Cold Nights

Born in Winter

Drops slid down racing each other to to the edge of the window. She sat in an old rocker that was slowly creaking out a rhythm that was only in her head. On cold, wet nights she could almost always be found there by the fire. She clutches an old rag doll, tears rolling over her cheeks as the fire light pays on the dark wall. The cold rain of autumn was hypnotizing. After 500 years she still wept for her. She would lose herself back to that time without even realizing it.

Tybalt knew that to leave his love alone as requested would only lead to more thoughts, more tears, more sorrow. He slowly opened the door, the cold damp air played on the hinges and he didn't want to frighten her. He knelt before her on one of the soft woven rugs Mohegan had given them on their last trip out west. Placing his head in her lap, his strong calloused hand found hers. "Duchess it's time to eat. Don't continue to torture yourself this way." He rubbed his thumb over the softness of her skin. He loved the contrast. Her callouses were on the inside helping the scars to hold her together. "It's time my love. Torturing your soul is not good for either of you. Let her rest."

Light flashed across her face, quickly followed by the crack and rumble of the storm. He saw the tears as they slid over her jaw and onto her lap. The lightening mixed with the red of her tears made the droplets on her dress almost appear purple. "Franka! You're ruining your gown! Come hunt with me my love. We have so much fun hunting in the rain."

She finally smiled. Her first recognition that he was even in the room. Her porcelain skin tinted by the tears made her look like a painted doll. She patted his hand then kissed it. "I'm sorry darling, it just gets harder and harder to shake off. Sometimes the ache of losing her becomes an obsession. Let me cleanup and we will go. I request a club. I am sick of looking for passer byes. I long for the pulsing bass and strobing lights and the energy of fools to blind to know what's right around the shadows."

Tybalt stood taking her hand with him, pulling her out of the chair. "Alright my love. Ladies choice tonight." He bowed and took his leave to go and change. It was rare for Franka to make such a request, so he was more than willing to appease her. Once upon a time they had owned several nightclubs and she had tired of those it attracted. He hoped this was what she needed to bring her out of her own thoughts.

Franka delicately put the little doll down. It was a small child's toy that anyone else would have long since sold or given to a collector. But to Franka it was all she had left of her little girl. The one she left behind on a night so similar 500 years before.