PostPoems Be Artistic. Be Creative. Be Inspired!

21

“Quack! Quack!”
I sigh. “Silence Miss Remembrance. You are truly beginning to wear on my nerves.”
“Oh come now, Dark and Handsome, I was only larkin’ around with ye. There is no need to take it so acutely.” She blocks my path forcing me to stop. “C’mon Dark and Handsome, grow a sense of humor that doesnae mean bein’ so sarcastic an hateful towards others. You were laughin’ so whole-heartedly at Shamus’s get together with Melarvious. You always laugh so whole-heartedly with her. In fact, that is the only time that you actually are truly happy. Why can you nae ever be happy like that when your around meh? Do I annoy you that much?” She tilts her head and squints at me. “Or is it because I am a lowly hooman?”
I look at her aghast. “Miss Remembrance, I-”
“That’s it isn’t it? You are ashamed to show your happiness around an insignificant mortal such as myself just so long as it is nae mocking, for all I have seen is yer mocking smile! All I have heard is yer mocking laugh. You act arrogant, superior,” she begins to tear up. “You act as if you are ashamed to show me your softer side like you do with Melarvious. Why?”
I close my eyes. “Miss Remembrance-”
“Why?!”
“Miss Remembrance, you must understand that I have known Melvie for centuries. It is nothing against you or who you are. It is just the simple fact that Melarvious shall always be my one and only friend. She shall always be the one that I confide in.” I sigh and close my eyes once more then slowly open them. “She shall always be the one that I love as a sister and more. I am sorry if that upsets you Miss Remembrance, but that is how it always shall be.” Not wanting to escalade this any further, I turn and leave down the opposite direction of the cobblestone street.
“You Bastard!” She yells from behind me, obviously back to her normal self. “You heartless cold Bastard! Have you ever even been in love?!”
I only continue to walk and ignore the questioning stares and growing suspense as I say, “Yes, but I do not enjoy speaking of it.”
I could feel the tension around me increase. Most knew of my past and the love that I had for a very particular immortal, as gracious she as was beautiful.
“Why not? Did you find it a mistake to be with her just like you find it a mistake to have a mortal acquaintance? Tell me Dark and Handsome, did you find it a disgrace to be with her?”
I attempt to keep under control of my growing anger as I say through gritted teeth. “No, Miss Remembrance, I did not find her disgrace at all.” At that moment, I hear her laughter near me and can not help but turn this way and that in hope of finding her lurking somewhere near. I shake my head in disappointment as I find what I knew would be there.
Nothing.
She was gone forever because of me.
“What are you looking for, huh? Are you hoping that she’s somewhere near? Or are you hoping that you don’t have to face a disgrace li-”
“Silence!” My voice booms across thirty mile radius. “Silence you pathetic, insignificant, louse of a mortal! I will have no more of your judgmental words on a subject you do not know the full meaning of its contents!” I, once again, turn from her and make my way back to the house I inhabit for the next month and a half worth of nights.
My progress was slowed by a high pitched screech and an unnatural gust of wind. I smile, for I know that gust of wind and screech oh too well, as a gorgeous but deadly, nine foot tall woman with black and emerald green feathers lands directly in front of me. I bow. “Mistress Menace, I was beginning to wonder when you would show.”
She looks down upon me with her steel, steely cold eyes and a flat lined mouth. She smiles revealing a top and bottom row of razor sharp teeth and her eyes, the color of, actual pure, steel shine. “Darkus,” she speaks in a deep husky, yet sensual, voice. “How well it is to be within your presence again after all these centuries.” She wraps her wings around me, without touching, as she air kisses both my cheeks, then stands back erected and wings unfurled completely.
I smile. “Yes, I would say it is.” I tilt my head. “By the way, why has it taken you so long for you to finally arrive?”
She sighs. “One of my slaves had the poor paper pixie cornered for all of thirty-five days before the poor thing finally decided to scream for help.” She crosses her arms against her chest and places her right index finger at the corner of her mouth. “I was beginning to wonder what happened to Little Beggar.”
I chuckle. “You still have Little Beggar? I believed you to have gotten rid of him decades ago.”
She shakes her head. “He is easy to confuse and is a very fun toy when it comes to amusement. I would ridding my fun and my laughs if I ever decide to do away with him.”
I laugh, full of heart. “As usual, Mistress Menace, you are your old cold hearted self.”
“But warm towards you,” She adds.
I nod. “Yes, you have always taken such a strong unnatural liking to me, even when you were nothing more than a fledgling Harpy with such a strong lust for, and to shed, the blood of the innocent. It was always such an interesting day when spent with you.”
She smiles. “Yes, well I was never truly meant for you Darkus. Not even after that tragic happening with her.”
I sigh with great relief and gratitude. “You did not say her name.”
She laughs. “And risk being consumed? No, no Darkus, I know that saying her name around you is like taboo and those who do suffer greatly.” She steps in front of me. “Now what was the reason for your sonic boom earlier? Did someone commit the taboo?” She teased.
“No, it was only a mortal acquaintance of mine who thought it fun to make a scene and say I saw my one and only love as a disgrace.”
She winces. “I still take that as a stab to the heart, whenever you say that one statement, however small it may be.”
“I apologize Mistress. I find it hard to keep hold of my tongue these days. Though I have never been the one to possess such a considerate tongue.”
“It is quite alright Darkus. I never blame you.” She steps in time with me. “So why is it that your acquaintance barked such a confrontation. Did you upset him?”
I sigh. “I suppose I upset her, but I do not know how or why.” I shake my head. “It seems as if she is trying to create a competition between her and Melarvious.”
“And why would you say that?”
“I say it for my acquaintance was thoroughly upset at the fact of me confiding in my dear, sweet, overvescent friend Melarvious rather than her.”
She chuckles. “Must you blame her for being hurt and upset Darkus? Think of it from her stand point; dark, attractive, seemingly young male filled with so much charisma and sweet lullabying words that most likely make her sway and swoon and fall for you. Then, one day she feels the need to speak her heart and finally stumbles upon the truth of how he does not feel the same and the only confidence he finds is in the only person whom he calls his friend. Do you not believe that that is reason and acceptance enough for her out burst?” Even with such a calm, sensual, husky voice as hers, I could hear the pain of our own past creeping through.
I nod. “Yes, I see it now, and I also see how the past always seems to find a way of repeating itself to me.” I look up to her. “You are beautiful Mistress Menace. I apologize that the same had to happen to you centuries ago. I wish there was someway for me to make it up to you.”
“Fix it with the girl. You may fix it with me by fixing it with the girl.” She looks down upon me. “She seems to have fallen for you Darkus.” She looks straight ahead. “What all has she done?”
Knowing the meaning of her question, I proceed to answer. “She has kept contact with me, even though for a month before my sons funeral we never spoke. After Shamus and Perky’s celebration of their day of birth, and Shamus becoming Perky’s version of a man, she changed her appearance completely to look like Melarvious. She looked as if she could be Melarvious’s clone---not twin, but clone. She even asked my if she were prettier than Melarvious.”
“How did you reply?”
“I replied by saying, ‘Miss Remembrance does it really matter whether you look better than one girl or many? You are beautiful all on your own. You are not beauty in comparison. You are beauty in all its uniqueness.’”
She smirks. “As always Darkus, you are the master of making women swoon. She blushed didn’t she?”
I nod. “She did.”
“Darkus-” She whips her head over towards me and is in my path within an instant. “What did you say her name was?”
“Miss Remembrance, why-”
“Her full name,” she growls.
“Her full name is Miss Remembrance Atreyu Ballad. Why are you so desperate to know?”
She only slumps her shoulders and shakes her head. “I apologize for not needed reaction. The name only surprised me.” She walks beside me once more n her usual cold demeanor. “She has fallen for you Darkus. When she comes to apologize near the end of this night, before the next arrives, confide in her and tell her of your one and only true relationship. Regardless of the taboo, you must.”
“And why exactly should I Mistress Menace?” I say stiffly.
“For you need closure Darkus, that is why.”
“Closure is for those of the weak hearted. I need not tell her of a past love.”
“You need tell her, for not speaking of it is tearing you apart. You know it is the truth.”
I sigh and slowly close my eyes, leaning against the corner of the building next to me. “Mistress Menace, do you truly know of what you ask of me? Do you truly know the pain of what shall surface if I do speak of her?”
“Yes,” she pauses for a very long time before saying, “So would you wish to see her before you confide in Remembrance?”
I immediately open my eyes and gawk at her with a look of shock and disbelief. “How can I speak to her? She has not been around for centuries.”
Mistress opens her hand and a crimson colored paper pixie appears in her hand and waves to me before saying, “Is your heart torn by the loss of a loved one? Do you wish to have one last night to spend with them and gain your closure? If so, then follow the crimson footsteps to the one, the only Crimson Carmella Critec: witch, alchemist, sorceress, necromancer extraordinaire. She shall surely bring your cold immortal/mortal heart back to life with only one last visit with the second half of your heart and soul, if it were already not given unto Evil and Darkness, and the Devil himself. Do you wish to once again meet a fallen love?”
My mouth moves involuntarily and speaks the one word that satisfies both the pixie and Mistress.
The pixie nods. “Then follow the crimson footsteps. And be sure to keep up, they are slippery little things.” The pixie disappears and a pair of crimson feet appear, one of them tapping.
I look to Mistress.
She only crosses her arms. “You heard the pixie, follow the feet to the necromancer’s shop. We shall speak at a later date.”
I only nod and begin to follow the crimson’s footsteps so wishing that I could hug Menace with a great deal of thanks. I know she knows as well. I bob and weave through the crowd of creatures following those feet through alleyways, street ways, and small fields, openings, and clearings till they finally stopped and tapped impatiently waiting for me to catch up.
“It is not my fault that you took the longest route possible,” I pant to the crimson feet.
They prepare to kick me.
I hold up my index finger.. “I shall consume you if you touch me.”
The feet stamp themselves and furiously kick the door.
“Oh you blasted feet, do not get upset with the poor creature! It is your own fault for being so irritating!” A female voice from inside calls. “Hands go get the door!”
Suddenly the door swings open and a crimson pair of gloves usher both the shoes and I into the house.
I marveled at the sight that I beheld. There pairs upon pairs of both crimson gloved hands and crimson feet moving out and about the house. And in the middle of them all, with her back turned to me, was a nicely figured woman that I perceived to be Miss Crimson Carmella Critec swaying and moving about leading the hands and feet as if she were conducting an orchestra. She giggles and twirls. I never getting a well enough glimpse of her face.
I clear my throat. “Miss Critec, I have come hear for your services. I have pleanty of shillings for whatever fee you may have.”
She only continues to dance and sway with her creations, I presume them to be, and give off melodious sounds that were a cross between full-hearted laughter and singing.
“Miss Critec?”
“Hm?” She only turns her head towards me some. “Oh, yes, yes sir, I shall be with you in one moment. Please, go take your seat in the other room and I shall be with you shortly.” She quickly adds, “Oh, and I do not charge a fee for bringing back your loved ones. Your smiles are payment enough.”
I nod, even though she is no longer paying the slightest bit of attention to me again. “Very well Miss Critec.” I leave into the next room where I patiently await for Miss Critec’s entrance thinking of what I shall say once she resurrects my love. Goodness, I have not seen her in so long. Will she still love me? Will she even wish to hear how my life has gone over so many centuries? I sigh and smile. “Of course she will, she will love and miss me as much as I her.”
“Alright-”
I turn to see Miss Critec enter, only for my smile to fade.
“-I am sorry that I did not attend to you as soon as you stepped in, but I needed a little cheering up and fun. My husband died not that long-” She freezes in midsentence once looks up from one of the many pairs of crimson shoes in the house.
“You!” we both say in unison.
She frowns. “what are you doing here?”
I fear that my chance to see my one and only love has disappeared as she had centuries ago, for the woman standing before me was none other than my son’s widowed wife.