The walking paths were snow covered, the park frozen over with lines made by skates. I waited, no person stood around the normally crowded park. Snow crunching alerted me from my gazing of the stars. I turned and saw him, Charles Adams. He pulled a corner of his mouth back in a odd smile. He tipped his hat as I took a quick bow.

“Greetings Miss. Elliot,” he spoke quietly as he walked towards me, stopping only once he was in front of me.

“Mr. Adams, Alexandria please,” I held back a giggle. He was just so handsome, and such a gentleman.

“Charles will so as well Alexandria.”

“Pleasant evening,” I spoke at a whisper leaning back and forth on my heels. He smiled a little wider.

“Tis so, Alexandria. Would you be as so kind as to join me for a stroll?” he held out his arm which I took and we began to circle the pond. We flitted between silence and laughter. He was such a gentleman. We continued for a while before he pulled me over and stared at me. He smiled and reached down for a kiss. I giggled and closed my eyes. I felt the gentle touch of his lips against mine before he pulled back. He touched the flower in my hair.

“You look beautiful tonight.”

I giggled again. He reached down again for a kiss which I obliged. A sharp pain came through my side, a tugging and pulling as it ripped up my side and another stabbing pain in my chest. I opened my eyes to see him with a solid face. The moon glared off the blood stained blade. I fell in the snow. I felt as he laid the blue jewelled encrusted blade on me.

“Rest dear one, for you shall thank me one day.” His footsteps were the last thing I remembered as I closed my eyes for one last time.